” On The Road”

I’ve spent the last day and a half birding up along Lake Erie for the first time in 2 years. If you remember last year I camped in Daniel Boone national Forest at Red River Gorge checking out some of the breeding warblers in the area. Well this year I returned to Lake Erie, but for only a very short time. All told I probably spent a total of 14 hours birding. But in those 14 hours I either heard or saw a total of 85 birds with 24 of those being warblers, which I think is pretty respectable for the time allotted.

1. Wilson’s warbler
2. Yellow warbler
3. Yellow-rumped warbler
4. Blue-winged Warbler
5. Common Yellowthroat
6. Black-throated Green Warbler
7. Black-throated Blue Warbler
8. Blackburnian Warbler
9. Bay-breasted Warbler
10. Ovenbird
11. Canada Warbler
12. American Redstart
13.  Mourning Warbler
14. Cape May Warbler
15. Nashville Warbler
16. Tennessee Warbler
17. Northern Parula
18. Louisiana Waterthrush
19. Prothonotary Warbler
20. Magnolia Warbler
21. Chestnut-sided Warbler
22. Palm Warbler
23. Black & White warbler
24. Blackpoll Warbler

This trip I did come across a few surprise birds. At a new Toledo Metropark called Howard Marsh, for the second year in a row 2 Black-necked Stilts have taken up residence.

And at the same park I counted 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Granted these are a couple of great birds for this part of the country. And as much as i enjoyed watching them, the real surprise came the morning i was leaving to go home. I stopped one more time at Howard Marsh to see if the Black-necked Stilts were any closer for some better pictures, which they weren’t, so I drove off and decided at the last minute to check out Metzger Marsh, which is right next door.

I was pulling out my camera to take a shot of a Common Gallinule when I noticed a small bird in the tall grass right next to the road. A Least Bittern. In the past I’ve only had fleeting glimpses of these reclusive birds, however this time was different.

“On The Road”

Well it was another successful trip up to Lake Erie for spring migration this year. The weather was typical as you’d expect with very windy conditions and either too hot or cool temperatures. I traveled up early last Tuesday, arriving by 8 am, and staying till Friday late morning. This year was a little different than in years past. In the past I’ve stayed in local hotels either in Port Clinton, or Oregon. We’ve also stayed in the lodge at Maumee Bay State Park, and one of the cabins in years past. This year I camped, just like one of the first times I visited with my older son. And with my senior discount I was able to camp for the 3 nights for $50.00, which isn’t bad, considering it had electrical hookups. I ran an extension cord into the tent so I could run a fan on those hot days, plus I needed to recharge my cell phone overnight. And since I wasn’t planning on any cooking, coffee was a must have in the morning. So my wife came up with the idea of taking our Kuerig along to make my morning coffee. Brillant!

Breakfast was coffee, a banana, and a granola bar. Lunch was a PB & J sandwich and trail mix. All I had to do then is eat out for my dinner. Birding on a budget.

Home Sweet Home

In years past I would get to the boardwalk early enough to beat the big rig photographers before they set up house either on the tower, or the walkway up to the tower. This year I just couldn’t get there early enough. It was always the same group of people, set up in the same spot every day.

For the most part my morning was spent on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh till either the crowd of people drove me off, or the birding slowed down. So if I wasn’t at the boardwalk I was at either Metzger Marsh, Ottawa N.W.R., or the back roads looking for wading birds in some of the sky ponds in the farm fields.

Both Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos seemed more common than in years past. Normally I’d struggle to get the Black-billed, however this year it was an easy “tick”.

 This Screech Owl was found towards the end of the Estuary Trail.

The nest box where this little guy was found is on the boardwalk at Maumee Bay State Park Nature Trail. And just to the right and above overlooking everything was…

a red phase Eastern Screech Owl.

Flycatchers made an appearance in a big way while I was there. All the ones I was able to identify I did by their call. So when I took a photo of one if I didn’t hear it call, I left it as a unidentified flycatcher.

 Another bird I didn’t have to work to hard in finding was a Snowy Egret. Every year it can either be a hit or miss bird, however this year one could always be found along the causeway as you drove towards the parking lot at Magee Marsh.

