Crazy people and Falcon chasing.

Had my first run-in with an unhinged person while birding. That was a fun experience.  We shall see if she tries to further enhance my experience at this same spot, as I will continue to hit it up regularly.  Besides that the birding has been somewhat quiet around here lately.  I had a surprise visit from an Eastern Towhee on the 17th.  Trumpeter Swans on Beadle Lake and the surrounding area have been numerous.  

• 36 at Beadle Lake on 11/17
• 32 same spot on 11/19
• 38 same spot on 11/20
• 24 on A DR S, with likely more mixed in there.  

11/20 on Beadle Lake also had 4 Cackling Geese trying to hide behind some Canada geese.  A DR S with the 24 Trumpies were at least 4 Tundra Swans mixed in.  The White-winged Scoters are continuing on Duck Lake.  Must be that lake was one of the few that didn't freeze over last week.  Hooded Mergansers are showing up there in record numbers for this area.  Average count during this time period is around 5-7.  This year it has been 88.  A few Bonaparte's Gulls out there were a nice surprise, although not tagging as rare.  

The 24th I decided to do my once a year chase.  A Gyrfalcon has been spotted for the last week in the Ann Arbor area.  I hit one of the areas it has been reported in for about 2.5 hours.  It has been at 3 or 4 other sites I'm not familiar with, and didn't feel like driving all over for it.  Several other people were in the same area, but it never showed.  I did get some nice looks at FOS Rough-legged Hawks, a male Northern Harrier just about out of juvenile plumage, and 3 extremely late Eastern Meadowlarks.  The Meadowlarks tagged as rare, and are the latest eBird reports for Washtenaw.  Still disappointing to not have this extremely rare falcon show up.  Guess I'll have to make a trip up North at some point.  The Roughies were head height and one showed off its namesake feathered legs as it landed in a small bush.  

Still holding out hopes that the upcoming holiday stretch I can nab 6 more birds and beat the November high of 78.  Some easy ones that will require just getting out and doing some walking around Grevers or Woodland Park.  Still looking for birds to pad the Calhoun total of 214.  Outside shot for us to get to 220, but need some gulls to show up.