Some birds from Whitefish Point over the years.

This Black-billed Magpie, a western North American species spent a week at our feeders at the cabin sometime around 2010-12

The Golden Eagle is a common migrant in small numbers in April and early May at Whitefish Point.

While I have never photographed a Northern Hawk Owl at our cabin, this one was about half-way between our place and the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.

This poor photo of four Long-eared Owl was taken from my “Raptor Roost,” the small tower at our cabin. Annually, in April we typically see between 30 and 70 Long-eared Owl as they migrate north starting in near darkness.

Another common migrant in small numbers is the Northern Goshawk.

In May of this year we were treated to a great rarity, not only for Whitefish Point, but for Michigan in general. The closest bird with yellow legs is a Ruff. Just beyond it is a Dunlin, with a Least Sandpiper beyond that. This was the first ever for the U.P.

We saw this Smith’s Longspur near the tip of the point in Fall a few years ago. Rarities can show up in all seasons.

Every year we take many friends out to search for Spruce Grouse, which can be difficult to find in Michigan.

A rare hawk to see in the spring is a Swainson’s Hawk. This rare visitor from the west occurs almost annually in late April and early May.

We’ve had great luck in seeing 10-12 Townsend’s Solitaire at our cabin since 2010. This is another uncommon western visitor that tends to be more commonly encountered in northern Michigan.

Susan was doing the dishes at the cabin on Fall and noticed an unusual bird about ten feet behind the cabin. I quickly grabbed my camera, snapped a few pictures before calling the staff at the Observatory and nearby friends. This Western Kingbird spect a few hours behind the cabin before disappearing.

While I have seen some Whimbrel from the Raptor Roost, they are always too far away to photograph. This bird was near the tip at Whitefish Point in late May, 2021.

That’s all for now. Tomorrow will have comics and maybe more.