White Pelican, Godwits at Pointe Mouillee

[Karl Overman]

I birded at Pointe Mouillee from 3:40 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. today, August  
13th.  Highlights were White Pelican, Hudsonian Godwit and Marbled  
Godwit.  The White Pelican was resting in a group of Great Egrets in  
the Vermet Unit along the Banana across from the dredging equipment n  
cell 4.  The Marbled Godwit was also in the Vermet Unit, seemingly  
roosting at 6 p.m. with some yellowlegs along the side of the long,  
straight ditch that  is in the SW corner and that numerous egrets,  
terns and gulls rest on.

Cell 3 was where most of the action was.  It was loaded with  
shorebirds and ducks.  Alas, I did not get to  sort through them  
carefully as a young Peregrine drove most of them away before I could  
look through them.  Still, I had a Hudsonian Godwit, 2 Wilson's  
Phalaropes, 4 Baird's Sandpipers, 7 Stilt Sandpipers (4 adults, 3  
juveniles), numerous Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 juvenile Short-billed  
Dowitchers among others.  It is a long walk/ bike ride if you park at  
the Sigler Road or Mouillee Creek parking areas.  Roberts Road would  
be somewhat closer.

There was still some shorebird habit in the NW corner of Long Pond  
Unit but the SW corner looked dry from a distance at least.



Cheers,

Karl Overman
Farmington Hills, Mi.