Of Woodcocks, Raptors and Mourning Doves

Yesterday a Cooper's Hawk scolded from the top of our tulip tree, the Red-shouldered Hawks called and soared across the road, and at least two (maybe four) American Woodcocks peented, winnowed and chirped after sunset at the Airline Road blueberry patch near Ellis Road.  

This morning Carol and I saw three Turkey Vultures flying south of our house, and Mike VanderStelt emailed this photo confirming that his Mourning Dove is indeed Rambi:

- Ric

Mrs. Woodpecker Visits

A female Hairy Woodpecker enjoyed our suet this afternoon.

- Ric

Woodcock Last Night and Probably Earlier

There was an American Woodcock at the Airline Road blueberry patch last night.

Several times in the past two weeks I've driven over to the south section of the patch and listened unsuccessfully for his return.  Last night, a quieter and warmer evening, I walked further onto the property.  After several minutes I barely heard his flight sounds far off to the north.  

From Ellis Road along the north edge of the patch, I heard him better, "peenting" from the ground and "chirping" above.  He's considerably north of his location the last several years, closer to the original field across from my house.  So I don't know when he returned this season; I suspect he's been back awhile and I just didn't hear him until last night.

- Ric

Soras at Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve

March 23 Email:

I had a pair of Soras today at the nature preserve.  Also a Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpecker. 

- Carol Cooper

Rambi? Thursday & Neighborhood Birds Today

Despite lots of extra time "sheltering in place", I couldn't get Mike VanderStelt's latest video to fit the restrictions of the blog.  So while reading his Thursday email below, imagine you're seeing a Mourning Dove eating seed from a tilted plastic container on a wooden deck and not flying away despite the repeated tapping of Mike's foot:

"This is the one that hangs around all day everyday,  Plus, although it gets a little bit antsy, it rarely ever flies away if I move around, unlike the others, that if I move an inch will all fly off across the pond.  If this particular one flies off, it just goes ten feet up into a branch and then turns back around and sits down staring at me.  I set this down on the floor and tilted it to the side because of the rain.  Plus I turned it a little bit so if he came in he would have to eat a little bit blind to me. (He was sitting on a branch watching me move it.)  When I tap my boot on the deck, I am doing it fairly hard, I have tried it a couple times with others that come up and land on the deck rail, but I can't even get the first tap out.  As soon as I move my foot, they are history.  Also, I took this video after he had been down there for about 5 minutes, and he stayed, got his fill, actually walked about a foot or so closer to me, then only flew off because another one came in and landed on the rail down at the other end of the deck, and as per usual, he chased it off the railing, then continued on across the pond.  Maybe I am just hoping it is Rambi, but it sure acts a little bit different than the rest."

Meanwhile if the Corona virus hadn't canceled today's Grand Ravines field trip, our walk would have been even colder than on our "dry run" earlier in the month.  Temps in the 20's made staying home a sensible choice this morning.  This afternoon wasn't much warmer, but the sun helped as I photographed some birds in our backyard maple tree:

Male House Finch

Female Downy Woodpecker

No photos of the Red-shouldered Hawks screaming over their nest somewhere in the woods across the street.  I'll check for the blueberry patch woodcocks again this evening; no peenting so far this year.

- Ric

March and April Events Canceled

All Muskegon County Nature Club meetings, programs and field trips for March and April have been canceled.  The status of all events after that will be posted on our homepage.

Golden Eagle Saturday

March 14 to Mich-Listers:

At about 11:30 this morning at Muskegon Wastewater Treatment Plant an adult Golden Eagle was viewed by Jan Heminger, Will Gold and me for an extended period of time through a spotting scope, and still remained after we left.  It was located perching in a tree at the edge of one of the many woodlots scattered throughout the agricultural area north of the entry road.

Jim McGrath
Williamston

Rambi? *

March 13 Email:

I'm starting to believe that this is Rambi:

Hasn't come up to me yet, but will sit on that end of the deck a lot or on a branch real close to the deck for most of the day.  Plus, last year if any other Mourning Doves landed on the deck rail or the deck surface, he would immediately chase them off.  LOL, this one does the same.

