Greater White-fronted Geese and Pelicans - 21 Mar 2026

 

Having missed the 10 Greater White-fronted Geese at Pt. Mouillee SGA yesterday I decided to go back and look for them in the Lautenschlager Unit. Brian Beauchene had just reported seeing the from the Middle Causeway with a scope so took an early afternoon ride to see them myself. Skies were cloudy and it was a chilly 34ºF.

Parking at Mouillee Creek I rode the bike out along the Middle Causeway toward the east side of the Lautenschlager Unit. I hadn't gotten far when three Sandhill Cranes announced their presence as they flew toward me from the east.

Taking the inside dike next to the Lautenschlager Unit produced distant views of ducks but they were too far to ID, and I couldn't make out any GWFG from the south end, so I rode to the east side and headed north where I could get a closer look.

I found the 10 Greater White-fronted Geese strung out close together along the west side of the unit and found that I could get closer looks by continuing north until I was directly across from them on the east bank. The phragmites were a bit thinner and enough of a gap was present to get clean scope views. Meanwhile the ducks on the pond were starting to scatter, including this flock of 40 Green-winged Teal.

A dozen or so Redhead were also present.

Ring-necked Ducks were plentiful and this threesome passed close enough to photograph.

Lesser Scaup numbers continue to be seen in all parts of the SGA including here.

I finally got close enough to the Greater White-fronted Geese to be able to photograph them with the Sony a1 + 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens + 1.4TC (EFL~840mm at f/6.3). The brown geese with the orange bills and white facial patch and black belly were diagnostic. 

Along the shoreline behind them was a nice cluster of several dozen Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail. 

Autofocusing was difficult at this distance but I got enough keepers to be satisfied with the effort.

Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) are long-distant migrants so its relatively rare to see them in the Great Lakes Region except for a very short period in late winter. When they are seen they usually don't stick around, so its a nice treat to see them anytime.

As I headed toward the North Causeway more flocks of ducks continued to fly out over the unit including these American Wigeon. 

Reaching the North Causeway I decide to make a quick circuit around Cell 5 and come back along the Middle Causeway. Most ducks were far out on the Huron River but a few, included these Horned Grebes, were close enough to get some photos.

The ride along the Lake Erie shoreline was relatively uneventful. Horned Grebes continue in good numbers out on the lake, but otherwise there was little action. I tried to find the Red-necked Grebe that was seen the past few days but to no avail.

Returning down the Middle Causeway I came upon a huge raft of American White Pelicans. Their numbers seemed to have increased from the 60 I counted yesterday, so I got off the bike and set up the scope. The first raft number 150. A second raft numbered 250. A third group numbered about 60. 

I scoped the Humphries Unit and found another 150 or so pelicans, as well. The 600+ tally was my largest count ever here at Pt. Mouillee, but I wouldn't be surprised if it continues to climb. Good numbers were also reported farther south at Erie Marsh today.

I ran into Brian and chatted with him for a moment before heading back to the car and homeward. I was chilled; I didn't expect the air temperature to be this cold. Still, it was surprising to hear the marsh loud with Western Chorus Frogs even though the temperature was about 34ºF.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Mar 21, 2026 12:16 PM - 1:57 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.417 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, 34F
34 species (+1 other taxa)

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)  10     Continue in Lautenschlager Unit. West side. Pics.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  120
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  86
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)  12
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  40
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)  70
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  220
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  6
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)  23
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  40
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  14
Redhead (Aythya americana)  12
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  68
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)  60
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  240
Greater/Lesser Scaup (Aythya marila/affinis)  1300
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  146
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  2
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  23
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)  6
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  3
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  8
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  6
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  8
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)  36
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  625     450 in Vermet and remaining in Humphries. Counted by 2’s.
Red-tailed Hawk (borealis) (Buteo jamaicensis borealis)  1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  1
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  60

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S311550428

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