Birding 2021

November 27, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Cedar Waxwing

November 6, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Bluebirds (flock)

American Robins (juveniles and adults)

Blue jays

Cardinals

Chickadees

Titmice

Nuthatches

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Mallards

October 10, Kiwanis Youth Conservation Area, Calhoun Co., 22300 15 Mile Road, Bellevue, MI

*Trumpeter Swans - pair: new for life list

Bald Eagles - pair

Great Egret

Sandhill Cranes

October 9, Connor Bayou, Ottawa Co., Grand Haven, MI 

Edge of the Grand River, and along the bayou:

Sandhill Cranes 

Great Blue Heron

Mute Swans

Red-winged Blackbirds (I thought they had all migrated, but no!)

Yellow-rumped Warblers

Ruby-crowned Kinglets

Swamp Sparrows

White-throated Sparrow

Cardinals

Chickadees

Tufted Titmice

White-breasted Nuthatches

Crows

In the woods:

Pileated Woodpeckers

Northern Flickers

Downy Woodpeckers

Blue Jays

October 3, ponds at Versluis Orchards, Maynard Dr NW, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Sandhill Crane

10 Turkey Vultures perched on posts, drying their wings

September 30, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Ovenbird

White-throated Sparrows

Cardinals, Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice, Robins, Crows, Chickadees

September 28, home

10 Sandhill Cranes flying over

September 18, Ball Perkins Park, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Met Barbara and Quinn Schultze, Dave (David) Jacobs, and James Markham (at the pond)

* = new for life list

American Redstart

Black-throated Green Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Northern Parula *

Philadelphia Vireo *

Red-eyed Vireo

Ovenbird

Black-capped Chickadees

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Tufted Titmice

Catbird

Robins

Red-bellied Woodpeckers (2)

House Finch

Blue jays

Great Blue Herons (2)

Great Egrets (2) 

Green Heron

Wood Ducks (~23)

Mallards

Solitary Sandpiper

Sharp-shinned Hawks (2) 

Red-shouldered Hawk *

September 11, pond on Leonard just west of Wilson, Kent Co., Walker, MI

5 Great Egrets

Home: Red-breasted Nuthatch

August 16, pond on Leonard just west of Wilson, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Great Egret

 

July 5, home

Marsh Wren singing at north window

June 22, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Cedar Waxwing

June 9, Millboro Springs, Bath County,VA

Wild turkeys (hens & chicks still fluffy but flying!)

Brown Thrashers (pair) 

Eastern Towhee (heard call) 

 

June 6, Millboro Springs, Bath County, VA

Eastern narrow mouth toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)

 

June 2,  Millboro Springs, Bath County, VA

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (heard call)

Common Five-lined Skink juvenile

Woodland Box Turtle

 

May 31, Millboro Springs, Bath County, VA

Carolina Wrens

Catbird

Wood Thrushes (heard call)

Whippoorwills (heard calls in duet!)

Yellow-billed Cuckoos (heard call)

 

May 31, Gaudineer Knob, WV

Golden-crowned Kinglet juvenile

 

May 30, traveling in MI and OH

6 Sandhill Cranes

Great Blue Heron standing in a marsh

Several Red-tailed Hawks

2 deer galloping across a field

 

May 19, home

Yellow Warbler (heard calls)

 
Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Blue-headed Vireo (heard calls)

Magnolia Warbler? (heard calls)

 

May 17, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Veery (heard calls)

Home: feeder: Indigo Bunting

 

May 14 & 16, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Wild turkey tom and hen

May 13, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Ovenbird

Catbird

Black-throated Green Warbler (heard calls)

 

May 11, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Wild Turkey

 

May 10, home

White-crowned Sparrow 

 

May 9, Aman Park, Ottawa Co., MI

Swainson's Thrush

Black-throated Green Warblers (heard calls)

May 9, Crockery Creek Park, Ottawa Co., MI

Blue-winged Warbler

Great Blue Herons

Baltimore Oriole (heard)

May 9, Lamont - Grand River, Ottawa Co., MI

Great Egret

May 8, Blandford Nature Center, Heron trail, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Solitary Sandpipers

Green Heron

Muskrat

May 2, Aman Park, Ottawa Co., MI

Heard calls: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers

 

May 1, Blandford Nature Center, Heron trail, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Yellow-shafted Flicker making a nest hole

White-throated Sparrow male

pair of Blue-winged Teals

April 30, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

April 29, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Catbird 

Brown Creeper

April 28, Leonard St at 14th, Ottawa Co., MI

Family of Sandhill Cranes in the cornfield

April 27, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Turkey juvenile tom ran ahead of me on the path

White-crowned sparrow singing

April 13, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Brown Creeper

Bluebirds

April 10, home

Red-breasted Nuthatch

April 9, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Tree swallows

April 4, Aman Park, Ottawa Co., MI

Phoebe (heard call)

March 25, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Golden-crowned Kinglets

March 19, Blandford Nature Center, West Meadow, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Birdsongs: Song Sparrows, Cardinals, Crows, Titmice, Blue Jay, Starlings, Chickadees.

