The Western Dip - 19 Jun 2026

I took a drive this morning to Erie Marsh Preserve to walk, but also to look for a Western Sandpiper that has been lingering for a couple of days. I arrived at 7:30 am under clear skies and cool (60ºF), breezy conditions. 

I headed out onto the dike and caught up w/ the "Greats" Linda Ar and Vikki Jones who reported the Western Sandpiper in Pond 2. They were scoping 6 Sandhill Cranes in the field to the southeast, and rather than doubling back I decided I'd look for it on the way back from walking out to the Sulfur Pond (big mistake). 

I continued walking and took the grassy dike along Ponds 3 - 4 and found a half-dozen Dunlin and a couple of Semipalmated Sandpipers but nothing else of interest. The Sandhill Cranes made a couple of fly-by's and even provided a photo or two.

I walked out to Fields D and E and started making my way back with the Sun at my back. I found Linda and Vikki scoping Field B and they put me onto a Greater Yellowlegs and a gorgeous female Wilson's Phalarope. I was able to put then onto the Dunlin that flew in, but we couldn't find a Pectoral Sandpiper that was reported earlier. 

I continued to Pond 2 where I failed to find the Western Sandpiper. A Black-necked Stilt was loudly announcing its presence nearby so not all was lost.  

I'd return to the car just in time to photograph a pair of baby Tree Swallows on the power line overhead. Two darn cute!

Erie Marsh Preserve/Gun Club (no access Sep 1-Jan 1), Monroe, Michigan, US

Jun 19, 2026 7:42 AM - 9:41 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.802 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, breezy, 65F
40 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  35
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  8
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  3
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  5
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  6
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  1     Pond 2. Pics. Noisy “Bet-Bet-Bet”
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  12
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  2     Pair on mudflats pond 4.
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)  1     Female in Pond B. Phonescoped video thru scope.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  4
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  6
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  4     Pair in pond 2, one w limp. Pair in Pond 4 w Dunlin.
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  2
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  16
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  42     34 in Lake Erie at entrance and another 8 flying overhead.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  4
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  4
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  60
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S359585371

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