2010-11-03 Holland Ponds - 2010 October and September Observations

2010-11-03 Holland Ponds - Multiple Trips

Holland Ponds is in Macomb County off Ryan Rd. just north of 22 Mile Rd.

Several trips! Hamlin Road construction is finally finished and we now go more directly and more often to our favorite near-by spot again. I think it is important to frequently visit the same place (if possible) to record seasonal variations in the avifauna. Besides that, it is much cheaper on gas, and something to do on the spur of the moment. And, of course, our motto ("You never know ...") always drives us forth.

This blog is still "in process" like road construction, so please come back! I have all of the records from eBird here, but I intend to add more pics as soon as we stop "going" and start "doing".

During the time period in September and October, we watched the Holland Ponds trees turn pretty colors and then lose their leaves. We have one tree in particular that Judy photographs each time to show the progression. Fall fell, and the tree is now barren.

This is the first year we learned that many knowledgeable people park at Holland Ponds to take a hike to Yates Cider Mill as a fall adventure. Yates is located at Dequindre and Avon / 23 Mile Rd. and is normally a "zoo" for parking and traffic. If you go out the back end of Holland Ponds to the right, you soon will find a trail that goes down some stairs to a path along the Clinton River  and a good trail that takes you to Yates Cider Mill. You can grab some cider and donuts to fortify yourself for the return walk. We often recently saw folks walking at Holland Ponds with a partially empty half-gallon of cider. We also saw a really buff guy carrying a full gallon in one hand and a half-gallon in the other followed distantly by his whining ("I'm tired") companion. Ah, yes; the toll of the return trip must be considered! We also saw fairly young and still energetic (donuts are rather energizing I think) kids with their parents, so it is quite "doable" for a family. It is more barren now, but still a nice hike.

Cool birds - new records! This was a wonderful thing to do more consistently than ever before. I have to remember to try it more frequently in the spring if I can just get the "sirens" (think Greek mythology and sailors) of new bird postings elsewhere calling me away.

Notes:

1) All of the listings below were taken from eBird emails sent to me because I checked the request e-mail  box when I submitted the data. I am a firm believer in eBird (Cornell University). I have the opportunity to add to the global birding database. It also makes it so easy to share my listings.

2) I am still a very inexperienced birder and only record those birds for which I am positive of IDs. I have pics to process that will add to the lists below. And, that is OK with eBird as well. Cornell allows me to update my eBird lists later as I process photos and discover additions or changes.

3) I am not sure of the real percentage, but I guess I miss maybe 10 to 20% of the birds I actually see. (Hey! That was something different.) I am also positive I miss maybe another 30 - 40% of the birds I only hear.(Hey! That was something different.) Anyway, I am learning. Yet I know really good records are out there for an experienced birder to add to Holland Ponds.

4) It was wonderfully special for me this year to propose Holland Ponds as an eBird "Hot Spot" and have it accepted! I know there are many birders who have personal eBird checklists from Holland Ponds, and I encourage you to please merge them into the newly recognized Hot Spot. In today's economy, all municipal expenses are being scrutinized, and I fear that Shadbush Nature Center (that oversees Holland Ponds) may face a fate like Lloyd Stage Nature Center in Troy (even the Troy Public Library for that matter) and be closed.
Economic times are hard. On the other hand, it was wonderful to be involved with a recent birding issue about Robert Long Nature Park in Commerce Twp. and see the impact of a consolidated eBird list and active support of the birding community. I truly know we make a difference when we get out acts together! Please help Shadbush Nature Center and me have access to similar info (just in case) by merging your lists to show the strongest possible number of birds that are residents or visitors at Holland Ponds.

The following lists are from eBird with additional notes and species comments added here.

Observation date: 10/29/10
Notes: First MINK we have seen there (two views - unfortunately no pics - fast little guy!). Also a sunning snapping turtle and an Inky-cap mushroom that had obviously erected to full height just today. Nice day - 50 degrees, sunny, medium winds. Generally it was a slow day, but the mink sighting and Kinglet activity alone were well worth the visit. Wow! "You never know..."
Number of species: 12

Canada Goose 8
Wood Duck 1 - Napping
Mallard 30

Downy Woodpecker 4

Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 - Unafraid! Best pics ever!!! These two guys allowed me to get quite close.
Song Sparrow 4
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet with bizarre fly

Ruby-crowned Kinglet in a rarely observed milli-second pose of imagined glee

Observation date: 10/27/10
Notes: 63 degrees. Extremely windy!
Number of species: 10
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 40
Pied-billed Grebe 1 (I think really cool for Holland Ponds!!)
Ring-billed Gull 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 6


Observation date: 10/19/10

Notes: 47 degrees to 52 degrees. Sunny and cool!

