phil jeffrey:: Michigan, June 11-14th 2004



 

Sunrise, Sunset 12 June at Grayling MI (LP)

Civil twilight 5:15am
Sun Rise: 5:52am
Sun Set: 9:24pm
Civil twilight: 10:01pm

Sunrise, Sunset 12 June at Newberry MI (UP)

Civil twilight 5:10am
Sun Rise: 5:49am
Sun Set: 9:34pm
Civil twilight: 10:13pm

RBA: 269/471-4919

Locations

In order of decreasing relevance

Mio/Grayling for Kirtland's Warbler
FR-3344 just north of Trout Lake
Seney NWR
Tahquamenon State Park
Whitefish Point
Munuscong Bay WMA (Grays Rd) in east Chippewa Co
Soo Junction Road
Swamp Lakes boreal forest - north Newberry on M-123, west of CoRd 500
Western PA Henslow's Sites as per private communication
Nayanquing Point/Wildlife Area - Saginaw Bay (LP) just north of Bay City
Crane Creek State Park and Ottawa NWR, east of Toledo OH
Marsh area between Devil's Lake/Mud Lake in Alpena Co (LP, NE of Mio) "good for Sedge Wren"
West section of Hiawatha National Forest has nesting Kirtland's (small #s)

Targets

URLs and other useful data

Tentative Itinerary

(*CT - Connecticut Warbler site, *LC for LeConte's, *BBW for Black-backed Woodpecker)

Sightings, Directions and other Drivel, First Sections Mostly Species-Specific

Kirtland's Warbler near Rose City - this seems to be about 20 miles south of Mio, report from 2004 
At 12 noon, I was NW of Rose City in search of the Kirtland's on Turney
Ranch Trail (via Perry Holt Rd) at the corner of Odessa Rd.  At this
particular intersection I heard 6 different males and observed the
'ruler of the corner' for extended periods of time as he sang
forcefully from a branch at eye level.
 The birds can be heard and seen with patience easily from the road.

As a reminder, entering the jack pines is prohibited.  Also, Turney
Ranch Trail is maintained and considered a gravel road, however, soil
conditions although generally firm are a very sandy base. You can
expect some soft spots or shallow ruts on this road.  Save driving and
good birding !

Phil notes: this is in extreme NW Ogemaw County, where Odessa Rd is
running N/S and Turney Ranch Tr is running E/W.  Closest I-75 exit is
#222 (~30mi from Grayling) then going north on F 97 (N Saint Helen
Road) and east on 20/F28 Rose City Rd before going north again on
Odessa Rd.  Pretty good map of area would be useful.  This area is SW
of Mio and SE of Grayling - note that F 97 northbound changes into 502
and then 18.  18 also passes through Kirtland's habitat on the way to
72 - backtracking and meandering north along that route would put you
at the other two locations which are well-described, and west of the
more uncertain one nearer to Mio.
Potential non-Tour Kirtland's Warbler info from 2000 
Then you caravan to the site.  They were nine people in our group.  It took
us about 20 minutes.  Basic directions follow:
        East on Route 72
        North (left) on South Stephens Bridge Rd
        East (right) on East North Down River Road
        North (left) at a T (Not sure if this was marked--this turn may 
	actually keep you on North Down River Road ... appears it may also 
	be called Damon Truck Trail
        After about 2-1/2 or 3 miles, we turned right onto an unmarked 
	minor dirt road (just after Bald Hill Road on the left).
        We parked there, maybe 100 feet in from the road.

From my Delorme Atlas software, it appears we were at N44 42.8' and W84
29.1' (We had GPS with us, but forgot to take a way point, duh!)

We heard warblers singing as soon as we got out of the car.  You could
probably hear them from the paved road.  REMEMBER: You cannot walk on
the Federal land unescorted.

Our leader said that there are 30-40 singing males within a 3-4 mile
radius and about 7-8 in the local vicinity.  We heard about three right
away and

Phil notes: this is about 10 miles ENE of Grayling, directions seem
fairly interpretable but it's not clear if the dirt road is Federal or
public.  The T mentioned in the text shows Damon Truck Trail to the
south, road keeps changing it's name as it zig zags through this
section.  Other dirt roads nearby (e.g. Dyer Truck Trail) might be good
bets to check.
Potential non-Tour Kirtland's Warbler info sites from 1998 

The first area I went to was east of Grayling, taking SR 72 out to SR
18 and going south.  Shortly after crossing a bridge you see the jack
pine area on your right along with a sign identifying it as a warbler
management area.  There's a convenient dirt road right there (Rock
Cemetary Road), so I pulled in and just crawled along listening for
chips. I was out of the rain but it was still rather dreary, but
several Chipping Sparrows and a Junco (new for the trip) popped up,
while in the thicker woods on the right a raven squawked and a Hermit
Thrush contrasted that with his beautiful song.  I didn't think my
chances of finding the warbler were all that great, seeing as the
breeding season was virtually over and they weren't singing, but on the
way out a flock of chickadees turned up, and within them were several
Nashville Warblers, and what should show up but a young Kirtland's!
That tail-wag gave the thing away, but the white eye crescents were
pretty obvious as well.  He/she was also quite a bit more bulky than
the accompanying Nashvilles.

Tickled to get the warbler so soon, I still wanted to reconnasaince the
rest of the area for future trips (I certainly can't expect to get it
THERE every time!).  I continued down 18 to the next forest road to the
right, but this one was a high-clearance only road, so I parked the car
and hiked in about ten minutes worth. Had I to do it again, I might go
ahead and drive in to where the thick jack pines start (which isn't
very far) and then hike from there, because the road wasn't all THAT
terrible (the one I drove over at Thompson's Whatever-it-was State Park
was worse!).  But I did pass a nearly dried pond that had two Solitary
Sandpipers on it, and an Eastern Phoebe was collecting food in the more
heavily forested area.  A familiar "chup" turned out to be a
Butterbutt, and what I thought at first was a fall Blackpoll turned out
to be a juvenile Butterbutt: I had never seen one so streaked before!
And as more chickadees and Nashvilles came in, in zipped yet another
Kirtland's (this one a female)!  I was beginning to wonder if ALL the
areas were this productive!
Kirtland's Warbler info for Mio from 2003 

After breakfast on our own, at 7:15 a.m. we assembled, prepared for a
day of birding, at the U.S. Forest Service Mio Ranger Station (401
Court Street, 517-826-3252), directly across the street from the Mio
Motel. The Forest Service charges $5 per person for the Kirtland's
Warbler program/field trip.  There was some confusion about the
agreed-upon meeting time, but it all worked out in the end. We just did
the driving/observing segment of the program first,
 then returned for the video.

Joe Gomola of the U.S. Forest Service led our small caravan of cars
west out of Mio on M-72. We turned left on Mapes Road, right on
Merritt, and left on 4153.  Joe was searching for a spot where a male
Kirtland's Warbler had been heard singing the day before. We got out of
the cars and listened. It was very quiet. We heard several Kirtland's
Warblers singing their loud, far-carrying songs.  Joe spotted a male
Kirtland's Warbler very quickly, sitting in atypical habitat -- 30 feet
up in a tall Red Pine. It sang a truncated song, singing only the
middle part of the song. It didn't wag its tail very much, which we
thought odd because that is supposed to be a diagnostic field mark. Joe
pointed out that each bird is very individualistic and that the
tail-wagging is vastly overemphasized in field guides.

Phil notes: I cannot find 4153 on Mapquest although the general area is 
due north of the Odessa/Turney Trail location.
Kirtland's Warbler Tour Info for 2004 (from this link) 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will conduct guided tours from May 15
through July 4, 2004 departing from the Holiday Inn in Grayling,
Michigan. The tours are offered daily at 7:00 a.m. and at 11:00 a.m.
and are free of charge.