This year there was a treat for everyone. A very cooperative Black-crowned Night Heron. Easily spotted from the boardwalk on a daily basis, it was nothing to take a few dozen photos of this beautiful bird as it stalked for food.

Another bird I’ve had a bit of luck finding, usually along the drive of Metzger Marsh at one of the pull-offs, are Common Gallinule. I find them such striking birds.

Pretty reliable in the past few years are Sandhill Cranes. For the most part I’ve heard them as the feed just out of eye sight, but this year I was able to catch a couple in flight while I was stopped on the causeway.

  However the real reason the majority of birders come to Lake Erie, and this special spot in particular are the warblers. This year did not disappoint with 21 species seen. For me anytime I can reach 20 or more warblers during my stay here I feel blessed, and this year was a good year. Maybe not for the quality of the photographs, but for the birds it was great.

 The ever present Yellow Warbler

Mourning warblers seemed particularly plentiful than in years past, with female being spotted from the observation tower. Sorry for the poor quality, these skulking birds are tough in even the best conditions.

I think a front came through while I was there because it seemed that the Black-throated Green and Canada Warblers appeared in good numbers.

I know, for some reason I have really bad luck when it comes to both the Canada and Blackburnian Warbler in getting a clear photograph. I’ll just keep trying till I get a good one. I hate auto-focus.

Of course you would have to tilt back your head with a stick in the way. Nothing comers easy.I’m definitely a better birder than photographer.

Magnolia Warbler

 Not as striking as the males, the female Magnolia warblers were a little more cooperative for us inconsistent photographers.

And as expected the Prothonotary Warbler stole the show. Always present since they breed here, their clear song can be heard all over the boardwalk, and they tend to sit still long enough for people like me.

And considering how windy it was, even the birds found it difficult to keep their feathers in place.

You would think that the Yellow Warbler was the most common warbler species here, but I think it’s the Common Yellowthroat.

Northern Parula

I think the first song I heard as I stepped onto the boardwalk was of a Northern Parula

This was one of my photographic nemesis birds, the Bay-breasted Warbler. Now they may not be the best of quality, but I’m really pleased.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

But not everything was warbler believe it or not. I was able to capture some decent shots of some of the other inhabitants.

Red-eyed Vireo

If for some reason you need a Baltimore Oriole for your life list, this is the place to find them. They’re everywhere.

This male Wood Duck was tied up at one of the ponds at the golf course at Maumee Bay. I think I made a inadvertent pun.

Wait a minute, that’s no bird!

Trip List

1. Eastern Meadowlark
2. Canada Goose
3. European Starling
4. American Robin
5. Common Grackle
6. Mourning Dove
7. House Sparrow
8. Brown-headed Cowbird
9. Killdeer
10. Cooper’s Hawk
11. Barn Swallow
12. Tree Swallow
13. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
14. Purple Martin
15. Cliff Swallow
16. Chimney Swift
17. Red-winged Black Bird
18. Ring-billed Gull
19. Herring Gull
20. Common Tern
21. Gray Catbird
22. Eastern Phoebe
23. Carolina Wren
24. House Wren
25. Great Egret
26. Snowy Egret
27. Black-crowned Night Heron
28. Green Heron
29. Double-creasted Cormorant
30. Trumpeter Swan
31. Bald Eagle
32. Red-tailed Hawk
33. Northern Harrier
34. Blue Jay
35. Orchard Oriole
36. Baltimore Oriole
37. Warbling Vireo
38. Red-eyed Vireo
39. Philadelphia Vireo
40. Eastern Wood Pewee
41. Least Flycatcher
42. Willow Flycatcher
43. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
44. Acadian Flycatcher
45. Olive-sided Flycatcher
46. Eastern Kingbird
47. Indigo Bunting
48. Red-breasted Nuthatch
49. Northern Cardinal
50. Downy Woodpecker
51. Red-bellied Woodpecker
52. Gray-cheeked Thrush
53. Swainson’s Thrush
54. Lincoln’s Sparrow
55. White-throated Sparrow
56. White-crowned Sparrow
57. Song Sparrow
58. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
59. Horned Lark
60. Mallard
61. Wood Duck
62. Semi-palmated Plover
63. Least sandpiper
64. Dunlin
65. White-rumped Sandpiper
66. Pied-billed Grebe
67. Common Gallinule
68. Common Nighthawk
69. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
70. Black-billed Cuckoo
71. Cedar Waxwing
72. Northern Flicker
73. Wood Thrush Rose-breasted Grosbeack
74. Eastern Bluebird
75. White-eyed Vireo
76. Eastern Towhee
77. Eastern Goldfinch
78. Sandhill Crane
79. Screech Owl
80. Peregrine Falcon
81. Marsh Wren
82. Yellow Warbler
83. Common Yellowthroat
84. Northern Parula
85. Magnolia Warbler
86. American Redstart
87. Nashville warbler
88. Blackpoll Warbler
89. Cape May warbler
90. Chestnut-sided Warbler
91. Black-throated Blue warbler
92. Black and White warbler
93. Tennessee Warbler
94. Wilson’s warbler
95. Bay-breasted warbler
96. Prothonotary Warbler
97. Mourning Warbler
98. Black-throated Green warbler
99. Blackburnian Warbler
100. Canada Warbler
101. Connecticut Warbler
102. Palm Warbler
103. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
104. American Woodcock

