Backyard Birds Yesterday

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This Red-winged Blackbird and Brown Thrasher were out in the backyard.  It took the Thrasher about 20 minutes just to come down a little from the tops of the trees. It fed on the ground a few times but stayed pretty much out of sight the whole time.
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 Mike VanderStelt
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Sora Video

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Sora at Musketawa Trail and Swanson Road: 4/25/2012 by Mike Boston.
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http://youtu.be/eq7FgYN6j4I
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Mike, that is too cool!  It's worth a second look just for the feet!  - Ric
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Wood Duck Family

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I was checking our Wood Duck nest boxes on the creek behind our house this afternoon and found 6 eggs in one of the boxes.  Last year the last egg was laid on May 15th.   This year, at this rate, she should be done laying her eggs between April 28 and April 30, almost 2 weeks earlier than last year.  The hen will lay one egg per day until she has laid 12 - 14 eggs.  After all the eggs are laid, she will start incubating the eggs.  Incubation should take 29 - 30 days after the last egg has been laid. All of the eggs should hatch on the same day.  The morning following the day the first egg hatches, the hen will call all of her ducklings out of the box and into the creek.  I should be able to predict jump day after all of the eggs are laid.  I hope to capture jump day on camera this year.  I missed it last year due to a scheduled vacation.  Rick Hamlin . .

It's a Small World

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An American Goldfinch near the Administration Entrance at the Wastewater, Sunday.

And from Muskegon State Park, I watched 2 Black-capped Chickadee working on hollowing out a stump for a nest site. The White-throated Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were curious observers. The last picture I need help. Having trouble finding a picture that puts all these attributes on the same bird. (Guess I need better books!) Don Neumann

Both Grebe Species at Wastewater, Etc.

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At the Wastewater today, I saw a pair of Eared Grebe (one pictured below) on the south side of the west lagoon and eight Horned Grebe on the north side of the east lagoon.  There were several people out on Saturday looking for the Eared Grebes.  I saw them on Saturday and again today among a flock of American Coot. Rick Hamlin

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Chickadee Behavior - Comments Requested

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We were awakened a little before 7:00 this morning by the loudest and longest Black-capped Chickadee calls that we have ever heard; 45 minutes later, now, it is quieting down somewhat. We live in Norton Shores near the corner of Seminole & McCracken and have never heard this before. Chickadees come to our feeders and we hear their calls, but never this loud or this long. We would estimate that the individual calls went on for 5-10 seconds. Just amazing.  Has anyone else heard this, or know why this has happened?
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Thanks,  Jim and Linda Hopper
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White-faced Ibis

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Bruce Delamarter sends this nice view of the White-faced Ibis from last week.
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Kestrels at Wastewater Sunday

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Dan Lockard photographed these American Kestrels (1 or 2 males, 1 female) at the Wastewater Sunday.
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Grasshopper Sparrow Study at Wastewater

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On April 22, I initiated the 2012 banding effort for Grasshopper Sparrows at Muskegon Wastewater. Each year since 2008, I have accrued a highly variable amount of hours and seasonal coverage in an attempt to better understand densites, breeding activities, and productivity in this and other birds dwelling in the Wastewater grasslands. A half-hour of netting this evening started this season with two males (including this one below).

Below are the number of males banded each year; the figure in parentheses represents those recaptured during a subsequent year (i.e. "returns").

2008: 43 (19)

2009: 67 (19)

2010: 39 (9)

2011: 57

While the annual totals better reflect differential effort than they do actual densities, the number of returns provide an interesting picture of habitat suitability. When males return in the spring, they will choose the best territories available to them. However, for returning birds, "best" does not necessarily mean the greatest quantity of cover and resources as much as it simply indicates a breeding site that has worked in the past. If a male has successfully reared young at a particular spot, then that spot will usually be chosen the following spring. Conversely, a site that fails to attract a prospective mate or one that has prompted a nest failure (due to predation, exposure, food limitations, etc.), becomes far less appealing. This partly explains why, for instance, a Cerulean Warbler may temporarily sing from a fresh clearcut when he returns the following spring. Since successful sites are so valuable, males do not waste any time when claiming them each spring. With Grasshopper and other grassland sparrows, adult males banded the preceding years generally arrive first, followed by other adult males, and then by young males that will attempt to establish a territory for their first time. While many confounding factors exist, I generally find that a return rate greater than 30% represents high quality habitat.