The U.S. Forest Service will conduct daily tours from May 15 through
July 2, 2004 (except on Memorial Day) with tours departing at 7:00
a.m.  from the U.S.  Forest Service District Ranger Office in Mio,
Michigan.  The USFS tour will cost $5.00 per person under the
Recreation Fee Demonstration Program.
** Mourning Warbler 

After 3344 hits 3145 turn right and follow 3145, this will eventually
take you back to M123.  It is about a 12 mile loop.  Mourning Warbler
will be near the bridge over a stream along the 3145 section of the
route.  This bridge will be shortly past some hunting cabins, maybe a
mile or two.

One place I know you can find Mourning Warbler is on county road 500 in
Luce county. Take 123 north out of Newberry about 15 miles. Turn left
onto 500, go about a mile until you see another snowmobile crossing
sign. That whole area on the left past the snowmobile crossing always
has at least 2 pairs of Mourning warblers. The habitat is sapling
aspen.
** LeConte's Sparrow 

Good luck at Seney.  LeConte's are also around.  You can get them along
the auto tour as well as M123 near Skyline road north of Newberry on
your way to Paradise. (This is on M-123 about 9 miles north of Newberry
just after you cross the Auger River/Creek)
** Yellow Rail 
Good luck at Seney.  Yellow Rails are in but may not be accessible
from areas open to the public.  Check with the refuge for tours.  

Yellow Rail - Seney NWR(check with visitors center) or in marsh
along 3344 about 3.5 miles in on south side of road. (Multiple confirmation)
** Sedge Wren 

A good spot for sedge wrens (can't miss) is the former Prairie Chicken
area found 3 miles north of the town of Marion on the east side of
M-66.  There have been Henslow's Sparrows here in the past as well as
probable nesting of Short-eared Owls.  The site is mosly open, with
some shrubby areas and a wetland mitigation site on the north portion
of the area with open water.

Phil notes: Marion is ~~15 miles southwest of Houghton Lake south
of Grayling in the LP.


Maybe a mile south of the Rivermouth is what is referred to as Lone
Pine Rd, although there's no sign.  It heads east, to the water.  Look
for a newish looking bridge along the snowmobile trail on the east side
of the road.  Along this road you can hear, and sometimes see,
LeConte's and Clay Colored Sparrows.   The road's not very long, and
there's a parking area right near the entrance; I'd recommend you park
there and walk the road.  By the way, when we were last there, we ended
up pulling a friend out of mud up to the top of his tire, in what
looked like an innocuous puddle in the road.  (That was just beyond the
parking area.) = this is Tahquammon State Park, south of Paradise =

LeConte's Sparrows breed in the sedge marsh at the western end of Vermillion
Road, about 5 miles west of 123. Sedge Wrens breed as well.
** Black-backed Woodpecker 

Black Backed Woodpecker - this one you just will have to luck into, if
you spend enough time along the trout lake loop, or near the Taquamenon
rivermouth area( just south of the river there is a pulloff on the east
side of the road with a historic marker sign for Emerson) or any boreal
habitat with a lot of dead spruce trees.

Chippewa County, Tahquamenon Rivermouth Region.  Located two black
backed woodpeckers.  One was on the west side of M-123 in black spruce
forest, at end of service road, just south of the River Rd entrance to
the lower river state park campground.  Another black backed woodpecker
was observed along the Emerson foot trail on the east side of M-123,
also two boreal chickadees were observed in the dense black spruce
forest along this trail.  This trail starts on M-123, at Emerson State
Historical Marker Sign and goes south and east back to the old town
site of Emerson.  The best boreal forest bird habitat is in the
 first portion of the trail, in the black spruce forest, before it
 opens up to more of a tag alder and aspen forest.  Two ruffed grouse
were located on drumming logs in the hardwood portion of this trail.
An American Bittern was observed and calling in the swamp near M-123,
at location about a mile south of the river mouth, where road goes into
the boat landing for Whitefish Bay.  There have been reports from
locals of up to a dozen or more sharp-tailed grouse perched in aspens
and birches in the opening at this location.

At the fire/burn location at the north end of Swamp Lakes, I had three
black backed woodpeckers, and bark flecking sign, suggests that they
are still really utilizing the area.   (Swamp Lakes near Tahquamenon
State Park, western part)

April 30th, Luce County, Natalie State Forest Campground, Lake Superior
State Forest, at Dollarville Flooding, west of Newberry.  I located
three boreal chickadees in the boreal forest, in region from the RR
tracks to the north and into the campground.  There was a lot of
woodpecker activity on the conifer trees, but I noted no birds this
day.
** Spruce Grouse 

Spruce Grouse - recent sightings along Vermillion Rd near Whitefish Pt.
just past Andrus lake campground about 1/2 mile.  Also reported along
3344 and 3145 near Trout Lake

Spruce Grouse in the thick jack pines behind the old cement foundation
on Vermillion Road (runs west from Whitefish Point Road north of
Paradise) just east of the Shelldrake campground road.

North of Paradise, South of the point is a the road to Vermillion
Point. I don't recall the name, but there's a sign for the Andrus Lake
Campground (Maybe it's Andrus or Andrus Lake Road.)  Take this road
until it forks, take the right fork, and check out the two-tracks.
I've had incredibly cooperative Spruce Grouse in there, as well as
Black Backed Woodpeckers.  I know there was some clear-cutting last
year in what had been the most dependable areas for me, but I'd imagine
those guys are still around somewhere.

Chippewa County, Hiawatha National Forest, Hendrie River Swamp, April
28th, located six spruce grouse, which included five males and one
female calling from the top of a jack pine tree.  Also observed four
gray jays, one boreal chickadee, in the areas of the moist soils with
black spruce and tamarack trees as dominant forest cover.  There was
bark-flecking signs of black backed woodpeckers in this area, but I did
not observe any birds.

Luce County, April 29th, in the area of the Pike Lake Pine Barrens and
large expansive clear-cuttings, I observed three sharp-tailed grouse.
This is the first observation I have had of the birds moving into the
large openings created in northern Luce County. In the mid morning to
midday portion of the 29th in the Swamp Lakes Region.  Located a total
of eight spruce grouse, including seven males and one female.  The
female was found at the exact location that we had a female during our
boreal forest tour of the area on May 15th of last year.  The bird was
picking up grit on the two-track, right under the pink forestry tape
that I had put up to mark its location last year.

Schoolcraft County, April 29th, in the afternoon, I located four spruce
grouse, all males in the jack pines and boreal forests along the Fox
River Truck Trail about four to five miles west of the town of Seney.
A single gray jay was noted, carrying food, it is possible it had a
nest somewhere nearby.
** Gray Jay 

Gray Jay -  along the trout lake loop or at Hulbert bog which is along
M28 west of the M123 intersection, I do not know the name of the road
but if you were headed west on M28 from M123 look for the sign to
Hulbert about 8 miles from M123, turn south on this road instead of
north towards Hulbert, follow this road around.  It will eventually hit
M28 again.  Somewhere in the last 1/2 miles before M28 Gray Jays are
around.  They have been fed here by people for a long time.
** Evening Grosbeak 

Evening Grosbeak - quite common, a very reliable spot lately is the
Bear Butt Bar in Eckerman which is about a mile north of M28 on M123 in
the town of Eckerman.  They are also common currently at Whitefish
point feeders. (INTERSECTION of M-123 and M-28).

Evening Grosbeak was observed at the AuSable River access at the end of
Thendara Rd.  Thendara runs north off M72 between Grayling and Stephan
Bridge Rd. Lucie spotted the bird high in the trees on the left side if
your facing the river near the access. Their also supposed to be down
the dead-end road that goes right off Thendara.

We have always seen Evening Grosbeaks at Hartwick Pines, either on the
trail from the reception center, or at the center on the feeders.  Been
pretty dependable for us.  From Grayling, drive north on I-75 to Exit
259.  Head northbound on M-93 and proceed about 2 miles and look for
the park entrance sign on the left side of the road.
** Ruffed Grouse 

Posted: May 10 2004.
 It was a great day to be in the Pike Lake and Swamp Lakes boreal
 forest, counting birds.  On Sunday morning, Justin and I took a hike
to the east on Pike Lake Rd, to see if we could search for a nesting
cavity of the northern saw-whet owl, that we heard calling from the
campfire we had down by the lake on Saturday night.  Too many cavities
to find a possible nest that morning, but we had three friendly gray
jays greet us on our property that morning as we started the hike.  And
we also got to again hear the ruffed grouse drumming in the swamp in
the area where you likely had observed the two on the road on the way
out Saturday night.
** Henslow's Sparrow Sites in western PA SITE 1 (best) - Knox is ~330 miles from NYC 
Piney tract strip mine (aka Mt. Zion).

