May 19 - Leaving Maumee State Park & Magee Marsh

We woke to a cloudy and humid morning that was threatening sprinkles.  Folks packed up and loaded into our respective vehicles on our last group day in Ohio.  We walked around the east end of the cabins area, to look for a Connecticut Warbler that had been reported, but didn’t see it.

The Black-throated Green Warblers were around, though . . .

There were a number of Red-shouldered Hawks migrating north with the Turkey Vultures, which seemed fairly exciting for me, as I see so few in Washington State.

The Philadelphia crew took their leave and drove east.  I took a bit more time, re-packing the CrossTrek, and joined Shep, Laurel, Paula and Lee at the State Park's Nature Center to walk the boardwalk trail.

We enjoyed seeing that a Raccoon and her brood had taken over a Wood Duck nest box.  Paula and Laurel got photos of the mother dragging a kit out of the box and swimming away from the boardwalk with the mewing youngster held firmly by the scruff of its neck.  The mamma ‘coon was back in the box by the time I came by.

More kits to go, so she was taking a break . . .

Leaving the State Park, I joined the Washingtonians at the Pearson Metropark back toward the town of Oregon off Highway 2, and we walked the park and watched their feeders area until it was time for them to head toward the airport.

Paula, Shep, Laurel, and Lee

I said my goodbyes and drove back toward the Ottawa NWR fields to make a search for the Henslow’s Sparrow, but it was beginning to rain moderately hard and the wind had picked up so much that I decided just to head south.  I’ll look for the sparrow on down the road.

"Just" a Song Sparrow, but they look 'way different to our Pacific Northwest Song Sparrows

I did stop at the Sandusky County's Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area near Gibsonburg and gave another unsuccessful effort to find the Henslow’s Sparrows, then headed south toward Columbus and checked out the Glacier Ridge Metropark, and will try in the fields there tomorrow morning.

Cool Dragonfly - I'll look this one up when I get a chance

I checked into the Red Roof Inn in Dublin, Ohio for $81 plus tax.  I would judge this as "a place to sleep" . . .

Baltimore Orioles are currently (12 June) at the bottom of the AL East

Maumee Bay State Park boardwalk eBird Checklist is Here

Pearson Metropark eBird Checklist is Here

Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area eBird Checklist is Here

May 16 - Back to Magee Marsh

The group consensus was to return to Magee Marsh today, and see what new birds might have arrived in the past day or so.  When we arrived at 7:30, the crowd of birders was somewhat diminished from the other day, although the numbers of birders increased through the morning.

We pretty much repeated our track from the other day, and I was back to being overwhelmed with the numbers and diversity of birds.  But, having been here once before, it was fun to relax a bit more and enjoy the little things.  Such as a Mourning Dove feeding ‘pigeon milk’ to his/her youngster.

There's the adult . . .

Both sexes can produce the crop milk, so there's no telling whether this is Mom or Dad

A grey-phase Eastern Screech Owl was peeking out of a tree cavity.

I'm always amazed that people can spot owls in the woods . . .

. . . Because I have such a hard time of it

The boardwalk has many benches and observation points that have been built and dedicated to people active in the local birding community.

This one's for Ernie - R.I.P.

This area is great for the birds, but there are other wildlife to attract one’s attention.  I never saw a beaver, but we saw several “beaver trees” in various stages of being cut down.

Yup - proof-positive of beavers . . .

It was not uncommon to see the black water snakes, either swimming or hauled up on a branch to sun themselves.

There were a lot of the common Midland Painted Turtles in the open water areas.

Chrysemys picta marginata

I saw several of the uncommon Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), with their distinctive yellow chins, but didn’t think to get a photo of them.  I did stop and take a photo of the big ol’ snapping turtle that Lee Barnes and I saw as we drove out of the Marsh.

Snapping Turtle - Chelydra serpentina

From the Marsh, we could see the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station off to the east.  This is one of the most accident-prone nuclear plants in the United States, as it has had a series of leaks, breakdowns, and shutdowns over the years.  The Nuclear Industry is touting their product as "clean energy" in these days of carbon emissions and Global Warming.  And, "Environmentalists" are backing them up!!  Don't be fooled!!  Nuke Plants are Dangerous, and there is still no safe method to contain the deadly waste.  Thank Goodness, they plan to close this thing next year.

Our group stopped at the Sportsmen's Migratory Bird Center, and did a bit of birding.  I also was interesting in seeing their museum, which was pretty interesting.  The displays included one honoring Jack Miner, a Canadian who started banding ducks and geese in 1909, and continued at his Bird Sanctuary near Kingsville, Ontario until his passing in 1944.  His life work was to promote conservation and to spread the word of the Gospel through his bird banding.  Each of the bands he placed on the birds’ legs had a bit of Scripture on it, along with the return address.  When I worked at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge back in 1978, the banders recovered a Canada Goose with a Jack Miner band on it!  Nowadays, collectors will find a Jack Miner band on eBay for anywhere from $75-250.

Leaving the Center, we returned to Maumee Bay State Park, and walked a portion of the amazingly long interpretive boardwalk trail through the wetland areas.  The best birds we found here were a number of Sora rails, as well as a nice “red phase” Eastern Screech Owl.

After supper, we got back to the cabins, and were treated to the evening chorus of American Woodcocks displaying just back of the cabins.  One bird landed just at the edge of the lawn, and would periodically rise up, circle and “peent” and drop back to his spot, hoping to attract a mate.

Male Tree Swallow

Birds I saw today that were new for the year, for me, included Indigo Bunting, Mourning Warbler, and Eastern Wood-Pewee.

Great Egret at Magee Marsh

Magee Marsh Boardwalk eBird Checklist is Here

Migratory Bird Center eBird Checklist is Here

Maumee Bay State Park boardwalk eBird Checklist is Here

State Park cabins eBird Checklist is Here

Catbird