Lake Erie Birding Wrap-Up

In the blink of an eye it’s over. 4 1/2 days of some of the best birding at one of the best migrant traps in all the midwest, the shores of Lake Erie in May. This year for the first time we stayed in a cabin at Maumee Bay State Park, and the accommodations were great. There’s something to be said about having your own kitchen and living space with big comfy chairs and couch to help you unwind after a day of birding. Our cabin set next to a pond where you could watch Canadian Geese with their chicks feed in the grass. A beaver glide through the water as warblers called from the thick bushes next to you. At night American Woodcocks would put on display flights as a Screech Owl called off in the distance. We enjoyed our stay so much we made next years reservation for the same cabin right before we left.

But the reason we’re here are for the birds. And the weather conditions couldn’t have been more of a challenge than those days we spent there. We really only had one good day of birding when the temps were warm and the sun was out. The other times it was wet, windy, cool,  and perfect for birding. While others may be waiting in their car for the rain to stop, not me. Throw on my rain jacket and off I go. Saturday was particularly windy, but then the birds come down from the tops of the trees making it easier to see them at eye level.

And as you would expect the boardwalk was packed to the gills. What with festival participants and everyone else, the place easily turned into a human traffic jam at times. And just like you never say “bomb” in a crowded airport, the same holds true if you speak”Mourning Warbler”. You better mean it because the crush of people will be upon you quickly. And this is where being an early riser pays off. Being at the boardwalk well before sun rise has it’s definite advantages. Fewer people makes for easier birding by ear, fewer human traffic jams and giant tripods blocking the way.

And as you’d expect the Auto Tour at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge was open daily with the added treat of having some added loops to drive. MS-5 was open for the first time in a long time. In reality I only remember once when it was open in the autumn several years ago. It was that time I got my “Lifer” Black-bellied Plover, in MS-5. And just north of MS-5 is Pool 3, and I’ve never seen that one open. Bravo to those folks at Ottawa for allowing us to extend our exploring a bit.

So once again it was a fabulous trip, one which I’d highly recommend even if it was for only a day. If I can’t convince you, then maybe some of my crappy pictures will help.

