Day 1: The trip begins at 2:00 pm at our hotel in Florence, Kentucky near Cincinnati, Ohio. After a quick introduction meeting, we will visit Fernald Reserve, where we have our best chance of seeing Dickcissel at the eastern end of their regular breeding range, as well as Grasshopper Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak and Orchard Oriole; Or we might visit Capability Farm in Versailles, Indiana, an area maintained for birds which consists of both grassland and woodland habitats.  The Northern Bobwhite, a declining species, is found here still in decent numbers, and we are likely to at least hear it. Henslow’s Sparrow is also possible here. Night in Florence, Kentucky.

Day 2:  We’ll depart early for the Red River Gorge east of Lexington, Kentucky, a breathtakingly beautiful place with its limestone and sandstone rock formations, some of which cross the Red River – all in a heavily forested environment.  Along the way, we’ll drive through Kentucky’s “Blue Grass” and the fabled horse farms and by Pilot Knob where Daniel Boone first viewed the Blue Grass in early June 1769.  Red River Gorge holds a few pairs of Swainson’s Warblers, here at the northern edge of their range, as well as many of the more primarily southern warblers such as Blue-winged, Yellow-throated, Cerulean, Pine, Worm-eating, and Hooded and Louisiana Waterthrush.  There is always the remote chance of seeing Ruffed Grouse. Acadian Flycatcher and Eastern Phoebe also breed here. The forest is noted, too, for its variety of butterflies, notable among them the striking Zebra Swallowtail, which should be numerous if the weather is warm and sunny. Heading north in the afternoon we’ll stop at an industrial park in a reclaimed strip mine in Greenup County, Kentucky, not far from Portsmouth where Henslow’s Sparrow still breeds along with Grasshopper Sparrow and species such as Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper Sparrow and occasionally Dickcissel.  Night at Shawnee Lodge within Shawnee State Park where one can potentially hear singing Cerulean Warblers from their porch.

Day 3: We’ll spend much of the day in the beautiful and extensive Shawnee Forest close to Portsmouth, where nearly all of the southern Carolinian specialties are found in good numbers - Cerulean and Kentucky Warblers are almost common here – and we’ll probably find any we missed yesterday. In the last few years Swainson’s Warbler has extended its range into southern Ohio where we may have views of them here in the Forest. If we haven’t connected with Henslow’s Sparrow, we may try checking the fields in Adams County again on our second morning, or we may end up there late in the day in an early evening attempt for Chuck-will’s-widow, here at the regular northern end of its breeding range.  In the evenings we'll look for night birds, including our only chance for Chuck-will's-widow and Eastern Whip-poor-will. Night at Shawnee Lodge.

Day 4: We’ll depart for Crane Creek and the famed Magee Marsh Bird Trail on Lake Erie, and should arrive in time for some late afternoon birding at this premier location. By then the crowds of birders from earlier in the day should have diminished. Along the way, we may stop near Scioto Trails State Park whose forested ridges have many breeding species, including Summer Tanager, and can be full of migrants. Night in Oregon.

Days 5: Crane Creek and the adjacent Magee Marsh Trail at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge are Ohio’s best migration spots. The spectacle is similar to the one at Pelee, but here the concentrations of migrants don’t seem to be as weather-dependent, and even on slower days there are usually plenty of birds. The narrow strip of woods along the lake is more open than at Pt. Pelee National Park in extreme southern Ontario, and migrants are delightfully visible. Here we can usually count on finding more secretive species such as Mourning Warbler. We will plan to arrive on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail very early.  Over the last few decades, the number of birders has made birding here a bit more difficult and once the crowds arrive we’ll leave for other areas, perhaps the nearby headquarters for Ottawa NWR where in the woods behind the center an Eastern Screech-Owl might be viewed on its roost. There are other areas we can bird in the Toledo area in addition to the Magee Marsh Bird Trail. These include lovely Oak Openings to the southwest of Toledo where the very local Lark Sparrow breeds. Night in Oregon

Day 6: We will return to the Magee Marsh Bird Trail to see what new migrants might have arrived. By late morning we’ll depart for Tawas City in Michigan on Lake Huron, perhaps making a few stops on the way as we travel north through southern Michigan. Night in Tawas City. 

