Fall Migration Has Begun! - 27 Jun 2023
A late afternoon ride to Pt. Mouillee SGA confirmed that fall shorebird migration is underway! Parking at Roberts Road I rode out onto the South Causeway toward Cell 1 where I turned right to check the fluddles at the south end. Skies were dark and hazy from Canadien Wildfires, and you could even smell the smoke today. It was hot, humid and windy, but not enough to dissipate the haze. Visibility across the Humphries Unit was poor.
A lone Lesser Yellowlegs was foraging among the phragmites stalks and posed for a few images 30' away.
The north end of Cell 1 was a bit more active with shorebirds. A half-dozen Lesser Yellowlegs were foraging in the big pond near shore, but this White-rumped Sandpiper caught my sight. Setting up the scope I prepared to digiscope it when I also caught sight of a Red Knot (may be the same one from a few days ago?).
I turned my attention back to the White-rumped Sandpiper that was now relaxing next to a foraging Least Sandpiper. You can see the size difference, and the difference in coloration with the Least Sandpiper (left) showing more brown on the back, chest and head. The larger White-rump has a more distinct necklace on a white chest.
From the side you can see wings extend beyond the tail, which help differentiate from Semipalmated Sandpipers.
It wandered close enough for me to capture its two-toned bill with the lower mandible showing red at the base.
I was suddenly struck at how large its feet were! The toes are long and lanky, and give a rail-like appearance. Much larger than the smaller peeps.
When it wandered off I returned to the knot for a few more photos.
As I scoped the rest of the pond I came upon 3-dozen Bank Swallows roosting on dead cattails. If you look close you can see the brown caps, extended brown on the cheek patch, and distinct necklace with a dark pendant that is not seen on young Tree Swallows. The low "jeep-jeep" is also distinctive when calling.
A pair of Semipalmated Plovers.
I headed east on the path between Cells 1 and 2 and stumbled upon this Green-winged Teal in the pond near the northeast corner of Cell 1. We locked eyes, and managed to get the camera and 600/4 lens up just before he took off.
Catching the teal in flight allowed me to finally capture the change in coloration of the speculum at the base of the wings. As the bird flew off and changed direction the feathers changed from bright iridescent green to blue to purple.
Its poop remained the same color...
I circled back around Cell 1 to the south end and got a few more pics of the Lesser Yellowlegs before heading back to the car.
I stopped just long enough to capture this Eastern Kingbird that flew in for a moment.
Pte. Mouillee SGA, Monroe, Michigan, USJun 27, 2023 4:40 PM - 5:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Hot, hazy, humid. Smoke from Canadian wildfires can be smelled this afternoon.
36 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) 4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 16
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 4
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 3
Sora (Porzana carolina) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) 1
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 2 Photos.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 8
Red Knot (Calidris canutus) 1 May be same individual from few days ago? Photos. Adult in breeding plumage.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 6
White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) 1 Larger than Least Sandpiper, two-toned bill w/ red base, white chest w/ distinct necklace, wing projection beyond tail. Photos.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 7
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 4
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 2
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) 4
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 4
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) 38
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 6
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 4
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
