Shorebird Numbers Dropping at Pt. Mouillee - 27 Jul 2026

I made a late morning run to Pt. Mouillee after forecasts called for heavy storms to hit the area this afternoon. Arriving at Mouillee Creek parking lot at 9:30 am I rode around the north end of the Walpatich Unit toward the North Causeway. 

Shorebirds were scarce in the Walpatich Unit. A pair of Lesser Yellowlegs and this Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus hendersoni) were the only visible birds along the north end.

I continued east along the north end of the Lautenschlager Unit, then north on the dike separating Nelson and Bloody Run Units. The Huron River was calm along the North Causeway despite a stiff wind blowing from the WNW.

The mudflats along the east shoreline of the Vermet Unit were quiet except for the stray Semipalmated Sandpiper or Spotted Sandpiper. I spotted this Black-necked Stilt foraging near the SE end of the unit.

A short distance later this Lesser Yellowlegs was struggling in the soft mud while feeding.

I then rode south to Cell 3 and entered from the west side trail. Scoping the pond revealed fewer shorebirds than a few days ago, but there were still a dozen each Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and Lesser Yellowlegs. A half-dozen Black-necked Stilts and a couple Pectoral Sandpipers were also present. Otherwise, lighting and distance made for poor photo opps.

I did photograph a couple of plants growing among the dense vegetation along the Cell 3 shoreline. 

Floating Primrose Willow. Pretty name...

And, of course, Pale Smartweed. Not the ubiquitous Lady's Thump Print or Common Smartweed that is covering Cell 3 but still abundant.

I headed back to the bike and rode back west along the Middle Causeway surveying late-summer vegetation. Ragweed is growing and ready to bloom. 

Horseweed is sprouting along the dike centers and is ready to bloom. 

Virginia Pepperweed.

I was also surprised to find Catnip growing here.

As seen yesterday, the number of shorebirds hopefully will increase in the coming weeks as post-breeding adults and juveniles move through the area.

I'd return to the car and be home by 11:30 am.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Jul 27, 2026 9:42 AM - 11:04 AM
Protocol: Traveling
7.195 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Overcast, windy, humid, 82F. Storms expected. Shorebird numbers down. Suspect birds moving on and waiting for juveniles and molting adults to arrive.
45 species

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  16
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  1
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  16
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  4
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  3
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  8
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  6
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  6     Continuing in Cell 3 and Vermet
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  16
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  4
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)  12
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  20
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  12
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  8
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  2
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  16
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  30
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  4
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  6
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  4
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  2
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  12
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  1
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S377041138

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