Windy and Cold at Erie Marsh - 13 May 2026

Jack and Janet Volker and I drove to Erie Marsh Preserve this morning. Overnight rain and a cold front moved in this morning leaving us with partly cloudy skies, cool temperatures (50ºF) and a stiff wind that pushed 25 mph. It was a lose-your-hat kind of morning...

We were hoping to find some of the recently-reported goodies: Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, Virginia Rail, Wilson's Phalarope, Whimbrel, and Black-necked Stilt. We'd find none. Instead, the wind was creating white-caps on the inland ponds and only a scattering of Dunlin could be seen in the distance.

As we walked the main dike out past Ponds 1 - 3 I managed to find a Northern Yellow Warbler willing to brave the conditions.

Otherwise, all we could do is hold onto our hats and wish that we'd brought heavier jackets. With the Sun directly in our eyes were made our way past the Sulfur Pond (empty) and out to Ponds E and D where we hoped to see some of the aforementioned birds. Nothing. We'd settle for a few Mute Swans and American White Pelicans. 

Deciding to turn around we made our way back along the main dike and stopped long enough to get some pics of Dunlin,

Least Sandpiper,

and Spotted Sandpiper.

Returning to the parking lot we decided to take a walk along the (wooded) south dike to look for warblers. Along the way a screaming Killdeer got our attention; it was on an active nest with 4 eggs. Thankfully, one of the maintenance crew put blocks around the nest to protect the eggs.

Despite the wind the south dike was active with song. Mostly Northern Yellow Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows, and the occasional warbler: Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart and Black-throated Green Warbler. 

The Northern Yellow Warblers were the show this morning. Dozens of them were chasing each other through the trees in groups of 6 - 7 at a time so I tried to get some pics when they would land for a brief instant before continuing on with their antics.

This particular bird was about to give last rites to an unfortunate midge.

I tried to photograph anything that stayed still, even if for a moment.

While Jack pointed out a female Baltimore Oriole I went after a Northern Parula that was foraging just above its head.

We'd also get brief glimpses of a female American Redstart.

An Indigo Bunting made a brief appearance just as we were leaving the dike to head back to the car.

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
May 13, 2026 7:25 AM - 9:39 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.674 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, windy, 54F, 10-25mph
54 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  36
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  7
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  5
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  2
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  2
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  6
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  80
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  1
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  2
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  3
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  6
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  12
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  1
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  4
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  12
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  18
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  4
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  2
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  2
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  2
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  24
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S338233374

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