Welcome September - 01 Sep 2026

 

Today is the start of the 2026 Detroit River Hawk Watch Season. We welcome new counter Gracie Sangmeister and interns Rebekah Graham and Bella Maiwurm! My plan was to run down to hawk watch and introduce myself to the team and hopefully catch up w/ the rest of the team. But first, I'd take a walk at Lake Erie Metropark to look for warblers.

I arrived at about 8:30 am and headed out onto the trails behind the Marshland Museum. Skies were clear but it was humid and 80ºF with temps reaching 90ºF by day's end. The woods were quiet so this female Green Darner was a welcome find.

I walked the Trapper's Run trail in a clockwise direction starting from the west trailhead. A few Caspian Terns were flying over the marsh to the west while this Eastern Kingbird perched atop a snag at the north end of the trail.

I'd hear a Pileated Woodpecker calling from the north end of the marsh but couldn't locate it (it would be photographed on the 3rd, though). Walking along the east side of the loop I had to settle for quick pics of the Wood Ducks in the canals before they flushed.

A Green Heron remaining brave in the face of my presence...

A pair of Willow Flycatchers were chasing each other through the trailside vegetation and one stopped for a pose before flying off.

Another pair of Wood Ducks were swimming in the canal just before reaching Luc's aviary.

I'd return to the car and head over to the Boat Launch and visit the Detroit River Hawk Watch. Erika Van Kirk was there along with Gracie, Rebekah and Bella. Andrew Sturgess was at the helm. Lake Erie Metropark staff Paul Cypher and Kevin Arnold were there, and Bill and Michele Peregord. Mark Hainen would arrive, as would Will Weber and Johannes Postma.

I'd make my rounds chatting with folks before heading home to make doctor appointments. Forecasts for the next few days include high-90's, high humidity, and thunderstorms. The team would still manage to count a few Northern Harriers so not all was lost.

Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.07672, -83.19838, Wayne, Michigan, US
Sep 1, 2026 8:38 AM - 9:13 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.894 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, humid, 80F
25 species (+1 other taxa)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  8
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  7
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  4
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) (Empidonax alnorum/traillii)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  5
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  5
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  4
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S388856100

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