Icy Grip Continues - 01 Feb 2026

Robin and I were supposed to drive to South Carolina this week to visit Jack and Janet Volker, and Cocoa. However, a bomb cyclone was forecasted to hit the east coast this weekend, so we made plans to push the drive to next month (March). We were glad we did; Jack called to say that forecasts called for 8" snow (they got 3" on the ocean) and record low temperatures (20ºF). Here, skies were clear and temperature was -13ºC (8ºF).

I decided to drive down to the foot of Southfield Road to look for a reported White-winged Scoter on the Detroit River. I found it, but it was too far to photograph at 8 am. I did photograph this Great Blue Heron on the ice nearby, but couldn't tell if it was still alive.

Dingell Park (formally Ecorse Park), Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 1, 2026 8:22 AM - 8:39 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.093 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cold, -13C. River 90% frozen
12 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  130
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  200
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)  10
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  120
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  60
Redhead (Aythya americana)  69
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)  1
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  2
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  14
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  6
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297450145

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

I then drove down to the Wyandotte Boat Launch where I tried to photograph a small group of Common Mergansers backlit on the river in front of the launch. Glare and heat distortion made images look bleh. An American Tree Sparrow was bouncing along the parking lot in front of the car but disappeared before I could stop.

Wyandotte Boat Ramp, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 1, 2026 8:45 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cold, -13C. Open wayer next to shore only
5 species

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  1
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  6
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  8
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297451791

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

A pair of Long-tailed Ducks were seen off Bishop Park yesterday, as well. I managed to find them a bit downstream from the parking lot. Again, too far to photograph.

Bishop Park, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 1, 2026 8:58 AM - 9:08 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.071 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cold, -13C. Open water along park. Rest of river frozen
9 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  12
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  14
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  2
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)  2
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  2
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  9
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  12
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297457976

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

With the Detroit River open along this stretch I decided to drive to golf course to see if I could get better looks at the Long-tailed Ducks and perhaps some of the Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneye that swimming next to shore. They were mostly uncooperative\.

 I did manage a fly-by Bufflehead.

Farther upstream a group of male Common Mergansers were fighting over a recently-caught Rock Bass.

Wyandotted Shores Golf Course, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 1, 2026 9:13 AM - 9:26 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.177 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cold, -13C. River open here
3 species

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  8
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  6
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  18

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297462725

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

A quick drive through Elizabeth Park netted a single Great Black-backed Gull on the river. 

Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 1, 2026 9:43 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Quick river scan.
7 species

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  1
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  5
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  12
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  6
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297467228

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

I'd make a quick swing through the Refuge Gateway to check out the fishing pier, but only Mute Swans and Canada Geese were visible in the open water.

Good news is that the temperature might high 20ºF today...