Fall Migrants in Wayne Co. - 12 Oct 2024
A sunny but breezy morning greeted me as I arrived at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge at 9 am. I ran into Brian Beauchene and walked the short loop trail at the Humbug Marsh Unit. A late Marsh Wren was a treat; it came close several times in the sedges next to the boardwalk but failed to show itself for more than a second or two.
Ruby-crowned Kinglets have arrived and were seen along the trails.
Our first flocks of Rusty Blackbirds made appearances. We counted 18 in one flock atop the dead trees in the middle of the unit.
A Golden-crowned Kinglet pair appeared but moved so fast that it was impossible to get a sharp image of their yellow-striped cap.
I saw what I thought was a Hairy Woodpecker, but upon closer inspection turned out to be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! Lighting was poor but I managed a few photos as it foraged in the backlit trees high above us.
A north wind was blowing so we agreed that we should head over to Lake Erie Metropark to check out the Detroit River Hawk Watch.
As we reached the parking lot a pair of Palm Warblers appeared in the ditch next to us. Another first fall migrant.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 1
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Osprey (carolinensis) (Pandion haliaetus carolinensis) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 8
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 3
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 4
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 18
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Michael, Bill, Michelle, and Don were at the hawk watch site and scoping large kettles of Turkey Vultures far out over Lake Erie. I spent an hour or so with them and helped scope the TV's and large flocks of Blue Jays that were flying this morning.
A Cooper's Hawk made a circling pass overhead, but little else.
We'd finish the day with almost 4500 Turkey Vultures and 50 Red-tailed Hawks, but they were all distant.
My tally was much lower...
Lake Erie Metropark--Detroit River Hawk Watch, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 12, 2024 10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments: Mostly clear, cool, windy, 60F,
26 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 14
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 5
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 12
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 14
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 32
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 280
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 635
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 18
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 14
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 18
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Oct 12, 2024 10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments: Mostly clear, cool, windy, 60F,
26 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 14
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 5
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 12
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 14
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 32
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 280
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 635
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 18
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 14
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 18
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
