June 2005:8 Jun: A singing Magnolia Warbler in east Dearborn was a tardy migrant, but still not the latest we've had in spring.
7 Jun: And still: a late Whippoorwill in east Dearborn. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was on campus; this species waits until there is an abundant food supply (often tent caterpillars) before nesting, so may still be wandering around at this date.
6 Jun: Late migrants STILL being found -- this time an Acadian Flycatcher singing in the Rose Garden.
May 2005:
25 May: Common Nighthawks have begun to show up around the city. A White-eyed Vireo was singing behind the EIC today.
24 May: A survey today came up with 72 species, but it was hard work. Several Mourning Warblers were found, but no Connecticut today. A Northern Parula tied the late date today, one of a total of 16 warbler species, including Black-throated Green and Black-and-white (still), Orange-crowned, and many American Redstarts. A Red-breasted Nuthatch is getting late for a migrant (there is no breeding habitat here). The Northern Mockingbird in the brush dump was singing again. We're beginning to suspect that there are two birds here finally. Time will tell!
23 May: A Connecticut Warbler was singing off and on for most of the morning behind the EIC, and headed towards the south end of the lake.
20 May: The first Philadelphia Vireos are here.
17 May: Mourning Warblers have arrived.
16 May: New arrivals today were Canada Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and Alder/Willow Flycatcher. A Red-breasted Nuthatch in east Dearborn was getting tardy for a migrant.
15 May: A Grasshopper Sparrow sang briefly in the Organic Garden.
13 May: Much quieter today. New birds were a single Gray-cheeked Thrush and a Solitary Sandpiper.
12 May: Birds were harder to detect today in the cold wind, and found mostly in pockets. Yellow-rumped and Palm were the dominant warblers. The highlight was definately our second record of Blue Grosbeak, this bird a second-year male (and thus mottled blue and brown) feeding with a group of White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows.
11 May: Not quite as birdy as yesterday, and the only new species recorded were Black-throated Blue Warbler and Cape May Warbler. Northern Parulas were found in east Dearborn, and the first Common Nighthawk in west Dearborn.
10 May: New species continue to arrive. Today we had Black-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Blackpoll Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager, in addition to species already present. Nearly all the migrants banded today had very little fat, indicating that they have probably just arrived. There is also some evidence that many birds of some species probably overflew our area. Typically, older males arrive first, followed by younger males, and older females then younger females arrive last (there is overlap, of course). For example, Nashville Warblers have only been present a few days, but nearly all that I have caught have been young females, and a few young males, perhaps an indication that the older birds have already made for their northern nesting territories.
9 May: Very nice uptick in diversity today, with 16 species of warblers, including our first Magnolias, Blackburnians, Bay-breasted, American Redstart, Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush. A Whippoorwill was also flushed, and another was reported from a residential area in west Dearborn. While it sounds like from reports from up north that many sparrows bypassed southern Michigan, we got the dregs, with lots of White-crowns, Swamps, and Lincoln's in the area. Other new arrivals were Indigo Bunting and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Two Purple Finches were also present.
8 May: New migrants continue to arrive, with numbers modestly increasing. Today we had Least Flycatcher and Orange-crowned Warbler, both in the field and in the nets.
7 May: Another flurry of activity, with Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak all being found today.
6 May: Some additional diversity, but still very low numbers today. New arrivals were Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Nashville Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Broad-winged Hawk, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
4 May: RRBO banded its first Grasshopper Sparrow today, only the third campus record and fifth city record. Note the bright yellow shoulder on this bird in the photo below; the lores were also brighter than indicated in the top picture.
A hint of movement was evident today, with the first Black-throated Green Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, and Warbling Vireo of the season seen, and the first White-crowned Sparrow banded. A Common Loon was a flyover, and there was a modest increase in the number of Yellow-rumped Warblers as well.
3 May: The first Palm Warbler was found on the concrete channel of the Rouge River today.Apr 2005:
30 Apr: A Black-and-white Warbler is reported.
28 Apr: The first Spotted Sandpiper and a pair of Blue-winged Teal were along the concrete channel today.
26 Apr: After a remarkable weekend of snow, the modest migration ground to a halt. Today our first Common Yellowthroat was seen, but things remain very quiet.
21 Apr: Two House Wrens were seen and another banded; also in the nets today was the first Yellow Warbler. The first Green Heron of the season was also found today.
19 Apr: A singing Blue-headed Vireo was seen today, early by a couple of days. Otherwise, things seem fairly quiet.
18 Apr: Today there was a notable influx of White-throated Sparrows, and the first Swamp Sparrow
of the season was banded. Purple Finch and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were on campus, as was a Pine Warbler. Red-letter bird of the day was the first Northern Mockingbird ever banded by RRBO, even more notable because it was not the bird that has been resident of the other end of campus. That makes three mockingbirds in Dearborn at the moment.
An early Chimney Swift was seen in east Dearborn.
17 Apr: In east Dearborn, the first migrant White-throated Sparrow and Purple Finch were coming to a feeder. A lingering Red-breasted Nuthatch was also in the neighborhood. On campus, two Rusty Blackbirds were in the swamp, a pair of Common Mergansers were getting late on the river, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was also noted. The first Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was reported as well.
16 Apr: An Eastern Bluebird was found on campus.
14 Apr: The first Brown Thrasher of the season was on campus, and an early Cliff Swallow was on the Rouge River channel.
11 Apr: The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet was found today, and a pair of Common Mergansers was on the lake. An adult Bald Eagle was seen over Southfield and Rotunda.
10 Apr: Savannah Sparrows and Barn Swallows have returned to the concrete channel.
8 Apr: Two N. Rough-winged Swallows along the river were early by a few days. In addition to our faithful, silent, and therefore probably female Northern Mockingbird, still hanging around the brush dump, there is another mockingbird in Dearborn -- this one a very enthusiastic male. It's hanging out at the UAW office on Dix and Wyoming near the Ford Rouge Plant.
7 Apr: The season's first Hermit Thrush was seen this morning.
6 Apr: Yellow-rumped Warblers were reported today, along with an American Coot near the lake.
5 Apr: Tree Swallows have been present for a few days in coastal areas, but made their first appearance in Dearborn today.
3 Apr: Nearly four dozen Double-crested Cormorants were at the Ford Rouge Plant today.
1 Apr: A Bonaparte's Gull at the Ford Village Road ponds was a new early date.
