November shorebirds - 04 Nov 2007

I took a drive down to Erie Marsh Preserve this morning to scope some gulls and possible shorebirds. Knowing that the place is closed because of duck hunting I scoped the open waters from the entrance. 

A group of (8) Greater Yellowlegs was foraging just a few feet away, so I got nice views through the scope. 

It was overcast this morning so the birds were backlit, but I managed to get some decent digiscoped images and a short video before they flew off. 

Off in the distance a raft of ~100 Ruddy Ducks floated near shore, seemingly unconcerned with the shooting nearby. A small flock of Ring-billed, Herring and Bonaparte's Gulls were roosting nearby. 

Lake levels appear to be real low as mudflats were everywhere. A group of 15 Killdeer were foraging near a lotus patch.

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
Nov 4, 2007 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Closed to Hunting. Stopped at entrance and scoped open water.
4 species

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  100
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  15
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  8
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  12

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42017438

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

I then stopped at the Whiting Power Plant at the foot of Erie Rd. and walked down to the beach. A pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets were chattering next to the fence and several Tree Sparrows were feeding among the phragmites. 

Walking the beach toward the warm water discharged I stopped and tried to digiscope a scolding Carolina Wren that was along the fenceline about 30 feet away. Try as I might I could not track the bird as it flitted among the branches, but it stopped long enough for me to get a digiscoped image at 1/17 sec. 

Out in the lake I saw dozens of Herring and Ring-billed Gulls but nothing else of interest.

Whiting Power Plant, Monroe, Michigan, US
Nov 4, 2007 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
5 species

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  40
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  20
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42017487

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

Driving north I stopped at Luna Pier and scoped a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls and saw several Forster's Terns.

The Pier at Luna Pier, Monroe, Michigan, US
Nov 4, 2007 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
2 species

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  2
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S170533080

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

A stop at Point Mouillee HQ yielded a Bonaparte's Gull next to shore. I took several digiscoped 

before a pair of Greater Yellowlegs flew in. I took a couple digiscoped images before they flushed. 

Out in the lake a flock of (35) Dunlin were on the mudflats along with another (6) Greater Yellowlegs.

Leaving for home I spotted (5) Great Egrets in the shallow waters of the Huron River.

Pte. Mouillee SGA--HQ, Wayne, Michigan, US
Nov 4, 2007 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Headquarters
4 species

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  7     1 flew in followed by 6 more.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  35
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42017568

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