Lee Foster, Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B’s birding guide– Darrell and Kay Phillips, from the Chicago area. had booked a birding package Gunflint Trail’s Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and were looking to add to their birding life lists. I told them that great birding was to be had right here on the B&B property and that appealed to them so we arranged to go out at 7am to catch some of the morning song activity. I suggested an area along Poplar Creek, which is literally within throwing distance of the B&B.
Right as we headed out on our tour we encountered the Northern Waterthrush, a warbler even though it is called a Thrush. It has none of the bright color other warblers have, but does have streaks on it’s breast, and an eye stripe similar to some Warblers. The Thrushes, excluding the Robin, usually have a spotted breast and an orbital (eye) ring. The next bird we added to their lists was the Northern Parula, also a warbler. In addition to these birds we saw Yellow Rumped Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, American Redstarts, Pine Siskens, Nuthatches, Purple Finches, some ducks and even a Bald Eagle that was being closely pursued by a crow. Darrell was fond of Winter Wrens and although we could hear them around, we couldn’t spot one in the foliage.
Note- While Lee hails from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, he has spent several years working on the Gunflint Trail. This is Lee’s second summer, working as Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B’s naturalist/bird guide. .
