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(Photos Provided by Roger Chappel)
-The images above were taken January 27, 2012 on a wildlife camera set up by Roger Chappel. The camera was located in Meade Township(northeast corner of Mason County) and show a sub-adult Golden Eagle at a deer carcass. Roger had set up the camera in the expectation of the more usual wildlife such as coyotes, raccoons, etc. and was surprised to see Bald Eagles as well as a solitary bird that looked like a Golden Eagle. Dave Dister heard of the sighting from a mutual friend Dan Rohde who lives in Scottville, MI. Dave and Roger reviewed about 100 images from the camera and after comparing them with photos in a 1995 edition of A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors by Wheeler and Clark, concluded there was no doubt about the identity of the bird. This sighting of a Golden Eagle in only the second definite record for Mason County. While there have been other sightings there were none with this type of documentation.
Because of the frequency of Bald Eagles in the area, and the rarity of Golden Eagles in Michigan from Autumn through Spring, care must be exercised in identification. The Golden Eagle at the deer carcass showed three key identifying marks: 1) the head feathers are noticeably a paler, golden brown in contrast to the body feathers(all ages); 2) the base of the tail has a bold white band(juveniles and adults); and 3) there is a distinct tawny bar across the upper-side of the wing coverts and that is characteristic of sub-adults and adults. Furthermore, as the under-wings do not have a large white spot at the base of the primaries the bird is clearly not a juvenile.
Thanks and congratulations to Roger Chappel and Dan Rohde for bringing this great sighting to our attention. |
 
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-Around Noon Dave observed a Purple Sandpiper along the Ludington Harbor's north breakwater about 3/4 of the way out to the Lighthouse. The bird appeared to have a slightly different amount of white fringing on the median coverts, and is probably a different bird that the one seen on January 16, 2012. Since both breakwaters are totally free of ice and with the above average temperatures predicted for the next ten days this bird may winter here in Michigan. If so, it would be quite rare as the species usually winters on the Atlantic or Gulf Coast. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-On the above date Dave observed a Killdeer that was first on floating ice and later by the shoreline at the east end of Lincoln Lake just north of Ludington. More specifically east of M-116 and north of Cartier Park. He had found a Killdeer on the Christmas Bird Count and wondered about the odds of this being the same bird. Since there had been some severe weather since the Bird Count perhaps it was not. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-Around noon on the above date Dave found and Mason County's first January Purple Sandpiper at the Ludington Harbor. The bird was feeding along the south breakwater's mostly ice-covered boulders where algae and invertebrates were available. Due to the crashing waves, the bird was moving between the big bend in the breakwater and its end(to the northwest).
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(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-Also of interest, a double-crested Cormorant remains on the breakwater off the Pumped Storage Reservoir. A Northern Shrike(see photo above) was seen in Eden Township at the intersection of Scottville Road and Major Road, and a 1st cycle Glaucous Gull was found on Pere Marquette Lake northwest of Peter Copeyon Park. Back to the Shrike, for those not familiar with separating the Northern from the Loggerhead Shrike(now virtually absent in the state), the Northern has scalloping marks on its underparts. a longer more pronounced hooked beak, and a black mask that is narrow between the eye and the bill. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave photographed a Snowy Owl atop a telephone pole at the Ludington State Park. The bird has very few, pale spots and is probably a male bird. The marking is in contrast to the darkly spotted immatures and females seen earlier this winter. The telephone pole is on the east side of M-116 about two miles north of the first pull-off parking area at the southwest corner of the park. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-At about 1:00P.M. on the 18th. while scouting for the Ludington Christmas Bird Count, Dave observed four Purple Sandpipers along the Ludington south breakwater. During the previous week on the 15th., Van Burmeister observed two purple sandpipers but then high winds on that day probably caused the birds to leave. The very next day there were none. Dave wonders that if the weather stays unusually mild could the number increase to 5 or 6? |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave observed another Snowy Owl around 12:45 P.M. along the northeastern edge of the Consumer Energy Pumped Storage Reservoir in southern Pere Marquette Township. The bird was on a security fence south of Chauvez Road opposite the entrance of the Mason County Campground. The location is about 1.5 miles west of the Pere Marquette Highway (about 0.5 mile west of US 31). |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-On the above date Dave observed two Glaucous Gulls about five miles apart. The first sighting was at approximately 10:00 A.M. at the mouth of the Big Sable River. The second was at approximately 11:30 A.M. at the north end of Sterns Beach(north of Ludington Harbor). Dave reported that these sightings are the first Glaucous Gulls he has seen in this late Fall/early Winter season. The gulls are fairly rare in this area during Spring and Fall migrations. