First Shorebirds at Erie Marsh - 21 Mar 2025

I took a drive to Erie Marsh Preserve in southern Monroe Co., MI this morning. Skies were clear and temps hovered at 28F. Inland ponds were open, but a few patches of ice still remained. 

Walking out along the main marsh trail past Ponds 1 (a few Killdeer), 

Pond 2 (hundreds of Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall and American Wigeon), and Pond 3 (dozens of Ring-billed Gulls and Bonaparte's Gulls). A pair of Bald Eagles roosted quietly in the trees to my right.

A pair of Trumpeter Swans were swimming and courting in the ditch to my right.

The first Pectoral Sandpipers were also seen (six) but flew before I could get the scope on them. 

The Sulfur Pond was empty, but just beyond I saw my first Tree Swallows of the spring, and the first flock of American White Pelicans (Justin would count 700 on the 22nd!).

On the way back to the car I spotted 5 Sandhill Cranes fly by.

A Great Blue Heron with a fresh catfish.

Erie Marsh Preserve/Gun Club (no access Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
Mar 21, 2025 8:18 AM - 9:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.889 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 28F, inland ponds open, light winds from west 0-10 mph
34 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  64
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  13
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  16
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  12
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)  87
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  38
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)  35
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  143
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  6
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)  34
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  85
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  5
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)  4
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  30
Greater/Lesser Scaup (Aythya marila/affinis)  125
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  12
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)  1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  5
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  16
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  1
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  6     1st of season after reports from NW Ohio. Distinctive bibs and yellow legs diagnostic. Someone reported several dozen more farther out from Pond 3 where these were.
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  20
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  63
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  12
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  6
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  8
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  5
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  4
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  8
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  114

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S219762734

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