Scarlet Tanager

Blackpoll Warbler

The ever present Yellow Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Least Flycatcher

Common Yellowthroat

Baby Eastern Screech Owl

A terrible photo of a Prothonotary Warbler

Common Nighthawk

Swainson’s Thrush

Another baby Eastern Screech Owl

Great Blue Heron

White-crowned Sparrow

Blue-headed Vireo

Palm Warbler

Red-eyed Vireo

American Woodcock

Wilson’s Warbler

American Redstart

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Notable birds for the trip includes:

1. European Starling
2. Common Grackle
3. Brown-headed Cowbird
4. Red-winged Blackbird
5. American Robin
6. Swainson’s Thrush
7. Northern Cardinal
8. Black-capped Chickadee
9. Tufted Titmouse
10. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
11. House Wren
12. Carolina Wren
13. Marsh Wren
14. Gray Catbird
15. Tree Swallow
16. Barn Swallow
17. Bank Swallow
18. Purple Martin
19. Chimney Swift
20. Cliff Swallow
21. Baltimore Oriole
22. Orchard Oriole
23. Belted Kingfisher
24. Red-bellied Woodpecker
25. Hairy Woodpecker
26. Downy Woodpecker
27. Northern Flicker
28. Red-tailed Hawk
29. American Kestrel
30. Bald Eagle
31. Cooper’s hawk
32. Sharp-shinned Hawk
33. Killdeer
34. Semipalmated Plover
35. Black-bellied Plover
36. Least Sandpiper
37. Pectoral Sandpiper
38. Greater Yellowleg
39. Lesser Yellowleg
40. Short-billed Dowitcher
41. Curlew Sandpiper-Lifer
42. Dunlin
43. American Woodcock
44. Trumpeter Swan
45. Mallard
46. Blue-winged Teal
47. Wood Duck
48. Canada Goose
49. American Coot
50. Common Gallinule
51. Pied-billed Grebe
52. Great Blue Heron
53. Great Egret
54. Wilson’s Phalarope
55. Double-crested Cormorant
56. Herring Gull
57. Ring-billed Gull
58. Great Black-backed Gull
59. Caspian Tern
60. Snowy Egret
61. Green Heron
62. Black-crowned Night Heron
63. Brown Thrasher
64. Scarlet Tanager
65. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
66. Indigo Bunting
67. American Goldfinch
68. House Sparrow
69. Field Sparrow
70. Song Sparrow
71. Lincoln’s Sparrow
72. Chipping Sparrow
73. White-throated Sparrow
74. White-crowned Sparrow
75. White-breasted Nuthatch
76. Barred Owl
77. Eastern Screech Owl
78. Great Horned Owl
79. American Pipit
80. Whip Poor Will
81. Sandhill Crane
82. Turkey Vulture
83. Sora
84. House Finch
85. Eastern Meadowlark
86. Pigeon
87. Mourning Dove
88. Red-eyed Vireo
89. Philadelphia Vireo
90. Yellow-throated Vireo
91. Warbling Vireo
92. Blue-headed Vireo
93. Least Flycatcher
94. Great-crested Flycatcher
95. Eastern Phoebe
96. Eastern Wood-Pewee
97. Willow Flycatcher
98. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
99. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
100. Eastern Kingbird
101. Blue Jay
102. Eastern Bluebird
103. Northern Mockingbird
104. Cedar Waxwing
105. Northern Waterthrush
106. Common Yellowthroat
107. Golden-winged Warbler
108. Canada Warbler
109. Magnolia Warbler
110. Chestnut-sided Warbler
111. Prothonotary Warbler
112. Nashville Warbler
113. Tennessee Warbler
114. Blackpoll Warbler
115. Black and White Warbler
116. Black-throated Blue warbler
117. Black-throated Green Warbler
118. Yellow Warbler
119. Hooded Warbler
120. Kentucky Warbler
121. Blackburnian Warbler
122. Cape May Warbler
123. American Redstart
124. Orange-crowned Warbler
125. Northern Parula
126. Yellow-rumped Warbler
127. Prairie Warbler
128. Palm Warbler
129. Bay-breasted Warbler
130. Wilson’s Warbler

“On The Road” Part-2

At just over 15,200 acres the five main wildlife areas and two state parks of northwest Ohio along Lake Erie, the birder has endless possibilities to search out and hopefully find that one elusive bird. Starting in the west with Maumee Bay State Park and ending in the east at East Harbor State Park, (which in itself has wonderful birding opportunities) we can’t forget Mallard Club Marsh Wildlife Area, Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Ottawa National Wildlife Area and finally Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. Except for Cedar Point N.W.R. all other are open to the public. And in the short time I was visiting I was able to do a little birding at all, even Cedar Point as Jon and myself stood on the border with the refuge as we walked the border line with Mallard Club Marsh.

