Afternoon Birding and Owling - 24 Jan 2025
While the weather was decent (partly cloudy, cold, 20F) I took an afternoon drive to check out Detroit River Waterfowl. The river was mostly frozen so I was hoping for some up-close opportunities.
I started at the foot of Southfield and Dingell Park. The river here was frozen and only a small patch of open water was visible in front of Mud Island. Few ducks could be seen, so I didn't even stop.
I then drove to the Wyandotte Boat Launch and found similar conditions; frozen river, no ducks.
Bishop Park was iced in. No birds.
I then parked at BASF Park / Golf Course and walked down to the river. A few patches of open water were visible, as well as significant scattage to know that Canada Geese were nearby, but nothing of interest. A half-dozen Mute Swans flew by so I put the camera on them.
BASF Waterfront Park, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 24, 2025 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
1 species
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 24, 2025 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
1 species
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 6
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I then drove south to check out the Riverview Boat Launch. A dozen or so Canada Geese were roosting on the berm next to the boat launch, but no gulls were found.
I continued south to Rotary Park in Trenton. I could see a small raft of Canvasback and Lesser Scaup on the river as the ice was confined only to the shoreline. A fly-by Bald Eagle was the highlight. Bobby Irwin would find a Glaucous Gull just a short time after I left.
Rotary Park, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 24, 2025 2:20 PM - 2:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Ice beginning to thin south of this location. Detroit River frozen to the north.
8 species
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 36
Redhead (Aythya americana) 6
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 12
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 6
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 24, 2025 2:20 PM - 2:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Ice beginning to thin south of this location. Detroit River frozen to the north.
8 species
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 36
Redhead (Aythya americana) 6
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 12
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 6
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I made a swing through Elizabeth Park and found no birds other than a calling Red-bellied Woodpecker and a couple Dark-eyed Juncos. As I dodged squirrels I found a raft of Canvasback on the river next to the riverwalk. I was able to walk down to the edge of walkway and get some photos before they all swam to deeper water.
Eventually they moved a bit closer and I could make out a few odd members: American Black Duck, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, four Gadwall, and a fly-by flock of Redhead. One individual Redhead swam close enough for some nice portraits.
Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 24, 2025 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
14 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 60
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 4
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 125
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 1
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 46
Redhead (Aythya americana) 41
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 11
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 4
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 2
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 12
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 24, 2025 3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
14 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 60
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 4
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 4
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 125
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) 1
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 46
Redhead (Aythya americana) 41
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 11
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 4
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 2
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 12
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) 4
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Next stop was the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Humbug Marsh Unit. Nothing seen on the drive in, but the open water patches on the Detroit River held hundreds of Tundra/Mute Swans, Canvasback, Mallard, Redhead and scaup.
As I was driving out a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was hovering over the prairie to my left. With the amount of white in the tail I was hoping for a Rough-legged Hawk, but when I drove around to see it closer it was a light-colored juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. I was able to get a bunch of images as it posed just 20' from the car.
Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 24, 2025 3:40 PM - 3:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
11 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 40
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 12
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) 12
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 24
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 120
Redhead (Aythya americana) 60
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 40
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 6
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 12
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 12
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 24, 2025 3:40 PM - 3:55 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.5 mile(s)
11 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 40
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 12
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) 12
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 24
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 120
Redhead (Aythya americana) 60
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 40
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 6
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 12
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) 12
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
From there I took a drive down Campau Road toward the Point Mouillee SGA HQ. Again, the Huron River and Lake Erie was frozen so there were no birds in sight. However, as I drove out I spotted a steady stream of 11 Great Blue Herons flying across the road from one side of the canal to the other. But, a Belted Kingfisher was sitting on the side of the road and allowed a few photos as I drove by.
Pte. Mouillee SGA--HQ (Wayne County), Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 24, 2025 3:50 PM - 4:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Lake Erie and Huron River frozen. 20F, Pt cloudy.
3 species
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 11 Flying across Campau Road from one side of canal to the other. Exact count.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 24, 2025 3:50 PM - 4:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Lake Erie and Huron River frozen. 20F, Pt cloudy.
3 species
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 11 Flying across Campau Road from one side of canal to the other. Exact count.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
It was now after 4 pm so it was time to head home. I decided to drive down Haggerman Road to see if any Short-eared Owls might be flying before dusk. As I approached the fence line surrounding the Antenna Farm I spotted a Northern Harrier cruising the field inside the fence and drove up to see if it might drift my way. A van was parked on the side of the road and I presumed someone was waiting for owls to appear, but I was surprised to see a Short-eared Owl posing on the top of the fence! I pulled over and got a bunch of photos from inside the car (passenger side). The bird was beautifully lit in the late afternoon Sun.
It then took off and dropped down into the grass just behind the fence. I was unable to get any pics after that.
Time to head home!
Antenna Farm, Monroe, Michigan, US
Jan 24, 2025 4:15 PM - 4:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
2 species
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) 1 Sitting on fence next to antenna farm. Pics. Someone mentioned that 2 more birds were seen just before I arrived.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 24, 2025 4:15 PM - 4:35 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
2 species
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 1
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) 1 Sitting on fence next to antenna farm. Pics. Someone mentioned that 2 more birds were seen just before I arrived.
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
