When it stops raining it pours great birds. County and State firsts chased.

Between Chaos, rain, humidity, heat and mosquitoes that are enjoying the lack of drought the birding has been very few and far between.  I honestly thought I probably wouldn't start to get after things until August once shorebirds hit.  Well the shorebirds are hitting early as the rains have created fluddles.  A week ago word hit of a fluddle on R DR N, where one has never been before.  Really nice spot, but just an early Least Sandpiper mixed in with some Killdeer, Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper.  This was first time I've left the house to bird since June 6th.  That might be a record.  

July 12th word came of Short-billed Dowitcher on 23 Mile Rd between B and D DR S.  By the time I got there the next day they were gone.  Hopefully they show up again at some point.  Really was hoping for those this year.  Consolation prize was a Muscovy Duck in a farm field.  

​Not quite a week later on the 17th an e-mail headline I thought I'd never seen: American Avocet.  Karen Kolbasa found an amazing First County record in this same flooded cow pasture.  The birds gave great looks, despite the light not allowing for great shots.  I called this bird for D DR S when it was looking like amazing Spring shorebird habitat.  I was pretty settled in as there was a State First record Roseate Spoonbill spotted south of Ann Arbor.  Normally I'd have gone after that bird, but I tweaked my back the night before and planned to rest.  I was not going to rest on a county first bird though.  Unfortunately the bird looks to be a one-day wonder as it was not seen today.  ​

I also observed a couple of Red-headed Woodpeckers flycatching from telephone poles.  I never knew they did this, but apparently they are quite adept at it.  

I did decide the next day, assuming I felt up to it, to go for the Roseate Spoonbill.  After a prolonged detour I made it there.  Waited maybe 15 minutes for it to appear for 10 minutes.  Grabbed some horrible pictures as it was terribly back lit.  Not a lifer, but still a crazy find for the state.