Isle Royale

 Friday July 19th

Signed off on another bucket list destination with a trip up north, almost to Canada, to Isle Royale National Park.

eBird Trip Report

July 1st

Arrived late last night to Houghton, Michigan for my trip out to Isle Royale.

Ranger 3 being loaded at the Visitor Center

Mallard

But today was spent exploring a bit of the U.P. Started by checking out the Isle Royale National Park Visitor Center, where the Ranger 3 was docked. Did a little birding here with Herring Gulls, Ring-billed Gull, American Robins and American Crows. 

White-tailed Deer at Nara Nature Center

 Just to the southeast of town, visited Nara Nature Park, walking the boardwalk through wetlands. Actually, had my best birding of the trip with lots of active birds including Red-winged Blackbirds, Mallards American Goldfinches, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Cedar Waxwings, Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Red-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadees, American Redstarts, Pine Warbler, Indigo Buntings and Great Blue Heron.

American Goldfinch

Calling Sedge Wren

Copper Harbor Lighthouse

Moved on, 46 miles, to the northern tip of the peninsula to Copper Harbor and a visit to Fort Wilkens State Park. 

It's also at the northern terminus of US 41, which is interesting as US 41 travels all the way to south Florida where I call home.

Large-leaved Lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
 Flourishing at the Terminus of US 41

 Visited the historical Fort Wilkens State Park at Copper Harbor where the birding wasn't very active - American Crow, Chimney Swift, Song Sparrow and Red-eyed Vireo

July 1 - 6

On the second day, I set sail on the fully equipped Ranger 3 from its dock in Houghton, embarking on a six-hour journey across Lake Superior to Rock Harbor in Isle Royale National Park. The park serves as a sanctuary for backpackers, hikers, and anglers. My stay, however, was a 5-night sojourn at Rock Harbor Lodge, offering quite rudimentary accommodations without Wi-Fi or television. 

This trip has been on my bucket list for years, initially intending to backpack across the island. However, since my backpacking days have concluded, I devoted my time to bird-watching and cataloging the plant life. Also took the Passage Island Tour to see the lighthouse.

I embarked on brief hikes daily, aiming to observe any of the island's typical wildlife. Unfortunately, I

Passage Island Lighthouse

did not encounter any moose, beavers, red foxes, or wolves. The wolves are particularly elusive around humans, making sightings a rarity. The Isle Royale Red Squirrels were lively near Rock Harbor, and I also spotted a snowshoe hare. Spotting waterfowl, Common Ravens, and Herring Gulls was straightforward, but forest birds were another story. Most identifications were by ear, as the birds proved challenging to spot amidst the thick foliage. The most frequently identified species were the Canada Geese, Mallards, Common Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, Nashville Warblers, Swainson's Thrush, Chipping Sparrows and Winter Wrens. Other species included Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black-throated Green Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, Bald Eagles, Tennessee Warbler, American Redstart, American Crows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Northern Parula, Cedar Waxwings and Dark-eyed Junco. Species I missed from my wish list included Common Mergansers, Gray Jays, Common Golden-eyed and Sandhill Cranes.

Wood Lily

Herring Gulls

Rock Harbor

Isle Royale Red Squirrel

Mallard

Red-breasted Merganser

Canada Goose

Common Loon

Rock Harbor Lighthouse

Passage Island

Passage Island

View from Stoll Trail

Willow Flycatchers - Illinois trip - Day Five

Saturday, June 18th

Today birded new locations in McHenry County - Moraine Hills State Park and dam, and Glacial Park Conservation Area.  As the names suggest the geology of the terrain is the results of the melting of the ice sheets at the conclusion of the last Ice Age.  Rolling hills, steep moraines and various wetlands formed from kettles.

Moraine Hills State Park and dam



Moraines Hills State Park





Boardwak at Lake Defiance



Started out the day at Moraine Hills State Park, arriving just as the gate was being opened for the day.  Hit the first picnic area near the gate.  Barn Swallows, American Robins and Gray Catbirds were active here.  Green Herons seen flying over head.  Moved onto the Pike Marsh Trail, venturing onto the floating boardwalk into the marsh.  Here were found singing Swamp and Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Yellowthroats.

Lake Defiance

Baby Tree Swallows

Next drove up to Lake Defiance.  Walked segments of the trails around the lake passing through marsh, forest and grasslands. While on another floating boardwalk in this marsh I was able to add  Lifer in a pair of Sedge Wrens. these wrens would pop-up briefly then quickly retreat back into the protection of the reeds. Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere here.  Another Lifer for me were Willow Flycatchers. Had good views of a couple of the flycatchers and was surprised to follow one that had flown into some brush to find it sitting on a nest.  So I left her alone.  Other nesters included eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows using the nest boxes provided for them.  My walk along the trails provided a count of thirty species. These included Mallards, a Double Crested Cormorant and a Great Egret. A pair of drifting Red-tailed Hawks were seen soaring over head.  Also found a male Ruby-throated Humminbird, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, eastern Kingbirds, American Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, a House Wren, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, and a Savannah Sparrow.



Common Grackle at Lake Defiance



After three hours, headed over the McHenry Dam section of the park. The dam straddled the Fox River and it being a Saturday the park was busy with people picnicking and fishing. The trail leaving he parking lot and circling the Black Tern Marsh was much more peaceful. Here I had a conversation with a park employee and it seems that the marsh has not seen any black terns for a few years know and he had not heard or seen any yellow-headed blackbirds or common moorhens this season. As we were talking a pair of Sandhill Cranes made an appearance.  Other birds of the marsh included Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, Mallards, Blue-winged Teal, Canada Geese and Red-winged Blackbirds.  Along the forested path was able to add another hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, more Robins, a Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Wabler, an American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinches, an Indigo Bunting and a Baltimore Oriole.

Glacial Park Conservation Area.

My final stop was the nearby Glacial Park Conservation Area. The park has grasslands, marsh and forested habitat. Parked by the Marsh Education Center and walked the Marsh Trail. Was able to locate a lone Bobolink and another lone Dickcissel in the grass, along with Red-tailed Hawks soaring overhead. In the marsh was able to add Canada Geese, Mallard and lone Blue-winged Teal. Added Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds and Barn Swallows. Searched for any yellow-headed blackbirds, but struck out once more. However I did at first heard and later located a Common Moorhen. A very common bird back home in Florida but not so much up in Northern Illinois. Strange that I had not noted any coots at all on this trip.

View of Glacial Park prairie

Education Center at Glacial Park

While walking the forested areas I was able to add another Willow Flycatcher that had flown almost to my feet.  Another uncommon bird here, but a yard bird back home was a Northern Mockingbird. Other birds to add included Tree Swallows, Common Grackles, Eastern Kingbirds, Common Yellowthroats, American Robins, Yellow Warblers, Song Sparrows, American Goldfinches and a lone Indigo Bunting.

Glacial Park

This concludes my family/birding trip to northern Illinois. Had a great time visiting with family and lots of good birding.  gained two lifers and had a count of 72 birds.  Wonder if I had been here a month earlier if I could have easily exceeded 100 species. Some good finds were the willow flycatcher and the sedge wren, but I would add finding the swans, blue grosbeak, warbling vireo etc.  Misses included both tanagers, rose-brested grosbeak, red-headed woodpecker, and any thrushes.