Orchard Oriole, Dickcissel, Bobolink, Etc.

.
To Mich-Chat May 31:
.
Birders,
I had an Orchard Oriole Wednesday evening (5-30-2012) at Muskegon Wastewater.  It was in the fields south of Apple Ave. to the east on the first drive in a stand of trees.  Several grassland species present including Dickcissel, Bobolink and Grasshopper Sparrow.  Also 5 swallow species present.  List posted on eBird.
Bird on,
Marc Miedema

Wood Ducks Make the Jump

.
May 30 Email:
.
As promised, here are photos of jump day at the Wood Duck nest box on the creek behind our house.  I waited in my blind for four hours this morning waiting for the jump.  I checked on the eggs Monday evening when the hen and drake were out feeding and a couple of the eggs were already starting to crack. Knowing they were all going to hatch on Monday or Tuesday I knew they were going to jump today.  It has been pretty incredible to watch as this process progressed. Once the hen jumped, the whole process took less than two minutes.  Here are the photos.

Rick Hamlin
.

Pileated Woodpecker Photos and Video

.
May 27 Email:
.
Here are some photos of the baby Pileated Woodpeckers that are still in the nest in our backyard.  Today is the first day we have seen the young ones.  They both look like males and they are pretty vocal.  I took a video of the male feeding one of the young ones.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend,

Rick Hamlin
.

Can Anyone Verify This Turtle Species?

.
May 26 Email:
.

I was wondering if anyone had information about this turtle that I found in our yard yesterday.   I believe it is a Wood Turtle but all the information that I have been able to find indicates that these turtles are not normally in the Muskegon area.  They seem to be mostly sighted in the northern part of the lower peninsula and the U.P.   Thanks, Rick Hamlin

.

.

Wastewater Shorebird Survey, May 25

On May 25, I completed another Shorebird Survey at Muskegon Wastewater. Since the census occurs once every 10 days from early April to mid June, we usually run eight spring sessions per year. As exemplified from the mean passage dates for the ten most abundant spring migrants at the Wastewater, peak numbers and diversity typically occur during late May.

Pectoral Sandpiper - April 20

Lesser Yellowlegs - May 1

Black-bellied Plover - May 19

Dunlin - May 20

Least Sandpiper - May 21

Ruddy Turnstone - May 22
Semipalmated Plover - May 23

Sanderling - May 25

Semipalmated Sandpiper - May 30

White-rumped Sandpiper - June 3

These are the numbers from this evening:

Semipalmated Plover - 24

Killdeer - 27

Spotted Sandpiper - 45

Lesser Yellowlegs - 2

Upland Sandpiper - 1

Ruddy Turnstone - 8

Dunlin - 11

Semipalmated Sandpiper - 56

Least Sandpiper - 5

White-rumped Sandpiper - 5

Red-necked Phalarope - 1

The 11 species and 185 individual birds compare favorably to a late May session average of 10 species and 161 individuals.

I also stopped to look at four Dickcissels. I only banded a few last year, but I was hoping at least one was wearing a band.

Unlike the songbird migration, which has been lackluster since a large fallout in early May, shorebird numbers have been fairly decent this spring. Below are the figures from the last few shorebird surveys (all done by Carolyn Weng and myself).

April 27 was our poorest session, though still respectable with 5 species (average 4) and 44 (average 27) individuals:

Killdeer - 11

Spotted Sandpiper - 1

Lesser Yellowlegs - 8

Pectoral Sandpiper - 17

Dunlin - 7

May 4 closely followed a major songbird fallout, so not surprisingly, this session proved to best surpass the historical average for the period, with 10 species (average 6) and 129 individuals (average 68):

Killdeer - 16

Spotted Sandpiper - 27

Solitary Sandpiper - 5

Greater Yellowlegs - 1

Lesser Yellowlegs - 33

Upland Sandpiper - 2

Pectoral Sandpiper - 7

Dunlin - 34

Short-billed Dowitcher - 3

Wilson's Snipe - 1

.

May 17 had moderate diversity but nice totals, with 8 birds (average 9) and 189 individuals (average 102):

Black-bellied Plover - 4

Semipalmated Plover - 10

Killdeer - 13

Spotted Sandpiper - 35

Lesser Yellowlegs - 10

Dunlin - 84

Short-billed Dowitcher - 7

Least Sandpiper - 26
.
Brian Johnson
.

May 23: Birds, Bugs, Deer

.

Least Sandpipers.

 (There was one Wilson's Phalarope in the drawn down cell.)

.

.

The dark smuges are bugs!  On the south side from Swanson to the center dike.

.

Doe nursing a fawn; I took two quick pictures through the truck window and left.