I can talk loud, tap my feet on the floor, and even clap my hands as I used to when I would call him down to me from a branch, plus I have stood up quickly a few times without approaching him, and he just stares at me.  Time will tell.  If he wants to approach, I will let him do it on his own.  That is, if it is in fact him. 

- Mike VanderStelt

* The saga of Rambi began last year on this blog.  To start at the beginning, click "Older Posts" at the bottom of this page and the next two, then scroll down to "A Member of the Family" posted June 9, 2019.

Ducks Back on Black Lake

 Ring-necked Ducks

 Mixed flock, mostly Canvasbacks.
Can you find the Bald Eagle?

 Canvasbacks

 Lesser Scaup

American Wigeon

I spent a little time at Black Lake yesterday, and the ducks are back on the lake. I went in the afternoon so I birded from the west side of the lake.  A spotting scope is recommended because the ducks like to stay in the middle of the lake.  I had help with a Bald Eagle keeping the ducks stirred up.

American Wigeon 26, Common Goldeneye 20, Bufflehead 15, Ring-necked Duck 100+, Canvasback 100+, Lesser Scaup 22, Mallard 4, Wood Duck 2, Redhead 5, Gadwall 30, Canada Goose 8, Mute Swan 3, Bald Eagle 1, American Crow 4, and Red-bellied Woodpecker 1.

- Charlie DeWitt

Lots of Black-billed Swans !

Beth Miller emailed thrice yesterday attaching several pictures.  Here are her Saturday March 7th sightings plus a photo from each location by her husband Glen.

1.  Trumpeter Swans at Swanson Road:

2.  One of two Trumpeter Swans at Lane's Landing:

3.  Tundra Swans on Black Lake (not there on March 8):

Be on the Lookout for an Eider

Late yesterday afternoon there were two reports of an eider at the west end of the Grand River Channel at Grand Haven: one indicated immature Common Eider and one reported King Eider.  Either way the bird is far out of its range and might re-appear there or possibly here at Muskegon.

- Ric

Dry Run Today at Grand Ravines

Before finalizing details for our March 21 field trip, a few of us walked the main loop at Grand Ravines North County Park east of Allendale this morning.  Weather conditions were sunny and cold.  Ground conditions were hard and dry.  

We began at the dog park parking lot on Fillmore St. east of 42nd Ave. (a mile south of Grand Valley State University) and walked the blacktop trail north along a meadow and across "Michigan's longest pedestrian suspension bridge".  

We left the blacktop after crossing that ravine and headed east through the woods.  Wooden staircases made it easy to descend as we headed toward the Grand River.  There were a number of winter birds along our way, but this trail should really be "birdy" come spring.

Strangely, the water level of the Grand River at the park was much lower today than it was last year.  Even near the river, the path (blacktop again for the rest of our walk) was well above the water.  At this point we had walked about a mile and Charlie photographed this Bald Eagle perched on a tree at the river bend.

We regained all our lost elevation on this gently-rising blacktop loop around the park lounge and back to the north entrance road.  

Northern Flicker by Charlie DeWitt

The entrance road parallels the deepest ravine and intersects another blacktop trail heading south back to the dog park.  An Eastern Bluebird flew over and perched beside the trail before we got back to our cars.

Eastern Bluebird male by Charlie DeWitt

Only the first week of March, we still found 19 species of birds including Sandhill Crane; Red-tailed Hawk; Downy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers; lots of Red-winged Blackbirds and Tufted Titmice; American Robin and Song Sparrow.

The entire walk was about two miles.  I hope we get as pretty a day with warmer temperatures on our March 21 field trip!

- Ric

Recent Photos from Kevin

March 6 Email:

Hi Ric:

I thought I would pass along a few bird pics.   There have been numerous Sandhill Cranes in the marsh upstream from Muskegon Lake as well as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles.   I have also attached a couple pics of Bald Eagles eating an opossum near my home in Newaygo. 

Best,

- Kevin Feenstra

Great shots as always, Kevin.  Thanks!  - Ric

Wednesday Birding

I spent some time at Black Lake Park's north viewing platform checking on the ducks.  Nothing new.  I did see five Bald Eagles, three juveniles and these two adults.  Earlier at Harbor Island (Grand Haven) I had four Ring-necked Ducks and a Pied-billed Grebe.

- Charlie DeWitt