Sedge Wrens No / Connecticut Warblers Yes

I missed my "automatic annual Sedge Wrens" at Hofma Preserve south of Grand Haven yesterday.  The only wrens I heard or saw were Marsh.  I did meet a Celtic Wedding party leaving as I was arriving.  I thought one guy was carrying a tripod and scope over his shoulder, but it turned out to be just a huge broadsword.  Ho-hum.

Later in the day Brian Johnson, answering a bird question I'd asked, added:

" ... but I've otherwise found plenty of time for Muskegon birding.  I've done fairly well this year, but no rarities. Connecticut Warblers at Lake Harbor and Black Lake were notable.  Shorebird numbers have been outstanding, and I'm really looking forward to the final numbers."

These are the times when I'm reminded what league I'm in (T-ball, not Big League).  If I ever see even one Connecticut Warbler anywhere anytime (not to mention two in the same spring in Muskegon), I will consider them at least rarities, I will get very excited, and I will use adjectives more enthusiastic than "notable".  :-)

- Ric

Red- shouldered Hawk Family

A family of Red-shouldered Hawks enjoying the holiday weekend.

- Don Neumann

Franklin's Gulls at the Wastewater

To Mich-listers, 12:57 pm, May 25, 2016:

I found two Franklin's Gulls at Muskegon Wastewater System.  Right now they are loafing in the middle aeration cell along with Ring-billed Gulls.  They have broad white eye-arcs, large white primary tips and their back and wings are darker gray than the RBGs.  They are also smaller than the RBGs.  Will include photos with my eBird post.  - Laurence Burke

Weekend Birding Updates

Too much to report and too little time.  Apologies to those who sent information that's not posted here.

Our club's annual Big Day Count on Saturday netted 117 species.  Click for details.

That same day Lizzy Kibbey of Grand Rapids was roaming our county finding many of the same birds we did at the same places, but also reporting extras such as these:

Patterson Park: Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush and Cerulean Warbler.

The Wastewater: Greater Scaup, Pectoral Sandpiper, three Wilson's Phalaropes and Clay-colored Sparrow.

Snug Harbor: Chestnut-sided Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Warbler (our Big Day group may have heard this bird as well but couldn't discount Chipping Sparrow) and Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Ben Jansen emailed that he had a male American Redstart land on his boat out on Lake Michigan on Friday.  It stuck around for an hour catching and eating flies before continuing its journey.

Whimbrel Sunday Afternoon at WW

Mike Boston photographed a Whimbrel this afternoon in the drawn-down cell at the Wastewater.  I think that is the churning lagoon second from the west.  

- Ric

Sunday Morning

Got these at my ice cream shop this morning: Brown Thrasher, Green Heron and Eastern Kingbird.

- Don Neumann

Looks Like a Peregrine at the Wastewater

Bruce Delamarter sends this picture of a raptor he photographed near the power lines along the north side of the east lagoon at the Wastewater on Thursday ...

... which looks like an adult Peregrine Falcon.

- Ric

Prothonotary, Willet and Phalarope Today

Prothonotary Warbler at Lane's Landing

Willet in Cell B1 at Muskegon County Wastewater

Feller DeWitt called me and told me about it.

Wilson's Phalarope and Willet at

Muskegon County Wastewater Cell B1

Wilson's Phalarope in Cell B1 at

Muskegon County Wastewater

- Charlie DeWitt



103 Species at State Game Area Saturday

May 16 Email to North American Migration Counters:

I just finished all my personal data entry for Saturday.  Here are my results from the Muskegon State Game Area.  I ended the day with 103 species -- exactly my long-term average. My bird count, 549, was by far my lowest ever.  I'll move on to incorporating your lists, and then we'll see what else shows up.

- Brian (Johnson)

Canada Goose	4
Wood Duck	8
Mallard	6
Blue-winged Teal	1
Green-winged Teal	2
Hooded Merganser	4
American Bittern	1
Great Blue Heron	2
Turkey Vulture	3
Sora	1
Sandhill Crane	2
American Woodcock	8
Mourning Dove	6
Eastern Screech-Owl	2
Great Horned Owl	1
Barred Owl	2
Belted Kingfisher	1
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	3
Hairy Woodpecker	3
Northern Flicker	7
PIleated Woodpecker	1
Eastern Wood-Pewee	1
Least Flycatcher	1
Great Crested Flycatcher	2
Eastern Kingbird	1
Yellow-throated Vireo	4
American Crow	2
Tree Swallow	54
Rough-winged Swallow	1
Bank Swallow	1
Barn Swallow	3
Black-capped Chickadee	4
Sedge Wren	2
Marsh Wren	5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	9
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1
Eastern Bluebird	3
Veery	2
Wood Thrush	3
American Robin	10
Gray Catbird	14
European Starling	6
Cedar Waxwing	11
Ovenbird	1
Northern Waterthrush	1
Blue-winged Warbler	3
Nashville Warbler	1
Common Yellowthroat	12
American Redstart	5
Magnolia Warbler	1
Yellow Warbler	23
Palm Warbler	2
Myrtle Warbler	6
Chipping Sparrow	13
Song Sparrow	23
Lincoln's Sparrow	1
Swamp Sparrow	18
White-crowned Sparrow	11
Scarlet Tanager	1
Northern Cardinal	6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	5
Indigo Bunting	1
Red-winged Blackbird	36
Common Grackle	17
Brown-headed Cowbird	4
House Finch	1
American Goldfinch	12
House Sparrow	3

Cape May Warbler on Sunday

Terra Berry sent several photos from the weekend at her place with the message, "These lil guys stopped by for a quick dip yesterday (May 15)!"  She photographed several species, the least likely this Cape May Warbler: 

Over the Weekend

On Saturday I birded the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve and an area along Black Creek for the North American Migration Count finding plenty of birds (none unusual, and very few warblers) on a cold, cloudy, sometimes rainy morning.

