From: 157ochs@wmich.edu
Subject: Birding in SW lower MI:Grand Mere
Date: 6 Apr 94 23:07:34 EST

In Southwest Lower Michigan, there is a place just west of Stevensville
known as Grand Mere.  It is located in the Lake Michigan Dunes just north
of the Cook Nuclear Plant, and there are several small lakes.  This is
a good place to observe migrating ducks and other birds.(BTW, take I-94,
get off at exit 22, and head west, until you come to Lincoln Township Park,
then go left on the dirtroad until you run out of road, then park.(You don't
need a permit to park here, as you would in the State Park,) then go walking
on the trail.  You will soon come to an open sandy area where you can climb 
up on a small dune with your binoculars and look out over one of the small
lakes.)
Here is a list of what I saw in the small lake I described above:
Mallards                B
Wood Ducks              B
American Wigeons        M
Ring-Necked Ducks       M
American Coot           B
Pied Billed Grebe       B
Hooded Merganser        M

B=breed in this area
M=seen only during migration.

While walking on the trails through the woods I observed  Tufted Titmice,
Black-capped Chickadees, and White-Breasted Nuthatches, which are here year-
round, and a migrating Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.
There are also Great Blue Herons here, and later on this month, Great Egrets
and Green Herons will soon arrive.  Warblers will soon be passing through as
well.  

This is one of the best birding places in SW Lower Michigan.
(BTW, this is where I spotted my first Red-winged Blackbird of the year,
around February 20.)


Jeff Ochs