A resident Trumpeter Swan at Ottawa NWR

Common Gallinule

For most of the year except a certain times Ottawa NWR can only be accessed either on foot or bicycle. And at 6,500 acres this is a sizable refuge to get around on foot, and my bike isn’t built to off-road on gravel roads. So you wait for when they open up the auto tour. This gives the birder a lot of flexibility to drive a little, park their car and do some birding as long as you don’t wander too far from your car. You could spent the whole day here, which I’ve done in the past.

The past few years when Kathy and I visited it was more of a leisurely birding trip. We’d go visit some sights and do things Kathy likes to do since she’s not really a bird watcher. She appreciates them, but not at the same level I’m at. So this trip since I’m all alone it gave me more freedom to travel far and fast, and bird from sun rise to sun set.

As you drive from one spot to another you have to remember that some of the best birding can be right along the road your traveling on. Large open fields can hold sky-pools that offer some really great shore bird habitat. This Least Sandpiper was found at such a place next to a Marina.

Sandhill Cranes have a very distinct call, and I fist heard them calling while on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh. It wasn’t till I was at Ottawa NWR on the last day I heard them overhead.

I can’t seem to get enough of Eastern Kingbirds. These 2 photos were taken while I was in my car driving through Ottawa. But sure as anything if I’d had gotten’ out of the car they would have flown off.

And we’ll end this short blog post with a token photo of a Great Egret, another bird that can easily be approached while in your car.

Birding in northwest Ohio during the Spring can be a phenomenal experience for the beginner or the experienced birder. Hotel and camping options are plentiful, with special rates for festival goers. Driving distance between all the parks and wildlife areas mentioned are manageable. From the cabins at Maumee Bay State Park to my hotel in Post Clinton, it was an hour drive. So you see it’s a relatively small area with a large amount of potential for birding.

Edit

” On The Road” Part 1

Everything I could possibly need was packed into the back of the bird-mobile. A rolling suitcase with all my necessary clothes and do-dads. Another rolling suitcase with all my optics, cables and connectors, and one field guide. A small cooler with enough peanut butter and apricot preserves to make 6 sandwiches, Fiber-One bars, and kettle cooked potato chips. My typical birding breakfast and lunch when you’re on the go. Tripod and a pillow, and that’s only because I hate hotel pillows.

So at exactly 2:25 last Friday, with my I-Pod on shuffle, I pulled out of work on my way for my annual pilgrimage to Lake Erie for some serious migration birding. I was tired, but stoked. It was a long week at work and the idea of driving for several hours wasn’t exactly what I really wanted to do. What I really wanted was to take a nap. But birds were calling and being a careful driver I put the cruise control on and pointed the car north. And in 3 1/2 hours exactly I was turning off Highway 2 into Magee Marsh, and the prospect of some great birding.

Baltimore Orioles were plentiful

Birding predictions were pretty sketchy as to whether birding was going to be good, or great. As we all know the weather plays such an important part in bird migration, and as I walked onto the boardwalk Friday in the early evening it looked like it was going to be a great weekend.

Blackpoll Warbler

And then it seemed the bottom fell out. There must have been movement overnight and the birding wasn’t as good as I’ve experienced in the past. I’m sure for the most part birders had to work pretty hard to check off birds for their trip list, and i was no exception. Don’t take me wrong, we had a fairly good variety of birds, just the sheer numbers were lower that I’ve seen in the past. That’s migration for you.

Magnolia Warbler.

I birded till about 7:30 and then made my way over to Port Clinton for a dinner of some fish tacos at the Jolly Roger Restaurant, and checked into my hotel for a good nights sleep, since 5:00 am comes way too early. I have to beat the morning crowd of birders and mega-photographers to the boardwalk, plus having a close parking spot pays off big time when and if it starts to rain, and your rain jacket is still in your car.

