Winter Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Eastern Phoebe
Ring-necked Ducks
I spent two hours birding Black Lake Park in Muskegon County. It was cloudy when I started but the sun came out and it was a nice walk. Some birds of note for me were Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Fox Sparrow, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Phoebe and Brown Creeper.
After birding the park I went over to the west side of the lake to look for waterfowl. That put the sun at my back. I counted 17 species of waterfowl.
- Charlie DeWitt
8 comments:
I was there yesterday too, probably shortly after Mr. DeWitt, and I am sure I heard a Baltimore Oriole. I heard it here on Boulder Dr this morning as well. Do you think I'm mistaken?! My husband heard it too and we were both certain. Any thoughts? Thank you!
Anything's possible, but even one Baltimore Oriole in Michigan at this time of year would be exceedingly rare; two, I think, would be mind-boggling. I just checked eBird and the main wave of migrating Baltimore Orioles right now is in Central America and southern Mexico. There have been none reported from any states south of Michigan until Louisiana, and even there only along the Gulf Coast. So I'd guess that an oriole here now didn't migrate yet somehow survived the winter. But I'm just an amateur, and you and your husband obviously heard something. We'd all like to know what. I'll ask around about oriole sound-alikes and maybe somebody else will chime in here.
☺. Thanks Rick!!
Starlings are a possible culprit. I've heard them make the weirdest noises before. I have had several that like to mock Eastern Meadowlarks, Killdeer, Blue Jays (which is really weird given the fact that Blue Jays also mock other birds, especially hawks), and even Mallards. Anything is possible from the mouth of a Starling, I suppose. :)
Yes, good thought, Lizzy. Starlings can do just about everything.
I heard it again this morning, strong and clear. I could not find it! I've never seen a starling here. I see in ebird a sighting in New Jersey, Virginia, and Nova Scotia!? I'll keep looking and listening!
I saw those east and northeastern eBird sightings too and was surprised. When I clicked on lists, most were posted in the winter months. I don't see how those birds could have migrated, but I also don't see how they could have survived the winter in places like Nova Scotia! As I said previously, I'll ask around and post here if anybody can explain it to me. Meanwhile, any possibility you could record your bird with a smart phone, camera, etc. The recording would not need to be good, just audible.
I'll try! thanks again!
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