Yestrday Karen and I got up at the crack of 3 AM and headed to to Taberville Prairie Conservation area in western Missouri. Home to one of the largest remaining tracts of native tallgrass prairie, it also hosts Missouri's largest group of Greater Prairie-Chickens. We arrived at the prairie-chickens booming grounds early, in hopes to see a few late birds still booming. I had recieved word that they were still going at it earlier in the week, but unfortunately we struck out on the birds yesterday. However, there was plenty of other bird life to keep us occupied. On the drive in, I heard my lifer Western Meadowlark singing out the truck window, but was never able to get a visual on the bird. Dicksissels and Bell's Vireos both seemed to be everywhere, and a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers entertained us with their aerial acrobatics. I finally got my overdue lifer Henslow's Sparrow yesterday as well; there were at least four or five of them singing on small twigs and bushes throughout Taberville Prairie. A pretty nondescript bird overall, although close-range views reveal the intricate, subtle facial and back patterns that this bird has, like many other sparrows. We got great views of many of the pale, stubby Grasshopper Sparrows as well. There was plenty of other wildlife out here besides birds- we saw 3 Common Snapping Turtles, one of which was a baby and not more than two and a half inches long, 1 Three-toed Box Turtle, 1 Ornate Box Turtle, 2 White-taield Deer, an Opossum, and a Raccoon. There were also plenty of butterflies that were attracted to the incredible diversity of wildflowers in the prairie.
We left Taberville Prairie around mid-morning to bird another nearby area, Schell-Osage Conservation Area. The bird life had already begun to quiet down for the day by the time we arrived, so we did not see too awful much. The highlight for here was four Snow Geese, one of which was a blue phase, that were relaxing in the water close to shore on that we viewed while driving in, on the first big lake. Best of all, my lifer Common Merganser, a female, was in the water only several feet away from the geese.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Yesterday, we banded at Laughlin Bottoms, along Reaubodeaux (spelling?) Creek, comprised of mainly second growth cedar and walnut trees, with lots of blackberries and other tangly species, and many warm-season grasses. We caught 22 birds yesterday, the list is below. Today, we caught only 10 birds at a open, upland site known as Miller Pond, partly because we had to close nets early because they were getting too exposed to the sun. A recapture Willow Flycatcher was the highlight of this morning. As we were heading back to Devil's Elbow, just off the base past East Gate, I found a Black Vulture, uncommon in Missouri, soaring with about 15 Turkey Vultures. This was a state bird for Harley- the biologist working with Karen and I, and for me as well.
May 28, 2010 Laughlin Bottoms
Bunting, Indigo 3
Cardinal, Northern 2
Chat, Yellow-breasted 4
Flycatcher, Acadian 1
Titmouse, Tufted 2
Redstart, American 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Vireo, White-eyed 3
Warbler, Prairie 1
Waterthrush, Louisiana 2
Yellowthroat, Common 2
May 29, 2010 Miller Pond
Bluebird, Eastern 1
Bunting, Indigo 1
Goldfinch, American 1
Sparrow, Chipping 3
Sparrow, Field 1
Tanager, Summer 1
Warbler, Prairie 1
Wood-Pewee, Eastern 1
May 28, 2010 Laughlin Bottoms
Bunting, Indigo 3
Cardinal, Northern 2
Chat, Yellow-breasted 4
Flycatcher, Acadian 1
Titmouse, Tufted 2
Redstart, American 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Vireo, White-eyed 3
Warbler, Prairie 1
Waterthrush, Louisiana 2
Yellowthroat, Common 2
May 29, 2010 Miller Pond
Bluebird, Eastern 1
Bunting, Indigo 1
Goldfinch, American 1
Sparrow, Chipping 3
Sparrow, Field 1
Tanager, Summer 1
Warbler, Prairie 1
Wood-Pewee, Eastern 1
