MIDWEST WARBLERS Magee Marsh and Kirtland’S Warbler

MIDWEST WARBLERS Magee Marsh and Kirtland’s Warbler

MAY 16–24, 2021

Bay-breasted Warbler © Michael O’Brien

LEADERS:MICHAEL O’BRIEN & LOUISE ZEMAITIS COMPILED BY: MICHAEL O’BRIEN

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

MIDWEST WARBLERS May 16–24, 2021

By Michael O’Brien

After canceling our 2020 tour due to COVID, we were thrilled to be able to run this tour again in 2021 and immerse ourselves in the joy of spring migration in this warbler-rich region. We racked up an impressive 30 species of warblers, plus loads of other migrant and resident species. Our cheerful group of travelers rolled with a few new rules and minor inconveniences, and we all finished the tour with big smiles and full hearts.

Canada Warbler © Michael O’Brien

Our first day was spent south of Cleveland in the scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a region with the feel of the Appalachians more than the Midwest, and an avian diversity to match. With efforts focused on a few of our favorite spots, we enjoyed sightings of various local breeders including Red-shouldered Hawk; Yellow-throated, Cerulean, Hooded, and Blue-winged warblers; Louisiana Waterthrush; Red-headed Woodpecker; Wood Thrush; and Carolina Wren. We also found our first handful of migrants including Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, and Canada warblers. But the clear highlight of the morning, and one of the top tour highlights, were up-close views of a Barred Owl at Oak Hill Trails. Amazingly, this bird was sitting in exactly the spot where Louise found it the previous day when we were out on a scouting visit! At day’s end we were at our lodge at Maumee Bay State Park and enjoyed another tour highlight at dusk. This time, an American Woodcock put on a spectacular show for us as it performed its display,

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“peenting” from the ground just feet away, then launching into the sky on twittering wings before spiraling back to the ground in front of us—just spectacular!

American Woodcock © Michael O’Brien

Leading up to this tour, one small disappointment was that the famous boardwalk at Magee Marsh was closed for the spring, due to COVID concerns. Although other trails at Magee were still open, and we knew we would have plenty of excellent birding opportunities, we were all thrilled to learn that the boardwalk would be reopened the very day we arrived! We spent two full mornings soaking up the riches of Magee Marsh. Justifiably famous as the warbler capital of North America, Magee did not disappoint. We found 21 warbler species there, many of them by the dozens. Warbler highlights included male and female Mourning, numerous Canada and Wilson’s, several pairs of Prothonotarys, and repeated close views of the likes of Magnolia, Bay-breasted, and Blackburnian. In addition to a fabulous warbler show, we found an excellent array of other migrants, including both cuckoos, four species of Empids, Philadelphia Vireo, numerous thrushes, and Lincoln’s Sparrow. Nearby, Howard Marsh held an interesting assortment of birds including Trumpeter Swan, American White Pelican, Common Gallinule, Black-necked Stilt, a handful of migrant shorebirds, Marsh Wren, Yellow- headed Blackbird, and swarms of swallows.

Moving on to Michigan, we first visited Park Lyndon County Park, a small forest reserve adjacent to the much larger Waterloo Recreation Area. Here, we focused on upgrading our views of Cerulean Warbler; we were successful, finding a beautiful male singing right overhead. Numerous Yellow-throated Vireos and a Black-and-white Warbler belting out its “squeaky wheel” song were also highlights here. At a nearby grassland site, we enjoyed good views of the very local Henslow’s Sparrow, along with Eastern

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Bluebird, Field Sparrow, and several Eastern Meadowlarks. We also heard a wayward Yellow-breasted Chat—a scarce visitor to southern Michigan.

The remainder of our time was based at Tawas City, from which we explored the Drift Plains and Northern Lakes and Forest Region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The keystone bird of this region is Kirtland’s Warbler, and we spent two mornings visiting the young jack pine stands where these birds nest. We had good views on both mornings and heard dozens of birds singing. It’s heartening to know that conservation efforts to protect this species are working so well, as these birds continue to increase. While looking for Kirtland’s, we enjoyed a variety of other species using the same jack pine habitats, including Merlin, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Towhee, Field and Vesper sparrows, and Nashville Warbler. We also enjoyed hearing the spectacular song of Upland Sandpiper as it displayed off in the distance.