.

Charlie DeWitt

.

Two Pictures from Yesterday

.
Ron Buechele attached this photo to his May 23 email asking for ID of a bird which was "... at my deck this morning. The picture was taken just as he was jumping off the stick to a bush below."  Ron lives in the Wolf Lake area.  I've told him Great Crested Flycatcher, but I've never seen one from this angle before and there's certainly no crest.  Thoughts of others welcome!  An excellent photo, Ron!
.
Meanwhile Rick Hamlin was birding the Wastewater yesterday and "... caught this little guy or girl trying to slip away unnoticed through the brush."
.
- Ric
.

.

.

Big Day Count = 116 Species

.
On Saturday May 19 from 4:50 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. our group conducted its annual Big Day Count search for bird species in Muskegon County.  See lists posted on our homepage.
.
Our group was as large as 12 with three die-hards going all day.  Despite excellent conditions, we found precious few warblers and missed many other species that should have been "automatic" (Pied-billed Grebe, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher).
.
Birding Lane's Landing, State Game Area Headquarters, the Wastewater, Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, Snug Harbor and the Muskegon Channel, we finished with 116 species for the day, a far cry from the club record of 156.
.

White-winged Crossbills

.
The White-winged Crossbills were still in the pines by Olivet Church this morning (details posted below).  Over thirty were seen there on Saturday.
.
Ric
.

Today's Hanging Owlet Adventure

.
Dan and Sherri Lockard have been monitoring a Great Horned Owl nest this year.  The first five photos below are by Dan from earlier in the season.  The last three are by Sherri today when one of the owlets "decided it wanted to be a bat" as only Sherri was present.  The bird found itself hanging upside down without being able (or wanting) to let go for a long, long time; so long that Sherri phoned for help in extricating it from its predicament.
.
Despite many phone calls, no one with expertise in owl extractions was available.  Sherri was able to contact Susan Stamy of Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation who told her how to recover the bird if it fell to the ground IF she wanted to attempt it (please notice the talons on the adult owl for why you might not want to attempt this, even with a baby raptor).
.
Sherri went to get a box and blanket as per Susan's instructions, and when she returned the owlet was on the ground but still in distress.  Sherri was able to throw the blanket over the bird, box it, and take it to Susan.
.
Prognosis this afternoon was that she (the baby owl) has something wrong with her hip and based on the amount of downy feathers she's still wearing, perhaps other problems as well.  If she can be re-habbed, Susan and the Lockards will release her back to the area near the nest.
.

.

( The exact location of the nest will remain private. )

. 

Trumpeter Is Back at Lane's Landing!

.
May 16 Email:
.

It's back!  Charlie and I found the Trumpeter Swan at Lanes this morning.  It was at the northeast corner of the marsh walking the dike.

.

Feller DeWitt

Monday Photos

.
Emailed May 13:
.
Eastern Screech-owl by Sherri Lockard and Great Crested Flycatcher by Dan Lockard followed by two of the thirty White-winged Crossbills that Rick Hamlin found at the Olivet Church location (posted below).
.

.

Lunchtime

.

A Bald Eagle returning (to the nest) with lunch, an American Robin with a brood to feed, and a Bobolink with a tasty caterpillar.

.

Don Neumann

.

Warblers Etc.

.
Torsten Pawlowski and his Eagles-R-Us camera are back in our area and he sends these photos of a Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler and Pileated Woodpecker wondering how a Rose-breasted Grosbeak has the gall to stay on the feeder!
.

Bobolinks and White-striped Crossbeaks

.
Returning from a Mother's Day ride up the lakeshore with Carol on which I stumbled upon Species #141 (Bobolinks on the field in Oceana County southwest of the Flower Road - 48th Avenue intersection) if anybody's counting, I listened to a phone message from a non-birder regarding several "White-striped Crossbeaks" in the pines bordering the west side of the Olivet Church parking lot (Shettler Road & Quarterline) yesterday.  (Isn't that just the greatest species name!)  But seriously, I'm sure he was referring to White-winged Crossbills which were seen at that location by many people over several days last month.  If so, does anyone know how unusual that would be for the second week of May in Muskegon?
.
- Ric
.

Marbled Godwit and More

.
May 12 Email:
.

I thought that I would let everyone know about some good birds that I had today. At the Swanson Road and Musketawa Trail flooded fields I had a Marbled Godwit at about 12:30.  When I left at around 1:00 the bird was not there (I think that it flew south to some other flooded fields that are not as visible). Also present at this location was a Stilt Sandpiper and several Dunlin. At the Wastewater there were around ten Short-billed Dowitchers in the rapid filtration cells. Early in the morning at Lane's Landing there was a Whip-poor-will calling near the parking area and at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve there was a Least Bittern calling.

