Swainson's Hawk and Rambi

Catching up after being out of town for a week:

The "dark redtail" we watched on our Ottawa Sands field trip September 21 proved to be a Swainson's Hawk ID'd by Charlie DeWitt's beautiful photo on our homepage.

Mike VanderStelt has not seen Rambi or his Mourning Dove friends since last week. 

- Ric

Rambi Updates

Mike VanderStelt sent a couple more "family photos" and some updated information this week:

September 18:

In a couple weeks Rambi went from his ruffled-up, off-the-rack suit to his Armani with tails.

Sept 19:

I have noticed, as you can see by the pictures, that Rambi's tail feathers have grown probably close to two inches.  Along with that, the whooshing sound when he comes and goes has gotten noticeably louder.  I wonder if it has something to do with moving air from his wings compressing and curling around the tail?  His wings don't look any longer but do look a little more "organized", for a lack of a better word, but not different in size where you would assume they would be compressing more air volume.  Just an observation; whether it warrants any merit is another thing altogether.  LOL

The last few days there has been another Mourning Dove, probably about two to three weeks younger than Rambi, coming in with him every time he visits.  It will go from the branches, to the feeder, to the birdbath, etc, and stay here the whole time Rambi visits me. Sometimes it shows up a little bit after Rambi comes to visit, but it always sits and waits for him.  Has the student become the teacher?   Hmmm.

Sept 20:

Red-tailed Hawk

This un-invited friend has been around for the last four days.  Funny, none of the smaller birds have warmed-up to it.

Also, an adult Mourning Dove landed on my deck yesterday and started foraging while I was sitting out there.  All of a sudden Rambi made his first appearance of the day, coming in like a missile, and attacked the adult, then immediately flew onto my lap.  I guess the deck and myself are "exclusive" Rambi property?  LOL

Swainson's Thrush, Hoverfly and Rambi

I counted 15 bird species including a Swainson's Thrush at the Hofma Preserve south of Grand Haven this morning.  Also present was this "bee fly?". 

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Checking online I've found that this is some form of "hoverfly".  If anyone knows more about them, please comment.  Thanks!

Meanwhile Mike VanderStelt returned from Alaska a couple days ago and wondered if Rambi would still recognize him.  His photo this morning answers the question:

- Ric

MCNC Program on Thursday

Disclaimer: All photos recently sighted while preparing the program.

It must be fall as the club meetings resume.  Click here for time and place details.  Hope to see you there! 

- Don Neumann

Teen-age Rambi

Email:  I have to look twice now if Rambi (see many previous posts) flies in with a friend, but his slightly shorter tail and darker feet still give him away.  - Mike VanderStelt

Quiet Saturday Morning at the Preserve

I spent two hours at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve this morning.  The boardwalk along the river was no longer barricaded!

Water was still high.  Portions of the two-track were impassable.

Some paths within the preserve were unwalkable.  This portion of the east boardwalk was still submerged: 

Although I counted 25 bird species in two hours, the preserve was relatively quiet.  I could not positively identify this flycatcher (Eastern Wood Pewee?  Willow or Alder Flycatcher?). 

The 12-15 Song Sparrows were all in small (family?) groups.  

There were at least a dozen Double-crested Cormorants and perhaps as many chipmunks.  Other birds of note included Green Heron, Bald Eagle, Warbling Vireo, Marsh Wren and a pair of Mourning Doves that flew without making any wing-sound.  I had read that this was possible, but today was the first time I'd experienced it.  

- Ric

Friday Morning at Grand Haven North Pier

 Least Sandpiper

Sanderling

I spent 1.5 hours at the north pier in Grand Haven this morning.  Not much going on.  The waves were washing over the pier so the shorebirds were on shore. I had 1 Least Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Plover and 6 Sanderlings.  There was a mix of gulls, Ring-billed, Herring, and Bonapart's Gulls.  I also had 60 Double-crested Cormorants fly over.

- Charlie DeWitt

Grand Haven North Pier and Ottawa Sands

Prior to scouting Ottawa Sands County Park for next month's field trip I walked the Grand Haven north pier because of Charlie's report below.  There was a nice variety of shorebirds along both edges including the Red Knot and Stilt Sandpiper.  

Stilt Sandpiper and Red Knot

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

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Sanderling

Double-crested Cormorant

Then I walked around the lake at Ottawa Sands County Park.

It wasn't too birdy late this morning, but still interesting.  Thirteen species included Ruby-throated Hummingbird, two Red-headed Woodpeckers, Eastern Wood Pewee, Red-tailed Hawk and two Bald Eagles (one juvenile and one adult spent several minutes "squeaking" while soaring over the woods on the west side near the nest).

If I were counting, I would now have 174 Year Birds.   - Ric

Red Knot and Stilt Sandpiper at Grand Haven

 Red Knot

Stilt Sandpiper

The Red Knot that Steve Menard reported yesterday is still at the Grand Haven north pier as of 10:00 this morning.  There is also a Stilt Sandpiper on the pier seen earlier this morning by two Grand Haven birders.

Charlie DeWitt

Of Hummingbirds, Cameras and Rambi

August 20 Email:

I was just out in the back yard shooting other things in "aperture priority" (slower shutter, hence the excessive movement in the leaf) when these Ruby-throated Hummingbirds popped in.   - Mike VanderStelt

Female

Male

Mike is breaking in a new camera.  Until now his recent photos were taken with his phone, including this video from last week of the not-yet-totally-wild Rambi.

- Ric

Willets at Grand Haven

There were three Willets on the Grand Haven north pier this afternoon.

- Charlie DeWitt

Purple Martin Revival: Grand Haven

Our own Dave Herdegen is also a member of the Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society (Grand Haven).  This article in today's Grand Haven Tribune tells about the successful Purple Martin project there and Dave's contributions as a "purple martin landlord".

Early Morning at the Grand Haven North Pier

 Great Black-backed Gull

 Spotted Sandpiper

 Semipalmated Sandpiper

 Least Sandpiper

 Sanderling

Baird's Sandpiper

These are the birds I saw at the Grand Haven North Pier this morning.

- Charlie DeWitt

Mourning Dove Guru

Mike VanderStelt sends a photo of Rambi today titling it "Yoga Class":

Grand Haven North Pier

 Spotted Sandpiper

 Semipalmated Plover

Lesser Yellowlegs

I went to the Grand Haven North Pier today and found these shorebirds.   I also had Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Purple Martin and Bank Swallow.

- Charlie DeWitt