Slow Morning at Erie Marsh - 29 Jul 2026

Under clear, breezy skies this morning my trip to Erie Marsh Preserve in s. Monroe Co., MI was considered quite slow. Shorebirds have all-but moved out (including the Great Egrets) and only a few remain.

Pond 2 mudflats held a single Black-necked Stilt. 

I walked past Pond 4 and followed the western edge to the north hoping to see something in the mudflats on either side of the dike. A pair of Least Sandpipers in the ditch to my left were the highlight.

 

Up ahead of then were a pair of Lesser Yellowlegs. They would be the only shorebirds seen in the area.

The Trumpeter Swan family (2 ad + one gray cygnet) were swimming along the south shore of Pond 4 and visible as I approached the Sulfur Pond (empty). Continuing on I reached Field 3 where a bulldozer was spreading fresh cobble on the dike; I'd have to carefully make my way past then wait for dump trucks to drop their loads.

Field E was quiet. The egrets were down to a dozen birds, and Killdeer were the only shorebirds. Across the dike to the west a pair of Sandhill Cranes were walking the field so I got a long-distance photo or two.

I'd return along the main dike and find a Solitary Sandpiper next to a Lesser Yellowlegs in the ditch along Pond 4.

Now to just wait for the next wave of shorebirds.

Erie Marsh Preserve, Monroe, Michigan, US
Jul 29, 2026 8:33 AM - 10:24 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.435 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, breezy, 70F. Low humidity. Shorebirds have all but moved out!
31 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  12
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  1
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)  3
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  2
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  2     Adult and Juv in Pool 2 continuing.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  24
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  1
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  24
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  2
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  1
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  14
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  12
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  43
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  120
Purple Martin (Progne subis)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  130
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  12
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  2
Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S377697147

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