Whimbrels at Wastewater Monday Evening

Memorial Day Email 8:27 p.m.:

About 40 Whimbrels at the Wastewater now -- initially along the north shore of the west lagoon.  Very skittish.  They flew twice and settled in towards the north end of the center dike. 

- Mike Boston

Dickcissel Up Close and Personal

May 30 Email:

"Here are some photos of a dickcissel at the wastewater today.  Use them as you wish on the website."  - Chip Francke

Thanks, Chip.  I wish to use them so people can study individual feathers!  :-)

Stilt Portrait

Mike Boston sends this beautiful photo of the Black-necked Stilt at the Wastewater on Saturday.

This and That

This morning I walked around Black Lake Park.  Among the 34 species were these two Eastern Kingbirds catching bugs by the northwest lake overlook and still another Olive-sided Flycatcher (see May 27 post below).

Kingbird 1

Kingbird 2 and a blurry Red-winged Blackbird

just another Olive-sided Flycatcher (yawn)

the same bird but showing the white rump tufts

that Phil Chu explained in Thursday's post

Other species included Sandhill Crane, Hairy Woodpecker, Great-crested Flycatcher and Ovenbird.

This afternoon Roger Newell photographed a Black Tern flying over the northeast corner of the East Lagoon at the Wastewater.

And Roger also sent these photos taken last week at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve.

Baltimore Oriole

female Red-winged Blackbird

Barn Swallows gathering nesting material

Mute Swan and cygnets

Green Heron topside

Green Heron bottom view

Wood Duck pair

Barn Swallow, formal portrait

male Red-winged Blackbird

Cedar Waxwings

Warbling Vireo

Finally, "Mike VanderStelt's Mourning Dove" Rambi has two youngsters and they flew down to Mike's deck Friday for a meal!

Red-necked Phalaropes on Friday

Red-necked Phalaropes on the center dike at the Muskegon County Wastewater, May 28, 2021.  

- Charlie DeWitt

Black-necked Stilts at the Wastewater Friday

Female Black-necked Stilt by Charlie DeWitt

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Male Black-necked Stilt by Carol DeWitt

- Charlie DeWitt

Birding Muskegon State Park on Thursday

Roger Newell and I birded Snug Harbor and the Lost Lake Trail this chilly morning, then areas around the Channel Campground this afternoon.  (All photos by Roger.) 

Of the 49 morning species, highlights were the Winter Wren along the Lost Lake Trail, three Black-billed Cuckoos at Lost Lake, and this "White-winged Flycatcher" for which we'd appreciate someone's positive I.D.*

Other species included Wood Duck, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-shouldered Hawk, Eastern Kingbird, Wood Thrush, and:

Great Blue Heron

Pileated Woodpecker

Chipping Sparrow

Repeatedly giving Sibley's "Alarm Call"

 while foraging and showing no sign of alarm.

Red-eyed Vireo

Great Crested Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Black-billed Cuckoo

Song Sparrow

Birds were numerous at both locations.  We did not count species at the Channel Campground, but the highlight was this Olive-sided Flycatcher: 

Not vocalizing, but thinking "Quick, three beers".

- Ric

* Thanks to Phil Chu for replying to our request for an I.D. of the white-winged bird which we thought was leucistic: "Ric, I think the photos are of an Olive-sided Flycatcher, with the 'partial leucism' being the white tufts just behind the wings that Olive-sideds can show.  Note the shortish tail and how well-defined the dark color of the flanks is compared to the whitish of the belly."

Sibley's painting of a juvenile Olive-sided Flycatcher shows this white patch with the comment " all ages have white tufts on sides of rump occasionally exposed when relaxed".  Who knew?  Well, Phil for one!  And if so, Roger saw two of his Life Birds on the same day!

Birds with Their Prey on the River

May 26 Email:

A few Muskegon River pics for you.  There were lots of birds of prey eating fish last week when our water was extremely low.  The Belted Kingfisher has a round goby.  The Hooded Merganser chick shows how surprisingly early in their life that they hunt!  The Great Blue Heron has a hog sucker.

- Kevin Feenstra

It also may have indigestion.  Great photos as always, Kevin.  Thanks!  - Ric

Royal Tern Near North Pier Grand Haven

There are multiple reports of a Royal Tern on the beach near the north pier at Grand Haven early this afternoon.  (This is on the north side of the Grand River accessible via Ferrysburg, west to Lake Michigan, and south to the north pier parking area.)

Birds Along the Musketawa Trail

Roger Newell, up here again from Florida, saw and heard many birds along the Musketawa Trail on Friday and Saturday including Bobolink, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Great Blue Heron, Marsh Wren, Sandhill Crane, Warbling Vireo, etc.,

... plus these that he photographed: Willow Flycatcher, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow (2), Baltimore Oriole, House Wren, Black-billed Cuckoo (2), American Robin and Indigo Bunting.