Kirtland’s Warbler © Michael O’Brien

We made two visits to Tawas Point, one of Michigan’s top migration hotspots, and often just as good as Magee Marsh. One of the most striking features of Tawas Point was visible songbird migration. During our time there, we witnessed a nearly constant flow of birds overhead including Blue Jays, swallows, Eastern Kingbirds, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, and various warblers—an exciting spectacle to witness! There were also loads of birds on the ground, all feasting on a hatch of non- biting midges (Chironomidae). In addition to 18 species of warblers, we saw a host of interesting migrants at Tawas Point including Common and Red-breasted mergansers; various shorebirds including Whimbrel; Bonaparte’s Gull; Common Tern; four species of Empids; Philadelphia Vireo; and such eye candy as Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

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There were so many other wonderful spots in the Lower Peninsula that it’s impossible to list them all, but a few highlights included a meadow with a spectacular Bobolink giving its exuberant flight song; a boreal bog with drumming Ruffed Grouse and singing Winter Wren; another bog with a stunning Golden-winged Warbler; an ear-shattering dusk chorus of Eastern Whip-poor-wills; a wildly out of place Black Vulture, rare anywhere in Michigan; and dinner at Tawas Bay Beach Resort interrupted by a Black Tern—Patricia’s 700th ABA lifer!

Golden-winged Warbler © Michael O’Brien

ITINERARY: Day 1, 16 May: Arrivals in Cleveland and 6:00 p.m. meeting at Hampton Inn Cleveland Airport- Tiedeman Rd.; night at Hampton Inn Cleveland Airport-Tiedeman Rd.

Day 2, 17 May: Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Station Road Towpath and Oak Hill Trails); Deep Lock Quarry Metro Park; drive to Maumee Bay; dusk outing for American Woodcock at Maumee Bay State Park; night at Maumee Bay Lodge.

Day 3, 18 May: Magee Marsh; Black Swamp Bird Observatory; Howard Marsh Metropark; Maumee Bay State Park boardwalk; night at Maumee Bay Lodge.

Day 4, 19 May: Magee Marsh; Oak Openings Preserve Metropark; night at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Ann Arbor, MI.

Day 5, 20 May: Park Lyndon County Park; Waterloo State Recreation Area; Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area; night at Tawas Bay Beach Resort.

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Day 6, 21 May: Huron-Manistee National Forest (Kobs Road); Woods Road fields; Tawas Point State Park; Au Sable State Forest (Big Creek Road); tern-watching during dinner at Tawas Bay Beach Resort; night at Tawas Bay Beach Resort.

Day 7, 22 May: Grayling area (Goose Creek Road; Upper Manistee Campground; Hartwick Pines State Park); dusk at Huron-Manistee National Forest (Kobs Road); night at Tawas Bay Beach Resort.

Day 8, 23 May: Tawas Point State Park; drive to Detroit; night at Courtyard by Marriott Detroit Metro Airport, Romulus, MI.

Day 9, 24 May: Departures from Detroit.

Tawas Point Lighthouse © Michael O’Brien

KEY N = Nest observed Y = Dependent young observed

BIRDS WATERFOWL: ANATIDAE Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) Y – Seen every day Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) – Several at Nayanquing Point Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) – Seen on five days Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) – Seen on four days; mainly fly-bys Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) – Seen at Magee March, Nayanquing Point, and Tawas Point

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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Y – Seen every day Redhead (Aythya americana) – Single male flying by at Nayanquing Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) – Several at Tawas Point Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) – Several at Tawas Point

PHEASANTS, GROUSE AND ALLIES: PHASIANIDAE Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) – Heard at Waterloo Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) – Heard drumming at Au Sable and Hartwick Pines Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) – Roadside sightings at Waterloo and en route to Detroit

GREBES: PODICEPEDIDAE Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) – Seen or heard at Magee Marsh, Howard Marsh, Nayanquing, and Tawas Point

