Bowditch Point

Plans are sometimes meant to be broken and today was one of those days. As of yesterday I became an 'official' volunteer for the Lee Co Bird Patrol and my friend Elaine and I had planned to go to Lakes Park and do some data collection. Well, with some delays, some thunder/lightning and rain, we ended up tweaking our plans and decided to go to the Bowditch Point in search of the White-crowned Sparrow that has been reported there lately.

We arrived at the beach and had no problem finding a parking spot - we set out toward the point and watched 11 Wilson Plover braving the elements.

A banded Piping Plover was spotted on the beach too. Those little bands tell a story - so I went to a few sites, asked some questions and have received the clues to my questions after contacting plover@umn.edu - this is what Alice Van Zoeren shared:
It's one of the chicks that was captive-reared last summer after one of the parents disappeared (probably caught by a Merlin) and the nest was abandoned. When that happens the eggs are collected and incubated at our captive rearing facility at the University of Michigan Biological Station near Pellston, MI. The resulting chicks are raised until they are flying well, then are released with wild-reared chicks of similar age. This chick was released at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on North Manitou Island..

Some rain showers were observed in the distant shore.

A colorful Brown Pelican cruising by - notice the neck feathers and how they are now chocolate brown.

A few of them have prime waterfront property.

This side, with a different message is taken at face value.....

as we can tell by the way the Black Skimmers are passing by.

I like the name of this sailboat! Funny that it came into view because I've been thinking about Sea Turtle Season and how it will begin in just a few short months.

After spending time searching and finding the White-Crowned Sparrow (sorry no photo) with Ed Combs, we walked over to the parking lot and Ed mentioned to come over and take a look at the Common Loon - who sang to him.

It swam by several times and found some juicy morsels to munch on.

Well, folks - what is not to like about this Common Loon! Our plans were apparently meant to be broken and in the process we were rewarded with sweet surprises. Thank You!

Happy Birding! My E-Bird List for today.