… you know Your Roving Reporter is right on it, because an eerie experience at Lake Erie is bound to be great blog fodder, right?
Those eerie sounds greeted me as I pulled up into the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area Headquarters one hot August morning. The cacophony of shrieks and screeches was reminiscent of a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller “The Birds” – yes, a bit disconcerting.
“Where have all the seagulls gone?” I lamented throughout 2024.
I like seagulls as they usually pose long enough for me to get a few shots and their presence always feels like a day at the beach, no matter the season. In the past, I’ve often remarked that I can visit any shoreline in SE Michigan year ‘round and see and hear seagulls.
They hover over the anglers fishing at the piers and overlooks, hoping to snag a small fish that the angler deems too tiny to take home for their fish fry. These shorebirds are ever-hopeful that someone enjoying a breakfast sandwich might toss a few bites of that Egg McMuffin their way. But, in all my miles meandered along many shorelines in 2024, I had neither seen nor heard a single seagull. Even Council Point Park, long before the destruction began on May 8th, the seagulls that usually cruise above the Ecorse Creek scoping out shad were noticeably absent.
Shrill shrieks filled the humid air.
Well, I found those Ring-billed Seagulls – apparently they were all hanging out at Pointe Mouillee DNR Headquarters located at the mouth of the Huron River at Lake Erie, a venue I visited one week after my somewhat disappointing trip to Pointe Mouillee Marsh. I had been here only once before, on a Sunday morning in January 2019, after a Snowy Owl was glimpsed several times flying over the Pointe Mouillee marshes. I didn’t stay long as it was rather deserted, just a dock, parking lot and DNR building, at the end of a mile-long narrow road, with tall Phragmites reeds obliterating the view. “Too far out in the boonies for me” I told myself, so I took a few photos for a blog post, but never saw that owl.
What brought me here now, however, was marking this place as my fifth new venue in 2024. Yes, I concede I cheated a bit here, but a birder I follow online was posting photos of an Osprey family and he expected the chicks to fledge soon, so I was here to see and photograph them. Since this is a prime fishing spot, I knew I would not be alone here.
At the end of the road at the DNR Headquarters was the parking lot and, believe it or not, there was nowhere to park since a few boat trailers took up space and some anglers, who were fishing nearby, had parked their vehicles near a dock, but these folks were not the problem – the parking lot was filled to capacity with Ring-billed Seagulls and Caspian Terns!
Here are some of the Caspian Terns, which is a new bird for my Birding Life List. They are also featured with the Ring-billed Seagulls in the header image. Aren’t they unique looking with their bright orangey-red bills and black caps?
These shorebirds made a racket like you wouldn’t believe as they gathered in groups, like warring factions, trying to outdo each other with open bills and boisterous antics. These were definitely angry birds!
I wanted to get some photos of them, so I snagged a spot near the DNR building, (likely reserved for DNR personnel … yep, taking a few liberties AGAIN), stepped out of the car and grabbed the camera, without closing the door.
Unfortunately, most of those shorebirds took flight within moments as I tried to capture their fleeing bodies and whirring wings; these were my best efforts – many were too blurry to use.
Lucky for me, a few brave Seagulls and Terns lingered, unfazed by their brethren’s quick departure …
… so I got a few shots of those birds in a calm moment, apparently comfortable with my presence. But even they eventually got cranky, then also left in a flurry, leading me to muse that they ALL needed an attitude adjustment.
I moved the car to a proper parking space and went to discover the Osprey family, the real reason for my 35-mile round trip that day.
Watching the awesome Osprey family was fun.
I stopped to read and photograph these signs …
… then walked along the shoreline and soon spotted the tall platform with the Osprey nest, with one occupant, which watched as I neared its abode, then promptly turned its back on me. “Fair enough – I have all the time in the world” I thought, while wondering where the rest of the family was?
Then that Osprey turned around – a nice profile for me. I wasn’t sure from its plumage if it was an adult.
To my right I heard some chirps and swiveled my head, just in time to check out this Osprey diving for a fish …
… but it came up “empty-taloned” so it went looking elsewhere.
Nearby, this Osprey was not interested in fishing and sat atop a pole.
While I was watching the above Ospreys, I missed all the action up here where there were now a trio of Ospreys occupying the nest.
In the blink of an eye, one departed …
… leaving two, which I quickly zoomed in on while the goin’ was good for me. Again, I’m not sure if these were juveniles or adults. They remained in this position for the longest time, looking a bit disgruntled with one another. After taking many photos of Ospreys this year, I’ve come to the conclusion that they never look very happy. Perhaps this is Mom discouraged by one offspring’s poor fishing performance and the other one’s pouty presence on the pole?
They all flew away and after about 15 minutes waiting around, I crossed the now-empty parking lot to the marsh to see the Lotus patch.
