Summary of Bird Sightings in Muskegon County
September - November, 2007
compiled by Brian Johnson
LOCATIONS: MLNP: Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, North Muskegon, MSP: Muskegon State Park, MWS north: Muskegon Wastewater System property north of Apple Ave., MWS south: Muskegon Wastewater System property south of Apple Ave.
SNOW GOOSE - several reports, all at MWS; first: 1 on Sep 27 (DS); peaks: 10 on Oct 24 (FD, CD), 13 on Nov 16 (JP), 12 on Nov 26 (JP)
ROSS'S GOOSE - 3 on Oct 25 (DS) and Oct 28 (CP, SF) at MWS north
CACKLING GOOSE - 4 on Oct 24 (FD, CD), about 9 on Oct 28 (CP, SF) at MWS
CANADA GOOSE - 4700 on Oct 11 (JP), about 8000 on Nov 16 at MWS (JP)
TUNDRA SWAN - 3 on Nov 14 (FD, CD), 17 on Nov 29 (CD, CaD) at MWS; 30 on Nov 22 at Pere Marquette Park (SM)
WOOD DUCK - 11 on Sep 15 at MWS (CW)
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK - 8 on Oct 4 (CW), 182 on Oct 24 (JP), 60 on Nov 16 (CW, KN) at MWS
MALLARD - about 3000 on Nov 12 (JP) at MWS north
BLUE-WINGED TEAL - 100 on Sep 16 at MWS (SM)
NORTHERN SHOVELER - about 4000 on Nov 6, about 6000 on Nov 12 at MWS north (JP)
NORTHERN PINTAIL - 2 on Oct 29 at White Lake (BJ, LU); 1 on Nov 14 at MWS north (FD, CD)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 15 on Oct 28 (CP, SF), 11 on Oct 29 (BJ, LU), 5 on Nov 8 (CW) at MWS
CANVASBACK - 6 on Oct 24 at MWS (JP)
REDHEAD - 60 on Oct 24 at MWS (JP)
LESSER SCAUP - about 100 on Oct 24 at MWS (JP)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER - 3 on Oct 26 at MWS north (DS)
LONG-TAILED DUCK - over 100 on Oct 25 off Pere Marquette Park (FD); 32 on Nov 20 at MSP Lake Michigan (BJ)
BUFFLEHEAD - 43 on Nov 4 (SM), 54 on Nov 12 at MWS north (JP)
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER - 18 on Nov 20 at MSP Lake Michigan (BJ)
RUDDY DUCK - 407 on Sep 22, 4612 on Oct 2, 9377 on Oct 11, 13580 on Oct 24, 7520 on Nov 12 at MWS north (JP)
WILD TURKEY - 30 on Nov 26 at MWS (JP)
COMMON LOON - 1 on Nov. 20 at MSP Lake Michigan (BJ)
HORNED GREBE - 2 on Sep 9 (CP), 1 on Sep 27 (DS), 1 on Oct 29 (BJ, LU) at MWS north
EARED GREBE - several reports, all at MWS north; peaks: 5 on Sep 9 (CW), 7 on Sep 15 (CP); last: 2 on Oct 29 (BJ, LU)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT - 9 on Nov 10 at Mona Lake (SM)
GREEN HERON - 1 on Sep 5 at MWS (CW, KN)
TURKEY VULTURE - 43 on Sep 15, 102 on Oct 12 at MWS (JP)
OSPREY - 1 on Sep 9 at MLNP (BJ); 1 on Sep 25 at Muskegon Conservation Club (BJ); 1 on Oct 17, 1 on Oct 20 at MSP hawkwatch (RP)
BALD EAGLE - 4 on Oct 11 at MSP hawkwatch (RP); 3 on Nov 20 at MWS (CD, CaD)
NORTHERN HARRIER - 1 on Sep 5 (CW, KN), 2 on Nov 14 (FD, CD) at MWS; 4 on Sep 21 at MSP hawkwatch (CW, FD)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK - 59 on Sep 20 (CW), 44 on Oct 4 (RP) at MSP hawkwatch; 1 on Nov 1 in Laketon Twp. (CW)
COOPER'S HAWK - 7 on Sep 20 (CW), 5 on Sep 26 (RP, CW) at MSP hawkwatch; 2 on Sep 22 in Fruitport Twp. (BJ, LU); 1 on Oct 4 at MWS north (CW); 1 on Oct 18 in Laketon Twp. (CW)
NORTHERN GOSHAWK - 1 on Oct 2, 1 on Oct 11 at MSP hawkwatch (RP)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK - peaks: 113 on Sep 20 (CW), 49 on Sep 21 (CW, FD) at MSP hawkwatch; last: 4 on Oct 2 at MSP hawkwatch (RP)
RED-TAILED HAWK - 3 (1 juvenile, 2 adults) on Sep 5 (CW, KN), 3 on Nov 20 (CD, CaD) at MWS; 25 on Sep 26 at MSP hawkwatch (RP, CW)
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - 1 on Oct 15 at MSP (RP); 5 on Nov 10 at Pere Marquette Park (SM); 3 (2 light, 1 dark morph) on Nov 16 at MWS; 18 on Nov 10, 19 on Nov 12 at MSP hawkwatch (CW)
