Upper Peninsula Extreme Birding

Friday, January 16 through
Monday January 19, 2026

Upper Peninsula Extreme Birding
January 30-February 2, 2025

Registration is now open

The Black River Audubon Society is heading to The Great White North again. This time we will make a right turn on US 23 to explore the wonder that is Michigan in Winter. Our first stop will be to visit Hartwick Pines State Park hoping to find Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches Red-breasted Nuthatches at the Feeders. We will then make a stop in the Atlanta Area to view the local wild Elk herd before heading across the Mackinaw Bridge toward the Upper Peninsula. Once in The Upper we will visit explore  such magical areas as Whitefish Point, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Hurlburt Bog nd the St Mary’s River near Sault Ste. Marie. Target birds will include Owl (Great Gray, Snowy, Saw-whet, Boreal, Northern Hawk) Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Redpolls. White-winged and Red Crossbills, Bohemian Waxwings, Grouses (Ruffed, Sharp-tailed, Spruce) Boreal Chickadees, Gyrfalcon, Northern Goshawk andnBlack-backed Woodpeckers

Cost $528. Includes transportation, lodging, all entrance fees and leadership. Participants will be responsible  for their own meals.

This trip will be led by Black River Audubon Field Trip Chairman Paul Sherwood, who spent 8 years working on The Huron National Forest in Northern Michigan (and a lot of his spare time on the Upper Peninsula.

Summary Itinerary

Friday, January 16, 2026: Travel Day

Hartwick Pines State Park

Lunch in Grayling, MI

Atlanta, MI wild elk herd

Arrive at St. Ignace Hampton Inn

Dinner in St Ignace

Saturday, January 17, 2026: Eastern UP Birding Day

              Sault Ste Marie Area

              Saint Marys River

              Lake Huron Shore

Sunday, January 18. 2026: Points Farther West

              Newberry State Forest

              Whitefish Point

              Seney NWR Area

              Tahquamanon Falls

Monday, January 19, 2026: Travel Day