Monroe Co. Highlights - 30 Oct 2010
Lotus Rd. mudflats, Monroe, Michigan, US
Oct 30, 2010 7:30 AM - 7:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Overcast, 35F, stiff breeze
1 species
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 120 Scattered across mudflats and field next to road. Counted by 2's
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I drove over to Erie Marsh and Bay Creek Rd. where I witnessed tens of thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings streaming west from the Lake Erie marshes. For a good half-hour the sky was thick with a river of black birds moving like a long ribbon being dragged through the sky.
Oct 30, 2010 7:30 AM - 7:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Overcast, 35F, stiff breeze
1 species
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 120 Scattered across mudflats and field next to road. Counted by 2's
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I drove over to Erie Marsh and Bay Creek Rd. where I witnessed tens of thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings streaming west from the Lake Erie marshes. For a good half-hour the sky was thick with a river of black birds moving like a long ribbon being dragged through the sky.
Erie SGA--Bay Creek Rd., Monroe, Michigan, US
Oct 30, 2010 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Overcast, 34F, stiff breeze
2 species (+1 other taxa)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 100
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 100
blackbird sp. (Icteridae sp.) 5000 For 30 minutes a murmuration of Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings streamed west from the marshes over the freeway. the sky was thick with a river of black birds moving like a long ribbon being dragged through the sky.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
At 9 am I stopped by the J.R. Whiting Plant at the foot of Erie Rd. and walked down to the Lake Erie shoreline. Hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls were roosting on the exposed shoreline, which extended a hundred feet farther than normal (west winds were blowing the lake out toward Canada). As I scanned the mass I was able to pick out (6) Lesser Black-backed Gulls and (2) Greater Black-backed Gulls. Double-crested Cormorants were the only other birds seen.
I love the cinnamon coloration and bright yellow eyes of these birds. The juveniles are probably my favorites.
At the Headquarters I found Pat Gamburd photographing kinglets and chickadees near the gate, and later found Caleb Putnam scoping the mouth of the river for Cave Swallows. I spent the next hour or so with Caleb scanning the dozens of passing Tree Swallows with the hope of finding a Cave Swallow, but dipped. Jeff Schultz had seen a pair earlier in the morning at the boat launch at Lake Erie Metropark.
Caleb and I did see dozens of passing Bonaparte's Gulls, and hundreds of shorebirds out on the sand spits (mostly Dunlin with a half-dozen Black-bellied Plovers). Fly-by flocks of Horned Larks, Cedar Waxwings and American Pipits helped keep us occupied while we waited for the swallows that wouldn't show. The wind was howling at our backs, and I was shivering in the cold, so scoping and photography were extreme challenges.
Alas, we would dip on the Cave Swallows, but did have an otherwise good morning of birding.
Oct 30, 2010 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Overcast, 34F, stiff breeze
2 species (+1 other taxa)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 100
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 100
blackbird sp. (Icteridae sp.) 5000 For 30 minutes a murmuration of Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings streamed west from the marshes over the freeway. the sky was thick with a river of black birds moving like a long ribbon being dragged through the sky.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
At 9 am I stopped by the J.R. Whiting Plant at the foot of Erie Rd. and walked down to the Lake Erie shoreline. Hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls were roosting on the exposed shoreline, which extended a hundred feet farther than normal (west winds were blowing the lake out toward Canada). As I scanned the mass I was able to pick out (6) Lesser Black-backed Gulls and (2) Greater Black-backed Gulls. Double-crested Cormorants were the only other birds seen.
J.R. Whiting Power Plant, Monroe, Michigan, US
Oct 30, 2010 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
4 species
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 100
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) 6 adults w/ dark mantles, yellow legs and dirty heads w/ dark patches over eye.
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 12
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I then made a stop at Sterling State Park, where small flocks of Northern Shovelers were mixed with Green-winged Teal in the pond near the entrance to the bike path.
