OHIO AND MICHIGAN 2022

Courtesy of James P. Smith

Birdfinders enjoyed a welcome return to Ohio and Michigan in 2022 after a two year hiatus. The timeless excellence of birding in this part of the world in spring could never disappoint and once again we were treated to a migration spectacular and a fine selection of highly-localized breeding species. During 12th–21st May we focused on a traditional itinerary concentrating along the Lake Erie shore combined with three nights in central Michigan. Having done the trip numerous times over the years it's always difficult to pick out highlights, but a morning spent with singing Kirtland's Warblers in the Jack Pines near Grayling still takes some beating!

Other highlights included Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, at least six singing Cerulean Warblers at one site in Michigan, and a singing Golden-winged Warbler near Tawas, Michigan where we also came across a pair of Upland Sandpipers and a Little Gull among a large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls.

This trip remains ideally-suited to a smaller group and next year’s tour on 12th–22nd May 2023 will be limited to eight participants as it was in 2022.

Many thanks to the dedicated 2022 group that made the tour so enjoyable!

James P. Smith, Northfield, Massachusetts, USA

Trumpeter Swan
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Virginia Rail
Black-bellied (Grey) Plovers
Dunlin	White-rumped Sandpiper
Little Gull	Little Gull amongst Bonaparte's Gulls
Caspian Tern	Eastern Screech-owls
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Red-headed Woodpecker
Merlin	Merlin
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Acadian Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo	Philadelphia Vireo
Horned Lark	Cedar Waxwings
Henslow's Sparrow	Yellow-headed Blackbird
Golden-winged Warbler	Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler	Mourning Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler	Bay-breasted Warbler
Scarlet Tanager	North American Porcupine
Coyote	Jack Pines, Grayling
Birding at Tawas Point
Migration watching at Tawas Point
Warbler watching at Magee Marsh
Birding at Houghton Lake
Birding at Howard Marsh
Checklist time at Port Clinton