The Daily Bucket - Pointe Mouillee on a Hot Summer Day

by Clickadee for Backyard Science

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Wednesday, Jul. 10, 2024 Wednesday, Jul. 10, 2024 at 7:00:07am PDT

no image description available — Cabbage Whites flock to a damp spot in the mudflats at Pointe Mouillee State Game Area on Lake Erie

I’ve written about Pointe Mouillee many times and it’s always on my radar. It’s not the easiest hike, but not because the trails are difficult. It’s mostly flat gravel along raised dikes where the Huron River empties into Lake Erie. The difficulty comes from no shade, no benches (big limestone boulders can substitute, but that means walking through knee-high grasses with the always present danger of ticks), and no bathroom or even a porta-john. And it has lots of biting insects. The plus side of that is they support many bird species.

I visited twice in the last week, mostly hoping to see shorebirds that are just now starting to migrate south. The area closes for hunting September 1st through the end of the year, so I’m making the most of the summer months.

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Pointe Moo is a barrier island of sorts, created by the Army Corps of Engineers to address shoreline erosion after the natural beaches eroded away. It’s mostly shallow open water crisscrossed by dikes, with some areas filled but still marshy. Phragmites have pretty much taken over most of the marshes. This despite clearcutting by the DNR last year. But there are still lots of wildflowers, some native and others not.

Deptford Pinks at Pointe Mouillee SGA — Deptford Pinks. A real bright spot along the paths.

Vervain at Pointe Mouillee — One of my favorites — Vervain, growing among the phragmites (not a favorite). It’s just now starting to bloom. Soon there will be large areas of the deep purple. The American Lotus, Marsh Mallow and invasive Purple loosestrife haven’t started to bloom yet.

yellow primrose at Pointe Mouillee — Some kind of primrose, with leaf hopper.

Yellow Toadflax at Pointe Mouillee — Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

wild berries at Pointe Mouillee — Some kind of wild berries. I left them for the wildlife that needs the calories way more than I do. :)

White-tailed Deer doe and fawn at Pointe Mouillee — A White-tailed Deer doe and fawn were grazing along a canal. Bigger

American toad at Pointe Mouillee — Almost stepped on this tiny American Toad in the middle of the path.

Northern Leopard frog at Pointe Mouillee — This seldom seen Northern Leopard Frog was in the dry part of the mudflats, and was surprisingly comfortable with our presence.

Willet at Pointe Mouillee — I went looking for shorebirds and found this lifer Willet. Bigger

I’ll have more shorebirds, plus butterflies and dragonflies in an upcoming Part 2.