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-On the above date, Dave observed a Snowy Owl as he was walking west on the north breakwater of the Ludington pier. At first it appeared as a large white spot and he wasn't sure if it was the elusive Snowy Owl or a white plastic bag. Through his binoculars however it was clear that it was the Snowy Owl. Attempting to follow the owl, Dave and Van Burmeister who he met up with made their way to the south breakwater. When they couldn't relocate the bird they returned and there it was about 20 feet away on the lower west edge of the north breakwater. Dave was then able to capture the above images. Since the owl was lightly flecked, it may have been a female or an immature male(males are mostly white while immature Snowy Owls heavily flecked). Based upon the many other Snowy Owl sightings across the state recently, this appears to be an "invasion year", possibly indicating a crash in the lemming population in the Arctic. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-On November 8th Dave observed a flock of 18 Greater Yellowlegs at the mouth of the Big Sable River at Lake Michigan in the Ludington State Park. On the 9th at the same location there was a single Black-bellied Plover. Unfortunately there were no photos of either because of the wind and rain. That afternoon while he was hiking the shoreline from the Beach House to the BSP lighthouse he observed more than 100 Dunlins(see above photos) in several flocks migrating south into the 25-30 mile headwinds. According to Dave, just lately there have been a remarkable migration of shorebirds here along the Mason County Lake Michigan shoreline. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-About 10:30 AM on the date above, Dave observed and photographed an immature Peregrine Falcon as it was preening while perched atop a tree by Big Sable Point just north of the lighthouse.The bird allowed him to approach within 60-70 feet. He was able to take about a dozen photos with a 300mm zoom lens. Due to the steep angle however, there was no way to avoid all the branches. One of the volunteers at the lighthouse mentioned that there had been two birds of this species in the vicinity. |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-A male Harlequin Duck was seen on the above date at the Ludington Harbor. The bird was about half-way along the south breakwater on the outside (facing Lake Michigan). Because of the dim light the brick red sides are not very evident. This is not the earliest a sighting of a Harlequin Duck in the Fall; that record belongs to the sighting of a male on October 28, 2008 near the outer breakwater west of Consumers Energy Pumped Storage Reservoir. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-According to Dave, Snow Buntings are coming through the area in increasing numbers. He took numerous shot in order to get these striking images. The one above of the back of the bird in the dunes is especially remarkable. Dave's enthusiasm has caused him to coin a new phrase for a flock of snow buntings-A Joy of Buntings! |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-On the above date around 1:30 P.M. there was an American Golden-Plover at the Ludington Waste Treatment Plant. The bird was on the dike north of the administration building, and then flew to some mudflats in the western impoundment. The individual was an adult bird in transition to basic plumage. The dark spots on the belly are remnants of its breeding plumage. This plover is among the later migrant shorebirds in the fall, and appears to be fairly rare in the area(mostly due to lack of mudflat habitat). Also seen were four Pectoral Sandpipers, one Lesser Yellowlegs, several Killdeer, and a Turkey Vulture flying east of the plant. |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-On the above date Dave Dister observed a flock of birds flying around the dune system, several hundred yards south of the roadway to the closed Nature Center. He heard some distinctive flight calls of the Lapland Longspurs, but wasn't sure if there might be be horned larks or American pipits mixed in the flock. After tracking the birds for a about one half-hour, he saw no indication of other species besides longspurs. The above photo of part of the flock against the sky contains over 200 birds(photo was printed and at least that number counted). The southerly winds and warm temperatures may have resulted in the these northern birds "stacking-up" and waiting until a north wind returns. According to Dave this is the largest flock of Lapland Longspurs he has encountered in his 3 and 1/2 years in Mason County. Although he had heard of and seen small groups of longspurs in the past two weeks, this migratory flock is quite memorable. Lapland Longspurs breed across the high arctic tundra and winter across the eastern and central U.S. |
-On the above date Lorrie Vit and Bill Lowrie observed at least seven Common Gallinules(no more Moorhens!) in a new wetland marsh on Hansen Road in Custer Township. This sighting is a large number of a very rare bird, and particularly unusual this late in the fall migration season. Their population has decreased in recent decades in the eastern United States and in the lower peninsula of Michigan.
