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.

 Hooded Warbler

 American Redstart

 Prairie x Blue-winged Warbler Hybrid

 Wild Lupine

 Hooded Warbler

 Red-eyed Vireo

 Yellow-throated Vireo

 Cerulean Warbler

 Common Loon

 Bobolink

 Grasshopper Sparrow

 Common Snapping Turtle

 Olive-sided Flycatcher

 Blue Flag Iris

 Distant Prothonotary Warbler

 Red-headed Woodpecker

 Dickcissel

 Louisiana Waterthrush

 Eastern Hognose Snake

Different Eastern Hognose Snake

Michigan Year List: 210 Species

Kent County Year List: 163 Species

Birding Update

So, I haven't posted anything in a little while (a few months!), so here is an update of what birding I have done in the past months. On June 3rd, I assisted in leading a birding trip for the Cerulean Warbler Weekend. We had a very small group, but we managed to find over 80 species. The trip went through birding spots throughout Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera. Here is a list of the highlights: Ring-necked Pheasant (Allegan SGA), Ruffed Grouse (Lifer! Allegan SGA), Red-shouldered Hawk (On nest, Barry County), Grasshopper Sparrow (Lifer! Allegan SGA), Dickcissel (Allegan SGA), Bobolink (Allegan SGA), Cliff Swallow (Allegan Dam), Sedge Wren (Lifer! Allegan SGA), Black-billed Cuckoo (Allegan SGA), Upland Sandpiper (Allegan SGA), Northern Harrier (Allegan SGA), Cerulean Warbler (Lifer! Only heard, Barry SGA), Orchard Oriole (Allegan SGA).

Random sightings throughout the past months:
A few trips to the Cannonsburg SGA in late June, yielded, Hooded Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
Caspian Terns at Versluis Lake in late summer.
A first, for me, for Michigan, I found a Forster's Tern at Grand Haven SP, in August. (Pictures to be added)
Peregrine Falcon in downtown Chicago.
A trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, gave me Trumpeter Swan, Common Raven, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, and Osprey.
Olive-sided Flycatcher at Huff Park.
American Golden Plovers at the Caledonia Sewage Ponds. (Pictures to be added)
Black-throated Blue Warbler and Canada Warbler, on a trail near my house.
And another Trumpeter Swan at the Baker Sanctuary, where I lead nature walks for Cranefest.

My Year list so far is now at 225 species.

-Travis Mangione