Short-Loop Warblers - 06 Sep 2022

A nice, sunny afternoon led me to stop by the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge for a quick walk before heading home. As I entered the short loop behind the Visitor Center I noticed that winds were blowing from the north; this means that hawks may be flying down the road at Detroit River Hawk Watch (7200 Broad-winged Hawks).

The east side of the loop was quiet. I was hoping for some photo opps as I brought the 200-600 mm f/5.6-6.3 lens with the Sony a9. Few birds were around until a Mourning Dove appeared and let me take a few pics. Wow, I forgot how good the optics are with this lens!

A Downy Woodpecker was foraging overhead, so I too a few pics. It was foraging along a horizontal branch so the images looked as it was rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees.

Things looked up right after I ran into Pam Houston. After a quick chat we found an Eastern Phoebe bobbing its tail and resting on a branch next to the Monguagon Drain. We then ran into a small flock of warblers!

Several Magnolia Warblers and American Redstarts appeared along the west side of the loop but gave no opportunities for photos. We found a Yellow-rumped Warbler (my first of the season).

She turned off to the west to check the woodland trail while I hung around the creek. I spotted a Magnolia Warbler and was able to get a few pics while it ducked in an out of cover. It was then followed by a Blackpoll Warbler that refused to show any cooperation. 

Thing got better when a Black-throated Green Warbler appeared and foraged at eye-level. 

I didn't stay long, but it was enjoyable short walk!

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Sep 6, 2022 3:00 PM - 3:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Sunny, mild
8 species

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  3
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  3
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S159193820

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