Bird Nest

Bruce Delamarter sends this photo of a bird's nest.  It might belong to a Marsh Wren, but we'd like to hear from anyone who knows.

Wilson's Phalarope and Ruddy Turnstone Today

Bruce Delamarter emailed these photos today of a Wilson's Phalarope and a Ruddy Turnstone presumably both taken at the Wastewater.

129 Bird Species on Big Day Count Yesterday

 Our club held its annual third-Saturday-in-May BIG DAY COUNT yesterday (May 15, 2021).  Eleven participants found 129 total bird species in 16.5 hours at 7 Muskegon County locations.  A full report with photos is posted on our homepage.

River Otter at Grand Haven

May 13 Email to Allegan/Ottawa Listers:

While at East End Park today, there was a guy fishing along the boardwalk and he had a basket of sunfish he had caught hanging over the dock into the water. There was a bit of a commotion as he thought a muskrat was trying to get at his fish.  I knew muskrats are plant eaters, and upon closer look it was a river otter.  He pulled the fish basket out of the water and I threw a small sunfish to the otter which it gladly accepted.  The mammal took the fish onto a bank right next to the dock and crunched it until it was gone.  You could hear the bones crushing as the fish was totally consumed.  Then we gave it another fish that it also consumed.  There is probably something awry with this animal as it is not typical otter behavior to be so unafraid of humans and out during the day.  But maybe it just needed a fresh fish lunch.  I'm sure it goes without saying (but I'm saying it anyway,) do not approach this animal too closely if it hangs around.  See photos.   - Chip Francke

Cerulean Warbler at State Game Area

 May 13 Email:

I saw this Cerulean Warbler at the State Game Area this morning.

- Mike Boston

Piping Plover

 Yesterday I saw this Piping Plover along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

- Charlie DeWitt

Orchard Oriole: Yard Bird & Life Bird

May 10 Emails:

I had a very unexpected guest yesterday and he came back today.  I’ve never even seen an Orchard Oriole before.  I’ve counted it on my list because we heard one on one of the group's outings, but to come home from dinner and have one sitting six feet off my deck here in Ottawa County was definitely a treat.    -Travis Dewys

Louisiana Waterthrushes at Patterson Park

 May 10 Email:

The Louisiana Waterthrushes are back at Patterson Park. I saw them by the west bridge, very conspicuous.  - Mike Boston

Kentucky Warbler on Mother’s Day and Monday

Beth Miller reported a Kentuckly Warbler this evening at the Bob Moblo Memorial Pond behind the Gillette Nature Center at Hoffmaster State Park.

(Chip Francke saw the bird around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, May 10).

Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve on Saturday

Counting birds at the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve for the traditional spring migratory bird census this morning felt like a Christmas Bird Count.  Temperatures barely climbed into the forties.  Besides the weather, the condition of the preserve wasn't very bird-friendly either.

More than a year of high water and foliage removal have left large areas of the preserve looking like a city park after a tornado.  A crew was working this morning planting new saplings.

Red-winged Blackbirds were everywhere, along with good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers (17) and Palm Warblers (11) -- most of these foraging low or on the ground. However, other than resident birds (Yellow Warblers and Common Yellow-throats), I saw no other warblers, and precious few migrants.

Among the 37 total species were Green Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk, Tree and Barn Swallow, Marsh Wren, White-throated Sparrow and Baltimore Oriole.

- Ric

"A Real Talker"

May 5 Email:

I didn't understand anything said, but enjoyed the time spent.

- Bruce Delamarter

I'm posting this as an Upland Sandpiper on the Wastewater properties.  Thanks, Bruce!

- Ric

Bobcat Portrait

Mike Boston sends this beautiful portrait of a Bobcat he photographed yesterday on the Wastewater properties (perhaps the same animal whose picture by Glenda Eikenberry we posted on March 21?).

Willets and Grosbeaks on Monday

Beth Miller reported three Willets "on the beach on Miller Road on your way to the Wolf Lake Campground just before the boat launch" at 1:52 this afternoon.

Three male and two female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks fed at and under our side yard bird feeder today.  We had Baltimore Orioles yesterday; so far no hummers.

- Ric

American Kestrel with Snake at the Wastewater

May 2 Email:

Taken two days ago by the vat's.   - Bruce Delamarter

Avocet, White-eyed Vireo, and Other Spring Birds

Saturday morning I walked around Black Lake Park.  If Beth Miller hadn't already reported a White-eyed Vireo there on Friday, I would not have recognized the persistent fast song coming from the trees south of the entrance drive.  I never saw the bird, but later in the day it was reported and photographed by others.  

Today Carol and I happened to meet one of those people, Beth's friend Karl (and his son) at East Grand River (Flahive) Park in Grand Haven.  ( He had seen the vireo yesterday in those same trees.  :-/   )

Flahive was thick with birds today!  Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere and Palms were common.  We saw and heard at least one Cerulean Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, and Northern Parula.  A local birder saw a waterthrush.  There were several Warbling Vireos, a few Baltimore Orioles, two Blue Jays (fighting right on the ground!), along with many of the usual suspects.

Later this afternoon Beth sent a report of an American Avocet at Muskegon Wastewater. 

- Ric