(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . A Month at Magee Marsh [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2022-07-10 April 23, 2022 My first visit this year was on April 23rd, as part of a Detroit Audubon Society field trip. This was the earliest I’ve visited Magee Marsh. I wasn’t quite convinced that a visit so early in the spring migration season would be worthwhile, but I was *so* wrong. To start, there were still some late winter holdovers. Wigeons and Blue-winged Teal on a pond that will later be full of lilies. Northern Shoveler pair. Zoomed. Blue-winged Teal pair. Zoomed. The next group of birds had already migrated in and was stopping only to fuel up before heading further north. I have to pause here and mention the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, located at the entrance road to Magee Marsh. They have accumulated 30 years of banding data. Even better, that data is on their website in a user-friendly format, both here in summary form, and here in detail by bird. Birding Magee Marsh also has helpful information, including this one-page chart of warblers and when they are likely to be seen during the spring migration. This Solitary Sandpiper was picking its way through the shallows. Same for this Greater Yellowlegs. Zoomed. I’m just learning shorebirds, so please correct me on IDs. (Actually, I welcome corrections for all the birds here, not just shorebirds.) In deciding this was a Greater, and not a Lesser, Yellowlegs, I looked at the slightly upturned bill, and bill size compared to the head. I also chose this profile shot, showing how the primary feathers extend slightly beyond the tail. The earliest warbler migrant in an early leafing tree. The Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers typically appear the last week of April. This male is in a just-budding willow. Here’s the BSBO link for warbler migration profiles. The female Myrtle is much better camouflaged than the male. Yellow-rumps are also late migrants in the fall. I saw a pair in southeast Michigan in early December last year. Palm Warbler at next door Metzger Marsh. They usually show up in early May, so this one was a week early. Zoomed. According to this comment from nookular, Palm Warbler, Western subspecies. Zoomed. the bird above is a Yellow subspecies of Palm Warbler, based on the yellow wash on the underside. The other subspecies is the Western, also present at Magee Marsh. I saw this one to the right, with limited yellow at the throat and its dirty-white colored belly, a couple weeks later. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher to the left and out-of-focus Black-throated Green Warbler on the right. Here’s the BSBO link for Wren, Gnatcatchers and Kinglets. Blue-grays start showing up mid-April. The Black-throated Greens move on, but some of the Blue-grays stick around and nest at Magee Marsh. Other birds had already migrated from the south and were also there to stay for the summer. Purple Martin pairs were claiming their space in the condos at the Magee Marsh Nature Center. Zoom. Barn Swallows were also nesting at the Nature Center. On the other hand, Tree Swallows were present all over the marsh. Green Heron, zoomed and cropped, being a typical Green Heron and hiding as best it could with little foliage to help. Great Egrets also came to nest. They stayed out in the wetlands, far from the busy boardwalk area. Last but by no means least are Bald Eagles. Zoomed. There has been an active Bale Eagle nest for years by the west entrance to the boardwalk, just off the parking lot. The area is cordoned off, but the nest is easy to observe. A second long-time nest by the east entrance to the boardwalk was destroyed in a severe storm last summer. That pair might have been the pair that built a new nest right in the middle of the boardwalk area, which was also cordoned off. Unfortunately, the nest did not take and the area has been reopened. My takeaway from the Audubon trip was I need to go even earlier than late April. And maybe during the winter as well to see more of the wintering waterfowl. May 5, 2022 Twelve days later, there were many more migrants. Yellow Warbler male singing in a willow tree that now has small leaves and catkins. Yellow Warblers were everywhere. It was tempting to dismiss sightings as “just another Yellow,” but they were often cooperative photo subjects. Some pairs settled in to nest at the marsh. Magnolia Warbler male. Maggies were numerous this year, and always delightful eye candy. Zoomed. Black-throated Blues were also present in numbers and about as photogenic as a bird can get. Zoomed. Black and White Warbler. I’ve seen Black and Whites several times at Maggie Marsh, but they are very difficult to find and even harder to photograph. Although they are often at eye level when they forage on trunks and lower branches, they blend in well. White-eyed Vireo. Zoomed. Here’s the BSBO link for Vireos and Flycatchers. This beauty was a lifer for me. On two different days, a White-eyed Vireo came within a few feet of the boardwalk. I had to back up to get within range of my camera lens. Northern Ohio is at the north edge of their breeding range. Killdeer were common and some nested at the Marsh. American Avocet at next-door Metzger Marsh. Zoomed. This was another lifer. How I came to see the Avocet is a typical story of birding and birders at Magee Marsh. That day, my friend and I kept running into a mother/son birding pair, where the son was obviously teaching his mom. It’s