Daniel Behm Photography: Point Mouillee Michigan

This past weekend I Packed up the gear and headed up to what is known as the Banana @ Pnt. Mouillee, Mich. Joining me this day was Matthew Studebaker and meeting us there later in the day was Greg Schneider both fellow photographers.

The area we focused on own was cell 3 particularly the NorthEast end. This is an area comprised of very shallow water most of which is only inches deep to a mere foot in depth. Its vastly a large mud flat, Located on the Westernmost end of Lake Erie.

We parked in what is known as the South parking lot off Roberts rd. from here its about a 3 mile trek to the area where we were going to photograph. No vehicles are allowed past this parking lot so its accessed via walking or Bike. We chose Bikes. Using Backpacks we packed our gear ( Cameras, Tripods,Lenses, and Waders) back to cell Three.

Upon arriving we were greated by a beautiful sunrise spilling golden light onto the flats. Matt noticed Buff Breasted, and Bairds Sandpipers along the northern shoreline and for the first hour we focused on these, they provided us with many great looks.

Bairds Sandpiper


Buff Breasted Sandpiper

From there we put on our waders and headed out to the mud flat, easing our way slowly to where the birds were foraging in the shallow water.

Here we seen and were able to photograph, Lessor Yellowlegs Red Necked Phalaropes, Wilsons Phalaropes, White Rumped Sandpipers, SemiPalmated Sandpipers, SemiPalmated Plovers, Black Bellied Plovers, Killideer, Stilt Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Short-Billed Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs and others.

Below is a photo sampling of the day. All in all a Great day, We walked away thinking this was one of the best shorebird experiences we have ever had and are sure to be returning in the future.