White-eyed Vireo at Black Lake Park

April 30 Email (12:23 p.m.):

White-eyed Verio foraging and singing along the stream right now at Black Lake Park: coordinates: 43.119626, -86.235907. 

- Beth Miller

White-eyed Vireo at Muskegon Wastewater

April 28 Email (4:40 p.m.):

I just received a text message from Kevin VandeVusse regarding a White-eyed Vireo.  He asked that I pass this along. "The bird was along the nature trail that runs parallel to the parking lot administration building."  In case anyone is interested in looking for it.

- Judi Manning

Eared Grebes and Baby Canada Geese

Eared Grebe

 Canada Geese with babies 

all photos by Carol DeWitt

Finally, after five trips to the wastewater, Carol and I found the Eared Grebe.  We actually saw two, both in the west lagoon, one on the south side and one on the west side.

We have been keeping track of five Canada Goose nests and this is the first time we have seen little ones.

- Charlie DeWitt

Muskegon River Ospreys and Wood Ducks

April 16 Email:

I took a few shots of ospreys around Newaygo today.  One of the birds that had a band that we saw last year that was from Massachusetts has returned again.  Also, some wood ducks.  Have a great weekend! 

- Kevin Feenstra

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Kevin, thanks as always for the great photos!   - Ric

Little Blue Heron at Snug Harbor

April 14 Email:

Hello everyone! The little blue heron found by Tracy Zervos earlier this afternoon continues next to the marsh area at Snug Harbor.  I didn’t find it until I went over to the boat launch and got out and looked back towards the marsh.  It’s simply sitting in a small tree in the water!  Very dark blue and gorgeous!

- Beth Miller

Sunday Birding

Ross's Goose

Ross's Goose

Northern Harrier with snake

Osprey

Horned Grebe

Photo by Carol DeWitt

Carol and I spent a little time at the Wastewater this afternoon and made some nice finds.  On the way, we birded Swanson Road north of the bike trail and found 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs.

- Charlie DeWitt

 

Black Lake Park Saturday Morning

I found 31 bird species this morning at Black Lake.  New for me this year were Swamp Sparrow (singing west of the Wood Road bridge), Pied-billed Grebe, and Hermit Thrush (on the trail along the southside creek).

Two Black-capped Chickadees worked on their nest hole ...

... and some other small bird became raptor food near the northwest overlook.

Nothing too unusual this calm April morning.

- Ric

Year Bird Yesterday / Yard Bird Today

 

Carol spotted our annual spring Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the neighbor's tree yesterday.  Then it was a Year Bird.  Today it became a Yard Bird when it landed in our dogwood tree:

- Ric

Mourning Dove Rambi Is Back

 

Mike Vanderstelt emailed this information about Rambi* today.  

"He will not land on me anymore, which is a good thing, but kind of bittersweet.  He's not afraid of me at all, and will come in onto the deck and land within a foot of me or so before going over to grab a snack. I can just talk continuously to him and he doesn't seem to mind or get nervous one bit. He still has his mate, (assuming it's the same female) and she will come in with him periodically.  Of course, she doesn't get anywhere near me if I am sitting out here, and will just sit along the deck rail on the other end of the deck waiting for him. She will come down and feed if I'm not actually outside. I would imagine if he had young last year he will be a grandpa this year LOL."

Mike also sent a video from which this photo was made.

- Ric

* Browse through posts from the last two years for the complete story of Rambi.