Rusty Blackbird in February - 02 Feb 2026
I drove down to the fishing pier at the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge to check for ducks before heading to Lake Erie Metropark. Skies were partially clear but snow was forecasted (1") within the hour. Temperature was ~17ºF. As I approached the pier the ducks started scattering from under the structure so all I could do was point and shoot. Common Goldeneye drake. Female Bufflehead. Drake and hen Canvasback . Another female Common Goldeneye swam out from underneath the pier. It joined a pair of Hooded Mergansers getting away as fast as possible. This male Bufflehead was on the north side of the pier and was struggling against the river current. There was a raft of about 300 Lesser Scaup on the north side of the pier in the river but this was the only one close to the pier. Female Common Goldeneye . Bufflehead . The 200 or so Mute Swans congregating around the pier did not seem to care about my presence and slowly swam by. This one had ice ...