To find the marsh, take Hansen Road about four miles east of its intersection with US 31. The L-shaped wetland is a few hundred yards southeast of Hansen Road and Stephens Road. A spotting scope will be needed to see the birds well as the wetland is 200 yards south of Hansen Road. |
 
(Photos Provided by Lorrie Vit)
-Lorrie Vit told Dave Dister that she observed and photographed two Buff-Breasted Sandpipers on the north pier of Ludington Harbor around noon on the 29th. Then she and Dave saw the same birds again on the 31st. This medium-sized sandpiper is among our rarest migrating shorebirds, and is only observed every two or three years in the area. It also happens to be one of the tamest shorebirds and consequently good photos are often possible if the bird is on a causeway or breakwater. The above photos were trimmed and enlaged. |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave Dister observed these Ruddy Turnstones at the Ludington Harbor south breakwater. The birds are always scarce during Fall and Spring migrations in northwest coastal Michigan. He was fortunate to find eight juvenile birds. The juveniles are distinguished by the pale fringes on the underpart feathers. Other shorebirds on the breakwater included one spotted sandpiper, six sanderlings, eight-plus semipalmated sandpipers, two least sandpipers and two Baird's sandpipers. |
 
(Photos Provided by Chris Lipps)
-At approximately 5:20 PM on the date above, Chris Lipps observed and photographed a juvenile Prairie Falcon about 1/4 north of the Big Sable Point Lighthouse at Ludington State Park. According to Dave Dister the photos are diagnostic. When compared to a similar sized Peregrine Falcon, the Prairie Falcon is paler overall, the mustache mark is paler and thinner, there is a white stripe above the eye, the wings are shorter than the tail, and there are axillary(armpit) feathers on the underside of the wings. This sighting is only the the 4 th. record of this western falcon in Michigan. The species inhabits dry open country and feeds on small mammals and insects. If this bird stays around for the coming weekend, birders from all over Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin can be expected. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
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-On the morning of July 4th. at approximately 10:00 AM, Dave was notified by Pat Foster that a male Yellow-headed Blackbird was feeding on cracked corn at the steps of the Ludington Waste Water Treatment Plant. Dave went to the plant and after about 10 minutes, the bird returned. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister) |
-Sid Wilkins alerted Dave to some American White Pelicans that he saw flying east toward the Pere Marquette Lake in the early evening. Dave found one bird within binocular and camera view west of Pete Copeyon Park on South Washington Avenue in Ludington. It flew to the south end of the lake where three other pelicans joined it. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister) |
-Joe Lipar of Big Rapids reported an adult White-faced Ibis in the early afternoon at the Ludington Waste Water Treatment Planton 6th. Street. Dave and several other birders found the bird in the late afternoon hours. Through a scope however the bold white border around the red face visable. The darkreddish neck and greenish wings when we were not looking west into the sun. |
-Chris Lipps has been very productive in birding Ludington State Park this spring prior to his job hours as a Piping Plover researcher. On May 28th.(12:30PM) he briefly saw two adult Laughing Gulls on the beaches of Lake Michigan about 1/2 mile south of the Big Sable River, and in addition he also saw (about 7:30 AM) a Franklin's Gull at the same location. The Franklin Gull usually seen in the late fall, but can occur every few years on our beaches. The Laughing gulls are rare anywhere in Michigan, and my not re-occur in Mason County for another 20 or 30 years.These sightings appear to be the first records of these very rare gulls for Mason County. That make 294 species for the county list. Unfortunately photos are not available. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
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- Dave Dister observed the first winter Iceland Gull(all dark bill and white plumage) at the Ludington Harbor. In addition there was the spring's first American Pipit. Apparently, Iceland Gulls are much rarer than the similar Glauccous Gulls. |
  
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister) |
-Chris Lipps discovered a male Red-necked Grebe(mostly in breeding plumage) around noon on Pere Marquette Lake on the south side of Ludington(Mason County). Dave relocated the bird and viewed it from approximately 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM(see distant photos above). This vantage point can be access by taking the Pere Marquette Highway south out of Ludington to Iris road. Turn right on Iris and go west to the T-intersection at Lakeshore Drive(about a 1.5 miles). Turn right and proceed north on Lakeshore Drive to the Father Marquette Cross. Pull in to the driveway of the memorialalong a loop for the boat ramp access. Scan north-northeast into the open portion of Pere Marquette Lake. Its also possible to try other vantage points in vacant lots further north on Lakeshore Drive.
