Heavy Fog This Morning - 17 Apr 2026

Overnite storms have finally passed, but this morning we awoke to dense, heavy fog throughout SE Michigan. I still decided it was worth a drive to the Erie Marsh Preserve to look for migrants.

Visibility was less than ¼ mile during the drive south, and only about 150' when I arrived at Erie Marsh. The ponds were awash in white beyond the phragmites to my left so there was no use in trying to walk the dikes. I decided I would walk the outer dike for a mile or two to see if any warblers had arrived.

In the meantime I did manage a quick photo of Pond 1. The mudflats were flooded so there were no shorebirds about. 

A pair of House Sparrows were chirping in the grape vines as I walked past the Maintenance Yard. I thought to myself, "When was the last time I photographed a House Sparrow?". There was not much to see, unfortunately. 

An Eastern Phoebe appeared a bit closer so I managed a few pics before it flew off toward the wooded dike.

The extent of visibility this morning.

Red-winged Blackbirds and Tree Swallows were present by the dozens and making quite the racket. Still, Merlin and I were able to pick up Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wren, Common Grackles and even fly-by Bald Eagles and Osprey. 

I caught up to the Eastern Phoebe and got a quick photo.

Trees dripped with moisture as I walked the muddied south end of the outer dike. Overhead 4 American White Pelicans drifted into view and appeared ghostly against the foggy skies.

I walked about 0.5 miles before finally hearing the first "Sweet-sweet-sweet-littlemore-sweet" of the spring. Northern Yellow Warbler! Merlin then picked up the call to verify. 

After a few hundred yards more of walking I turned around and headed back. This time I was able to spot the FOY Northern Yellow Warbler bouncing in the thickets to my right and softly singing. 

A second bird would sing about ¼ mile later.

I'd have to settle for these two warblers this morning. No Palm or Yellow-rumped Warblers, yet.

The fog still blanketed the marsh as I left the woods but visibility was slowing beginning to improve.

I would manage another crack at a House Sparrow before leaving the area.

Before leaving I decided to check out Pond 1 mudflats. Overhead Tree Swallows were roosting on the power line. Alas, the water levels in the pond were too high to see any shorebird habitat.

A consolation prize came in the form of my first Barn Swallow of the year. 

On a foggy day like today I had to take the requisite spiderweb photo.

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
Apr 17, 2026 7:42 AM - 8:54 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.355 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Foggy, 150’ visibility. Calm, 54F. Ponds flooded.
35 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  1
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  1
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  4
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  4
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  5
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  80
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  12
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  4
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  82
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  6
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  14
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  2     FOS. Along s outer dike. Singing. Pics
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S322886618

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