West Michigan
Hall of Fame Birds
A collection of some of the rare birds seen visiting West Michigan throughout the years.
Photo Courtesy of: Jennifer Uppendahl
September 2023 - Kent County
Townsend’s Warbler
On September 9, 2023, Tim Ellens found an adult Townsend’s Warbler at Hodepyl Woods in East Grand Rapids. Tim alerted the rare bird Discord channel later that evening after reviewing the photos. Many birders visited the following day, but attempts to relocate the bird were unsuccessful. Click here to view Tim’s photo and ebird report.
March 2023 - Muskegon County
Slaty-backed Gull
On March 18, 2023, Alec Olivier and Morgan Waller again found an adult Slaty-backed Gull at the Muskegon Wastewater System. Morgan speculated this may be the same individual that they found here last November. The bird was still being observed through March 27, and frequented the center dike and the landfill area along with the thousands of Herring and Ring-billed gulls. Click on the thumbnail left to view Morgan’s original checklist with photos. Click here to view Amy Lyyski’s close-up photos taken March 21 on the center dike
December 2022 - Allegan County
Barrow’s Goldeneye
An adult male Barrow’s Goldeneye was spotted amongst thousands of Common Goldeneye gathered offshore at the Lakeshore Dr guardrail south of Douglas Beach Park in Allegan County by Rick Brigham December 21, 2022. The bird stayed at this location along with three Harlequin Ducks through at least February 5, 2023. Nearly every year a Barrow’s shows up at this popular winter waterfowl congregation location. Click on the thumbnail left to view Rick’s original checklist and photos.
November 2022 - Muskegon County
Slaty-backed Gull
On November 21, Alec Olivier and Morgan Waller discovered an adult Slaty-backed Gull amongst other gulls on the ice at Muskegon Wastewater’s east lagoon near the landfill. The rarity drew many observers and hung around through at least December 13. Bird was relocated in and around the aeration tank area north of the lagoons on November 27. Click on the thumbnail left to view Morgan’s checklist with photos taken by Alec. Click here to view more photos by Tori Martel. Click here to view close-up photos obtained by Daryl Bernard on the 27th at aeration tank area. Michael Boston also observed a Slaty-backed here on April 19, 2017 (see listing above).
November 2022 - Ottawa County
Black-legged Kittewake
Birding at Holland State Park in Ottawa Co November 12 proved quite eventful for Tom and Chris Black and Carl and Judi Manning when they spotted an immature Black-legged Kittiwake flying over Lake Michigan. The bird was only observed that day. Click on the thumbnail left to view the Mannings’ checklist with many photos.