Slow Morning at Crystal Waters - 20 Oct 2026

I met Jack and Janet Volker out at Crystal Waters State Game Area this morning at 8:30 am. Skies were clear, winds were calm, and it was a cool 45ºF. A gorgeous morning to check out the area. A Golden Eagle was spotted last week here so we had hopes...

We parked in the lot off Darling Road and walked across the road to check the pond to the north. All was quiet except for a few Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. The pond held no waterfowl.

We returned to the parking lot area to check out the quarry. A Red-bellied Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker would be the highlight of the morning as we left the north pond.

The quarry was quiet. No waterfowl on the pond, and only a scattering of Killdeer, Eastern Bluebirds and Horned Larks. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Song Sparrows were bouncing through the trees nearby.

Five Sandhill Cranes flew overhead (yes, I can count).

Horned Lark.

Four Eastern Bluebirds were on the wire next to the parking lot upon our return.

A Downy Woodpecker near the parking lot.

No Golden Eagles here today. However, six Golden Eagles would be reported today at Detroit River Hawk Watch.

Crystal Waters SGA, Monroe, Michigan, US
Oct 20, 2026 8:20 AM - 10:04 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.768 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 45-50F, calm
22 species

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  5
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  12
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  5
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  1
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  4
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  3
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S403987336

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