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” (Summary)

Magee Marsh, Ottawa N.W.R., Metzger Marsh, Maumee Bay State Park

Since our return from our annual trip to the Lake Erie hot spots for migrating birds I’ve been nothing but busy, busy, busy. With just a few days before I return back to work the list of chores and appointments was pretty long. And with that comes the delay with getting any post for my blog out to you.

The trip was epic! The birds were abundant! The boardwalk was busy at times but I’ve seen it worse in years past. The lodge at Maumee Bay State Park was everything and more. The room was nice with a great view of the lake, which cost extra but worth it. We only ate in the restaurant twice, but it to was nice. And yes plans are in place for a return visit during this same time next year, but maybe rent a cabin and invite the kids to stay during the weekend if they want.

We arrived on Saturday morning, and left Wednesday morning after one more walk on the boardwalk. And since Kathy isn’t a birder, yet, there were plenty of things to do while we were there. Like I told here if I was here by myself I would be birding non-stop for most of the day. However this time we both ventured out and went out to eat in Port Clinton and Marble Head. We also visited the Lighthouse at Marble Head one afternoon.

So we broke up this trip with some touristy things and some birding things. We were lucky to have been up there on the weekend when the auto tour was open at Ottawa N.W.R. It’s one great way to really measure how immense this place really is. It was during the auto tour that I was finally able to get a poor photo of a Bald Eagle sitting still.

Overall it was a great trip. Total species count was 137, with 30 Warbler species. That is the most Warbler I’ve counted since I started going up there.

Eastern Wood Pewee

A very cooperative Scarlet Tanager. Too bad I couldn’t get a decent focus on it.

Palm Warbler at the East Beach. They were everywhere at this location.

The state used caution tape to create a barrier around this nesting American Woodcock that the grassy area between the parking lots was the best location to hatch her chicks.

As I came off the causeway into the parking area at Magee Marsh I noticed this small Egret feeding at that corner where you turn left. A Snowy Egret.

Snowy Egret

At times during our visit the boardwalks were this deserted. Here I am standing in one spot and shooting a picture in both directions.

Black & White Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

A very vocal House Wren

Northern Waterthrush

Trumpeter Swans

A Veery along the path was you approach the Estuary Trail

Prothonotary Warbler as it emerged out of it’s nesting cavity.

And I always try to make it at sunrise along the causeway for great pictures like this.

And the best way to sum up why I do what I do.

Notable birds:

