American Avocet at WW on Wednesday

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Hank Veldman Email (Sept. 28):
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Hi, Ric, I took this picture of an American Avocet on the east shore of the East Lagoon this afternoon (Sept. 28) at about 4:00 pm. Also there were about 6 Black-bellied Plovers at the NW corner of the same lagoon. Thanks, Hank Veldman, Grand Rapids
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Reply to "Any Ideas?" September 22 Below

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I've found a few Lesser Canada Goose / Barnacle Goose hybrid shots for everyone to judge.  Here are a few.  You can see them all by Googling "canada barnacle hybrid pictures".  It will be a "Flicker" link that I couldn't copy/paste to the blog.  Hope this helps you out, Charles!  (PS: I'm going to order the camera today, I think.)

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Mike Vanderstelt

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Long-billed Dowitcher at Wastewater Today

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September 24 Email:
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Nathan and I birded the Wastewater today turning up very poor numbers of shorebirds.  We did, however, manage one Long-billed Dowitcher in Cell #1 (the easternmost of the small cells north of the west lagoon).  This bird has since been seen and confirmed by other birder/s.  To view a photograph of this bird, go to our eBird checklist (we also heard the very distinctive "keek" calls several times).
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.http:///ebird/view/checklist?subID=S8851829
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Good Luck!
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Zachary DeBruine
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Any Ideas?

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I found these two geese on the Wastewater today, Sept 22.  They look like some kind of "cross", but I can't figure out what.

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Charlie DeWitt
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Wastewater Shorebird Survey September 18

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Carolyn Weng sends this Wastewater Shorebird Report for September 18:
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Muskegon Wastewater System, Muskegon, US-MI
Sep 18, 2011
3:10 PM - 7:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
24.0 mile(s)

Comments:   Start at 15:10 (71°, 80% cloud cover, wind 14 mph SE), end at 19:00 (67°, 100% cloud clover, wind 8 mph SE) - 3.75 hours, 24 miles; basins, aerators, center dike, west lagoon, east lagoon, White and Swanson north, Laketon west (BJ and CW only), Laketon east (many shorebirds in short alfalfa along east service road north of Laketon), clay pond - basins empty or nearly so; aerator 1, 3 and 4 full,but aerator 3 still had a crud crust hugging the SE corner attracting shorebirds, aerator 2 low with shallows and mudflats, aerator 5 half full; lagoons dropping from summer high by several feet; clay pond high; some water in fields east of Swanson south - 12 species encountered.
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Observers: Brian Johnson, Kathryn Mork, and Carolyn Weng
44 species
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Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)  3     2 White and 1 Dark
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  X
Gadwall (Anas strepera)  X
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  X
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)  X
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  X
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  X
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  X
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  X
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  6     along Laketon West perched on wires, tree, post
Merlin (Falco columbarius)  1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)  1     hunting shorebirds/others in the Aerators; too distant to determine if legband present
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)  X
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)  3     WL/1   EL along center dike/2
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)  59     EL along center dike/1  Laketon East/ 58 (in same north side field as AMGP seen last survey;  foraging with KILL and CAGO in alfalfa field)
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  2     WL/2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  37     Aer2/2  Aer5/5  WL4  EL/13 EL center dike/ 1 Laketon East/12 (foraging with AMGP and CAGO in alfalfa field)
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  3     WL/2  EL center dike/1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  13     Aer 2/13
Sanderling (Calidris alba)  6     WL/3  EL center dike/3
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  3     Aer3/3
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)  2     Aer/3 on crud crust
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  3     EL/1  Laketon East/2
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  9     Aer2/9
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)  1     Aer 3/1 feeding on the crud crust along with 2 Baird's sandpipers
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  X
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  X
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  X
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  X
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  X
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)  X
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  X
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  X
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  X
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)  X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 

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Great Blue Heron with Bad Sushi?

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Bruce Delamarter says in forty years of photographing Great Blue Herons, he's never seen this before:
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Bonaparte's Gull

I saw this Bonaparte's Gull flying around the westernmost aerator at the Wastewater on Sunday, 9/18.

Mike Boston

Bat from September 13 Post Identified

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Regarding the bat caught by the Merlin (photo and explanation in Sept. 13 post below), Carolyn Weng writes:
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The bat taken by the Merlin was a Silver-haired Bat, an all-black bat named for its silver-tipped back hairs. It is a tree-dwelling bat widely distributed in North America from the tree line in Canada nearly to the southern border of the U.S. They forage in the evening and night eating insects including mosquitoes. (I have often seen them hunting over the marsh and around the park lights at Muskegon State Park). They are solitary except for spring maternity groupings when females cluster in tree holes to give birth. They roost in tree crevices, under tree bark, in woodpecker holes. More northern ones migrate south where winter hibernation is possible. Sources: M.Tuttle, America's Neighborhood Bats.

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Click:  http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/bats/Silver-haired.php

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Wastewater Wildlife Today

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Bruce Delamarter sends photos and writes:
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A little more sun and a few more smiles, it would have been a great day.  The white rascal I think is a skunk, but not much of his face could be seen.  The Snow Geese were south of the observatory and the coyote in the fields 200 yards east of the entrance.
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New Neighbor at the Pond?

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This immature Red-tailed Hawk has been hanging around my wetlands for about a week; I hope it stays.
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- Mike VanderStelt
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Merlin and Bat -- What Bat?

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Carolyn Weng sends two photos and writes:
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The Merlin that was hunting the shoreline at Muskegon State Park Sept 13 and the bat it caught in mid-air and dropped. The Merlin dropped down on the sand several times and tried to eat the bat,  but the bat would jerk and put out its wings and the Merlin would return to a nearby perch or fly off. The bat was apparently too injuried to fly off.  The Merlin also caught a Monarch butterfly. I would appreciate an identification on the bat.
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Black-throated Sparrow at Kitchel-Lindquist

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At 11:00 a.m. today (Sept. 12) I observed an adult Black-throated Sparrow at Kitchel Lindquist Dunes in Ottawa County.  I had one unobstructed sustained look at the bird (about 15 seconds) at a distance of about 30 yards with binoculars in good light as it sat in the top on a small white pine.  It flew into the heavy brush and I was unable to find it again.  At first, it appeared to be hanging around with a few chipping sparrows.
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Kitchel Lindquist Dunes is in the City of Ferrysburg (on the north side of the Grand River across from Grand Haven),  From US 31, take the Ferrysburg exit (just north of the bridge over the Grand River).  After exiting, turn west on Third Street which will turn into 174th Ave.  At the intersection of 174th and North Shore Dr., turn west.  Travel on North Shore Dr. about 3 miles to Berwyk St.  (North Shore turns south before you get to Berwyk).  Turn left on Berwyk and travel a short distance to the small parking lot on the left (next to a white restroom building).  From the parking lot, walk the Connie Lindquist Trail (follow the numbered posts along the way – I think #12 is the last one).  At the end of the trail you will come to a road end with a gate.  Across this road, look for the beginning of the Marjorie Hendricks Trail.  The sparrow was seen about 40 yards past the MHT sign along a wood chipped trail.  It was in the small white pines on the right side of the trail and flew into the brush on the left side of the trail.
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Several birders tried to relocate the bird this afternoon with no success.  There will be people looking again this evening.
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Chip Francke to Mich-Listers
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Redtail and Peregrine at Wastewater

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This Red-tailed Hawk seemed to be practicing take-offs and landings east of the Wastewater entrance.  The Peregrine Falcon was on a power pole north of the East Lagoon.
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- Bruce Delamarter
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The redtail looks like one of that strain of light-headed birds that's occupied the W.W. properties for a long time.  - Ric
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Three Species of Terns at Grand Haven

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This morning (Sept. 10)there were 75 to 100 Terns on the beach by the north pier at Grand Haven.  A mixture of Forster's, Common and Caspian.  It doesn't pay to be the "small bird" with a big fish!
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- Charlie DeWitt
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Sanderlings at Grand Haven

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There were 22 Sanderlings on the beach by the north pier at Grand Haven this afternoon (Sept. 5).  

