Red-headed Woodpeckers Kind of Rare

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Except for Big Day in May when Charlie DeWitt took us to a territory on the Wastewater property, I hadn't seen a Red-headed Woodpecker this year until this afternoon on Summit east of Brooks Road.
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- Ric
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Dowitchers, Yellowlegs and Swallows

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July 1 Email:
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Shirley and I did not find much at Lane's Landing this morning, but we did much better at the Wastewater. There were four different Short-billed Dowitchers.  I've attached a picture of one sharing the limelight with a Least Sandpiper (one of many). There were at least a dozen Lesser Yellowlegs, many more Spotted Sandpipers and even more Killdeer.  I've attached a picture of one of the yellowlegs. The Bank Swallows were very active.  The two babies in the picture were waiting for breakfast to be served.  

Please correct me if I've got any of the shorebirds wrong. I think that is the Short-billed and not the Long-billed, but I could be wrong.

Thanks!

Rich Schadle
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Baby Grebes

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Carol Cooper took these pictures of a baby Pied-billed Grebe along the north side of the Muskegon Channel yesterday (6-26-12).
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Probably Barred -- not Barn -- Owl

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Chip Francke visited the homeowners (see post below) Saturday night.  Although unable to observe the bird, he's pretty sure based on description and habitat (very wooded) that the owl south of Grand Haven is an immature Barred Owl, not a Barn Owl.
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Barn Owl and Black Tern

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Yesterday I heard a reliable report of a Barn Owl in apparently good health living south of Grand Haven this year.  If I get more details that can be posted here, I will.
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Ron Buechele saw a Black Tern between the Muskegon River and the Lane's Landing marsh yesterday (6/21/12). Location Correction: between the north and south branches of the Muskegon River just east of US-31.
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Eagle and Pelican Photos

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Bruce Delamarter sends these photos taken yesterday (6-20-12): American White Pelicans "departing Black Lake" and an immature Bald Eagle at Mona Lake.
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Pelicans on Black Lake This Morning

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Ted Ogren and Feller DeWitt phoned to report six American White Pelicans at the south end of Black Lake this morning.
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Of Oriole and Falcon Families

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Carol and I couldn't go near the flowers alongside our garage today without being buzzed and sworn at by a Mama Baltimore Oriole.  She spent her day protecting and bringing food to this and another of her fledglings who stayed in the garden from breakfast to suppertime.
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Meanwhile I found out that the Peregrine Falcons at the Cobb Plant were successful again in raising a family.  This year they used a new box on the facility itself (not either of the boxes on the smokestack).  They raised three youngsters all of which were banded by Nik Kalejs of the Michigan DNR as usual.
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Easily Distracted

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Peck's Skipper

Eastern Pondhawk

Cranberry

I went to the Norton Shores leaf dump looking for a cuckoo; no luck.  I did see 11 species of butterflies, 5 species of dragonflies and many flowers.  The trouble with looking for bugs and flowers on the ground is you miss the birds in the trees!

Charlie DeWitt
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Blue Bird Whams Worm

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Bruce Delamarter photographed this Eastern Bluebird in North Muskegon today as it whammed a worm.  In the photos where the worm appears to be standing, Bruce says it actually was!
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Great Blue Heron

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While waiting for the Lake Express along the north side of the Muskegon Channel yesterday, Carol Cooper took these photos of a Great Blue Heron fishing.  Carol also observed Purple Martins and Bank Swallows.
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Turnstones and Cuckoos

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Yesterday (6/3/12) Rich Schadle photographed these Ruddy Turnstones among a flock at the Wastewater and Yellow-billed Cuckoos at Lane's Landing.
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Owlet Released Etc.

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The Great Horned Owlet (see May 18 post below) was successfully released back to its parents a few days ago.  Dan Lockard sends these photos from when Sue and Dave Stamy attempted the release in daytime.  The owlet just stayed on the ground. So they recaptured it and released it that night, and it rejoined its sibling and parents.
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Dan also sends these photos from yesterday at the Wastewater of Bonaparte's Gulls, Baltimore Oriole, Dunlin, Great Egret and bunny rabbit.
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Black-bellied Plover at Wastewater

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June 2 Email:
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Black-bellied Plover from the Wastewater this evening.  Sorry it's so grainy.
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Dan Lockard
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Dickcissel at Muskegon County Wastewater

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I bought my wife a new camera and she showed my that she knew how to use it!  Photos by Carol DeWitt
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