bird sounds Archives - Wild Places, Wild Birds

Featured

Making the Best of It

Brian Murphy July 29, 2020 March 29, 2021

(It is July 29, and I just now realized this never got posted back in June – welcome to the COVID Zone) We are making the best of it during these tumultuous times. I don’t want to use WPWB as a place to discuss topics outside of wild places or wild birds but these are extraordinary times we live in. We had hoped to be in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by mid-May but it is now mid-June and we are still not ready to go. We are prepping our house for rental and doing most of the work ourselves. For a while, we were getting out in the woods, masks at the ready as walked down the trail, but now with the heat setting in and the pressure building to get the heck out of here, we seem to be stuck at home most days. But we have had some wild experiences Concerning the historical events of 2020, the human race can be such a dysfunctional species. We should have been better prepared for the pandemic, AND had better people in charge; we should have addressed decades ago the deep-seated racism and white privilege that exists in our country. And soon we will be face-to-face with the consequences of ignoring human-caused climate change and economic inequality. Keep your personal peace and mindfulness close, and be kind. We will weather the storm(s).

Prairie Warbler, Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment

Super cooperative and entertaining Prairie Warblers at the Flat River. Four birds at eye-level fighting/mating and foraging paid little attention to me as I snapped many pictures of these beautiful warblers.

For a birder, anywhere is a good place to be during the months of April and May. Billions of birds are on the move northward, and the action in North Carolina did not disappoint. What was disappointing, we didn’t get out every day. And once we got into late March things started to shut down, even parks, so we had to get creative where we went birding and dog-walking. We have a young, energetic 1 1/2 yr old “Box-ador” who needs exercise like an Olympic athlete. We hiked some of the game lands and the MST (Mountains to the Sea Trail) around Falls Lake early in the morning and found the trail almost empty most days. When we approached hikers or runners we would step WAY off to the side of the trail.

Our Izzy, a very active dog, needs daily exercise. Each day either Sheree or I take her for a walk. I have my hands and arms full, dog, binoculars, sound recorder, and camera. Photographing birds is challenging enough. Hook a dog leash onto the operation and things can get crazy. That is my attempt at making excuses for these fuzzy pictures.

Maybe it was the virus cloud hanging overhead but I did not chase any of the awesome spring migrants that came through the Triangle this spring. I enjoyed bird walks with Izzy and mostly stayed hunkered down at home the remainder of the time. The total number of species for the springtime of 2020 was 116, mainly tallied at Falls Lake and home. By far the best bird of the season was a Virginia Rail at Flat River Waterfowl Impoundment (heard only).

The spring bird count at Flat River was most fulfilling. I spent about 5 hours walking, listening, and watching 70 species of birds. Being stuck at home for weeks on end was not all bad. It gave me an opportunity to more closely observe the birdlife on our four acres. We had successful breeding from Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird, White-breasted Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Mourning Dove and I tallied 72 species in the yard and across the street.

Some interesting birds of note in the yard – This year we have a regular Yellow-throated Vireo and Barred Owls, a Yellow-breasted Chat and Prairie Warbler across the street, and a Cardinal nest in a bush just outside the living room window.

bird counts / bird sounds / Birding / BIRDS / Marquette / Michigan / migration / wildflowers itemprop="discussionURL"1

Featured

Echo Lake, Marquette, Michigan

Brian Murphy February 14, 2020 February 15, 2020

Allow me to preface that first title and embellish it as well. Born in New York just north of NYC, I spent my entire adult life in North Carolina. In the spring of 2019, we, my wife Sheree’ and I purchased a home in Marquette, MI. Recently retired from teaching high school science, I found a new (seasonal) job in Marquette with The Nature Conservancy. Outdoors, real outdoors.
My first visit to Echo Lake showed me I had made the right choice. WOW!
Most of my 20 hours each week were filled with peace and solitude as I went about monitoring public use, trail maintenance, and studying flora and fauna of the preserve. Being a “southerner,” it was almost like beginning over again when it came to vegetation, many new trees and flowers. Some of the fauna was easy – initially, I was shocked at the lack of reptiles, amphibians, insects, and spiders. Still, they slowly appeared to me as the summer moved on, except for one, the pesky mosquito, which made its presence known on every calm and warm day.

Located just a few miles outside of Marquette, Echo Lake Preserve is a serene environment where pristine waters flow unimpeded from surrounding wetlands, creeks and Harlow Lake to Lake Superior. The 480-acre property feature a mixed deciduous and conifer forest. Echo Lake, the primary water source of Harlow Creek, is a 20-acre natural lake surrounded by a landscape of dramatic relief with high bluffs of exposed bedrock. The site also provides watershed protection for several high elevation glacial lakes.

The Nature Conservancy

Echo Lake is a “nature preserve”. The person who donated the land wants it kept in its natural state, forever. I think that is great, and that requires some strict rules. Please leave your pets at home, clean off your shoes before entering, walk softly, stay on established trails, avoid walking over sensitive areas (moss and lichen rock outcroppings, etc.), please do not remove anything from the preserve, fish with artificial bait only….please read all the guidelines here, or at the entrance kiosk.

