I’m very fortunate to live 60 miles from the fabulous Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, with its unparalleled spring songbird migration. That means I can make multiple trips during migration, or pretty much any time I want to check out what’s going on along southwestern Lake Erie. I’ll recap my visits this year in chronological order, with some added photos from nearby Howard Marsh, part of the Toledo Metroparks system. But first, here’s some quick background for anyone not familiar with this birding heaven.
All of western Lake Erie has been designated an Important Bird Area. Geography has a lot to do with the bountiful warbler and other songbird migration. Birds straddling the Atlantic and Mississippi avian flyways have to go west through Michigan, east to the Niagara Falls area, or take the shortcut across from the Sandusky, Ohio area to Point Pelee in Ontario. Magee Marsh lies just west of Sandusky.
Map of the many wildlife areas along southwest Lake Erie in Ohio. Magee Marsh is at number 8 and Howard Marsh to the west is circled. Bigger.
More information is available at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, located on the entrance road to Magee Marsh. This wealth of information has been gleaned from 35 years of spring and fall banding. Check this link for a summary of what birds are likely to be passing through when. Or bird-specific profiles here. The Ohio DNR has information on its website here. And the non-profit Birding Magee Marsh has lots of free resources, although the blog has not been updated for years. If nothing else, the photo gallery is phenomenal and worth checking out. It also has helpful information for anyone planning a visit. There are miles of trails, many gravel or dirt. The boardwalk took a hit two years ago from a very destructive storm, but remains handicap accessible. I had no problems last year when still recovering from hip replacement surgery.
My first two visits this year were in early February and March. Next, Mr. C and I watched the April 8th total eclipse there. For spring migration, I visited five times in late April to late May. I opted not to go during the Biggest Week in American Birding. I know I missed some birds (like my personal favorite Blackburnian Warbler), but I was just not up to the crowds or unsettled weather this year.
Typical crowd during the Big Week, May 11, 2022. And this is on the Lake Erie beach where there’s some air and elbow room. The boardwalk can get extremely crowded, but almost all the visitors are patient and courteous.
Ahhhh… Same beach on my last visit, May 23, 2024.
February and March
The weather just could not decide between early spring and late winter this year, with lots of seesawing temps. Seems like my visits hit all the late winter days, with strong breezes off the lake producing teeth-chattering windchills.
Lake Erie on February 3, 2024, Crane Creek State Park at the north boundary of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. Being relatively shallow, Lake Erie freezes much faster than the other Great Lakes.
Bald Eagle at Magee Marsh, February 3rd. Much of the wetlands were frozen over. Even the deeper canals had a good bit of ice. The Eagle is at the edge of the ice, trying to figure out how to grab a dead fish. See the thin ice.
Raptors were plentiful in winter. Here, a Northern Harrier sweeps the grasslands at Howard Marsh. Soar with the Harrier.
Red-tailed Hawk at Magee Marsh. Short-eared Owls can also be seen regularly along the entrance causeway in the colder months.
This pair of Sandhill Cranes at Magee Marsh was probably wondering why they migrated so early. But when the weather warmed, they had their choice of nesting spots. Shiver closer.
A sign of spring — a Carolina Wren singing lustily at Magee Marsh in early March. Like most wrens, he may be tiny but boy oh boy can he belt out the tunes!
First of year Killdeer at Howard Marsh, March 3rd. The Eye of Sauron is a bit of a contrast in this otherwise demure looking shorebird.
Another sign of spring in March -- Northern Pintails flocking at Howard Marsh, on their way further north.
April
My next visit to the area was on April 8, 2024 for the total eclipse. Mr. C and I braved horrible traffic and enjoyed the enthusiastic crowds to watch the eclipse at Magee Marsh. I wrote a Daily Bucket about the experience, and won’t repeat that here except for this photo of the boardwalk showing no leaf out.
Magee Marsh boardwalk, April 8, 2024.
On April 20th, I visited as part of a Detroit Bird Alliance fieldtrip. Early warblers had started to show up, as well as some swallows.
Tree Swallows were out in force on a warm spring day, hunting insects on the big pond.
The guide thought it was still a bit early for Purple Martins, but they were already staking out bird boxes at the Magee Marsh Nature Center. The bright sunshine enhanced his iridescence.
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle based on the white throat) Warbler — one of the earliest arrivals and most common warblers in the area. You can see the advantages of going before peak migration — much clearer looks at the birds.
Next door at Howard Marsh, Dunlin have been present in good numbers all spring.
Spring would not be spring without a sighting of one of my favorite shorebirds — Black-necked Stilt at Howard Marsh.
A week later, many more birds had made their appearance.
The change in seasons brings a change in Kinglets. The over-wintering Golden-crowned Kinglets give way to the Ruby-crowned. Check out the barest glimpse of his ruby crown.
Another one of the wee flitterers — Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Magee Marsh. The bold eye ring and flashing white outer tail feathers give him away every time.
This Blue-winged Warbler was a lifer for many on the boardwalk that day. Leaves are already starting to obscure the smaller birds.
This male Red-breasted Grosbeak was doing his best to hide behind the willow catkins. We can see you!
FOY Green Herons starting to build their nest. Soon, they and their nests are entirely hidden by leaves. That doesn’t take long ….
May
My first May visit was on the 4th, a week after the last April visit.
What a difference a week makes! The Green Heron nest and the female are barely visible.
Better to try to catch one hunting more or less in the open. Green Heron at Magee Marsh.
May 4th was a banner day for Northern Parulas. They were *everywhere*, singing, foraging and preening, often mere feet off the boardwalk.
Northern Parula at Magee Marsh. Even without the bright colors, the broken eye ring and bicolored bill give them away.
Yellow-rumped Warblers were still plentiful, although diminishing in numbers. This female is posing like a queen.
Black-necked Stilts were pairing off and establishing territories at Howard Marsh.
May 8th was the Saturday before the start of the Big Week. Birding can be hit or miss, and it was definitely on the quiet side that day. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see. A Prothonotary Warbler put on a show that I documented in a recent Daily Bucket. It was still a beautiful day with lots of sunshine to show the birds in their glowing finery.
Baltimore Oriole at Magee Marsh. He sat for quite awhile just over the boardwalk, so we could all admire his torch-orange plumage.
Yellow Warbler in the early sun at Magee Marsh. Yellows are another bird that nests at Magee Marsh and they can be heard all day long. I liked the outline of the spider web on the right.
Other than warblers who nest there, Yellow-rumps seem to be around the longest. I’m not sure whether this male has a plump grub or a caterpillar.
My last visit was on May 23rd. The weather had kept me away, alternating between way too hot for mid-spring to breezy rain showers and thunderstorms. I also timed this visit specifically to meet up with fellow Kossack MEL in PGH, who I first met last year at Magee. She said she froze to death last year during the Big Week, so planned her visit a little later in the season. We had another lovely day of birding and good company.
Mel couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw these Canvasback hens along the entrance road to Magee. They were a lifer for her.
I didn’t see any nests, but the Black-necked Stilts at Howard Marsh took time from their foraging to shoo away an Osprey. Recent eBird reports have confirmed that there are fledglings.
That wraps up the 2024 half-year report on Magee Marsh. I’ve had such a good time meeting up with Mel, and often bird with another Kossack, biotchr. When her busy schedule allows it, Peregrine Kate is game for a birding trip. I’ve also run into ChrisP751, who volunteers at nearby Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to do a monthly bird count. Mel raised the idea that Magee Marsh might be a good place for a wider, more organized Kossack meet up next year. Any interest or thoughts on that?
What’s up in your birdie world these days?