AMERICAN KESTREL - 12 on Sep 8 (RP), 16 on Sep 21 (CW, FD) at MSP hawkwatch; 4 on Sep 15 (CW), 1 on Nov 16 (CW, KN) at MWS
MERLIN - 2 on Sep at MSP dunes (SM); 1 on Sep 13 (RP, JJ) at MWS north; 2 on Oct 6 at MSP hawkwatch (RP); 1 on Oct 24 in Ravenna Twp. (JP); 1 on Nov 20 at MSP (CW, RP); 1 on Nov 23 at MWS (TP)
PEREGRINE FALCON - 1 on Sep 5 (CW, NF), 1 on Oct 20 (JP), 1 on Oct 24 (FD, CD) at MWS; 1 on Oct 6, 1 on Oct 9, 1 on Oct 23 at MSP hawkwatch (RP)
AMERICAN COOT - 51 on Sep 22, 66 on Oct 4, 317 on Oct 20, 5 on Oct 31 at MWS north (JP); 639 on Nov 20 in Muskegon Lake off Custer Park (BJ)
SANDHILL CRANE - 22 on Sep 15 at MWS (CW); 12 on Oct 4 at MWS north (CW), 3 migrants on Nov 20 at MSP (RP)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 1 on Sep 5 (CW, KN), 2 on Sep 29 (CW), 6 on Oct 4 (CW) at MWS north (JP)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 9 on Sep 9 (CP), 2 on Sep 22 (JP), 1 on Oct 11 (JP) at MWS north
KILLDEER - 62 on Sep 5 at MWS (CW, KN); 67 on Oct 29 at White Lake (BJ, LU); 10 on Nov 8 at MWS north (CW)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 21 on Sep 5 at MWS (CW, KN)
SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 7 on Sep 5 at MWS (CW, KN)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 1 on Oct 26 (DS), Oct 28 (CP, SF), and Oct 29 (BJ, LU) at MWS north
LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 2 on Sep 27 at MWS north (DS)
WHIMBREL - 1 on Sep 8 at Pere Marquette Park (SM)
RED KNOT - 3 on Sep 3 at Pere Marquette Park (RP, KM)
SANDERLING - 10 on Sep 9 (SM), 5 on Oct 25 at Pere Marquette Park (FD)
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 10 on Sep 2 (BJ, LU), 5 on Sep 9 (CP), 1 on Oct 11 (JP) at MWS
LEAST SANDPIPER - 6 on Sep 5 (CW, KN), 10 on Sep 9 (CP), 1 on Oct 21 (BJ, LU) at MWS
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 1 on Oct 29 at MWS north (BJ, LU)
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 2 on Sep 2 (BJ, LU), 31 on Sep 5 (CW, KN), 1 on Sep 9 (CP) at MWS
PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 5 on Sep 27 (DS), 9 on Oct 13 (JP), 8 on Oct 21 (BJ, LU), 2 on Oct 29 (BJ, LU) at MWS north
PURPLE SANDPIPER - several reports, all at Pere Marquette Park; first: 2 on Nov 17 (HV, RV, JW); peak: 3 on Nov 21 (KM)
DUNLIN - 6 on Oct 11 (JP), 7 on Oct 29 (BJ, LU), 4 on Nov 8 (CW) at MWS north
STILT SANDPIPER - 1 on Sep 9 at MWS north (BT)
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER - 1 on Sep 8 at MWS north (JP)
WILSON'S SNIPE - 32 on Oct 29 at White Lake (BJ, LU), second highest-ever count from Muskegon County; 5 on Nov 4 at Mona Lake (MB)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 14 on Sep 9 at MWS north (CP)
LITTLE GULL - 2 on Nov 19 off Pere Marqutte Park (FD)
BONAPARTE'S GULL - 4 on Sep 9 (CP), 1 on Oct 31 (JP) at MWS; over 45 on Nov 10 off Pere Marquette Park (SM); 11 on Nov 20 at MSP Lake Michigan (BJ)
GLAUCOUS GULL - 1 on Nov 17 at Pere Marquette Park (JW)
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL - 1 (first-winter) on Nov 8 at MWS north (CW); 1 (first-winter) at Pere Marquette Park (JW)
FORSTER'S TERN - 1 on Sep 8 at MSP Lake Michigan (SM); 1 on Oct 1 at Muskegon Lake (BJ, LU)
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO - 1 on Sep 4 at MLNP (BJ)
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL - 2 on Oct 1 at MSP (BJ, LU)
BARRED OWL - 1 on Sep 23 at Norton Shores (CD); 1 on Nov 4 at MSP dunes (CW)
SHORT-EARED OWL - 1 on Nov 20 at MWS south (CD, CaD)
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - 2 on Nov 4 at MSP (BJ, LU, CW)
COMMON NIGHTHAWK - 8 on Sep 4 in Muskegon (FD)
CHIMNEY SWIFT - 23 on Sep 4 in Muskegon (FD); 13 on Oct 5 at MLNP (BJ)
