SIGNIFICANT SIGHTINGS
These are my recent birds sightings that you may find of interest! These sighting are of rare birds, based on the location and time of the year, or sightings of high counts that are not normally seen.
Greater Scaup - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada - February 20, 2017
Ken McIlwrick first reported this bird on February 19, but I did not hear about it until the morning of February 20. I went to look for it right away down in the St. Mary's River. I did not find it initially, but there were lots of other ducks and some eagles. After about five minutes, I came across it in my scope while scanning all the ducks. I quickly snapped a few pictures and after I was done reviewing my photos, I tried to find it again in my scope, but could not. I didn't see it again for the rest of the time I was there. Greater Scaups are rare for this location this time of the year.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. Observed again on February 25, 2017. See eBird list here. Observed again on February 27, 2017. See eBird list here. |
Canvasback - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada - February 18, 2017
This bird was first reported by Barry Lyons at 4:45pm on February 17, but I did not know about it until the morning of February 18 as Barry added it to eBird well after the fact. I was heading out early anyways, so I swung by the Canadian Heritage Bushplane Centre, which was where Barry had seen it. I was skeptical that I was going to see anything since it was so foggy, but it got lucky. The birds were just close enough to shore that I could see them. I scanned the area with my scope and there it was! I snapped a few pictures for proof and continued on my way. Canvasbacks are rare year-round for this location. This is the only Canvasback ever seen in the Algoma District between December and February, according to eBird data.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. Observed again on February 25, 2017. See eBird list here. Observed again on February 27, 2017. See eBird list here. |
Western Meadowlark - Pickford, Michigan, United States - February 11, 2017
This was a continuing rarity in Pickford, Michigan. While I did not actually see the bird, I was able to hear it calling. Two of us heard it calling from behind a house where it was seen by the homeowner only minutes prior. We confirmed the ID after listening to a known Western Meadowlark call after we heard it. Western Meadowlarks are rare for this time of the year in this location.
Check out my eBird listing for the outing here.
Check out my eBird listing for the outing here.
Lincoln's Sparrow - Pickford, Michigan, United States - February 11, 2017
This was a continuing rarity in Pickford, Michigan, seen while on a Sault Naturalists outing. Two of us observed it in the area of a bird feeder. I got a great look at it through binoculars, but it flew away before I could get a photo of it. Lincoln's Sparrows are rare for this time of the year in this location.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here.
Wild Turkeys - St. Joseph Island, Ontario, Canada - January 19, 2017
On this day, I counted 125 Wild Turkeys at a farm on B-Line Road on St. Joseph Island. This is the highest ever count of Wild Turkeys at one time in the Algoma District. 125 is a lot of turkeys to be together, but I'm guessing there was or has been more than that at a time at this farm. There has consistently been over 80 turkeys ever time I go by, as there is plenty of available food and what looks like great roosting habitat on the farm's property. Wild Turkeys were introduced to St. Joseph Island in 2004 and the population has done very well.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here.
Horned Grebe - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada - January 16, 2017
I spotted this grebe in the St. Mary's River from the Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club's parking lot on Queen Street. At the time, there was open water there while most of the river was frozen, making it a good place to look for waterfowl. There had been reports of Tundra Swans being there, which is why I went there that particular day. In addition to six swans, there was a grebe in the water. However, it was about 4:00pm, the sun was setting, the grebe was directly in the sunlight and it was fairly far away from shore. Even using my spotting scope, all I could make out was that it was a grebe based on the silhouette. Luckily it eventually swam closer and closer and finally got out of the direct sun, allowing me to get a good look at it and determine it was a Horned Grebe. Horned Grebes are considered rare for this time of the year and this location.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. |
Bohemian Waxwings - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada - January 14, 2017
At Whitefish Island, I was surrounded by Bohemian Waxwings. They were everywhere! I had no idea where to even begin counting them as there were way too many and they wouldn't stop moving. Eventually, almost all of them suddenly flew up into one big flock. I managed to take a picture of flock and later counted the individuals, which was a whopping 1924 birds. Add that to the 102 that remained in the trees and the total was 2026. This is the highest count ever of Bohemian Waxwings at one time in the Algoma District, based on eBird data.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. |
American Coot - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada - December 3, 2016
This American Coot was seen off of Topsail Island in Bellevue Park. It was during a Sault Naturalists bird watching outing. This sighting is one of only a handful ever made in December in the Algoma District and by far the most recent, according to eBird data.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. |
Golden Eagle - St. Joseph Island, Ontario, Canada - November 20, 2016
While driving on D-Line Road on St. Joseph Island, I noticed a big, eagle like bird flying high in the sky. I stopped and snapped a few quick pictures of it, thinking it was just an immature bald eagle. A few days later, I finally looked at the pictures and zoomed in on them. It turned out that it was actually a Golden Eagle! They are considered rare year-round for this location.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. |
Spotted Sandpiper - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada - November 3, 2016
This Spotted Sandpiper was seen on a rock in the St. Mary's Rapids off of Whitefish Island. The significance of this sighting is the date. According the eBird data, this is the first recorded sighting of a Spotted Sandpiper past early September in the Algoma District. The photos I took of this bird were not very good, but they were enough to positively identify it.
Check out my eBird list for the outing here. |