Stilts In A Mood - 08 Jun 2026

 

After a Dr's appt this morning and a day spent painting I decided I'd try to take a quick run to Pt. Mouillee this evening to look for the Arctic Tern. It was possibly seen this morning so it may still be around. Skies were cloudy, it was humid, and storms were possible, but it would be the best conditions for the next several days (hot, humid, storms). 

I drove to Mouillee Creek and rode straight to Cell 3 from the Middle Causeway. It was significantly cooler and windier than when I left Brownstown 30 min. ago, so I was a bit surprised when I got to Cell 3 and found it very windy. 

A few people were showing up to look for the Arctic Tern but it was not to be. Only Caspian Terns were present along the east shoreline of Cell 3 and a single Common Tern. 

However, the Black-necked Stilts seemed to be in a mood! Pairs of stilts were flying back and forth in front of us and calling loudly, "BET-BET-BET-BET" as if we were intruding on possible nesting grounds. 

But, one Black-necked Stilt kept crouching on the ground as if to say "Love Me" so I believe the birds are actively in a courting session. I could be wrong; there may be eggs or fledglings nearby. But I was getting more of a courting vibe from the stilts.

A Lesser Yellowlegs made an appearance, which is considered rare this late in the spring. 

The 3 Glossy Ibis also made an appearance just as I arrived, but stayed only a few minutes before disappearing. The Red Knots were not seen. The Black-bellied Plovers from yesterday were gone, as well. No White-rumped Sandpipers that I (or Mary Tremblay) could find, either.

Mary was just relating how she had an encounter with a Beaver a week ago here, and sure enough, not 10 minutes later, this massive beast lumbered onto the mudflats to the south of us, shook itself, then waddled into the brush. I don't know that I've ever seen one this large!

After an hour or so of wind I decided to give up. The Arctic Tern would not show for the rest of the evening. I headed back to the back and to the car. This Forster's Tern flew into Cell 3 so I grabbed a few quick photos.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Jun 8, 2026 5:35 PM - 7:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.213 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, windy, humid, 80F. Possible storms.
32 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  18
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  4
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  2
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  1
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  4     Cell 3. Continuing. Courtship behavior; calling, displaying, and crouching.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  1     Cell 3. Breeding plumage. Pics.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  36
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  45
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  7
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  12
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  1
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)  3     Cell 3. Seen yesterday, as well. Flew off shortly after arrival. Bluish white skin patches around dark eyes.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  16
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  3
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  4
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  5
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  40
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S354756134
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)