Kinglets were the BOTD - 26 Apr 2023

Robin and I drove back down to Magee Marsh this morning. Yesterday a Hooded Warbler was found on the boardwalk and I was interested to see if any new warblers showed up. Weather was an improvement; skies were clear and temps were 2F warmer than yesterday, so 40F!

We arrived shortly after 9 am and saw a fledgeling Bald Eagle flapping its wings next to an approving parent in the parking lot nest. I would get a pic of the nest from the boardwalk side; one of the adults was perched next to nest.

Another adult was closer to the boardwalk and in better lighting.


The boardwalk proved to be quiet. Again.  Birds were sparse, although Ruby-crowned Kinglets would prove to be the bird of the day. They were vocal but difficult to isolate against the tangled understory of the marsh.



A few Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen during the walk, although they too were difficult to photograph. A Yellow Warbler was heard in several locations but no Hooded Warbler was seen nor heard.




I did find a Red-breasted Nuthatch that was severely backlit against the rising Sun, but managed a few photos under some-what blackout conditions.



It flew off and was immediately replaced by a Brown Creeper. I was able to get between it and the Sun so better images were had.



As I was leaving the area a Brown Thrasher began calling from somewhere in the swamp. I managed to spot it (or another bird) when it briefly flew across the boardwalk in front of me. 

Hermit Thrushes continue to be the bird of the understory. Several birds were darting in and out of view. I managed to photograph several birds, but most images were not the best composition. 




I briefly saw one of the Virginia Rails at the east end of the boardwalk, but it proved too elusive for the camera. 

Magee Marsh--Boardwalk, Lucas, Ohio, US
Apr 26, 2023 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 40F
9 species

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  3     2 adults and fledgeling in nest.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  6
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)  1
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  3
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158460438

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

I returned to the car and we drove over to Howard Marsh Metropark. Hudsonian Godwits were reported yesterday and I hoped that they might still be around. We drove to the bathroom area and parked, but scoping the ponds only produced a couple Dunlin and Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. The stilts were not in view, so we headed out for lunch at the Maumee Bay Brewing Company.