Over the past three years, the southern fields at the Wastewater have suffered a lot of abuse in failed attempts to eradicate knapweed and restore native grasses. Consequently, the number of returns and the actual populations of Grasshopper Sparrows have declined. Somewhat disturbingly, the first two birds captured this year had not been previously banded. Nevertheless, new habitat plans are in the works, and despite past setbacks, the number of Grasshopper Sparrows at the Wastewater remains quite impressive.
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- Brian Johnson
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Scarlet Tanager (Plus Ibis)

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Tracy Smith sends these photos of a Scarlet Tanager on her feeder up by Blue Lake this afternoon (4-22-12) plus the White-faced Ibis at the Wastewater yesterday scratching its head and flying.
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Saturday Muskegon Birds

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Sunday Email:
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Hey Ric,

I figured I would let people know what my brother and I had in Muskegon County yesterday. At Muskegon State Park we had over 1,200 White-throated Sparrows, a couple hundred Swamp Sparrows, LeConte's Sparrow (we flushed it while walking in the Snug Harbor marsh), a couple Red-headed Woodpeckers, and we had a Blue-winged Warbler singing near the Snug Harbor parking lot. We had the White-faced Ibis at the Wastewater. In the flooded fields at the Musketawa Trail and Swanson Road we had 2 American Golden-plovers, 4 Sora, and 2 Virginia Rails.

Thanks,

Jonathan Lautenbach

Short Video of Ibis Feeding

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I shot this video of the Ibis today.  It's a little shaky as it's handheld. I thought for those who have never actually seen one, it would give a good perspective of its size compared with the other birds around it. I also got some stills, but Dan's and Rick's are real nice, so there's no sense in duplicates.  Good shooting, guys!
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Mike VanderStelt
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umqsH9zSCcg
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Another Nice Look at the Ibis

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Saturday Evening Email:.

Ric, I know that there have been lots of photos of the Ibis today but I thought you might like to see one of the luminescence of the feathers in the evening light. Rick Hamlin

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Two Ravens at Wastewater Today

This Common Raven and one other were on Swanson Rd near Laketon today, then they flew off to the east.


Mike Boston

IBIS AT WASTEWATER !

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Pasted below is the most recent of many Mich-lister messages referring to an IBIS species at the Wastewater today.  Click on Zachary DeBruine's web address in this message for more information, and enjoy the photos sent to us today by Dan Lockard.  Thanks, Dan!
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Hey all,

I've finally uploaded a few of my photos and submitted a draft eBird
checklist.  I believe the ibis was a White-faced on the basis of red facial
skin, iris, and leg color.  I don't have much experience with this species,
so please follow-up if I have overlooked anything in the identification
process!

You can view my checklist and preliminary photos at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10505942.  I will finish this
checklist tonight and add a few videos.

Good Birding,
Zachary DeBruine
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Meanwhile (as luck would have it) our Field Trip group drove right past the Wastewater and the Ibis to Howard Christensen Nature Center where Greg Swanson led us on a beautiful 33-bird-species walk that included a Raven carrying a mouse.  More details on our homepage.)
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Avocet Still at Muskegon Wastewater

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The American Avocet was still at the Wastewater at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, the same location as before.

Charlie DeWitt
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Avocet at Wastewater This Morning

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Carol Cooper photographed this American Avocet in a drained-down churning lagoon at the Wastewater this morning.
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Wastewater Shorebird Survey, April 17

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For the second 2012 Shorebird Survey at Muskegon Wastewater, on April 17, Carolyn Weng and I encountered six species:

Killdeer 12 (including one performing a distraction display)

Spotted Sandpiper 1 (fairly early)

Lesser Yellowlegs 16

Upland Sandpiper 1

Pectoral Sandpiper 32 (a fairly good spring count)

Dunlin 4

We also made a detailed survey of the south (grasslands) unit and took select counts around the lagoons. Highlights include:

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 (adult)

American Coot 1,024 (my best ever count for Muskegon County)

Eared Grebe 3 (same count as April 3; we did not count Horned Grebes)
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- Brian Johnson
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Muskegon Birds Tuesday

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Birded Muskegon for the morning, 17 April, and totaled 74 species.  The Harris's Sparrow at the SGA Headquarters was an extremely easy get, showing up within seconds of when we got there at the previously mentioned location (forgive me for the crappy photo)!  Check out my eBird checklists w/ photos: 

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10475043

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10475611

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10475765

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10475845

Nathan DeBruine

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Bald Eagle, Brewer's Blackbird, Harris's Sparrow, Red-breasted Merganser

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Hawk ID Request

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April 27 Email:
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Ric, While out photographing White-throated Sparrows in our back yard this morning, I had these two hawks make several passes around the yard.  Bird 1 was chasing bird 2.  I think bird 1 might be a young Cooper's based on the yellow eye color and longer tail.  Bird 2 might be a Sharp-shinned but I cannot be sure.  Was hoping you could either confirm my ID or set me straight.   Thanks, Rick Hamlin

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Caspian Tern

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Carol Cooper sends this photo of a Caspian Tern in the Muskegon Channel inlet on the north side around 7:30 this evening.
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Shorebirds Etc. at Two Locations

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Carol and I made a quick trip the the Wastewater today.  We saw 9 Dunlin, 3 Greater Yellowlegs and 5 Wilson Snipe in RI cell D6.  We had 2 Spotted Sandpipers by the lagoons.  At Swanson and the Muskatawa Trail we had Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs plus 5 Bonaparte's Gulls.
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Charlie DeWitt
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Of Crossbills and Waterthrushes

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April 15 Email:
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Even though we had seen them in January in the "Soo" area, we couldn't resist checking out your birds (referring to White-winged Crossbills posted below).  It was a much better view than we got up north.  We were there from 4:45-5:00 PM (4/15). Glenda counted 30 birds.

