Precursor to Fall Shorebird Migration - 26 Jun 2026

The last week of June is typically "slow" as Fall Shorebird Migration doesn't typically start until the first week of July. So I didn't expect to see too much this morning. That changed, however, when I saw the first two (of six) Sandhill Cranes in the field opposite the Antenna Farm. 

Dickcissels were also seen along the fence line but too backlit for photos. The only other highlight was a drake Mallard swimming in a puddle in the middle of Haggerman Rd. 

Antenna Farm, Monroe, Michigan, US
Jun 26, 2026 7:30 AM - 7:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Mostly sunny, 65F
7 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  6
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  24
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)  1
Dickcissel (Spiza americana)  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S365055479

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

I then parked at Mouillee Creek and rode the bike around the Walpatich to the Lautenschlager Units. A pair of Blue-winged Teal in the Walpatich were the only ducks seen among several dozen Canada Geese.

The Lautenschlager Unit was empty of birds except for a single Great Egret so I didn't linger. I continued back to the Middle Causeway and headed back toward the Pump House to check the Bad Creek Unit.

An Indigo Bunting was singing next to the causeway but flew off before I could get the camera in focus. I did manage a couple of flight shots. 

Nearby an Eastern Kingbird was a bit more cooperative.

A breeding male Ruff was reported here last week so I kept an eye open hoping to see it. Nope. But, I did find 8 Black-necked Stilts south of the Pump House. A pair of Lesser Yellowlegs were among them, suggesting that the first southbound migrants have arrived.

Returning to the causeway I headed east toward the Banana, but not before stopping to photograph a Killdeer on the nest. In the middle of the road. I have to remember to bring a marker the next time I'm here.

The Humphries and Vermet Units were quiet so I rode to the Banana and headed south to Cell 3 to check for shorebirds. Though fairly quiet the pond in Cell 3 held a Solitary Sandpiper, 8 Dunlin, 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 4 more Lesser Yellowlegs. The yellowlegs are presumed to be new while the Dunlin and Semipalms are presumed to be leftovers from spring migration. Another 8 Green-winged Teal and a pair of Blue-winged Teal were along the east shore. Lighting was poor so no pics.

A couple dozen American White Pelicans were in Cell 3 and far out in the Humphries Unit. These three were part of 8 that were roosting in Cell 3 and took off as I was bushwacking my way back to the bike.

I rode north to Cell 5 and around the perimeter to Lake Erie and back west along the North Causeway but no birds were present. I would spot a Forster's Tern foraging along the dike separating Vermet and Long Pond Units and stopped to get some pics as it flew by.

I then returned to the Middle Causeway and headed back to the car. Hopefully, in another week the action will start picking up again. 

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Jun 26, 2026 8:16 AM - 10:23 AM
Protocol: Traveling
11.791 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Mostly clear, mild, breezy, 66F.
44 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  60
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  4
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  4
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  12
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  7
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  8     Humphries Unit s of Pumphouse.  4 ad and possibly 4 juvenile/subadults
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  14
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  6
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  8     Cell 3, continuing. Never left. Black belly patches.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  4
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  8
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  6
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  25
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  24
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)  2
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  4
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  6
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  36
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  5
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  45
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  4
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S363617421

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