not unusual to bird the boardwalk at the same pace as other people and strike up extended conversations. In fact, that’s how I happened to become good friends with another of my frequent birding pals. Later in the afternoon, we were leaving the boardwalk and mulling whether or not to make one more pass. Coming back in was the mother/son duo. We asked how their day was going and the son told us they had gone to nearby Metzger Marsh. He was from Florida and was all excited about a Rough-legged Hawk. But knowing we were from Michigan, he told us about the Avocet and exactly where to find it, even though they are so common in Florida it was no big deal to him. He knew it was a *huge* deal to us and I’m so grateful he shared his sighting. The Avocet was surrounded on the pier by Ring-billed Gulls, who were not exactly welcoming. They chased it off several times, but it circled back each time. Zoomed. Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) working on its nest. They are year-round residents of the Marsh. Here’s the BSBO link for Woodpeckers and Hawks. Green Heron pair working on their nest. There was a second nesting pair nearby. The lack of foliage was a definite plus in getting good sightings and photos. Zoom. May 8, 2022 My next visit was three days later. I wasn’t expecting to see many new birds, but I again underestimated the draw Maggie Marsh has on migrating birds. I’ll start with one of my all-time favorite warblers and my spark bird. Blackburnian Warbler male. Zoomed. I first saw a Blackburnian in my backyard, literally. Mr. C spotted it in our bird bath fountain, and it took my breath away. I’m fortunate to live in an area (an inner ring suburb of Detroit) with lots of mature oak trees. As this article notes, oaks are “kings of biodiversity.” That one bird got me wondering what else I’d been missing. Nashville Warbler. Note how leaf out has progressed in three days. Female Black-throated Blue Warbler. Zoomed. This uncropped photo of an Ovenbird is my best ad for birding at Magee Marsh. The opportunities are boundless, but limited in time. It’s a marsh, so even in dryer years, it’s a warm, damp and fertile place. Once the warmer weather hits, the greenery really kicks into gear. In a short while, the undergrowth would have obscured this treasure. Palm Warblers were still around, but not for long. They typically move on mid-May. I’d seen Northern Parulas on May 5th, but couldn’t get a good photo. This male was singing in the same tree as the Nashville Warbler above. The Northern Flicker continued to excavate his nest. The spots in the photo are sawdust that he periodically ejected. Zoomed. Bald Eagle eating something with a tail. Perhaps a young muskrat? A snake? Zoomed. Vireos were everywhere and not always this accommodating. I’m fairly confident this is a Warbling Vireo and not a Philadelphia as Merlin audio picked up its song. One of the great things about Magee Marsh is the network of nearby parks and wildlife areas. Map from Magee Marsh Nature Center showing the many parks and nature preserves along western Lake Erie. Zoom. Markers 6, 7 and 8 are Howard Marsh, ONWR and Magee Marsh, respectively. Zoomed. One example is Metzger Marsh, a short ten minutes away. That was where I saw the Avocet. Another is the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, just to the west, between Metzger and Magee. (The link to the non-profit Friends of ONWR is here.) ONRW has several units, and the one next to Magee offers birding by car. (My younger self used to sniff at such an idea, but my older self very much appreciates the opportunity to rest and recoup.) These Great Horned Owlets were easily observed along the wildlife drive. Also easily visible were nesting Trumpeter Swans. I’m including this second view of the V-shaped top of the bill. Zoomed. May 11, 2022 Another three days saw a huge change in some of the foliage and several new arrivals. Chestnut-sided Warbler in now fully leafed branches. Prothonotary Warbler. Some pairs stick around to breed and they typically are not as shy as other warblers. I saw the female American Redstarts before the males. They usually pass through Magee Marsh the last two weeks of May, although some pairs also stay to breed. Cape May Warblers forage high in the canopy. Willow catkins are all fluffy now. The female Blackburnians followed the males. She’s not as showy as her mate, but is still a handsome warbler. Zoomed. With the females around, the male Blackburnians were more active and lower in the canopy. Zoomed. This Black and White Warbler posed nicely that day. I’m including this shot because it shows the Black and White’s unique undertail coverts. No other warbler has the black-on-white elongated spots. Zoomed. The Green Heron nest showed signs of further construction, but no signs of anyone actually nesting. On the other hand, the Killdeers had been busy much earlier and already had chicks hatched and hunting, under the careful eye of the parents. Zoom. A cute ball of floof, like all chicks. Zoomed. May 14, 2022 Another three days passed and I was back at Magee Marsh with the Detroit Audubon Society’s second field trip. The weather started out sunny, changed to drizzle with a lot of thunder and lightning, then back to sunny, and finally to dodging thunderstorm cells as we headed home. If you’re properly equipped for the rain, light showers can be great birding weather. The rain brings down the insects, and the birds follow. Lighting is not always optimal for photos, but sometimes