MI - Warblers in Spring Part II

Kirtland's Warbler - male, Grayling, Crawford Co., MI. May 16th, 2019.

After six brilliant days in Ohio birding along the Lake Erie shore, it was time to head north-west and focus on some of the breeding in birds in central-north Michigan. Passing through Jackson County, we couldn't resist trying another site for Henlsow's Sparrows followed by a mid-morning visit to some surrounding Oak woodlands. Here we found our only Cerulean Warblers and Acadian Flycatchers of the trip along with a singing male Golden-winged Warbler, and several Hooded Warblers and Yellow-throated Vireos. By the afternoon, we'd already reached Grayling where we lucky enough to watch numerous singing Kirtland's Warblers showing superbly well in the evening sunlight.

Kirtland's Warbler - male, Grayling, Crawford Co., MI. May 16th, 2019.

Cerulean Warbler - Jackson Co., MI. May 16th, 2019.

Cerulean Warbler (female) - Jackson Co., MI. May 16th, 2019.

Henslow's Sparrow - Jackson Co., MI. May 16th, 2019.

North American Porcupine - Grayling, Crawford Co., MI. May 16th, 2019.

MA - North American Porcupines - 10/23

North American Porcupines - Warwick State Forest, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2011.

On Sunday we enjoyed a family walk along the lower slopes of Mount Grace in Warwick. The trail we chose, actually part of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, was rather quiet bird-wise but got a little more exciting when we came across not one, not two, but three porcupines all feeding in the same Eastern Hemlock! Two of them even got into a confrontational dispute resulting in some very weird, eerie squeals ringing around the forest. Close by, a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker fed during the whole time completely unconcerned as we clambered through the undergrowth to get better views of the porcupines. Perhaps it's just coincidence but I can recall at least two other ocassions where I've found sapsuckers feeding close to porcupines. Both of those sightings came from the Prescott Peninsula in the Quabbin watershed.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - juvenile, Warwick State Forest, Franklin Co., MA. October 23rd, 2011.

Foliage along the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail.

JPS.