Directions: From the Knox exit on I-80, Exit 52 (exit 53?, old exit 7), take SR
3007 south across the Clarion River at Canoe Ripple Bridge, at 2.1
miles..As SR 3007 goes up the hill, take Elliott Rd. to the left when
3007 makes a sharp right. At the next intersection, 1.l miles, at the Y
turn left and go up the hill 0.4 mi. This is the parking place for the
Clay-colored Sparrow and where Pokey parked his car.
Directions to Piney Tract are also here. SITE 2 - Barkeyville is ~350 miles from NYC 

There is a spot in Venango Co. Pa a couple of minutes off I-80 where
Henslow's have been abundant.  Directions:  Get off exit 29 -
Barkeyville.  Go south on rt. 8 about 1/4-1/2 mile to the intersection
of rt. 208.  Turn left (east).  Follow this about 1/2 mile to the 1st
road to the right.  This is a dirt road (might actually be a tar & chip
road at this end) at the crest of a small hill.  Follw this until you
are overlooking a large area of fields.  Drive along & stop anywhere &
listen.  Henslow's can be anywhere in here.  Also - Grasshopper &
savannah sparrows, upland sandpiper, bobolink, horned lark, possible
short-eared owl, N. Harrier.
SITE 3 - Clarion itself is ~320 miles from NYC 

I'm sure you will hear from people in Clarion County with good
directions, but in case you don't, I will put in my two cents worth.
Basically the area south Clarion off route 68 (south of 80) is full of
reclaimed strip mines and there are Henslow's in all of the ones that
haven't been mowed.  The area around Curlsville is probably the best.
SITE 4 - Leesburg is ~370 miles from NYC - FURTHEST WEST 

From I 80 take the Rt 19/Mercer exit and go south on Rt 19.  You will
drive approximately 10 miles total (estimate only) and make one turn to
the left onBlack Rd.  Black Rd goes thru the center of the Volant
Strips (as we call it, an old strip mined area, now grassland).  You
will know you are approaching Black Rd after you go thru the town of
Leesburg where Rt 208 intersects w/ Rt 19.

Continue on Rt 19 south for about another 2-3 miles and just as you are
cresting a hill there will be an intersecting road.  To the left is
Black Road.  You will know the intersection because there is a farm on
the left with a horse pasture near the road.  Also there is a sign
there that says "Backyard Creations" (a small nursery operation).
Anyway, turn left onto Black Rd and drive about 1/2 mile and start
listening on both sides for Henslows.  There were 2 singing on Black Rd
today.  If you dont hear one there then continue to the first 4 way
intersection (just another 1/2 mile) with Pennsy/Nelson Rd.  If you
turn left there onto Pennsy Rd and drive to just past the intersection
with Coopertown Rd ( Coopertown turns to the left) there was one
singing (and sitting up nicely on a twig next to the road) this
morning.  If those both fail then turn around and drive back the way
you came on Pennsy Rd.  Stay on Pennsy/Nelson Rd past the intersection
with Black Rd.  Follow Nelson Rd as it makes a bend to the right , then
continue west on that road to just past the left turn(Nelson turns left
but you want to stay straight) and there was another one singing along
in there.  I think it was on the left side of the road as you go west.

There are usually numerous Henslows at this location but these are the
only ones I have heard so far this year.  So just listen as you drive
along and you may hear others.  The place is also loaded with
Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows and the
occasional harrier.  Short eared owls have nested here in the past so
keep an eye out for them.  Also the occasional Sandhill Crane may fly
over since they nest in the area too, so watch the sky.
Other directions, mostly wordy multi-species accounts

Luce County - Grouse, Woodpeckers, Owls 


Posted: May 04 2004,09:40.  I spent April 27th through May 01st, up in
Chippewa, Luce and Schoolcraft Ctys, conducting annual grouse and owl
surveys, along with searching for boreal forest birds.

Some of the more interesting sightings included:

Chippewa County, Hiawatha National Forest, April 27th, nocturnal owl
survey located six northern saw-whet owls.

Chippewa County, Hiawatha National Forest, Hendrie River Swamp, April
28th, located six spruce grouse, which included five males and one
female calling from the top of a jack pine tree.  Also observed four
gray jays, one boreal chickadee, in the areas of the moist soils with
black spruce and tamarack trees as dominant forest cover.  There was
bark-flecking signs of black backed woodpeckers in this area, but I did
not observe any birds.

Chippewa County, Tahquamenon Rivermouth Region.  Located two black
backed woodpeckers.  One was on the west side of M-123 in black spruce
forest, at end of service road, just south of the River Rd entrance to
the lower river state park campground.  Another black backed woodpecker
was observed along the Emerson foot trail on the east side of M-123,
also two boreal chickadees were observed in the dense black spruce
forest along this trail.  This trail starts on M-123, at Emerson State
Historical Marker Sign and goes south and east back to the old town
site of Emerson.  The best boreal forest bird habitat is in the
 first portion of the trail, in the black spruce forest, before it
 opens up to more of a tag alder and aspen forest.  Two ruffed grouse
were located on drumming logs in the hardwood portion of this trail.
An American Bittern was observed and calling in the swamp near M-123,
at location about a mile south of the river mouth, where road goes into
the boat landing for Whitefish Bay.  There have been reports from
locals of up to a dozen or more sharp-tailed grouse perched in aspens
and birches in the opening at this location.

Luce County, April 28th, observed a Common Raven on a nest.

Luce County, April 29th, in the area of the Pike Lake Pine Barrens and
large expansive clear-cuttings, I observed three sharp-tailed grouse.
This is the first observation I have had of the birds moving into the
large openings created in northern Luce County. In the mid morning to
midday portion of the 29th in the Swamp Lakes Region.  Located a total
of eight spruce grouse, including seven males and one female.  The
female was found at the exact location that we had a female during our
boreal forest tour of the area on May 15th of last year.  The bird was
picking up grit on the two-track, right under the pink forestry tape
that I had put up to mark its location last year.  This may be the last
year for the bird at this location though, as the trees on
 the two-track boundary are marked with red paint for a clear-cut.  At
 the fire/burn location at the north end of Swamp Lakes, I had three
black backed woodpeckers, and bark flecking sign, suggests that they
are still really utilizing the area.  I heard a number of sandhill
cranes, but did not see only a few of these birds, and think that most
are likely incubating on eggs at this time.  In the Homestead Lake area
to the west of Swamp Lakes I observed one boreal chickadee.  I located
two belted kingfisher dens in the sandy exposed banks near the boreal
forest ponds of the area.  On the hike I also surprised three turkey
vultures off one of the two-tracks, I noted no road kill
 in the area and though fairly common in southern Luce County in open
 field regions, they are not too common in northern Luce County.

That same afternoon, April 29th, I stopped at Little Perch Lake, near
Junction of Luce Co. roads 414 and 423, to search for the American
Three-toed Woodpecker that I observed there in early September of last
year.  No bird was observed, but there is a lot of bark flecking in the
area to the west and south of the lake, suggesting it or other
woodpeckers are at least still utilizing the area.

Schoolcraft County, April 29th, in the afternoon, I located four spruce
grouse, all males in the jack pines and boreal forests along the Fox
River Truck Trail about four to five miles west of the town of Seney.
A single gray jay was noted, carrying food, it is possible it had a
nest somewhere nearby.

