Of Magnolias and Canada - 16 May 2025

Robin had dinner tonight with an old friend so I decided to take a break from painting the garage to head down to Magee Marsh. Skies were clear here in SE Michigan and temps were in the mid 80's. 

As I drove south at 4 pm I could see the cloud bank over Ohio. Temperatures suddenly dropped to 70F, followed by rain, but suddenly jumped back to 85F with high humidity once I arrived at Magee Marsh. Clouds were still present but it was partly sunny with a steady wind coming in off Lake Erie. The steady stream of cars leaving the area was also a nice scene.

I parked at the west end of the boardwalk and walked in shortly after 5 pm. My first bird was this lovely American Redstart, but trying to photograph it was a challenge. As was the ID; all I noticed was the gray head and bright eye-ring and apparent spectacles that suggested Blue-headed Vireo, but the yellow on the chest and flanks threw me. It wasn't until I saw the yellow tail patches that I began to think redstart.

The evening would belong to Magnolia Warblers and Canada Warblers, surprisingly. However, they were probably the most difficult birds to photograph in the heavy vegetation. I had issues focusing on the birds w/ the Sony a1 and 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens. It wasn't until I noticed I had the 1.4X teleconverter on that I realized I'd be better w/o it. Still, photographing was a challenge; birds in the vegetation and people on the boardwalk. I managed a photo of this young male Magnolia Warbler.

Another   (female) preening.

Adult male Magnolia Warbler.

I stumbled upon this Blackburnian Warbler that foraged quietly unnoticed by the crowds.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets were still around and threw a lot of people trying to figure out what kind of warbler. 

I was trying to photograph a Magnolia Warbler when a Prothonotary Warbler landed on the rail next to my shoulder and started singing. It was so loud that my ears bled (figuratively). I would find another a short distance away when it landed next to a gentleman on the boardwalk who was oblivious to its presence.

Northern Parula numbers are dwindling, but this guy made a short appearance.

Magnolia Warblers were especially frustrating to photograph as they remained hidden most of the time.

Eastern Wood-Pewee overhead in a dead snag.

I really wanted to photograph a Canada Warbler. I saw many, but they were even more difficult to photograph than the Magnolia Warblers. I did manage this guy in the dark understory next to the boardwalk.

It was nice to find a Bay-breasted Warbler today. I'm so used to seeing so many in the fall w/ their less-distinct coloration.

A Swainson's Thrush was putting on a show for a large crowd next to the big loop of the boardwalk. 

Prothonotary Warblers were loud and numerous. I counted at least six birds. Folks were congregating near a known nesting cavity and waiting for males and females to come and go, but I kept walking and opting to grab the opportunistic shot. 

Big crowds were gathering wherever Wilson's Warblers appeared. They were very skulky but I managed to stumble upon one very briefly. 

Another semi-cooperative / uncooperative Magnolia Warbler. 

Though ubiquitous and omnipresent I was happy to grab a photo of the elusive Yellow Warbler. 

This one appeared on the railing of the boardwalk and foraged for nesting material and many of the midges that were roosting on the wood. 

My last bird of the evening was a Magnolia Warbler. 

Most likely this was my last trip to NW Ohio for awhile, but apparently this year's Biggest Week in American Birding Festival did not disappoint. I would agree. 

Magee Marsh--Causeway Marshes (Ottawa Co.), Ottawa, Ohio, US
May 16, 2025 5:10 PM - 7:34 PM
Protocol: Traveling
4.402 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Mostly cloudy, warm, humid, breezy, 75f, crowds not bad on boardwalk. Magnolias and Canadas were most abundant but most difficult to photograph.
38 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  22
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)  1
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  2
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  8
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)  2
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  6
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  2
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  7
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  2
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)  6
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)  1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)  1
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  4
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)  5
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  2
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)  10
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)  2
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)  1
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  6
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)  2
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)  6
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S238952646

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