Oct 30, 2010 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
4 species
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 100
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) 6 adults w/ dark mantles, yellow legs and dirty heads w/ dark patches over eye.
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 12
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
The large pond surrounded by the bike path held a hundred Bonaparte's Gulls, more Green-winged Teal, and a pair of Greater Yellowlegs. A small flock of Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets flitted past me, but lighting was horrible for photography.
Sterling SP, Monroe, Michigan, US
Oct 30, 2010 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Overcast, cold, 35F, windy
6 species
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 10
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 9
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2 Mudflats next to the bike path and first pond at entrance to park. Tall shorebirds w/ yellow legs, and slightly upturned bills 1.5X the width of the head.
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 95
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I then drove north toward Pt. Mouillee SGA and made stops at Riverside Park and the Headquarters. The large pond across from Riverside Park held a few dozen shorebirds, including Pectoral Sandpipers and Dunlin. Among the Pectoral Sandpipers, however, were a dozen or so Baird's Sandpipers that were easily seen with their distinct breast bands. The Dunlin were farther out, and feeding among several Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. No Long-billed Dowitchers or Stilt Sandpipers were seen today.
I found Will Weber and Larry Urbanski scoping the mouth of the Huron River from Riverside Park. They were looking for Cave Swallows that had been reported the last few days since the big wind storm earlier in the week. I joined them for a few minutes scoping the dozens of Bonaparte's Gulls, Dunlin, and Tree Swallows before heading over to the Headquarters on Campau Rd.
Oct 30, 2010 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Overcast, cold, 35F, windy
6 species
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 10
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 9
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2 Mudflats next to the bike path and first pond at entrance to park. Tall shorebirds w/ yellow legs, and slightly upturned bills 1.5X the width of the head.
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 95
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I found Will Weber and Larry Urbanski scoping the mouth of the Huron River from Riverside Park. They were looking for Cave Swallows that had been reported the last few days since the big wind storm earlier in the week. I joined them for a few minutes scoping the dozens of Bonaparte's Gulls, Dunlin, and Tree Swallows before heading over to the Headquarters on Campau Rd.
Riverfront Park and Harbin Rd. (Wayne Co.), Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 30, 2010 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
As I drove down Campau Rd. I stopped at the small creeks and found dozens of Rusty Blackbirds feeding within feet of the road. I took the opportunity to digiscope the birds at close range. Passing traffic tended to scare them away, but they returned to pick and probe under leaves lying atop the exposed mudflats.
Oct 30, 2010 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
8 species
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 2
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 16
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) 12 Among the Pectoral Sandpipers, however, were a dozen or so Baird's Sandpipers that were easily seen with their distinct breast bands. Bibs were much shorter than the bibs on the Pecs.
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) 6
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 12
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 24
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 2
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 16
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) 12 Among the Pectoral Sandpipers, however, were a dozen or so Baird's Sandpipers that were easily seen with their distinct breast bands. Bibs were much shorter than the bibs on the Pecs.
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) 6
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 12
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 2
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 24
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
At the Headquarters I found Pat Gamburd photographing kinglets and chickadees near the gate, and later found Caleb Putnam scoping the mouth of the river for Cave Swallows. I spent the next hour or so with Caleb scanning the dozens of passing Tree Swallows with the hope of finding a Cave Swallow, but dipped. Jeff Schultz had seen a pair earlier in the morning at the boat launch at Lake Erie Metropark.
Alas, we would dip on the Cave Swallows, but did have an otherwise good morning of birding.
Pte. Mouillee SGA--HQ, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 30, 2010 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Ran into Caleb Putnam at HQ scoping for Cave Swallows.
11 species
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) 6
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 60
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 36
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) 6
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 28
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 6
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 3
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 26
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Oct 30, 2010 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Ran into Caleb Putnam at HQ scoping for Cave Swallows.
11 species
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) 6
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 60
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 36
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) 6
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 28
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 6
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 3
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 26
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
