Golden Hour Rusties - 20 Oct 2025
Skies were clear, calm, and a crisp 44ºF this morning when I arrived at Lake Erie Metropark at 8:30 am. Rain was forecast for this morning and throughout the day, but would skirt this area and leave us with sunny skies, mild temps and variable winds.
The Marshland Museum Trail was pretty active this morning. Carolina Wrens singing in the brush, White-throated Sparrows "chip"-ing on either side of the trail as I walked, and Blue Jays shouting as they flew overhead. A pair of Yellow-rumped Warblers appeared overhead and offered brief looks.
The boardwalk was bustling with a half-dozen White-throated Sparrows, several American Robins, a pair of Hermit Thrushes tustling next to the phragmites, and a pair of Swamp Sparrows out foraging.
At the north end of the trail the morning Sun beautifully illuminated a pair of Rusty Blackbirds perched against a backdrop of golden leaves.
Nearby in the shadows a Downy Woodpecker popped into view just a few feet away.
I would hear the call of a Pileated Woodpecker next to the creek on my right, but the bird would not show, so I turned the camera on one of many American Robins moving through the brush.
As I tried to pish a Carolina Wren into view several Swamp Sparrows popped into the open long enough for a pic or two.
Red-winged Blackbirds tend to get overlooked by the presence of Rusty Blackbirds this time of year, but this juvenile was too irresistible to pass up while posing in front of the maple trees.
Along the west side of the trail loop more Swamp Sparrows appeared from the phragmites / cattail marsh.
A few Ruby-crowned Kinglets made appearances, as well.
Driving over to the boat launch I spent a couple hours with the crew at the Detroit River Hawk Watch. Raptor movement was slow this morning but a few kettles of Turkey Vultures finally appeared over Celeron Island and moved north along the opposite shore of the channel in front of us.
A Double-crested Cormorant near the boat slip was busy trying to swallow a Shad so I grabbed a few pics before heading home for lunch.
Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.07672, -83.19838, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 20, 2025 8:34 AM - 9:23 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.723 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Clear calm 44F
24 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 10
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 4
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 10
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 6
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 30
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 12
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 4
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Oct 20, 2025 8:34 AM - 9:23 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.723 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Clear calm 44F
24 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 10
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 4
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 10
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 6
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 30
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 12
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 2
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 12
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 4
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
