Muskegon area highlights 1/2/07

[Dave Slager]

Steve Roels, Sarah Bodbyl Roels and I birded the Muskegon area on Tuesday,
January 2.

We began at the Coopersville landfill, Ottawa County, where roosting and
foraging gulls are visible by parking along Garfield Rd (a road south of
I-96 that parallels the interstate) and scoping the birds from the
fenceline.  Here we had great looks at an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.

We next headed to Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon.  From the end of the
south jetty we scoped out a PURPLE SANDPIPER on the north jetty.  We also
had several fly-by LONG-TAILED DUCKS and a probable RED-THROATED LOON.

We continued to the Muskegon Wastewater System where along the center dike
we had great looks at a MINK, about 50 SNOW BUNTINGS and several waterfowl
species, including CANVASBACK and GREEN-WINGED TEAL.  At the south edge of
the east pond we scoped out the gulls and came up with a 2nd-winter LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL, an adult ICELAND GULL (kumlieni), and a 1st-winter GREAT
BLACK-BACKED GULL.

A last-minute stop south of M-46 yielded an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE hunting
from dead Verbascum stems where Laketon Rd dead-ends to the west of Swanson
Rd.  Several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were also in the area.

A great day to be out birding in Michigan!

Dave Slager
Salt Lake City, UT
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