A Big Dip / Drip - 22 May 2025

It has been cold and rainy the past few days, and this morning continued the trend. But I was determined to get out so I figured I'd run down to Roberts Rd and listen for warblers (and possibly a Blue Grosbeak reported yesterday). 

As light rain hit the windshield I cruised the road to the south end and listened for warblers. Yellow Warblers were ubiquitous (as expected) but little else. The occasional Indigo Bunting or Warbling Vireo called from the trees lining the road, but there was little else to hear or sea. 

I stopped by the old silo and walked the trail back about 30 feet. A Least Flycatcher, House Wren, Red-eyed Vireo and Baltimore Oriole were singing, but I was unable to spot any of them. A small flock of Barn Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were swirling in the small opening in the woods, but I'd have to wait until I drove down Rheaume Road to photograph the NRWS.

Shortly after 1 pm a Western Kingbird was reported along the Banana Unit at Pt. Mouillee, so in spite of the light rain I drove back down Roberts Road to the parking lot, grabbed the bike, and headed out the South Causeway. 

Gravel was being put down at the south tip so I had to walk the bike past the dump truck driver and continued along the Lake Erie side toward Cells 2 and 3 where the Western Kingbird was seen foraging w/ several Eastern Kingbirds. I'd see many Red-winged Blackbirds and a pair of Eastern Kingbirds, but did not see the Western Kingbird. 

I ran into several birders at the north end of Cell 3 but they did not see the bird, either. So I rode back to the car along the west side of the Banana Unit battling the strong (20-25 mph) SW winds and light rain.

An Eastern Kingbird next to the road was a poor consolation, but it was ok that I didn't see the Western. 

Until I got home and saw that several people were viewing it now in Cell 1 and the causeway next to the parking lot...

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
May 22, 2025 2:23 PM - 3:24 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.009 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Includes Roberts Rd. Cloudy, windy, SW 20mph, sprinkles, 50F. Western Kingbird reported but not relocated.
31 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  22
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  6
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  8
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  110
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  6
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  7
Purple Martin (Progne subis)  12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  10
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  8
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  24
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  7
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  12
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S241303343

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