Western Kingbird in Monroe Co. - 25 May 2025

Overnight skies cleared, and this morning brought variable-to-clear skies and relatively mild temperatures. I resisted birding yesterday even though White-faced and Glossy Ibis, Whimbrel, and other goodies were reported at Pt. Mouillee. I just wasn't up to it.

This morning Justin Labadie reported an Olive-sided Flycatcher along Roberts Rd., and Bobby Irwin refound the Western Kingbird from a few days ago. This kinda forced me to get off the couch and head down to look for them. After all, Western Kingbird and Olive-sided Flycatcher are Monroe County birds for me. 

I arrived at Roberts Road as Justin and Brian Beauchene were looking at a Grasshopper Sparrow in the field next to the landfill berm. They directed me to the Olive-sided Flycatcher that was giving "great" looks just a few yards down the road. I paused just long enough to grab some pics of a more-resident Willow Flycatcher.

As advertised the Olive-sided Flycatcher was perched on a dead snag next to the road. It appeared as a dark flycatcher as it was facing away from me, but I could see the olive-colored sides and white flanks when it took off for a short flight, then returned.

It disappeared for a short bit so Brian and I walked the road and listened for Black-throated Green Warblers,

Northern Parula, 

Indigo Bunting,

and a host of other birds including Yellow Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Northern House Wren, Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart, Least Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, and Veery.

Andrew Simon joined us and we were able to relocate the Olive-sided Flycatcher.

With reports of the Western Kingbird being refound both Andrew (on foot) and I (bike) headed to the Roberts Rd. parking lot and Cells 2 - 3 east. Along the way I spotted a couple pairs of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead,

and saw a dozen or so Purple Martins foraging ahead of me.

The pond in Cell 1 north held a Blue-winged Teal and a pair of Lesser Scaup.

I ran into a young couple near Cell 3 who pointed me in the direction of the Western Kingbird. It was accompanying a pair of Eastern Kingbirds and working the willows that line the Lake Erie shoreline. I kept seeing the Eastern Kingbirds but could not see the Western Kingbird given the severe backlighting. 

I decided to make a quick run to check out Cell 3 for shorebirds before coming back to look for the Western Kingbird (with the Sun behind me). Along the way I ran into Mary Tremblay and Mark Dettling coming from the north; we only paused momentarily to say hi since Mary was after the WEKI, as well.

Cell 3 was relatively quiet. Only Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Plovers, Caspian Tern and Forster's Terns were present. I didn't stay long and headed back to look for the Western Kingbird.

I caught up to Mary, Mark, and Andrew, and they put me onto the bird that was now perched on one of the willows. Though backlit I could finally make out the gray and yellow tyrant! Western Kingbird.

After a few moments it took off and winged its way back south right overhead so I was able to get a couple quick images as it flew past me.

It then headed south along the Lake Erie shoreline. We turned around and followed it in casual fashion.

After all, a few warblers appeared in the willows next to the shoreline. Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler and American Redstart were nice finds. 

As we walked south toward Cell 2 we spotted the Western Kingbird perched in the open and offering some relatively nice portraits from a distance.

With the bird now seen and photographed Mary, Mark and Andrew stopped for a celebratory snack while I said my farewells and starting heading back to the car. Along the way I spotted the Western Kingbird fly into Cell 2 and perch near a stand of un-mowed phragmites (Cell 2 is almost all cut back as of last week). It flew into the Cell a short distance and landed near the ground where I was able to approach at a distance for a few more photos.

So as not to disturb it I retreated back to the bike and headed to the car. What a great find, and a great morning of birding! I feel somewhat rejuvenated (birding-wise). Incidentally, here is the distribution of the Western Kingbird courtesy of Birds of the World.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
May 25, 2025 8:07 AM - 10:06 AM
Protocol: Traveling
7.401 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, mild, 57F
69 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  120
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  1
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Redhead (Aythya americana)  2
American Coot (Fulica americana)  1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  2
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  7
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  1
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  22
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  5
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  6
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  7
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)  1     Roberts Rd. Reported by Justin Labadie. Pics.
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)  4
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)  1     Continuing day 3-4. Cell 2-3 lakeside with Eastern Kingbirds. Gray w yellow belly. Pics.
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  5
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  2
Purple Martin (Progne subis)  12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  3
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  3
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  7
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)  1
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)  1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)  1     Field next to Roberts Road this side of landfill. Perched on vent.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  6
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  7
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  8
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  3
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  1
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  3
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  10
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S242439503

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