JAS Tour of Watkins Lake State Park/Washtenaw County Preserve 11/28/2025

We had a beautiful day for our group of seven to tour this multicounty jewel.  This park system is a Michigan state park in Jackson County and a county preserve at the Washtenaw line.  It makes for interesting birding if you are a lister that likes to manage counties in your eBird data.  So we have posted separate  state and county park lists, below.

Two members of FoWL (Friends of Watkins Lake) joined us for our tour, Sybil Kolon and Sylvia Kay.  Sybil gave the group an overview of this new organization and spoke about their mission to assist in stewardship and advocacy for the properties.  

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)(Don Henise)

After viewing the obligatory Northern Mockingbird that is a yearlong resident, we walked on the east side into the Washtenaw Preserve.  We got two more Mockingbirds as well as Eastern Bluebird. 

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)(Don Henise)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)(Don Henise)

Moving into the Washtenaw Preserve, we spotted 3 Fox Sparrows then travelled up to the top of the trail for a great view of the lake and surrounding country.  the color was great.  While there we observed both Purple and House finches working some Eastern red-Cedar trees.

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)(Don Henise)

From the east side, we moved west then down the road into the middle of the lake for some waterfowl.  We got eleven species of waterfowl, Great Blue heron and Belted Kingfisher.

(Brenda Wineman)

Wild Cucumber (Sylvia Kay)

Watkins Lake Park eBird Checklists:

Michigan SP:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S282140201

Washtenaw CP:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S281800132