"The Eco-Tourism Potential Here is Absolutely Amazing!"
Evening Grosbeak Photo by Chris Fisher
Tuesday May 25, 1993.
Exploring Boreal Coves, Fields and Wetlands. A great day for wood
warblers (13 species recorded) and shorebirds. Boreal cove showed a significant increase in
warbler content from yesterday including Blackburnian, Cape May, Blackpoll, Redstarts,
Magnolia and Tennessee warblers, Golden-crowned Kinglets etc. Golden Plovers continue to appear
in fields. We are anticipating the sighting of an Eskimo Curlew - a bird last seen over ten years
ago and presumed to be extinct.
Pale coral-root orchid (Corallorrhize trifida) found flowering on "road-trail" into the Boreal Cover Forest. One emerging Calypso bulbosa seen, even though they are common at top of Barred Owl Trail.
Unusual flight flock of Black Terns (Chlidonias niger) seen over Wolf Lake. Three hundred and fifty flew so tight and in such sychronization of turning over the water, we first believed them to be a large flock of Red-necked Phalaropes or Golden Plover. I have never witnessed such tight, large, sychronized flight with terns of any kind. They next dispersed to individual feeding over the water and never again re-formed.
Unusual flight behaviour of Less Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica): the flock of 85 were seen in the air circling around over the bare fields to gain elevation. Using theses thermal uplifts from the fields they were seen to circle at least ten times until finally nearly out sight over our heads. This seems an unusual behaviour for any member of the Charadriiformes.
Jim Butler
Barred Owl Photo by Pete Carmichae
"Sightings Bird-Watchers Would Travel Across the World For!"
Bay Breasted Warbler Photo by Jim Butler
June 12-13, 1993: Two consecutive mornings birding at Muir Isle. These were my first birding visits to the island. Now it will be impossible to keep me off. It appears the Muir Isle is a haven for our old-growth warblers.
June 12 yielded 2 Bay-breasted and 2 Cape May warblers. June 13 yielded an Old Growth Grand Slam ( all 4 old-growth warblers recorded) on plot #2 and 2 more Bay-Breasted Warblers at other plots. The grand Slam was my first - a sighting bird watchers would travel across the world for. The experience was amazing!
Andy Miller