Schoolcraft County, Seney National Wildlife Refuge.  A search for
ruffed grouse drumming on logs, in hopes of locating a red or
intermediate brown color phased bird, located six drumming males, five
of which I was got close enough to determine that they were gray phase,
the dominant color phase of the northern hardwood forests.  Four
American Bitterns were heard calling in late afternoon.  Trumpeter
Swans were common.  Common Loons had returned and could be heard
calling as evening approached.

April 30th, Luce County, Natalie State Forest Campground, Lake Superior
State Forest, at Dollarville Flooding, west of Newberry.  I located
three boreal chickadees in the boreal forest, in region from the RR
tracks to the north and into the campground.  There was a lot of
woodpecker activity on the conifer trees, but I noted no birds this
day.  I did hear an American Bittern calling from the swamp, in region
just south of the RR tracks.  This is some really good boreal forest
bird habitat in area near the campground and worth the quick ride north
off the Dollarville Rd, if one should be in this area.

Schoolcraft County, Seney NWR, April 30th, a nocturnal survey for
northern saw-whet owls this night, located 14 northern saw-whet owls,
two barred owls and one great horned owl.  A number of American
Bitterns were heard calling in the evening before the survey was
started after it got dark.

Most of the two-tracks leading into the sharp-tailed grouse dancing
grounds in Schoolcraft and Alger County are still blocked with deep
snows, some still too deep to get through with a four wheel drive
vehicle.  On the two days I was able to get into some of the leks, I
located a total of 67 sharp-tailed grouse on five historical openings.
This does include the three that I had in northern Luce County. I plan
to return again in about a week, to conduct additional grouse and owl
surveys and will make a post of my findings after that trip north.

Rick Baetsen
Walloon Lake, Pike Lake
Possible Henslow's Sparrow site, west of Ann Arbor and SW of Chelsea 
SHARONVILLE STATE GAME AREA
14520 SHARON VALLEY RD
GRASS LAKE, MI 49240

West on Sharon Valley Rd *just* over the border into Jackson Co. **This
site is not confirmed nor can I find online references to it being a
good site for Henslow's although Henslow's has been seen there**
From this Surfbirds link for a 2001 trip 
Sharp-tailed Grouse

They have been more numerous than usual in winter 2000/1, with
day-counts up to 100! These are in areas south of Sault Ste. Marie, and
the birds are easier to find in winter (Dec-Feb) because the snow cover
forces them into saplings for food. In April they'll be on their leks,
and by May they could be difficult to find. One area, which may be
abandoned now, is the Raco airfield near the small (ghost?) town of
Raco. It is possible to find them by driving the roads south of the
Soo. In particular the area between 6 mile and 12 mile roads
particularly the areas east of Shuck road. It's mainly driving and
getting lucky

Much more difficult in summer than in winter but you may be able to
find it south of Sault Ste Marie.  Try Riverside Rd and take side
roads. Potentially good areas include 11Mile Rd and a small state game
land where Riverside meets up with M40 (if you have a Delorme Atlas,
it's an unnamed yellow patch at the south end of Riverside Road).

Sharp-tailed Grouse can be found anywhere around 11 and 12 mile roads
just one-two miles east of M129 south of Sault Ste. Marie. They have
also been found at Seney and at Raco, between Whitefish Point and
 the Sault, just south of M-28.

PHIL NOTES: that Raco, MI is on/near M-28 about 15 miles West of the
junction with I-75.


Black-backed Woodpecker

Occasional at Whitefish Point. Also in the Trout Lake area. Hulbert
Bog. Take Basnau Road south from M28 near Hulbert Corners. The road
goes south, then west, coming back out on M28. The westernmost mile is
the bog. You will have to be lucky to find it. There are also some in
Tahquamenon Falls SP.


Connecticut Warbler

A late spring migrant, possible at Pelee. Birds in migration in
Michigan are usually posted on the Rare Bird Alerts, but are not often
found for more than a day or two in any one spot. They breed at Trout
Lake in the eastern Upper Peninsula.

State Forest Road 3344. This is a sand road (it looks like a tiny dirt
track but gets a little better as you drive in) that goes west from
M123 just north of Trout Lake. This bird arrives very late in May
 (or early June) and is very hard to see. Learn the song since this is
 how you will find this species.  Try about one mile in on this road.

Forest Road 3344. Go in 1.25 to 1.75 miles from M123. This area is
quite dependable for Connecticut Warbler. Continuing on this road and
keeping right at an intersection, you will go through good areas for
Black-backed Woodpecker. This road eventually winds back to M-123,
which will then take you to Whitefish Point.

Le Conte's Sparrow

Seney NWR is a good bet. Areas of sedge in eastern Chippewa County can
have this species also. Varies in number from year to year. Rare, check
with the refuge manager at Seney for locations. My only one in Michigan
was at Seney at an impoundment accessed from M28 (this is not the main
area of the refuge)
.


Henslow's Sparrow

A reliable spot in Port Huron SGA has become less reliable the past
couple of years. Another species that would make it to the Rare Bird
Alert.
Distances Grayling is 800 miles from NYC, Toledo is ~530, the route being I-80, Rt-23, I-75 - passing through Toledo and past the west side of Ann Arbor. Grayling is about 40 miles west of Mio. Grayling to Seney (Seney NWR) is 173 miles (3 hours). Grayling to Paradise (Whitefish) is 153 miles (2.75 hours) Grayling to Newberry (Royse's recommendation) is 159 miles. You get the general idea.

Houghton Lake - directions 


From Maple River Flooding we'll follow M-27 about 100 miles to Houghton
Lake. The Higgins/Houghton Lakes area is good for waterbirds and a
variety of landbirds. We'll exit M-27 onto M-55 and turn left onto Old
Hwy 27, which hugs the west side of Houghton Lake. Along this road are
at least three Osprey pairs nesting on platforms, a heron rookery in
the tall trees, and a viewing platform with parking. This spot is often
good for Black Terns. West of the town of Houghton Lake, we'll bird
along Jeffs Road, which turns south from M-55 about 3 miles west of
M-27. This area is called Dead Stream Flooding. Brushy areas hold
Common Moorhen, Osprey, Sedge Wren, Ring-necked Duck, Wood Duck and
other nesting ducks, Black Tern, and Mourning Warbler. Yellow Rail has
nested in this general area.
this quote from one of David's contacts: 

By far the best spot in this area is west of the town of Houghton Lake
where there are some floodings and brushy areas which have Osprey,
Sedge Wren, Ring-necked Duck (breeding), lots of Wood Ducks and some
other nesting ducks and Black Tern.  Somewhere in this general area,
Yellow Rail has nested in years past.  This area extends into Missaukee
Co.  A terrific area  to find a variety of birds is along Jeffs Rd
which goes south from M55 about a mile or so into Missaukee Co.  There
is a flooding which is very worth the effort of finding but you may
need a full- fledged topo map - you have to walk in a mile or so.
and another one: 

We birded first from the kiosk and then on the other side of the road,
looking down an alder-lined creek. Here we pulled out Common
Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, and a
very good bird -- Black-billed Cuckoo. We stayed until about 6:30 p.m.,
then left the Houghton Lake lookout and drove west on M-55 to Jeff
Road, looking for an area called DEAD STREAM FLOODING, a marshy area
that we never found. (Dead Stream Flooding was reported to have Common
Moorhen, Osprey, Sedge Wren, Ring-necked Duck, Wood Duck and other
nesting ducks, Black Tern, Mourning Warbler, and possibly Yellow Rail.
I had accumulated three different sets of directions to the place and
chose an inaccurate one.) On Jeff Road we passed the Houghton Lake
Wildlife Research Park, then turned west onto Kelly Road, where we made
two stops. At the first stop, between an alder swamp on one side and an
overgrown wet field on the other, we found Wild Turkey, Yellow Warbler,
and a very cooperative but silent (and therefore unidentified)
Empidonax flycatcher. At the second stop, surrounded by extensive
fields of tall grass, we saw Bobolink and Savannah Sparrow. No marsh
anywhere, and since it was getting late, we continued on toward Mio. We
turned north on Merritt Road, returned to M-55, continued north on M-27
about 25 miles to the city of Grayling
From Grand Traverse Audubon site: 

On your way to or from downstate, stop along old 27 on the west side of
Houghton Lake.  From the north, take the 2nd Higgins Lake exit off of
27 and go east to the first paved road which is old 27, turn south.
From the south, turn on the old 27 from highway 55.   Along this road
you will see at least three Osprey pairs nesting on platforms and a
Heron Rookery in the tall trees, (May - June).  There is a viewing
platform with parking and it is also easy to pull off the road all
along the area.  After driving the area along old 27 between 55 and the
crossing of the Muskegon River (north), you may want to go back halfway
and take county road 300 to the west where you will find more viewing
sites.



