Margaret Mary Hicks 1922-2018

Tim Hicks' mother, Margaret Mary Hicks, passed away Monday December 24, 2018.  Click here for the obituary.  

For those newer to our club, Tim was a very active member before moving to Texas.  He led our field trips for many years, helping us learn more about nature, particularly birds, through his soft-spoken expertise.  Our deepest sympathies to Tim and his family.

Two Christmas Bird Counts

On Saturday, December 15, 2018, our group conducted the City of Muskegon CBC within a 15-mile-diameter circle centered downtown.  

Here are five pictures taken by Carol Cooper with the northside group on their walk at Muskegon State Park:

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The northside Bird of the Day was a Brown Thrasher west of the ranger station along the entrance road paralleling the north side of the Muskegon Channel!  There were also two Snowy Owls on the rocks of the north breakwall.

Brian Johnson's Muskegon Wastewater CBC was conducted Wednesday December 19, 2018 within a 15-mile-diameter circle centered at White and Ravenna Roads.  One of the groups censusing the southwest sector reported a Eurasian Collared-Dove.  

When all the data is compiled from these CBC's, we'll post additional information.

Target Bird for British Birder

Today for the second time this year I was able to take a birder from England around the Wastewater properties and points east.  This was his Lifer Target Bird:

Everything else was "gravy", but we also saw more than 100 Common Redpolls, several dozen Snow Buntings and a Red-shouldered Hawk before our day was over.

- Ric

November 17 Field Trip Report

"Who says we're getting older?" - Mark's son Jadon

photo by Carol Cooper 

It was cold but not windy, the world beautifully coated in snow, as ten of us birded the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve and Snug Harbor at Muskegon State Park.

Lost Lake Trail by Charlie DeWitt

Among the Hemlocks by Carol Cooper

The 21 species at the preserve included Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Cedar Waxwing and Brown Creeper.  All 10 species at MSP were ho-hum.

Pictures from Lillian's Birthday

Thanks to Carol Cooper for sending these photos from the birthday lunch for Lillian Remus.

(See post below.)

Lillian Remus 100th Birthday

October 23 Email:

Longtime nature club member Lillian Christine Hansen Remus today reached a milestone birthday just like her husband did.  

- Richard Mullally

October 20 Field Trip Report

Eleven of us enjoyed the first few hours of this morning birding two locations.  At Patterson Park we found 15 species including a Swainson's Thrush and two Hermit Thrushes.

Rio Grande Creek at Patterson Park by Carol Cooper

Leaves and falling water by Carol Cooper

Birding Patterson Park by Carol Cooper

Along the trestle section of the Musketawa Trail in Ravenna we found nine bird species before returning to our cars just before the arrival of lightning, thunder, rain and hail!

Crossing the trestle by Carol Cooper

Sunlit caboose and the dark skies of the approaching storm.

The stormy sky by Carol Cooper

September 22 Field Trip Report

On the northwest platform of Black Lake Park

What a difference a week makes!  Last Saturday at Hoffmaster and Black Lake Parks the weather was warm and muggy and the mosquitoes were thick.  Today at the same locations we only encountered mosquitoes along the south path of Black Lake Park, but not many.  This morning was cool (cold?) and beautiful as eight of us found 41 bird species.

Our only identifiable warblers were Nashville and Wilson's, though there were several others in the Hoffmaster trees.  Other species included Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White- and Red-breasted Nuthatch, six woodpeckers (Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Red-headed, Pileated and Northern Flicker), Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, three hawks (Red-shouldered, Red-tailed, and a migrating Sharp-shinned), four sparrows (Chipping, White-throated, Song and Swamp), Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo and Cedar Waxwing.

Monarch at Black Lake Park

Pied-billed Grebe on Black Lake

Relaxing after walking through the Black Lake woods.

John Sapkowski 1925-2018

Ken's father, John Charles Sapkowski, age 92, passed away on September 4, 2018.  The son of John and Mary (Perkowski) Sapkowski, he was born on November 23, 1925, in Grand Rapids.  

Honoring his wishes, cremation has taken place.  To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign the online guest book, or share a favorite memory, click here for John's page at the Michigan Cremation website.

August 18 Field Trip Report

Nine people and a dog named Jack spent this morning birding the Muskegon County Wastewater properties.  Our June and July field trips featured rain, but today's was dry and comfortable. 

Spotted Sandpiper by Pat Bazany

Juvenile Barn Swallow

We found more than 51 bird species including Wood Duck, Sandhill Crane, Semipalmated Plover, six sandpipers (Least, White-rumped, Pectoral, Semipalmated, Spotted, Solitary), a dowitcher, both yellowlegs, Great Egret (see Charlie's photo), Green Heron, three hawks (Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Sharp-shinned), Belted Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon, Great-crested Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, four sparrows (Grasshopper, Chipping, Field, Song), Baltimore Oriole and Indigo Bunting.

