Common Loon - 01 Apr 2026

 

The weather rollercoaster here in SE Michigan has hit its valley. Yesterday temperatures hit 70ºF before a storm front hit and now it is 34ºF this morning under overcast/dark skies. But, I was curious to see if any new birds arrived in the area since Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown Thrasher and Field Sparrow were reported yesterday at Oakwoods Metropark. I decided to check out the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (a semi-truck fire had I-75 closed in Monroe and ruled out a trip to Erie Marsh).

Arriving at about 8:30 I drove down to the fishing pier to see if any Common Loons might be hanging around - they are migrating along the Detroit River about this time. Initial scans of the river produced no birds, but I soon spotted a single Common Loon just north of the easternmost portion of pier. Grabbing the scope and 200-600mm lens I headed down to the pier. The Common Loon, already in breeding plumage, was quietly diving in the river very near the edge of pier.

I made my way past a couple of fisherman to the edge of the pier and took photos of the bird about 100' away. Luckily, the current was slowing moving it closer to the pier, and the loon was nonplussed about its audience (me). I would spend the next 10-15 minutes photographing it as it slowly made its way into the bay just north of the pier.

Under the dark skies the camera was forced to use ISO values up to 25,000 so color fidelity was pushed along with noise. 

I would ultimately convert several images to B&W.

I then drove over to the Visitor Center and walked the short-loop Orange Trail (0.45 mi). With the Buckthorn cleared out the understory of the woods has really opened. Northern Flickers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were not bothered and were making a racket. At the boardwalk I spotted a Hairy Woodpecker and got a few pics before it flew along the delta. 

The Monguagon Delta was mostly dry with exposed mudflats, but held 3 Blue-winged Teal and a pair of Mallard.

Another 3 Killdeer were foraging along the muddy shoreline.

As I walked the trail back north several Great Egrets flew overhead.

I spotted the Hairy Woodpecker again and got a few more pics.

Near the outdoor education center a pair of Wood Ducks were roosting high in the trees. 

A single Mallard was walking the trail ahead of me.

As I scanned the brush for kinglets and sparrows I spotted 3 White-tailed Deer quietly observing my movements. I managed to take pics and walk past them without spooking them.

American Robins were moving this morning and appeared to be everywhere. 

I also noticed the first honeysuckle leaves starting to appear!

Reaching the north trail I walked west toward the Green Trail (2.5 mi) and picked up a pair of Fox Sparrows as well as heard White-crowned Sparrow. An Eastern Towhee was heard calling, as well. 

As I returned to the parking lot an Osprey flew overhead.

I'd drive back to the fishing pier but not find any evidence of loons on the river, so I drove down to Lake Erie Metropark to walk the Marshland Museum Trails. 

Detroit River IWR--Refuge Gateway (Humbug Marsh), Wayne, Michigan, US
Apr 1, 2026 8:23 AM - 9:28 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.961 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, cool 40F
31 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  18
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  3
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  2
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  12
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  4
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Common Loon (Gavia immer)  3
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  4
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  16
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  24
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  2
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  8
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S315530264

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

I then drove south to Lake Erie Metropark. Arriving at about 9:30 am I drove by the west side of Trappers Run Trail and spotted a pair of Gadwall in the shallow waters. 

As I walked the Trappers Run Trail past Luc's pen I spotted White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, and more American Robins. 

Cutting west along the first path I heard, then saw the first of 3 Winter Wrens.

A pair of Black-capped Chickadees were attracted by my pishing (in an attempt to get the wren to appear) a Swamp Sparrow popped into view about 30' in from the trail.

Just a short distance along the west side of the trail loop a Carolina Wren was visible and singing.

I looped around the north end and headed back along the east side of the trail I heard 2 more Winter Wrens. As I attempted to spot them in the underbrush a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets foraged into view.

I'd grab a pic of a cooperative American Robin as I left the trail and headed back to the car.

I then drove over to the Boat Launch and picked up a Horned Grebe among a half-dozen Lesser Scaup swimming in the canal next to the launch. A half-dozen Great Egrets, four Blue-winged Teal and a pair of Green-winged Teal were in the marsh as I left the park.

Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.07672, -83.19838, Wayne, Michigan, US
Apr 1, 2026 9:40 AM - 10:17 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.711 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, 39F
35 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  10
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  3
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  4
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  2
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  5
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  2
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  6
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  3
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  5
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  3
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  4
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  8
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  7
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S315552375

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