Collared Doves Still at Ravenna

Dec. 28 Email:

Following up on Steve Minard’s message of 15 December (below), Adam Byrne and I stopped off in Ravenna this afternoon and found the Eurasian Collared-Doves that Steve had seen on the 15th.  Like Steve, we found them perched on a telephone pole in front of Ravenna Feed and Grain. 

Today there were six doves, not five.  Of those six, five were “pure” Eurasian Collared-Doves, with blackish primaries, dark gray under tail-coverts, and the correct pattern on the undersurface of the outermost tail feather (black on the outer web projecting farther toward the feather-tip than the black on the inner web).  The sixth also had blackish primaries and dark gray under tail-coverts, but it had only one tail feather, so we couldn’t tell if it had the correct tail pattern or not.

 

- Phil Chu

Varied Thrush Still Near Snug Harbor

Dec. 27 Email from Beth Miller:

Bailey Mitchell found a Varied Thrush this afternoon at Lost Lake trail!  Go to the 4th plastic bridge.  GPS Coordinates:  43.25024° N, 86.33443° W.

Dec. 28 Email from Mike Boston:

Varied Thrush seen this morning at 11:00 a.m. in the same general area but a little further along the trail, a few yards south of the Barred Owl sign.

Purple Sandpiper at Pere Marquette Park

 Purple Sandpiper on the south side of the south pier, 3/4 of the way to the elbow.

Charlie DeWitt

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Snowy Owl on Tuesday

Phil Willemstein photographed this Snowy Owl yesterday on a pole south of White Road in Egelston Township.

Crossbills at Lost Lake Saturday and Today

The flock of White-winged Crossbills reported Saturday morning on our Muskegon Christmas Bird Count along the northeast shore of Lost Lake (north of Snug Harbor at Muskegon State Park) were reported by Beth Miller again this morning at the same location.

Eurasian Collared-Doves, Etc.

To Muskegon County Bird Listers Dec. 15:

Five Eurasian Collared-Doves were atop a pole in Ravenna in front of Ravenna Feed and Grain.  This is also by the Musketawa Trail near Crockery Creek.  They look to be good Eurasian Collared Doves with dark upper undertail.

Also seen on the Wastewater CBC today were Greater White-Fronted Goose, a Snow Goose and a Northern Shrike from the Musketawa Trail west of Swanson.  Hundreds of Canadas there too.  Another shrike on the fence of the Ravenna Sewage Ponds and just north of there, three peacocks on a roof.  

- Steve Minard

Birds and Birders at the Wastewater Saturday

The Wastewater hosted at least 20 species of birds yesterday and more than that many bird-watchers.  Birds included the previously-reported Red Phalarope and Harlequin Duck; birders included people in a 15-vehicle caravan from Barry County Audubon, others in a 5-car group, and several driving around on their own.

Also notable were this blue morph Snow Goose and these Cackling Geese among the Canadas in Rapid Filtration Cell D7:

Cackling Geese much smaller than Canada Geese with

shorter necks, smaller beaks, and steeper angle where

beaks meet foreheads.

I also saw a flock of 75+ Snow Buntings and a male Northern Harrier at the center dike.

- Ric

Red Phalarope and Harlequin Duck

For the last few days two unique birds have been seen on the east lagoon at the Wastewater.  A Red Phalarope has been hanging around the pipe extending into the northwest corner of the lagoon and a Harlequin Duck in the southeast corner by the landfill.

Photo of Red Phalarope by Bailey Mitchell

Harlequin Duck Photos by Beth Miller

Local Pier Birding Invitation

Birding from area piers during waterbird migration is a challenge.  Many of the waterbirds (waterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls, terns) are only viewed in flight and often in the distance over Lake Michigan.  Many are too distant to identify.  I am no expert at waterbird ID at a distance, but I find it very enjoyable and challenging.  Over the years I have been rewarded with rare birds such as neotropical cormorant, black-legged kittiwake, Sabine's gull, little gull, Western grebe, brant, common eider, red phalarope, parasitic jaeger and others.  Like all birding, however, these sightings are rare and many days on the pier are slow as molasses with little seen.  But you don't know until you try.  

I often go "pier birding" during waterbird migration which is mostly from late March into May and October through mid-December.  Since I live in Spring Lake, I usually go to either the north or south pier in Grand Haven (depending on wind strength and direction) or to Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon County.

