Dark and Humid - 26 Aug 2022

My plan for going to Pt. Mouillee was waylaid this morning when ANOTHER flat tire (this time the rear tire) occurred. So, I headed down to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and Lake Erie Metropark.

At 8 am skies were dark and the air was heavy and humid. Despite being 70F the air felt soupy. I arrived at the refuge and entered the short loop. I was greeted by the chirping of a Carolina Wren near the river shoreline. As I walked the loop in a counterclockwise direction I could make out a Belted Kingfisher flying low over the still water. An Eastern Wood-Pewee called from overhead while a pair of House Wrens chattered away at the south tip.

I walked out to the Boardwalk and was able to make out a pair of Warbling Vireos high atop a dead snag. The Kingfisher flew across the delta and perched atop another snag while a dozen Great Egrets foraged along the far shoreline.

Baltimore Orioles were playing in the treetops as I headed back toward the entrance. As it was too dark to do any real photography I managed to capture a House Wren as it checked me out from a perch low to the ground.

A loud "WHIIIIP" directed me to a backlit view of a Great Crested Flycatcher. It continued on.

With no other prospects it was time to drive over to Lake Erie Metropark.

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Aug 26, 2022 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Skies dark and humid, air heavy
8 species

Great Egret (Ardea alba)  12
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S159195825

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

The Marshland Museum trails were equally quiet. And dark. Only the the distance sound of a lawn mower could be heard as I walked the east side of the loop.

A deeply-backlit Warbling Vireo appeared overhead as I neared the Trapper Run trail. Wood Ducks screeched from the nearby canal.

I finally got into a bit of action when a small flock of warblers moved through the trees at the north end just before the boardwalk. A Black-and-White Warbler was identifiable despite the low light and the gray skies. The rest weren't.

I would photograph lousy images of a Magnolia Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler and only identify them while post-processing the grainy images.

An Eastern Wood-Pewee appeared on the boardwalk and would prove to be the best image of the morning. Little guy was soaked!

I then headed home to buy another inner tube and tire for the bike.

Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US
Aug 26, 2022 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Dark, humid, air heavy
6 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  3
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S159195998

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