Day 7: We’ll spend the morning at Tawas Point State Park, one of Michigan’s premier migration spots. Here the more open woodland spots make the migrants quite visible given its location, the actual migration is usually very apparent on its better days, like elsewhere the migration is best during southwest winds. There are other fine spots around Tawas City, notably Tuttle Marsh where Sora and Virginia Rail are present and we might hear American Bittern. Black Terns are also sometimes present. To the south of Tawas City, we should find Clay-colored Sparrow. Lastly, Kirtland’s Warblers breed within the young stands of Jack Pine, less than 30 minutes from our hotel although the stands we have found them in over the last decade are maturing to the point where there are now fewer and those are harder to see.  Night in Tawas City.  

Day 8: This morning we might return to Tawas Point, or we will head west and then north. If we have missed Kirtland’s Warbler there are good places to look for them near Grayling. Upland Sandpipers and Brewer’s Blackbirds are both likely here too. Next, we’ll head North towards the iconic Mackinac Bridge, connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. Along the way near Gaylord is another place to check for Upland Sandpiper, a declining species in the Midwest and in many other parts of their range. Before crossing, we’ll spend some time in a nearby flooded forest, home to breeding Golden-winged Warblers, as well as occasional Mourning and Canada Warblers. We’ll keep an eye on the skies here too, if raptor migration is evident in the vicinity of the bridge. After lunch in Mackinaw City, we’ll cross the bridge, immediately noticing the sparse population density and shift to boreal forest. We’ll make a quick stop at the nearby Point La Barbe. This can be a good lookout for lingering waterfowl such as Long-tailed Duck and Scoters and has also seen a number of vagrants over the years. Common Loon breeds here, so the night sky is often accompanied by their iconic haunting calls. Night in Paradise on Lake Huron, some 20 minutes from Whitefish Point, certainly one of the best birding spots in Michigan and the East. Night in Paradise. 

Day 9: The Eastern Upper Peninsula is arguably the best birding anywhere in the Midwest. Whitefish Point is the crowning jewel, with an unparalleled track record of vagrants- everything from Shiny Cowbird to Bar-tailed Godwit has turned up in recent years. In 2026 a Crested Caracara appeared and remained perched for us for well over an hour at the hawk-watching platform. It was a 2nd record for Michigan. Eurasian Tree Sparrow is now annual in late May. In 2026 five were at the feeders. What makes it truly special though is the migration spectacle on offer, it’s one of those rare sites that makes you realize that everything is migrating. Flocks of hundreds of Black-capped Chickadees can build up, occasionally joined by Boreal Chickadees. Thousands of Blue Jays overhead will fall in unison as Merlin’s bomb through. Warblers and finches are the often the focus early in the morning before raptors begin to build up over the hawkwatch platform. Among impressive numbers of more common raptors, American Goshawk and Golden Eagle are both regular sights into late May here. Piping Plover has also regularly bred on the beach in recent years. To top it off, there are none of the crowds found further South at sites like Magee Marsh. Lake Superior is the largest and wildest of the Great Lakes, and the picturesque wilderness along its shores makes it truly a pleasure to bird. 

When we’re not birding Whitefish Point, we’ll be enjoying the enigmatic breeding species of the boreal forests. Spruce Grouse breeds at several sites near Whitefish Point, occasionally alongside Black-backed Woodpecker. A nearby spruce stand holds breeding Cape May Warblers alongside a healthy population of Evening Grosbeak. Though they can be tricky at times, this is the best site for Evening Grosbeak in Michigan. To the East, Munuscong Bay Wildlife Management Area is home to breeding American Bitterns and the occasional Least Bittern. LeConte’s Sparrow is also a tricky bird possible here. Although more difficult once they’re done lekking, Sharp-tailed Grouse are often findable on the roadsides here near Pickford south of Sault Ste. Marie, sometimes even perched precariously on telephone wires. In 2025 we found a dozen early in the morning standing in a field at the lek site. The nearby Pickford Sewage Lagoon can be productive with migrant waterfowl and shorebirds. It also supports the most consistent breeding population of Common Goldeneye in the state. Other species we will search for in the Upper Peninsula include Sedge Wren, Clay-colored Sparrow and Bobolink. Ruffed Grouse are widespread in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we could encounter one almost anywhere. Night in Paradise. 

Day 10: This morning we might try for Sharp-tailed Grouse at dawn and then head west as we cross Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Our destination, Peninsula Point, is a 2-3 hour drive depending on if we try for Sharp-tailed Grouse south of Sault Ste. Marie. This remote point in Northern Lake Michigan is again excellent for passerine migrants and is even more rarely visited than Whitefish. The nearby marshes of Gladstone are often home to breeding Red-necked Grebes. On our way West, we will take our time to enjoy the boreal forest and the breeding species they support. Black-backed Woodpecker and Canada Jay are scarce but possible. Night in Gladstone. 

