The Biggest Week in American Birding is Back!!!

 Last August a very destructive storm came through the area and took out many of the large cottonwoods and other trees that we were used to seeing loaded with warblies.

Well kids, after two longs years of birding alone at Magee Marsh, The Biggest Week in American Birding has come back live and in person! There have been many changes, especially the loss of many of the largest trees. Fortunately, the birds don't care and are arriving daily to our delight! Some of the boardwalk was damaged as well, but has been rebuilt just in time.

One of the bald eagle nests was lost in the storm, but a new one in the middle of the boardwalk has appeared. The high point of my latest trip to the marsh was a Kirtland's Warbly so close I couldn't use my camera! I did manage a couple of shots with my cell phone...I have to start carrying a short lens!

It was a slow day with very heavy winds blowing in across the lake keeping our little buddies further inland away from the marsh. This coming week will be excellent with the winds shifting and the warming weather! I can't wait to get back over there!

I volunteered two days to lead beginners bird walks at Pearson Metropark in Oregon, Ohio this past weekend. I had a great time with a wonderful group of birders and a few other guides from Zeiss Optics and Sabrewing Nature Tours. I'm looking forward to more beginners!

A Kirtland's Warbly too close for a camera! He was about four or five feet away!

A Black-capped Chickadee with a healthy snack...better than the junk I was eating!

A very sleepy Downy Woodpecker...that happens to all of us on the boardwalk!

One of my favorite birds! A Gray Catbird...meow...

One of those days with the birds very close, like this Great Egret...

A Greater Yellowlegs with very mucky legs!

I'm always pleased that Green Herons are so willing to pose!

This Killdeer was photo-bombed by that Yellowlegs!

The Kirtland's Warbly finally rose up into the trees and far enough away that I could use my camera...too bad about the growing greenery...

My best shot ever of the Kirtland's!!!!

Yep, I never get a "normal" shot...everyone always has to make a face...or butt when I'm around!

A happy lil Palm Warbly out shaking his tail feathers!

Finding this White-eyed Vireo was great luck, especially from behind! 

I never did see the other side...maybe next time...

 Of course my only view of a Wood Thrush...with a little something stuck on his beak!

I'll leave you with this Yellow Warbly!

 I'll be at Maumee Bay and Magee and the surrounding areas next weekend too! Stop me and say hello if you can!!...until next time...

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...

Some Old Friends Stopped By For A Visit...

 Playing peek-a-boo with my favorite lil Black-and-White Warbly!

A great day to take off work and head out to Magee Marsh for the beginning of the Biggest Week in American Birding! Winds were blowing hard from the south and warblies and their buddies were finally heading up to visit us. Friday wasn't very crowded, being a "work" day...though I did see some friends that were also absent from work...I hope they had a doctors excuse or a note from mom.

I spent 6 hours strolling slowly along the boardwalk, speaking with old friends I haven't seen since last spring and lots of new friends and new birders as well. It was a great way to get out and enjoy the beginning of the spring migration!

 American Woodcock like to play peek-a-boo too!

They're better at it than most birds...

 The hard part is finding a hole in the scrub to aim through!

I think I hurt my back...

 Thanks to the Bald Eagle, there's one less squirrel in the world to steal bird seed from my feeders.

 Have I ever mentioned how much I love those little Black-and-whites?

 They're cute AND fun to watch!

 I was supposed to be assisting in the search for an Orange-crowned Warbly, but I found a Black-billed Cuckoo by mistake.

It was okay because it was a lifer for a couple of folks there!

 This Black-throated Green Warbly brought a splash of color to the drab woods...

 Oh my! I wasn't expecting to find a Blackpoll today!

 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers get angry when you take their photo...

Cranky little birds...

 This Cape May Warbly was kind enough to pose for my Birds From Behind collection!

 Chestnut-sided Warblies have shiny heads...just like me!

 This Great Egret caught a wee little fishy snack...and reminded me to get lunch.

 A pair of Killdeer out stalking their prey.

Though I've never seen them catch a deer...

 A very dramatic Magnolia Warbly...nice outfit!

 Speaking of dramatic, Nashville Warblies love to strike a pose.

 That naughty look in the eyes...oh my...

 I never noticed their dark cap before...

 This Northern Parula was practicing his beautiful song for us.

 Oops...sorry to interrupt!

A pair of Northern Water Snakes were making more water snakes right there along the boardwalk!

Have they no decency?

 As you can see, this Rose-breasted Grosbeak was a bit embarrassed by that snakey display!

 Even the Snowy Egret was diverting his eyes from that scene...

 Who's got golden slippers on?!

 I should have mentioned how windy it was.

At one point they had to close the boardwalk because the storm closed in with even heavier wind and branches were coming down! As I was hot-footing through the lot to my car, the rain came down and a kind couple allowed to get in there car...birders are definitely the nicest folks around!

 That pointy bug getting beak tells me this must be a Tennessee Warbly.

Appropriately, a Yellow-RUMPED Warbly for the last pic of the day!

I paid another visit on Saturday...so more warblies to come!