North of the Muskegon Channel Saturday

At Muskegon State Park the winter gate was up east of the Channel parking lot.  I walked from there to Jeff's Dune for a little hawk-watching and then to the east end of the Fisherman's Campground and back seeing 14 bird species and one nicely-antlered White-tailed Deer.  It was a beautiful morning but cold, especially in the wind up on the dune.

Apparently migrating birds included 100 American Crows, 10 Tundra Swans and 2 Rough-legged Hawks.  A Red-tailed Hawk and immature Bald Eagle soared north of the dune.

There were several Dark-eyed Juncos and a few Golden-crowned Kinglets in the campground.  This one is in the process of taking off:

This American Tree Sparrow foraging along the road and in a tree below Jeff's Dune seemed to be hawk-watching as well.

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- Ric