June 16 Field Trip Minority Report

I was at the Ferguson Farm by 8:00 a.m. as planned.  No one showed up until about 8:40 a.m. and then it was just long enough to say "It's raining.  I am going home."

You would think that if the club members would bird in weather like this (see picture above) that a little rain wouldn't be a big deal.  Granted, lightning can be a real game changer, but what are the odds?

So I decided to lead the field trip anyway.  At Ferguson Farm I had a Brown Thrasher, American Crow, Blue Jay and Indigo Bunting.  The rain let up some so I decided to check out the Walleye Pond.

On the way into the pond I had a Gray Catbird, Common Grackle, American Robin, Song Sparrow and Wood Duck.  The rain had stopped by the time I got to the parking lot, so I walked the south edge of the pond and picked up a Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Mourning Dove, Hooded Merganser, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Belted Kingfisher, Cedar Waxwing and Green Heron.  

On the way out, I stopped at the Cedar Creek Bridge and heard a Great Crested Flycatcher calling.  It was bird number 21 for the morning.  It was 10:00 a.m. and everyone on the field trip ( I ) wanted to go to the Muskegon County Wastewater and look for the Northern Mockingbird.  So I called the field trip over at 10:00 a.m.

Henslow's Sparrow

I found the Northern Mockingbird where it had been reported on Laketon by the maintenance building.

On June 12, Ken Sapkowski and Douglas Howerzyl reported on ebird that there was a Henslow's Sparrow west of the model airplane field in the thick grass on the north side of the road.  That is where I found it today too.

- Charlie DeWitt

Charlie, as one who went home, I salute you.  You found everyone on your field trip some excellent birds!  - Ric