41 species at MLNP including Virginia Rail, Sora, Eastern Phoebe, Warbling Vireo, House and Marsh Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brown Thrasher, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, White-crowned & White-throated, Song and Swamp Sparrows, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Baltimore Oriole.

27 at Black Creek including Red-shouldered & Red-tailed Hawks, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Ovenbird, American Redstart and Indigo Bunting.

Swainson's Thrush at Black Creek

Sunday morning Dan Lockard photographed this Baltimore Oriole on his feeder.

Sunday afternoon after searching for the Yellow-throated Vireo singing across the road (#135, but who's counting?), I photographed Mr. House Finch in my backyard.

- Ric

Barred Owl

May 12 Email:

Barred Owl tonight at Muskegon State Park.

- Dan Lockard

A Good Morning in Grand Haven

I spent a few hours this morning at Flahive Park (East Grand River Park) and Harbor Island (Linear Trail, parts sadly whacked away along the power line easement).  I met Dave Elbrecht and his wife, Feller and Charlie DeWitt, and 50 species of birds.  Sixteen were Michigan Year Birds; I'm now at 130, with the DeWitts way ahead.  But who's counting?

Highlights at Flahive included Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, Palm Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler.  The island provided Green Heron, Cooper's Hawk, Virginia Rail, Sora, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Brown Thrasher, another Northern Waterthrush ! , Northern Parula, Wilson's Warbler, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows and this Lincoln's Sparrow:

Earlier in the parking lot my car received poop damage from this horrific attack by a crazed Black-capped Chickadee:

- Ric

Six Rainy Tuesday Yard Photos from Mike

May 10 Email:  "I spotted the gnatcatcher in the yard, so I called it, and the two warblers immediately came and were just as curious as the gnatcatcher!  Might be worth noting if trying to call in warblers sometime."

- Mike VanderStelt  

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

 Palm Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

 Blue Jay

Red-winged Blackbird

Red Squirrel

Two Items from Monday

1.  May 9 to Mich-listers:

Adult Harris's Sparrow seen at 10:45 a.m. today at Harbor Island (Grand Haven).  For those not familiar with this area, from US 31 take Jackson
(main intersection just south of the bridge over the Grand River) west and
continue to 3rd St.  Turn right on 3rd and travel over the bridge.  Stay on
the main road.  After a big curve to the right, there is an intersection
with another road that goes left toward the boat launch.  The bird was seen at this intersection.  Last seen on the ground near the yellow barricades at this corner.

- Chip Francke

2.  May 9 Email:

I had a long email written to you Saturday morning for advice after we saw an owl fall 50 feet out of its hole straight down to the ground.  Thought it might need a rehab center.  Before I could finish and send, the owl had already disappeared again.  We found it later up in another tree being fed a huge vole by its mother.  12 hours later Linda Elenbaas even got pictures of the last one jumping from the nest.  Just thought you might enjoy a few of the pictures from the weekend.

- Torsten Pawlowski

Barred Owls and Scarlet Tanager

More Ohio Trip Bird Photos

Palm Warbler

05/03/2016

Warbling Vireo

05/03/2016

Ovenbird

05/04/2016

House Wren

05/05/2016

Yellow Warbler

05/05/2016

- Charlie DeWitt

Ohio Field Trip

Ten or more Muskegon County Nature Club members spent May 3-5 looking for birds at Magee Marsh, Crane Creek, and other areas along the Lake Erie shoreline east of Toledo.  In total the group recorded more than 80 bird species (see list below).

Here are some of my photos from Magee Marsh plus two fantastic shots Thursday morning by Charlie DeWitt of a pair of battling flickers!

Snowy Egret May 3

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher May 3

White-throated Sparrow May 3 

Yellow-rumped Warbler May 3

Snake May 3

Lesser Scaup May 3

Prothonotary Warbler May 4

Muskrat May 4 (Do the white eyes and muzzle mean he's old?)

American Woodcock May 5

"Just another Prothonotary Warbler" May 5

Leopard Frog puffing his song on May 5

The battle of Northern Flickers May 5 by Charlie DeWitt

"There's not enough room in Ohio for the two of us!"

Hopefully Charlie and Carol DeWitt will post more of their photos when they get a chance!  - Ric

- - -

American Coot, American Goldfinch, American Robin, American Woodcock, Bald Eagle (American also, of course), Baltimore Oriole, Barn Swallow, Black-and-White Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Blue Jay, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Bonaparte's Gull, Brown Thrasher, Brown-headed Cowbird, Canada Goose, Caspian Tern, Chimney Swift, Common Grackle, Common Tern, Common Yellowthroat, Double-crested Cormorant, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Great Blue Heron, Great Crested Flycatcher, Great Egret, Hairy Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, House Wren, Killdeer, Lesser Scaup, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Nashville Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Northern Parula, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Ovenbird, Palm Warbler, Pied-billed Grebe, Prothonotary Warbler, Purple Martin, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Ring-billed Gull, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Sandhill Crane, Savannah Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Snowy Egret, Song Sparrow, Sora, Spotted Sandpiper, Swamp Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Trumpeter Swan, Turkey Vulture, Veery, Warbling Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Winter Wren, Wood Duck, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, an unidentified Empidonax Flycatcher and an unidentified Catharis thrush (Gray-cheeked/Swainson's).

Two of our non-birding members probably saw the Yellow-breasted Chat near the east end of the Magee Marsh boardwalk on Thursday morning too, but that's another story.