Bruce Delamarter says in forty years of photographing Great Blue Herons, he's never seen this before:
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Monday, September 19, 2011
Great Blue Heron with Bad Sushi?
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Bruce Delamarter says in forty years of photographing Great Blue Herons, he's never seen this before:
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Bruce Delamarter says in forty years of photographing Great Blue Herons, he's never seen this before:
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Sunday, September 18, 2011
Bonaparte's Gull
I saw this Bonaparte's Gull flying around the westernmost aerator at the Wastewater on Sunday, 9/18.
Mike Boston
Bat from September 13 Post Identified
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Regarding the bat caught by the Merlin (photo and explanation in Sept. 13 post below), Carolyn Weng writes:
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The bat taken by the Merlin was a Silver-haired Bat, an all-black bat named for its silver-tipped back hairs. It is a tree-dwelling bat widely distributed in North America from the tree line in Canada nearly to the southern border of the U.S. They forage in the evening and night eating insects including mosquitoes. (I have often seen them hunting over the marsh and around the park lights at Muskegon State Park). They are solitary except for spring maternity groupings when females cluster in tree holes to give birth. They roost in tree crevices, under tree bark, in woodpecker holes. More northern ones migrate south where winter hibernation is possible. Sources: M.Tuttle, America's Neighborhood Bats.
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Regarding the bat caught by the Merlin (photo and explanation in Sept. 13 post below), Carolyn Weng writes:
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The bat taken by the Merlin was a Silver-haired Bat, an all-black bat named for its silver-tipped back hairs. It is a tree-dwelling bat widely distributed in North America from the tree line in Canada nearly to the southern border of the U.S. They forage in the evening and night eating insects including mosquitoes. (I have often seen them hunting over the marsh and around the park lights at Muskegon State Park). They are solitary except for spring maternity groupings when females cluster in tree holes to give birth. They roost in tree crevices, under tree bark, in woodpecker holes. More northern ones migrate south where winter hibernation is possible. Sources: M.Tuttle, America's Neighborhood Bats.
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Friday, September 16, 2011
Wastewater Wildlife Today
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Bruce Delamarter sends photos and writes:
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A little more sun and a few more smiles, it would have been a great day. The white rascal I think is a skunk, but not much of his face could be seen. The Snow Geese were south of the observatory and the coyote in the fields 200 yards east of the entrance.
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Bruce Delamarter sends photos and writes:
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A little more sun and a few more smiles, it would have been a great day. The white rascal I think is a skunk, but not much of his face could be seen. The Snow Geese were south of the observatory and the coyote in the fields 200 yards east of the entrance.
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
New Neighbor at the Pond?
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This immature Red-tailed Hawk has been hanging around my wetlands for about a week; I hope it stays.
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- Mike VanderStelt
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- Mike VanderStelt
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Merlin and Bat -- What Bat?
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Carolyn Weng sends two photos and writes:
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The Merlin that was hunting the shoreline at Muskegon State Park Sept 13 and the bat it caught in mid-air and dropped. The Merlin dropped down on the sand several times and tried to eat the bat, but the bat would jerk and put out its wings and the Merlin would return to a nearby perch or fly off. The bat was apparently too injuried to fly off. The Merlin also caught a Monarch butterfly. I would appreciate an identification on the bat.
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Carolyn Weng sends two photos and writes:
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The Merlin that was hunting the shoreline at Muskegon State Park Sept 13 and the bat it caught in mid-air and dropped. The Merlin dropped down on the sand several times and tried to eat the bat, but the bat would jerk and put out its wings and the Merlin would return to a nearby perch or fly off. The bat was apparently too injuried to fly off. The Merlin also caught a Monarch butterfly. I would appreciate an identification on the bat.
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Monday, September 12, 2011
Black-throated Sparrow at Kitchel-Lindquist
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At 11:00 a.m. today (Sept. 12) I observed an adult Black-throated Sparrow at Kitchel Lindquist Dunes in Ottawa County. I had one unobstructed sustained look at the bird (about 15 seconds) at a distance of about 30 yards with binoculars in good light as it sat in the top on a small white pine. It flew into the heavy brush and I was unable to find it again. At first, it appeared to be hanging around with a few chipping sparrows.
