September has come to a close! What a month it’s been for waterbird migration!! The count saw a gradual dip in activity early this week however from several days of consistent sunshine and warm, calm winds. Typically, cold northernly winds and weather fronts encourage movement in the fall. On the 28th, winds gradually began to switch north with a cold front approaching the midwest. Temperatures are expected to drop the first week of October following storms along the front. Redhead flocks got ahead of this shift in winds with a dramatic return. Over 1,000 Redhead were counted at the end of this week. Redhead ducks are a remarkable highlight for the Mackinac Straits fall waterbird count. By November, tens of thousands of Redhead will have migrated through the Straits. An extraordinary phenomenon exhibited by these Redhead is ‘staging’, or gathering in massive flocks in the thousands in the Straits. Other Aythya ducks can be seen sporadically flying amongst these Redhead flocks. This week saw an increase in both Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup. Now that the Redhead have began to arrive it will be exciting to see these staging flocks develop this fall.
Additional excitement this week following the north winds comes with our first Short-eared Owl of the season! Observed flying in from Mackinac Island to Graham Point in the middle of the day! Although uncommon, these owls can get caught out in the day as they migrate.
Passerine activity reflected that of the waterbirds at the start of the week, with little movement. The latter part of the week aligned with the fresh wave of Redhead as initial sightings of Pine Siskin flocks and Purple Finches were observed. Reports on the Great Lakes suggest a large movement of Siskin coming this fall! On 9/29, a lack of wind led to a thick fog encompassing the lakeshore around McGulpin Point. Swainson’s and Gray-checked Thrushes could be heard migrating overhead as the count began at dawn. When the fog lifted mid-morning, loons, grebes, and ducks immediately kickstarted their flight. In the middle of this sudden push of waterbirds, a dramatic scene unfolded when an immature Parasitic Jaeger bounded towards a group of Ring-billed Gulls! Jaegers are known for their aggressive pursuit of gulls so this was an exciting moment for the waterbird count.
Common Loon, White-winged Scoter and Long-tailed Duck flights will follow these upcoming cold fronts. October will be the peak of activity for these species and more! Enjoy these September waterbird photo highlights!
