Thirteen JAS members visited the Watkins Lake SP for our annual autumn waterfowl tour.  It was a beautiful morning with clear skies and comfortable temperatures going from about 35 to 55F during our visit.  We had a good variety of waterfowl with 18 species counted.  A large flock (~1,000) of Canada Goose came in shortly after we started.  And with all eyes on, 2 Snow Goose were spotted!  A significant number of Hooded Merganser were observed.

The raptor count was low with a late arriving Bald Eagle and Red-Tailed Hawk, not seen by many participants.  And a first for me-NO Manchester Turkey Vultures.  They seem to be reliable all year round.

Trip eBird list available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S154461745

We had only two counters this week, but Gary and Ross were able to count all 65 cranes that made Haehnle their home last night.  Another 100 or so cranes were observed in flight north of the sanctuary.  While our counts remain low, cranes are starting to gather in the area.  Multiple groups in the hundreds are being seen in local agricultural and other fields. For an up-to-date crane viewing map, visit https://www.haehnlesanctuary.org/driving-map.

It was a great night for waterfowl with 12 species observed.  And we had another Rough-legged Hawk along with three other raptors.  

Counters:  Ross Green and Gary Siegrist

Compiled by Ross Green

eBird list of all species recorded:   https://ebird.org/checklist/S154431664  

Total Cranes Roosting:  68

10 members of JAS visited the Dahlem Center Tuesday for a fall birding tour.

(Brenda Wineman)

Highlights include Fox Sparrow, Purple Finch, and Golden-drowned Kinglet.  Complete bird list is available at eBird Checklist - 7 Nov 2023 - Dahlem Center - 30 species

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 11/06/2023
by Don Henise

After two Mondays of quite cold weather, this week we enjoyed a mild afternoon with temps in the upper 50s. A prescribed burn was conducted on the east portion of the main prairie near the overlook last Thursday.
[Video of burn available on the JAS YouTube channel]

Today a flock of 40+ American Pipits was found on the burned area.  Apparently, a burned prairie looks a lot like good tundra habitat to a pipit. Though American Pipits can be quite common migrants in other parts of Michigan, they are uncommon migrants in Jackson County - a real treat for all observers and a life bird for a few.

(Don Henise)

The one hundred mark was finally broken for our crane count with 130 Sandhill Cranes flying into roost in Mud Lake Marsh for the evening.

Counters: Ross Green, Robyn Henise, Gary Siegrist, and Steve Jerant
Compiled by Don Henise
eBird list of all species recorded: https://ebird.org/checklist/S153925451

Total Cranes Roosting: 130

Haehnle Sanctuary & USFWS Crane Count 10/30/2023
by Don Henise

A brisk cold evening closed out the October counts at Phyllis Haehnle  Sanctuary. We even had a snow shower cross over the marsh at one point.  The number of Sandhill Cranes using the sanctuary for night roosting remains on the low side, but numbers were up just a bit from Last week.  A count of 97 cranes were tallied flying into Mud Lake Marsh for the night with another 147 counted as flybys.

(Don Henise)

Gary found the season's first Rough-legged Hawk working over the marsh. It was in view most of the evening either perched on a snag or flying around hunting, often hovering over the marsh and fen to the northwest of the overlook. Bald Eagles were prevalent throughout the evening as well, with at least 8 individuals being seen. There were three adults, at least two 1st year birds and three 2nd year birds. Three of the young birds circled directly overhead together.

Bald Eagle(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)(Don Henise)

Total Cranes Roosting:  97
Counters: Robyn Henise, Gary Siegrist
Compiled by: Don Henise
Complete eBird checklist:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S153445631

Editor's note:

In addition to the count at Haehnle, (https://www.fws.gov/epsandhill/node/7442)other JAS members participated in area counts for the USFWS.
Ron Hoffman & Steve Jerant counted 120 cranes roosting at the Schumacher Marsh near the Waterloo Farm Museum on Waterloo Munith Road.
https://www.fws.gov/epsandhill/node/7441

Ross Green and Lathe Claflin reported the night's high of 198 cranes at marshland just north of the Haehnle Sanctuary.

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 10/23/2023
by Don Henise

Sandhill Cranes came into Mud Lake Marsh at Haehnle Sanctuary tonight but in slightly smaller numbers than last week. A count of 77 cranes came in for the night.