1. Bald Eagle
2. Osprey
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. American Kestrel
5. Turkey Vulture
6. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
7. Sandhill Crane
8. Great Horned Owl
9. Song Sparrow
10. White-crowned Sparrow
11. White-throated Sparrow
12. House Sparrow
13. Swamp Sparrow
14. Chipping Sparrow
15. Clay-colored Sparrow
16. Lincoln Sparrow
17. Great-creasted Flycatcher
18. Least Flycatcher
19. Eastern Phoebe
20. Eastern Wood Pewee
21. Olive-sided Flycatcher
22. Willow Flycatcher
23. Eastern Kingbird
24. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
25. Acadian Flycatcher
26. Blackburnian Warbler
27. Blackpoll Warbler
28. Black & White Warbler
29. Magnolia Warbler
30. Cape May Warbler
31. Yellow Warbler
32. Black-throated Blue Warbler
33. Black-throated Green Warbler
34. Yellow-throated Warbler
35. Kirtland Warbler
36. Yellow-rumped Warbler
37. Hooded warbler
38. Northern Parula
39. Ovenbird
40. Louisiana Waterthrush
41. Northern Waterthrush
42. Blue-winged Warbler
43. Prothonotary Warbler
44. Palm Warbler
45. Wilson’s Warbler
46. American Redstart
47. Canada warbler
48. Tennessee Warbler
49. Nashville Warbler
50. Bay-breasted Warbler
51. Chestnut-sided Warbler
52. Pine Warbler
53. Mourning Warbler
54. Orange-crowned Warbler
55. Common Yellowthroat
56. Mallard
57. Blue-winged Teal
58. Lesser Scaup
59. Canada Geese
60. Wood Duck
61. Pied-billed Grebe
62. Trumpeter Swan
63. Mute Swan
64. Double-creasted Cormorant
65. White Pelican
66. Herring Gull
67. Ring-billed Gull
68. Common Tern
69. American Woodcock
70. Killdeer
71. Semipalmated Plover
72. Black-bellied Plover
73. Ruddy Turnstone
74. Willet
75. Semipalmated sandpiper
76. Least sandpiper
77. Dunlin
78. Great Egret
79. Snowy Egret
80. Green Heron
81. Great Blue Heron
82. Hooded Merganser
83. American Coot
84. Common Gallinule
85. Sora
86. American Bittern
87. Lesser Yellowleg
88. Pectoral Sandpiper
89. Spotted Sandpiper
90. Warbling Vireo
91. Red-eyed Vireo
92. Philadephia Vireo
93. Blue-headed Vireo
94. White-breasted Nuthatch
95. Red-breasted Nuthatch
96. American Robin
97. Northern Cardinal
98. Blue Jay
99. Scarlet Tanager
100. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
101. Common Grackle
102. Red-winged Black Bird
103. Common Crow
104. Black-capped Chickadee
105. House Wren
106. Marsh Wren
107. Carolina Wren
108. Golden-crowned Kinglet
109. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
110. Gray Catbird
111. Baltimore Oriole
112. Northern Mockingbird
113. Brown-headed Cowbird
114. Swainson’s Thrush
115. Hermit Thrush
116. Gray-cheeked Thrush
117. Wood Thrush
118. Veery
119. Downy Woodpecker
120. Hairy Woodpecker
121. Red-bellied Woodpecker
122. Northern Flicker
123. Tree Swallow
124. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
125. Purple Martin
126. Bank Swallow
127. Barn Swallow
128. Chimney Swift
129. Cliff Swallow
130. Mourning Dove
131. Eastern Meadowlark
132. American Goldfinch
133. Brown Thrasher
134. Eastern towhee
135. Belted Kingfisher
136. Pine Siskin
137. European Starling

On The Road / # 292

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge/ Magee Marsh/ Maumee Bay State Park

It was a cool and dark morning when I picked up fellow birder Jon Frodge in Franklin Ohio this Saturday. This was a 2 stage pick-up with me picking up Phil Burgio just prior at his house.  This trip to Ottawa has been in the works for some time , and now we’re all pretty excited with the day finally here. With the caffeine-generated birders on board the bird mobile, the trip to Ottawa went without incident until a closed exit in Toledo made for an unexpected U-turn and a minimal delay in reaching Ottawa. We arrived at the visitors center at Ottawa by 9:00 am.

After a quick pit-stop we started to bird the boardwalk behind the visitors center. We didn’t have to go far when we hit a honey hole of birds. There were plenty of warblers to go around for everyone. When the birding is this good you hate to leave, so we didn’t. Unfortunately for Jon we didn’t go too far on the boardwalk. And with the morning waning, and the auto tour calling our names, we opted to depart the boardwalk and head out.

Phil and Jon towards the beginning of the auto tour.

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in simple terms is MASSIVE. I can see why these auto tours are popular. It’s not that you couldn’t walk or ride a bike to some of the hot spots, but this makes it so much easier, especially if you’re hauling cameras, scopes with tripods, and other birding paraphernalia. There is a handy map which you can print off their website which has the refuge and auto tour route mapped out. It’s relatively easy to follow and depending on how many times you stop, it can take several hours to complete.

This was a common sight throughout the day, Great Egrets just everywhere.

Driving East towards one of the hot spots that’s close to the estuary, we came upon these sleeping Trumpeter Swans that were right next to the road.

After crossing a bridge that crosses Crane Creek we came upon an area that held 7 Snowy Egrets, with most of them in trees. This was the best shot I could get from that distance with my digiscope rig.

Up to this point it’s been a wonderful day. A little overcast in the morning with a little bit of a breeze, however when the day wore on the sun came out as did the wind. The temperatures were pleasant so you didn’t need to wear a jacket, unless you have problems with the low 70’s.

Prior to leaving on this trip I found out that they were planning on opening up a section of road that isn’t normally open on the auto tour. This was being done as a request so participants from the Midwest Bird Symposium could enjoy a little extra that Ottawa has to offer. We as well took advantage of this. The auto tour would normally take you between 2 impoundments by following this dike. However this time we were given access by car the ability to drive all the way around a pond called MS 5. This was a treat for all of us since this part can only be accessed either on foot or bike.

