Winter Sparrows at DRIWR - 08-10 Feb 2023

I made a couple of quick trips to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge over the course of the past several days to walk the short loop trail. 

On Wednesday Robin and I had gotten home from Wayne State University and found mild conditions ahead of rain and high winds forecasted for Thursday. At 2 pm I headed to the refuge and walked the trail to look for the Field Sparrow that I had found on Tuesday. The entrance was all but melted so walking was much easier. Heading to the boardwalk at the south end of the trail I found no sparrows despite my best pishing effort.

As I walked along the west side of the loop I heard the loud trill of a Carolina Wren that appeared too far away for any good pics. 

But, while I watched it I stumbled upon a flock of sparrows moving through the cattail pond. The first bird identified was the Field Sparrow! Unfortunately it was far away and obscured. I also picked up a Swamp Sparrow before seeing several Song Sparrows and American Tree Sparrows. 

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 8, 2023 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
5 species

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  1     Continuing. Pale pink bill and white eye-ring distinctive
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  3
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  3
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158776555

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

Once they moved on I'd see nothing else. Since I had time I then drove over to Lake Erie Metropark and decided to walk the Marshland Museum Trail. A single Great Blue Heron was out on the ice and enjoying the bit of sunlight starting to poke through the clouds.

Parking at the museum I walked the west side of the trail hoping to pick up some thrushes other than American Robins. I managed a White-breasted Nuthatch along with a half dozen robins and a pair of Downy Woodpeckers.

Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 8, 2023 3:20 PM - 4:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     frozen pond, mild, 50F
4 species

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158776862

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

I then drove over to Lee Rd to look for waterfowl but found nothing on the water. I did see a flock of American Tree Sparrows in the phragmites on my walk back to the car but they were severely backlit by the now-setting Sun.

Cove Point, Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 8, 2023 4:00 PM - 4:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
1 species

American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158777219

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

A drive down Campau Rd. yielded no birds. The Point Mouillee HQ parking lot was now free of ice and easier to drive, but there were also no ducks on the Huron River and the mouth of Lake Erie. My guess is that the wintering waterfowl may have moved into Pt. Mouillee itself that should now have open water in all of the cells and units.

This afternoon another trip to DRIWR was a bit windier and cooler. And quieter. The boardwalk marsh at the south end of the short loop was quiet. At the same location as Wednesday I finally managed to find some birds; Swamp Sparrows! Eight of them flying northward across the cattail pond. I did not refind the Field Sparrow but Bobby Irwin did report it this morning. 

The Swamp Sparrows were backlit and pretty far away, but I managed a few record shots. A few Song Sparrows added to the mix.

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 10, 2023 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Windy, cooler, 45F
2 species

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  3
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  8     South end of short loop behind visitor center. Flock of 8 birds (exact count). Photos

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158777740

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

I then headed back to Lake Erie Metropark and walked the Cherry Trail just south of the Hawk Watch location at the boat launch. I had hoped to kick up a Winter Wren, but the area was quiet. It wasn't until I reached the car that I heard a Carolina Wren calling nearby. I managed to see a pair of birds responding to some pishing.

Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 10, 2023 3:30 PM - 4:10 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
1 species

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158777980

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