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- Charlie DeWitt
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Golden-Plovers at Wastewater Sunday

Carolyn Weng sends the latest Wastewater Shorebird Survey (Sept. 4):  Birds to note:  American Golden Plovers feeding in a mowed field along the north side of Laketon east of Swanson (Wastewater section south of Apple Ave). The birds were at the north edge of the field near the easternmost irrigator.  Ruddy Turnstone found feeding with other shorebirds along south shore of East Lagoon near the SE corner.
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Muskegon Wastewater System

Sep 4, 2011 3:15 PM - 7:45 PM

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Protocol: Traveling

26.0 mile(s)

Comments:  Temp 70-68 degrees F, 50% cloud cover, NW 15mph. There continues to be shorebird habitat. Basins, one with shallow flooding; Lagoons high but with muddy corners and rocky banks;  Aerator 2 still half full with muddy shallows and shoreline; Aerator 3 full with 1/16 surface covered with a crud crust on which about 75 birds -- peeps, SEPLs, and BASAs -- were feeding; its concrete shoreline with limited muddy vegetated section used by LEYE and others. Aerator 5 with 3/4 crud crust cover being used by BASA, PESA, and peeps. Aerator 1 and 4 full and unused. Flooded Field is vegetation-covered but small field depressions along Laketon East with standing rain water attracting a few shorebirds. Mowed field on Laketon East north side had at least 59 American Golden Plover feeding with Killdeer and gulls. Clay Pond high. Observer Carolyn Weng
12 species

American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)  59     Laketon East north side/ 59 feeding in mowed field with large flock of gulls and some killdeer. In molt, but white curved line of plumage on face still highly contrasts with dark crown and other molt plumage
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  16     Aer3/ 14 feeding on crud crust   WL/1  EL/1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  21     EL/3  Laketon E/ 18 feeding in mowed field with AGPL
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  24     Aer2/1  WLsouth and west shores/18  EL south shore/4  Laketon East/1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  25     Aer2/ 6  Aer3/2 Aer5/1   WL/13  EL/2 Laketon East/1
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)  1     EL/1 near SE corner feeding with Sanderlings, Least Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer; in non-breeding plumage
Sanderling (Calidris alba)  10     Aer2/3  Aer3/1  EL/6
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  77     Aer2/29  Aer3/43 feeding on crud crust Aer5/5 feeding on crud crust
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  28     Aer2/6  Aer3/17 feeding on crud crust Aer5/1  EL/3   Laketon E/2
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)  10     Aer3/2  Aer5/8 feeding on crud crust
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  13     Aer2/2 Aer3/4 Aer5/5 feeding on crud crust  WL/2
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  7     Aer2/7 feeding in shallows

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org/content/iss)

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Miles of of Beach and They Still Have to Fight!

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Two Semipalmated Plovers fighting, and a Sanderling acting as "referee".

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- Charlie DeWitt
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Wilson Snipe at South Wastewater Saturday

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Kathryn Mork reports, "Yesterday (Sept. 3) there was water in the fields again by East Laketon.  If you need a Killdeer, run, run.  I had a really nice view of two Wilson Snipe who thought they were hidden in the grass."
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Fox North of Muskegon

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"I was glad I always carry a camera with me.  This fox was just a couple miles north of my house."
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- Bruce Delamarter
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Plovers and Tern at Grand Haven

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I saw two Semipalmated Plovers and my first Forster's Tern this afternoon (Sept. 1) at the Grand Haven north pier.
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- Charlie DeWitt
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