And it’s at this pond that I scored my 292nd life bird. I was getting concerned that I was going to get skunked this trip, however when Jon saw what he thought were Black-bellied Plovers, well, my heart skipped a beat for a second. MS 5 is pretty big, so it took some time before we were able to spot these rascals foraging along this mud flat close to the corner of the pond.

We dared not get any closer than this, since we were also trying to figure out if any of the other birds present were Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

(On a personal note, Jon these are the only 2 picture that were any good)

After the auto tour we made our way over to the beach at Magee Marsh. The wind was really blowing and the Sanderlings were busy feeding as they raced back and forth when the waves crashed onto the beach.

We left the beach an headed over towards the west entrance to the boardwalk. We didn’t have to walk to far before we came upon another pocket of good warbler activity. And since you never leave a good spot we stayed here for some time before we wandered down the boardwalk. The further we got the lighter the activity became. After spending some time here we then decided that our last stop for the day, since the day was wearing on, would be Maumee Bay State Park to check out the beach. Rick Asamoto who was also there at Magee to do some birding just came from there with some promising news of 2 Ruddy Turnstones. Another nemesis bird that I’ve been wanting to add to my list for a long time, now within my grasps. However not today. After scouring the beach twice all we came away with were some more Sanderlings and a very cool Lesser Black-backed Gull that Jon spotted, which was another life bird for Phil.

With the light beginning to fade and appetites growing we decided it was time to head over for some food before driving home. It was a spectacular day for birding with 2 good friends. However before we left the park while we drove slowly towards the entrance I noticed a Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a post right next to the road. Normally you wouldn’t find this peculiar, however as we inched closer the the hawk just sat there. It eventually flew to a tree when we were within a few feet, and I was able to get this picture from the car. Or was it Jon who took this picture? Either way, with the fading light, and with the hawk in a tree, lighting was difficult.

What a great parting shot.

The drive home was long and quiet as we crossed Ohio with the setting sun. We arrived home exhausted from a great day of birding, and one I will look forward to next year. Notable birds for the day include:

1. Rock Dove
2. European Starling
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Ring-billed Gull
5. Killdeer
6. Great Blue Heron
7. Mourning Dove
8. American Kestrel
9. Blue Jay
10. Red-winged Black Bird
11. Eastern Goldfinch
12. American Robin
13. Swainson’s Thrush
14. Downy Woodpecker
15. Blackpoll Warbler
16. Magnolia Warbler
17. Red-eyed Vireo
18. Eastern Wood Pewee
19. Common Yellowthroat
20. Black-capped Chickadee
21. Sora
22. Cape May Warbler
23. Pine Warbler
24. Nashville Warbler
25. Tennessee Warbler
26. Tufted Titmouse
27. Red-bellied Woodpecker
28. White-breasted Nuthatch
29. Indigo Bunting
30. Great Egret
31. Mallard
32. Northern Flicker
33. Blue-winged Teal
34. Pied-billed Grebe
35. Black-crowned Night Heron
36. Belted Kingfisher
37. Cedar Waxwing
38. Northern Shoveler
39. Yellow=rumped Warbler
40. Gray Catbird
41. Marsh Wren
42. Trumpeter Swan
43. Philadelphia Vireo
44. Canada Goose
45. Carolina Wren
46. House Wren
47. Bald Eagle
48. Common Grackle
49. Snowy Egret
50. Eastern Phoebe
51. Greater Yellowleg
52. Lesser Yellowleg
53. Least Sandpiper
54. Pectoral Sandpiper
55. Semipalmated Plover
56. Semipalmated Sandpiper
57. Solitary Sandpiper
58. Spotted Sandpiper
59. Black-bellied Plover-Lifer
60. Tree Swallow
61. Barn Swallow
62. Double-creasted Cormorant
63. Caspian Tern
64. Herring Gull
65. Lesser Black-backed Gull
66. Short-billed Dowitcher
67. Turkey Vulture
68. Sharp-shinned Hawk
69. Sanderlings
70. Warbling Vireo
71. Hairy Woodpecker
72. Blackburnian Warbler
73. Acadian Flycatcher
74. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
75. American Redstart
76. Bay-breasted Warbler
77. Black-throated Green Warbler
78. Wilson’s warbler
79. Wood Thrush
80. Northern Cardinal
81. Least Flycatcher
82. Wood Duck

” On The Road “

This road trip was definitely an emotional roller coaster ride for me. Hitting the road at 4am and making real good time, with hopes of reaching the boardwalk at 7:30, only to be shocked into despair  by the loss of my cell phone. Then lifted back up by the thrill of just being up in this wonderful birding area for only a couple of days. And scoring on a lifer of a lifetime.

