Shorebirding at LEMP - 24 Sep 2022

Yesterday winds had shifted from WNW to ENE and a big push of Broad-winged Hawks came across the border. Hawk Cliff (Port Stanley, ON) had 29,000+ birds. Holiday Beach at almost 34,000 birds. Detroit River Hawk Watch had 24,000 birds. This morning I had hoped to spend some time at hawk watch and hopefully see a few more birds pass early on.

Unfortunately the skies were cloudy, temps were cool, and it was raining. I decided to look for shorebirds near the Wave Pool at Lake Erie Metropark with the hopes that skies would clear in time. Luckily, I ran into Brian Beauchene, Jim Fowler and Tom Heatley along the bike path next to the marsh. They had scopes already on an American Golden Plover, Wilson's Phalarope, Wilson's Snipe and several Pectoral Sandpipers.

Sora

Wilson's Phalarope

American Black Duck

While scoping with them I also came across a Sora, several Common Gallinules, a Palm Warbler, and a flock of Rusty Blackbirds that had flown in. 

Brian and I then headed over to the service drive to scope the marsh from the south. We found a Wilson's Snipe close to shore, and relocated the American Golden Plover back on its mud flat. Unfortunately we could not relocate a Long-billed Dowitcher or a Snowy Egret that were found earlier by Bobby Irwin. We also relocated the flock of Rusty Blackbirds, numerous Blue-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Mallard, a Black Duck, Tufted Titmouse and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

We did come across a Cooper's Hawk that soared overhead for a few moments before continuing on its way.

The skies then opened up with rain so we headed out.

Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US

Sep 24, 2022 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, cool, rain
15 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  12
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  1
Sora (Porzana carolina)  1
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  3
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)  1
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)  3
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)  1     Continuing. Marsh next to WavePool. Basic plumage, plump body, small head, dark cap. Very pale compared to nearby shorebirds.
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  6
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  12
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S159162443

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