I would highly recommend Patterson Park north of Coopersville (south of Ravenna) for the Louisiana Waterthrushes.  They hang out around the western most of the two bridges.  We saw one and heard between two and four Saturday morning.  Brian Johnson made the original sighting there on 4/9/2012.  Took us three tries to get them, but was worth it.

Thanks,

Ken Sapkowski

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Sunday at Grand Haven North Pier

Glaucous Gull and American Crow fighting over a dead fish.  At least 5 Caspian Terns. # 127 Ric, not that it matters.  You know I can't hear the Flycatchers  ;-)

Charlie DeWitt

Greater or Lesser?

Not being the greatest on shorebirds, I can't decide if this is a Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs that I saw among several others in a flooded field from the Musketawa Trail near Swanson Rd. on 4/15/12.

Mike Boston

White-winged Crossbills-Thanks Ric!

I read Ric's post about the White-winged Crossbills, and since I live within two miles of the Olivet Reformed Church, I went to have a look and they were still there. I had the 400mm lens on the camera which was entirely too much as the birds are very tame and will approach within 8~10 feet.

Mike Boston

Whooping Crane - Small World!

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Sorry for not formatting this copy-and-paste of a triple email message from Pat Bazany, but whether you read it top to bottom or bottom to top, it's a remarkable coincidence concerning the Whooping Crane!
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Ric,

  I forwarded the news of the Whooping Crane at Bruce's Bayou to birding friends in Florida. Did you know we winter in Citrus County?  My friends kept tabs on this very bird this past winter. See our emails below.  Gives new meaning to "small world" don't you think?

  Pat

----- Forwarded Message -----

Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2012 6:05 PM
Subject: Re: Whooping Crane

pat you did steal our bird. that is the female that i found on 200 in march. her leg bands are the same. wow!!! effie

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A Whooping Crane followed us home to MI.  (Only kidding.) I went to see her on Wed.  She's in a bayou just down the street from us.  To get to the bayou, however, is about a 20 mile drive through town, over the bridge, through a second town and finally to the other side of the river at the end of 129th Ave.  (We live on 132nd Ave. -- so close and yet so far!)  

White-winged Crossbills

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For the local club competition my meager total of 95 year birds probably has the other competitors giggling, and who's counting anyway?  But Number 95 may be a species that the others don't have yet: Carol and I observed at least two dozen White-winged Crossbills foraging in and under the pines bordering the west side of the Olivet Reformed Church parking lot (Shettler Road at Quarterline) at 11:15 this morning.
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- Ric
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Harris's Sparrow on Saturday

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To Mich-Listers 2:42 p.m. Saturday:
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I've seen the Harris's Sparrow three times in the last 10 minutes. It's with the Juncos at the West end of the plowed field South across the road from the tires. The whole flock is extremely skittish and returns to cover every few minutes.

Jim VanAllen
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Woodpeckers Abound in My Back Yard

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Got these male and female Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers yesterday.  The Downy Woodpecker and Northern Flicker are from today. Also, could someone give me a "year, make and model" of this sparrow? It's been hanging around the yard for a few days now.

Mike VanderStelt

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Crane Foundation Identifies Whooping Crane

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April 13 Email:
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We did get some photos* of the bird with leg bands and it is NOT the crane I thought it might have been, but rather a two-year-old female who summered in Wisconsin last year and wintered with Sandhill Cranes in Citrus County, Florida, this past winter.  She is only about 60-70 or so miles from where our five-year-old male was reported recently. I’m hoping that they will find each other!

Eva Szyszkoski

International Crane Foundation

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* Don Neumann's photos posted below.

Harris's Sparrow Friday

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At 1:17 this afternoon Scott Jennex sent a message to Mich-Listers from his cell phone that he was seeing the Harris's Sparrow between the tire pile and the buildings at State Game Area Headquarters.  (See photo and other posts below.)
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Harris's Sparrow

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The Harris's Sparrow was still present at the State Game Area this morning, 4/12/12.



Mike Boston

Whooping Crane Leg Band Photos

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Don Neumann has emailed these three photos of the Whooping Crane's leg bands to the Crane Foundation people, and we will wait to see if they can ID the Spring Lake bird from these.  Thanks, Don!
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