Hudsonian Godwit - 18 Aug 2024

A pair of Hudsonian Godwits were reported at Erie Marsh Preserve in s. Monroe Co. this morning. I took a drive down there after lunch to look for them and some Red-necked Phalaropes that were also reported.

Pond 1 at Erie Marsh was buried in American Lotus. Pond 2 was relatively held open water and no vegetation, but only a few Caspian Terns were actively fishing. Pond 3, which is largely on Erie Gun Club property, was active with shorebirds and gulls.

Unfortunately, all of the shorebirds were along the far western shoreline. But there was a good number of Lesser Yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpipers (20+), Short-billed Dowitchers, and Pectoral Sandpipers. I did not see the reported Hudsonian Godwit, but did hear a Black-bellied Plover calling nearby.

Toward the north end of Pond 3 I found five Red-necked Phalaropes swimming together. I took a digiscoped image for record.

Closer in were a pair of Least Sandpipers foraging on the algae beds. Both were juveniles.



As I continued on along the south side of Pond 4 I spotted several Lesser Yellowlegs in the stubble, then found this Black-bellied Plover.

A few Pectoral Sandpipers were also foraging among the stubble.

A Solitary Sandpiper poked its head out behind some grasses, and eventually walked into the open.




Toward the north end of Pond 4 I found one of the Hudsonian Godwits. I was only able to digiscope it from a distance.



At the far northern end of Pond 4 another Black-bellied Plover was found. Someone had reported an American Golden Plover but I could not relocate it. This bird showed black armpits in flight despite its pale coloration.


I ran into Bruce Arnold on the way back. We chatted a bit while I stopped to photograph some of the tiny grass skippers. This one is a suspected Indian Skipper.

This one is a suspected Fiery Skipper.


At least I was pretty sure about this Monarch Butterfly.

We ran into Karl Overman as we reached the cabins, and I managed a quick photo of a female Hooded Merganser as she swam out from the bank in Pond 1.

Erie Marsh Preserve/Gun Club (no access Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
Aug 18, 2024 1:16 PM - 2:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.772 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Pt cloudy, 75F, humid, intermittent sprinkles.
30 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  60
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  11
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  26
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  16
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  1
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)  2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  7
Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)  1     Back side of Pond #4. Continuing. Pics
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)  10
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)  1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  38
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  1
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  22     Pond 3 west end, scope views, among LEYE, PESP, SNDO. Gray w remnants of streaks on belly, forward-leaning feeding.
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  21
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  32
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  11
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  12
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  60
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  3
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  27
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  6
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  4
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  7
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  16

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S191959498

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