October was a warm and dry month, with the temperature 4 degrees above normal and rainfall one inch below normal. Lake Michigan continues to drop creating huge beaches along its shore.

This was an exciting month with many great birds showing up. A Gyrfalcon was spotted at the Muskegon Wastewater along with a Lesser Black-backed Gull, Golden Eagle at Rosy Mound Park, a Parasitic Jaeger along the beech at Muskegon. Snowy Owls at PMP and MWS, Short-eared Owls have returned to the MWS.

Pied-billed Grebe 5 in Kent Co. on Oct. 15 (SM) ; 2 at MWS on Oct 5 (GW,ES) ; 19 at RL on Oct. 25 (FA). Horned Grebe 5 at MWS on Oct. 5 (GW,ES). Eared Grebe 1 at MWS on Oct. 29 (CF,SM). Double-crested Cormorant 20 at Douglas, Allegan Co., on Oct. 10 (FS).

Great Egret 22 at Grand Haven, Ottawa Co., on Oct. 3 (JP). Great Blue Heron 2 at RL on Oct 18 (FA); I counted the nests of the Great Blue Heron rookery in Crockery Twp. , Ottawa Co. there were 70 nests an increase of 23 nests over last year.

Canada Geese have been coming into the MWS in good numbers with the high count of 8,000, only a few Snow geese showing up, 2 on Oct. 10 and 3 on Oct. 21 (MM). Duck counts have been down with the exception of Northern Shovelers with a high count of 4,000. Canvasback 9 on Oct. 5 (GW,ES). Northern Pintail 6 on Oct. 1(SM) Ring-necked Duck 64 on Oct. 5 (GW,ES); 262 at Pickerel Lake, Kent Co., Oct. 15 (SM), An early Common Goldeneye at MWS on Oct. 5 (JP). Canvasback 30 MWS on Oct. 21 (MM).

Osprey 1 at Grand Rapids, Kent Co., on Oct. 8 (SM). Cooper's Hawk 1 at NWGR on Oct.8 (CV). Sharp-shinned Hawk 24 at RMP on Oct. 21 (JP); 1 at Robinson Twp., Ottawa Co. on Oct 25 (FB). A very late Broad-winged Hawk at Allendale on Oct. 30 (JP). Rough-legged Hawk 3 at Allegan Co., on Oct. 10 (FS); also 1 at Polkton Twp, Ottawa Co. on Oct. 10 (JP). Golden Eagle at RMP on Oct. 21 (JP). GYRFALCON (dark phase) at MWS on Oct. 28 (LB (still there on Oct 31 (GW) Merlin 1 at RL on Oct. 13 (FA). Wild Turkey 16 in Robinson Twp., Ottawa Co., Oct. 25 (FB). Northern Bobwhite 3 at Grand Haven Twp., Ottawa County on Oct. 22 (PA).

Sandhill Crane 20 in Alpine Twp., Kent Co., On Oct. 8 (EH); 4 at RL on Oct. 29 (SM); 2 in Allegan Co., on Oct. 10 (FS). 3 at MWS on Oct. 29 (JP). Am. Coot over 400 at RL on Oct. 25 (FA).

Shorebird counts all from MWS unless otherwise noted: Black-bellied Plover 3 on Oct. 8 , 1 on Oct. 28 (SM) . American Golden Plover 1 on Oct 8, 1 and 10 (SM). Greater Yellow-legs 1 at Wolf Lake, Muskegon Co., Oct. 1 (SM). Spotted Sandpiper a late date at RL on Oct. 19 (FA). White-rumped Sandpiper 3 on Oct. 1 (SM) Dunlin 7 on Oct. 5 (GW,ES).

PARASITIC JAEGER 1 on the beach at Muskegon on Oct 10 (RP, BM,JH,FD), the bird was photographed by (BM). LESSER Blackbacked Gull 1 at MWS on Oct. 5 photographed (JP).

Eastern Screech Owl 1 at NWGR on Oct 15 (CV) Great Horned Owl in Robinson Twp., Ottawa Co., on Oct. 25 (FB). Snowy Owl 1 at PMP on Oct. 28 (SM) ; 1 at MWS on Oct, 29 (SM,CF.JP). Short-eared Owl 1 at Ludington , Mason Co, on Oct. 22 (SM); 5 at MWS on Oct. 28; 2 on Oct. 31 (MM). Barred Owl daily at GT (FS).

Pileated Woodpecker 1 at Douglas, Allegan Co., Oct. 10 (FS); 1 at Allendale on Oct.13 (JP). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 at GT on Oct. 7 (FS); 1 in Walker Twp., Kent Co., on Oct. 14 (EH); 1 in Robinson Twp., Ottawa Co., on Oct. 25 (FB). Eastern Phoebe 1 in NWGR on Oct. 3 (CV); 1 at Saugatuck State Park on Oct. 10 (FS). Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 at Robinson Twp. (FB). Red-headed Woodpecker now becoming rare in the area, 1 observed in Muskegon on Oct. 16 (GW) Blue Jay migrating at Muskegon with over 100 counted on Oct. 5 (GW,ES).

Kinglet migration has been good throughout the area, many observe d in NWGR (CV); Ruby-crowned 22 at RL on Oct. 15 (SM); 12 at SDSP on Oct. 10 (FS). Golden-crowned 27 at RL on Oct. 19 (FA); 3 at GT on Oct. 22 (FS); 14 at RMP on Oct. 29 (JP). Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 at HP on Oct.3; 1 at RMP on Oct. 3 (JP). Swainson's Thrush 3 at HP on Oct. 3 (JP). Hermit thrush 2 at RMP on Oct. 3 (JP) 2 at SDSP on Oct. 10 (FS). Eastern Bluebird 12 in Walker Twp., Kent Co., on Oct. 25 (FV). American Pipit 47 at MWS on Oct 8 (SM); 70 there on Oct. 13 (JP).

Blue-headed Vireo 1 at RL on Oct 8 (SM); 1 at RMP on Oct. 29 (JP). Warblers: Tennessee 1 at GT on Oct. 19 (FS); 8 at RL on Oct.3 (FA) Orange-crowned 1 at RL on Oct. 3 (FA). Nashville 1 at RL on Oct. 8 (SM); 1 at GT on Oct.19 (FS). Yellow-rumped 32 at RL on Oct. 8 (SM). Black-throated Green 1 at GT on Oct. 3 (FS). Ovenbird 1 at GT on Oct. 1 (FS). American Redstart 1 at RL on Oct 8 (SM). Common Yellowthroat 1 at GT on Oct. 1 (FS). White-throated Sparrow 4 at Ada Twp., Kent Co. on Oct. 4 (CV); 26 at RL on Oct. 3 (FA); 5 at GT on Oct. 14 (FS). Dark-eyed Junco 15 in Allegan Co., on Oct.10 (FS). Eastern Towhee 1 at GT on Oct. 9 (FS) White-crowned Sparrow 1 at Muskegon on Oct. 11 (GW,ES); 1 at RL on Oct. 3 (FA). Lapland Longspur 12 at MWS on Oct. 28 (SM). Snow Bunting 300 at MWS on Oct. 29 (JP). Purple Finch 2 in NWGR on Oct. 5 and 21 (CV). Pine Siskin 1 at RL on Oct. 15 (SM).

Legend:

Observers:

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Revised: April 06, 2008.