Beaver Island - Karl Overman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I spent parts of five days, June 13-17th, on Beaver Island and as that is not a common birding venue for Michigan, I thought there might be some interest in what I found there. It is about a 2 hour ferry ride from Charlevoix. Cost is $35 per person round trip plus around $61 each way for a passenger car. Taking a bike rack cost extra. There was no flexibility on the ferry company's part as far as when you came back at least as to vehicles--If you changed your plans, you would have to pay another $61 or whatever for the change. The island itself was delightful--bike paths, uncrowded campgrounds, good restaurants, in short, lots of public amenities for such a small place. Gas was $2.69 a gallon, making prices in southern Michigan seem like a bargain at $1.90. I found it quite birdy for an island in the breeding season. I had 103 species. Here is an account of some of the species I found on the island: Common Loon: Nesting pair on Barney Lake Double-crested Cormorant: Now I know where many of the migrants on Lake Erie go. American Bittern: One seen at marsh on Kings Hwy Least Bittern: I would like some further confirmation on this since this is getting pretty far north for this species. I heard one a couple times at the marsh on Kings Hwy on June 15th before dawn. I talked to Nancy Seefelt from Central Michigan University, who is surely the go-to person for birding on the island, and she said there have been other reports over the years from that locations though no recent sightings. Turkey Vulture: I had two on the island. Canada Goose: Pleasantly rare, at least in the interior of the island. Gadwall: One male in St. James harbor on June 17th Common Goldeneye Four well off shore between Beaver Island and Gardner Island on June 14th; one female St. James harbor on June 16th. Blue-winged Teal: Two males off St. James Twp Campground June 14 Osprey: Pair nesting on a communictions tower near Barney Lake Bald Eagle One adult flushed from small clearing on Hannigan's Road in center of island. Merlin Two seen along East Shore Road on June 14th Sandhill Crane One seen in field along Kings Hwy on June 16th Snipe: Several winnowing birds in northern sections of island Caspian Tern Abundant along the Lake Michigan shoreline and normally seen on lakes in the interior as well. Common Tern I saw only one and that was from the ferry as we approached the island. Winter Wren Common (by song) in suitable habitat House Wren Not common. Only in the Four Corners area at the north end of island. Sedge Wren One very vocal bird along East Shore Road at Pebble Beach. This bird was still singing at 11 p.m. one night as I was unsuccessfully seeking Whip-poor-will. Hermit Thrush Common in a small area around the Bill Wagner campground on east side of island. Brown Thrasher Seemed common in brushy areas in the northern parts of the island. Parula Warbler Only had 3 singing birds Yellow Warbler: Seemed very local on the island. Kings Highway and the town of St. James were good for the species. Chestnut-sided Warbler I had only two. Magnolia Warbler: I had 3 scattered birds. Black-throated Green Abundant in coniferous areas Blackburnian Warbler I only had one on the west side of the island Pine Warbler Common on eastern shore Mourning Warbler: Only one and that was on the shoreline in the NW corner of island. Clay-colored Sparrow I heard/saw 4 birds in vicinity of Welke Airport in open areas with low juniper cover. Vesper Sparrow Pair at the Beaver Island Airport (island has two airports) Grasshopper Sparrow Heard at both island airports Cardinal Two singing birds along SE shoreline Bobolink Common in fields around Welke Airport Cheers, Karl Overman Farmington Hills, Mi