Magee Marsh - 30 Apr 2011

Saturday brought the promise of a good day of migration at Magee Marsh in Ohio.  The first clear skies in weeks (it seems) came w/ the prediction that this day could be good for warblers.  Unfortunately I would be a day early for the first real arrival of warblers.

The morning started w/ clear skies, low winds, and the promise of a good day. Four Cattle Egrets were feeding next to Highway 2 just north of the entrance to Ottawa NWR.  Robin and I arrived at the boardwalk just after 7 am, and within minutes I had Eastern Phoebe and Northern Waterthrush near the west end tower.  

A Blackpoll Warbler was calling from high above. From there things began to slow.  Clouds moved in and things cooled off, temperature-wise and bird-wise.

I did find a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a House Wren, but that was about all.  Palm Warblers and Myrtle Warblers were numerous, but generally high in the trees.

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher made a brief appearance overhead, but refused to come lower. 

It was at this time that I ran into Charles Owens.  He had just photographed a pair of Virginia Rails, but they refused to show again. 

We would make a couple more passes around the boardwalk, but would fail to see anything other than Palm Warblers, Myrtle Warblers, and Common Grackles.  No thrushes, and only a couple of White-throated Sparrows.

We did come upon a pair of Black-capped Chickadees that appeared to be nesting in a cavity next to the boardwalk.  One of the birds appeared to have a dark belly.  It wasn't until I got home and reviewed pictures that it appeared that the bird has lost all of its belly feathers.

 

One of the Screech Owls reported a day earlier was found in the crotch of a tree next to the boardwalk. We took a few photos from distance before moving on.

Another loop of the boardwalk brought a couple more Palm Warblers close enough to photograph.

 

A female Yellow Warbler brought a moment of excitement.  I was able to get some nice pics from a few feet away.

Just before leaving a Gray Catbird made a brief appearance.

It was great seeing Charles, and running into old/new friends Cherise Charron, Sherrie Duris, and her friend Ryan.

Magee Marsh--Boardwalk, Lucas, Ohio, US
Apr 30, 2011 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Saturday brought the promise of a good day of migration at Magee Marsh in Ohio.  The first clear skies in weeks (it seems) came w/ the prediction that this day could be good for warblers.  Unfortunately I would be a day early for the first real arrival of warblers.
14 species

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)  4     next to Highway 2 just north of entrance to ONWR.
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)  1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42523200

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)