Slow Birding Continues - 17 May 2026

Today temperatures are finally supposed to hit 80ºF. Under clear skies and calm winds I made a run to Elizabeth Park. Arriving at 8 am I found the woods loud with song. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Northern Cardinals, Gray Catbirds, American Robins, Baltimore Orioles, Wood Thrush, Tennessee Warbler and Red-eyed Vireos were belting out their presence. 

A few irregulars were also singing. Yellow-throated Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. I'd find a non-singing Least Flycatcher.

A male Scarlet Tanager continues this morning. High up in the canopy, though.

My first Eastern Wood-Pewee of the season made a brief appearance.

I'd walk the entire perimeter of the woodlot but fail to find any warbler activity, though. So I decided to make a run to Pt. Mouillee SGA and check out Roberts Road.

Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US
May 17, 2026 8:04 AM - 8:46 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.953 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, humid, 68F
33 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  1
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S340822522

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

I drove down Roberts Road and heard the usual Northern Yellow Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat and Eastern Warbling Vireo. Just north of Rheaume Road a Black-throated Blue Warbler sang from the maples.

I stopped at the silo and checked out the woods. Warbler activity picked up a bit with Blackburnian Warbler, Tennessee Warbler and Northern Parula singing. A Chestnut-sided Warbler appeared and offered some long-distance photos.

I'd finally see a Black-throated Green Warbler, as well, as a pair of birds frolicked high in the trees.

The first Willow Flycatcher of the season was heard by the creek and appeared briefly through the vegetation.

Another Scarlet Tanager appeared high in the canopy but came close enough for record shots.

As I was working my way out another Chestnut-sided Warbler made an appearance near eye-level; my first "low" bird sighting of the spring...

I'd been ignoring Merlin when it told me that Bay-breasted Warblers were being heard, but until I finally saw a pair of them I couldn't trust the machine. 

As I was leaving I saw Don Sherwood and we caught up and commiserated over the challenging warbler migration. Then, a Chestnut-sided Warbler appeared in the bushes right next to us. Figures.

Geoff Malosh reported the Blue Grosbeak off Rheaume Road next to the landfill, but I couldn't see nor hear it. A King Rail would also be reported in the Walpatich Unit but I needed to get home.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
May 17, 2026 9:03 AM - 9:56 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.349 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, humid 68F Roberts Road by silo
32 species

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  1
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  2
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  4
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  2
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  2
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S340913384

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