Saturday, February 20, 2016

February 20 Field Trip Report


Seven of us found 25 bird species at four locations this morning.  The day started with breakfast at the Cherokee restaurant.  

Our extinguished distinguished DeWitt Brothers at the channel.

It was windy and cold at the Muskegon Channel where we found 17 species including Long-tailed Duck, Common and Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye.

Long-tailed Duck

A quick stop at Lakeside Cemetary earned us our target bird: a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker.

Young Red-headed Woodpecker by Charlie DeWitt

The trails at Lake Harbor Park had dangerous slick spots so we stayed less than a half hour finding seven of the usual species.

The DeWitt property by the airport yielded ten species including Brown Creeper, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Wild Turkey and this male Hairy Woodpecker.


It was a beautiful morning with temperatures in the 40's, and the birds we found made it all the better.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Charlie Wins the 2015 Trophy


Prior to Myles McNally's fascinating Birds of Japan program last night, Charlie DeWitt accepted the 2015 Club Birder of the Year trophy.  

Charlie's total of 207 species listed in Muskegon and Ottawa Counties last year beat out Carol Cooper (204), Ken Sapkowski (193), Feller DeWitt (182), Ric Pedler (180) and Kathryn Mork (97).


The trophy itself is a priceless treasure designed and created by Dee DeWitt.