May 18 - Magee Marsh and Ottawa NWR

This was our group’s last full day in Ohio, so we decided to return to the Magee Marsh boardwalk and the surrounding area.

While we waited for everyone to gather for the appointed ‘leave time’ at 7:30, we walked around the cabins a bit.  “Neighbors” had moved into the adjacent cabin last night, so we didn’t hear or see the Woodcocks displaying in the evening or this morning.

Prothonotary Warbler

We drove out of the park toward Magee Marsh, birding along the way.  We got to the marsh a little before 8 a.m. and spent the morning there, seeing the birds with a bit more 'relaxing' attitude, rather than trying to find "just one more" new species for the trip.

Swainson's Thrush

Black-billed Cuckoo

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

People-watching can be as much fun as bird-watching.

The birders here are passionate and proud of their association with Magee.

I went all the way to Magee Marsh, and didn't get the Shirt

One gets the impression that there are more Liberals in the birding community than in the 46.1% of American voters who voted for the current regime.

Let's make "MAGA" into a more palatable phrase . . .

We enjoyed the birds, as well as the wetland denizens of the marsh until noonish, when we ate our ‘sack lunches’.

Midland Painted Turtle - Chrysemys picta marginata

Green Frog - Lithobates clamitans melanota

Leaving the Marsh, we spent the afternoon at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

Purple Martin nest boxes at the Refuge

A quick stop at the Visitors’ Center was followed by a drive along the Refuge’s Auto Tour route.

Great Egret

Flock of White Pelicans

Trumpeter Swans were rare in the United States 100 years ago

Among the various birds we saw was an amorous pair of Trumpeter Swans.  For those of you with easily-offended demeanors, don't look at the next few photos . . .

The pen swam ahead of the cob . . .

. . . Which came right up to her vocalizing.

That's when things began to get serious . . .

As in many such encounters . . .

Foreplay leads to . . .

Consummation . . .

On the way back toward the cabins, we stopped at another of the Toledo Metroparks, Howard Marsh.  This parcel of land was acquired to restore 1,000 acres of former wetland along the shores of Lake Erie, and includes 6 miles of trails.

We arrived to find our only Horned Lark of the trip in the parking lot.

Jamie Acker had located a calling King Rail about a quarter mile away.  We hustled out to the area he had seen it, hearing it continue to call.  Laurel began recording shortly after we were across from the location.  Finally, the bird came out into the less-dense marsh, and we got some views of the bird.  This was a Life Bird for many of our group, and always a fun bird to see.

There, behind the cattails, is the rail . . .

This was a good day, and a fine end to the Magee Marsh madness!

Cedar Point Road eBird Checklist is Here

Magee Marsh eBird Checklist is Here

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge eBird Checklist is Here

Ottawa NWR Wildlife Drive eBird Checklist is Here

Howard Marsh Metropark eBird Checklist is Here