Phil's notes:  According to Michigan DNR, Dead Stream Flooding is one
of the largest managed wetlands in the Lower Peninsula including Dead
Stream Swamp which is the Lower Peninsula's largest semi-wilderness
area.  In infer it's 5 mi West of Houghton Lake, 11 miles SW of Higgins
Lake, 5 miles NW of Houghton Lake town via M-55 and Co Rd 300, west of
Rt-27.  NO SPECIFIC YELLOW RAIL INFORMATION.
Recent post from Michigan Birders reinforces much of the stuff I'd accumulated already 

The road where Connecticut and Mourning Warblers can be found is Forest
Rd 3344, which goes west off M123 just north of Trout Lake. There
aren't many Connecticut Warblers on this road (1-2 pairs) and they are
hard to see but there aren't any other better places in the eastern UP
of Michigan that I know about. Spruce Grouse is difficult - it's in a
large number of places but you have to be a little bit lucky to see it.
I have seen one standing right in the middle of Forest Rd 3344 on the
day I saw my first Connecticut Warbler there!  They can also be seen
along the northern parts of Vermilion Rd, just west of Paradise. Ask at
Whitefish Pt for latest sightings. Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay,
Boreal Chickadee, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher can all be seen in
Hulbert Bog. The flycatcher for sure (if you know the song), the Gray
Jay is likely, the Boreal Chickadee breeds there but is difficult, the
Black-backed may be there but is probably even more difficult.
Black-backed Woodpecker is also at Tahquemenon SP but I don't know
exactly where they are. Yellow Rail is at Seney Refuge. Their website
will have a contact number which you will need in order to get on one
of the scheduled trips to see the bird. There is no other reasonable
possibility of seeing this bird in Michigan that I know of.  Leconte's
Sparrow is also here (usually). This bird can be seen by day but is
uncommon enough that you should ask the staff about it when you call
about the Yellow Rail. Sharp-tailed Grouse can be more easily found in
winter but it can be found with effort in the fields south of Sault Ste
Marie. Three-toed Woodpecker is casual in Michigan. Sedge Wren can be
found at Seney and many other places further south in the state. You
probably have a better chance of finding this bird in the Grayling
area. Crossbills are erratic and probably can't be found in the eastern
UP right now. I saw 3 Evening Grosbeaks (along with a Lewis's
Woodpecker!) at Whitefish Pt this past weekend.
and also this about the same area..... 

This would be 3344 on the south portion and 3145 on the north.  3344
goes west from M123 about 1 mile north of Trout Lake.  You will see a
yellow snowmobile sign on 123 indicating a snowmobile crossing; 3344 is
a snowmobile trail in winter.  If you enter from the south on 3344
Connecticuts will be along this road starting around 1.5 miles in to
about 3.3.  There are several spots along this section that has COWA.
Just listen for there calls.  You will need to be in there early
because they will stop singing and be hard to find more then 2 hours
after sunrise.  I was on 3344 May 25 and heard a Connecticut 1.25 miles
in on the right hand side of the road. I don't know if he's still
there. Learn the song and drive slowly with your windows open. The song
is pretty loud. I had LeConte's Sparrow along this road last year, at
2.4 miles in and 3.2 miles.  Anywhere along this section you could also
have Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Gray Jays or Spruce Grouse.  After
3344 hits 3145 turn right and follow 3145, this will eventually take
you back to M123.  It is about a 12 mile loop.  Mourning Warbler will
be near the bridge over a stream along the 3145 section of the route.
This bridge will be shortly past some hunting cabins, maybe a mile or
two.  Crossbills could be anywhere along this route.  You can't stake
them out.  Again just listen for their calls.  White-wings do nest
along this route in the Blk spruce/white cedar bogs.  Red's prefer more
upland long needle pines particularly the Red Pines.

[The Delorme Atlas (P. 105) calls 3344 "Wilwin Truck Trail"]
Hulbert Bog directions 

    I can't give you absolutely specific directions for getting there
since my good maps are at home but it is pretty easy to find.  If you
have the Delorme Atlas look on rt 28 in Chippewa Co to the west of
Eckerman.  You will see the village of Hulbert to the north of rt 28.
The bog is to the south of rt 28 on a small (1-2 mile) loop off of rt
28.  The bog is the western half of the loop.
More Hulbert Bog directions 

I can tell you were Hulbert is and how to get there I just don't know
the actual names of the roads.  To reach Hulbert go west on M28 about 6
or 7 miles past the intersection of M123.  There will be a sign for the
town of Hulbert that will tell you to turn north.  Instead of turning
north toward Hulbert you turn south. This road goes to the south about
a mile than makes a right hand turn to the west.  This road eventually
goes back to M28.  The bog area is along the east -west part of this
road and starts about 1/4 mile beyond the corner.  To bird this area
just basically stop anywhere and listen along this stretch all the way
to M28. In the winter they feed deer in a couple of places. These
places also are good spots for birds.  Most of the regular 'Boreal'
species are here.

I usually see Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees every time I go there.  I
have also had Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills and Evening
Grosbeaks several times.  Pileated Woodpeckers are often found in the
big Deciduous woods along the north-south part of the road. I haven't
spent much time in summer birding this area so I don't know what other
breeders may be in there.  I usually stop here when I am up on a winter
trip and I want to see Boreal Chickadees and Gray Jays.  If you have a
gazetteer map book the area I described is pretty obvious. It is on
page 105.  I am sorry I can't help you with the road names but if you
follow the directions above you can't miss it.  If you would like more
info and a more complete species list let me know.
More details about Munuscong WMA 

This area consists of a large coastal wetland as well as an area of
grassland and small wetlands just inland from the coastal area.  This
area is described in the Watchable Wildlife book put out by the DNR and
Michigan State University Press.  The road to the campground is a
dependable location to find ruffed grouse and the scenic lookout at the
end of the road is right at the marsh and supports many different
birds.  The best spot for Sharptailed grouse and  the other birds is
the wetland/grassland complex inland from there at the intersection of
riverside(22 mile) and Gray roads.  The grouse are usually in the
fields, but often hard to find if they are not dancing.  The bobolink
often line the brush along the roads.  The LeConte's Sparrows are
easiest to find by walking up to the edge of a pond and watching for
them to come to the edge of the cover.
Alternative part of Seney NWR from M-28, not on the auto loop 

In mid-afternoon, we drove out of the refuge, turned left at Seney onto
M23 and after some seven miles turned south onto a gravel track called
Diggs River Road. On the way down the latter we had our first
Broad-winged Hawk of the trip. It's possible to park at the northern
end of the C3 pool, which I was told was a location for Yellow Rails.
Not expecting the latter but still hoping for Hooded Merganser, I
walked part of the way down the track skirting the pool. There were
some spots that looked good for rails but the mosquitoes were so bad
that I beat a retreat (no Mergansers either). We drove back a short
distance and stopped off by the Diversion Ditch, that lies within the
Refuge and runs east-west. I left Kay in the car and hiked a mile or so
to the east, along the southern bank of the ditch - luckily the bugs
were quiet. I had good views of a displaying Upland Sandpiper and a
couple of Savannah Sparrows. At one point, the path dropped below the
bank and began to peter out. As I walked this stretch I flushed a
sparrow at close range a few times, which gave me enough opportunity to
see its diagnostic features. It was a Le Conte's Sparrow*, in the spot
that I had been told about earlier in the day. The only thing that
detracted from the pleasure of seeing this bird was the fact that the
bugs returned in abundance for the hike back!
Nyanquing Point - directions - also site description 

Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area is reached by taking I-75 to either the
Pinconning exit (from the north) or the Linwood exit (#173, from the
south) and heading east to M-13. Signs for the wildlife area are found
at the intersection of M-13 and Kitchen Road, three miles north of
Linwood Road. Follow Kitchen Road east to Nayanquing Point.

