SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN FIELD TRIP
Three Oaks area, Warren Woods and Warren Dunes State Parks
May 24, 1997
At 6:00 A.M., with Cal Pomarius at the wheel, Carl Manning as navigator and Dr. John in charge of munchies, six intrepid birders took off to southwestern Michigan. A total of 83 species of birds were observed during the day.
Our first stops were to meadow type areas around Three Oaks. Several Bobolinks and Meadowlarks were seen in the fields; and an Eastern Kingbird and Red-headed Woodpecker flew over. A coyote was seen wandering near the back of a farmers plowed field. We could also hear a flock of Cedar Waxwings flying over. A Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler and Magnolia Warbler were seen in some bushes by a farm house and two Brown Thrashers were seen in the yard. In a small wooded area in the same vicinity, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Northern Orioles were observed. On another road through farm country, a group of Ring-necked Pheasants ran across in front of us and an Eastern Bluebird sat on a farmers fence.
The next stop was a wooded area near the Indiana border with a creek running through it. Here, high in the Sycamore trees, we found Yellow-throated Warblers. Other warblers found in this area included a Black-throated Green and Blackburnian Warbler and also an American Redstart. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird sat resting in a tree and a Wood Thrush and Swainson's Thrush were also observed.
A brief stop near another creek on the way to Warren Woods added a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Cerulean Warbler to the list. Also seen were a Yellow-throated Vireo and an Eastern Phoebe. Several other vireos were seen during the day. These included, Warbling, Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireos.
We stopped next for a walk through Warren Woods. While overlooking a stream, everyone got a beautiful view of a Louisiana Waterthrush. We finally got to see a Scarlet Tanager after hearing it sing from the tree tops. Canada, Hooded, Chestnut-sided and Bay-breasted Warblers were seen; and nesting in the side of a cliff by the stream were Rough-winged Swallows.
Our last stop of the day was to Warren Dunes State Park. On entering the park, a Rufous-sided Towhee was seen by the road. We also saw several more Canada and Hooded Warblers. However, the prize bird for this area was a Mourning Warbler seen walking in the woods by a fallen tree.
Other sightings for the day included: several Indigo Buntings, Great Crested, Willow and Least Flycatchers, Veery, Ovenbird, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a woodchuck, turtles, deer, rabbits and two ostriches.
Submitted by Jan Maher
