We enjoyed a mild and breezy morning visiting the MDNR grassland, marsh, and forests off of Reithmiller Rd.  Tuesday.  Seven JAS members joined to search for some grassland species and were not disappointed.  The main target bird, Henslow's Sparrow, was there right out of the gate, literally.  We heard it shortly after going through the open green gate to the access road & trail.

(Henslow's Sparrow-Don Henise)

Working our way along the grassland trail we found some Grasshopper Sparrows as well.  And there were Lupines!

(Grasshopper Sparrow-Don Henise)

The great thing about this location is that it offers mature grasslands then wetland, then forest.  So when we tour, depending on how our search goes, we have choices of multiple habitats to work.

(Grassland-Steve Jerant)

(Marsh/Wet Meadow-Steve Jerant)

(Woodland Friends-Steve Jerant)

In the marshy area we were able to hear, but not see, a Sora.  Other finds included Green Heron, Willow Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow. 

(Willow Flycatcher-Don Henise)

There are some massive old trees here among the large grasslands, and of course the picture does not give it justice, but we have to try.

(White Oak-Steve Jerant)

(Brenda Wineman)

Don & Robyn were along, so we did not just see those 2-legged flyers, but got some of the 6-legged variety as well.

(Silver-bordered Fritillary-Don Henise)

We came in at 39 species but our little friend above can make 40 for the day.  See the trip eBird list for the complete species tally.

Our next tour is another MDNR property on the Washtenaw/Jackson border at Watkins Lake SP on June 20.

Well, we finally got a beautiful day for a tour this year - it only took 5 months.  Thirteen members and friends came out to Dahlem this morning for a "Big Sit."  After harried and sometimes rushed trips that many of us take in the spring to big, crowded hotspots it was nice to just sit and relax and see what comes to us.

We got 33 species and were able to get some good pics even with the morning sun coming in with a clear sky.

(Ruby-throated Hummingbird:  Don Henise)

(Common Yellowthroat:  Don Henise)

A Blue-winged Warbler hung out for a good part of the morning singing and perching quite still for us.

(Blue-winged Warbler:  Don Henise)

Don had heard a Hooded Warbler before the group arrived, but we waited too long (my fault) to return to the area as he had moved on by then.  But he recovered and was able to wrangle a little guy called a Common Baskettail for us to view up close.

(Common Baskettail:  Picture & hand model: Don Henise)

eBird checklist

The JAS trip down to Magee Marsh and surrounds was a bit earlier this year than normal-I won't do that again.  Seven JAS members took the trip across the border to Ohio for a visit to the Magee Marsh,  Metzger Marsh, and Howard Marsh locations.  It was cold, and windy, and we had a bit of rain. What we did not have unfortunately, was warblers.  

(Sidney Fitzpatrick)

While our count was very low, we did have lots of room on the Magee Marsh boardwalk, no trouble finding parking, and no waiting at the porta-Johns.  We stayed dry the whole day and had lots of wildfowl on our list.  Highlights included a Eastern Screech Owl and four Black-necked Stilts, a lifer for some of our group as well as a new spotting of this bird in the Midwest for most of the rest of us.

(Sidney Fitzpatrick)

A combined species list of the 65 species we observed is available as an eBird Trip Report .

Eight JAS members and guests joined Michigan Nature Association steward Stewart Goldman for a tour of the Trillium fields of southwest Michigan.  We've not been to these properties since before the Covid pandemic so we were excited to return.  The weather looked like it might not cooperate but we had just a bit a drizzle.  And who wants that nasty full sunshine thing when you're trying to take pictures of spring flowers?

After a fortifying breakfast at Mr. Wahoo's in Dowagiac, we met Stewart at Dowagiac Woods.  This is MNA's largest and one of it's oldest properties.  It is near the Dowagiac River and is quite wet, especially in the spring.  The Woods have never been developed and the diversity and quantity of spring ephemerals shows it very clearly.

Plant list:

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Common Violet (purple & yellow) (Viola sp.)

Trout Lilly (Erythronium americanum)

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa)

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullatia)

Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis)

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)

May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum)

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictrodes)

Bloodroot (Sanguinatia canadensis)

Large -Flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)

Broadleaf Toothwort (Dentaria diphylla)

Baneberry (Actaea sp.)

False Rue Anemone (Isopyrum biternatum)

Purple Cress (Cardemine Douglassii)

Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis)

Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia verna)

Trillium Ravine

After the Woods, we drive over to Berrien county to visit the Trillium Ravine.  This smaller property is also rich in spring ephemerals and, well, Trilliums.   In many parts of the short walk your entire view is Trilliums.  While predominately the  Large-flowered Trillium, there were also Toadshade and Prairie Trilliums.  I even got a picture of a trio of Trillium.

Plant list:

Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum)

Trillium Toadshade (Trillium sessile)

Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)

Celedine Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum)

The spring ephemerals were the priority and it's really hard to see birds when you are looking at all that beauty on the ground. But we are Audubon, so the eBird trip list was dutifully posted.

