This is an extension of a Daily Bucket I posted last week about the impact of the polar vortex on lake ice formation in the Great Lakes. That story covered the southern tip of Lake Huron and part of the Detroit River. The rare sunny winter day on Sunday drew me and a birding pal out. We checked out the southern part of the Detroit River and the far western end of Lake Erie.
Here’s the latest four panel from the U.S. National Ice Center and NOAA:
NOAA ice formation maps as of February 5, 2026. Bigger.
Compare that to February 1st:
U.S. National Ice Center and NOAA four panel as of February 1st. Bigger.
Here’s a link to a Newsweek article with a timelapse of this winter’s Great Lakes ice formation. FishOutofWater also has an excellent article on the polar vortex splitting and the potential impact on weather patterns this spring.
As to what it looks like on the ground in my small corner of the Great Lakes, the Detroit River was still mostly frozen, with more sections of open water at the southern end than at the north end where Belle Isle is located. There were still good numbers of swans, geese and ducks tucked in on the ice or out in the water. Another birder reported seeing a coyote out on the ice.
The Detroit River at Dingell Park on January 28th. Bald Eagles were watching over a raft of ducks.
Same spot on February 1st. No Bald Eagles were hanging out that day.
A little further downriver and there was no open water.
A Canadian Coast Guard cutter came through, opening the shipping lane. There’s too much ice on the bow to read her name. “Judy” something, I think. Bigger.
There are several islands in the Detroit River. The biggest are Belle Isle at the headwaters and Grosse Ile at the mouth. There was a good stretch of open water on the U.S. side of Grosse Ile. We stopped at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, where a fishing pier made for great viewing. There were lots of waterfowl taking advantage of the open water.
Looking upriver, there was more open water, with Grosse Ile in the background.
But that open water area was limited.
Turned around and looking the other way. The open water ended at the fishing pier and there was only ice past that. The water and ice made a tinkling sound when pieces of ice hit the edge. Sometimes there was a loud groan or crack.
Open water brings ducks, which bring raptors. We had flyovers of several Bald Eagles. None of them made a pass at the ducks. There were other raptors, too.
A first winter Red-tailed Hawk found something to eat. Mute Swans, Canada Geese and Canvasbacks were at the edge of the ice in the foreground. Bigger.
A second bird came in. At first we thought another Red-tailed, but realized it was a Northern Harrier.
Northern Harrier on the left. Notice how the Red-tailed changed posture to protect its prey. The Harrier didn’t stay long. Bigger.
The fishing pier, with the open water at the end, turned out to be good viewing for winter waterfowl. It helped that it was a sunny day, with light winds at our backs.
If we stood still at the pier railing, the ducks would sometimes float in and work the edge of the ice in front of us. This Common Goldeneye drake was most accommodating. Bigger.
A Redhead drake wants his mate to share. She said dive for your own! Bigger.
My favorite big gull — Great Black-backed Gull. There were several hanging out on the ice. After a Bald Eagle flyover prompted them to take wing, this one did a flyby. Bigger.
A good size comparison of mergansers. Common Merganser drake on the left with Hooded Merganser hen on the right. Bigger.
Trigger alert! This is a sad story, but part of nature. Skip the text and next photo if you need to.
As I explained, the open water ended at the fishing pier and there was nothing but ice to the south. The current is very fast. The diving birds would make a big circle, with the current carrying them towards us. When they got to the pier, they would either fly or paddle back upriver. We noticed a Canvasback hen had drifted to the shore side and was struggling to get up on the ice. She eventually did, but didn’t get far out of the water and just didn’t look right. A few minutes later, she was back in the water and struggling again to climb out. We realized she was dying. It didn’t take long. She didn’t have the strength to fight the current and was pulled under the ice.
I’m including her photo and story as both a tribute to her life and will to survive, and as a reminder that severe weather events take their toll, even on fellow creatures built for frigid temps.
Canvasback hen trying to get out of the water, with a healthy and buoyant Common Goldeneye hen to the right. The Canvasback had ice on her back. That and the bedraggled look tell me she was unable to keep her feathers waterproofed and probably succumbed to exposure. It was heartbreaking to watch, knowing we could do nothing to help her. Bigger.
On to the last stop at Lake Erie. It’s the shallowest of the Great Lakes and freezes over quickly. A NOAA chart tells the story quite nicely.
NOAA chart of Lake Erie ice cover, February 3, 2026. The black line is winter 25/26. The red line is the historical average, going back to 1973. Bigger.
The lake went from open water to 90% ice cover in the space of two weeks. The title photo is a view of the lake from Lake Erie Metropark. Here’s another:
The spots out on the ice are fishing shanties and the people crazy enough to use them. Bigger.
I’d much prefer to be in the woods than out on the ice.
Cross-country skier on a snow covered trail at Lake Erie Metropark.
Now it’s your turn. What’s up in nature in your area?
THE DAILY BUCKET IS A NATURE REFUGE. WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANIMALS, WEATHER, CLIMATE, SOIL, PLANTS, WATERS AND NOTE LIFE’S PATTERNS.
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