Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Buff-breasted S.P, Plovers, Warblers, Oh My!


Two September 4 Emails:

Today I spent some time birding in Muskegon County and had some success tallying 108 species for the day. Highlights for the day include an American Golden-plover at Muskegon State Park on the beach at sunrise. I also had some good luck at Snug Harbor seeing 17 species of warblers including 18 Cape May, 14 Black-throated Blue, Northern Parula, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, and Hooded. Also at Snug Harbor I had a pair of Red Crossbills flyover.

At Muskegon Wastewater I had some decent shorebirds, but the numbers seemed to be down a little from last week. The shorebirds were either along the northeast edge of the east lagoon or in the drained cell north of the west lagoon. The highlight was an adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper in the drained cell. Also present were 12 Red-necked Phalaropes in the middle of the east lagoon, Wilson's Phalarope, Short-billed Dowitcher, Stilt and Baird's Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover, and the usual species as well. There also was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in the east lagoon.

Good Birding,

Jonathan Lautenbach


* * * * * 


Here are a couple pictures of a Swainson's Thrush from Hoffmaster State Park taken yesterday.  They match really well with pictures on Flickr.  See:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9534802@N02/3887438171/in/photostream/

Glenda and I birded there three time over the weekend and twice at Huff Park in Grand Rapids.  Sitting in a cushy chair inside Gillette Visitor Center is a pretty easy way to go.

Warbler's we identified include:

American Redstart
Nashville 
Black-and-White 
Black-throated Green
Black-throated Blue 
Wilson's 
Blue-winged 
Golden-winged 
Palm 
Ovenbird
Chestnut-sided 
Tennessee 

We may have also seen a Magnolia and Yellow.

Hours for the center after Labor Day are now 12:00-4:00 p.m.

Ken Sapkowski



No comments: