gss@edsdrd.eds.com (Gary Schiltz) (02/22/90)
My wife Karen and I just returned from five days of cross country skiing
accompanied by sporadic birding in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP). Since
birding wasn't the emphasis of the trip, I don't have a trip list. However,
we did see a some very good (IMHO) birds.
On Sunday (Feb. 18), we found the Gyrfalcon which has been living on Rock
Doves this winter along the St. Mary River in the downtown sections of Sault
Sainte Marie Michigan and Ontario. The bird is essentially a gray phase: the
body pretty well matches the gray phase shown in the National Geographic
field guide, but with the facial pattern shown for the dark phase. This is
one impressive bird! What struck me most was how noticably bigger it is than
a Peregrine Falcon, both while perched and in flight.
We also saw two Hoary Redpolls which have been visiting a feeder in Sault Ste.
Marie. The birds were with a flock of 30-50 Common Redpolls. The birds are
quite easy to identity, being much lighter than the Commons, unstreaked underneath
and having a white patch on the rump.
Another nice sighting was also at a feeder near Munising, in the UP. Sitting at
the same time on a platform feeder were a male Evening Grosbeak and five Pine
Grosbeaks, two of which were adult males, two of which were immature males and one
of which was an adult female.
When we returned yesterday and reported to a friend about the Gyrfalcon and Hoary
Redpolls, we all got excited enough to tentatively schedule another trip to see
them this coming weekend (probably Saturday). In case any net birders would be
interested in seeing them, here are directions (sorry about all the "several(?)"
references; I didn't count blocks or take odometer readings):
Gyrfalcon
---------
Take the Sault Ste. Marie business 75 exit from Interstate 75 and proceed North
several(?) miles (this becomes Ashmund Street). Turn East on Portage Street and
proceed several(?) blocks to the Sault Edison hydroelectric station on the left,
which is a long, old dark brown building. Park in the lot at the west end of the
building (the entrance is just before the yellow bridge). From there, you should
be able to see the north side of the building where the bird seems to roost. We
saw the bird fly across the river and perch on some railing on a turret on top of
the building. It perched there for ten or fifteen minutes (affording excellent
scoping opportunities) before flying out a few yards and returning to a window
ledge to roost. The bird flew in at about 5:20 in the afternoon, and from
discussions with another birder who had seen it the day before, this is about the
time it usually returns to roost for the day. In other words, pay a lot of
attention from around 4:30 until dark, as this is probably the best time to see
the bird. I'm not sure how often Gyrfalcons come into the US, but I'm sure that
it is seldom that one is as cooperative as this one is.
Hoary Redpolls
--------------
Take Portage Street (directions above) East for several(?) miles past the
Gyrfalcon :-) until you reach Three Mile Road. Turn right on Three Mile Road
and go several(?) blocks. The house you are looking for is on the left about
a quarter mile past the first four way stop. There are several hanging sunflower
feeders in front which can be observed from the road. We recognized the place
by the abundance of Common Redpolls (about 30-50) on and around the feeders.
Although we saw the Hoarys from the road, other birders told us that the owner
had seen them looking and had invited them into his house to watch them through
the back window, where they could be seen from within a few feet. He apparently
wasn't home when we were there.
Hope to see you there this Saturday!
---
/\ What cheer, /\ | Gary Schiltz, EDS R&D, 3551 Hamlin Road |
/ o< cheer, <o \ | Auburn Hills, MI 48057, (313) 370-1737 |
\\/ ) / cheer, \ ( \// | gss@edsdrd.eds.com |
\ / cheer!!! \ / | "Have bird will watch ..." |