Saturday, June 20, 2015

50 Bird Species at Snug Harbor Today



Twelve people participated in our June field trip this gorgeous morning.  We walked Snug Harbor (Muskegon State Park) from the parking lots to Lost Lake to headquarters to Warbler Alley (south trail west of the harbor).  Despite missing Downy and Pileated Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Mallard, Canada Goose, and the three "House" species (sparrow, finch and wren), we still recorded 50 bird species in about four hours.


Wood Duck, swan, turkey, Green and Great Blue Heron, eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, gull, dove, Barred Owl, swift, hummingbird, Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpecker, flicker, pewee, phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, kingbird, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, jay, crow, Tree and Barn Swallow, chickadee, titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, gnatcatcher, veery, robin, catbird, starling, waxwing, Ovenbird, yellowthroat, redstart, Magnolia, Yellow and Black-throated Green Warbler, Chipping and Song Sparrow, cardinal, grosbeak, blackbird, grackle, cowbird, oriole and goldfinch.


This Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) butterfly was on the sandy beach of the north shore of the harbor.



Can you see the red morph Eastern Screech-owl high up in this tree?


On closer inspection it turned out to be the Notta subspecies (Megascops asio notta) and unfortunately the latest ABA guidelines do not allow the counting of Notta Screech-owl.


A good time was had by all!

- Ric

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