Yellow Rail sighting from Nayanquing from 4/29/04:  Bird was viewed on
the south side of Kitchen Rd., just a bit East of Tower Beach Rd. about
15 foot off the road. No subsequent reports from this location.
Tawas Point SP - directions 

Tawas Point State Park may be reached by taking US-23 to the eastern
edge of East Tawas; next turn right at Tawas Beach Road (look for the
Big Boy restaurant) and follow it all the way to its end.  Baldwin
Resort Road may also be taken from US-23; follow Baldwin Resort Road to
its intersection with Tawas Beach Road just north of the park.
Luzerne Boardwalk - directions - west of Mio 

Leaving Mio, we followed M-72 west for seven miles to Deeter Road, just
inside the town of Luzerne.  We turned left (south?) onto Deeter Road
and followed it for about half a mile, turned left (east?) onto Palmer
Road for 3/4 mile, then turned right (south?) on Galloway Road and
followed it past a sign that said "Big Creek Boardwalk". I was looking
for a sign that said "Luzerne Boardwalk", but several miles farther
down Galloway Road I realized my mistake and backtracked to the "Big
Creek Boardwalk" sign.
More directions for areas around Mio 

From the Kirtland's Warbler area we'll head back to Mio. Then we'll
follow M-72 west for 8 miles to Deeter Road, turn left onto Deeter Road
for 1/2 mile to Galloway Road, then left again for 3/4 mile to the
Luzerne Swamp parking area and trailhead.

We'll cover this area by walking along a 1/4-mile segment of a horse
trail that winds through a cool, dark northern white cedar and balsam
swamp to a boardwalk. The boardwalk leads to a wooden bridge that
crosses a trout stream. Marsh Marigold, Sundew, Turtlehead,
Partridgeberry, Twinflower, and Fringed Polygala add color to the
moss-covered ground. Species often observed in this area include Ruffed
Grouse, American Woodcock, Winter Wren, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Cedar
Waxwing, Black-thrated Green and Canada Warblers, American Redstart,
Ovenbird, and Northern Waterthrush.

From the Luzerne Boardwalk we'll return to M-72 and continue west for
12 miles to the highway sign for the Wakely Lake Foot-Travel Area.
Wakely Lake is about 1/2 mile from the parking lot. Some of the species
to be found here include Common Loon and Barred Owl. The cry of Common
Loons often echoes across the lake, and Bald Eagles and Ospreys
frequently are seen foraging for fish. We'll check the alder and willow
thickets around the lake for Alder Flycatcher and Common Yellowthroat
and look for Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Hooded Merganser, and
Common Snipe at the beaver ponds. Virginia Rail and Sora frequent the
cattail swamps and may respond to our tapes. We'll listen for
Black-throated Green and Pine Warblers in stands of mature Red and
White Pine. Also found in the forested areas are Broad-winged Hawk,
Ruffed Grouse, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Black-capped Chickadee,
Scarlet Tanager, and Evening Grosbeak. If we return through this area
after sunset, we might stop to listen for the hooting of Great Horned,
Barred, and Northern Saw-whet Owls and the incessant chanting of
Whip-poor-wills.

After lunch, probably in Grayling, we'll head north on I-75, exit east
onto M-93, and enter Hartwick Pines State Park. This old-growth pine
forest is good for Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-headed Vireo, Northern
Parula, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Pine Warblers,
Rose-breasted and Evening Grosbeak, and Purple Finch.

If we have time we could visit a burn area (uncontrolled) southeast of
Mack Lake, the northern edge of which reaches Curtisville Road. This is
a good area for Black-backed Woodpecker, Spruce Grouse, nesting
Lincoln's Sparrow, and possibly Clay-colored Sparrow. Once we're back
in Mio, we'll assemble for a short briefing on tomorrow's plans before
dinner and retiring.  (Phil notes: this area is south of Mio on 33,
then east along 604/Curtisville Road)

Day 3. Sunday, June 15.  We'll meet a 6 a.m. at the motel and head to
Mio Dam Pond, where we'll look for waterbirds and landbirds. The Mio
Dam Pond is just northwest of Mio; access is from Cherry Creek Road.
Just north of this spot, along the access road both on the way to the
pond and along the road north of Cherry Creek Road, are temporary farm
puddles that we'll check for puddle ducks and Wilson's Snipe.

The largest open area in Oscoda County is from Mio east to the village
of Fairview and south to the Au Sable River. This is the most varied
habitat in the county. It will give us the largest number of species
per hour.  This morning we'll explore 600 / M-32 (McKinley Road) east
from Mio to the village of McKinley. On our last visit here we found
Upland Sandpiper, Brewer's Blackbird, and Alder Flycatcher along this
route in burned-over areas.

From McKinley we'll head south for about 2 miles on Au Sable Road. Here
we can decide where to go next -- to Hoist and Reid Lakes or farther
south. If we decide on Hoist and Reid Lakes, we'll drive north three
miles on Aspen Alley Road to M-72 and then south 1/2 mile to Hoist
Lake. Reid Lake is 3 miles farther south on M-72.  Trail maps are
available at both sites. Some of the birds reported from this hiking
area include Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Goshawk, Ruffed Grouse, Wild
Turkey, Red-headed Woodpecker, Olive-sided and Least Flycatchers,
Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, Baltimore
Oriole, and Bobolink.

If we decide to proceed past Hoist and Reid Lakes, we'll take Au Sable
Road south a few miles from the McKinley area, turn right onto Sunny
Lake Road, and follow Sunny Lake Road about 6 miles to the village of
Glennie, where we can have lunch at the Chat & Chew Restaurant. Check
out their menu online.

From Glennie we'll continue south on M-65 for about 8 miles to the
River Road Scenic Byway. This 22-mile route follows the Au Sable River
east to the town of Oscoda, providing glimpses of the area's history
(map). We'll stop at Iargo Springs, 1 mile east of the M-65/River Road
junction, where the birding can be excellent in the mixed forest at the
base of the stairway that descends to the springs. Possible species
here are Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-throated Vireo, Louisiana
Waterthrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Black-throated Green
Warbler, Pied-billed Grebe, and Marsh Wren. There are 294 steps down to
the spring, which has been used continuously as a drinking source since
pre-settlement times. It was long considered a sacred place by Chippewa
Indians, who believed the springs held curative powers. Along the way
are a number of strategically placed benches. The bottom is a pleasant
and tranquil spot where the springs gurgle out of moss-laden bluffs and
into the AuSable under the canopy of towering pines. At the bottom is
an observation deck and a boardwalk.

East of Iargo Springs 1/2 mile is Eagle's Nest Overlook. Bald Eagles
are often seen flying up and down the gorge. Two miles beyond the
overlook is the Lumberman's Monument Visitors Center. In the pines
around the Visitors' Center we'll look for Pileated Woodpecker, Common
Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo,
Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers, and Scarlet Tanager. If you're feeling
energetic, you can walk down to the pond, which is really a small lake,
but be prepared to walk up 300-plus steps.

From the Lumberman's Monument we'll continue along River Road 2-3 miles
east to Wilber Road, turn right, and proceed about 3 miles to Cornett
Road. We'll turn left onto Cornett Road for 2 miles to Brooks Road,
turn right, and drive to the end of the road 5 miles farther. Here
we'll explore Tuttle Marsh, a 5,000-acre area of wetlands and mixed
forest. We'll scan the marsh and impoundment for Pied-billed Grebe,
American and Least Bitterns, Blue-winged Teal, Black Tern, Hooded
Merganser, Virginia Rail, and Sora. Grasshopper and Clay-colored
Sparrows utilize the grassy areas near the entrance to the area.
Literally thousands of migratory Tree Swallows use the flooded section,
which abounds with dead trees. Other breeding species in the
neighborhood include Blue-headed Vireo, Golden-winged and
Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, and
Field and Vesper Sparrows.  We'll look for Upland Sandpiper in large,
dry openings, Alder and Least Flycatchers and Yellow Warbler in willow
swamps, Winter Wren in the cedar swamp, Sedge Wren in large, wet sedge
openings, and Marsh Wren and Swamp Sparrow in the cattail marshes.