Since several of you commented that you enjoyed seeing the Lotuses in one of my recent posts, here is a slideshow of a few lovely Lotuses from this venue.
I am joining Terri Webster Schrandt’s Sunday Stills Photography Challenge: Eerie.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Birds sure can emit some eerie sounds, Linda, as well as loud, annoying squawks! All proof of life, IMO! Wow, gorgeous pics of the not so eerie Caspian Terns and Osprey! Beautiful! I like their coloring.
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Yes, they sure do Terri. The Great Blue Heron has the worst squawking noises as it flies over the marsh. These birds were screeching very loud – you could not hear yourself think, then most of them took off and there was still some noise. Thank you – it was a first time for me seeing those Caspian Terns up close. I was glad I went to see the Osprey family. The local photographer had been watching and photographing them for weeks with his huge telephoto lens.
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Lots to look at and enjoy!!
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Yes! My head was swirling around the entire time I was there Anne … I didn’t know what to concentrate on first after the noisy birds took off!
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Lovely photos Linda. Isn’t it great when you see a new bird
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Thank you Brian – yes, I have seen these Terns cruising high above, but in my photos they looked like white and black specks. I felt lucky to see them at ground level and I got some fun Seagull photos to use for Wordless Wednesday posts as well.
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Wonderful pictures. The lotuses (sp?) are wonderful!
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Thank you Kate! I have so many photos I’ve taken of the lotuses in different marshes at various stages of growth, I have to spread them out so people don’t get tired of them. 🙂 They are beautiful and delicate flowers.
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Especially such a large grouping of them!
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Yes and this marsh patch was small compared to what they have at Lake Erie Metropark where they have two patches, one is the largest in Michigan. They are not close enough to the shore to smell them and you can’t swim or wade out to touch or see them, but I understand they smell like jasmine.
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Hi Linda! I’m not sure which of all this was most fun for you? Maybe driving up to see that all the parking spaces were occupied?! I’m also thrilled when I see the terns here. Years ago we would get large groups like what you saw, but now-a-days the groups are smaller. And the terns really prefer the beach over the bay front.
Seeing the Osprey fishing must have been exciting!
Lovely photograph slide show of the lotus flowers.
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Hi TD – yes, you are right! I didn’t expect to see anything but the platform with the Osprey family, so I was surprised to see all the seagulls and terns gathered together and squawking their heads off. I was sorry they left so quickly, but I was glad some hung around so I could take some pictures. I thought they are very unique looking with their black caps and orangey-red bills. I got some fun seagull pictures too which I’ll save for some Wordless Wednesday posts.
That was a first for me too seeing the Osprey fishing. This year I’ve seen them in the nest and flying overhead, carrying sticks too, but not in the water. He/she was not successful – too bad it might have been a fun photo to take.
Glad you liked the lotuses too – this patch is not as large as the two at Lake Erie Metropark, but you can get closer to them here than there because of all the boulders along the shoreline. I was not close enough to smell them though – they are supposed to smell like jasmine.
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Haha… Eerie on Lake Erie! We have Ospreys here (and tons of seagulls) and they are magnificent birds. I’ve never seen one fish, though. Lucky you!
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Haha – yes, spelling is important isn’t it Janis? The Ospreys are beautiful birds – their plumage when in flight is a sight to see. Another first for me this year, seeing an Osprey fishing. I was surprised how gracefully they swoop down to the water. I felt sorry he/she didn’t grab up that fish.
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Excellent Osprey shots Linda! You nailed it.
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Thank you Wayne! I wish that Osprey had caught the fish – it sure made a good attempt at it, talons extended and skimming the water. I don’t know who was more disappointed, it or me!
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Looks enjoy!
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I agree that the Ospreys do have a disgruntled look! It might be their curved-down beaks. Maybe they are really happy but it just doesn’t show??
Love the lotus flower pictures
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Those lotus flowers are so delicate and pretty Esther. The Ospreys always have that “mad at the world look” and I think you’re right that the beak gives the appearance of being disgruntled. 🙂
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I liked the word you used to describe them: disgruntled. Different kinds of birds have such expressions.
I’ve always been a Lotus flower fan. The way they float on the water and how they grow is an amazing part of nature.
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You know I always say Robins have a perpetual scowl. Years ago, I had a continual war going on with a Robin at the house. Back when I was young[er] I used to hand water my garden every day before going to work (and I took the bus at 7:30 a.m.)! So I’d get out there very early in the Summer months and the Robin would be standing by, waiting for me to water the plants, moisten the mulch, so it could throw the mulch out of the garden bed onto the lawn. Yes, it was looking for worms, but also to make me mad, because it gauged my reaction. The more I picked the mulch up and put it back where it belonged, it went right over and did it again, all the while with a scowl on its “face”. I once had to pull a Robin’s nest down before it was completely built as it blocked the door and I couldn’t get out of the door. It would dive bomb me every time I came out of the house.
