Belle Isle Birding - 27 Jul 2019
Robin asked me to drive her to Detroit this morning to take a free Java script class. I would have 2 hours of free time, so I drove over to Belle Isle to look for birds. A Walk-for-Life event was occurring at the time, so I cruised slowly alongside the crowds until I reached the north end of the island.
The year's rains have flooded a portion of the north end of Belle Isle, so most of the roads were closed. But, I was able to park near the Nature Center (still open) and walk Center Road toward the tip. It was warm, humid and sunny, and I had the place practically to myself.
House Wrens were actively singing and nesting this morning. I managed to scare up a half-dozen birds that were not necessarily easy to photograph. However, I was able to get a few keeper pics.
I had not been here in the summer time in who-knows-how-long. I'm usually here on January 1 for the Christmas Bird Count, so the heat was not going to raise any complaints.
A pair of Great-crested Flycatchers were singing from the tree tops, and I managed a few digiscoped images of them.
A large portion of the oak forest has been decimated by blight, so many of the trees were bare snags. Water levels also created temporary marshes that were now home to a variety of dragonflies and butterflies. Widow Skimmers, 12-Spot Skimmers and Black Swallowtails were bouncing around in front of me.
A pair of Song Sparrows were on either side of the road singing to each other, and both close enough to digiscope.
Overhead a pair of juvenile Bald Eagles were soaring and calling, while another pair of Red-tailed Hawks were competing for air time, as well.
As I walked back to the car I stopped long enough to admire some of the pretty wildflowers. Turns out this Hairy Willow-Herb is an invasive (despite its beauty).
Oh, well. At least the Bald Eagles aren't.
All in all, a very nice 2 hour break in downtown Detroit!
Belle Isle, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jul 27, 2019 9:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: North end of island next to Nature Center. Rains have flooded north end of island so it is closed to auto traffic; Center road walkable.
17 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 36
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 6
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 6
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 2 juveniles soaring
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 2 pair on territory
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 6
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jul 27, 2019 9:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: North end of island next to Nature Center. Rains have flooded north end of island so it is closed to auto traffic; Center road walkable.
17 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 36
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 6
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 6
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 2 juveniles soaring
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 2 pair on territory
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 6
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S5
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
