I’d set up my gear for morning, assuming that
the day would continue rainy and cool.
Even though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky when the alarm went off at
5:30, I pretty much ignored the probability that it would be a nice day. So, I dressed ‘way too warmly, and ended up
having to take my coat, vest & shirt off half-way through the morning.
There
are 19 in our group; 11 of us are from Washington State, including our “guide”
and organizer Shep Thorp, who is a great birder and a regular volunteer at the
weekly Wednesday bird walks at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The other eight are from Pennsylvania,
including Shep’s Mom, Barbara.
 |
| Barb and Friend |
We’ve
piled into two 4-bedroom cabins at Maumee Bay State Park. For a large group, the cabins are a great way
to go, as they have all the amenities necessary for a week-long stay, including
a stove, fridge, washer & dryer, and even a hot tub (which we never got
around to trying…).
We
carpooled over to the Magee Marsh boardwalk, and spent most of the day
there. I had heard about the press of
humanity on the Marsh’s trails during the “Biggest Week in Birding”.
 |
| Many of the Young Birders around here are from the Amish community |
This is the 10th year of one of America’s
Premier birding festivals, hosted by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. It’s now the largest event of its kind, a
must on the calendars of some 2,000 birders from all over Ohio, the U.S., and
other nations. Together, these and other like-minded visitors generate a $42
million windfall for the region.
We
arrived the week following the Festival itself, and there were still hundreds
of birders – all drawn here by the warblers and thrushes that have just
returned from their winter in Central or South America. Many of the birds arrive here at the
southwest corner of Lake Erie, after having just flown hundreds of miles during
the night. The woods and marshes here
are islands of habitat in a ‘desert’ of farmland and subdivisions, and provide
a needed rest stop.
 |
| This Swainson's Thrush was foraging for its life |
The
birds are famished, having lost almost all of their body fat, and will often
feed within feet of the birders in their desperation to replenish their energy,
for the final push to their nesting grounds.
 |
| A very tired Catbird |
The
concentration of birds, in conjunction with a boardwalk through a forest with
fairly low trees and brush, allows birders to get good views.
 |
| Cape May Warbler |
I
immediately saw several species that were new for me this year, including
Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Green and Cape May Warblers, as well as a nice
bright male Scarlet Tanager.
Then, right
above my head was a warbler species that was new for my “Life List”, the
Bay-breasted Warbler for ABA Life Bird No. 603.
Of
course, once you see a “Lifer”, then you see that species all the time, and it
was so with the Bay-breasted, which were a pretty common species in these
woods. This warbler is just passing through en route to its nesting grounds in
the Canadian boreal spruce forest.
The
numbers of birds here were somewhat overwhelming, but rewarding. I did see – and hear – another Life Bird,
which was the Philadelphia Vireo (ABA Lifer No. 604). This species looks a lot like either a
Red-eyed or a Warbling Vireo, but has a much brighter yellow plumage on its
undersides. It, too, is just passing
through Ohio, on its way to nesting in Canada’s early and mid-successional
deciduous woods and parklands.
 |
| Bumblebees are not birds . . . |
Not all of the birds are going further north. This Yellow Warbler was busy building her nest. She was bringing in grass, moss, spider webs and cottonwood fluff, tucking it into the right spot, then settling into the nest cup to make certain it was "just right".
We birded the Magee boardwalk until around noon, and saw nearly 70 species of birds.
 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler |
 |
| Myrtle Warbler |
 |
| Northern Parula |
 |
| Cape May Warbler |
 |
| Female Red-winged Blackbird |
Leaving the boardwalk, we walked out to the Crane
Creek estuary trail at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, which is adjacent to
the Magee Marsh. One attraction here was a Great Horned Owl nestling.
 |
| The nestling blends in with the nest hole |
A group of birders were focused on a Blue-winged Warbler (which I missed seeing).
Along the dike there, we found a nice
view of a Prothonotary Warbler,
and found yet another Yellow Warbler on her
nest.
We birded there until around 3
p.m., then, exhausted and overwhelmed by the amazing array of migrant birds, we
returned to the cottages. Supper was at
the Lodge at the State Park, where our large group surprised the poor waitress
who thought she would have an early night . . .
Magee
Marsh Boardwalk eBird Checklist is Here
Crane Creek Estuary eBird Checklist is Here
Of
course, once you see a “Lifer”, then you see that species all the time, and it
was so with the Bay-breasted, which were a pretty common species in these
woods. This warbler is just passing through en route to its nesting grounds in
the Canadian boreal spruce forest.
The
numbers of birds here were somewhat overwhelming, but rewarding. I did see – and hear – another Life Bird,
which was the Philadelphia Vireo (ABA Lifer No. 604). This species looks a lot like either a
Red-eyed or a Warbling Vireo, but has a much brighter yellow plumage on its
undersides. It, too, is just passing
through Ohio, on its way to nesting in Canada’s early and mid-successional
deciduous woods and parklands.
and found yet another Yellow Warbler on her
nest.
We birded there until around 3
p.m., then, exhausted and overwhelmed by the amazing array of migrant birds, we
returned to the cottages. Supper was at
the Lodge at the State Park, where our large group surprised the poor waitress
who thought she would have an early night . . .
Magee
Marsh Boardwalk eBird Checklist is Here 
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