From: John Lowry To: "Birders at UMich (E-mail)" Subject: Trip report for Grosse Ile, MI (good birds abound) Date sent: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 17:47:28 -0500 Had a nice day afield today. Karen and I were headed for Lake Erie MetroPark when I got the notion to scout the birding opportunities on Grosse Ile. What a fortuitous turn! Tried the northern (eastern) end first, since on the map it looked promising, but some helpful residents told us we might get arrested for tresspassing on BASF property. Looked like good field habitat from our vantage point, but apparently it's quarry. I asked about good birding spots and they sent us off to the Wildlfe Sanctuary. No kidding! Grosse Ile has apparently bought up acres of decent habitat and posted signs, "Grosse Ile Open Spaces". We pulled over at a canal crossing off of Horse Mill Rd., where there seemed to be a two track heading into the woods. Immediately I noticed the profusion of berry loaded shrubs. I looked up to see a flock of blackbirds fly over, as I heard a robin call. I figured we were in the right place. So here's the list for today, 29 Nov, circa. 11am: HERMIT THRUSH (several), NORTHERN FLICKER (many!), DOWNY, HAIRY and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, TUFTED TITMOUSE, (and chickadee and WB nuthatch, of course...), YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, CEDAR WAXWINGS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, lots of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS, a flyover Buteo (red-tail I reckon), and jays and starlings and goldfinches and house finches. I think I'll keep an eye on this place. If an out of range or season thrush or mimic thrush is in the area, I've a notion they'd head for this area. As a matter of fact I heard a song(!) that might have been a mimid's. The song had two distinct parts both with complex repetition. There were many vocal starlings around, however, and at first I thought the song might even belong to Carolina Wren - at least until the second part came. Maybe titmouse too, I guess. They surprise me with their repertoire. The birds were as abundant as if it were spring - every direction I looked there was activity! Perhaps others are itching for an active woodland birding experience. I know I was! PS. I did hear Carolina Wren singing in my yard twice on Friday. What a joyous sound... ===================== John Lowry Livonia, MI johnl513@oeonline.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- From: Bruce M. Bowman To: birders@umich.edu,mich-listers@envirolink.org, se_mi-birdlist@umich.edu Subject: TUFTED DUCK still at Grosse Ile Date sent: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 15:42:00 -0500 I went to Grosse Ile this early afternoon and had no trouble finding and getting good looks at the TUFTED DUCK (possible hybrid). I was there from 1:00 until 2:00 and the duck was right where Mary Cypher and Julie Craves saw it. The sky was overcast, so the light I had was the same as Julie's and the duck looked exactly as she described it. It's my understanding that the last time a Tufted Duck was seen in Michigan, or in this area, was 1995. Today is the fifth consecutive day that it has been seen at Grosse Ile. Mary's and Julie's postings were not to the 'birders' list. Since this is a bird that many 'birders' members may want to see, I'm going to forward both of those postings to 'birders'. I'll give directions to Grosse Ile from Ann Arbor. Following my directions (below) are Mary's directions to where to see the bird. In addition to the Tufted Duck, there are around 400-500 Canvasbacks there, maybe 100 Common Goldeneyes, a smaller number of scaups, and one Bufflehead. Tufted Duck...look for a small, brownish duck that pretty much stays apart from the other ducks. Bruce -------------- Ann Arbor to Grosse Ile: Take I-94 east to Telegraph (U.S. 12). Go south on Telegraph several miles. It merges into I-75. Continue south on I-75 to Exit 32 (Woodhaven) to Trenton and Grosse Ile. You'll be going east on West Road. Go a mile to Allen Road and turn right (south). Go a mile and a half to Van Horn Road and turn left (east). Continue for two or three miles to a "T" at Jefferson. Do a jog to the left and then continue eastward, on Grosse Ile Parkway. This will take you over a bridge crossing the river. Continue to Meridian Road and then follow Mary's directions below. > Grosse Isle is in the Detroit River in the 'downriver' area. If > crossing to the island from the 'free' bridge at the end of Van > Horn road, take the road to Meridian in the middle of the island, > turn left, go down a block, and then turn right on Macomb (this > is the business district). Go to the end, find a place to park, > (Walt and I parked at a grocery store called 'Hakes' I think > [it's Nate's--a block before the end of Macomb Road; Bruce] ) and > walk to the end of the road. Across the street is an observation > deck along the river. The bird is easily visible from the deck - > it has been swimming back and forth along the near bank just to > the left between a tree along the bank and a little point that > juts out into the river. This was the third day in which Walt > had observed the bird and he stated that it had been in the same > spot doing the same thing every day.