During the second week of May the Black Swamp Bird Observatory hosts the "The Biggest Week in American Birding" at Magee Marsh, which is on the south shore of Lake Erie. It is crossroads of flyways..Birds are making their way north to Canada and stop in the area for a rest before heading across the big lake into Canada. Warblers are plenty and so are other birds. Depending on the weather they may be there a couple of days. Magee Marsh is located in Ottawa County, Ohio, which is just outside the Toledo area. On one side of the parking lot is Lake Erie and the other side is Magee Marsh an area with a maze of boardwalks, which I always fear I will get lost on one day..The trees this time of year are starting to leaf out or bare so it makes for easy spotting of warblers if your there on the right days. You see all ages of birders, with all skill levels to no skill level, just folks wanting to see what the hoopla is about...But everyone is always willing to help identify, explain to you or tell you where the birds are. There is also a small king's ransom in cameras, lens, and spotting scopes. It brings in a good deal of tourist income to an area that is farmland and a rust belt city.
I was there for only a couple of hours and few days past prime spotting days. I saw 17 species of birds...Warblers those tiny little birds that blend in the trees and greenery. They are very difficult to get a photo of unless they are on the railing or boardwalk itself ....Maybe next year.
Magee Marsh...yes, right by a nuclear power plant..
This pond had a lot of people around..hat tip to Youffraita below who spotted the black crowned night heron.
I know you?
Wilson's warbler..it was our first meeting..
Magnolia Warbler....first meeting.
Baltimore Oriole...we have met before.
Eastern Kingbird...
Indigo Bunting.
I don't believe I know you! If you can help me out I would appreciate it.
Where are you?
These were roped off and it took me a very long time to spot them, even with someone
telling me where to look.
Where did the rest of you go?
There was a lot of speculation that this big birdie had a lot to do with what happened to the owner of the wing above. The eagle had babies in the nest, but I never saw them.
Warblers I saw, but no photos...Tennessee, Canada, Bay Breasted, Chestnut sided...many I could not find even when someone pointed them out..Was a lot of fun, next year I will take my longer lens and hope I have better luck with photos..A scarlet tanager, the bird that got away before I could get a photo..a beautiful red against the green leaves...some people not excited about it but it was a gem to me.