Jonathan Lautenbach

.

Sedge Wren

One of two Sedge Wrens at Lane's Landing, northwest of the gate Friday evening.

Mike Boston

Lane's Landing Thursday Evening

.
The DNR has cut down the tall willows north of the inner yellow gate at Lane's Landing thus providing more visibility for birding there.  The Sedge Wren was northwest of the gate continually for at least an hour.
.
- Ric
.
Muskegon SGA--Lane's Landing, Muskegon, US-MI
May 10, 2012 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments:    Marsh Monitoring Visit #1
29 species (+1 other taxa) (not a complete list)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  9
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  5
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  3
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)  1
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)  1
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)  1
gull sp. (Larinae sp.)  10
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  3
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)  1
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  3
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  4
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  5
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  3
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  15
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
.
This report was generated automatically by eBird.
.

Ottawa County Birds

.
May 8 Email:
.

I spent some time at Crockery Creek Natural Area (Spring Lake/Nunica area) this morning. I found both a Swainson's and Gray-Cheeked Thrush (as well as Wood) among the 45 species on my list. I also had 3 Blue-Winged Warblers, a Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Rusty Blackbirds, a Sora and a pair of Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers.

Donald Avery

36 Species at Hoffmaster This Morning

.
I took a pleasant walk around the south Hoffmaster trails this morning recording 36 bird species and six new Year Birds (at 127 now if anybody's counting).
.
- Ric
.
Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon, US-MI
May 8, 2012 6:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:    Foggy Morning Walk
35 species (+1 other taxa)

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  2
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  7
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1    singing
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  3
kinglet sp. (Regulus sp.)  7
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  5
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  5
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)  1    singing
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1    singing
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  1    Male south of Horse Trail 100 yards west of the Homestead Trail alternating songs; there may have been a second bird countersinging 1 of the songs from further west.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  4
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  1    singing
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  3
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  1    Taiga subspecies (dark between eye and beak)
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  7
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
.

Swallow Battle

.
1. Read "Of Swallow and Human Behavior" two posts below.
.
2. Realize that the photos Mike sent us of this incident are neither fun nor gory.
.
3. View two of the photos if you so choose at our homepage under the May Newsletter.  As Feller DeWitt has pointed out in the comments, the bird being attacked looks like a Cliff Swallow.
.

Pileated Tongue

.

Shooting backyard birds today from the comfort of the house, I took this photo of a female Pileated Woodpecker working on a peanut in the peanut feeder.  That is her tongue moving things around.  - Rick Hamlin

.

Of Swallow and Human Behavior

.
In my profile back on our homepage you will find this "blurb" written when I created these blogs:
.
This is an "unofficial website" created by me and not by the club.  I try to post information which will further people's appreciation of nature, particularly birds, in the Muskegon area.  I avoid posting information which might harm birds, habitat or people.  I usually avoid the political and emphasize the fun.  Final decisions regarding what appears or does not appear on this page are mine. 
.
I'm mentioning this because of two unrelated communications from yesterday.
.
1.  The third email in the post below (Bruce Delamarter's comments with his night-heron photo) included a reference apparently aimed at someone's poor behavior last winter while the Snowy Owls were at the Wastewater.  I was unaware of the reference when I posted his email and have since deleted both his words and the comments of an anonymous reader who gave a different perspective on the poor behavior last winter.  My blurb above explains my view.
.
2.  Mike Boston sent this interesting message: "Friday morning at the Wastewater I saw a Tree Swallow attacking a Cliff Swallow.  Both birds were on the ground and the Tree Swallow appeared to be trying to kill the Cliff Swallow. When I got real close, the Tree Swallow broke off the attack and flew away and so did the Cliff Swallow. I have pictures but didn't post any because they aren't "fun" pictures. Have you ever seen this before?"
.
In regard to such swallow behavior, no I have not, but I would love to have comments posted here from birders who have, or who have opinions about that behavior.  In regard to the pictures, I've emailed Mike that I'd like to see them to make the decision whether to post or not.  A few months ago I posted photos of a gull that had been injured by a raptor at the Wastewater. Three readers objected to those pictures because they were not pleasant to look at (i.e., "not fun").  Their point was well-taken.  In that case, I chose to keep the photos posted but assured those folks that I indeed had thought about it before doing so and would not post anything on these sites merely for sensationalism.  My blurb above explains my view.
.
- Ric Pedler
.

Three Sunday Emails

.
Emails from Kathryn Mork, Barb Gay and Bruce Delamarter:
.
I've had a Red-headed Woodpecker in my backyard this afternoon. It's the first one I've seen on my property.
.
Kathryn Mork
.

