The Houghton Lake Field Trip

Houghton Lake is our traditional first of the year field trip and, as it occurs in April, the weather conditions can sometimes be a little daunting. This year was no exception, with a high temperature in the 40's and strong winds blowing throughout the day. Nevertheless, six locals carpooled up to meet Jack and Joanne Bouck at the south boat launch parking area to begin the trip.

A cold gathering at the gazebo

A check of Houghton Lake from that location yielded our first great birds of the day, including several Common Loon, Hooded, Red-breasted and Common Merganser, an amazing flock of fifteen or more Horned Grebe and a single Red-throated Loon, a life bird for several of the group.

The Great Blue Heron rookery

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron Rookery

At a stop just up Old US 27 to the gazebo area we had great looks at Osprey, Bonaparte's Gull, Gadwall, American Coot, Bald Eagle, and heard our first Swamp Sparrow.

Osprey returning to its mate

Osprey pair on the nest

A little further up the road we stopped to check on the Great Blue Heron rookery that has been visible from US 127 for many years. There were nearly 40 heron hunkered down on the nests, but we did not see the Great Horned Owl that has been using one of the heron nests for the past several years.

Our Porcupine

Don't mess with me!

Slipping over to Michelson's Landing we had a great encounter with a very shy porcupine. It was relatively secure high in a tree, but consistently managed to put the trunk between itself and us. It was funny to watch it move at a slow sloth-like rate of speed higher up the tree. This stop also gave us good looks at Fox Sparrow and another Common Loon but we failed to find the Trumpeter Swans that we have seen there the past couple of years.

After the field trip we retired to Coyles Restaurant in Houghton Lake for a nice, leisurely lunch before making the drive back to Mount Pleasant.

Incoming!!! Osprey have problems too!

All in all, species diversity was down, due to the wind and chilly weather, but the quality was certainly great, as was the company. The following participated in the outing: Everett Schafer, Myles McNally, Jim Dealing, Stan Lilley, new CVAC members Pat and Debra Muldoon, and Jack and Joanne Bouck.

Trip list:

• Canada Goose
• Wood Duck
• Gadwall
• Mallard
• Ring-necked Duck
• Greater Scaup
• Bufflehead
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Red-throated Loon
• Common Loon
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Horned Grebe
• Great Blue Heron
• Turkey Vulture
• Osprey
• Bald Eagle
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Wilson's Snipe
• Bonaparte's Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Rock Pigeon
• Mourning Dove
• Eastern Phoebe
• American Crow
• Common Raven
• Tree Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• American Robin
• European Starling
• American Tree Sparrow
• Fox Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Swamp Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• American Goldfinch
• House Sparrow