Tour of Dahlem Center 10/14/2025

(Brenda Wineman)

We had great autumn weather and early color for our walk at Dahlem on Tuesday. From the Center we walked to the boardwalk where we spent a good bit of time. It was pretty birdy, and we got most of the birds for the walk there. From the boardwalk and over the bridge we went to the “Bug Field” and then back into the woods.

(Brenda Wineman)

We turned back after a walk along the grassland edge and into the boardwalk by the reflecting pond. Not many birds there but a lot of turtles!

Reflecting Pond Boardwalk (Brenda Wineman)

Our eBird list is available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S279378137

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 10/13/2025 By Don Henise

(Steve Jerant)

The number of Sandhill Cranes roosting in Mud Lake Marsh at Haehnle Sanctuary more than doubled over last week, with 104 cranes counted on Monday evening.

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis(Don Henise)

One highlight of the evening was the sight of a Sharp-shinned Hawk being chased by one of the regular immature Northern Harriers.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)(Don Henise)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)(Don Henise)

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker made a brief visit to the tree right above the kiosk at the overlook. Earlier in the evening, two adult Bald Eagles made a low pass over the lookout hill. Waterfowl variety is increasing out in the marsh as the fall progresses. Most are distant and need a scope to ID. See the eBird checklist linked below for the complete list. Once again a group of Great Egrets, 18 this week, dropped into the marsh at dusk.

 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)(Don Henise)

Total Cranes Roosting: 104

Counters: Ross Green, Steve Jerant, Gary Siegrist, Robyn Henise, Don Henise

Compiled by: Don Henise

Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S279254499

Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)(Don Henise)

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 10/06/2025 By Don Henise

(Steve Jerant)

Monday, October 6th, brought another day of unseasonably warm weather to Haehnle Sanctuary. Afternoon temps were in the mid 80s. Sandhill Crane numbers increased a bit with 46 cranes coming in to roost in Mud Lake Marsh. With this warm early fall weather, the majority Sandhill Cranes from Ontario and northern Michigan have most likely not made a push south yet.

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) (DonHenise)

Some birding highlights included a small group of somewhat late Chimney Swifts that passed overhead, a Pileated Woodpecker that flew across in front of the overlook hill, our first Rusty Blackbird of the season which was heard calling in one of the many Red-winged Blackbird flocks and a group of 11 Great Egrets that flew in to join the cranes in the marsh at dusk.

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) (DonHenise)

After the sunset, we were treated to the beautiful sight of the rising Harvest Supermoon and the sound of an Eastern Screech-Owl calling from the woods near the parking area.

Supermoon (DonHenise)

Total Cranes Roosting: 46

Counters: Ross Green, Steve Jerant, Don Henise

Compiled by: Don Henise

Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S277741147

Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) (DonHenise)

We have rebuilt and restaged the Haehnle website.  The site is now integrated into the Jackson Audubon site so both JAS & Haehnle sites have the same feel, calendar, and blog.  The existing content and images have been refreshed and new content has been added including a section on planning your visit.

Check it out at https://www.jacksonaudubon.org/haehnlesanctuary

Today, we redefined the area of the the west parking lot by changing the split rail fence bordering the space.  The majority of the west parking lot was not used and was being degraded due to abuse.  It was deemed too expensive to properly harden the area.  In addition, the habitat restoration work in the surrounding the parking lot made this the perfect time to include this area and return it to what was likely it's old habitat-savanna.  This area will be tilled to break up the compacted soil then seeded with native plant species. The new enclosure is a smaller space and will be used for overflow parking.

After the plants are growing and you see a savanna in development next year, you can say we

Seeded a parking lot
and put up a savannah

Gary, Sandy, Bill, and Paul(operator) (Steve Jerant)

 The work crew watching holes being made by the power the auger.  Years of compaction, dry weather, and lots of sandstone underneath made it hard going the whole day.

Paul and his bobcat (Steve Jerant)

 Paul was very happy when we got to the last, number 23, hole to drill.

Paul, Gary, Bill, and Steve at the end of the job (Steve Jerant)

Apologies to Joni Mitchell

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 09/29/2025

By Don Henise

(Don Henise)

After a slight drop in Sandhill Crane numbers last week, we had a small increase for the 3rd week, counting 31 cranes roosting in Mud Lake Marsh for the night. Overall birding was a little slow, but we did have a few highlights before the night was over. One Wilson's Snipe made a pass high over the marsh. A total of 8 Bald Eagles were perched on the trees far to the north, two adults together and 6 immature and sub-adults all in another tree. After skipping last week, two immature Northern Harriers hunted over the marsh and a female American Kestrel made an appearance.

Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) (Don Henise)

A Northern House Wren was hanging around at the apple trees near the lower benches. Late in the evening sparrows became active in the brush to the east of the overlook hill. Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, 3 Lincoln's Sparrows, and the season's first White-crowned Sparrow were either seen or heard toward dusk. A link to the full eBird checklist is below.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)(Don Henise)

Total Cranes Roosting: 31

Counters: Ross Green, Don Henise

Compiled by: Don Henise

Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S276400661

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 09/22/2025
By Don Henise

(Steve Jerant)

The second weekly Sandhill Crane Count at the Haehnle Sanctuary took place Monday. The afternoon was again quite nice and we recorded a few more bird species than the week before. Bird highlights included a family of Trumpeter Swans with 2 adults and 2 juveniles seen in the marsh. Three Bald Eagles were perched in a tree to the far north - 2 adults and 1 juvenile. Many birds were busy in the trees above and behind the kiosk. A flock of Cedar Waxwings kept us entertained throughout the evening with a few Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and Eastern Phoebes flying sorties in and out of the trees. A Bay-breasted Warbler, and a Scarlet Tanager each made appearances.

_Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)(Don Henise)

Towards the end of the evening, several sparrows were detected in the brush to the right of the overlook - 1 Field Sparrow, 1 Song Sparrow, and our first of the season Lincoln's Sparrows with 3 observed.

A highlight of the evening for this author was a small swarm of half a dozen dragonfly darners that were flying over the grasslands beside the overlook. At one point a Green-striped Darner landed on one of the posts of the kiosk. I was able to catch, photograph and release 2 of the darners that were swarming. The first was a female Common Green Darner and the second was a Mottled Darner, a lifer dragonfly for me.

Mottled Darner (Aeshna clepsydra) (Don Henise, hand model: Don Henise)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)(Don Henise, finger model: Don Henise)

Green-striped Darner (Aeshna verticalis)(Don Henise)

Total Cranes Roosting: 12

Counters: Ross Green, Steve Jerant, Don Henise

Compiled by: Don Henise

Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S275161862

Michigan State Bird Observatory at Burke Lake Tour 

After a very long absence-2018 was our last trip-JAS did a tour of the Michigan State Bird Observatory at Burke Lake near Bath.  Seven members drove out, three of which had never visited before.  We had great weather, and the nets were well stocked. 

Banding Station (Nolan Williams)

The station consists of a series of mist nest and a banding station.  The mist nests are very fine nets hung vertically in active areas which will ensnare a bird, gently but firmly.  Once caught, the birds are collected and carried to the banding station.

Alex working the nets (Nolan Williams)

We walked to the nets with the banding team, led by Kristy Taylor, Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator.  She explained the process of capture, bird handling, and a lot more.  Haehnle Sanctuary’s nest box monitor and committee member, Alex Johnson, was also on hand to answer questions and share her knowledge of the processes.

Blue Headed Vireo (Nolan Williams)

After the walk, we returned to the banding station where the captured birds are measured, banded, and then set free.  One of the great things that this opportunity affords is a very close view of some of our smallest and most difficult to see birds.  And we got to have them in our hand for their release!

Group viewing bird in hand (Brenda Wineman)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak doesn't have just a rose breast!  (Brenda Wineman)

Redstart male & female (Brenda Wineman)

Complete eBird list available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S273810655

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 09/15/2025
By Don Henise

The counting team began the 2025 fall season of weekly crane counts at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary on Monday, September 15th.  It was a beautiful warm and sunny day.  Overall birding was quiet throughout the afternoon as we only managed to record 28 species. A few of the bird highlights included a Black-billed Cuckoo, 2 Scarlet Tanagers and a Merlin that raced through shortly before sunset.  We had the obligatory Northern Harrier coursing over the marsh and a handful of Great Egrets in the marsh. Nineteen Sandhill Cranes were counted for the evening. A link to the complete eBird Checklist is below.

Total Cranes Roosting:  19

Counters:   Ross Green, Steve Jerant, Don Henise

Compiled by:  Don Henise

Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S273642774

(Steve Jerant)

Portage Lake SP Fall Birding
by Gary Siegrist

Five JAS members enjoyed a delightful walk in the woods at Portage Lake Unit on this sunny late summer morning. While bird species were low in numbers (32), the highlight of the hike was a group of American Crows mobbing a Red-shouldered Hawk.

(Gary Siegrist)

eBird trip list available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S271130822