Golden Swamp Warbler at LEMP - 31 May 2023

A pair of Prothonotary Warblers have been reported at Lake Erie Metropark in s. Wayne County, MI the past several days. Prothonotary Warblers have been reported the past several years here but confirmed nesting reports have been difficult to obtain. 

This morning I made a quick stop at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge on my way to LEMP to look for the Prothonotary Warbler(s). The short loop trail was quiet, although I did see the Eastern Phoebe at the shelter, and heard the loud "WHEEEP" of a Great-crested Flycatcher in the treetops next to the shelter. Otherwise, only Yellow Warblers, House Wrens, and a single Baltimore Oriole were heard. I did see a Spotted Sandpiper in the Monguagon Delta and took a long-distance photo w/ the 600/4.


Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
May 31, 2023 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Short loop trail
6 species

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  2
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158454060

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

I then headed over to LEMP to walk the Trappers Run Trail next to the Marshland Museum. I paid my respects to Luc (rehab Bald Eagle) as he was perched in his pen and stopped to listen to the many Yellow Warblers belting out their calls, "Sweet-Sweet-Sweet-littlemore-Sweet" and "Sweet-Sweet-Sweet-tomeetcha".

However, as I reached the Sanger's Lagoon Outlook I heard the distinct "SWEET-SWEET-SWEET" call of a Prothonotary Warbler. It only took a minute to locate the Golden Swamp Warbler as it popped through the bushes, perched, and sang before moving on to another location.

With the Sun rising to east I settled myself on the wooden deck overlook and waited for the bird to make its round and appear back here. While I waited I took a few images of the resident Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows that were perching in the bright morning Sun.




It only took a few minutes when a beautiful male Prothonotary Warbler popped into view and dashed around the mostly dead trees and belted out its song. With the sunlight I had to stop down to prevent those golden feathers from blowing their highlights. But, the bird put on a show despite perching in precarious locations.





















The bird then flew across the creek to the opposite side bank and foraged a bit before flying back across and meeting up momentarily with a female Prothonotary Warbler. 


There was a bit of wing-flapping as, I believe, the two birds copulated momentarily! The male then flew to a nearby vine and began singing again. 






Another circuit brought the male back after 10 minutes where I grabbed a few more pics and moved on.





The rest of the Trappers Run Trail was dominated by Yellow Warblers, but I did hear an American Redstart singing quietly in the bushes next to the trail (I would have a singing bird in my yard the following morning). Easter Wood-Pewee, House Wren, and Carolina Wrens rounded out the sing-songers. A single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was foraging in the treetops on the west side of the trail.

Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US
May 31, 2023 9:30 AM - 10:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
9 species

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158454403

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