BELTED KINGFISHER - 1 on Nov 10 at Mona Lake (SM)
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER - 1 on Sep 2 in Norton Shores (DS); 2 on Sep 22 at Kruse Park (RP, MC); 1 on Nov 20 at MSP (BJ)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - 1 on Sep 29 at Little Black Lake (CD)
NORTHERN FLICKER - 4 on Sep 8 at MSP dunes (CW)
PILEATED WOODPECKER - 1 on Nov 12 in Ravenna Twp. (JP)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE - 1 on Sep 11 at MLNP (BJ)
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER - last: 1 on Sep 4, 1 on Sep 11 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
LEAST FLYCATCHER - last: 1 on Sep 24 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
EASTERN PHOEBE - last: 2 on Oct 17 at MLNP (BJ)
NORTHERN SHRIKE - 1 on Oct 26 at MLNP (BJ), very early fall report; 1 on Nov 14 (FD, CD) and Nov 16 (CD, KN) at MWS south
BLUE-HEADED VIREO - last: 1 on Oct 4 at MLNP (BJ)
WARBLING VIREO - last: 1 on Sep 21 at MLNP (BJ)
PHILADELPHIA VIREO - last: 1 on Oct 4 at MLNP (BJ)
RED-EYED VIREO - last: 1 on Sep 21 at MLNP (BJP
BLUE JAY - over 1500 migrants on Sep 26 at MSP hawkwatch (RP); 991 passing in one hour on Oct 4 at MSP dunes (JP)
AMERICAN CROW - 105 on Sep 15 (CW), 280 on Oct 11 at MWS (JP)
COMMON RAVEN - 1 on Oct 23 at MSP hawkwatch (RP)
TREE SWALLOW - about 10,000 on Sep 15, 1 on Oct 24 at MWS (JP)
BARN SWALLOW - 1 on Sep 8 at MSP dunes (SM)
TUFTED TITMOUSE - 7 on Nov 20 at MSP Lost Lake (BJ)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH - 1 on Sep 1 at MLNP (BJ, LU); 2 on Sep 8 at MSP dunes (CW, SM)
BROWN CREEPER - 3 on Oct 12 in Norton Shores (FD); 2 on Oct 22, 2 on Oct 26 at MLNP (BJ)
CAROLINA WREN - 1 on Sep 25 at MLNP (BJ, LU) HOUSE WREN - last: 1 on Oct 4 at MLNP (BJ)
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET - first: 1 on Oct 1 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - first: 1 on Sep 27 at MLNP (BJ); last: 1 on Nov 5 at MLNP (BJ)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER - 1 on Sep 4 at MLNP (BJ, LU); 1 on Sep 8 at MSP Snug Harbor (SM)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD - 31 on Oct 4, 13 on Nov 8 at MWS (CW)
VEERY - 1 on Sep 11, 1 on Sep 22 in Laketon Twp. (CW)
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH - 2 on Sep 12, 2 on Sep 22 in Laketon Twp. (CW); 2 on Sep 22 (BJ, LU), 1 on Oct 3 (BJ) at MLNP
SWAINSON'S THRUSH - first: 1 on Sep 4 at MLNP (BJ, LU); 6 on Sep 12, 2 on Sep 26 in Laketon Twp. (CW); last: 1 on Oct 2 at MLNP (BJ)
HERMIT THRUSH - first: 2 on Sep 28 at MLNP (CW)
GRAY CATBIRD - last: 1 on Oct 12 at MLNP (BJ)
BROWN THRASHER - last: 1 on Oct 1 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
AMERICAN PIPIT - 7 on Sep 9 at Pere Marquette Park (SM); 24 on Sep 22 (JP), 138 on Oct 11 (JP), 98 on Oct 13 (JP), 80 on Oct 24 (JP), 31 on Nov 3 (SM) at MWS
CEDAR WAXWING - 10 on Sep 8 at MSP dunes (SM); 6 on Oct 28 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
TENNESSEE WARBLER - 2 on Sep 30 in Laketon Twp. (CW); 1 on Oct 20 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - 3 on Sep 28, 3 on Oct 23 at MLNP (BJ)
NASHVILLE WARBLER - last: 1 on Oct 22 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER - 1 on Sep 3 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
MAGNOLIA WARBLER - last: 1 on Oct 22 at MLNP (BJ, LU), record late fall report
CAPE MAY WARBLER - 1 on Oct 5 at MLNP (BJ)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER - 1 on Sep 25 in Laketon Twp (CW)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - 20 on Sep 22 at MWS north (JP); 26 on Sep 30 at MLNP (BJ, LU); last: 3 on Oct 20 at MLNP (BJ)