Day 11: Today we will drive south through Wisconsin to Chicago. Our birding today will depend somewhat on migration. If migrant activity is good, we may make stops for migrants along the lakeshore. If activity is lower, potential stops include Horicon Marsh NWR, the largest freshwater marsh in the U.S. and home to reintroduced Whooping Cranes, or perhaps one of several harbors on Lake Michigan which can hold onto late wintering species such as Iceland Gull, or Harlequin Duck. Night on the north side of Chicago. 

Day 12: Chicago is strategically located along the Mississippi Flyway. This, in concert with the dual migrant concentration effects of the lakeshore and urban habitat islands, makes Chicago one of the best places in the U.S. to see migrants, particularly the tricky Connecticut Warbler. We will mainly be hoping to look for late migrants which we might not have caught up with at this point: Connecticut, Mourning, and Canada Warblers, as well as Yellow-bellied and Alder Flycatchers. We will primarily focus our efforts on Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary a tiny island of habitat with a view of the Chicago skyline. It includes the “The Magic Hedge” where many rarities have turned up over the decades. Despite its small size, it is possible to see in excess of 100 species in a morning without leaving he park. In addition to migrants, Piping Plovers have now bred here for a number of years. Here we will also have opportunities to look for European Goldfinch and Monk Parakeet, both of which have established populations in Chicago. Night in Chicago.   

Day 13: Depending on what species we are still missing we might return for a few hours to Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary before returning to our hotel for checkout and the conclusion of the tour. Tour ends this afternoon.

2026 Narrative

IN BRIEF
Our 2026 Midwest Migration trip recorded 228 species including 35 species of Wood Warblers, missing only Mourning and Connecticut; Canada Warbler was only heard. These included Golden-winged, Swainson’s (scope views) and Kirtland’s along with many Ceruleans. The migration was good in Kentucky, southern Ohio and Michigan, but subpar up on Ohio’s Lake Erie shore. Overall numbers seemed down, particularly shockingly few Magnolia Warblers, but Cape Mays were numerous. Notable non warbler species included Tricolored Heron (Erie Marsh, MI), Neotropic Cormorant (OH), Northern Bobwhite, a male Spruce Grouse, Mississippi Kite, Golden Eagle, single Snowy and Northern Saw-whet owls, Henslow’s and Harris’s (at Magee Marsh) Sparrow, and Rusty Blackbird. Certainly the rarest sighting was a Crested Caracara well-studied at Whitefish Point, Michigan, establishing a 2nd or 3rd state record. 

IN DETAIL
Our tour began with a brief meeting at the Hampton Inn in Florence, Kentucky followed by a drive west to Versailles, Indiana. Before leaving we stopped to admire a few migrant warblers in trees bordering the parking lot of our hotel in Florence, Kentucky, notably a female Yellow-rumped (“Myrtle”), a male Blackpoll and a colorful male Cape May. Along the way we noted a handful of Black Vultures and several Wild Turkeys. In Versailles we met with a local guide and he took us to Capability Farm where we met our farm hosts. Our hosts have kept their farm “native” and they have a number of habitats which we explored. We were greeted by nesting Purple Martins and Eastern Bluebirds as we parked. We walked the paths through their farm and saw a number of species of interest. These included Wood Duck (11), Broad-winged Hawk, Red-headed, Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Least Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo (4), Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch (distinctive sounding eastern carolinensis subspecies), Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Field, White-throated (lingering winter birds), Lincoln’s (two birds, uncommon migrants) Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat and Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. An adult male Blue Grosbeak, here at the northern end of their breeding range was a bit of a surprise. The beautiful song of the Wood Thrush was heard. Capability Farm still has a population of Northern Bobwhite and we heard several and saw one in flight, our only ones of the trip. A Woodhouse’s Toad was also seen. Late in the afternoon we headed back east and enjoyed a fine dinner with Gary Stegner in Lawrenceburg, Indiana at Whisky’s. Numerous Chimney Swifts were flying over the restaurant. 

