More May at Magee!...

 This was the first May at Magee Marsh that I didn't see an American Woodcock.

I did see this nest with eggs right next to my car though!

Another May of mayhem at Magee Marsh is but a memory...now I'll dream of spending more time at Magee next year to see my favorite lil warbly buddies. In the meantime I'll go through the thousand or so photos I shot this year and relive the memories, one fuzzy photo at a time....and make you look at them too!

I also went to Ottawa and Howard Marsh after this morning at Magee...I'll share those soon...

 The Bald Eagles were busy at their nests tending to obnoxious kids begging for food.

 This was the first year I managed to get a couple decent photos of Bay-breasted Warblies!

Even one singing!

 I love pointing out black racer snakes...there's always one person in the crowd that says "Ewwwww!" and runs away.

Now there's more room for me to get some warbly shots!

 This was the popular pose for Black-throated Green Warblies this year.

I saw more than one like this...odd, very odd.

 All the Cape Mays were high up today...and giving me the crazy eye and laughing.

 Terrible pic of a beautiful Cedar Waxwing...they can't all be good...one would be nice though...

 The invisible Eastern Screech Owl.

I never would have noticed him excpet for the fact that he roosts in the same tree most days...

 This Magnolia Warbly was confused by the Maggie tattoo on my arm...

 Amazingly that young Mourning Dove managed to stay in that rickety nest all cozy under mom.

Playing peek-a-boo with a Red-winged Blackbird...as usual...

 Even a color blind guy like me can see a Scarlet Tanager!

 Yummy! Caterpillars for lunch!

This Yellow-rumped Warbly doesn't seem too excited though...nor would I...

I'll leave you for now with a Baltimore Oriole booty!

See ya soon!

Dreaming of May!...

Wandering through my photo files I've discovered a few that I never went through. Oops. This latest assortment of happy burdz is from this past May during the Biggest Week festivities at Magee Marsh, the happiest burd place on earth!

 An American Woodcock in action hunting for worms...

 ...and rudely picking at his nether regions...

 There's always a Bald Eagle in the area, though I prefer the wee little burdies!

 I'm still struggling to get a good shot of a Bay-breasted Warbly.

They always seem to be over me and hidden behind foliage.

At least I got this shot in focus...mostly...

 These Black-throated Blue Warblies always create a stir when they appear.

 My only shot of a Blackburnian Warbly and his beautiful throat is hidden.

Next time...maybe...

 A Cape May Warbly on the prowl for some juicy bugs...yum.

 This Chestnut-sided Warbly posed so nicely for me.

They always seem to be cooperative.

 The Gray Catburb says meow.

Ovenbirds are another of those warblies that don't like their photos taken...always skulking about in the leaves on the ground.

I managed to find a break in the foliage to get a lovely butt shot of this Ovenbird.

Ha! Gotcha lil buddy!

See ya next time, thanks for visiting!

Yep...Back to Magee Marsh!

 It was a good day on the boardwalk for American Woodcocks!

I got a late start to the day and missed the morning birds. I thought about passing entirely due to the weather, but a lot of those days when it's windy and rainy seem to be the best. The birds will be lower and closer. This day? Not so much. The winds were from the south and they all seemed to beat it over the lake to Canada. Oh well...there's always the next time!

 Not a good day to lay out on the beach for a tan...

 This guy was so cooperative! I couldn't help but take a dozen or so photos of him hunting for wild wily worms!

 White-headed Sparrow...

 I chased (really!) this Bay-breasted Warbly all over the boardwalk.

He just didn't want to pose for me...

 If you listen closely you can hear him saying "Nah-nah!"

Not at all happy with him.

 This Black-throated Blue Warbly on the other hand, was being quite cooperative.

 He let me shoot him from both sides!

 This was more typical of the days work.

A slightly out of focus Black-throated Green Warbly.

 Two shots of a male Blackburnian Warbly...both blocked by greenery.

It was a day to leave the camera behind...

 Luckily there were a lot of Cape Mays around so I was bound to get at least one good shot.

And I did...just one...

 They must have had a meeting and said "When you see Dave, bury yourself in the leaves or branches, he loves that."

 I used to like Chest-sided Warblies...

 What's the deal!

Even the Gray Catbirds were trying to hide while they were yelling!

 Ovenbirds always hide, so this I expected.

At least I saw him creeping around under there.

 One Ovenbird popped out into the open just enough for me to get one shot of its cute little derriere!

 You'll have to take my word on this one.

It's a Philadelphia Vireo waaaaaay up in the tree tops.

 Last of the crappy pics of the day before the rain came and I gave up...and got pie from Blackberry Corners...a Yellow Warbly sitting on her nest...I tried...the pie is better than my photos.

I'll end the day with a butt pic...or is it a "butt pick?"

Silly birds, you never know who's watching you!

Things Were Hoppin' at Magee!...part one...of many...

 A view of the boardwalk across the marsh...

I am getting further and further behind in my posts! These photos are from May 5th...a day that didn't rain! The winds were so high the day before they had to close the boardwalk for a bit, so I wandered elsewhere, then came back to a great weather day.

In addition to all of the great migrant birds coming for a visit, I have all of my great friends that migrate to Magee every year to see our favorite warblies! It's a great time to catch up with old friends and make new ones along the way. There were more new birders this year than I remember from the past. They make it more fun and remind me that birds that are common to some are unusual to others. Always have patience with the newbies and we all have more fun!

 At last! The proper shot of an American Woodcock!

(The nice folks from Aviantica asked me to take this photo...though I would have done it anyway!)

 ...for you folks that prefer birds from the other way...close enough...

 Dad turned his back on that begging youngster...you can only stand so much...

 Oh dear...what a rude little child.

( Or is it a rude little Loopy for posting it?)

 Here's a Black-throated Blue Warbly to clean your brain of the last shot...

 And a Black-throated Green too!

 Bull Frogs shooting the bull.

 Chestnut-sided Warblies have never appreciated my humor...

 They call them Common Nighthawks, buts how often do you actually see one?

 Common Yellowthroats love to hide in the thickets.

I managed to find him hiding and singing in there!

 Gray Catbirds are still one of my favorites.

I heard someone say to a new birder "Don't bother looking at them, they're common."

The new birder told me it was a life bird for her.

Be careful what you say out there!

 You don't often see a Green Heron walking through the woods...

 House Wrens are another common bird with an uncommonly beautiful song...and loud too!

 We can't go too long without a butt shot!

That's a Killdeer by the way.

 This Magnolia Warbly had his eye on a nearby bug and was preparing to pounce.

 This Midland Painted Turtle has lived a hard life.

For now I'll leave you with this beautiful Nashville Warbly...Elvis has left the building...

The Biggest Week in American Birding will continue...