it’s good to put down the camera and just bask in the birds. New warblers for me for the year were the Blackpoll and Bay-breasted. Blackpoll Warbler. Compare the clear undertail coverts with the Black and White Warbler above. Blackpolls are one of the later warbler migrators through the Marsh, along with American Redstarts and others. Bay-breasted Warbler. No confusing that underside! Although I tend to focus on warblers, there are many other songbirds that migrate through Magee Marsh. Swainson’s Thrush. Here’s the BSBO link for Thrushes, Mimids and Waxwings. White-crowned Sparrow. And here’s the BSBO link for Sparrows and Finches. I’m pretty sure this is a Philadelphia Vireo, with extensive yellow on the underside, a faint eyestreak and light eyebrow. Zoom. Back to the Warblers! These were still sticking around and fueling up. Magnolia Warbler. Zoomed. Cape May Warbler. I learned that repeat visits gave me more chances to improve on photos. It helps when a specific species has an extended migration period. American Redstart female. I’d caught only glimpses of a few American Redstart males. That was another reason to make yet another visit. Chestnut-sided Warbler showing its bright yellow-green cap. Zoomed. This Prothonotary Warbler was checking out a hollow tree. Because they nest at the marsh, I wasn’t sure whether it was hunting for food or a nest site. The Green Herons were still around, staying close to the nesting area. This one was enjoying the rain, with a couple small drops beaded on its head. Zoomed. With two active nests at the time, there was always some Bald Eagle action. This one had a mink. Zoom. May 24, 2022 Ten days later, and a month since my first visit, was a beautiful, sunny day. Common Yellowthroat. Zoomed. Snowy Egret. Most of the Magnolias had moved on, but this immature was still around. Looks like it’s wondering where everyone went. Zoomed. I finally got a photo of the Northern Parula I was happy with, showing how stunning this little bird is. Zoomed. The American Redstart males also showed up. Zoomed. Some of the nesting birds were way ahead of others. Killdeer chick with tail feathers sprouting. Eastern Screech Owl. Spotting this Screech Owl is another typical Magee Marsh story. My friend and I were strolling the boardwalk, when we overheard someone behind us mention Screech Owl. It was not crowded that day, so we went back to check it out. We politely waited for a break in the conversation and asked about the owl. They gave us detailed information about where it was, although it still took some careful searching to spot the owl. According to this source, Eastern Screech Owls breed in April and incubate the eggs for 26 days. After 8 to 10 weeks, the owlets fledge. Northern Flicker in Screech Owl cavity. Zoomed. When I visited Magee Marsh in late June, a Northern Flicker had taken over the nest cavity. Based on the nesting timeline, I’m assuming the Screech Owl either was not nesting or was unsuccessful. The Green Herons were still hanging around. There was still no sign of incubation activities at the nest that day. When I visited in late June, the leaves were so dense I couldn’t even find the nest. Tree Swallows were everywhere, usually in flight. Once in a while, one would perch close by and show off their iridescent beauty. Zoomed. Great Egrets were plentiful in late May. As I mentioned, there is a series of preserved wetlands along this area of Lake Erie. One is Howard Marsh. As with Magee and Metzger Marshes, Howard used to be part of the Great Black Swamp. Settlers drained almost all of the Great Black Swamp for agriculture. In 2008, Ohio purchased the 1,000-acre Howard Farm, restored it to wetlands and incorporated it into the Toledo metroparks. My birding pal and I had time that day to stop on the way home, and ended up having an amazing visit. Blue-winged Teal drakes fighting for territory. Zoomed. Black-necked Stilt pair. A lifer for me. Zoomed. Word is they stayed and successfully nested there. Yellow-headed Blackbird. Another lifer who got so close we had to warn people not to step on him. Zoomed. American White Pelicans are relative newcomers to western Lake Erie. Zoomed. I was surprised to see flocks in mid-Michigan last year, but learned their breeding range has been expanding. If the birds I’ve highlighted don’t convince you to make the trip if you can, here’s a list of the of other birds I photographed at Magee Marsh: American Coot, Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Bonaparte’s Gull, Sora, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Pine Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler, American Goldfinch, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray Catbird, Baltimore Oriole, Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager, Cedar Waxwing, Indigo Bunting, Red-tailed Hawk, Veery, Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, Eastern Wood-pewee and various other flycatchers I’m not confident in identifying. I saw all but the Sora over the Month at Magee Marsh. And I haven’t seen nearly all there is to see. Here’s the checklist from Birding Magee Marsh. And here’s the 16-page (!) list from the Ohio DNR. In researching this Dawn Chorus, I learned that fall migration at Magee Marsh is a thing too, with the same hourglass geography funneling birds south. Guess where I’ll be this fall? [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/7/10/2105058/-Dawn-Chorus-A-Month-at-Magee-Marsh Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/