It is always nice to have extra birders when pier birding to help find and ID birds.  If you are interested in joining a new Pier Birding Group, please email me.  When I go, I will alert people on the list and you can come if you want.  Scopes are highly recommended.

Let me know if interested,

Chip Francke

biglakeloon@gmail.com

LeConte's Sparrow and Upper Mac Trip Report

Yesterday Beth Miller photographed this LeConte's Sparrow along the north Hoffmaster hiking trails by Black Creek off Lake Harbor Road.

Meanwhile some of us found 34 bird species on our October field trip to the Upper Macatawa Natural Area south of Zeeland.  There's a report with photos on our homepage.

Two More Photos from Ruth

At Black Lake Park (see post below) I mentioned to Ruth Achterhoff Aust that we'd like to see any other photos she might send.  Yesterday she sent these:

Falcon, Harbor Island, Grand Haven, October 16, 2021

Eastern Towhee, Lane's Landing, October 5, 2021

Merlin Chases Kestrel

Bruce Delamarter photographed this Merlin north of White Road on the Wastewater properties.  An American Kestrel was in the tree and the Merlin gave chase.

Black Lake Park This Morning

I found 20 bird species this cool sunny morning at Black Lake Park.  I heard the Black-billed Cuckoo reported a few days ago by Beth Miller and saw kinglets, White-crowned and -throated Sparrows and Hermit Thrush.  Along the way I met Ruth Achterhoff Aust who took these photos:

Hermit Thrush by Ruth Achterhoff Aust

Hermit Thrush by Ruth Achterhoff Aust

White-throated Sparrow by Ruth Achterhoff Aust

Good Geese and Ducks at the Wastewater

There are reliable reports online of a diversity of ducks plus a Greater White-fronted Goose and a Cackling Goose at the Wastewater today.

Shorebirds Tuesday at the Wastewater

Sept. 21 Email to Muskegon County Listers:

I spent a short time this evening driving the dikes at Muskegon Wastewater.  A couple birds of note were 8 black-bellied plovers hanging with a few sanderlings on the big pipe near the north end of the center dike.  Also, at least three American golden plovers in cell D3 which is wet again and attracting birds. 

- Chip Francke

Backyard Confrontation

This afternoon Carol looked out the back window and saw two birds atop our neighbor's tree which all birds seem to love.  One was an American Crow, the other a young accipiter, probably a female Sharp-shinned Hawk (blurry photo below taken through the window).  The crow cawed frequently, perhaps hoping to attract more crows.

Instead it attracted a Pileated Woodpecker which also began vocalizing ("kek, kek, kek").  

Then the woodpecker flew toward the hawk and perched further left in the tree.

The birds stayed in this configuration awhile until the hawk chased the woodpecker off its perch.

This riled the woodpecker into flying around and around the top of the tree screaming angrily before finally departing.  A minute later the crow flew away, and soon after so did the hawk.

"Here's Looking at You" Again

Bruce Delamarter sends another photo (see "Looking Over Its Shoulder" below) of an American Kestrel yesterday in one of the Rapid Filtration Basins at the Wastewater.

36 Species on September 18 Field Trip

 On our monthly field trip yesterday we found 36 bird species at two Ottawa County locations.  A report and photos are posted on our homepage.

Muskegon County Birding Listserv

"If you are a birder in Muskegon County, you might want to join the Muskegon County birds listserv that was started by Beth Miller some time ago  If you want to join, email Beth at glenabeth@gmail.com.  You will receive more info after you join."   - Chip Francke

Kestrel "Looking Over Its Shoulder"

Bruce Delamarter photographed this American Kestrel on the Wastewater properties Saturday morning.  The photo clearly shows the "false face" that may protect kestrels from larger raptors who think they're already looking at them.

Wildlife on the River

Yesterday Kevin Feenstra sent these photos which he took over the last several days up on the Muskegon River.  Looks like damselflies, turtle, and ospreys.  If anyone sends more specific I.D.'s, we'll post them.  As always, Keven, thanks!

Merlin with Prey

September 5 Email:

"North end of Swanson @ W.W."

- Bruce Delamarter

Red-tailed Hawk

August 24 Email:

"Shooting north from the parking lot at DJ's Playground."

