Birding Journeys: June 2014

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

JUNE

Of all the months, June is my favorite. Specialty breeding birds, warm weather, sunny days, etc.. I was able to assist the tour guide for the Pre and Post birding tour for Cerulean Warbler Weekend. Outside of those two days of birding, I have not been able to get out much. I made a few trips to Siedman Park and the Cannonsburg SGA, which gave me Acadian Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, and the second ever (known) Prairie Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler hybrid. The Pre-event Tour was on June 5 and started at the Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary. I had my life Yellow-billed Cuckoo there. Soon after, we had good looks at the Cerulean Warbler. Later in the day, we headed over to the Allegan SGA. We had Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, Dickcissel, and many others. Our total for the day was 73 species. The Post-event tour was on June 9. The day before, I saw a Olive-sided Flycatcher at Otis Farm. On the June 9 trip, we had Red-headed Woodpecker, Prothonotary Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Worm-eating Warbler. The tally for the day was 80 species. I have found 32 of Michigan's 37 warblers. All that is left is Connecticut, Yellow-throated, Prairie, Kentucky, and Yellow-breasted Chat. I do not think I will make it to 200 species for the county or get all the warblers now. In July I am attending a Botanical Foray in Houghton, Michigan. I will bird on the way up and hope for Black Tern, Evening Grosbeak, Le Conte's Sparrow, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Connecticut Warbler, Yellow Rail, Western Fox Snake, Mink Frog, Boreal Chickadee, and Black-backed Woodpecker. I will be lucky and happy if I get 20% of that list. If anyone has good locations for those species, let me know. So far I have Pike Lake for BBWO, Seney NWR, for YERA/mink frog, Munuscong SWA for LCSP/STGR, Tahquamenon for SPGR, Peshekee grade for BOCH, FS 3344 for COWA, Houghton Lake for BLTE, and Hartwick Pines for EVGR.