Blackbird Nest Sequence

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Bruce Delamarter sends this sequence of a Red-winged Blackbird family this spring.
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Here's Daddy

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This was the closest I have been able to photograph the male Wood Duck. (See June 22 post below.)
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Bruce Delamarter
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Remember last year ...

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... when I posted a shot of a Red-Winged Blackbird with no tail feathers?  Well he's been back all year, and it is obviously a birth defect, not just from fighting over a female. Also of note, he's probably the most dominant male of the 25 or so here.  A little like "A Boy Named Sue" perhaps? :)

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Mike VanderStelt

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Ducks Still Doing Well

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The Wood Duck family I photographed earlier are still intact and doing well.
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- Bruce Delamarter
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In Response to the Plant I.D.

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I found this on the internet, and would have to agree it to be a

Tree of Heaven.  If you click on the original shot to enlarge it,

they certainly look to be the same.

Mike VanderStelt
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Can Anyone Identify this Plant?

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Greg Swanson led a group of nine people around the Howard Christensen Nature Center this morning recording 44 bird species (click here for compete list) including Acadian Flycatcher.
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Greg, Janet Helmer, John Walhout and others interested in plants would like an identification of this species if any of you know:
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Be aware that Howard Christensen is home to several non-native species planted by previous owners.  To see the plant up close and personal, click the photo and then click the enlarged photo.  Please post your comments here or send an email to Ric: oakridge35@yahoo.com.
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Another Pelican Sighting

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Kayaker Paul Gillan saw another (or the same as posted below?) American White Pelican yesterday afternoon (June 16) between 5:30 and 7:00 on the sand spit where they've been reported before, basically south of the Conservation Club and west of the Cobb Plant in the east end of Muskegon Lake.
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Family Portraits

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A friend told me about this family of Eastern Screech-owls at an undisclosed Muskegon County location. Mama Mallard with her 11 ducklings at Muskegon State Park, along with the Brown Thrasher and Snapping Turtle.

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Don Neumann

Red-shouldered Hawk at Hoffmaster

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Today we went back to Hoffmaster in hopes of finding the Hooded Warblers.  We thought we heard one near the deer exclosure on the main north-south path but did not get any views.  Enjoyed great views of Great Crested Flycatcher in the valley area. On the way out of the park just as we turned onto the road, we saw this Red-shouldered Hawk which was a Lifer for us.  Also a group of Wild Turkeys was there.

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Marion and Rich Miller, Batavia, IL.

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Bet I Can Eat the Whole Thing

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On Wednesday, June 15, Bruce Delamarter sent us these two photos of a Great Blue Heron swallowing a fish.
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Pelican at Muskegon River Wednesday

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Paul Gillan reports an American White Pelican flying over the north branch of the Muskegon River at US-31 today.
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Visitors See Good Birds on Tuesday

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"We traveled from our home in Batavia, IL to the Muskegon area on business. We planned to include some birding in our trip and found the list of the 13 top birding sites in Muskegon County compiled by Brian Johnson which was posted on the Muskegon County Nature Club site.  Today, 6-14-11, we visited recommendation number 2, the Muskegon Wastewater Facility.  We were excited to find a "lifer," the Upland Sandpiper.  In fact we found 3 in the fields off White Road just beyond the rocket launch site.  We actually heard their eerie display song before we saw them and identified the bird.  They gave us many great flying views from the power poles into the field.  Also enjoyed the many Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks and Northern Shoveler in one of the lagoons.  The dike road was totally covered with Gulls and not passable.  What a great recommendation source to have available for visitors.  Thank you!"

Marion  and Rich Miller

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Thanks for the kind message; that's what we like to hear.  Next time you're in the Muskegon area maybe somebody from our club can bird with you.

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Sunday at Wastewater

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I spent some time at the Wastewater June 12 and saw several Cedar Waxwings in the ditch area just as you turn onto Swanson Road southbound from Apple Ave.  I also saw my first Orchard Oriole in the same area.  Dickcissels were seen in the fields before you get to the Clay Ponds.  This fawn was trying hard to keep up with his mother. I was also able to get a pretty fair photo of what I believe is a Vesper Sparrow.

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Rick Hamlin

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Howard Christensen Field Trip Saturday

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Howard Christensen Nature Center Field Trip

Leader: Greg Swanson

Meet at McDonald's (Apple & US-31) before 8:00 for coffee and chatter. Car-pool** at 8:00 to Howard Christensen Nature Center* with approximate arrival 8:35-8:45. Walk the trails for a couple of hours returning to the parking area around 11:00 so we can be back to the cars in Muskegon around noon.

* Apple Ave. east through the M-37 rotary; do NOT veer southeast with M-46 but instead continue straight east through Casnovia 5-6 more miles to Red Pine Drive. Drive north on Red Pine Drive about 2 miles to the Howard Christensen entrance road on your right. Parking area is a short distance in on the entrance road.
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** Do not park cars directly east of McDonald's in the area of the NO PARKING signs.
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Tuesday Sightings

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I took these photos at the Wastewater today.  I think the duck chicks are Wood Ducks but there were no adults in the vicinity; they were on the clay pond where I also saw two Green Herons chasing each other around.  I saw this Great Crested Flycatcher and several of these Grasshopper Sparrows and an Upland Sandpiper south of Apple Ave. on the east side of Swanson. . Rick Hamlin . .

Bank Swallows and Mergie

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While taking pictures of the female Hooded Merganser at my pond, a group of Bank Swallows came in for a meal. 
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Don Neumann
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Early Sunday Morning at Lane's & Wastewater

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This morning I arrived at Lane’s Landing at 4:00 a.m. and heard a number of Whip-poor-wills.  At first light I walked into the marsh and heard a Least Bittern several hundred yards from the gate.  There was also an Alder Flycatcher singing near the gate to the marsh.  At the Wastewater there were two Dickcissels* singing along White Road, one near the gravel piles at the corner of White and Swanson and the other about 0.4 miles west of Swanson on White Road.  I once again tanked on the Eared Grebe.  Has anyone seen the Eared Grebe lately?
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Chip Francke

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* Kathryn Mork also saw a Dickcissel yesterday afternoon at the rapid filtration cells between D8 and 10.

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Hitchhiker and Sleeping Beauty

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Apparently this Red-winged Blackbird figured out an easier way of travel. (Excuse the focus; I had one shot before it flew.)
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And has anyone ever seen a Squirrel napping? I never have :)
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Mike VanderStelt
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Wood Duck Family

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The Lost Lake Gazette reports the arrival of sextuplets to the Wood Duck family on or before June 3rd, 2011.  The mother seen here with five visible ducklings was doing well and out for a stroll with the kids.
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Bruce Delamarter
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Braveheart Open House June 9 1:00-4:00

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I just "sighted" this in the Michigan Audubon Chapter Connections and am posting it here FYI:
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Muskegon Raptor Rehabilitation Center to hold Open House
People interested in how rescuers work with injured birds of prey have the opportunity to get a look at the process at a facility in western Michigan. The Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Twin Lake is holding an open house June 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Muskegon Chronicle says admission is free to the public. Visitors will be able to see birds that aren't releasable because of their condition or injuries. Birds currently at the center include an adult bald eagle, a great horned owl, a barred owl and an American kestrel.
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Ugly Duckling and More

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This cute little Mute Swan is at the MLNP as is the Grey Catbird. The female Hooded Merganser (maybe immature?) and Green Heron show up in the pond at my ice cream shop. Bald Eagle bringing breakfast to the family.

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Don Neumann

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