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER - 1 on Oct 13 in Laketon Twp (CW)
PALM WARBLER - 15 on Sep 8 at MSP dunes (CW); 6 on Sep 22 at MWS north (JP)
BLACKPOLL WARBLER - first: 2 on Sep 3 at MLNP (BJ, LU); last: 3 on Oct 2 at MLNP (BJ)
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER - 1 on Sep 5 at MLNP (BJ), 1 on Sep 10 in Laketon Twp. (CW)
AMERICAN REDSTART - last: 1 on Sep 26 at MLNP (BJ)
OVENBIRD - 1 on Sep 10 in Laketon Twp (CW); last: 1 on Sep 29 at MLNP (BJ)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH - 1 on Oct 4 at MLNP (BJ), very late fall report
CONNECTICUT WARBLER - 1 on Sep 3, 1 on Sep 9 at MLNP (BJ)
MOURNING WARBLER - last: 1 on Sep 27 at MLNP (BJ)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - last: 1 on Oct 5 at MLNP (BJ)
WILSON'S WARBLER - last: 1 on Oct 20 at MLNP (BJ), very late fall report
SCARLET TANAGER - last: 1 on Sep 27 at MLNP (BJ)
EASTERN TOWHEE - 1 on Oct 12 at MLNP (BJ)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW - first: 2 on Oct 23 at MLNP (BJ); 2 on Oct 24 at MWS south (FD, CD); over 10 on Nov 14 at MWS (FD, CD)
FIELD SPARROW - 1 on Oct 14 in Muskegon (FD)
VESPER SPARROW - 1 on Oct 4 (CW), 1 on Oct 21 (BJ, LU) at MWS
LARK SPARROW - 1 on Sep 2 (DS) and Sep 3 (CP, EP) in Norton Shores, first report since 1979
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - 2 on Oct 4 at MWS (CW), rare fall report
FOX SPARROW - first: 1 on Oct 12 at MLNP (BJ); 3 on Nov 10 at Hoffmaster SP (SM)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW - first: 1 on Sep 4 at MLNP (BJ), very early fall report; last: 1 on Oct 5 at MLNP (BJ)
SWAMP SPARROW - 1 on Sep 15 at MWS (CW)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - first: 1 on Sep 3 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - first: 1 on Sep 25 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
DARK-EYED JUNCO - first: 1 on Sep 22 at MSP Snug Harbor (PW)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR - 1 on Nov 28 at MWS north (CD, FD)
SNOW BUNTING - 20 on Oct 24, about 100 on Nov 6, about 200 on Nov 16 at MWS (JP); over 40 on Nov 3 at Pere Marquette Park (FD)
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK - last: 1 on Sep 27 at MLNP (BJ)
BOBOLINK - last: 1 on Sep 15 at MWS
EASTERN MEADOWLARK - 22 on Oct 4 at MWS (CW)
RUSTY BLACKBIRD - 1 on Oct 1 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
COMMON GRACKLE - 10 on Oct 24 at MLNP (FD, CD)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD - 2 on Oct 24 at MWS north (FD, CD)
BALTIMORE ORIOLE - 1 on Sep 3 at MLNP (BJ, LU)
PURPLE FINCH - 1 on Sep 27, 3 on Oct 4 at MLNP (BJ); 3 on Oct 15 in Laketon Twp. (CW)
COMMON REDPOLL - 20 on Nov 14 (FD, CD), 20 on Nov 16 (CW, KN) at MWS
PINE SISKIN - 6 on Oct 25 in Muskegon (FD); 1 on Oct 26 in Fruitport Twp. (RP); 2 on Oct 28 at MWS (CP, SF)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH - 11 on Oct 26 at MLNP (BJ)
OBSERVERS: Michael Boston, Marilyn Crane, Carol DeWitt, Charlie DeWitt, Feller DeWiit, Sean Fitzgerald, Brian Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Steve Minard, Kathryn Mork, Kathy Neff, Torsten Pawlowski, Ric Pedler, Erich Peterson, James Ponshair, Caleb Putnam, Dave Slager, Bob Tarte, Lena Usyk, Hand Veldman, Rick Veldman, Carolyn Weng, John Will, Phil Willemstein
We encourage everyone to submit records of birds (as well as of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians) seen in Muskegon. County Sightings made in December - February will appear in the MCNC newsletter and website. Please be sure to include date, location, number, and observer for each species seen. Send sightings to Brian Johnson or to Ric Pedler.