Waltz sod farm (Green Acres sod farm) -- Wayne County ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: Catherine Carroll To: birders@umich.edu Subject: [birders] Directions to Waltz Sod Farm, Wayne County Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 23:42:55 -0400 Birders, There have been a couple of inquiries today about the location of the Waltz Sod farm in Wayne County to check for Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Being new to the area, I have found the Waltz Sod farm good for checking. I think it was sometime in July that I chased the Upland Sandpiper that Scott Jennex et al found there. I did not find the Upland Sandpiper, but a couple of weeks ago I found Baird's Sandpiper there, and as I posted, found several Buff- breasted Sandpiper there on Monday evening. The way I get there is to take I-275 south to exit 11 (Huron Rd. West - not sure of exact name of road) or the next exit which is Flat Rock/Will Carlton Road. If taking exit 11 -> go right or west at the top of the exit ramp. You'll go over railroad tracks and then I do believe that the next road is Waltz Road. There is a Sunoco gas station on the corner. Go left or south. Continue on Waltz Road past Willow. Perhaps 1/2 mile (+/-) further on you will see the sod farm on your left. Continue past this and begin looking for Ash Road and turn left on to this dirt road. Once on Ash Road, there are good places to check all along the road and I would check them all. On Monday evening the Buff-breasted Sandpipers were in the large tilled field just beyond the railroad tracks. A scope is definitely needed. This is the same field that Darrin O'Brien and Julie Craves reported the Am. Golden-plover in on Sunday. If you come via Will Carlton Road exit -> again west to Waltz Road and go right on Waltz Rd. You'll go through the tiny village of Waltz and then turn right on Ash Road and then same as above. I had to go to Lansing today so did not have a chance to check for the Buff-breasted Sandpipers or others today and I have not seen any reports that others chased them there and did or did not find them. Of note, there were reports that the Buff-breasted was still being seen at the Gooding Road Sod farm in Washtenaw County today, and this sod farm is perhaps only 10 miles (+/-) west of the Waltz Sod farm. Go to Willow and turn left and keep on until Gooding Road. Turn left, past house and other buildings and check in both fields. I hope this post is not too long. Cathy Carroll Canton, MI clcarroll@voyager.net --------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 20:22:35 -0400 (Eastern Standard Time) From: "Jim Fowler" To: birders@umich.edu Subject: Buff-breasted Sandpipers in Wayne County This morning, 2 Sep, Walt Pawloski found 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at the Green Acres Sod Farm near the village of Waltz, in southwest Wayne County I observed the birds around 4pm and they were still present when I left. I have been keeping records of Wayne County birds for several decades and this observation may represent the first sighting of this species in the county in about 30 years. Also present in the same field were lots of Killdeer, 11 American Golden-Plovers and, in the harvested sod field on the opposite side of the road, 1 Hudsonian Godwit. This is definitely the first Godwit of any kind I have observed on a Sod Farm and may also be the first one I have seen in the county away from the shores of Lake Erie. The Village of Waltz is located just west of I-275 and Will Carleton Rd. To reach the Green Acres Sod Farm, turn north off Will Carleton Road on to Waltz Road and drive about 1 mile to Ash Road. Turn right (east) on to Ash Rd. The Sandpipers and Plovers were observed in the sod field on the north side of Ash Road before crossing the RR Tracks The Godwit was observed on the opposite side of the road, in the harvested sod field across a small creek (look for a trailer loaded with irrigation pipes). Good luck and good birding!! Jim Fowler Dearborn, MI JAFowl@comcast.net