Waterbirds took advantage of favorable migration conditions this week. A combination of Northwest winds and fronts offered some of the busiest counts of the season.
Over 9,000 ducks passed Graham Point on 10/29/2023. The bulk of the flight consisted of Redhead (5,519) and Long-tailed Ducks (3,341).
Impressive count totals were the end result of this week. Over 10,000 Long-tailed Ducks were recorded, while Redhead numbers eclipsed 14,000.
Red-breasted Mergansers pushed through in significant numbers this week. Daily counts are now in triple digits, with a weekly total of 1,548.
This week brought productive totals of both Common Goldeneye (417) Bufflehead (199).
This week also included a large flock of Dunlin (83) and a Purple Sandpiper, both late-migrant shorebird species. Purple Sandpipers are a coastal species, but small numbers are annual on the Great Lakes. This represents the first eBird record for Mackinac County.
