12 People See 30 Species on Field Trip

Twelve people enjoyed some good birding at the Muskegon Wastewater properties this morning and the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve early this afternoon.  Among the 30 total species highlights included a Belted Kingfisher, 2 Northern Pintail, 3 Bald Eagle, several Snow Bunting, 1 Snowy Owl, 4 Red-tailed Hawk (including a dark-morph adult!), 2 Northern Shrike and an American Kestrel at WW, plus an American Robin at MLNP.  Lunch afterward at the Main Street Restaurant in North Muskegon was also enjoyable.

Muskegon Wastewater System, Muskegon, US-MI
Jan 19, 2013 8:25 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
9.0 mile(s)
Comments:    Monthly Field Trip, Ken Sherburn, Leader
22 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X    more than 100
Gadwall (Anas strepera)  2
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X    more than 100
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  X    more than 100
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)  2
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  3
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  4    1 dark morph adult, N. Swanson
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  X
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X
gull sp. (Larinae sp.)  X    more than 100
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)  1    very white, presumably adult
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  1
Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)  2    1 Northside, 1 Southside
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  5
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  12
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)  12
American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)  15

Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, Muskegon, US-MI
Jan 19, 2013 12:20 PM - 1:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Comments:    Monthly Field Trip, Ken Sherburn, leader
13 species (+1 other taxa)

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
gull sp. (Larinae sp.)  X
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  6
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  7   5 adult male
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  3
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  36