Missed Targets and Great Consolations - 19 Apr 2026

Skies were clear this morning but temperatures had dropped overnight to the mid-40's. Robert Irwin had just reported an Orange-crowned Warbler on Roberts Road so it convinced me to make the drive to Pt. Mouillee SGA (I was interested in looking for a Grasshopper Sparrow and the continuing? Swainson's Hawk). 

Arriving shortly before 8 am I parked about midway along the landfill to my right. A steady breeze was blowing but temperatures felt pleasantly cool. The sounds of Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins, White-throated Sparrows and the first Northern House Wrens were being heard. But, the trees were visibly quiet. Nearby this Cooper's Hawk was intently searching the area and provided some nice portraits from 30' away. 

It soon flew down the road so I continued walking / scanning the trees. No luck finding an Orange-crowned Warbler. No luck seeing anything else for that matter. Tree Swallows flying overhead were about the only avian activity in area.

Brian Beauchene soon arrived and together we searched the area for the OCWA. Though we had no luck we did finally start seeing White-throated Sparrows and Black-capped Chickadees. 

A few minutes later he spotted a Blue-headed Vireo across the road nicely illuminated against the morning Sun. The bird was low and provided some nice looks.

Near the gate to the landfill Amber Piotter was parked and was also looking for the Orange-crowned Warbler. I walked to where she was standing and hoped to hear the Grasshopper Sparrow that was heard singing yesterday from the landfill area. Again, I had no luck, but was consoled by the winnowing of a Wilson's Snipe that was calling from the marsh nearby. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was also a great find.

Brian and Amber then took off farther south along Roberts Road to look for a White-eyed Vireo that was just found by Justin Labadie. I kicked around the area for another 10 minutes or so before driving down to join them. As soon as I got out of the car four Cedar Waxwings were foraging in the phragmites at eye-level. 

Overhead as many as four Bald Eagles were soaring over the quarry. 

We spent a few minutes scanning the area for the White-eyed Vireo and talking to Justin but the bird was not calling. He had only seen it briefly before it disappeared into the thickets. I decided to walk back toward the silo and look for a previously-reported Northern Waterthrush.

Yet again I dipped on a target bird, but was happy to pick up a Hermit Thrush, Carolina Wren, and my FOY Palm Warbler. Lighting was poor,

then got less poor, 

then got better. 

After an Eastern Phoebe announced its presence I heard, then saw a Northern Yellow Warbler. 

A flock of White-throated Sparrows were foraging along the ground near the canal. 

I headed back to the group and continued looking for the WEVI. We dipped. So I drove back north to the landfill area, spent a few minutes listening to singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets, then looped around US-Turnpike to look for the Swainson's Hawk. Turkey Vultures, migrating Blue-Jays, 16 American White Pelicans, a pair of Osprey and a few more Bald Eagles were flying over the landfill, but alas, no SWHA.

I decided to head home after grabbing one last bird: a European Starling on the wires nearby.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Apr 19, 2026 7:50 AM - 10:04 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.005 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Pt cloudy, breezy, cool, 44F, wind 5-15mph NE
46 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  4
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  4
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  4
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  16
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  14
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  2
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  4
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  18     Flocks moving over Roberts Road and quarry
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  24
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  4
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1     Heard and seen near landfill along Roberts Rd.
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  4
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  4
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  16
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  4
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  8
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)  6
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  19
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  7
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  2
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S324122373

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