Search for Cinnamon Teal - 31 Mar 1988

31Mar88 Pt Mouillee, MI

1830 Hrs.  Talked to Bill Rapai yesterday.  He said that a Cinnamon Teal has been sighted in the marsh off Siegler Road just at the parking lot sight.  He wanted to go down and look for it.  We agreed to meet at the parking lot at this time.  Weather is cloudy and mild. Temps in low 50's.  

Dusk is coming early tonight because of the clouds but the skies have a brilliant crimson glow off in the west.  As I got out of the car i spotted a pair of Blue-winged Teal next to shore.  Right next to them are a pair of Northern Shovelers (also male & female).  Scanning the near shore to the south I spotted a solitary Pied-billed Grebe in breeding plumage go under water.  Further out along the southern shoreline were a small flock of American Wigeons, more blue-wings, and a few pairs of Mallards.  

Since Bill wasn't there yet, I decided to walk the southern shore to get closer to the flock.  The marsh water level was low, so the fields were fairly dry, with the exception of some boggy areas. But the footing was 
easy as I walked in the knee deep grasses.  

As I walked I could see and hear the Red-winged Blackbirds displaying, calling and skirmishing.  Song sparrows were also active, as were the European Starlings and Common Grackles, which were starting to fly in from the dusky skies.  

I spotted a Great Blue Heron lifting itself out of the cattails out in the middle of the pond. As I stopped to observe the ducks, a flock of Blue-winged Teal whistled overhead (about 10-15 birds) displaying their blue and white speculum and white underparts.  Out in the pond was also a small group of Northern Shovelers, and a few more teal and Mallards.  

As Bill and Mary Rapai  arrived, we could find no trace of the Cinnamon Teal, but did manage to see a pair of Greater Yellowlegs fly in to shore.  We also saw a pair of Wood Ducks fly overhead and heard their whistling calls.  

Out in the distance the Spring Peepers began to chirp.  Also in the distance Canada Geese could be seen flying in to the marsh while honking.  

Overall a very good hour of birding!  As we got back to our cars and were ready to leave we heard a solitary American Woodcock "ZEEB"-ing out in the field somewhere.  Also saw a pair of Black-crowned Night Herons fly overhead.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
Mar 31, 1988 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Bill and Mary Rapai. A Cinnamon Teal was sighted previous day. We looked for it but could not relocate.
13 species

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  12     10-15 birds plus the pair originally seen
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)  2
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)  3     "flock" assumes more than 2...
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)  1
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  10

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S41422992

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)