The Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is very well known for its waterfowl hunting—as the name suggests. We went there to hunt waterfowl as well, but in a different way. Instead of hunting rifles, we used cameras to “shoot” our subjects. Instead of spotting scopes… well, we actually buy our spotting scopes at the exact same places the hunters do!

Last year, at the end of July, Patrick and I went there to look for Black-necked Stilts. A Black-necked Stilt is a quite uncommon sight for Michigan’s marshes, but over the past few years, a breeding population has established itself there..

Survival Tips for the Marsh

When we arrived early in the morning, the sun was already shining mercilessly upon us. There is not a whole lot of shade at “Pte. Mouillee,” so don’t forget to bring proper sun protection and plenty of water. Generally, I also recommend bringing a bicycle; the dikes and walkways stretch quite far into the lake.

The wildlife refuge area of Pointe Mouillee is never a quiet place. You will hear and see birds, butterflies, and other insects right from the start. From the parking lot, I already spotted several gulls, orioles, waterfowl, and this little Yellow Warbler:

Finding the target: black-necked stilt.

Further into the refuge, we found all kinds of shorebirds: Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted, Solitary, and Least Sandpipers, and a Semipalmated Plover. But our target species was still out of sight.

Not knowing exactly what to look for to find the stilts, the stilts eventually found us. When feeling threatened, the breeding stilts cause a ruckus, circling you and “calling you out.” Unfortunately, we were both not quick enough to capture the stilt in flight, but at least we knew we were on the right track.

A few feet further, we could peak through an opening in the reeds, and there they were: several adult and juvenile birds. It felt very rewarding to watch the birds simply “doing bird stuff.” We snapped a few pictures and started our way back. Here are some of my favorite shots:

In total, I documented 42 different species. You can find my full eBird checklist here.

First Birds then Bites: JP’s Waterfront

For our earned reward, we went to JP’s Waterfront in Gibraltar. It is located just by the water and the perfect location for a hot summer day. Patrick had the Fish Tacos, which where not worth eating in full. Myself, I had a burger with bacon. Overall a good place for some grub. Having food by the water always feels special.

This was my second birding trip post. How do you like them so far? I appreciate any feedback! If you are interested in other birding reports, you can find our Snowy Owl hunt here.