Cell 3 Marker - 05 Aug 2026

A number of birders have mentioned frustration finding the path to Cell 3 from the west side of the Banana at Pt. Mouillee. I decided to see if I could make a marker that would direct folks to the path. 

I had an old shepherd's hook that I wrapped w/ green tape and marked it w/ a "3". Riding out to Cell 3 I follow the "inner" tree line along the pond to its southern end, then look for the 2 large willow trees that are growing next to the dike. Just beyond that is the cutout in the ditch (I look for the dead patch of poison hemlock immediately south of the cutout.

Since the portion of Cell 3 got mowed the path has been covered w/ downed vegetation so it is not readily visible. 

However, if you align yourself with the bend in the shepherd's hook while looking east you can see where I opened the path inside the vegetation.

The first juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers were seen this evening in the pond, along with several worn adults, including a worn adult Long-billed Dowitcher (it had distinct barring on flanks and undertail that helped distinguish it from the spotted SBDOs).

Fourteen Black-necked Stilts remain inside the pond area w/ most of the younger birds along the east and south banks. Vegetation is high enough to obscure the view of the near (west) bank of the pond.

Birds were too far for any photos and I didn't stay long.

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 31), Monroe, Michigan, US
Aug 5, 2026 6:06 PM - 7:24 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.221 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, hot, humid, breezy, W 5-10mph, 83F
48 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  24
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  1
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  8
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  2
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)  1
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)  14     Cell 3 plus 2 in Vermet
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  5
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  2
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)  12     Juveniles have arrived. 5-6. In Cell 3
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)  1     Cell 3. Worn adult w heavy barring on flanks and undertail. May be as many as 5 but not verified.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  36     Ad and juvs in Cell 3
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)  7
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  2
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  1
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)  24
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  94     Cell 3 roost. Exact count by 1’s.
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  9
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)  4
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  7
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  1
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)  1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  8
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
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/S380335355

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