Of all the places I birded for these past few days, I enjoyed them all equally.

This is where it’s happening! As soon as you make that left hand turn into the drive, your greeted by this sign. The sponsor of the birding festival.

As you drive past the headquarters for Black Swamp Bird Observatory, you come upon the main building for Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. This is called the Sportsman Migratory Bird Center. One thing to remember is that the Observatory is a private organization, where Magee Marsh is run by the state of Ohio. Here is their headquarters.

Around the headquarters there’s plenty to do. The headquarters itself has a gift shop, museum, and displays and exhibits concerning nothing else but birds. Now how cool is that. They have a real nice trail which winds it’s way around the headquarters area.

However the walking path was closed about half way. It seems a Bald Eagle has taken up housekeeping on the back side of the property. I was able to get some poor quality pictures of the nest with one adult Eagle.

If you click on the picture, the image will enlarge.

The place to be though during migration is the boardwalk. However to get there you need to traverse the causeway which bisects the marsh from the beach area.

Sorry for the poor quality picture, but you get the idea.

Rising at 5 am everyday to get a jump on the day, I’d be greeted by sunrises like this as I crossed the causeway towards the boardwalk.

As you exited off the causeway you’d make a left into the grand parking lot. This lot is enormous. Even though it never was completely full while I was there, it would take you some time to find a good spot if you got there even a little late. My plan was to get up at 5, shower, eat, and drive there, and arrive no later than 6:30. It was roughly 18 miles to get to the turn off at Magee Marsh.

The parking lot runs parallel to the beach and the boardwalk. There is an East and West entrance to the boardwalk accessible at either end of the parking lot. So if you plan on walking the whole trail, parking towards the center of the parking lot will save you some steps in the long run. For myself, I parked towards the West entrance, since that’s where all the action is. Walking the entire boardwalk took some time. And if it was real crowded, it took longer.

However other times, especially towards the East end, the boardwalk would be practically empty, like the evening I spotted the Kirtlands Warbler.

Birds were plentiful on the boardwalk, especially Warblers. There were times that you could almost reach out and touch them. As much as I tried to get some pictures, I had to delete most of them because it was so difficult to get good pictures with the camera I have. And since Warblers move all the time, getting them into focus was quite a challenge.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler

Bay-breasted warbler

American Redstart

American Redstart (female)

Veery

Another refuge close by was Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

This place was awesome as well, with good trail’s and a headquarters building with a gift shop, and information desk. I visited there twice and on one occasion I was able to digiscope some decent pictures of some birds that would hold still long enough.

The most common bird up there, Red-winged Blackbird.

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Great Egret

Eastern Kingbird

The refuge is enormous, at over 9,000 acres it would take you over a week to cover this place on foot. I never made it to the Lake Erie from the parking lot, which was one of my goals.

On my second trip I walked it’s own boardwalk and  wooded lot that was close to the headquarters building. Level terrain with good birds throughout.

The boardwalk was wide, hence no need for hand rails.

After a short walk the boardwalk dives into the woods, where it becomes a nice level hiking trail, with beautiful scenery.

With all the rain they’ve received lately, the landscape was green and lush. Since they are in a later growing zone than us in Southern Ohio, plants and flowers were just beginning to burst.

One thing to remember is that area was once called Black Swamp. It covered most of what is North West Ohio, and seeing this water covered forest floor, the name is applicable.

Always try to look up every now and then. You might see a Bald Eagle.

Came upon a group of birders trying to locate a Golden-winged Warbler. Tough little bird to find.

 Here’s my sad attempt at getting it’s picture.

As the trail wound through the woods I thought I would take some artsy pictures of some of the vegetation growing on the forest floor.

