When doing a Big Day attempt most people will have a planned route in place and are prepared for a marathon birding day starting before the crack of dawn, along with some target birds that they have found beforehand or that were previously reported. That is the best way to increase your chances and squeeze in the most birds possible for a day. I have longed to try a true Big Day but my obligations get in the way of that magical day. So how can I get a Big Day?...........
Yesterday morning (5/19) I headed out about an hour after light and went to Park Point in Duluth. The day started off wonderfully and there were plenty of other birders out. I began to work with these local birders to pick out as many birds as possible. The numbers and the activity level on the southwest shore of Lake Superior was hot and heavy and the numbers started to add up. I checked my list and noticed that I had seen 55 species by around 8:30am and I got a twinkle in my eye. Could this be the start of something very good? And so it was. I concentrated hard finding migrants wherever I could around the point. I scanned the beach and the open water on both the lake and the harbor side at many locations. Birds were piling up. I checked the sand barrens and the pines past the airport and there were some very good birds around. I found a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. Yes! I came across a Black Tern at a very long distance while scanning the water through my scope. Double Yes! The race was on! There was question to ponder after finishing Park Point- should I go over to a marsh in Wisconsin to nab an Upland Sandpiper and other prairie birds or should I head up to Two Harbors and try for the Loggerhead Shrike? I called my local friend for advice and while I was talking to him he got a text that there was a warbler tsunami at Stony Point. I headed northeast from Duluth in a hurry, eating a quick sub on the way, careful not to waste time. I stopped on the way to Stony Point and there where warblers swirling through the trees. At a very inconspicuous spot at Nordling Rd. I crossed Scenic 61 and tried to get a look at these birds. It was a reverse migration! The warblers were heading back southwest down the shoreline and in huge numbers! I finally got to an open area where I could view the birds and they were flycatching and hopping along branches all over the place and with such variety! Cape May Warblers were everywhere, along with many Blackburnian, many Wilson’s, and others. Then a male Bay-breasted! I went to the next location along Big Sucker Creek and it was even crazier. There were warblers hopping on the rocks in the middle of the stream. I kid you not that Canada, Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart, and Yellow-rumped were all on little rocks in the stream, all at once. Madness! I was thinking at that moment that if there was ever an advertisement for spring migration in eastern North America this was the perfect setting, natural beauty with gorgeous and inquisitive little birds all around you. I doubt many would believe such a ploy. I had to keep moving. I went to Stony Point and met up with another local birder who helped me get Purple Finch and Golden-crowned Kinglet as we scanned the trees together. There were a ton of birds there and they just kept moving through, sometimes as many as eight warblers of multiple species in a single spruce tree. I texted my wife to see if I could stay out longer since I was doing a big day and she kindly obliged (she was watching our two girls). On I went to Two Harbors where the warblers were good but patchy. I missed the Loggerhead Shrike but gained a passing flock of Whimbrel. I went back to Duluth and hit-up the West River Trail and napped some species in a different habitat. I finished in Carlton county and got a few more to end around 6:30pm. What a rush! The numbers: Total birds: 116 Warblers: 22, but missed Connecticut, Mourning, Pine, and Northern Waterthrush. Other obvious misses: Tree Swallow!, Eastern Bluebird, Red-tailed Hawk, and Great Blue Heron. I usually see the Big Year postings coming from the southern half of the state so I have nothing to compare this to. Obviously, many have seen more in a day in the area than I did but it was still really fun and great to meet new people and bird with those I have met before. It was the best birding day I have ever had in Minnesota and beat my previous best of 108 in Stearns county on 5/19/13. Interestingly, I texted Alex Sundvall and he had had his best day of birding ever that day too (also 5/19/18) with almost exactly the same species count in Hennepin county. I believe that the cool conditions with wind actually assisted the high total since on my previous big day there were similar conditions. Or could that just coincidence? Thanks for the help of others and to my wife for this Big Day! Jason Caddy Minneapolis [email protected] ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
