Tricolored Heron @ Erie Marsh Preserve - 30 Apr 2026

 

Under cloudy skies and 42ºF temperatures I took a drive to Erie Marsh Preserve to look for a Tricolored Heron that was reported yesterday. Arriving at 7:30 am I headed out to the marsh with the plan to walk past the Sulfur Pond to Fields C and D then walk the outer dike back to the car.

Water levels were up in the ponds and ducks had all-but disappeared from the marsh but a few persisted; Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall and Green-winged Teal. Pond 1 was shorebird-free and hosted mostly Canada Geese. Pond 2 was empty except for 10 Great Blue Herons standing in knee-deep water. 

Pond 3 was empty until I spotted the Tricolored Heron walking the marsh edge along the north shoreline. I was standing at the junction of the main trail and the grassy trail that follows Pond 3 and Pond 4. After taking a few photos with the Sony a1 + 200-600mm lens I continued along the grassy trail. 

I was hoping that American Avocets and Willets might still be around, but had to settle for a Black-necked Stilt that was in Field C. Otherwise the trails were quiet. A Song Sparrow posted up next to the Sulfur Pond. 

As I walked the west side of Field C a half-dozen Lesser Yellowlegs were scattering along the shoreline.

One even posed on the dike for me.

I headed to the outer dike and started Merlin recordings while I walked south and west back toward the car. Song Sparrows, Northern Yellow Warblers, American Robins, Tree Swallows and Red-winged Blackbirds were singing loudly and proudly. Overhead an American White Pelican soared past me to join the couple dozen birds that were also roosting in Field C.

After hearing several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and a Palm Warbler I spotted my first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the season.

The outer dike was quite active with song but photo opps were few. Merlin was picking up the usual suspects with great reliability but was making some questionable calls.

I heard consecutive "chek" calls from Red-winged Blackbirds but Merlin would indicate Virginia Rails. American Redstart also popped up from time to time, as did Veery, but these were suspected to be partial notes from Yellow Warblers and Red-winged Blackbirds. It is a reminder that Merlin is not perfect, but I do love the app!

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
Apr 30, 2026 7:25 AM - 9:33 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.988 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy to ptly clear, cool, 42-48F, winds NE 5-10mph.
53 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  36
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  35
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  6
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  4
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  8
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  4
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Sora (Porzana carolina)  2
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  1
American Coot (Fulica americana)  7
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  1     Heard calling "Bet-Bet-Bet" before being spotted flying along the west shoreline of Field C. Long pink legs, black wings and neck and white face, chest and belly were distinctive.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  10
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)  1     Reported yesterday in Pond 4. Found in Pond 3 this morning along N shoreline. Pics.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  8
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  12
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  26
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  14
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  2
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  4
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  46
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  5
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  14
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  80
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  3
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  4
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  34
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S329830300

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