As a dog owner who loves walking in the woods with my dog, I needed to better understand NO DOGS policies at certain parks and preserves, so I collected some information in the following (unofficial, not TNC approved) paper

LEARN MORE ABOUT “NO DOGS” in NATURE

Of all the birds I found at Echo Lake the spring/summer of 2019, the best of the best was a Northern Goshawk. I “lifer” bird for me, but more than that, a stunning deep-forest raptor of immense size and stature. I was able to get some photos and recorded calls of TWO Goshawks communicating across the ridge. A funny thing happened on the way to the opening where I could get a picture, I fell, the camera went flying, followed by binoculars, phone and sound recorder — best fall of my life.

On my first walk into the preserve, I was a little disappointed by the back of birds, but in time things improved. Warblers, in particular, had not yet arrived in force in the Upper Peninsula. They flowed through over the next two weeks. Echo Lake is a little off the beaten path, requiring a bouncy ride down a logging road until you get to the parking area, so it does not get a lot of birders. My highest species count came on May 29 when I recorded 38 species. On average, through the late spring and into early summer, I recorded 24 species per day.

bird sounds / Birding / Michigan / migration / rare sightings / Upper Peninsula itemprop="discussionURL"0

Featured

Bird Migration Peaks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Brian Murphy June 5, 2019 February 1, 2020

As I enter my first week of June, ever, in the UP, and Marquette, MI., the birds are still flowing in, with some moving on to the north. Admittedly, I am surprised at the late arrival of birds here compared to North Carolina, but then it makes perfect sense as well. Bird migration in Michigan is almost two months behind North Carolina.

Birds need shelter and food. The leaves are only just now completing the sprouting and unfolding process. The insects were nowhere to be found until about 10 days ago. So what bird in its right mind would get here any sooner. When I left North Carolina on April 30 many warbler species had already arrived and resident birds were on the nest. Young hawks and owls were up in the trees screaming for food.

Week Four

Back to the UP, this week things were really jumping and I was able to get some good birds and good images. Still focusing on the local hotspots, it was interesting to see the daily changes, as weather fronts passed, winds shifted, and time progressed.

Bird Migration in Michigan is an Awesome Event

My best days for warblers and flycatchers were the buggiest. I love bugs, they bring in the birds. Watching the acrobatics of Magnolia Warblers and American Redstart is a joy. And the flycatchers – what entertainment! In the Piedmont section of North Carolina, we only reliable get Acadian, Wood Pee-wee and Eastern Phoebe. On Saturday I found SIX flycatcher species, and they were busy singing, mating and doing what they do best, flycatching.

Best was the Olive-sided Flycatcher, a life bird one day at Presque Isle, and two days later, they put on a mating ritual near Echo Lake. I was really pleased to get a photo of the action, blurry or not, very cool. (Go to Two Talons Up on Facebook to see)

I spent considerable time recording audio of spring singers. And, I was a little disappointed that some of the warblers were not singing much, assumably because they had not yet reached their breeding grounds, most-likely Canada.

Another difference I have noticed between here and North Carolina, fewer woodpeckers. Perhaps they are less able to tolerate the extreme winters?

Bird Migration in Michigan – The Locations

I continue to bird close to home. Wandering comes later in June. I birded Echo Lake (where I work), Presque Isle Park, Presque Isle Bog Walk, and Lake Levasseur, Clark Lambros Beach Park, Founders Landing, and the Lower Harbor, and home. On eleven checklists, I had a total of 18 warbler species, three vireo sp., seven flycatcher sp., and seven sparrow sp. I need to go hunt me up some shorebirds this week. In the meantime, as migration comes to an end, it is time to look for mating and nesting behaviors. And before we know, the bird migration in Michigan begins again, in reverse.

Blackburnian Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-shafted Flicker

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Baltimore Oriole

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Least Flycatcher

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Clay-colored Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Sora

Sandhill Crane

American Redstart

Pileated Woodpecker

Swainson’s Thrush

bird sounds / Birding / Falls Lake / North Carolina / Piedmont / Rollingview SRA itemprop="discussionURL"0

Featured

Falls Lake- Rollingview SRA

Brian Murphy April 19, 2018 April 19, 2018

We parked our teardrop trailer at Rollingview SRA campground for a long weekend. It was really nice sitting outside listening to the birds say goodnight, followed by a wake-up call good morning the next day. Our site was above a small intermittent stream that attracted some nice birds and amphibians, including Parula Warbler and Upland Chorus Frog. Camping and birding go together like milk and cookies. Usually, birding involves moving in and out of an area on a pre-determined schedule, which means missing birds that were there before or after arrival. Camping puts a birder on site from dawn to dusk, AND after dark. Great for owling, goatsuckers, and early bird songs. The Northern Cardinal duet, posted below, was especially interesting and enjoyable late evening experience. Visiting Falls Lake – Rollingview in April is an exercise in timing. Being there all day one will discover when and where to be to find good birds. The birdiest spot this particular trip was near the eastern beach, near the edge of the forest. There was a group of warblers, mostly butter-butts, with a few Palm and Yellow-throats, and also Rough-winged and Barn Swallows and one FOY Eastern Kingbird. On the water, not much going on except a small flock of Ring-billed Gulls and a few DC Cormorants. No raptor action today, but there was a Barred Owl during the night.

Click here for eBird checklist with more photos and audio clips.