We left early the next morning for Lexington, Kentucky, and then veered east towards the Cumberland Plateau and Red River Gorge. At the rest stop near our destination we met another local guide, long-time friend of mine, excellent local birder, and one of the finest naturalists I have ever been with. The woods were full of birds, mainly breeders, but also some passage migrants too. Breeding species included lots of wood warblers and included multiples of Ovenbird, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green, Kentucky, Hooded, Yellow, American Redstart, Cerulean, Northern Parula, Worm-eating, Pine and Yellow-throated and our main target Swainson’s, here near the northern end of their breeding range. A single Blue-winged was seen well and migrants included Bay-breasted and “Western” Palm. Other species of note included Yellow-billed Cuckoo (heard), Red-shouldered Hawk (our only one, nominate linneatus, widespread in East, quite different in some respects from Pacific elegans), Pileated Woodpecker,  Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed and Blue-headed vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Scarlet Tanager and Indigo Bunting. Red-eyed Vireos were abundant and remained so up at Shawnee, but we encountered very few further north as they hadn’t arrived yet. A migrant Gray-cheeked Thrush was also seen. Also of note were two vocal Common Ravens. The species has moved west from the Appalachians to the Cumberland Plateau in recent years but remain rare. We saw another Raven as we headed north towards the Ohio River. After a picnic lunch we headed north towards Portsmouth, Ohio, but we made another stop in Kentucky at East Park Industrial Park in Greenup County. Here we had excellent views of both Grasshopper and Henslow’s Sparrows along with two Dickcissels, three Blue Grosbeaks and Prairie and Blue-winged warblers. Eastern Meadowlarks were also present. After dinner in Portsmouth we headed on to our lodging within Shawnee State Park. 

We met before breakfast at Shawnee and listened to a singing Cerulean Warbler above the lodge. We later saw and heard many. As at Red River Gorge, the woods were full of birds, both breeders and migrants. Warblers included Louisiana Waterthrush (we heard a singing Northern Waterthrush too, a migrant), Blue-winged, Tennessee (heard singing), Worm-eating, Kentucky, Hooded, American Redstart, Black-throated Blue (a scarce migrant), Northern Parula, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Yellow-throated, Prairie, Yellow-rumped and Pine. Swainson’s Warbler seems to now be established as a breeder too and we had scope views of one singing bird. Thrushes were numerous and we saw Wood along with two Gray-cheeked and both Swainson’s and a Veery. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was a winter lingerer. Flycatchers included an Eastern Phoebe, Acadian, Alder or Willow (both migrants here) and our only seen Eastern Wood Pewee of the tour! Vireos included Yellow-throated, White-eyed, Red-eyed (some 30!) and three migrant Philadelphia. Other species of note included Yellow-billed Cuckoo (one seen), Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Black Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk, a dozen Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Scarlet Tanager and Blue Grosbeak. An adult Mississippi Kite flew over our group amongst the cabins, another species which has extended its breeding range into southernmost Ohio. Other non-avian highlights included Zebra Swallowtails, a Silver-spotted Skipper, and a male Five-lined Skink. As darkness came on we had fine views of a singing male Eastern Whip-poor-will. 

This morning was a driving day and after breakfast we headed north towards Columbus, the state Capital. North of Piketon we stopped at Scioto Trails State Park where we added Summer Tanager and then stopped at McKinley Quarry on the southwest side of Columbus, a heron and cormorant rookery. Here Ben picked out an adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron and a Neotropic Cormorant. Seven Black-crowned Night Herons were also noted. American Herring Gulls were also present and perhaps were nesting. After a delicious lunch we detoured east where we eventually located the lingering Snowy Owl to the south of Buckeye Lake near Thornville. This is the 2nd time we have seen this species on our Midwest tour. This bird was a pretty white overall. From here we headed straight for Magee Marsh arriving there in late afternoon. We did note two Black Vultures south of Tiffin, well to the north of their normal range. At Magee Marsh we located the Harris’s Sparrow which had been found earlier in the day. It was gone by the following morning. It is the second time we have recorded this species which normally migrates well to the west through the Great Plains. A male Bay-breasted Warbler was well-studied at close range at eye level. Two American White Pelicans flew over. This species has moved east into the eastern Midwest over the last few decades. 