Frogs.

February 1, Walker City Park, Kent Co., Walker, MI

Bald eagle soaring

 

January 21, Milo St. at Mullins Ave NW, Kent Co., Walker, MI
Cooper's Hawk, immature female

Birding 2020

October 20-21, Home

Carolina Wren singing on the 20th; looked in the window at me on the 21st!

 

October 17-18, Home

Ovenbird in the early evening, backyard, looking for a drink

October 15, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker

1st returned Junco

 

October 6, home, Kent Co.

White-crowned sparrow

 

September 29, Kent Co.

flock of (Great?) Egrets on pond, Maynard Ave SW

Double-crested Cormorant (flying east of Lake Eastbrook Blvd)

Merlin chasing a crow

Veery (Blandford Nature Center, Walker)

September 25, Geddes Ave, Kent Co., Grand Rapids

Great Egret flying  

 

September 22, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker

8 wild turkeys (hens)

 

August 18, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Grand Rapids

Hooded warbler, Barred Owl

 

July 21, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker
Indigo Bunting singing

July 14, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker
female Yellow Warbler

May 23, Upper Macatawa Natural Area, Ottawa Co.
Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrow, Willow Flycatchers, Yellow-throated Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Great Blue Herons, 2 Soras, Baltimore Orioles (males and a female in her nest), Red-breasted Grosbeaks, Cedar Waxwings, Killdeer, female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Indigo Bunting, Cowbirds, Bluebirds, female Wood Duck and 8 ducklings swimming.

Muskrat lodges, Pickerel Frogs, large Garter or Ribbon snake
Mayapple blooming, lots of Wild Geraniums.

May 16, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Grand Rapids
American Redstart (a different one than yesterday), male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, multiple Baltimore Orioles, 2 deer chewing their cud while lying down

May 15, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker
American Redstart ! 4 deer, 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers

May 13, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker
Baltimore Orioles, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Indigo Bunting, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed Vireo, Black and White Warbler, many Black-throated Green Warblers, Magnolia Warbler, and Nashville Warbler
Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Robins, White-throated Sparrow, Catbird, Chickadees, Nuthatch, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove

May 12, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker
woods: Ovenbirds, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Red-breasted Nuthatch?
meadow: Least Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow

May 11, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Walker
Black-throated Green Warbler

May 5, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co., Grand Rapids
Baltimore Oriole
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Palm Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
Barn swallows
Tree swallows

May 3, Aman Park, Ottawa Co.
Nashville Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Pileated woodpecker
Thrushes singing

April 25, Aman Park, Ottawa Co.
flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers
several pairs of Wood Thrushes
a Pileated Woodpecker very close, on the ground
On the way home, Leonard between 14th and 8th Avenues: Great Egret

April 24, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co.

White-throated Sparrow
April 17, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co.
Hermit Thrush

April 16, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co.
Carolina Wren

April 12, Millennium Park, Kent Co.
female Red-winged Blackbirds

April 3, Aman Park, Ottawa Co.
Pileated hammering

March 29, Aman Park, Ottawa Co.

• Phoebe
• Also, the black squirrels here are a color variant of Fox Squirrels (same size)

M-45 between 14th and 8th

• 3 Sandhill Cranes
• Red-tailed Hawk

March 27, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co.
Song sparrows, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Downy woodpecker, Robins, Blue jays, Cardinals, Nuthatch, Titmouse, Junco, Crow, Brown creeper.

Also: Northern Spring Peepers in addition to the Wood Frogs (see https://youtu.be/jWQZXnOZuJY)

March 23, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co.

• Song Sparrow singing
• Wood Frogs chortling

March 18, Blandford Nature Center, Kent Co.

• Field Sparrows singing

March 15: Home

• House Finch
• Hairy Woodpeckers

March 14: Aman Park, Ottawa Co.

