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

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