Other notable birds that day included a male Northern Pintail on Lincoln Lake(east of M-116), a female Northern Harrier over a boggy area along Peterson Road in Victory Township, and a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk seen over the Pere Marquette marsh of the PM Highway(see photo above). |
-On this day Dave discovered a new Mason County high of 6 Harlequins ducks 5(3 males and 2 females) off the Ludington Pumped Storage Reservoir and another female along the Ludington Harbor south pier. Unfortunately, no photos were available. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister) |
-At about 3:00 PM Dave came across a mixed flock of Cedar Waxwings and Bohemian Waxwings in southern Pere Marquette Township. Most birds were perched high up in some roadside trees, with small groups flying down into crabapple trees on the west side of Lenz Road about 300 feet north of Chauvez Road(just west of the overpass for US 31). There were at least 110 waxwings of which approximately 30 were of the Bohemian variety. The rusty undertail coverts of the Bohemians are obviously different than the whitish ones on the Cedars. |
(Photo Provived by Dave Dister) |
-Dave Dister found a pair of harlequin ducks(immature male and female) at Ludington Harbor. Just before sunset he came upon a flock of 80 bohemian waxings(a lifer for him) on Chauvez Road, 0.2 miles west of Pere Marquete Highway in PM Township. The waxwings were at the edge of an orchard, and some were visiting a crabapple tree with persisting fruit. After about 5 minutes they flew to the northeast, but 8 cedar waxwings remained in the treetops. The dim light and a 300 mm zoom lens were not kind to his photos(though they were enhanced). |
(Sorry no photos available)
-Dave Dister observed an immature Red-throated Loon in Ludington Harbor between the ends of the two piers. The bird was at a great distance, consequently a good spotting scope would have been needed for closer observation. In addition, the bird was frequently diving. This species is far rarer than the Common Loon and generally only one bird is seen in our area each year. |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-Kate Thomson and Dave Dister observed a female Varied Thrush on Morton Road in Grant East Township of Mason County. The Thrush has been seen back and forth between two properties on opposite side of the road. The bird was first observed on Morton Road about 1.2 miles south of County Line Road. The bird seemed to be interested in the suet on both properties. The photo was taken about 12:15 PM. This observation was the 5th record of this species for Mason County.
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(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave Dister was at the Upper Hamlin Lake, and in the lake amongst the many Canada Geese were eight Greater White-fronted Geese (7 adults and one juvenile-see photo on left) and two Snow Geese (white morphs). Both were sighted at approximately 1:00 PM. The sighting of the White-fronted geese is a first for Mason County.
-At Ludington Harbor area Dave also observed an adult Lesser Blacked-backed Gull (see photo on right) in the parking lot by the Loomis Street boat launch. This may possibly be the same bird that was sighted off and on near Manistee. |
(Sorry no photos available)
-Chris Lipps reported to Dave Dister that he had found a very late and rare Northern Parula this morning at the Ludington Waste Water Treatment Plant He noted a greenish patch on a bluish-gray back, yellow throat and breast, white wing bars, and a white stomach. Chris attempted to focus on the bird with a spotting scope, but it flew away before he could get a good look. The warbler should be in coastal Florida, Texas, or further south by now. The sighting (either a female or immature bird) represents the first fall record for Mason County.
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(Photo Provided by M. Taylor) (Photos Provided By Dave Dister)
-Approximately at 2:30 PM on November 17, 2010 Dave Dister observed a Little Gull (see photos on right) at the Ludington Waste Water Treatment Plant. He had been alerted by Rob Allard that there was also a Blacked-legged Kittiwake (photo on left) in the area. According to Dave this would be a first county record. Rob Allard reported that the Kittiwake (in flight) had a dark bar behind its neck and a dark stripe through the wing.
-Earlier during a shoreline count of common loons off the Big Sable Point from approximately 9:20 AM through 1:20 PM, Dave counted 606 south-bound birds in the 4 hour period. The first hour resulted in a total of 266 birds. |
 
(Photo Provided by Wikipedia) (Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-During the shoreline bird count Chris Lipps and Dave Dister observed an adult Little Gull (photo on left) in basic winter plumage flying with Bonaparte's Gulls in Lake Michigan. They were not able to actually photograph the gull because the distance was too great. The photo above was provided by Wikipedia and is actually a breeding bird with a black head. The black color of the head is reduced to a black dot in winter plumage. The adult Little gull they saw stood from the other gulls because its underwings were black versus the gray color of the other gulls.
