Common Loon - 01 Apr 2026
The weather rollercoaster here in SE Michigan has hit its valley. Yesterday temperatures hit 70ºF before a storm front hit and now it is 34ºF this morning under overcast/dark skies. But, I was curious to see if any new birds arrived in the area since Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown Thrasher and Field Sparrow were reported yesterday at Oakwoods Metropark. I decided to check out the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (a semi-truck fire had I-75 closed in Monroe and ruled out a trip to Erie Marsh). Arriving at about 8:30 I drove down to the fishing pier to see if any Common Loons might be hanging around - they are migrating along the Detroit River about this time. Initial scans of the river produced no birds, but I soon spotted a single Common Loon just north of the easternmost portion of pier. Grabbing the scope and 200-600mm lens I headed down to the pier. The Common Loon , already in breeding plumage, was quietly diving in the river ve...