The next morning we returned to Magee Marsh where we dealt with the large crowds on the boardwalk. There weren’t many migrants about but noted a Philadelphia Vireo and got bits and pieces of views of a roosting Northern Saw-whet Owl, a significantly late spring sighting. Singing Eastern Warbling-Vireos (newly split) were numerous and a male Prothonotary Warbler was well seen. There were also a handful of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and some ten Yellow-rumped Warblers. Bald Eagles, including a nesting pair, were numerous. At the nearby woods behind the headquarters for Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge we were shown the roosting Eastern Screech-Owl (gray morph). We had a picnic lunch at Maumee Bay State Park and looked for the Franklin’s Gull, but we missed it. A few Bonaparte’s Gulls were present along with a Ruddy Turnstone and a Sanderling. Also, a single alternate plumaged American Pipit was on the beach. After lunch we chose to visit Erie Marsh just across the state line in southeast Michigan. On one low pond with extensive mudflats we found a good number of shorebirds and these included Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Dunlin (140), Least and Semipalmated (3) Sandpipers. Ben spotted a single White-rumped Sandpiper which was well-studied, our only one of the tour. Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers (subspecies hendersoni) and a single Solitary Sandpiper were also noted along with a pair of Green-winged Teal, Sandhill Cranes, American White Pelicans, and Bank Swallows. Our main target was the adult Tricolored Heron which had been present for several days and from the pin Ben figured out where it was. Once it came out, our group had good looks. This species is casual (not annual) to the upper Midwest. During the day we had good comparative views of adult Forster’s and the more numerous Common Terns in alternate plumage. 

We returned to the Bird Trail boardwalk at Magee the next day and again encountered large crowds of birders, really too many to deal with. We also birded Metzger and Howard marshes. Species of note included a migrant perched female Eastern Whip-poor-will at Magee, an adult Peregrine Falcon over Magee, some 30 Trumpeter Swans, a Northern Shoveler, five Common Gallinules, eight Black-necked Stilts, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher (13), Least Bittern, Black-bellied Plover, Snowy Egret, a scattering of warblers, including our first Magnolia (amazingly scarce this spring), Chestnut-sided and Wilson’s, plus four Black-throated Blues and six Palms, Scarlet Tanager (4) and a scattering of thrushes including single Gray-cheeked, Veery, Wood, and a late Hermit. The Marsh Wrens were from the eastern group of subspecies which will be split by AOS in the October Supplement to the Checklist. Four Least Flycatchers were our only Empidonax flycatchers. A Rusty Blackbird in the wet woods behind the Magee Marsh visitor center was quite late and is one of the very few of this species we’ve seen on this tour. Finally we saw both Eastern Painted and Blanding’s turtles and some saw a Northern Water Snake. 

The next day was mainly a driving day to northern Michigan, but we checked Magee a bit noting a perched Common Nighthawk. A moderate sized flock of Cedar Waxwings were present and Tennessee, Black-and-white and Black-throated Blue warblers were numerous. A single Willow Flycatcher was also seen. At a reserve near Ann Arbor on our way north we saw numerous thrushes, nearly all Swainson’s. A Golden-winged like song proved to be a male “Brewster’s Warbler,” a first generation Blue-winged x Golden-winged hybrid. We arrived late at Tawas City and had dinner at G’s in East Tawas. 

The next morning we visited Tawas Point State Park. Migrants were numerous, particularly warblers, the most common were Tennessee (13), Cape May (16) and Northern Parula (18). Other species noted included Solitary Sandpiper (2), Common Loon, Short-billed Dowitcher (2), Merlin, Savannah Sparrow (10, very dark individuals, likely subspecies oblitus), American Pipit (5), Orange-crowned Warbler, Purple Finch (2) and an immature male Summer Tanager well north of its usual range. To the northwest we found the jack pines to have matured past their ideal height and did not see or hear any Kirtland’s Warblers. Notable butterflies included a Juvenal Duskywing and a Hoary Elfin. Nearby we had nice views of Bobolinks. At nearby Tuttle Marsh we saw a Sora and heard many more along with a Virginia Rail. An American Bittern was seen in flight as were two Northern Harriers. Lesser Yellowlegs were numerous (20) and five Solitary Sandpipers were a high count. One of the highlights of the day was a singing male Golden-winged Warbler. Turtles included Eastern Painted, Blanding’s, and a very large Snapping. 

