Rusty Blackbird in February - 02 Feb 2026

I drove down to the fishing pier at the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge to check for ducks before heading to Lake Erie Metropark. Skies were partially clear but snow was forecasted (1") within the hour. Temperature was ~17ºF.

As I approached the pier the ducks started scattering from under the structure so all I could do was point and shoot. Common Goldeneye drake.

Female Bufflehead.

Drake and hen Canvasback.

Another female Common Goldeneye swam out from underneath the pier.

It joined a pair of Hooded Mergansers getting away as fast as possible.

This male Bufflehead was on the north side of the pier and was struggling against the river current.

There was a raft of about 300 Lesser Scaup on the north side of the pier in the river but this was the only one close to the pier.

Female Common Goldeneye.

Bufflehead.

The 200 or so Mute Swans congregating around the pier did not seem to care about my presence and slowly swam by. This one had ice buildup on its beak and was constantly dunking its head to free it. Good news - it finally did.

Another Canvasback.

As I left the pier and began walking back to the car a few more ducks swam out from underneath.

The snow began falling just as I got back into the car to head south to Lake Erie Metropark.

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 2, 2026 9:30 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, snow pending. 14F.
14 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  135
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  259
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  12
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  60
Redhead (Aythya americana)  120
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  250     Large raft north of fishing pier along shoreline
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  12
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  150
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  30
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  40
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  12
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297693744

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

Recent snow-plowing along the main road to Cove Point at Lake Erie Metropark exposed road-side grass that has attracted up to 100 White-throated Sparrows. This morning I drove along the road just south of the maintenance yard and counted 86 White-throated Sparrows, several Song Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, and even a Swamp Sparrow. The birds were moving and scattering too quickly for photos, especially from inside the car where convection currents would've distorted every image.

I then drove to the Marshland Museum under a steady snowfall and walked the bike path hoping to pick up some passerines. American Robins (6) were the only birds present. I will say that I was making Screech Owl calls with my voice and thought I had heard faint replies. Unable to relocate a possible screech owl I continued back to the car and the Marshland Trail.

With a steady snowfall I put an extra stocking cap on my Sony a1 to keep it covered and walked the east side of the trail past Luke's pen. A distant Carolina Wren was the only activity as I walked the snow-covered path.

Rather than waking to the far north-end of the trail I took the short loop, instead. As I approached the heavy grape-vine tangles I spotted a single bird to my left in the thicket to my left. Thinking that it was an American Robin I pulled the camera out only to realize that it was a Rusty Blackbird! I followed it down the trail and got photos as it foraged on the ground then perched overhead in the thick branches. Great find for February!

Just past the fenced in orchard on my left I spotted a Gray Catbird hiding in the grape vine thickets to my right. I was unable to get a clear shot of the bird so I settled for looks through the bins. 

This White-throated Sparrow was one of two that I'd see along the trail.

Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.07522, -83.20136, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 2, 2026 9:53 AM - 10:56 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.011 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, snowing, 11C
14 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1     Marshland trail. Gray with black cap in heavy grape vine thicket near fenced in orchard.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  8
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  88     Continuing on roadside south of maintenance yard. Exact count of 86 seen here plus 2 more on Marshland Trail.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  3
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  1     Marshland Trail. Blackbird wit rusty feathers and light eyes. Pics.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S297709615

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