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Kitchel Lindquist Dunes is in the City of Ferrysburg (on the north side of the Grand River across from Grand Haven), From US 31, take the Ferrysburg exit (just north of the bridge over the Grand River). After exiting, turn west on Third Street which will turn into 174th Ave. At the intersection of 174th and North Shore Dr., turn west. Travel on North Shore Dr. about 3 miles to Berwyk St. (North Shore turns south before you get to Berwyk). Turn left on Berwyk and travel a short distance to the small parking lot on the left (next to a white restroom building). From the parking lot, walk the Connie Lindquist Trail (follow the numbered posts along the way – I think #12 is the last one). At the end of the trail you will come to a road end with a gate. Across this road, look for the beginning of the Marjorie Hendricks Trail. The sparrow was seen about 40 yards past the MHT sign along a wood chipped trail. It was in the small white pines on the right side of the trail and flew into the brush on the left side of the trail.
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Several birders tried to relocate the bird this afternoon with no success. There will be people looking again this evening.
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Chip Francke to Mich-Listers
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At 11:00 a.m. today (Sept. 12) I observed an adult Black-throated Sparrow at Kitchel Lindquist Dunes in Ottawa County. I had one unobstructed sustained look at the bird (about 15 seconds) at a distance of about 30 yards with binoculars in good light as it sat in the top on a small white pine. It flew into the heavy brush and I was unable to find it again. At first, it appeared to be hanging around with a few chipping sparrows.
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Kitchel Lindquist Dunes is in the City of Ferrysburg (on the north side of the Grand River across from Grand Haven), From US 31, take the Ferrysburg exit (just north of the bridge over the Grand River). After exiting, turn west on Third Street which will turn into 174th Ave. At the intersection of 174th and North Shore Dr., turn west. Travel on North Shore Dr. about 3 miles to Berwyk St. (North Shore turns south before you get to Berwyk). Turn left on Berwyk and travel a short distance to the small parking lot on the left (next to a white restroom building). From the parking lot, walk the Connie Lindquist Trail (follow the numbered posts along the way – I think #12 is the last one). At the end of the trail you will come to a road end with a gate. Across this road, look for the beginning of the Marjorie Hendricks Trail. The sparrow was seen about 40 yards past the MHT sign along a wood chipped trail. It was in the small white pines on the right side of the trail and flew into the brush on the left side of the trail.
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Several birders tried to relocate the bird this afternoon with no success. There will be people looking again this evening.
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Chip Francke to Mich-Listers
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Redtail and Peregrine at Wastewater
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This Red-tailed Hawk seemed to be practicing take-offs and landings east of the Wastewater entrance. The Peregrine Falcon was on a power pole north of the East Lagoon.
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- Bruce Delamarter
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The redtail looks like one of that strain of light-headed birds that's occupied the W.W. properties for a long time. - Ric
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This Red-tailed Hawk seemed to be practicing take-offs and landings east of the Wastewater entrance. The Peregrine Falcon was on a power pole north of the East Lagoon.
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- Bruce Delamarter
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The redtail looks like one of that strain of light-headed birds that's occupied the W.W. properties for a long time. - Ric
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Saturday, September 10, 2011
Three Species of Terns at Grand Haven
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This morning (Sept. 10)there were 75 to 100 Terns on the beach by the north pier at Grand Haven. A mixture of Forster's, Common and Caspian. It doesn't pay to be the "small bird" with a big fish!
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- Charlie DeWitt
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Monday, September 5, 2011
Sanderlings at Grand Haven
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There were 22 Sanderlings on the beach by the north pier at Grand Haven this afternoon (Sept. 5).
There were 22 Sanderlings on the beach by the north pier at Grand Haven this afternoon (Sept. 5).
