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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
Jun 2004:30 Jun: Here's a Wayne Co. Breeding Bird Atlas update, including areas outside of Dearborn. In the two blocks covered by RRBO than include Dearborn, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were confirmed on campus, two Common Yellowthroats were found, with one near the Rouge River channel still on territory on 28 Jun; and two Willow Flycatchers along the channel. A surprise find, just outside city limits in Allen Park, was a singing male Black-throated Blue Warbler on 18 Jun. This is probably just a tardy migrant.
A male Red-breasted Nuthatch was seen and heard in Dearborn today. Rather than an early migrant, this was more likely post-breeding dispersal. I know of at least one successful nesting, in Huron Twp., this year.
In Sumpter Twp., a variety of good birds have been found along Sherwood and Ellwell roads. Early in the month, a Broad-winged Hawk and Acadian Flycatcher were found, but have not been relocated. One of at least two Ovenbirds (only 1 confirmed record in the county the last Atlas) was still singing today. Two Veeries and an American Redstart were heard on 15 Jun, but not heard today (no previous confirmed records). Alder Flycatchers nested at Sherwood Park (no previous confirmed records). Two pairs/families of Vesper Sparrows were found today in a field along Sherwood Road, this is a species that was an abundant breeder in the county at the turn of the 20th century, but there were no confirmed records last Atlas. A singing Sedge Wren (no previous confirmed records) and a Bobolink were in a field along Ellwell today. Four or five Blue-winged Warblers (only one confirmed location last Atlas) were in this block, but have fallen silent this week, although one was seen at Sherwood Park.
In Brownstown Twp., three male Mourning Warblers have been on territory all month in an area on Beech-Daly Rd. They so far are not exhibiting evidence that they have mates. There was only one possible record in Wayne Co. last Atlas, which may have been a late migrant. Also in this area, a male Chestnut-sided Warbler on 26 Jun.
May 2004:
30 May: A variety of warblers can still be found (Mourning, Wilson's, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided and Magnolia), but in very small numbers. A Philadelphia Vireo in east Dearborn was a new late date.
23 May: A mix of late-season warblers today, mostly Mourning, Wilson's, and Magnolia. A singing male Hooded Warbler was also found, a late date for Dearborn. Two American Woodcock were flushed from the banding area.
22 May: A White-crowned Sparrow in east Dearborn was getting late.
21 May: An increase in flycatchers was evident today, with Alder, Willow, Yellow-bellied, and Least, and Eastern Wood-Pewee all banded. Canada, Mourning, and Wilson's Warblers were common.
20 May: A late Yellow-rumped Warbler was banded today.
19 May: Things picked up a bit, with many more female birds banded. The dominant species were Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and Nashville Warbler. A White-eyed Vireo was reported near the south end of the lake.
17 May: An Olive-sided Flycatcher was reported today near the Estate.
16 May: While a quiet morning, we banded a female Hooded Warbler and heard a singing male near the south end of the lake, the latter first reported yesterday.
14 May: Still quiet, with the only new arrivals being Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Alder/Willow Flycatcher.
13 May: Many migrants have moved out. It was quiet today, and females of quite a few species are beginning to dominate. New arrivals were Mourning Warbler and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
12 May: One of the Clay-colored Sparrows reported Sunday remains on campus at the north edge of parking lot "C" adjacent to the parking structure. It has been singing in the pines and oak trees east of the storage buildings near the organic garden.
Our resident Northern Mockingbird was singing in the dump this morning. It was considerably quieter than it has been the previous two days, but there are still a good variety of birds around. After banding the season's first Eastern Wood-Pewees weeks ago, we had our first singing birds today. Orioles and Lincoln's Sparrows seemed in good numbers, too. Two female Hooded Mergansers, which were on the lake yesterday, were on the river today. It's a little late for them here.
In east Dearborn, there was a White-eyed Vireo, Blackpoll Warbler, and the first Common Nighthawks of the season were noted.
10 May: Not much left during last night's rain, and over 60 birds were banded this morning, including 9 Northern Waterthrushes. Twenty warblers species were recorded, with at least two Golden-winged Warblers around. Gray-cheeked Thrush, Philadelphia Vireo, and Bay-breasted Warblers were new arrivals. A Whippoorwill was heard in Dearborn this evening.
9 May: A decent fallout of birds occurred today. A highlight was two singing Clay-colored Sparrows; UM-D is one of the most reliable sites for this species during migration. One or possibly two Cerulean Warblers were singing in the rose garden. New arrivals included Golden-winged Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Northern Parula, and Blackburnian Warbler.
8 May: A Yellow-breasted Chat was in the big meadow today. The first Yellow-throated Vireos were also found. Two Bobolinks, one singing, flew over west Dearborn. Good numbers of Wood Thrushes and Ovenbirds were also present (10+ each).
7 May: An American Bittern, the 7th modern Dearborn record, was at the lake today. The first American Redstart was also found.
6 May: Our highlight of the day was banding a nice "Brewster's" Warbler. New arrivals were Scarlet Tanagers and Chestnut-sided Warbler. A Purple Finch was near the interpretive center feeders.
5 May: A singing Worm-eating Warbler was tantalizingly close to the nets this morning, but was last heard heading toward the north end of the lake. North winds still kept migrant numbers down, with the only other new arrivals being Red-eyed Vireo and Veery. A Solitary Sandpiper was mudding around the puddles near the Interpretive Center.
4 May: Not a large increase in bird numbers, but a few new arrivals: Tennessee and Magnolia Warblers, Swainson's Thrush, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.