Purple Sandpiper, Good Gulls and Geese

December 10 to Mich-Chat:

Hello all,

Bruce Cohen and I broke away from Ingham County today (gasp!) in search of
waterbirds in Muskegon County. Below are the highlights:

Pere Marquette Park (09:00-11:00):

Purple Sandpiper- 1 bird walking on beach between the jetties. Picture here-
http://tinyurl.com/cb6qqxc
Glaucous Gull- 1 3rd cycle bird on beach south of south jetty. White head
and body with pale blue scapulars and white coverts. Picture-
http://tinyurl.com/cyxr2ns

Muskegon Wastewater System (13:00-17:00):

Cackling Geese- 4 with masses of Canadas in west lagoon
Iceland Gull- 1 3rd cycle bird at dump. Pale brown primaries and coverts,
pale blue scapulars, round head, and yellow bill with black tip. Pic-
http://tinyurl.com/cqk77rq
Glaucous Gull- 1 1st cycle bird at dump, later seen in east lagoon. Overall
mottled white/cream and pink bill with black tip. Pic-
http://tinyurl.com/cbzomt9

Good birding,
Sean Williams, 2nd year graduate student
Department of Zoology
Michigan State University
203 Natural Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
617-470-4094