Weather –
Light rain was falling as I made coffee this morning. By the beginning of the count at 6:20AM it had stopped. 2.2C at the start of the count with a north west wind 12-19kph. Low nimbo- stratus clouds sifted through the straits. The barometer rose slightly and the cloud cover lifted. Out to the west blue skies could be seen. At times today it was completely calm and glassy in the straits. It still hadn’t warmed up much by the end of the count with a temperature of 6.1C.
Waterbird Notes –
Other than a good pulse of COLO (23) between 6:30-9:30 it was a slow day in the straits. Hardly any birds were flying, including the merganser. (9) HOGR were seen resting near the shipping channel and (1) RNGR. DCCO (107) are back in force in the straits. Around noon 63 of them were seen roosting near the gull colony on Point LaBarbe. Another lone BOGU (1) was accidentally spotted while trying to get a high count on LTDU (201). Got a really nice look at REDH (3).
Non- waterbird Notes –
Very quiet in the forest behind the gazebo today. Ditto for the raptors crossing the straits. A new addition to this seasons count is GREG (8). The first two were seen crossing the straits heading south and many others were detected in the vicinity of the Point LaBarbe colony. I can only imagine the colony is going to be crowded shortly. TRES (4) continue to increase in numbers, today a group was seen foraging together out in the straits.
Wildlife-
RESQ was up to no good and doesn’t understand the suet isn’t for him.
Freighters-
H. Lee White west bound at 10:53 which is when I got the high count for resting LTDU.
Visitors –
A few different groups on their way to Whitefish Point’s Spring Fling stopped in today. Fortunately since conditions were ideal I was able to point a few resting birds out.
Total observer hours – 8.0
Next days forecast –
Sunny, with a high near 43. North wind around 15 mph.
Todays tally is posted on eBird here.
Total Species: 36
Total Count : 1012