- Bruce Delamarter

54 Species at the Wastewater Today

Our club's field trip to the Muskegon Wastewater properties today produced 54 bird species including Red-necked Phalarope.  A report with photos is posted on our homepage. 

Little Blue Heron at Lane's Landing

August 17 Email:

I saw this bird, which I believe to be an immature Little Blue Heron, on Monday and Tuesday on the east side of the Lane's Landing marsh.

- Mike Boston

- - -

Thanks, Mike!  Sure looks like one.  We'll see what others say and keep this updated.  - Ric

Muskegon Wastewater Saturday Morning

I drove around the Wastewater properties this morning with next Saturday's field trip in mind.  No aeration cell was drawn down, so there wasn't much shorebird habitat.  The muck in Rapid Filtration Cell D4 attracted some shorebirds including this Pectoral Sandpiper, ...

... a Semipalmated Plover, some Least Sandpipers and several Killdeer.  Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpipers foraged the edges of the big lagoons.  Among my 30 bird species were two Great Egrets, ...

... Cliff Swallows, Barn Swallows ...

... Wild Turkeys with their families, Eastern Wood-pewee, meadowlark, and Indigo Bunting.

I left at 11:45 about the time Bruce Delamarter was photographing this female American Kestrel with a grasshopper near the landfill.

- Ric

Bald Eagle

 This morning Bruce Delamarter emailed this photo of a young Bald Eagle:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tuesday Evening

August 3 Email: "Jason Carlson found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper this evening at the Wastewater in grassy cell D4.  Glenda and I saw it too.”

- Ken Sapkowski

Black Lake Park Saturday

I walked around Black Lake Park this cool sunny morning finding 28 bird species and several flying insects.  Most of the activity was on the meadow, including this Baltimore Oriole and Monarch butterfly.

The lake itself was birdless except for two Mute Swans on the far side, and there were no bluebirds anywhere.  Birds present included Sandhill Crane, Great Blue Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Great Crested Flycatcher, House Wren, Eastern Towhee, American Redstart and Indigo Bunting.

- Ric

Thursday Birds and Saturday Caterpillar

I drove and walked some Wastewater fields this morning.  Things were generally quiet birdwise.  I had hoped for more sparrows.  All I found were Song, Chipping and Field.

Overall the 33 species included 65 Sandhill Cranes (along Swanson near Laketon), Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, American Kestrel, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Common Raven (on a pylon north of the East Lagoon) ... 

... Tree, Barn and Cliff Swallows, Cedar Waxwing, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Yellowthroat, Indigo Bunting and Dickcissel:

Last Saturday at the Allegan State Game Area someone found this caterpillar.  Does anyone know what it is?

- Ric

July 16 Email:

I thought I would share a few pictures of river birds:

Eastern Kingbird harassing an Osprey

Cedar Waxwing chasing a small Beatis Mayfly

Great Egret eating small prey

- Kevin Feenstra

Birding the Nature Preserve Saturday Morning

All of the walkways and trails at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve were walkable this morning.  The preserve looked less like a city park since my last visit, thanks in part to the growth of ground plants in the open areas.

Facing north at the bat house, fencing around the

water between the bike trail and the entrance road.

I found 21 bird species including Great Blue Heron (10 in one flock soaring low over the river south of the preserve), Great Egret (flying overhead), Green Heron, Marsh Wren, Indigo Bunting, and dozens of Barn Swallows and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Barn Swallow gathering nesting material from the mud.

Great Blue Heron striking an Audubon-like pose.

- Ric

Snug Harbor Saturday Morning

I found 32 bird species on a walk at Snug Harbor this morning including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Barn and Tree Swallows, Marsh Wren and Indigo Bunting.

- Ric

Red-eyed Vireo

Molting Indigo Bunting male high atop tree

Common Yellowthroat male, "I'm outa here!"

Porcupine and Raccoons Last Night

Mike VanderStelt's game camera captured this image at his place last night of a Porcupine being watched by two Raccoons.  Mike says the behavior of the coons in the video indicated they didn't want to be around the big intruder.  Go figure.

Red-Headed Woodpecker on Sunday

 June 28 Email:

"I saw a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers on the trail that starts at Lions Park in Whitehall yesterday and this is one of them."  - Mike Boston