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
