What's With Me and Storms? - 09 Jul 2026

Another hot and humid day had forecasts for thunderstorms this evening, so I decided to run down to Pt. Mouillee SGA this afternoon. My plan was to check Cell 3 for shorebirds and decide if it was worth biking anywhere else. 

I arrived at Mouillee Creek shortly after 1 pm and biked the Middle Causeway out to Cell 3. I got as far as the Pump House before realizing I had left my scope in the car, so I had to turn around and go back. Winds were starting to pick up when I looked to the south and noticed a strong front moving east over the Fermi stacks. I had to get to Cell 3 as fast as possible so as to take shelter (again) in the phragmites.

I arrived just long enough to get the scope set and make a quick scan of the pond. 25 Short-billed Dowitchers highlighted the view. I did spot a pair of Wilson's Phalaropes at the north end of the Cell while four of the juvenile Black-necked Stilts were seen along the south shoreline.

I'd also see numerous Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Killdeer and a pair of Dunlin hidden in the reeds lining the east shore. Green-winged Teal and a pair of Blue-winged Teal were present, as well. Almost 50 Caspian Terns doubled the Ring-billed Gull roost size. 

The northern tip of the storm passed overhead so I took cover in the phrags and waited for it to pass. Rain was light but lightning was flashing to the east. Within 10 minutes the storm was over and I could resume scoping. A pair of Black Terns appeared over the water, and this adult Black-necked Stilt flew into the near shoreline to check me out.

Seven American White Pelicans were quietly roosting in the middle of the pond. 

I made my way back to the bike, rode south to the dike separating Cells 1 - 2 and headed east to the Lake Erie shoreline where I rode north to Cell 4. Lake levels were up but a bit of the beach opposite Cell 3 was visible (and empty). 

I rode back to the west side of the Banana and headed north to check out the east shoreline of the Vermet Unit. The lotus patch and adjoining mudflats produced only a pair of Black-necked Stilts but should be more productive in August (fingers crossed). 

I'd continue to the North Causeway, ride west to the dike separating Vermet and Long Pond Units, then back to the Middle Causeway and west to the car. 

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Jul 9, 2026 1:15 PM - 3:05 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.649 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Mostly cloudy, hot, humid, 90F. Storms to s of Cell 3 brought light rain.
44 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  65
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  45
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  2
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  1
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  2
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  9     2 ad and 5 juv in Cell 3. 2 ad in Vermet.
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  16
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)  25
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)  2     Juv in Cell 3 with ad male.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  12
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  14
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  7     Cell 3. Together and among SBDO. Ad breeding plumage.
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  2
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  6
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  22
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  24
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  1
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  48
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)  2
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  18
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  6
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  7
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  3
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  2
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  6
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  12
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  12
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  44
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  65
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  4
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S369879173

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