Afterwards we will explore Tawas Point, one of the top migration spots
in Michigan. All kinds of rarities (waterbirds and landbirds) show up
at Tawas Point State Park -- this may be the best warbler migration
spot in the Lower Peninsula. Here's a full write-up with directions.
Our last stop before heading home (or dining in Tawas) will be the
fallow fields around the town of Alabaster for Clay-colored Sparrow and
other weedy field specialists. We'll then return to Mio via M-55 west
about 20 miles, right onto M-33 north, and about 25 miles to Mio.
Western part of Hiawatha NF - Western UP 

In the western side of the Hiawatha NF, I was able to again check out
some favorite spots that I wasn't able to get to last year as well as
explore some new ones. The jack pine plains were again interesting.
Palm Warblers were on territory in abundance, and a Kirtland's Warbler
was on territory there too. Unlike 2001, I didn't find a single
Clay-colored Sparrow for some reason. Since it had been dry, I tried
heading down FR2253 through the Scott's Marsh a little way. I couldn't
get too far without 4 wheel drive, but I did find it interesting with
at least 2 Wilson's Warblers on territory in the small area I saw. I
stayed in Manistique for the first time. The beach there had great
potential for shorebirds. I didn't explore it very thoroughly, but I
did find Whimbrels, Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and
Dunlins in the small area I checked. I'll definitely budget more time
in Manistique on future later May trips to the U.P.. It had a lot of
potential for shorebird photography, more so than Whitefish Point.

          ---- and more info on it ------

The Western portion of Hiawatha NF is a good hour's drive west of the
eastern half. It lies mainly in western Schoolcraft County and Delta
and Alger Counties. I by no means explored this whole area. Much of
what I did see had more deciduous woodland than the east, which made
birding more difficult in the full foliage and offered fewer novelties
to someone who has spent a lot of time birding in deciduous Ohio
forests. I did find a few spots that are a must to visit in either May
or June, though. The first is a large bog called Scott's Marsh. This is
an area recommended in the book, Birdfinding in Forty National Forests
and Grasslands, which most birders own, since it was sent out free to
all ABA members a few years ago. (It is currently offered for sale from
the ABA).  Unfortunately, the recommended road (2253) really isn't
passable in a sedan - No Way No How - especially after a rain. If
driving in a Land Rover, and it was dry, I would definitely give it a
go, though. One mile south of Shingleton along Rt.94 is an excellent
birding route, Forest Rd. 2251 (Chamberlain Rd.) that heads west to
Rd.  2252.  Continuing south on 2252 before ending along the previously
mentioned 2253 goes though an interesting assortment of habitat types
from a bit of the Scott's Marsh bog to deciduous forests. My only Wood
Thrushes of the UP were found here along with the widespread Veeries
and abundant Hermit Thrushes. I also found my only Black-backed
Woodpecker and Bay-breasted Warbler of the trips along this route. The
full complement of flycatchers could also be found along this route
from Leasts, Peewees, Alders, and Cresteds to the Yellow-bellieds and
Olive-sideds of the bogs. Most of the common warblers could be found
along this route including Northern Parula. A small lake held a nesting
(presumably) pair of Hooded Mergansers with Sandhill Cranes always
nearby. In June, already independent juvenile Gray Jays were seen.

Also in the western portion of Hiawatha NF, further south along Rt.94
between Munising and Manistique is an extensive jack pine tract,
including a relatively recent burn. About 13 miles south of Shingleton
is Rd.449. This road is well graveled, but it also gets a good deal of
traffic. A better birding route is an adjacent snowmobile track (FR
2641 on the western map) running parallel just east of this road off
Rt. 94. It will give a quieter, more intimate birding exploration into
the area. This snowmobile track isn't good for cars by any means, but
it is passable by a sedan at a slow speed. This area is very similar to
the area in the N.Central lower peninsula that is home to most of the
world's nesting Kirtland's Warblers. I say "most" because a few nest in
here as well. Most of the species that are present in the Mio/Grayling
jack pines are present here. I only found one Kirtland's, but it was a
rainy, windy morning that I visited the area. The most common warbler
of the jack pines is the Nashville, followed by Yellow-rumpeds and a
few Ovenbirds. Lincoln's, Vesper, and Chipping, and Clay-colored
Sparrows are common in these areas along with the only Eastern Towhees
I saw in the UP. Other common birds in these areas include Hermit
Thrush and Brown Thrasher to name a couple more. Brewer's Blackbirds
were in abundance in the recent burns of the jack pines in the lower
peninsula near Mio. If I had bothered to look through the blackbirds, I
probably could have found them in this area as well, I'd think.
Au Train songbird trail in middle UP 

From M-28 in Au Train, turn south onto County Road H-03 (Forest Lake
Road/Forest Road 2278) and drive about 4.5 miles to Forest Road 2276.
Turn left (east) and continue about 1/2 mile to the campground access
on the left side of the road. Take the first campground loop to the
right and follow it to the trailhead near campsite #11.

Au Train is the furthest west location in this document, west of the
second part of Hiawatha NF.
Henslow's and Clay-colored Sparrows in Midland County 
Yesterday morning at Chippewa Nature Center several 
interesting breeding birds were found.  They included:

HENSLOW'S SPARROW--several singing in the wetland complex.
COMMON TERN (possible breeder)--two seen at the pond farthest 
back in the wetland complex.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW--Several singing in the field behind the 
homestead.
ORCHARD ORIOLE--male + female seen along periphery of 
homestead field heading towards the oxbow and 1 immature male 
at the wetland complex

400 S. Badour Rd., Midland, MI 48640; Visitor center hours: 8am-5pm
Mon/Fri, 9am-5pm Sat, 1-5pm Sun. Trails open dawn-dusk.  ~4 miles WSW
of Midland, itself west of Bay City.  This is somewhat out of the way
(but not pathological) but could be a loop toward Houghton Lake.
Henslow's Sparrow in Michigan, but rather out of the way for us 
Date: Mon, 24 May 2004 16:02:38 -0400

Yesterday morning I heard at least five male HENSLOW'S SPARROWS calling
in the CRP fields to the southeast of the intersection of Cloverdale
Road and Broadway in central Barry County. They were present at this
location last spring. The field is about a mile east of the Pierce
Cedar Creek Institute. Also heard a DICKCISSEL singing in the field as
well as a few male BOBOLINKS displaying.
Directions to Crane Creek, east of Toledo OH 

Road construction on I-280 continues to make travel to and from Crane
Creek State Park an adventure.  Below are directions that cover all
situations in which you may find yourself...I hope.

You can find this same information at
http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/locations.html.