• Chickadees
• White-breasted Nuthatches
• Titmice
• Juncos
• Blue Jays
• Crows
• Robins
• Downy Woodpeckers
• Red-bellied Woodpeckers
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Turkey Vultures  *1st time this year
• Brown Creeper  *1st time this year

March 7: home

• Robins singing at dusk

March 4, 2020: Leonard St between 8th and 14th, Ottawa Co; M-45 between 8th and 14th, Ottawa Co

• male Red-winged Blackbird - a sure sign of spring! 
• small flock of Sandhill Cranes

Birding 2018

12/2/18, home:
Red-breasted nuthatches! Tiny, fluttery, fierce!

8/9/18, home:
3 Chipping Sparrow chicks in the driveway - so tiny, fluffy, cute!

7/31/18, south of Akron, Ohio:
Passed a Great Blue Heron rookery and saw 2 flying adults.

7/24/18-7/30/18, Millboro Springs, VA:
Carolina Wrens, Black and White Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Indigo Buntings, Black-billed Cuckoos and Screech Owl (heard), phoebes, cardinals, robins, turkey vultures, titmice, chickadees, mourning doves, crows.

7/22/18-7/23/18, Peaks of Otter, VA:
Catbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Carolina Wrens all around the Lodge!

6/21/18,  Blandford Nature Center: 
Bluebird
Catbirds

5/20/18, home, Dimondale, traveling between:
2 Chipping Sparrows, 2 Sandhill Cranes, 2 Great Blue Herons flying

5/17/18, home:
Amy saw the female Rose-breasted Grosbeak again a couple of times

5/15/18, Blandford Nature Center: 
Bluebird

5/8/18, home:
female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

5/7/18,  Blandford Nature Center:
Catbird (heard call)
White-throated Sparrows (heard call)
Hermit Thrush

5/5/18,  Blandford Nature Center:
White-throated Sparrows

5/2/18, Blandford Nature Center:
Wren (House, Winter, or Sedge?)

Home:
Hermit Thrush
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

4/20/18
Phoebes are back.

mid-March 2018
Turkey vultures are back.

3/4/18
Heard a Sandhill Crane although I couldn't see it!

3/1/18 spring birds returning:
Red-winged Blackbirds
Robins
European Starlings

Birding 2016

10/8/16, Millennium Park:
Pied billed grebes, 4 sandhill cranes, osprey, swan, Canada geese, herring gulls, red-winged blackbirds, sandpiper.

7/22-29/16, home:
love the backyard birdfeeders. This week: lots of juvenile titmice, chickadees, cardinals, robins. Female Evening Grosbeak. Immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker. 6 Blue jays all at once. Male Red-bellied woodpecker. This afternoon Amy saw a puzzled juvenile blue jay that learned how to eat out of the feeder after watching a downy woodpecker.

7/29/16, GVSU arboretum:
Pileated woodpecker

5/20/16, Aman:
Thrushes singing

5/17/16, Blandford:
Indigo bunting

5/5/16, Aman Park:
Black-throated green warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, thrush (probably Swainson's), vireo, pair of Red-breasted Grosbeaks.

4/29/16, at home (morning), GVSU - Allendale (early afternoon), then Blandford Nature Center (early evening):

House Finch,
White-throated Sparrows (a whole flock feeding on the ground at Blandford in the evening), White-crowned Sparrow, House Sparrows, Song Sparrow?
Red-winged Blackbirds,
Tree Swallows,
Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Robins,
Nuthatches, Chickadees, Titmouse,
Bluejays,
Cardinals,
Mourning Doves,
Red-tailed hawk, Turkey Vulture, Crows,
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (female?),
4 warblers at the top of a tall tree, mostly yellow, perhaps Pine Warblers?

Usually at home feeders, also lately:
Hairy Woodpeckers,
Bluebird (Amy saw 4/28)
Starlings

4/27/16, neighborhood:
Great Blue Heron, mute swans

Birds & Wildflowers

Yesterday I was only a few steps into Aman Park when I realized I was surrounded by warblers. Here's the certain list:

• Yellow-rumped "Myrtle"
• Pine
• Nashville 
• Black-throated Green. 

I'm not sure if I was seeing

• Black and White Warblers or Blackpolls; 
• Black-throated Blues or Ceruleans. 

Without my books or binoculars, it was hard to tell.
Other birds: mockingbird, titmice (one followed me around), nuthatches (white-breasted), downy woodpeckers, red-breasted woodpeckers, robins, thrushes singing (never know if they're wood or hermit), chickadees. There are now black squirrels in the park.

Newly blooming wildflowers: Jack-in-the-Pulpits, Large-flowered bellwort.