Grass River NA - 12 Dec 2009


Robin and I drove up to Central Lake (Antrim Co.) to check on the condo (hadn't been up there in almost 2 months). A storm warning was in effect, so we rode the tail end into town. We arrived late Friday nite to 12-18" of snow. Kudos to the county, however, for the roads were plowed and driveable! Winter has arrived to Michigan's NW Lower Peninsula.

Saturday morning arrived and we took a ride to Grass River Natural Area for a morning hike. We were the only ones there, and the first to arrive since the snow. Only a few deer prints were all that greeted us.

As we tromped past the nature center I heard the thin 'tseet' of a Brown Creeper, and soon found it working a nearby tree trunk. This dry-brush filter, applied in Photoshop, to a so-so image salvaged the picture for me. The woods were quiet, otherwise: a single Blue Jay, and Black-capped Chickadee.


I walked toward the boat dock and took in the quiet and beauty that surrounded me. The skies were sunny, and there was no wind.


Out in the Clam River a pair of Common Goldeneye were swimming near a small raft of Bufflehead, a pair of Black Duck and a pair of Tundra Swans. They were a bit too far to digiscope, so I opted just for a photo from a distance.

Walking back to the car we paused for a rest and a few more photos of the snow-laden trees.


As we drove back to the condo I came across a Common Raven perched next to the road. I stopped and grabbed a few images from across the road.


Grass River Natural Area, Antrim, Michigan, US
Dec 12, 2009 8:30 AM - 9:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     12-18" snow last evening!
8 species

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)  1
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  1
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  4
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42260569

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)