January 24, 2021 - Happy as a Lark

Horned Larks in a corn field southwest of the 128th Avenue and Bingham Street intersection 1/24/21

Snow Buntings (primarily white, in background), Lapland Longspur (fourth bird from the right), and several Horned Larks feeding in a field 1/24/21 

On a cold Sunday morning on January 24, 2021, I received a text message from a birding friend named Lonny. The conditions (cold and snowy) were good for seeing a flock of Horned Larks that morning, so Lonny let me know in a text that he was on his way to see if they were at their common locale of 128th Avenue and Bingham Street in West Olive. I had previously informed him of my bad luck of being unable to get a good look at a Horned Lark, so I appreciated that Lonny was very willing to make sure I would have my chance to see them.   

Snow Buntings and Horned Larks taking flight 1/24/21

Minutes later, I found out via text that Lonny's hunch was right: he saw a large flock of Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, and even some Lapland Longspurs (another new bird I was hoping to see) hopping around the fields in this area southwest of the intersection. I quickly jumped in my car and drove to meet him to see these birds. When I arrived, I was amazed at the flocks of Horned Lark flying overhead and the puffed up Lapland Longspur that was sitting near some stalks of corn that Lonny quickly pointed out to me. I spent an hour plus with him and one of his birding friends (another successful area birder) watching the aerial acrobatics of these flocks flying around and landing in different sectors of these corn fields. Both Lonny and his friend were able to point out the distinctive call notes of both the Horned Larks and the Lapland Longspurs, which was a helpful tool of identification to learn for these birds. I stayed another 20 minutes after Lonny and his friend had left and fortunately for me the birds moved in closer to the road (most of the time we were out there the birds stayed out about 100 feet plus in the fields), so I was able to get some good (but not great since the birds were still far away) photos of these birds. 

 

Snow bunting (furthest back bird; white); Lapland Longspur (in front of Snow Bunting), and Horned Larks feeding in a corn field 1/24/31

Horned Larks can be found in Southwest Michigan year round (and even as far north as the Arctic circle) and are known for their black curved mask, yellow face, tendency to flock in large groups, and black horns (my favorite feature). These birds are especially common foraging in bare fields (like the corn fields in the West Olive area) with other bird species in the winter, including Longspurs and Snow Buntings. The Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs are seasonal visitors from the Arctic circle. Soon in very early spring these winter visitors will make that remarkable journey back north to their breeding grounds near where the Hudson Bay meets the Arctic Ocean. 

Horned Lark showing off its horns 1/31/21

After enjoying these three species of birds, I quickly raced to Pigeon Lake in Port Sheldon. Unfortunately, the numerous Scaup and Redhead ducks I saw the night prior were nowhere to be found. Not wanting to end my day birding early, I was reminded that the night previous I saw that a Northern Pintail had been sighted at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids. Having not yet birded at Riverside Park, I was able to quickly decide it would be worth a try to see this unique duck that would be a lifer for me.

 

 See the blue pins on Google Maps for where each species was found. 

Domestic Goose x Canada Goose Hybrid  at Riverside Park, the byproduct of the forbidden love of a Canada Goose and a domestic goose 1/24/21

After a 45 minutes drive, I was able to park at the southern end of Riverside Park near boat launch number 1. I raced out of the car with my binoculars and camera in hand to look for this duck. The snowy conditions in the morning had since diminished and turned into a pleasant winter day in the afternoon. These conditions resulted in the park being filled with exercisers, fisherman, couples going for a walk, and families strolling around. While they were doing their own activities to enjoy the park, I was enamored with the sight of this beautiful male Northern Pintail. This bird typically is only found here in migration from its summer grounds in northern Canada and its winter grounds in the southern United States, but for some reason this bird was residing near downtown Grand Rapids in late January. 

Male Northern Pintail swimming in the Grand River at Riverside Park 1/24/21

Leucitic Mallard resting on the ice 1/24/21

Other highlights at Riverside Park included a leucitic Mallard (lacks some but not all pigment), a domestic goose x Canada Goose hybrid, an American Wigeon, and an American Black Duck. The American Wigeon, like the Pintail, was also a rarity for this time of the year. This bird is typically found in northwest Canada during the summer and the southern United States and Mexico for the winter (the previous time I had seen one was in Arizona in January), but it apparently decided to stay put for the winter and can still be found at Riverside Park in February. The American Black Duck, which looks like a darker version of a female mallard, can be found in Michigan year round; however, this duck seems to be more plentiful in the winter as some of the northern dwelling Canadian forest ducks reside down here in the winter. Unfortunately for the Black Duck, the clearing of forests in the north and the hybridizing with the more plentiful Mallard raises concerns for the future of this mute-colored yet beautiful duck.

American Black Duck, which looks similar to a female Mallard but noticeably darker, swimming next to a sleeping American Wigeon. 1/24/21

A sleeping American Wigeon, dreaming about being back in the presence of fellow Wigeons instead of being surrounded by the noisy Mallards and Canada Geese of its current environ. 1/24/21

After about a half-hour enjoying these birds and getting some photos, I decided it was time to head home. On my drive home, I realized that I was truly as happy as a lark: happy that I have been able to participate in this hobby extensively since March of 2020, happy for the way it helps me alleviate stress by having "nature therapy", happy for the birds I was able to see, and especially happy for the community of birders (like Lonny) that has been welcoming and encouraging to a new birder like myself.