One evening I ventured over to Maumee Bay State Park to see if there were any good birds on the beach.

David and I stayed in the camp ground on our visit last year, and with such a beautiful facility a perfect place to stay when I go up again. The park has it’s own extensive trail system with good birding for all ages. I can remember the last time I was there, David and I were tearing down camp while a strom was blowing in off the lake. While we ate breakfast in the resort dining room, the rain was blowing horizontal across the dining rooms huge windows. We were debating whether to go birding or not. We did.

Even with losing my cell phone in the beginning, this trip was too much fun. I took a lot more pictures than what I’ve shown on this post, most of the bird picture will be added to my photostream on my Flickr account. So don’t forget to check it out later.

All told after 4 hard days of birding I came away with 116 different species of birds. That may seem like a lot, but I know I could do better. I had opportunities to see birds that slipped away just that fast. These are the things that keep me coming back for more day in and day out. I did top my total species list from last year, and next year I’ll try to do better. I may have to change up the dates to try and catch some of those elusive types.

So here is my trip list.

1. Canada Goose
2. Mute Swan
3. Trumpeter Swan
4. Wood Duck
5. American Black Duck
6. Mallard
7. Ruddy Duck
8. Pied-billed Grebe
9. Double-crested Cormorant
10. Great Blue Heron
11. Great Egret
12. Green Heron
13. Black-crowned Night Heron
14. Turkey Vulture
15. Bald Eagle
16. Northern Harrier
17. Red-tailed Hawk
18. American Kestrel
19. Spotted Sandpiper
20. Common Moorhen
21. American Coot
22. Killdeer
23. Least Sandpiper
24. Dunlin
25. American Woodcock
26. Ring-billed Gull
27. Herring Gull
28. Common Tern
29. Mourning Dove
30. Black-billed Cuckoo
31. Eastern Screech Owl
32. Whip-poor-will
33. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
34. Red-bellied Woodpecker
35. Downy Woodpecker
36. Northern Flicker
37. Eastern Wood Pewee
38. Least Flycatcher
39. Eastern Phoebe
40. Great-crested Flycatcher
41. Eastern Kingbird
42. Yellow-throated Vireo
43. Blue-headed Vireo
44. Warbling Vireo
45. Philadelphia Vireo
46. Red-eyed Vireo
47. Blue Jay
48. Purple Martin
49. Tree Swallow
50. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
51. Bank Swallow
52. Barn Swallow
53. Black-capped Chickadee
54. Tufted Titmouse
55. Red-breasted Nuthatch
56. White-breasted Nuthatch
57. House Wren
58. Golden-crowned Kinglet
59. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
60. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
61. Veery
62. Swainson’s Thrush
63. Wood Thrush
64. American Robin
65. Gray Catbird
66. Golden-winged Warbler
67. Tennessee Warbler
68. Orange-crowned Warbler
69. Nashville Warbler
70. Northern Parula
71. Yellow Warbler
72. Chestnut-sided Warbler
73. Magnolia Warbler
74. Cape May Warbler
75. Black-throated Blue Warbler
76. Black-throated Green Warbler
77. Yellow-rumped Warbler
78. Blackburnian Warbler
79. Yellow-throated Warbler
80. Pine Warbler
81. Kirtland’s Warbler
82. Prairie Warbler
83. Palm Warbler
84. Bay-breasted Warbler
85. Blackpoll Warbler
86. Black and White Warbler
87. American Redstart
88. Prothonotary Warbler
89. Ovenbird
90. Northern Waterthrush
91. Mourning Warbler
92. Common Yellowthroat
93. Hooded Warbler
94. Wilson’s Warbler
95. Canada Warbler
96. Scarlet Tanager
97. Eastern Towhee
98. Chipping Sparrow
99. Song Sparrow
100. Lincoln’s Sparrow
101. White-throated Sparrow
102. White-crowned Sparrow
103. Dark-eyed Junco
104. Northern Cardinal
105. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
106. Indigo Bunting
107. Red-winged Blackbird
108. Common Grackle
109. Brown-headed Cowbird
110. Orchard Oriole
111. Baltimore Oriole
112. House Finch
113. American Goldfinch
114. House Sparrow
115. Starling
116. American Pipit