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I love how you describe gulls as ever-hopeful! 🙂 Congratulations on your new Life Bird, the Caspian Tern!!! The only tern I’ve ever seen was a couple of Common Terns. What a beautiful bird and you got some great pictures! I was intrigued by the Waterfowl Festival. Your osprey pictures are stunning! Look at those piercing eyes… the better to see the fish with.
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The gulls seem to buzz around the shoreline, especially parks like Bishop Park and Elizabeth Park where anglers line up and people walk/sit on benches hoping people will share. I got some fun seagull shots that day and I was tempted to stick them in this post, but will keep them for three Wordless Wednesday posts instead. Seagulls always seem to pose. I’m glad you liked the Caspian Tern Barbara – it is so unique looking with that very bright and pointed bill and black cap. To see so many of them mingling with the seagulls just amazed me. I wish they would have lingered longer before taking off. Sigh.
The Waterfowl Festival is held every mid-September. They advertise it on the various park sites I follow on Facebook and it is a family event. They sell every type of duck decoy for water, or even for collecting (my mom collected duck decoys for years). They have competitions for bird dogs, but I wouldn’t go as they also shoot the ducks for the competition. Other than that, the two-day festival draws quite a crowd. I’m glad you liked the osprey pics. I follow a local photographer on Facebook and he had been going there for weeks watching the family fledge and they’d be gone soon. He is the same one who suggested I go to Sterling State Park as he had posted white pelican photos and knew I wanted to see them. I went today but no pelicans, but I did see a bald eagle in a tree by its nest, a lot of egrets, lots of ducks, coots and a heron, so it was a good day for me, even with no pelican!
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I’m trying to picture (and failing) an osprey looking happy. I think it’s the curved beak, permanently turned down. And I wouldn’t want to know what that beak feels like through a bite! It would be interesting to sit down and watch “The Birds” again (appropriate, being the week of Halloween). Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s still as unnerving as the first time I saw the movie years and years ago.
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You do have a point there Dave. They always look sullen to me, especially that one osprey that was sitting atop the green post. I’ll bet “The Birds” is on some cable channels this week. Nothing like an Alfred Hitchcock movie for Halloween. I have not seen it in years, but clips from the movie can be found on YouTube to relive the first time you watched it. I remember reading how they filmed the sequence with the birds attacking and it was quite elaborate.
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If I were a bird with a need to avoid predators and hunters, I think I might hang out at a DNR office location too!
I understand that terns are usually found in pairs, because one good tern deserves another. 🙂
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I love the pun JP! I always wonder why I don’t think of these quips. I originally intended to make the top image a Wordless Wednesday and call it “Birds of a Feather”. I just learned recently that the DNR allows waterfowl hunters to hunt at any park or even a Metropark as long as they stay in the water and don’t go onto park property – that amazed me.
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Miss Linda…………………………………I always enjoy your narrative stories………………….I learn a lot and I love your pictures.
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Thank you Anne Marie. This was a fun trip to the DNR Headquarters which is just a short hop down Jefferson from Lake Erie Metropark. I’m glad you learn new things along with me. There is always something to learn in nature – we never get bored. Today I went to Sterling State Park (using your directions you gave me a while ago). I was looking for White Pelicans, which had been there a few days ago, but departed, but I did see a Bald Eagle and got some photos of it sitting on a branch near the nest, so that was exciting.
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So many birds, what a fun day and I love seeing the Osprey, we don’t have any in this area.
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It was a really good day Diane and I got a slew of fun seagull shots too, but will use them for Wordless Wednesday posts down the line. That’s too bad you don’t have Osprey. They have beautiful plumage and only eat fish, unlike those pesky hawks who like birds and mammals. The first time I saw an Osprey diving – I’ve seen them in the nest and flying overhead, but not “fishing”. Here it is the 28th of October and at Sterling State Park today, there were lots of fishermen and lots of boats out as well.
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This is good fishing weather on Lake Erie.
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Yes it is – here the fisherman are out, boaters who did not shrink wrap their boats have those boat out and on the 5:00 p.m. news they were interviewing golfers who were enjoying the record-breaking weather, although it’s so windy I’m wondering if a golfer can hit the ball straight and/or if it goes on its own. There were lots of fishermen on Monday at Sterling State Park in Monroe when I visited there.
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You really know your birds, Linda! 👌 This is a fabulous gallery, especially the closeups. And the Lotus blooms are lovely. You’re right – the Osprey do look grumpy.
