Monroe, MI CBC Scouting - 17 Dec 2025

Saturday, 20 Dec 2025 is the date for the 56th Monroe, MI Christmas Bird Count (126th National Audubon Society CBC). As such, I decided to check out a few spots to scout now that we are officially in the Count Week (CW) for the CBC.

At 34ºF temperature the morning felt balmy under partly-clear skies and low wind as I arrived at Luna Pier. Flocks of Canada Geese had been seen as I drove south along I-75 near the exit so I expected to see a few. I'd see more than a few; despite ice cover to a ⅓-mile out I counted ~1500 Canada Geese roosting on the edge of the ice shelf with another 100 or so Mallard.

Bald Eagles were scattered along the edge of the ice shelf, as well. Another cluster of 6-7 eagles were a bit closer to shore.

The Pier at Luna Pier, Monroe, Michigan, US
Dec 17, 2025 8:47 AM - 9:02 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Pt clear. Calm, 34F
3 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  1500     Cluster count by 50 of massive flock strung along edge of ice shelf about ¼-mile out.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  60
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  14

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S288946966

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

From there I drove back north to LaPlaisance Road and north to Dunbar Road and the DTE Fly-Ash Onsite. I wanted to check the canals to see if any Great Egrets might be found. I did not find any, but did have a fly-by Cooper's Hawk and a flock of American Tree Sparrows. Bolles Harbor and inland ponds were frozen.

I then made a quick drive down Front Street to check out the new security entrance at the DTE Monroe Power Plant. Unfortunately it is outside the pull-off next to the warm-water discharge from the plant so I couldn't look for Black-crowned Night Herons. But, the Monroe Harbor was ice free and holding a dozen or so Hooded Mergansers and Mallard.

A stop at Sterling State Park found all inland ponds frozen. I drove down to the Confined Waste Disposal site and the breakwall next to Lake Erie to see if the Harlequin Duck might still be around. The lake was frozen ⅓-½ mile out but there was a large patch of open water near shore that held a half-dozen Common Goldeneye and another half-dozen Red-breasted Mergansers. No Harlequin. I did find a pair of Winter Wrens in the rocks. No pipits or shorebirds.

Sterling SP, Monroe, Michigan, US
Dec 17, 2025 9:31 AM - 10:14 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.689 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, calm, 35F. Lakeshore and inland ponds frozen. Opossum and old guy walking cat on leash.
6 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  11
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  26
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  8
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  3
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  2
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  8

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S288959551

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

Forecasts for the next few days call for temps above 40ºF for the rest of the day, near 50ºF on Thursday with rain in the afternoon and evening, then falling temps (20's) and high winds on Friday with Saturday supposed to rebound back to mid-30's. The roller-coaster weather front should make the Monroe, MI CBC on Saturday interesting. Stay tuned!