Birded Muskegon W.W. yesterday 5/5/12 with at total species count of 75.  Thought you might be interested in a few highlights:  1 Virginia Rail came out on Swanson Rd. at the wetland area just north of Clay pond almost at the end of the road we heard another, 2 Common Loon on the east lagoon and over 200 Bonaparte’s Gulls near the center dike on the west side.  I’ve been birding MWW since 2005 and the Loon’s & Rail were a first.

Stop, Look and Listen,

Barb Gay

.

My name is Harry and I let Bruce Delamarter take my picture but asked him not to give my location because I enjoy my privacy.

.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

 

Hummingbird Photos and a Question

.

.

Here are a couple of quick shots today of a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. So far I've see four at one time (3 male, 1 female) but I'm not sure how many I actually am getting to the feeder. Also, I have one male whose head area is so dark green that it looks black to the naked eye, even in the sun.  Even with binoculars, it looks black with a green hue, much darker than the other males on the feeder. Any thoughts as to why?
.
Mike VanderStelt
.

Ravens at Wastewater Saturday

.
Jim Ponshair phoned yesterday to report two Common Ravens at the Wastewater properties.  For awhile they were sitting on one of the sprinkler rigs on a field south of Apple Ave.
.

42 Species 15 Year Birds at Hoffmaster

.
I birded Hoffmaster State Park for four hours this morning including the Elizabeth Brockwell-Tillman / Jerry Lang Family Birding Saturday.  Only seven people made the walk, no families nor kids, all dampened by rain, all happy with the 42 bird species along our way.
.
For my part I was glad to go birding again after more than a week off and to add 15 new Michigan Year Birds, upping my total to 120, a bit closer to the other competitors -- but who's counting?
.
Highlights this morning included a singing Winter Wren, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks vocalizing for the 15 minutes I was in their area, nine warbler species (including singing Black-throated Blue and Hooded) and two male Scarlet Tanagers.
.
- Ric
.
Hoffmaster State Park, Muskegon, US-MI
May 5, 2012 6:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:    Jerry Lang's Family Birding Saturday
42 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  1
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  4
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  2    Pair vocalizing.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  4
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1    singing
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)  3
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  5
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  2
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  2
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)  1    singing
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  2
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  7
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3.

Muskegon Wastewater Friday

I swung by Muskegon Wastewater on my last trip back from college this season to make a final attempt for the American Avocets. I had 56 species in 58 minutes, but no American Avocets. The low-water aeration cell was very interesting. In this cell alone I found of interest:

38 Dunlin
1 Least Sandpiper
~10 Lesser Yellowlegs
2 Greater Yellowlegs
27 Cliff Swallow
1 Brewer's Blackbird (!)
5 Killdeer
1 Dowitcher sp.

I was unable to identify the dowitcher sp. due to very inconclusive looks. It came and went as I watched.

An Upland Sandpiper was observed atop a power pole between the office and Swanson on the main road.  They're all over, it's just a matter of spotting them!

On the west side of the west lagoon in the woods across the ditch I found my FOY Red-eyed Vireo (#172), Warbling Vireo, several warbler sp., Great-crested Flycatcher, and Baltimore Oriole. My preliminary checklist is at:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10639805.

One last stop in Berrien County on my way to O'Hare and my Michigan year list will be on hold.

Good Birding,
Zachary DeBruine

Good Birds at Wastewater Today

.
May 3 Email:
.

The second aeration cell from the west was pretty hot today.

Bruce Bodjack of the Grand Traverse Audubon and I were birding there

and had :

    3 American Avocet

    1 Long-billed Dowitcher

   15 Dunlin

    8 Lesser Yellowlegs

    1 Greater Yellowlegs

     and a few Killdeer

I'm only about 80% sure the Dowitcher was long-billed.  When I get the pictures

from the camera I'll have to get some second opinions.

Many other birds around too: Baltimore Oriole (which I hadn't seen yet),

Eastern Kingbird, Tree, Barn, Bank, and Cliff Swallows and more.

On the way out we had 5 Upland Sandpipers on White Road west of Swanson.

I'm rushing through this hoping you can get the word out for birders this evening.

Later, 

.

Ken Sapkowski

.

Common or Forster's

In a previous post I labeled a tern Forster's and some one said it might be a Common.  To be honest I don't know, so here are three more pictures to help solve the puzzle.  I have seen both Common and Forster's Terns at the Grand Haven north pier.  By far the most common tern is the Forster's. Top picture is both the small terns, the next is the tern with the bright beak, and the last is the tern with the dull beak.

Charlie DeWitt