Day 3: March 9, 2009

We slept in a little on the third day only to be woken up by the blazing sun across the frozen Whitefish Bay outside our hotel window. This would be the final day of the trip and we were headed to see a few last places and make our way home. We started the day heading up to the very tip of the Whitefish Bay Point. Here the Whitefish Bay Bird Observatory was basically buried under snow with a sighting board visible that showed the last date as November 2008. Maybe in the spring...

On the way back we drove slowly down the road. A pair of small birds were picking away at salt on the side of the road. After closer inspection they turned out to be Red Crossbills. These little guys are hard to find and only show up in big invasion years. We watched them for a while and then continued on our way. A small flock of Redpolls fluttered about as we began to drive away and a single red breasted nuthatch flew down to the road ahead of us. The redpolls flew ahead of us as if leading us away. Lifebird # 6

A last second turn onto a snow covered road took us deep into the wooded area on the point. Deep green hemlocks and white birch trees enveloped the Tahoe and the eerie silence in the woods was only interrupted by the occasional song of a chickadee. The road dead ended in a cranberry bog where we turned around and headed back the way we came. As we drove slowly over the snow covered street, we peered into the trees to find any hidden birds or animals. (Still looking for that moose!). All of a sudden on our right, a beautiful roughed grouse was sitting in a tree not 15 feet from the car! We skidded to a halt and started snapping photos.

The grouse seemed oblivious and began to walk along the branch and pick at the buds with its beak giving us excellent looks at the bird. We watched this grouse for a little while and decided it was time to get some lunch. Lifebird # 7. Along this same stretch we added a male and female Pine Grosbeak to our ever growing list. Lifebird #8 The Grosbeaks were very large but moved too quickly to get any photos of them

We headed back up to the Upper Falls and the brewery for more excellent fish. We sat at a table in front of the windows where a large platform feeder was placed. Fox squirrels and a gray squirrel ate sunflower seeds from the ground and the feeder among 15-20 of the bluest Blue Jays we have ever seen. With their sharp crests and super blue colors creating a flurry of activity while we dined. A few brave Black Capped Chickadees joined in the fray as well while Raven and Crows flew around overhead. We finished lunch and started our homeward journey.

We drove a little while longer through a wooded area and found a few more Roughed grouse as we went and then crossed the bridge again. We drove back looking for Elk in the areas they were marked without seeing them. We stopped occasionally to stretch and and kept of moving. It was near dusk when we saw our last few sightings for the trip:

A Red Tailed Hawk sat perched along the highway looking for a snack.

A gorgeous adult Bald Eagle soared along the road giving us excellent views.

And just when you thought you have seen everything, I saw something up in a tree over the highway. A quick U-turn and then another took us back to the exact spot. As the daylight was beginning to fade we saw a real live porcupine in the top of a tree! What a way to end this spontaneous little trip. Fun times, good food, great company and excellent wildlife. I for one cannot wait to head back out to the U.P. to see what else is in store.

Location: UP
Observation date: 3/8/09
Notes: General count for the weekend in the UP area.
Number of species: 35
Common Merganser 5
Ruffed Grouse 4
Sharp-tailed Grouse 7
Wild Turkey 10
Bald Eagle 1
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Golden Eagle 1
gull sp. 10
Rock Pigeon 6
Mourning Dove 10
Snowy Owl 1
Northern Hawk Owl 1
Great Gray Owl 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Northern Shrike 2
Blue Jay 30
American Crow 100
Common Raven 100
Horned Lark 6
Black-capped Chickadee 50
Tufted Titmouse 6
Red-breasted Nuthatch 15
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
American Robin 1
American Tree Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Snow Bunting 12
Pine Grosbeak 6
House Finch 2
Red Crossbill 2
White-winged Crossbill 50
Common Redpoll 100
Pine Siskin 3
House Sparrow 10