Number of species: 11

Canada Goose 15
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 36
Mourning Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 2 - One male perched, then chasing another kingfisher for quite awhile. I lucked into a fantastic shot of a Kingfisher flying!
Black-capped Chickadee 4

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 - First for us in Michigan! Busy in bushes.

White-throated Sparrow 2 - First for us in Michigan! At "first fishing access" on left near entrance.  (see photo)

Northern Cardinal 1

Red-winged Blackbird 20

Common Grackle 15

Belted Kingfisher in flight

(I am still working to improve the photographic quality of this ... Jerry Jourdan showed me what is possible - thanks so much Jerry! - and I am getting closer, but I've not completed my "lesson plan" yet ...)



Observation date: 10/17/10
Notes: 64 degrees
Number of species: 16

Canada Goose 4
Wood Duck 3
Mallard 36
Great Blue Heron 1
Mourning Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6
Red-winged Blackbird 17
Common Grackle 10
American Goldfinch 2



Observation date: 10/14/10
Notes: Had rained yesterday. Today was 60 degrees and sunny. Also saw three butterflies (white; yellow; and Buckeye) and several dragonflies.
Number of species: 6

The most exciting thing was seeing the streaked breasts of the Waxwings. Different looking! Also great to still see the Common Buckeye butterflies still around! Otherwise not too much excitement.

Canada Goose 4
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 40
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Cedar Waxwing 20 Many young ones with streaked breasts!
Common Grackle 1



Observation date: 10/12/10
Notes: 54-62 degrees. Saw several painted turtles.
Number of species: 19

Canada Goose 10
Wood Duck 3 - Heard a really weird noise. I kept looking around, and Judy told me it was the duck. It was the female WD. Standing on a log, lowering its head snakelike while making the noise. It was the first time we ever heard this sound. I gotta tell you, "it don't quack like a duck"!
Mallard 39
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Belted Kingfisher 1 - Heard only.
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Eastern Bluebird 1
American Robin 1
Cedar Waxwing X
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 4  - First here for us!
sparrow sp. X (Working on pics ...)
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 15

Observation date: 10/9/10
Notes: 70 degrees; sunny. Painted turtle, yellow butterfly, white butterfly. Two species of dragonflies.
The most amazing thing today was that I "pished up" a chickadee I heard and it drew closer. It perched on nearby branches. Feeling in my pockets, I found a half-dozen seeds from a prior trip to Kensington MP, and while pishing, extended my hand with the few seeds. The chickadee came within three inches of my outstretched hand several times. It never quite made a landing - I only had a few token seeds. It was certainly a remarkable occurrence. Other than at Kensington, this is the only time where this has ever happened to me! I just gotta wonder if it was a displaced "Kensington chick" that had learned the behavior.
Number of species: 13

Canada Goose 6
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 20
Pied-billed Grebe 1 - First one we have seen here!
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 1
Cedar Waxwing 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
White-crowned Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 11
American Goldfinch 1

Observation date: 10/6/10
Notes: 72 degrees
Number of species: 12

Mallard X
Mourning Dove 3
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Cedar Waxwing 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 4
American Goldfinch 1

Observation date: 9/30/10

Notes: 72-73 degrees; sun/clouds. Also butterflies: yellow, white, Buckeye. Painted Turtles.
Number of species: 14

Canada Goose 6
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Heard only
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 4
Black-capped Chickadee 1
American Robin 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 6 West of shelter
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 1


Observation date: 9/24/10

Notes: 80-83 degrees; very windy!
Number of species: 9

Canada Goose 1
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 19
Great Blue Heron 1
Mourning Dove 2
Blue Jay 20
American Robin X
Red-winged Blackbird X
American Goldfinch 8

Observation date: 9/21/10

Notes: 72 - 78 degrees. Sunny.
Number of species: 14

Canada Goose 2
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 12
Great Egret 1
hawk sp. 2
Ring-billed Gull 1
Mourning Dove 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Gray Catbird 1 Heard only
Cedar Waxwing 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 8 Eating poison ivy berries!
House Finch 1


Observation date: 9/12/10
Notes: Weird day! Lots of juveniles who look quite unlike bird book pics!

Also saw snake, grass frog, buckeye butterfly (and another good b'fly).
Number of species: 7

Mallard 11
hawk sp. 1 - From a very quick view as it flew away, it looked mostly white like a seagull. Maybe an osprey? Certainly not a gull.
Belted Kingfisher 1 - Came out of forest over our heads. Rattling. Great views!
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1 Heard only.
Black-capped Chickadee 1 - Heard only.
Cedar Waxwing 12 - Lots of juveniles. Mostly gray with streaked breasts. Acting like swallows eating bugs over lake (but higher than swallows do ...). Quite different!
Northern Cardinal 5