We've updated the JAS Events pages with the 2023-24 programs at Ella Sharp Museum for the season starting in September. 

It only rained once during our tour today-only problem was it did it from 8 to 11.  Don, Ross and I went out and braved the elements today for a tour of Jackson County lakes.  We visited 7 locations and recorded 21 waterfowl species and a total of 42 taxa.  The traditional start was Watkins Lake, where we had the  most wind and rain. Visibility was not great but was productive including one Common Loon, and 150 Ring-necks.

Our next two stops with two views of Norvell lake yielded some Belted Kingfisher and Goldeneye. 

Little Wolf lake had a sizable raft of Less Scaup,  a group of very exited  Bufflehead, and some Redhead & Canvasback.

We found our only American Coot at Grass Lake where the rain picked up a bit.

Our view of Portage Lake from the county park yielded several large flocks of Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, and Bufflehead.  Our portable blinds worked very well at this location.

(Steve Jerant)

The wetlands off Cutler & Dunn Rds. gave us a strong finish of 11 waterfowl.  We got our only Wood Duck of the morning on this very approachable wetland.  The water levels are back up to a good level and has been very productive the last two years.  This is a great spot to check out--after your visit to Haehnle Sanctuary, of course.

An eBird trip log is available HERE.

We did not plan to repeat the venue of our last trip, but high winds in a mature forest is not a good combination for a safe birding trip.  So we returned to the Mike Levine Lakelands Trail State Park this morning.  In our last trip we walked from the Herb Amster trailhead southwest toward the prison property.  So today the ten of us walked northeast toward Munith.  

(Steve Jerant)

As we started the walk a huge group of about 300 Canada Goose came up from the wet area to the east and brough along about 40 Sandhill Crane with them.  Only three raptors were seen but we did see some Red-winged Blackbirds like our last trip.  It has been an odd winter for these normally migratory species.

There was a good bit of mixed habitat with marsh, swamp, forest, and agricultural fields.  While we did not escape the windy conditions, there was good cover for most of the walk and we had a few snowflakes to remind us it's still February.  

(Steve Jerant)

The group walked about 1.3 miles to the intersection of Jordan Rd.  Half of the participants turned around but some of us checked out the sounds we were hearing across Jordan Rd.  A few more species were recorded and brought our trip list to 27.

The trip list is available on eBird.

This was the first visit to the new section of the Lakelands Trail/Mike Levine State Park for the Jackson Audubon Society.  The extension goes from the trailhead at Hawkins Rd. and the Portage River southeast toward the correctional facility off Parnall Rd.  In the event that you were unsure that you were adjacent to restricted access land, bright red signs were posted conveniently on both sides of the trail, about 50 feet apart.

This area has always been great for cranes, migrant songbirds and raptors.  So having a clear, level walking trail thought this area is fantastic.

Twelve JAS members, include 4 new members, joined the tour this morning.  It was 30 degrees warmer than my scouting trip a few days before, but much more windy.

(Steve Jerant)

We had a good mix of habitat including hardwood forest, agricultural field, and small spots of marsh and swamp.  At the end of our walk, about 2 miles from the trailhead is a wide expanse of wet meadow area which gave us a wide view to search for raptors.  This is also a productive area for Short-eared Owl.

(Brenda Wineman)

And we did have a good day of raptors-seven total, including 4 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Rough-legged Hawk, and 2 Bald Eagle.  A view to the south gave us a sight of some warmer weather birds with Turkey Vultures and gulls circling the warmth that is the McGill Landfill.  

Our next tour will be the Hoffman Trail on 02/21.

Trip eBird Checklist

We enjoyed a sunny morning tour of MacCready Preserve on Skiff Lake Rd. this morning. So it was a bit cold, but the temperature continued to rise through our walk and soon broke into the double digits.

While I'm usually not appreciative of Scotch (or Scotts) Pines, these specimens at the Preserve are good looking and the morning sun came in just perfect to highlight their orange bark.

(Steve Jerant)

(Steve Jerant)

We got off to a slow start with the birds and the crisp fresh snow made for a very noisy walk, impairing our ability to hear.  A good size flock of American Robin (~50) were quite busy chowing down on several oriental bittersweet vines.  A lone Hermit Thrush was in their group and a few Cedar Waxwings were also enjoying the plentiful berries.

One of my targets for the morning was a Yellow-bellied sapsucker.  Don was able to finally track him down in the north section of the property on the border trail.

(Steve Jerant)

We got three more woodpeckers and three hawks which were flying high above us.

Our trip eBird list is available HERE

Our next tour is on the Lakelands trail SP next next Tuesday. 

Seven folks joined a tour of the Fay Lake Trail in Watkins Lake SP on Tuesday.  This  the old railroad grade is to the east of the park but is not connected.  It runs though wetland habitat including a very nice Tamarac swamp.

Don Henise led the tour, and while we had a good turnout of birders,  the group did not get the winter birds they were hoping for.

(Brenda Wineman)

Don submitted the following eBird checklists. 

Watkins Lake Park

Fay Lake Trail