                       -- Bruce   April 22, 2004

GOING TO CRANE CREEK

1. Ann Arbor to Crane Creek, all roads open (a best route and a
  second best route)

2. Romulus and points eastward to Crane Creek, all roads open

3. Ann Arbor to Crane Creek, I-280 South closed at exit from I-75

4. I-280 South open, Exit 7 (Navarre) closed

RETURNING FROM CRANE CREEK

5. Crane Creek to Ann Arbor, all roads open

6. Crane Creek to Romulus and points eastward, all roads open

7. Crane Creek to Ann Arbor, ramp from Navarre Ave. (Hwy 2) to
  I-280 North closed

8. Crane Creek to Romulus and points eastward, ramp from Navarre
  Ave. (Hwy 2) to I-280 North closed

======================================================================

1a. BEST ROUTE, ANN ARBOR TO CRANE CREEK

To:             birders@umich.edu
From:           ylime@umich.edu (Karen Markey)
Subject:        Crane Creek directions

Drive south on US 23 and cross into Ohio. Hardly 3 miles over the
state line, exit to the LEFT onto I-475 east. Drive about 6 miles
on I-475 east. Exit onto I-75 north (yes, I wrote I-75 NORTH, it
really goes EAST here) and drive about 3 miles. Exit onto I-280
east (or south -- toward Cleveland) and drive about 5 miles. Exit
onto Navarre Ave. (at Oregon, Ohio) which is Ohio Route 2. Turn
left (east) onto Navarre Ave. and drive about 22 miles. (Route 2
goes due east for about 17 miles, bends south for 1 mile, and
east for another 5 miles.) You will see the Ottawa National
Wildlife Refuge first on your left, followed by Crane Creek on
your left. Nature Center at Crane Creek is open from 8 am to 5
pm. The trip was 75 miles for me -- about 90 minutes.  [It's more
like 1 hr 15 min by this route, IMO.  BMB]

BTW, Crane Creek doesn't have the most wonderful "modern"
facilities so you might want to stop at the fast-food joints on
Navarre Avenue (after you exit from I-280) before you drive the
22 miles east on Ohio Rt. 2. Just a thought for those of us tied
to civilization.  [Facilities on the beach near the boardwalk are
primitive.  Restroom facilities in the Visitor's Center, which is
open 8:00am-5:00pm, are satisfactory.  The Visitor's Center
opens at 11:00am on Sundays.  BMB]

--------------------------------------------------------------------

1b. SECOND BEST ROUTE, ANN ARBOR TO CRANE CREEK

Here's a route I've tried.  It's good early in the morning, when
you'll sail through the traffic lights on Ohio 184, but Karen's
route above is still better.

 from Ann Arbor:
   U.S. 23 south to Ohio 184 (at Sylvania)
   Ohio 184 straight east for 9-10 miles
   Get on I-75 and go south to I-280
   I-280 south to Oregon exit (exit 7, Ohio 2)
   Ohio 2 east to Crane Creek

Ohio 184 (Monroe Street) cuts across about 2-3 miles north of I-465.

Bruce

--------------------------------------------------------------------

2. ROMULUS AND POINTS EASTWARD TO CRANE CREEK, ALL ROADS OPEN

Take I-75 south from the Detroit area or take I-275 south and
connect with I-75 South.  Continue to I-280 South.  Get off at
Exit 7 (Navarre/Oregon) and continue to Crane Creek as described
in 1a.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Ann Arbor to Crane Creek, I-280 SOUTH CLOSED AT EXIT FROM
  I-75 NORTH

First get to I-75 south in Toledo:

 From Ann Arbor take U.S. 23 south to I-475 east.  Take I-475 east
 to I-75 south.  (I-280 south can be reached by taking I-75 NORTH
 for 3.5 miles, but you're in trouble if you find I-280 south to
 be closed.  If this happens, the best you can do is get off
 I-75 North as soon as you can and get back on going south.  Get
 off at either Monroe St. or Washington St. shortly after
 passing the I-475 turnoff and continue as described below.)

 From places nearer Detroit either take I-75 south into Toledo or
 take I-275 south and continue on I-75 south.  Continue on I-280
 south if it's open.

After only a mile or two on I-75 south, get off at either Monroe
St. (Hwy 51) or Washington St. and go southeast a couple of miles
to a "T" at Summit St.  Turn right on Summit.  Go less than a
mile to Woodville Rd. (Hwys 2, 51, 65); turn left and take the
bridge across the river.  Continue on Woodville Rd. less than a
mile to Navarre Rd. (Hwy 2), which angles to your left.  Turn
onto Navarre and continue 20+ miles east to Crane Creek.

(old route below -- ignore)

On I-75 south about 3.5 miles south of I-475 you will cross over
the Maumee River.  There is an exit immediately over the bridge.  
Don't take it!  Take the next one--Wales Road.  Go east on Wales
Road 1.5 miles.  Turn left (north) at E. Broadway Street and then
after 0.4 miles turn right onto the continuation of Wales Road.  
Go 1.9 miles and turn right on Woodville Road (county road 51).  
Go about a mile and then turn left (east) on county road 579 in
the town of Northwood.  Continue east on 579 for 10 miles
(passing through the small town of Williston) to where 579 runs
into Highway 2.  You can continue east on Hwy 2 about five miles
to Crane Creek State Park or you can turn north and go about two
miles to Metzger Marsh.

Bruce

--------------------------------------------------------------------

4. I-280 SOUTH OPEN, EXIT 7 (NAVARRE) CLOSED

Going south you find Exit 7 (Navarre Ave.) to be closed.  If warned
ahead of time by signs and if Exit 8 (Starr Ave.) is open, get
off at Exit 8 and go east half a mile to Wheeling St.  Turn right
(south) and go half a mile to Navarre (Hwy 2).  Turn left (east)
and continue to Crane Creek.

If Exit 7 and 8 are both closed, continue south past Exit 7 for
two miles to Exit 6, Curtice or Wales Road (both east-west
roads).  Work your way east and north (about 2-3 miles) to
Navarre Ave. and turn right (east).  Continue to Crane Creek.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

5. CRANE CREEK TO ANN ARBOR, ALL ROADS OPEN

Reverse the route of 1a.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

6. CRANE CREEK TO ROMULUS AND POINTS EASTWARD, ALL ROADS OPEN

Reverse the route of 2.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

7. CRANE CREEK TO ANN ARBOR, RAMP FROM NAVARRE AVE. (HWY 2) TO
  I-280 NORTH CLOSED

The directions in 8. will not work well for going to Ann Arbor
even if you're satisfied to get home by way of I-75 North, I-275
North, and I-94 West because they get you to I-75 far north of
I-475, which is what you want to reach.

Do this instead.

Going west on Hwy 2 (Navarre) continue past the closed I-280 ramp
1.25 miles to Woodville Rd., which angles to your right.  Turn
onto Woodville.  Continuing, take the bridge over the river.  
Turn right on Summit St.  Go about 0.6 miles and turn left at
either Washington St. or Monroe St. (Hwy 51).  After a mile or
two get onto I-75 North.  After another mile or so get onto I-475
West.  Continue about 6 miles to U.S. 23 North.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

8. CRANE CREEK TO ROMULUS AND POINTS EASTWARD, RAMP FROM NAVARRE
  AVE. (HWY 2) TO I-280 NORTH CLOSED

Go north on any of the roads west of Metzger (I think I took the
first one) until you get to Corduroy Road. Turn west on Corduroy
and go to the end, which is Front Street. Turn left onto Front
Street and stay in the right lane. Get onto the ramp to 280
North. You then need to get off at the very next exit, which is
Summit Street. Get onto north Summit Street. Very shortly, you
will need to make a right turn in order to continue north on
Summit. Keep going until you cross into Michigan. Continue on
another mile or so, and it leads directly to 75 north (at least
five miles).  [from Darlene Friedman]

=================================================================

SOME GENERAL INFORMATION

From the Navarre/Oregon/Ohio Hwy 2 exit (Exit 7), follow Ohio Hwy
2 east (22 miles, I guess) to Crane Creek State Park, which will
be on your left just past the Ottawa Nat'l Wildlife Refuge (it's
a couple miles or so before the Nuclear Power chimney Stack
you'll see while travelling east on Hwy 2).  Drive to the back of
the park.  (Just follow the road.)  That's where the Magee Marsh
Wildlife Area is.  There's also a hawk watch tower near the
entrance to the park.  Figure on 1 hr 15 min to get to Crane
Creek SP from Ann Arbor.

Regarding other places along that stretch of Hwy 2:  In order out
of Toledo  as you're driving east, they are (1) Maumee Bay State
Park, (2) Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, (3) Ottawa National
Wildlife Refuge, (4) Crane Creek State Park (Magee Marsh Wildlife
Area), (5) Turtle Creek (a mile beyond Crane Creek State Park--
shorebirds and waders), and (6) Toussaint Wildlife Area (two
miles beyond Crane Creek and two miles south on Highway 19).