5 for 4 on Target Species - 24 Apr 2024For

Reports of a Neotropic Cormorant in Pool #2 at Erie Marsh caught my attention this morning. Along with Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitchers reports the report of 60+ American Avocets in Pool #1 had me out the door at 11:30 am.

It was cloudy, overcast and chilly today with a light wind that put temps in the mid 40's today. Allergies were testing my resolve, as did a traffic jam on I-75. But, shortly after 12 pm I arrived at Erie Marsh Preserve. 

To my surprise the American Avocets were not present in Pool #1. Instead, they were replaced by 26 Marbled Godwits! I wonder if these were the same godwits that were reported two days ago here? After spending a few minutes photographing and digiscoping them from the entrance to the preserve I headed in and parked.



I caught up with Geoff Malosh on the dike separating Pools #1 and #2 and was able to get the scope on the Neotropic Cormorant roosting on a snag at the west end of Pool #2. The bird was on the far left of the snag among several Double-crested Cormorants. At 100 yards it was just possible to resolve the white border on the gape of the Neotropic Cormant. The bird appeared slightly smaller than the Double-crested Cormorants and slightly blacker with a lack of the orange facial skin. Digiscoping with the Sony a1 and 40mm f/2.5 saved me today.




Geoff had to leave but reported that the avocets had flown to the flooded field "E" east of the Sulfur Pond. I grabbed the scope and headed out onto the dikes toward the Sulfur Pond. Just as we were leaving a large flock of Dunlin whistled past us and I managed a few flight shots.





Taking the Yellow Trail I arrived at the Sulfur Pond and saw the flooded field just a short distance away.


A large raft of some 250-300 American Coot were swimming in Field "E" so I held back to photograph them and scope the field for the avocets. As I scoped the coots I found the flock of Dunlin foraging nearby. Among them were the pair of Long-billed Dowitchers I was also looking for!


Mark Schaller then caught up w/ me just as a large flock of birds appeared in the east and headed our way. 64 American Avocets!







To our surprise they flew in and settled down right in front of us some 100' away.




For the next 20 minutes we scoped the American Avocets and Dunlin. I digiscoped the birds using both video and stills.




After a few minutes of scoping I spotted the Wilson's Phalarope working its way along the line of Dunlin. For the first time in eons I had managed to find all of my target birds plus 1.



We then headed back to the cars happy w/ the trek. The Marbled Godwits had disappeared from Pool #1 but would be later reported in the field among the avocets, Dunlin, dowitchers and phalarope.

Erie Marsh Preserve/Gun Club (no access Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Apr 24, 2024 12:42 PM - 1:56 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.8 mile(s)
38 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  26
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  12
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  8
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  2
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  12
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  2
American Coot (Fulica americana)  250
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)  64     Found this morning in field east of Sulfur Pond. Exact count from photos of birds in flight as a tight flock.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)  26     Pond 1 as I arrived. Pics
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)  2     Continuing in field east of Sulfur Pond. Pics
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)  1     Continuing field east of Sulfur Pond. Pics
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  4
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  6
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  150
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  8
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  8
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  12
Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)  1     West end of Pool #2 on snag among Double-crested Cormorants. Note smaller size and blacker appearance relative to DCCO. White border on gape visible from digiscoped images. Lack of orange facial skin.
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  32
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  8
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  150
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  50
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  12
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S170106992

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