Snipe Hunt - 23 Sep 2025

Last evening a Wilson's Phalarope was reported in the marsh next to the parking lot at the Marina at Lake Erie Metropark. Along with the phalarope were up to 2-dozen Wilson's Snipe continuing in the shallow mudflats. So, I decided to grab my pillowcase and head down to the foot of Lee Road to hunt some snipe in the spirit of the classic Spin and Marty episode that aired in the 50's. 

This morning skies were foggy and humid as I headed to the Marina.  Rain was possible today but clouds would dominate. Surprisingly, skies began to partially clear as I arrived. Setting up the scope I scanned the marsh just north of the parking lot and found a dozen Lesser Yellowlegs, several Greater Yellowlegs, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Mallard and Wood Ducks.

Along the east side of the open marsh I spotted the first of 9 Wilson's Snipe foraging close together at the foot of cattails among American Lotus leaves. Some were close enough for photodocumentation.

I failed to find the phalarope, but did manage to squeeze out a Pectoral Sandpiper. I returned to the Wilson's Snipe flock to see if they would come closer. Several did fly into the shallow inlet more to the east toward the bike path so I walked around and managed to see them through a break in the vegetation. Photographing them was a challenge but I would ultimately count 22 birds foraging together.

I then drove over to the Wave Pool at Lake Erie Metropark to check out the marsh to the west. Shorebirds were absent but I did manage a few butterflies in the goldenrod and milkweed field.

A Wood Duck was the only bird close enough to photograph from the maintenance road next to the Wave Pool.

I then drove over to the Boat Launch and the Detroit River Hawk Watch and decided to walk the Cherry Trail. Warblers were absent, but I did hear several Carolina Wrens. At the south end of the trail a Belted Kingfisher posed for a long-distance photo, 

and a pair of Blue-winged Teal among several Mallard.

And, another Wood Duck swimming away from the camera lens.

Returning to the hawk watch I spent an hour or so with the group looking for raptors. Things were slow except for a stray fly-over Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

I would leave around 11:30 am and head home.

Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.06984, -83.19669, Wayne, Michigan, US
Sep 23, 2025 8:34 AM - 11:33 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.671 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Mostly cloudy, humid, 5-12mph from SW
37 species

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  14
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  3
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  24
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  16
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  2
Sora (Porzana carolina)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  7
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)  24
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  9
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  7
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  5
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  2
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  4
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  80
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  44
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  4
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  6
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  2
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  120
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  10
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  4
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S275082144

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