PIGEONS & DOVES: COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) ( I ) – Seen most days Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) – Seen every day

CUCKOOS: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) – Seen at Magee Marsh and Park Lyndon Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) – Seen on five days

Black-billed Cuckoo © Michael O’Brien

NIGHTJARS: CAPRIMULGIDAE Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) – Seen hunting at dusk at Maumee Bay and Huron- Manistee National Forest, plus a roosting bird at Tawas Point Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) – One seen hunting at Huron-Manistee National Forest amidst a wonderful dusk chorus

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SWIFTS: APODIDAE Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) – Seen every day

Chimney Swift © Michael O’Brien

HUMMINGBIRDS: TROCHILIDAE Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) – Fly-bys at several locations, plus good views at Tawas Point

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS: RALLIDAE Sora (Porzana carolina) – Heard at Waterloo Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) – Seen at Magee Marsh, Howard Marsh, and Nayanquing American Coot (Fulica americana) – Two at Howard Marsh

CRANES: GRUIDAE Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) – Seen at Waterloo and Nayanquing

STILTS & AVOCETS: RECURVIROSTRIDAE Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) – Two at Howard Marsh

PLOVERS & LAPWINGS: CHARADRIIDAE Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) – Several at Howard Marsh and Nayanquing Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) Y – Seen every day

SANDPIPERS & ALLIES: SCOLOPACIDAE Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) – One heard singing near Grayling Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – One at Tawas Point Dunlin (Calidris alpina) – Seen at Howard Marsh, Nayanquing, and Tawas Point Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) – One at Nayanquing Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) – One at Tawas Point

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American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) – Great views of displaying bird at Maumee Bay Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) – One singign at Upper Manistee Campground Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) – Seen at several locations in both Ohio and Michigan Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) – One at Station Road towpath Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) – One in a roadside pond near Tawas City

GULLS, TERNS, & SKIMMERS: LARIDAE Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) – 60 at Tawas Point Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) – Seen every day Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) – Small numbers seen on five days, all along lakeshores Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) – Seen at Howard Marsh, Magee Marsh, and Nayanquing

Caspian Tern © Michael O’Brien

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) – One seen from our dinner table at Tawas Bay Beach Resort was Patricia’s 700th ABA lifer! Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) – Several at Magee Marsh, Howard Marsh, and Tawas Point Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) – Several at Nayanquing

LOONS: GAVIIDAE Common Loon (Gavia immer) – One flyover at Magee Marsh

CORMORANTS: PHALACROCORACIDAE Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) – Seen every day

PELICANS: PELECANIDAE American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – Small flyover flocks at Ottawa NWR, Howard Marsh, and Magee Marsh

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American White Pelican © Michael O’Brien

HERONS, EGRETS & BITTERNS: ARDEIDAE Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) – Brief views of two flying over the marsh at Nayanquing Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) – Seen every day Great Egret (Ardea alba) – Numerous in Ohio, but just a few in Michigan Green Heron (Butorides virescens) – A few seen on four days Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) – Singles at Howard Marsh and Nayanquing

NEW WORLD VULTURES: CATHARTIDAE Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) – A rarity anywhere in Michigan, we were surprised to see one near Au Sable SF Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) – Seen every day

OSPREY: PANDIONIDAE Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – One at Nayanquing

HAWKS, EAGLES, & KITES: ACCIPITRIDAE Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) – One at Oak Hill Trails plus a couple other roadside sightings Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) NY – Seen on six days, including close views of a nest with young at Magee Marsh Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) – Seen at Oak Hill Trails and Deep Lock Quarry Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) – Seen at Oak Hill Trails, Deep Lock Quarry, and near Tawas Point Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) – Seen nearly every day

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OWLS: STRIGIDAE Barred Owl (Strix varia) – Amazingly, we had five sightings of this species, including two in Ohio and three in Michigan. The best was our first one at Oak Hill Trails, which sat for prolonged scope views!

