Ovenbird - 23 May 2025

Skies cleared overnight, but it was breezy and cool (45F). Still, it was worth getting out, so I headed to Elizabeth Park for a morning walk. 

I arrived to a nice chorus of bird song. Tennessee Warblers, American Redstart, and Northern Parula songs were followed by Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Least Flycatcher. I spotted a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher but it disappeared into the woods before I could get into photo range. 

The bird of the morning was an Ovenbird that appeared in a small hole in the vegetation. It was perched on the branch and preening for a good 5 minutes while I tried to line it up w/ the tiny opening in the brush. 

The only other bird I'd see during the walk was a Magnolia Warbler but it would not cooperate for photos.

Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US

May 23, 2025 8:25 AM - 9:23 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.297 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cool, 45F, breezy, 10-15mph.
42 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  2
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  10
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  6
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  1
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S241510365

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

I returned to the car and headed over to the Humbug Marsh Unit of the DRIWR. I thought I was hearing a Western Meadowlark singing next to the parking lot but Merlin ID'd the call as an Orchard Oriole; I was able to confirm! A Yellow Warbler was calling loudly as I walked the short-loop trail, but things quickly quieted toward the Detroit River. 

A flock of Forster's Terns included 2 adults and 4 juveniles (non-breeding plumage). 

Highlights of the short walk included a calling Red-headed Woodpecker

and a very loud Wilson's Warbler that was singing in the woods just north of the boardwalk. A Bay-breasted Warbler was calling nearby but was much quieter. I could only get a glimpse of the Wilson's Warbler as if flew away despite me walking about 30' into the woods to look for it in the hickory trees.

I'd settle for pics of a Magnolia Warbler that eluded me at Elizabeth Park.

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
May 23, 2025 9:34 AM - 10:13 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.71 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Pt oudy, cool, 50F, winds 10-15mph
37 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  8
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  6
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  2
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  4
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  4
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S241529803

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