Lake Erie Metropark is part of southeast Michigan’s Huron-Clinton Metroparks system. It’s located at the mouth of the Detroit River as it flows into northwest Lake Erie. It’s also the main stake out for the Detroit River Hawk Watch. I wrote a Dawn Chorus about a breathtaking Canvasback murmuration I witnessed there last winter. A pretty cool place to birdwatch or just see what nature has to offer — like the fox kit in the title photo. Join me for a short visit from Sunday, September 24th.
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I didn’t have much time on Sunday, with only a few hours in the late afternoon. I wanted to see which raptors were passing through this major migration route, and get a little walking in as well. I stopped first at an area where I saw lots of shorebirds last fall. However, the landscape had changed with a change in the water level. Last fall, water levels were down. Late winter and spring remained very dry. Thankfully, rains came this summer. According to U.S. Drought Monitor, we went from moderate drought to abnormally dry to currently no drought. Here’s two photos comparing last fall and now:
Lake Erie Metropark October 2022. The mudflats meant more shorebirds last year.
Same area, September 24, 2023. No mudflats. No shorebirds. Note how clear the sky is early in my visit. A cold front bringing needed rain was moving in from the east.
The higher water did mean some dabblers were out. Lots of Mallards and Canada Geese. A handful of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets stalked the shallow water. Other ducks haven’t arrived in big numbers just yet, but there were some beauties to appreciate.
Drake in eclipse. I should get a bumper sticker that says “I Break For Wood Ducks.” I never tire of seeing these gorgeous ducks. Zoom
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This hen was quite chatty and surprisingly didn’t fly off. She still kept her distance. Zoom
Pollinators were swarming the last of the year’s wildflowers.
Honeybee on Asters.
Along with the Goldenrod, these yellow flowers made a nice contrast with the Asters. Zoom
Heading from the mudflats over to the Detroit River and the Hawk Watch, I couldn’t believe my eyes when the young Red Fox in the title photo trotted next to the road (park speed limit is 15 MPH). It was visible for only seconds before ducking into a culvert and into the woods.
Another photo of the kit. Zoom
The Hawk Watch was quiet with not much business while I was there, so I headed south along the lakefront. The first thing I noticed here was storm damage from the late August storms that spawned five tornados through southern Michigan.
A huge Cottonwood fell at the entrance to the boardwalk trail.
More trees down along Lake Erie.
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This is the nature study area path along Lake Erie. It used to be well shaded — basically a tunnel of tree branches. Notice as well how the clouds are moving in.
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Park employees used downed branches to make brush piles, mostly on the inner side of the lakefront trail. I’ll be interested to see what wildlife makes these home.
There were a few warblers working through maple and cottonwood trees, here a Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler.
The park also left trees that had fallen into the lake lie where they fell. Ducks were taking advantage of the quieter water to hang out and preen.
Young Pied-billed Grebes hanging out in the lake amid downed tree branches.
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Left to right, Mallard hen, Wood Duck drake and two young Common Gallinules chasing each other. Zoom
It was still warm enough for dragonflies and damselflies to be out and about.
I’m pretty sure this is a male Familiar Bluet. As always, corrections are most welcome. Zoom
Tentatively identified as a female Stream Bluet. Zoom
This grasshopper was hanging out on the boardwalk. A rather large specimen at almost two inches. Zoom
As I was leaving, the clouds had moved in except for a band of clear sky behind me to the west. It lit up Celeron Island, which is part of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.
Thanks for stopping by for this virtual walk at Lake Erie Metropark.
Now it’s your turn.
What’s up in nature in your area?