Red-shouldered Hawk by Pat Bazany

A Polyphemus Moth warmed itself near the aeration cells.

July 28 Dragonfly/Damselfly Trip Report

Jerry Lang and Dave Dister led a Dragonfly/Damselfly field trip Saturday afternoon (July 28).  Details and photos from the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve portion are posted on our Recent Sightings page.

Charlie DeWitt and Jerry later emailed information which included two other locations: Lost Lake and Black Lake.  

Calico Pennant by Charlie DeWitt

Jerry suggested that this list by Charlie of all species recorded on the trip was the more complete:

M.L.N.P.

Blue Dasher

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Eastern Pondhawk

Black Saddlebags

Yellow-legged Meadowhawk

LOST LAKE

Eastern Pondhawk

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Black Saddlebags

Blue Dasher

Widow Skimmer

BLACK LAKE

Calico Pennant

Halloween Pennant

Spangled Skimmer

Eastern Pondhawk

Common Whitetail

Widow Skimmer

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

DAMSELFLIES

Stream Bluet

Eastern Forktail 

It seems to me we had at least one more damselfly.

Attached is the picture of the Slaty Skimmer I told you about.

- Charlie DeWitt

Slaty Skimmer by Charlie DeWitt

- - -

Eastern Pondhawk on Ric's shirt at the M.L.N.P. by Jerry Lang

July 21 Allegan County Field Trip Report

A month of drought between last month's field trip and today, so of course the skies opened this morning!  McDonald's didn't.  Three cars, five people, on-and-off rain, 22 bird species, and good food at Crane's Restaurant in Allegan County.  No one drowned. 

photo by Charlie DeWitt

June 16 Field Trip Canceled Except for Charlie

Four people who showed up for coffee at McDonald's (and one at the old Ferguson Farm) decided to spend the rest of this wet morning at home rather than looking for birds in the rain.  But Charlie DeWitt led his own trip and posted it today on our Recent Sightings page.

Our Big Day Species, Locations and Times

Here are the eBird listings for our Big Day Count last Saturday, May 19, 2018.  Total Species: 125.

Lane's Landing Before Dawn (2 Species)

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)  X

Barred Owl (Strix varia)  X

Lane's Landing Early Mornng (40 Species)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  X

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  X

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  X

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  X

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)  X

Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)  X

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  X

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  X

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  X

Sora (Porzana carolina)  X

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  X

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  X

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  X

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  X

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)  X

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  X

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  X

Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)  X

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)  X

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  X

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  X

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  X

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  X

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  X

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  X

Veery (Catharus fuscescens)  X

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  X

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  X

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  X

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  X

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  X

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  X

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  X

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  X

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  X

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  X

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  X

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  X

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  X

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  X

Wastewater Northside Mid-Morning (44 More Species)

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  X

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)  X

Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  X

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) X

Redhead (Aythya americana)  X

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  X

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  X

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  X 

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  X

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  X

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  X

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)  X

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  X

Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)  X

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  X

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  X

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  X

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  X

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  X

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  X

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  X

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  X

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  X

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  X

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  X

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  X

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  X

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  X

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  X

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  X

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)  X

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  X

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  X

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  X

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  X

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)  X

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  X

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  X

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  X

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  X

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)  X

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)  X

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)  X

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  X

DNR Headquarters Maple River Mid-Day (17 more)

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)  X

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  X

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  X

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  X

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  X

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  X

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  X

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  X

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  X

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)  X

Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)  X

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  X

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  X

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  X

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  X

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  X

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  X

Patterson Park Early Afternoon (8 more)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  X

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)  X

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  X

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  X

Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  X

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) X

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  X

Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  X

Wastewater Southside Mid-Afternoon (4 more)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  X

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  X

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  X

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)  X

Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve Late Afternoon (6 more)

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  X

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  X

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  X

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)  X

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  X

Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  X

Muskegon State Park Snug Harbor Early Evening (2 more)

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  X

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  X

Muskegon State Park Beach House Evening (1 more)

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)  X 

Muskegon State Park Muskegon Channel Evening (1 more)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)  X

Big Day Final Total = 125 Species

Yesterday's Big Day Count began with a nice amount of people but not so many birds.  Much of that was undoubtedly due to the on-and-off rains throughout the morning.

Lane's Landing

Our core group recorded only one species -- Barred Owl -- before reaching the inner gate at Lane's Landing.  The wet walk between the marshes provided fewer species than most years and before we reached the Prothonotary Woods, we turned around because we were getting very wet!

