Weekly totals are in ().
The first week of October was nothing short of fantastic with a massive influx of waterbirds! The week started with full momentum behind a cold front as strong southwest winds brought rain off Lake Michigan. Both Green-winged Teal(19) and Blue-winged Teal(34) followed the rain in mixed flocks on October 1st, similar to previous movements this season. Winds switched completely northwest by the afternoon providing ideal migration conditions for the remainder of the week. Aythya flocks dominated by Redhead(5,342) continuously streamed east over the bridge, sprinkled with a good mix of Greater Scaup(177) and Lesser Scaup(48). Staging groups of Redhead of up to several hundred can now be seen resting near the Mackinac Bridge. Several Ring-necked Ducks(25) were also observed this week. An impressive movement of dabbling ducks filled the spaces between Aythya flocks – notably American Wigeon(101), Northern Shoveler(15), and Northern Pintail(44). Loon movement appears to reduce on southernly winds. It wasn’t until after 1pm on the 1st after the winds switched north when a majority of loons finally started moving. The following morning saw a huge flight of Common Loons(446), with over 100 in a couple hours!
We have reached a prime period in the waterbird count where you can expect to see the greatest waterbird diversity here in the Straits. As expected in mid-to-late fall in the Great Lakes, all three species of scoter were observed migrating this week! White-winged Scoters(109) are the most frequent scoter observed from the waterbird count, but this time of year is common now for both Surf Scoter(19) and Black Scoter(6). Scoter sightings will be consistent for the remainder of the count! Red-breasted Mergansers(449) have especially returned this week replacing their more frequent counterparts, Common Mergansers as the predominate merganser species. Long-tailed Ducks(302) made their return to the Straits known on October 6th. Having only seen a handful this season, southernly winds following the front appeared to push these ducks off Lake Huron past Graham Point. Almost 300 Long-tailed ducks were seen that day! Long-tailed Duck flights will dramatically increase for the remainder of the fall season.
Shorebirds continue to drop off in frequency, with only two American Golden Plovers(2) observed this week. Small numbers of remaining Bonaparte’s Gulls(18) and Common Tern(5) continue to make their way south through the Great Lakes. An increase in Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs occurred this week, behind the September influx of American Pipits. Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers are making their way to the tropics and pass through the waterbird count at this time. Several other late species still linger within flocks like Orange-crowned or Nashville Warblers. Rusty Blackbirds have taken over as the primary blackbird species moving around both Graham and McGulpin Point. White-crowned sparrows have settled into place foraging in bushy areas near the count.
Although favorable conditions this week can be raved about, it is worth mentioning that not everyday is the same as variable weather can create conditions that can affect counting ability. For instance, a lack of clouds can create visibility issues with sunlight or heat shimmer can create distortion above the water. Counters face weather challenges daily as no two days are the same during migration season. I look forward to the challenges of brisk October mornings filled with waterbirds!
