Blue Jays Migrating; Hawks Not

I spent an hour this morning near the east end of the Muskegon Channel.  Despite no east in the wind, I was hoping a few hawks might fly by.  They did not.  460 Blue Jays did.  I also counted 10 other bird species plus a few butterflies.

Outbound Lake Express

- Ric

Two Plover Species at the Wastewater

September 20 Email:

There were four American Golden Plovers and one Black-bellied Plover on the center dike Thursday evening.

- Mike Boston

Birds, Bugs and a Game of Tag

Previewing next weekend's field trip I walked around some trails at Black Lake and Hoffmaster Parks this morning.

Sunlight filtering into the woods at Black Lake Park.

Black Lake was birdy (18 species including Cooper's and Red-shouldered Hawks, Belted Kingfisher and the usual backyard birds); Hoffmaster was not.  So long as I kept moving, bugs weren't bothersome, but stopping for even a second brought swarms of mosquitoes, some even landing on DEET-treated skin.  Hopefully there will be fewer next week.

At 9:45 on the Christmas tree field south of Judson east of Wood, a small group of American Crows harrassed and were harrassed by a large juvenile Cooper's Hawk.  All started on the ground, then flew after each just above the saplings, then landed, then flew up and chased again, several times for several minutes.  One of the crows crawked like a raven during these confrontations, and the hawk or one of the crows bill-clicked like an owl.  It was fun to watch! 

White-fronted Geese at Wastewater Today

September 13 Email:

While birding at Wastewater today I found three Greater White-fronted Geese mixed in with many Canada Geese. They were on the west side of Swanson Road south of White Road. Got a picture of one of them.

- Jim Zervos

Buff-breasted Sandpipers on Sunday

September 9 Email:

Hi Ric,

No photos, but there were three Buff-breasted Sandpipers on the center dike today.

- Mike Boston

Snug Harbor Walk

A cool breezy walk at Snug Harbor this morning produced 24 bird species, none unusual, but three that are more often heard than seen: Eastern Wood-pewee, Wood Thrush and Red-eyed Vireo.  I couldn't morph any of the several vireos into a Tennessee Warbler; the best warbler was a Magnolia.  

Other species included Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe and Common Yellowthroat.  A turkey apparently dropped this feather near the trail:

 - Ric

Kevin's Recent Bird Photos

September 4 Email:

Hi Ric:

I thought I would pass along some recent bird pics to you. This is a heron eating a nightcrawler and a merlin from the wastewater from this morning. The osprey, goldfinch and red-headed woodpecker are from the Muskegon River during the last week.   

Have a great week! 

- Kevin Feenstra

American Goldfinch

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Red-headed Woodpecker

Merlin

You too, Kevin.  Keep sending pictures like this whenever you want!  - Ric

Buff-breasted Sandpiper All Weekend

Buff-breasted Sandpiper by the DeWitts

On Friday Rob Goff reported a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the center dike at the Wastewater.

On Saturday afternoon Ken Sapkowski found it, on the center dike, about a 1/4 mile north from the south end.

This Sunday afternoon Carol and I found it again about where Ken said it would be.  It was feeding in the weeds next to the road.

- Charlie DeWitt

65 Species Sunday

September 2 Email:

Hey Ric,

I had 65 species at the Wastewater this morning -- was hoping maybe some more rarities may have been blown down by the thunderstorm.  Mostly usual suspects, while most summer species were gone already.  A few wonderful warblers east of Moorland on White (1 Cape May, 1 Palm, 2 Black-throated Green) close to where I often will find some.  Two Vesper Sparrows.  Several Eastern Meadowlarks and Eastern Kingbirds remain, and a good many waterfowl.  Highlight was a most-obliging cinnamon-chested Northern Harrier sitting, preening, dusting, stretching, alighting, hovering and soaring right in front of me.  Blessings be with you.  Sincerely, 

- Phil Vreeman

Juvenile Northern Harrier by Phil Vreeman