Thursday, November 30, 2017

Peregrine and Goshawk on Saturday


November 29 Email:

Attached are two photos from Saturday at the Wastewater.  One is a Peregrine Falcon with a Mallard it had taken seconds before Marcia and I arrived.  The other is a member of a local falconer club with a Gyrfalcon.  We talked with the man awhile in the grass cells.  He didn't fly the bird because of the wind.
- Phil Willemstein



Wednesday Morning at Black Lake Park


 White-breasted Nuthatch

 Hairy Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Yesterday I spent two hours at Black Lake Park.  It was a beautiful morning to be outside.  Not many birds, but some of them let me take their pictures.

- Charlie DeWitt

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Great Black-backed Gulls at Grand Haven


Great Black-backed Gull

There were three adult Great Black-backed Gulls at Grand Haven State Park this morning.

- Charlie DeWitt

Friday, November 17, 2017

A Long Birding Caravan on Caleb's DNR Trip


Over 45 people in 21 vehicles followed Caleb Putnam on his Michigan DNR Field Trip around the Wastewater lagoons this morning.  It was by far the most vehicles I've ever seen driving together while actively bird-watching.


There were not as many birds, particularly waterbirds, as we had hoped for.  Among the notables were a young Bald Eagle panicking the duck flocks over the east lagoon, two American Black Ducks, a Long-tailed Duck and hundreds of Snow Buntings foraging on and flying around the center dike.


- Ric

Saturday, November 11, 2017

No Fox Sparrow at Hemlock Crossing


Following some recent Ottawa County eBird reports of Fox Sparrow, I drove down to Hemlock Crossing this morning with hopes of seeing one.  No such luck.  I did, however, see Phil Willemstein, Marcia Fellows, and a few dozen birds of ten species at the feeders including five American Tree Sparrows

Hairy Woodpecker pair by Phil Willemstein

Blue Jay
- Ric

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Three November Events


Details regarding our program (Nov. 16) and two field trips (Nov. 17 and 18) are posted on our homepage.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Trumpeter Swans at Black Lake This Morning


Before the rains I enjoyed a walk around the south half of Black Lake Park this morning.  Besides the usual species there were two Trumpeter Swans out on the lake.  One gave the "trombone mouthpiece" call before the pair flew off to the northeast.

- Ric