Barred Owl © Michael O’Brien

KINGFISHERS: ALCEDINIDAE Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) – One at Tawas Point

WOODPECKERS: PICIDAE Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) – Noisy pair at Au Sable SF Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) N – Seen at Station Road Towpath, Magee Marsh, Maumee Bay, Oak Openings, and Tawas Point Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) – Seen or heard on most days Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) – Seen or heard on most days Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) – Seen or heard at Deep Lock Quarry, Park Lyndon, Upper Manistee Campground, and Tawas Point Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) – Heard on four days Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) – Seen on most days

FALCONS & CARACARAS: FALCONIDAE American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) – One at Huron-Manistee NF near Tawas City Merlin (Falco columbarius) – One at Goose Creek Road near Grayling

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS: TYRANNIDAE Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) – One heard singing at Magee Marsh Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) – Seen or heard every day

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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) – A few each at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) – Heard at Deep Lock Quarry and Park Lyndon Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) – Seen at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point; heard at a few other locations Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) – Seen at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point; heard at Waterloo Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) – Seen at Magee Marsh; heard at Tawas Point and Au Sable Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) N – Seen at Au Sable and Hartwick Pines Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) – Seen or heard every day Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) N – Seen every day

VIREOS: VIREONIDAE White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) – Heard at Station Road Towpath Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) – Seen at Park Lyndon; a few others heard Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) – Seen or heard on four days Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) – Singles at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point

Philadelphia Vireo © Michael O’Brien

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) N – Numerous along the lakeshore in Ohio, as well as at Tawas Point Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) – Seen or heard every day

CROWS, JAYS & MAGPIES: CORVIDAE Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) – Seen every day; numerous migrants moving overhead at both Magee Marsh and Tawas Point

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Blue Jay © Michael O’Brien

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – Seen every day Common Raven (Corvus corax) Y – A few seen in northern parts of Michigan

CHICKADEES & TITS: PARIDAE Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) – Seen most days Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) – Numerous around Cuyahoga Valley NP plus others at Oak Openings, Park Lyndon, and Au Sable

LARKS: ALAUDIDAE Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) – Two flyovers at Tawas Point

SWALLOWS: HIRUNDINIDAE Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) N – Seen building its nest at Station Road towpath; a few other flybys seen or heard Purple Martin (Progne subis) N – Seen on five days, including nesting colonies at Ottawa NWR and Tawas City Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) N – Seen every day Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) – Flyby migrants seen on four days including 25+ at Tawas Point Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) N – Seen every day Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) N – Seen on five days, including close views of nests at Maumee Bay

NUTHATCHES: SITTIDAE Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) – Two at Upper Manistee Campground White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) – Seen or heard on five days

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GNATCATCHERS: POLIOPTILIDAE Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) – Seen or heard on six days

WRENS: TROGLODYTIDAE House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) N – Seen or heard on six days

Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) – Heard at Hartwick Pines Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) – Seen at Howard Marsh and Nayanquing Point Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – Seen at Station Road towpath; heard at Waterloo

STARLINGS: STURNIDAE European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) NY – Seen every day

MOCKINGBIRDS & THRASHERS: MIMIDAE Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) N – Seen every day Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) N – Seen at Tawas Point and near Grayling

THRUSHES & ALLIES: TURDIDAE Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) N – Seen on four days Veery (Catharus fuscescens) – Seen or heard on four days Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) – Seen or heard on four days Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) – Nice views at Goose Creek Road near Grayling; others heard Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) – Nice views at Station Road towpath; heard elsewhere American Robin (Turdus migratorius) NY – Seen every day

WAXWINGS: BOMBYCILLIDAE Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) – Seen on four days

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OLD WORLD SPARROWS: PASSERIDAE House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) N – Seen every day

FINCHES, EUPHONIAS, & ALLIES: FRINGILLIDAE House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) – Numerous in Ohio, plus a few in southern Michigan Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) – Two at Upper Manistee Campground and one at Hartwick Pines Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) – Several at Tawas Point American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) – Seen every day

NEW WORLD SPARROWS: PASSERELLIDAE Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) – Seen or heard most days Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) – Seen or heard on five days Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) – Numerous near Grayling White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) – One singing at Upper Manistee Campground Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) – Numerous in jack pine areas near Grayling Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) – Several at Tawas Point

Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) – One seen at Waterloo Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) – Seen every day Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) – One at Magee Marsh Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) – Heard most days, a few seen Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) – Seen or heard on five days; most numerous in jack pine areas near Grayling and Tawas City

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT:ICTERIIDAE Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) – Heard at Waterloo, where it is a local rarity

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TROUPIALS & ALLIES: ICTERIDAE Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) – A very local species in this tour area, we were fortunate to see it three times: two at Howard Marsh, 8 at Nayanquing Point, and two at Tawas Point Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) – Wonderful views of a male displaying in a pasture near Tawas City; others head at Tawas Point and near Grayling Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) – Seen at Howard Marsh, Maumee Bay, Waterloo, and near Tawas City Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) – Seen at Station Road Towpath and Tawas Point Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) N – Seen most days; numerous at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) – Seen every day Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) – Seen every day Common Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) – Seen every day; all of these are of the “Bronzed” subspecies

NEW WORLD WARBLERS: PARULIDAE Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) – Good views near Grayling; a few others heard Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) – Heard well and seen briefly at Deep Lock Quarry Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) – One seen and another heard at Hartwick Pines Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) – Nice views of a male singing and bathing in a pool at Au Sable Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) – Seen or heard on five days, with best views at Oak Hill Trails Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) – Seen at Park Lyndon and Tawas Point

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Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) – Up to five at Magee Marsh, some offering fine views; also seen at Station Road towpath and Maumee Bay

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) – Up to 50 at Tawas Point, plus smaller numbers at Magee Marsh and a few elsewhere Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) – Numerous in jack pine areas near Tawas City and Grayling, plus a few migrants at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) – Male and female seen at Magee Marsh, plus another heard singing at Tawas Point Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) – Seen or heard every day Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) N – Nice views of a female building her nest at Oak Hill Trails, and a male at Deep Lock Quarry; also heard at Waterloo American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) N – Seen or heard most days; high count of 25 at Tawas Point Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) – We spent two mornings with these special birds and had nice views at Huron-Manistee NF near Tawas City and near Grayling Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) – Nice views at Station Road towpath and Park Lyndon Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) – Small numbers at Magee Marsh and Tawas Point Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) – Seen on five days; up to 15 at Magee Marsh Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) – Seen or on five days; up to 30 at Magee Marsh Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) – Seen or heard on six days; up to 10 at Magee Marsh

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Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) N – Seen every day; probably the most abundant warbler on this tour, breeding in high densities at several lakeshore locations

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) – Seen or heard on five days; up to 15 at Magee Marsh Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) – Small numbers seen on five days Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) – Seen at Oak Hill Trails, Magee Marsh, and Tawas Point Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) – One heard in the jack pine area near Grayling Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) – Nice views at Hartwick Pines; heard at a few other locations Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) – Small numbers seen on five days, including breeders in the Grayling area; all of these were of the northern/eastern “Myrtle” subspecies Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) – Seen at Station Road Towpath and Deep Lock Quarry; these birds are of the interior “Sycamore” subspecies Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) – Small numbers seen or heard on five days Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) – Seen at Deep Lock Quarry, Magee Marsh (up to a dozen), and Tawas Point Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) – Up to 10 at Magee Marsh plus one at Tawas Point

CARDINALS & ALLIES: CARDINALIDAE Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) – One heard at Oak Openings Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) – Seen or heard every day; up to 15 at Tawas Point Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) – Seen on five days Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) – Seen at multiple locations, mainly in Michigan, with best views at Tawas Point

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Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) – Seen every day, with up to 20 at Tawas Point

MAMMALS Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) – Seen at many locations; many were of the black form Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) – Widespread; seen on four days Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) – Seen on four days Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) – Seen on five days Woodchuck (Marmota monax) – A few seen in southern Michigan Common Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) – Seen at Magee Marsh, Howard Marsh, and Nayanquing North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) – One roosting in a tree at Tawas Point Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) – Seen on five days Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) – Two pups playing at Magee Marsh Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor) – Seen on three days White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) – Seen every day

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer crucifer) Northern Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeianus) Green Frog (Ranas clamitans) Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

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Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) Northern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis saurita septentrionalis) Common Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

BUTTERFLIES Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Juvenal’s Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)

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