State Game Area along the Maple River

That altered our original plans.  In order to stay dry and still find some birds, we drove to the Wastewater.  The north side provided many species, but not the three American White Pelicans that were also there yesterday morning.  By the time we got to the State Game Area headquarters at 11:00, we had about 85 species, a respectable number.  And most of the rain had stopped.

Patterson Park

Old orchard homestead on the south Wastewater properties

Having already birded north of Apple Ave. at the Wastewater, we headed to Patterson Park after lunch.  Then it was the south Wastewater properties including the abandoned orchard, supper at North Muskegon McDonald's, the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, and Muskegon State Park (the Lost Lake trail first, and the Muskegon Channel at end of day).

Die-hards along the channel wall at the end of the day.

Our final Big Day Total was:   125 species   .

Potluck Picnic Meeting

Over 25 people attended our Potluck Picnic Meeting Thursday evening May 17, 2018.  Afterwards we took a walk around the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve finding 38 species of birds.  (Details posted on Recent Sightings.)

April 21 Field Trip Report

We began in Ottawa County at the Kitchel-Lindquist Dunes Preserve walking north and clockwise back around to the parking lot finding 26 species along our way.  Of note were Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Photo by Carol Cooper

At the fisherman's parking lot north of the Grand Haven Channel we listed Long-tailed Duck, Bonaparte's Gull, Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant and Purple Martin.

At Black Lake from the bridge down to and including Black Lake Park we found at least 39 species.  Of the 24 new species for this morning, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, scaup (sp), Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed and Horned Grebe, Green Heron, a buteo hawk, American Coot, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Common Grackle were notable.

So in about three and a half hours of bird-watching we found 54 species of birds.

March 17 Field Trip Report

Eighteen of us birded the Muskegon County Wastewater properties this morning.  We began by driving the rapid-filtration cells.  Then we birded the parking lot by the administration building, drove carefully across the gull-filled center dike and checked the landfill area.

Next stop, the car wash!  Photo by Carol Cooper

Crossing to the southside our caravan turned west at the model airplane field and drove to the end of Laketon.  Swanson being barricaded south of the clay pond, we drove north up Seba and back to the north side.  After checking out the granery, we drove the seldom-traveled road west along the northern portions of the system and then back to headquarters.

Along the way we recorded 46 bird species despite its being a cold day in March.

eBird Report:

Muskegon Wastewater System, Muskegon, Michigan, US

Mar 17, 2018 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Protocol: Traveling

17.0 mile(s)

Comments:    Muskegon County Nature Club March Field Trip

46 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  24

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)  12

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6

Redhead (Aythya americana)  1

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  1

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  7

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  2

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  1

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  1

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  9

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  1

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  3

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  2    1 dark morph, 1 light morph

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  2

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  5

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)  3

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2000    conservative estimate

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  36

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  3

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  3

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)  2    

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)  1

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  1

Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis)  1

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  3

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  9

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  9

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  3

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  4

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  5

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  18

American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  1

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  12

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)  6

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  24

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2

Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)  1

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  9

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  3

February 17 Field Trip Report

Eleven hardy souls birded three locations this cold cloudy morning.  Ice covered all of Muskegon Lake and the birdable shoreline of Lake Michigan.  The only water was in the Muskegon Channel where we saw thirteen bird species including Redhead, White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser and Bald Eagle.

Birders at Lake Harbor Park by Carol Cooper

The Mona Lake Channel was also liquid.  We walked the Lake Harbor Park trail out to the Big Lake recording 17 species including Redhead, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Rock Pigeon (not often seen on field trips) and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

 Redhead in Mona Lake Channel

Female Greater Scaup in Mona Lake Channel

We concluded our morning walking around Black Lake Park where we found 16 species including Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Bluebird and Cedar Waxwing.  

We didn't hear or see any Pileated Woodpeckers, but there was plenty of evidence that they've been around recently!

Including the Wild Turkeys on Lincoln Street near the Nugent railroad siding, we totaled 32 bird species for the day and had a good time doing it.

January 20 Field Trip Report

Nature Preserve Sunrise by Carol Cooper

Eleven people birded the Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve and Snug Harbor this morning; five continued for an additional hour on the Lost Lake Trail.  We recorded 22 bird species for the morning.

photo by Carol Cooper

The 12 species at the preserve included a Belted Kingfisher -- and now we can add #13, a Snowy Owl! -- see Charlie's photographs on our Recent Sightings page.  ...

photo by Carol Cooper

-- eight species at Snug Harbor included Pileated Woodpecker and Bald Eagle, and 12 species on the Lost Lake Trail included a mixed flock of American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls plus a dozen Cedar Waxwings.

Three Common Redpolls high above the Lost Lake Trail

One and a quarter Cedar Waxwings