Nelson's Sparrow @ LEMP - 19 Oct 2026

 

Morning brought clear skies, cool temps (40ºF) and no wind. I decided I would regret if I didn't try for the Nelson's Sparrow at Lake Erie Metropark. Again. Arriving at 8:30 am I parked at the Marshland Museum and walked the short distance to the spot where Justin and Bobbie saw the Nelson's Sparrow. The rising Sun partially backlit the east side of the marsh, but if I put my hand over my bins (or scope) I could scan the base of the cattails without problem. 

The mudflats were active this morning. American Robins were foraging the mudflats, as were Rusty Blackbirds, White-throated Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows and Song Sparrows. Northern Cardinals were working the shoreline vegetation, as well. 

To my left a number of Yellow-rumped Warblers were bouncing through the bushes, and some even posed long enough for photos. 

I spent better than 30 minutes scanning the east side of the marsh but had no luck finding a Nelson's Sparrow. I was thinking about packing up and going for a walk, then coming back after when Bill Peregord stopped by and asked how things were going. 

Just minutes after he left I made one last scan of the mudflats and spotted the Nelson's Sparrow at the extreme left end of the cattail peninsula. Verifying that I was indeed seeing an orange Ammodramus sparrow I put the 200-600mm lens on it and fired away, hoping to get some record photos from 200' away.

The Nelson's Sparrow disappeared as quickly as it appeared. But I was happy to have gotten to see it. I would spend another 10 minutes or so scoping the area to see if it would return, but it stayed out of sight. I grabbed the scope and headed back to the car. 

Along the way the Yellow-rumped Warblers were still in the area and one bird gave me nice photos from just 10' away.

I then took a quick loop around the Marshland Museum trail to see if any other warblers were around. They were not, but I did find a cooperative White-throated Sparrow at the north end of the loop.

I thought about now going to look for a Stilt Sandpiper at the south end of the park, but timewise I needed to get home to take my little Taige to the Vet.

Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.07672, -83.19838, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 19, 2026 9:15 AM - 10:08 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.62 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cool, 45F. Looking for Nelson’s Sparrow reported yesterday.
30 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  3
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  18
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  8
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  4
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)  6
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  2
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4
Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni)  1     Continuing in same location as yesterday when first reported but farther left near edge of small cattail peninsula. Foraging on mudflat at base of cattails. Appeared momentarily. Small light sparrow with orange on face and chest, gray cheek and median crown stripe. Pics.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  6
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  4
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  7
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S403734123

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