-Dave also observed the season's first Purple Sandpiper (photo on right) along the western edge of Ludington Harbor's south breakwater. The Purple Sandpiper has distinctive orange legs and an orange base to the bill. This juvenile has white-edged feathers which will be replaced by solid gray (with a purplish tinge) when it matures. |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister) |
-The above bird is a rather tame female Harlequin Duck and was observed by Dave Dister along the south breakwater of the Ludington Harbor. According to Dave the bird has been in the harbor since November 6th. Harlequin Ducks breed along rocky streams in the mountains and are often attracted to man-made breakwaters during migration. |
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave Dister observed a pair of Dunlins at the south breakwater of the Ludington Harbor. Note the bird on the right which has a slightly longer bill. This bird is mostly likely a female as their bills average longer than males. According to Dave, most Dunlins will pass through Michigan by the end of November. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave Dister observed a Dunlin(on the left) in basic winter plumage on the Lake Michigan shoreline by the Beach House at Ludington State Park. There was also an immature Bald Eagle being harassed by gulls. In addition, offshore there were some 200 Long-tailed ducks, four White-winged Scoters, seven common loons as well as other waterfowl migrating during the 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM period. |
 
(Photos Provided by Dave Dister and taken at the Ludington Harbor Breakwaters)
-Observations of Lapland Longspurs by Dave Dister at the Ludington Harbor Breakwater and the Mason County Airport. According to Dave we should be on the lookout for snow buntings as they will be passing through soon. |
 (Photo Provided by Dave Dister and was Taken in September, 2009 at Ludington State Park)
-Dave Dister observed a pair of lapland longspurs on the east end of the south pier at Ludington Harbor. During migration these birds may land briefly to forage in agricultural fields. They are not easily distinguished from sparrows. Their rattle flight calls can be a big help in their identification. |
(Photo Provided by Dave Dister)
-Dave Dister observed this rare Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the south pier of the Ludington Harbor. This sandpiper breeds in the high arctic and is usually rather tame when seen. This one however was quite skittish. |
  
White-Rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Immature Buff-Breasted
Sandpiper
(Photos Provided by Wikipedia)
-Joe Lipar from Big Rapids visited the Ludington Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and observed the birds above. |
(Photo Provided by Wikipedia)
-A female or immature North Shoveler was observed by Dave Dister at the (WWTP). Although this duck is very rare in mid-summer, this bird may represent a very early fall migrant. |
(Photo is actually of an adult male)
-A juvenile Wilson's Phalarope (rather rare in this area) was observed by Dave Dister at the Ludington WWTP in the morning. The observation occurred at the western most impoundment at the south end where the grassy mudflats occur. |
-A Short-billed Dowitcher was also observed by Dave Dister at The Ludington WWTP in the same location. |
(Photo Provided by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology)
-An adult Virginia Rail and two small black chicks were observed at Ludington WWTP by Dave Dister in the westernmost impoundment/wetlands. |
 
(Photos Provided by Wikipedia)
-A pair of Wilson's Phalaropes(male & female) in breeding plumage were observed in the morning at the Ludington WWTP by Dave Dister, et al. The birds were spinning in circles(i.e. foraging in shallow water at the north end of the westernmost impound/wetland). This sighting was during a field trip for the West Michigan Birding Festival. |
(Photo provided by Dave Dister)
-During the North American Migration Count, several rare Cliff Swallows were observed in the company of many Tree Swallows, as well as other swallows. Two birds were in the bluff overlook at the Ludington Pumped Storage reservoir, while a third bird was seen(and photographed) at Buttersville Park on the south-side of Ludington. Both obvervations were made by Dave Dister. |
(Photo Provided by Wikipedia)
-A female ruff, an Old World species, was observed at the Ludington WWTP along the edges of the middle lagoon behind the administration building. This species is so rare that a written rare bird document will be submitted to the Michigan Birds Records Committee. The observation was made by Dave Dister. |
Photo provided by Dave Dister)
-Three Willets reported by Rob Allard Jr. at the Ludington Waste Water Plant(WWTP) around the edges of the middle lagoon. This very large shorebird with bold black & white wings breeds in the northern Great Plains, and is a rare migrant through Michigan. |
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