😆
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Thank you Debbie! I have learned a lot about the birds in the big parks and marshes because I follow a group of Michigan Metropark photographers on Facebook. We have 13 Metroparks in SE Michigan, so the photos are only from those parks. People post pics of birds and butterflies I have never heard of, let alone seen and give their names, so I learn a lot that way. Today I went looking for White Pelicans at a large park, but they must have departed, but I saw a Bald Eagle which was exciting. Yes, the Osprey look perpetually grumpy, but then so do Bald Eagles. Those Lotuses are gorgeous, but they don’t last very long which is a shame.
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You really had a great day for birding!
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Yes, I was very lucky Eilene! I had another lucky day today at a different venue. I went looking for White Pelicans and saw a slew of other birds, including a Bald Eagle. I’ve seen them before, but in flight, never in plain sight!
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Lovely photos of the Ospreys, Seagulls and Terns, Linda, and the Lotuses were certainly showing off.
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I’m glad you liked them Rebecca – it was a fun day for me at this small venue. Those Lotuses sure are beautiful and delicate and I could get closer to them here since I could walk up to the water’s edge, unlike at Lake Erie Metropark where there are boulders along the shoreline so you have to stand back to admire them.
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How fun that you got to see the terns. I thought they were only in the south. You must be right near the migration path with all the birds you get to see.
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Sandra, it was so exciting to see these terms. A first for me, although a couple of times I saw them flying overhead down by the River, but only knew them from the black wing tips from below and their black cap. They were so noisy! Between them and the gulls.
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Great osprey pics ! I can’t believe you mentioned that movie The Birds! I remember we were out west visiting friends and I must have been 7-8 -9 years old? I don’t remember that part but I remember that movie. Scared the bejesus out of me lol
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Thanks Susan – I had a real close-up view of them near the shoreline and under the nest. Another fun outing for me that day. That was a scary movie – the sound effects and special effects were great and very scary, especially considering how long ago that movie was made.
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Thank you for taking us with you on another bird-watching expedition, Linda. They’re such fun to watch! Each specie has its own set of habits. For ten years we lived on the edge of a golf course in FL. On the other side of our fence was a water-hazard pond where ospreys often fished. We never tired of watching them circle above the water, and then suddenly dive down when they saw a fish within talon-reach. Terns, on the other hand, high-dive into the water–head first–to grab their prey!
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I’m glad you enjoyed this post Nancy. This was another great birding adventure for me and a first seeing that osprey diving and a first seeing the terns. How quickly that dive happened! I would enjoy watching them on diving expeditions as well. I wish the gulls and terns had not taken off so quickly – luckily I got to check them out in the parking lot before they got spooked and took off like the others. I would have liked to see them grabbing their prey. They are such unique-looking birds!
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I used to like to feed the seagulls. I guess that’s frowned upon these days but when I was a kid it was a grand game of throwing bits of bread as high as I could and watching the gulls swoop down and. grab it out of midair. Your osprey were delightful, too. You could start carrying fish around and throwing it to them? Perhaps not.
The lotus flowers are lovely. I hope they have many frogs.
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Zazzy – I not only fed the seagulls bits of bread as a kid, but also the ducks and, I used to feed the ducks and geese stale bread at the Park until I saw the internet memes about waterfowl that get angel wing from eating bread as it’s not nutritious. I was at Elizabeth Park last week and I took photos of what someone left for the critters – it will be in a future post. There were two “droppings” of food left on the grass near the sidewalk. One was lots of tortilla chips, a couple of apples and two yellow marshmallow Easter Peeps (bet they were stale!) and the other load of food was a package of hot dog buns, still in the plastic bag, another apple and about 10 slices of that bread that is half rye/half white. I was a bit mystified to be honest. I would love to get photos of the Osprey going after food – wish he/she would have caught something. Maybe next year?
It would be like when they still had Marineland or Sea World and you could get a cup of fish and feed it to the seals. I have a photo of me at one of those places and I’m wrinkling up my nose as it smelled so bad. I have only seen one frog in all the marshes – a huge bullfrog and he was sitting in the water with the duckweed and blended in, so if not for his eyes, I’d have missed it!
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This was awesome…why didn’t I think to use some photos I had of Lake Erie or near it when I’m on Kelley’s island…whoops. Maybe next year.
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Kirstin – I was lucky I could use a play on words for “eerie” and “Erie” and I wish I could have been able to include those gulls and terns’ loud screeching in the post – now that would have been really scary! I just Googled Kelley’s Island – that’s a nice place and I especially like the big rolling waves in the one picture I found. In fact, I was surprised to learn that Lake Erie at Sterling State Park is a prime place for surfers because of the big waves. Surfing in the Midwest – who knew? I saw a fun post on Facebook about a group of women stand-up paddleboarders, all dressed like witches, and sent it to Terri and suggested she do that for the “Eerie” post. 🙂
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