American Golden Plovers - 05 Sep 2004

05 September 2004 Monroe County area

0900 Hrs.  Its Saturday morning and I’m heading back down to Monroe to see if any shorebirds are still hanging out at the sod farm off Bluebush Rd.  Its sunny but forecasts call for high winds and hot temps (mid 90’s).  

As I arrive at the sod farm I find no trace of birds – the grass had been harvested and any wet spots have quickly dried.  

A drive down to Erie Marsh turned up only blackbirds, and while talking to a local I’ve been told that the marsh is closed to everyone in preparation for waterfowl season that’s supposed to start on the 15th.  So, after a short walk I head back to the car and decide to work my way home via US-Turnpike and Pt. Mouillee.

1100 Hrs.  As I drive north along the Turnpike I looked left into the fresh-plowed fields and thought I saw a plover of some sort.  I quickly pulled over, and got out my binoculars.  Not one, but 17 American Golden Plovers are bunched together in the field.  Quickly I get my scope and camera and head across the road to get some images.  After first getting an accurate count (including a single Black-bellied Plover) I proceeded to try to get some pics.  However, the wind is gusting 20-30 mph and with truck traffic whizzing by its impossible to get a decent image.  So all I can do is ‘document’ the birds.  As I scan the fields for birds I pick up some Horned Larks and a 3 Baird’s Sandpipers.  I then rushed home to post the sighting on the Mich-Listers bulletin board.
     
I've posted two images of the Golden Plovers at the address below: 
I was reluctant to get closer to the birds due to the high heat and humidity so I had to scope them from the edge of the highway. Passing traffic and humidity can wreak havoc on digiscopers...

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
Sep 5, 2004 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
4 species

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)  1
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)  17     As I drove north along US Turnpike across from Pt. Moo I looked left into the fresh-plowed fields and thought I saw a plover of some sort.  I quickly pulled over, and got out my binoculars.  Not one, but 17 American Golden Plovers are bunched together in the field.  Quickly I get my scope and camera and head across the road to get some images.  After first getting an accurate count (including a single Black-bellied Plover) I proceeded to try to get some pics.  However, the wind is gusting 20-30 mph and with truck traffic whizzing by its impossible to get a decent image.  So all I can do is ‘document’ the birds
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)  3     in field w/ American Golden-plovers. Peeps - brown w/ black legs and straight black bills. Scalloped back feathers. Buffy necklace distinct from Semipalms.
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S41718307

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

PS. The sod farm in Monroe Co (next to Sandy Creek Golf Course) had been mowed and puddles had dried up - no shorebirds. 

Erie Marsh Closed! I went down to Erie Marsh and was informed by a local that it is now closed (as of Sep 1) until Jan 1 for duck hunting. I was allowed to wander back since noone was around and managed 
only: 

3500 Red-winged Blackbirds 
a few Blue-winged Teal 
Kingfisher 
Green Heron 
 

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
Sep 5, 2004 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     while talking to a local I’ve been told that the marsh is closed to everyone in preparation for waterfowl season that’s supposed to start on the 15th.
4 species

Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  4
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  3500     Large flock in field east of entrance. Count by 10's to 100 then by 100's. No starling or grackles among them.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S183584880

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