(Don Henise)

The trees surrounding the marsh were showing nice color which was especially striking as the sun lowered behind us. A total of 44 bird species were recorded during our count. While scoping the marsh for waterfowl, Ross had a Northern Shrike fly through his view. It landed at the top of the tall maples to the right of the overlook giving us all a nice scope view before it flew off again.  A Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 Adult Bale Eagles, several Northern Harriers and a Merlin were the raptor highlights of the evening. A variety of waterfowl continue to be observed out in Mud Lake.

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

Complete eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S152941567

Total Cranes Roosting: 77
Counters: Robyn Henise, Gary Siegrist, Ross Green
Compiled by: Don Henise

We had a relaxing walk through Portage Lake State Park this morning.  It was cool, but it is October, and it transitioned form overcast to just short of partly cloudy.  The lake was not very busy, and only a lone Ruddy Duck stood out against the usual suspects of Canada Goose, Mallard, and Pie-billed Grebe.

(Gary Mason)

We got the scope out, though and got a good look at the Bald Eagle across the lake but could not nail down the buteo that was near him.  But the Cooper's Hawk was more cooperative and gave us two flyovers.

(Steve Jerant)

Near the swimming beach, a pair of cranes were getting some quiet time at the park, but we scared them off.  Gary mason was ready and got some great action shots.

(Gary Mason)

(Gary Mason)

The woods and shrub were much more productive than the water and we were busy with kinglets and sparrows.  We got both Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-throated and -crowned Sparrow, and a single hard to find Brown Creeper.  

See if you can find one on those little guys in this shot by Gary.  But don't eat those berries!

(Gary Mason)

Our complete trip list is available on this eBird Checklist

And the color was beautiful!  Thanks, Gary for the great pics.

(Gary Mason)

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 10/16/2023
by Don Henise

It appears that some Sandhill Cranes have finally moved in from the north. A count of 122 roosting Sandhill Cranes was recorded for Mud Lake Marsh in Haehnle Sanctuary Monday evening. Another 300+ Cranes were counted as flybys, most of those landing in the property to the northwest of the Sanctuary.

(Don Henise)

Other highlights of the evening were ducks including Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Gadwal, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Duck,  and Ring-necked Duck. Five species of woodpecker were recorded including a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S152431436

Total Cranes Roosting: 122

Counters: Robyn Henise & Ross Green

Compiled by: Don Henise

Haehnle Sanctuary Crane Count 10/09/2023 by Don Henise

There was quite a contrast in the weather from last week to this one. No one was in shorts or shirt sleeves tonight. A brisk wind blowing with temps in the low 50s at the start and dropping into the 40s by sunset.  Of course, there were no mosquitoes to contend with either.

(Steve Jerant)

Tonight's highlights were raptors. A pair of adult Bald Eagles were harassing the waterfowl out in Mud Lake. A stunning silver male Northern Harrier appeared late in the evening adding to the couple of immature harriers that had been working the marsh all afternoon. Several Sharp-shinned Hawks flew over the lookout throughout the count.

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

Ducks flushed by the eagles included Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon and several American Black Ducks. Earlier in the afternoon an Eastern Meadowlark sat atop one of the apple trees near the lower benches for a while and a lone Purple Finch made a brief appearance. Sandhill Crane numbers continued to be lackluster with only 10 remaining in the marsh at sunset.

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) (Don Henise)

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

Compiler: Don Henise

eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S151840723

Total Cranes Roosting - 10

The Jackson Audubon Club travelled down south to Hillsdale County this morning to visit Leaf and Feather Farm.   Owners Sydney and John gave us a tour of their property. They shared their vision of a nature-centric B&B out in the country.

John & Sydney (Steve Jerant)

We started the walk with a flyover of a Great Blue Heron.  The property has some old woods, drains, and views to wetland and fields. 

The trees and underbrush were nice with oaks, hickories, black cherry, spicebush, and muscle wood. 

(Steve Jerant)

The birding was good. Highlights included Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, and a few warblers. 

Red-headed Woodpecker-Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Mike Bowen)

We’re looking forward to more visits in different seasons and watch the realization of Sydney & John’s dream.

Our trip eBird list contains the species observed.