Leading into this week, last Saturday was spent at the Sandy Point Boat Access on Shagawa Lake in Ely.
American Pipits and other migratory birds joined members of the Ely Field Naturalists along with other birds, mammals, some dragonflies many other people visiting the boat access. The parking lot was filled with vehicles and boat trailers.
The day also included the removal of buoys from Burntside Lake before buoys were removed late in the day from Shagawa Lake.
As buoys were leaving the access late in the day, the Big Sit bird counters were also wrapping up the day. Each year the counters hope to see lots of birds and maybe even reach 30 species.
This year, 29 species were seen all in autumn mode of mostly hanging around the area and feeding as wind from the south held up much movement from the north.
On the lake: immature common loons, ring-billed gulls, hooded mergansers, common mergansers, mallards Flying over: Canada geese, bald eagles, common ravens, American crows Along the shoreline: American pipits, American robins, dark-eyed juncos, gray-cheeked thrush, rusty blackbirds, belted kingfisher, horned larks, Lapland longspurs In the forested edge: golden-crowned kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers, ruffed grouse At the bird feeders: downy woodpecker, hairy woodpeckers, blackcapped chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, white-breasted nuthatches, blue jays, common grackles, dark-eyed juncos Along the road edge: fox sparrow, snow bunting Many people stopped to chat and a great blue heron and other birds were seen on other parts of the lake. White-tailed deer and gray squirrels were observed at the access.
Stories of Sandy Point and earlier days around the mines and around Ely were told by lifelong residents. Fishing pursuits and outcomes were shared.
Discussions about upcoming events, Ely’s Christmas Bird Count and other outings are proposed for autumn.