We returned to Tawas Point State Park again the next morning and migrants were still plentiful. Species of note included Great Crested Flycatcher (3), Cedar Waxwing, Golden-winged (female), Blue-winged (2), and Orange-crowned warblers, Swamp and Clay-colored sparrows, Scarlet Tanager (7) and Indigo Bunting (11). A Canada Warbler was repeatedly heard singing, but not seen and sadly we did not see this species on the tour. Two Porcupines were up in a tree. We left around 10:30 a.m. and headed west to Rifle River State Wildlife Area, a place that has breeding Canada and Mourning Warblers. We missed both, but had excellent views of a male Golden-winged. We continued on to near Grayling where the jack pines were lower and we found and had good views of several Kirtland’s Warblers. A Vesper Sparrow and a Brown Elfin were also seen. Ben looked up at one point high above the jack pine barrens and spotted a distant flock of 14 American White Pelicans,  no doubt a rarity for the county (Crawford?) we were in. From there we headed north to Gaylord where we had good studies of a pair of Upland Sandpipers. An Eastern Meadowlark was here too. At the Straits of Mackinaw we noted distant Long-tailed Ducks and closer Common Mergansers. Late in the day we arrived in Paradise, not far from the famous Whitefish Point. After a delicious dinner at the Wheelhouse Restaurant, a few went up to Whitefish Point where despite the strong winds they tallied some 75 White-winged Scoters in northbound passage flight and noted three Eurasian Tree Sparrows at the feeders. At dusk they noted several American Woodcocks not far from Paradise. 

It was much calmer the next day with a southerly breeze. At, and above the feeders, adjacent to our hotel, there was a large flock of Evening Grosbeaks. Two Greater Scaup were on adjacent Lake Superior. Arriving at Whitefish Point it became quickly obvious that a major raptor flight was underway. Sharp-shinned Hawks seemed everywhere and a rough estimate for the day was 250 birds. Some 90 Broad-winged Hawks were recorded, most circling in high thermals along with many fewer Red-tails, nine Northern Harriers and 18 Bald Eagles. A single immature Coooper’s Hawk was quite uncommon as was a well-seen juvenile Golden Eagle which was late and it is the first time we have recorded the species on the tour. Two Merlins and 35 migrating Sandhill Cranes were also noted. Eight American White Pelicans were unusual. Another first, and at least 1500 miles north of its normal range, was a Crested Caracara. It suddenly appeared  and flew past us, and later was seen from the hawk watch when it eventually settled on a dead branch and remained for over an hour to the delight for many. A Crested Caracara had been seen early in May, the 3rd, I think, and this seems likely to have been the same bird, although the evident molt on the wing should determine the same-bird issue. At the feeders were numerous Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches and Evening Grosbeaks. Our count of Black-capped Chickadees was 80 and 25 Red-breasted Nuthatch, along with some 10 Purple Finches. The count of Eurasian Tree Sparrows had grown to five. It’s a mystery why they are so regular here at Whitefish Point in spring given the few records between there and where they are normally found far to the southwest in eastern Missouri, southeast Iowa, and western Illinois. Our count of White-crowned Sparrows was 75 and included two individuals of the more westerly taiga gambelii subspecies with pale lores and a more orange, less pinkish-red bill. Two late American Tree Sparrows were seen at the feeders and a single calling female Brewer’s Blackbird was seen overhead at the hawk watch. On the beach we noted three Piping Plovers late in the day. They have nested here in recent years. Other shorebirds there included Sanderling (5) and a Black-bellied Plover. By far the most numerous species during the day was Blue Jay. We estimated a thousand, but there could have been many more. Flocks were seemingly constantly in view all morning. Offshore a Red-necked Grebe was present not far from a Common Loon (other Common Loons were migrating overhead during the morning). During a picnic lunch closer to Paradise a Red Crossbill was heard after lunch, and Ben happened to flush up a male Spruce Grouse into a tree which remained for scope studies. Ben also saw a female Spruce Grouse. A small group of us returned for American Woodcock at dusk. Two American Bitterns were also heard. 

On our final day we drove south after breakfast. While still in the Upper Peninsula we noted a displaying Wilson’s Snipe in flight, a Wilson’s Warbler at a breeding site, a Ruffed Grouse (for some), Orange-crowned Warbler (migrant) and two American Bitterns. We stopped at St. Ignace to look for a male Western Tanager, but didn’t find it. Warblers were numerous and included Golden-winged, American Redstart (20), Cape May (15) and Black-throated Green (6).  In the Strait we had good scope views of Long-tailed Ducks. We did stop at Nyanquing State Park near Pinconning and noted a variety of waterfowl, many of them new for us (Gadwall, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, and Ring-necked and Ruddy ducks). Other species here included numerous Marsh Wrens (“Eastern”), Yellow-headed Blackbird, Common Gallinule, American Coot, and Black Tern (9). A Ring-necked Pheasant was heard here and an American Beaver was seen during the day. After Nyanquing we continued on south to Romulus where we concluded with dinner at Leonardo’s for Italian food. Following dinner we checked in to the Hampton Inn nearby for our final night.

-        Jon Dunn, 2026

Back to Narratives