Post-Storm Birding in Monroe - 08 May 2024

After two rounds of severe thunderstorms that passed through the Great Lakes Region overnight I took a drive down to Erie Marsh Preserve with Jack and Janet Volker. Skies were clear, temps cool at 50F with forecasts for a high of 78F and strong 30+ mph winds.

We arrived at 7:30 am and walked the outer dike. White-crowned Sparrows were the bird of the day with twelve seen even before we were 100 yds inside the tree line (7 birds bounced along the trail ahead of us as we walked).

Yellow Warblers were most abundant with two-dozen birds seen in our 3-mile walk. The only other highlights were a Northern Waterthrush, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, and Nashville Warbler. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers were absent (have they moved on?).

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
May 8, 2024 7:25 AM - 9:27 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, warm, windy. Last night's storms may have pushed birds out of area?
35 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  13
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  6
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  6
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  16
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  4
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  4
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  12
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  6
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  2
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  24
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S172789997

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

We then headed to Whiteford Cemetery to look for Red-headed Woodpeckers. Arriving at 10 am we found the woods quiet, but did see a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers calling from inside the tree line. No warblers heard.

Whiteford Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan, US
May 8, 2024 10:12 AM - 10:42 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, windy, warm. Woods very quiet! Last evening's storms may have pushed birds out.
10 species

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  2     Pair in woods west of cemetery
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S172799407

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

We then drove a short distance to Whiteford StoneCo Park where Jack showed me where the frisbee golf course was a good place to look for warblers. We did not see or hear any, but did pick up a couple of Gray Catbirds and a Brown Thrasher.

Whiteford Township Community Park, Monroe, Michigan, US
May 8, 2024 10:45 AM - 11:05 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Jack and Janet Volker; windy, warm, clear.
12 species

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  4
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S172911956

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

The grapevine came in with the same news: warbler activity is slow all over. Even the Biggest Week in American Birding Festival reported low numbers. Consensus is that the storm may have blown all the birds out, but didn't bring any new birds in.

Edit: This morning (10 May 2024) radar showed massive migration all over the US EXCEPT in the Great Lakes Region where it was blank. Weird!