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We are two birders from the Grand Rapids area. Today (Saturday, July 31) we made a shorebird survey of the Muskegon Wastewater System and came up with two interesting species.
In the southeastern Lagoon (on the very corner near Swanson Rd.) there was one Baird's Sandpiper on the rocks.
In the aeration basin, we believe that we observed a single WESTERN
SANDPIPER associating with probably more than 50 other peeps overall,
as well as one Semipalmated Plover, and several of both species of
Yellowlegs. Throughout our survey, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated
Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, and Solitary Sandpiper were seen in addition to those species previously mentioned. We also found a Dickcissel and a Brewer's Blackbird south of Apple Ave. on Swanson Rd and 10+ Upland Sandpipers north of Apple Ave. on Swanson Rd.
Good Birding,
Zachary and Nathan DeBruine
1 comment:
We would be more than happy to clarify the location at which we observed the Baird's and Western Sandpiper. The Baird's Sandpiper was
in the southeastern corner of the east lagoon right by the Swanson Road entrance. We came into the wastewater this way, and the Baird's
sandpiper was the first bird we observed. It was on the rocks (barrier island) in the very corner.
Neither of us bird the wastewater very often, so we aren't very familiar with the technical names either. We were driving north along the west side of the west lagoon. We took the first right (heading east, onto a large wide new stretch of pavement: the pavement ended after about 1,000 ft. and we went between two cones onto a narrower cement (or gravel?) road. The whole road dead ended right where we saw all the peeps. There was a small gravel surface (about 75 ft. by 75 ft. enclosed by a line of buoys (or whatever they are!) and then water and the aeration area. I really have no idea what aeration basin this is. I hope you understand what I mean. There were SO many shorebirds there, that I wonder if the other shorebird birders even have found this spot.
I have a 12x FujiFilm point-shoot camera, and was able to take pictures of both birds, but they are hardly recognizable based on the picture quality. Nevertheless, I would be happy to share them with you!
- Zachary and Nathan DeBruine
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