For the second year I scored on a Olive-sided Flycatcher

It was a 45 minute drive to the turn off into Magee Marsh and the sun was just starting to rise. I slowly crept over the causeway pausing  to listen for Rails and Bitterns. Except for the half dozen or more cars in the parking lot the boardwalk was just how I liked it……quiet!

It was the last full weekend for the Biggest Week In America Birding Festival, and it can get kind of noisy at times on the boardwalk, so getting there early can be a benefit when you’re birding by ear. Within 30 minutes the parking lot really starts to fill up, as does the boardwalk.

House Wrens were also plentiful as they chattered away.

Jon was already up at the lake, having arrived with some of his family and his wife Thursday evening. Once everyone got up and feed he was going to meet up with me that day. So I continued on working the boardwalk checking the tree tops and the ground, and everywhere in between for birds.

One of Magee Marsh’s famous ground foragers, a Swainson’s Thrush

As the morning wore on the sun started to warm the air, and then as I was standing with my bins in my hands I noticed 5 to 6 guys walking rather briskly towards the exit. For myself when I see behavior like this a red flag goes up. So I naturally followed them. Off the boardwalk and across the parking lot towards the estuary trail which takes you onto Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. From the chattering of info I was picking up as the group walked along was that a Connecticut Warbler was seen near the trail. Then for some unknown reason the group stopped. They were in a discussion and they all had a confused look on their faces. So I walked up and asked them if they were heading over to see the warbler. They were, but didn’t have a clue that the trail continued on towards the actual estuary where Lake Erie flows into and out of Ottawa and it’s marshes.

Next to the Connecticut warbler for being the best “skulker” of the warbler world, the Mourning Warbler is a close second.

Then it finally showed itself.

So I helped them out by pointing them in the right direction, and off we went. The trail is actually the top of a dike that runs parallel to Lake Erie, with the marsh enclosure on one side and the lake on the other. And in between is some pretty thick undergrowth of mature trees and scrubby bushes with lots of leaf litter. Perfect for a Connecticut to hang out in. As we approached the far side of the trail then we saw all the people. Dozens upon dozens, all training their bins downward into the brush. And you know that bird is there, because it keeps singing every minute.

Always a great bird, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

I sent Jon a text and filled him in on what’s going on. It’s a lifer for him. A few people catch glimpses of the bird, then it goes back into hiding. The mass of people swell and then separate into smaller groups to cover more ground. Jon and I scoot 20 feet to the right by ourselves and scan the ground. Since we’re on a small dike we’re a few feet above the floor of the wooded section we’re scanning. A small pool of standing water about 10 feet in front of us. Jon first sees the bird foraging along the edge of the pool. He loses it as it moves away and vegetation gets in the way of our vision. I catch a quick glimpse and say “there it is”. People start to move in our direction as I sit down on the ground and Jon crouches low. Then the bird moves. Lands on a branch at eye level 8 feet in front of Jon and myself. And that quick it was gone.

A pretty reliable spot to find Ruddy Turnstones is on these metal breakwaters that run perpendicular to the shore.

Common Terns also shared the same perch as the Ruddy Turnstones.

It was a few hours later when I learned that Samantha, Jon’s wife, got a tip on a Yellow-headed Blackbird seen from the auto tour at Ottawa. Not wanting to appear rude or anxious, I said my good-byes and raced off to my car.

These are the addition pictures of my lifer Yellow-headed Blackbird. The other one was on my previous post.

I’m now going to run through the trip list and save my next post for when I went to Ottawa N.W.R. with more pictures.

