Monday, May 16, 2011

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (180 km) across the water

[click on image to enlarge]

Some interesting birds are turning up around Lake Superior. On May 12, this Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was found at the Copper Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula (a mere 180 km sw of Marathon). Thanks to Max Henschell for sharing the photo. You can see more of Max's photos of rarities from Michigan's upper peninsula here.

Closer to home, we're enjoying a slow trickle of more familiar migrants. Saturday's Friends of Pukaskwa/Thunder Bay Field Naturalists bird walk in the Town of Marathon turned up seven warbler species: Tennessee (1); Orange-crowned  (2); Nashville  (3); Northern Parula (1); Cape May (1); Yellow-rumped (14); Black-and-white  (2). The male Cape May Warbler, perched at eye level in the sun, provided great views for the birders standing only six metres away.

A total of 39 species were tallied. The only shorebird seen was a Solitary Sandpiper at Penn Lake. The four Lapland Longspurs were perhaps notable.

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