Good Yard Birds

So at 8:15 this morning I'm in my yard checking the mole traps when a woodpecker flies, white wing patches flashing, directly over my head and lands near a tree right across the street.  "Redheaded!" I think before realizing it's way too big!

I run inside, tell Carol there's a Pileated Woodpecker on the tree across the street, and grab my camera.  Oh!  There are two!

They spend fifteen minutes spiraling around and around that trunk gobbling up ants.  I don't realize until I see the images on my computer that they're both males.  Whatever; these guys are not my usual yard birds!

- Ric

30 Species at Hofma This Morning

I don't know if Carol reacted to Charlie's post below, but I headed to the Hofma Preserve this morning to add Sedge Wren to my Year List (#169 for anyone wondering how the perennial Celler Dweller is doing).  There were at least four singing on the marsh including this one in a tree southwest of the center marsh bridge.

This morning's 30 species included Green Heron, Sora, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Pileated Woodpecker, Veery, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroat ...

... and this Alder Flycatcher which identified itself by song (sorry, Charlie).

Nothing out of the ordinary except, perhaps, a weasel that crossed my path in the woods just north of the marsh.

- Ric

Hoffma Nature Preserve

I had a chance to go to Hoffma Nature Preserve today and found Common Yellowthroat, Swamp Sparrow, and a Sedge Wren, #230 for those that care.  Carol Cooper, if you need the Sedge Wren, forget that you read this post ;-).

- Charlie DeWitt

Howard Christensen Field Trip

Greg Swanson led our monthly field trip around the Howard Christensen Nature Preserve this morning.  We recorded 40 bird species including Scarlet Tanager, Veery, Cedar Waxwing, Red-shouldered Hawk, American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue-winged Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Creeper and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Photos and complete eBird list are posted on our homepage.

Red-headed Woodpeckers at White River

I saw a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers at the White River Light Station Museum on Sunday, 6/15/14. 

Mike Boston

Woodpeckers at their Home Saturday

Roger Newell and I heard two Pileated Woodpeckers communicating north of the Muskegon River yesterday. Then he noticed the female sticking her head out of the nest hole in a nearby tree.  Soon the male arrived, probably hoping we would leave, which we did.

- Ric

Dickcissel at Wastewater Friday

Roger Newell sends this photo taken on Friday June 13 of a Dickcissel near Swanson Road north of White on the Wastewater properties.

Mike Moran Photographs Now Online

Thanks to Chip Francke and many others, there is a gallery of several of Mike Moran's 35mm color slides online.  Mike's photos used to grace the pages of our original website.  All of them were taken the old fashioned way: with film! (and with unbelievable patience)!

Michael G. Moran 1940-2008

Notice: The link to the gallery above has been adjusted to take you to all of Mike's galleries, not just the bird photos.

Snowy Owls in Muskegon Today !

Two Snowy Owls were reported in downtown Muskegon this morning by The Muskegon Chronicle.  Click for details and photos.

Red Knot Still at Wastewater Monday

Kathryn Mork reports that the Red Knot was still on the north side of the west lagoon at the Wastewater Monday afternoon, June 9.

Red Knot Still at Wastewater Sunday

The Red Knot that Mike Boston found on Thursday is still at the Muskegon County Wastewater.  Carol and I found it today on the north shore of the west lagoon just like Mike said.

- Charlie DeWitt

Saturday Morning Birds

I recorded 29 bird species, non unusual, at Harbor Island this morning.  Mama Peregrine Falcon stayed up on her box the whole time.

Yesterday's Muskegon Chronicle had a nice photo article of Nik Kalejs banding the three Peregrine chicks at the Cobb Plant.

Meanwhile Mike Boston saw two Red Knots at the Wastewater this morning.  See Mike's post and photo below.

- Ric

Bluebirds on Trails at Wastewater: Thanks!

Yesterday Anita Friend emailed her thanks to all the volunteers in general and Bob Wygant in particular for their help in maintaining the bluebird boxes along the trails at the Wastewater.  Her email, report, and photos are posted on our homepage.

Red Knot at the Wastewater

I saw this Red Knot along the north shore of the west lagoon at the Wastewater on Thursday evening, June 5th.

Mike Boston