Trip List

1. Tree Swallow
2. Chimney Swift
3. Cliff Swallow
4. Purple Martin
5. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
6. Barn Swallow
7. Common Grackle
8. European Starling
9. American Bittern
10. Olive-sided Flycatcher
11. Willow Flycatcher
12. Great-creasted Flycatcher
13. Eastern Kingbird
14. Least Flycatcher
15. Eastern Phoebe
16. Eastern Wood-Pewee
17. Mourning Warbler
18. Yellow Warbler
19. American Redstart
20. Canada Warbler
21. Black-throated Blue Warbler
22. Black-throated Green Warbler
23. Connecticut Warbler
24. Wilson’s Warbler
25. Chestnut-sided Warbler
26. Commonn Yellowthroat
27. Yellow-rumped Warbler
28. Nashville Warbler
29. Tennessee Warbler
30. Magnolia Warbler
31. Black and White Warbler
32. Blackpoll Warbler
33. Prothonotary Warbler
34. Blackburnian Warbler
35. Northern Waterthrush
36. Northern Parula
37. Bay-breasted Warbler
38. Ovenbird
39. Philadelphia Vireo
40. Warbling Vireo
41. Red-eyed Vireo
42. Canada Goose
43. Mallard
44. Blue-winged Teal
45. Wood Duck
46. Baltimore Oriole
47. Great Egret
48. Great Blue Heron
49. Green Heron
50. Dunlin
51. Short-billed Dowitcher
52. Least Sandpiper
53. Solitary Sandpiper
54. Spotted Sandpiper
55. Killdeer
56. American Woodcock
57. Ruddy Turnstone
58. Bald Eagle
59. Red-tailed Hawk
60. American Kestrel
61. Cooper’s Hawk
62. Ring-billed Gull
63. Herring Gull
64. Common Tern
65. Caspian Tern
66. House Sparrow
67. House Wren
68. Marsh Wren
69. Wood Thrush
70. Swainson’s Thrush
71. Gray-cheeked Thrush
72. American Robin
73. Veery
74. Red-winged Blackbird
75. Yellow-headed Blackbird
76. American Crow
77. Northern Cardinal
78. Blue Jay
79. Brown-headed Cowbird
80. Mourning Dove
81. Pigeon
82. Gray Catbird
83. Black-billed Cuckoo
84. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
85. White-crowned Sparrow
86. Lincoln Sparrow
87. Song Sparrow
88. Field Sparrow
89. Common Nighthawk
90. Common Gallinule
91. Coot
92. Sora
93. Eastern Goldfinch
94. Indigo Bunting
95. Trumpeter Swan
96. Pied-billed Grebe
97. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
98. American Wigeon
99. Turkey Vulture
100. Double-creasted Cormorant
101. Lesser Scaup
102. Ruddy Duck
103. Sandhill Crane
104. Black-crowned Night Heron
105. Hairy Woodpecker

“On The Road”

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Yesterday started out like most late fall mornings, gray and overcast with a forecast of snow flurries throughout most of Ohio. However the weather wasn’t going to stop my last trip to the coast of Lake Erie with my best friend Phil do get in a little birding. But this wasn’t just any birding adventure, we had planned this trip around the last auto tour that the refuge was having for the year. And despite how many times I’ve driven or walked over these same gravel roads and trails, I always look forward with much anticipation my time there. And this time it was the latest in the year I’ve been there. On other occasions I’ve gone on the October one, but things came up and the November date was the one we settled on.

Phil and myself hit the road promptly at 7 o’clock am with a good 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive depending on how traffic was this quiet Sunday morning. Well it was a great drive up. We chatted, listened to my I-Pod and counted Red-tailed Hawks as they surveyed the open farm land of central Ohio. We made one pit stop before getting of at the exit just after Bowling Green Ohio, and started working our way East and North towards the lake. Now you’re really in farm country as you substitute big rigs on the interstate, with extra wide tractors as they move about the back roads. But in spite of the moving farm implements, it’s better to go this way then work my way through Toledo, even on a Sunday morning.

When we pulled into the visitors center for one last pit stop before we started the auto tour, it couldn’t help but notice the lack of people. Sure there were a few stalwart individuals like ourselves, but I really was expecting more than we actually saw.

This was pretty much how the day looked. A real blessing was that the wind was pretty quiet for being so close to the lake.

As we drove we couldn’t help but notice our way was blocked by this grounded murmuration of Starlings.

And as you crept closer they finally took off. Despite my disgust of these birds on a whole, I will admit that when they form into a huge bio-mass it is a sight to behold. Just as long as they don’t poop on the car.

