Ed Pike and Steve Baker counted Thursday morning from 6:50am till 10:30am, with Tracy Daltin helping out. After a couple of hours Steve went to Pt. LaBarbe and we compared observation of birds and boats and determined that the most distant waterbirds we can see from McGalpin Point were about 1/2 way across the Straits roughly 1.5 to 2 miles. Steve could see very little waterbird activity and could not see the Red-necked Grebes that we could see from McGalpin; apparently in the middle of the Straits.
Today was a slow day at the Straits. It was cloudy with calm winds (it was interesting as the last time I counted there were 6 ft. waves and today 6 inch waves) and moderate temperatures. The calm winds probably kept many birds from moving.
For migrants 2 C. Loons were counted, one large Sandpiper sp. and a Merlin was seen flying from the UP to the lower. Other non-migrants seen were 15 Red-necked Grebes, 5 Horned Grebes, 8 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Ruby-throated Hummer and many D.C. Cormorants.
