Bald Eagle @ Pt. Mouillee - 13 Dec 1987
13Dec87 Pt. Mouillee
0900 hrs. Overcast and windy today. Temps in low 30's. Out here on the dike, the windchill factor must be about 10 below. Aside from a
Few Herring Gulls, there aren't a lot of birds about.
Few Herring Gulls, there aren't a lot of birds about.
Out in the water, there are small rafts of Common Mergansers, mostly young and females. Also out in the water are a few Common Goldeneyes and a few Great Black-backed Gulls.
As I walk along the dike, i need to keep bundled up, as the wind is quite gusty. A lone duck hunter is coming in off the lake and is heading for the inland marsh. As I reached the end of the dike road i looked out over the lake toward the small island, and noticed a huge dark bird overshadowing the gulls that are milling about. At first i thought it was a Great Blue Heron, but then i notice the white tail and broad wings. No doubt about it, it is an adult Bald Eagle.
The bird circled low over the water, and then disappeared into the
trees. I stopped and watched for a while, but couldn't see it.
trees. I stopped and watched for a while, but couldn't see it.
As i approached the first diking system i spotted a few American Tree Sparrows and European Starlings. A Snow Bunting popped out of the reeds and flew a few yards away from me. The whiteness in the body and the buffy spots on the cheeks and wings gave it away.
As i returned toward the car, the Bald Eagle flew out onto a bare branch where i was able to get a good look at its white head and tail.
Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
Dec 13, 1987 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Gusty winds, temps in 30's w/ windchill near zero.
8 species
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 10
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 25
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 First Bald Eagle at Pt. Mouillee I ever saw; adult w/ white head and tail.
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 3
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Dec 13, 1987 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Gusty winds, temps in 30's w/ windchill near zero.
8 species
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 10
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 25
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 10
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1 First Bald Eagle at Pt. Mouillee I ever saw; adult w/ white head and tail.
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 3
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) 1
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