As you visit Ottawa during the different seasons you can’t but notice the diversity of birds that come here all through the year. Granted Spring time is exciting what with all the migrating Warblers and other song birds, but Fall and Winter can be just as much fun as duck and other waterfowl fill all the unfrozen water.

Impoundments like this one held thousands of different waterfowl, from Gadwall. American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, to American Coots.

However one of the real treats were the Swans, particularly the Tundra Swans which were plentiful. It seemed where there was any open water there were Swans. Which is pretty fantastic since they are such a massive bird to begin with, and just so cool to watch.

As a bird watcher have you ever been out birding and wondered why you haven’t seen this particular bird? Could it be because we were driving we missed certain species? Absolutely. But one particular bird was missing from the whole day. Normally found this time of year feeding along the edges of a road, and scattering when you approach with a flash of white of their tails. Juncos! However there were plenty of Tree Sparrows to make up the difference as these 2 approachable fellas will tell you.

And anytime you visit up here remember to keep your head on a swivel and always try to look up every now and then. Bald Eagles were plentiful as usual, and a real treat was a hovering Rough-legged Hawk looking for dinner. A cruisin’ Merlin over the causeway going to Magee Marsh is always a good sighting. But until you experience the “chortle” of Sandhill Cranes as they come in to land, or as they pass overhead, you’ve missed a magical moment.

We didn’t see loads of Sandhills, but you don’t have to, to enjoy their beauty.

Tundra Swans on the wing. Poor photo. I really struggled with the camera today.

As we finished up the auto tour, and before we headed off to port Clinton for a bite to eat, we made our way over to Magee Marsh for a quick stroll around. As we pulled into a near empty parking lot I can’t help but look back at the time i was here in the Spring time when parking was at a premium, and the boardwalk was, pardon my vulgarity, “nut-to-butt”. Then as we walked out there yesterday afternoon we’re greeted with emptiness.

On any other day in the Spring this section will be a mass of humanity, now the only thing that was moving was a lone Downy Woodpecker. It seemed that the whole boardwalk was sleeping. Waiting for the arrival of warmer weather and migration.

As we drove out of the park we pulled over to scan this lake Phil had seen something on. As he looked in one direction, I looked the other and found a nice flock of Rusty Blackbirds, my new favorite bird. As they change into their non-breeding plumage, they take on this nice brown coloration that is almost nicer than their breeding colors.

I really tried to get a little closer so I wouldn’t have to use my digital zoom for a better quality picture, but they were a skittish bird and not easily approachable.

So we left Magee Marsh behind and made our way to Port Clinton to one of our favorite fish restaurants, the Jolly Roger and some incredible Perch (the Perch Tacos were great) right from Lake Erie.

It was during our return trip back home when the weather turned ugly in a big way. Construction, coupled with too much traffic, with a heaping amount of snow, made for some interesting driving. Now there’s a kind of stress I can do without, especially when I have to go to work the next day. But we made it back safe and sound with a pretty nice list for the day.

1. Bald Eagle
2. Rough-legged Hawk
3. Sharp-shinned Hawk
4. Cooper’s Hawk
5. Red-tailed Hawk
6. Merlin
7. American Kestrel (probable)
8. Northern Harrier
9. Pigeon
10. Mourning Dove
11. European Starling
12. Northern Cardinal
13. White-throated Sparrow
14. Fox Sparrow
15. American Tree Sparrow
16. House Sparrow
17. Red-winged Blackbird
18. Common Grackle
19. Rusty Blackbird
20. Sandhill Crane
21. Tundra Swan
22. Great Blue Heron
23. Mallard
24. American Coot
25. Gadwall
26. American Wigeon
27. Northern Pintail
28. Bufflehead
29. Northern Shoveler
30. Ruddy Duck
31. Canada Goose
32. Cackling Goose
33. Common Crow
34. Ring-billed Gull
35. Herring Gull
36. Bonaparte’s Gull
37. American Goldfinch
38. Blue Jay
39. Northern Flicker
40. Downy Woodpecker
41. Red-bellied Woodpecker