Nelson's Sparrow @ Pt. Mouillee - 02 Jan 2026

Last year on this date I photographed a Northern Shrike on Port Sunlight Road, a rare bird for the area. Today I went looking for a Nelson's Sparrow at Pt. Mouillee SGA and astonishingly (to me), found it!

First found found along the Middle Causeway on 25 Dec 2025 by Justin Labadie the Nelson's Sparrow was again found on 27 Dec 2025 during the Rockwood Christmas Bird Count (moved from 26 Dec 2025 due to heavy rain / wind storm). The remainder of the year saw high winds, snow, freezing temperatures and a closed SGA (due to late hunting until 01 Jan 2026). But surprisingly the NESP was refound yesterday in the same area as Justin's original pin. I decided that I'd try to look for it.

This morning brought another 1-1.5" snow overnight to go with the 2" from 31 Dec 2025 so I was a bit worried that the Rad 5 eBike would not handle the added snow. But, after lunch I headed to the Mouillee Creek Parking lot and headed out along the Middle Causeway. The eBike handled the snow with ease (I love this thing!).

I reached the location referenced by Justin's pin shortly after 2 pm. Along the way I met another couple (sorry I didn't get your names) on their way to the same spot so l agreed to let them know if I found it. Not quite sure which side of the causeway the bird was found I first hiked along the Humphries Unit shoreline for about 100 yds west but found no signs of life.

I then waded into the Vermet Unit to see if the Nelson's Sparrow might be hiding there. Scattered phragmites were growing near the causeway but the majority of vegetation was emergent plants (verbena, loosestrife). Along the shoreline of the Vermet Unit small patches of cattails were growing so I spent my time walking along their perimeter.

I managed to flush a dozen or so Swamp Sparrows from the cattails so I decided to give chase hoping that the Nelson's Sparrow would appear among them.

It did! As several Swamp Sparrow flew off "with purpose" a slightly smaller sparrow "fluttered" into view and landed nearby in a patch of loosestrife. I put the binoculars on it and immediately recognized it as the Nelson's Sparrow! I turned to the other couple looking for it and yelled that I had found it. But, when I turned back the sparrow was gone.

We'd spend the next half-hour looking for it again without success. A flock of American Tree Sparrows flew in and provided some diversion. 

At about 2:50 pm the Nelson's Sparrow reappeared nearby, and this time I was able to get the camera on it. The orange face, breast and flanks with fine streaking was diagnostic against a white chest, gray cheek patch and gray crown stripe.

After a few moments it flew off toward a patch of phragmites next to the causeway. I gave chase and managed to get it back in the camera viewfinder. Once I was certain it would stay long enough I turned and called out to the other couple searching the field; they were gone. The Nelson's Sparrow remained partially hidden in the phragmites but visible enough to get more pics.

I then made the mistake of walking around to the south side of the phragmites patch hoping to get better lighting on the Nelson's Sparrow. But, it flew off and I was unable to relocate it. I'd hike back through the field for another 15 minutes before moving on.

Hopping back on the bike I headed to the Banana Unit and rode north toward Cell 5 where I headed to the Lake shoreline. The lake was open but ice was still found next to shore. They made for some nice photos before I continued toward the mouth of the Huron River.

As I rode I flushed a large flock of 76 American Black Duck from the shoreline. They flew off toward the river so made a quick scan of the Tundra Swans, Lesser and Greater Scaup, Mallard, Redhead, and Canvasback.

Near the NE corner of Cell 5 a Northern Harrier appeared over the phragmites. Winds were blowing enough that the harrier was battling to keep steady as it flew toward me. I was able to stop and get some pics from relatively close.

A flock of Tundra Swans flew by heading toward the mouth of the Huron River.

To my right, along the shoreline, a (suspected) juvenile Swamp Sparrow popped up onto the rocks. Note the fine streaking on flanks and chest.

As I reached the mouth of the river I found ice extending all the way back to the Pt. Mouillee HQ. Where the ice met open lake a MASSIVE flock of Tundra Swans were huddled along the shoreline. I counted 1700+ in two large masses and a third extending north along the Lake Erie shoreline. I took several panorama images so that I could verify numbers. 

I'd head back to the Middle Causeway and back to the car. A Cooper's Hawk flew over the dike ahead of me but I was too slow to photograph it. A Northern Harrier a bit farther ahead was able to be captured before it disappeared in the Nelson Unit.

I'd get back to the car happy that the eBike performed wonderfully on the snow. By now it was 4:30 pm so I drove down Haggerman Rd to see if any Short-eared Owls were around, but a few people looking for them had no positive reports that any were around. So I headed home thrilled that January 2nd brought another great bird.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Jan 2, 2026 1:12 PM - 4:14 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.339 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cold, 18F, winds 5-10 from NW. 2-3” snow on ground, inland ponds frozen, Lake Erie open. Chasing Nelson’s Sparrow along Middle Causeway near Banana Unit.
25 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  12
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)  1700     Massive flocks along ice at mouth of Huron River and Lake Erie. One group at 176, another flock at 1000+, and another 500+ farther north along ice.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  67
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  76
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)  1
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  24
Redhead (Aythya americana)  12
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)  6
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  60
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  2
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  30
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  6
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  46
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  60
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  24
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  1
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  1
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  3
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  6
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  17
Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni)  1     Continuing along Middle Causeway next to Vermet just west of Banana at previously reported pin. Orange head and chest w gray cheek patch and thin streaks on breast. Pics.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  12     Large flock along shore of Vermet Unit next to cattail stands.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S291964597

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