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- Charlie DeWitt
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- Charlie DeWitt
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Golden-Plovers at Wastewater Sunday
Carolyn Weng sends the latest Wastewater Shorebird Survey (Sept. 4): Birds to note: American Golden Plovers feeding in a mowed field along the north side of Laketon east of Swanson (Wastewater section south of Apple Ave). The birds were at the north edge of the field near the easternmost irrigator. Ruddy Turnstone found feeding with other shorebirds along south shore of East Lagoon near the SE corner.
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Muskegon Wastewater System
Sep 4, 2011 3:15 PM - 7:45 PM
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Protocol: Traveling
26.0 mile(s)
Comments: Temp 70-68 degrees F, 50% cloud cover, NW 15mph. There continues to be shorebird habitat. Basins, one with shallow flooding; Lagoons high but with muddy corners and rocky banks; Aerator 2 still half full with muddy shallows and shoreline; Aerator 3 full with 1/16 surface covered with a crud crust on which about 75 birds -- peeps, SEPLs, and BASAs -- were feeding; its concrete shoreline with limited muddy vegetated section used by LEYE and others. Aerator 5 with 3/4 crud crust cover being used by BASA, PESA, and peeps. Aerator 1 and 4 full and unused. Flooded Field is vegetation-covered but small field depressions along Laketon East with standing rain water attracting a few shorebirds. Mowed field on Laketon East north side had at least 59 American Golden Plover feeding with Killdeer and gulls. Clay Pond high. Observer Carolyn Weng
12 species
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) 59 Laketon East north side/ 59 feeding in mowed field with large flock of gulls and some killdeer. In molt, but white curved line of plumage on face still highly contrasts with dark crown and other molt plumage
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 16 Aer3/ 14 feeding on crud crust WL/1 EL/1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 21 EL/3 Laketon E/ 18 feeding in mowed field with AGPL
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 24 Aer2/1 WLsouth and west shores/18 EL south shore/4 Laketon East/1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 25 Aer2/ 6 Aer3/2 Aer5/1 WL/13 EL/2 Laketon East/1
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) 1 EL/1 near SE corner feeding with Sanderlings, Least Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer; in non-breeding plumage
Sanderling (Calidris alba) 10 Aer2/3 Aer3/1 EL/6
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) 77 Aer2/29 Aer3/43 feeding on crud crust Aer5/5 feeding on crud crust
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 28 Aer2/6 Aer3/17 feeding on crud crust Aer5/1 EL/3 Laketon E/2
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) 10 Aer3/2 Aer5/8 feeding on crud crust
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) 13 Aer2/2 Aer3/4 Aer5/5 feeding on crud crust WL/2
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) 7 Aer2/7 feeding in shallows
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org/content/iss)
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Miles of of Beach and They Still Have to Fight!
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Two Semipalmated Plovers fighting, and a Sanderling acting as "referee".
Two Semipalmated Plovers fighting, and a Sanderling acting as "referee".
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- Charlie DeWitt
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- Charlie DeWitt
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Sunday, September 4, 2011
Wilson Snipe at South Wastewater Saturday
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Kathryn Mork reports, "Yesterday (Sept. 3) there was water in the fields again by East Laketon. If you need a Killdeer, run, run. I had a really nice view of two Wilson Snipe who thought they were hidden in the grass."
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Kathryn Mork reports, "Yesterday (Sept. 3) there was water in the fields again by East Laketon. If you need a Killdeer, run, run. I had a really nice view of two Wilson Snipe who thought they were hidden in the grass."
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Friday, September 2, 2011
Fox North of Muskegon
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"I was glad I always carry a camera with me. This fox was just a couple miles north of my house."
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- Bruce Delamarter
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"I was glad I always carry a camera with me. This fox was just a couple miles north of my house."
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- Bruce Delamarter
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Plovers and Tern at Grand Haven
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I saw two Semipalmated Plovers and my first Forster's Tern this afternoon (Sept. 1) at the Grand Haven north pier.
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- Charlie DeWitt
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I saw two Semipalmated Plovers and my first Forster's Tern this afternoon (Sept. 1) at the Grand Haven north pier.
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- Charlie DeWitt
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