January Trip Nets 27 Species Plus Surf Scoter

On Saturday morning ten of us birded the Wastewater and eight of us the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve finding 24 and 13 species respectively.  We had a "merganser trifecta" (common, red-breasted, hooded), snow buntings and owl, lots of goldeneyes, and six bald eagles (three at each location).

Afterward we enjoyed lunch at the Main Street Cafe in North Muskegon.  Ken and his magic bird-finder (Glenda) left the party early to find this male Surf Scoter in the Muskegon Channel.

Twenty-seven total species for the morning, not counting the channel birds, and good companionship made for a great day.

Ken Sapkowski Best Birder of 2013

Muskegon, Jan. 16, 2014 (AP):  Ken Sapkowski reaped numerous awards for his astounding 291 bird species listed in 2013.  That number may have been even higher had he counted Whooping Cranes, Barnacle Geese, Cockatiels, road kill, etc.

After receiving his spiral notebook pencil-engraved certificate from club president Ric Pedler, Ken accepted Charlie DeWitt's three-penny monetary prize (based on 1/100 cent per species rounded to the nearest hundredth) with accompanying plaque

and the prestigious trophy created by Feller and Dee DeWitt.

Parcipants in the 2013 MCNC Listing Contest:  Charlie DeWitt, Feller DeWitt, Ken Sapkowski, Ric Pedler and Carol Cooper.