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