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Today, Karen and I banded at a bottomland site along the Big Piney River. A productive morning, with 29 birds captured of 14 species. One of the first things I heard upon arrival was the constant buzzy singing of at least three Cerulean Warblers. Kentucky Warblers and American Redstarts were singing almost nonstop for the whole morning. Around mid morning, we were visited by an extremely tame Yellow-throated Warbler who was feeding in the gravel road about 15 feet from where we had the banding operation set up. Normally, these are birds of the treetops, and to see one on the ground at such close range was a real treat. At one point, while I was getting some in-hand photographs of a noisy Yellow-throated Vireo, the warbler near landed on the vireo itself; I guess it was attracted to all the commotion. Today's capture totals are below
Bunting, Indigo 4
Cardinal, Northern 2
Chickadee, Carolina 2
Flycatcher, Acadian 1
Ovenbird 1
Redstart, American 6
Titmouse, Tufted 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Vireo, Yellow-throated 1
Warbler, Blue-winged 2
Warbler, Kentucky 3
Warbler, Worm-eating 1
Waterthrush, Louisiana 1
Woodpecker, Hairy 2
Bunting, Indigo 4
Cardinal, Northern 2
Chickadee, Carolina 2
Flycatcher, Acadian 1
Ovenbird 1
Redstart, American 6
Titmouse, Tufted 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Vireo, Yellow-throated 1
Warbler, Blue-winged 2
Warbler, Kentucky 3
Warbler, Worm-eating 1
Waterthrush, Louisiana 1
Woodpecker, Hairy 2
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
We started banding at Fort Leonard Wood yesterday at an upland site where it was quite slow, yielding an unimpressive total of 8 birds for the morning. Highlights were a male Black-and-white Warbler and a pair of Summer Tanagers. Today was more eventful, with 20 birds caught over the course of the morning at a bottomland site with mostly very thick second growth habitat dominating. Bird activity in general was good for the first several hours, with 3 species of empidonax flycatchers and eleven species of warblers detected. We ended up catching two of the three empidonax species during the course of the morning- a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and an Alder Flycatcher. Also of interest was two Blue-winged Warbers that we caught close fo lunch time. The list of birds captured is below.
Bunting, Indigo 1
Cardinal, Northern 4
Chat, Yellow-breasted 2
Chickadee, Carolina 1
Cowbird, Brown-headed 1
Flycatcher, Alder 1
Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied 1
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 1
Humingbird, Ruby-throated 1
Ovenbird 1
Thrasher, Brown 1
Towhee, Eastern 1
Vireo, White-eyed 1
Warbler, Blue-winged 2
Yellowthroat, Common 1
Sunday, I made a half day trip to the 4,000+ acre Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, near Columbia, Missouri. This is a very well-known location within the state and apparently can provide some very interesting birding. The habitat here is varied, ranging from bottomland hardwoood forests bordering the Missouri River, to ag fields, to freshwater marshs, to willow thickets.
I did not make up there until about 1030, choosing to catch up on some sleep in the morning instead of leaving at 0430 to be there near frst light. However, considering the fact that I was there from 1030 until 1625, with 95 degree heat bearing down on me, I enjoyed some great birding. Dickcissels occupied every weedy ag field, and in one field I enjoyed fantastic views of a mating pair of the harlequin-patterned Lark Sparrows. In another, I was treated to a Horned Lark display, where the male flys so high until he is barely a speck in the sun and begin singing. Gradually, he drops altitude, until at about 50-100 feet he drops like an asteroid back to earth, but in a zig zag pattern. Another field hosted a Mississippi Kite; flying low, hunting for small prey. Walking along the edges of some of these fields bordered by thick willows or brush, I would occasionally hear the speedy, electric song of the Bell's Vireo. Always the skulker, many of these birds proved difficult to locate, although I managed to get nice views of my lifer bell's, which was actually one of the first birds I saw upon arriving at Eagle Bluffs. I was also privileged to the oriole-like song of several Warbling Vireos in the tall sycamores and cottonwoods (?) along the river bank. The freshwater marshes held many Red-winged Blackbirds, and at least one spot I heard a Marsh Wren singing. I was unsuccesful at relocating a Least Bittern which was observed the day before; early morning or early evening, when they would be more apt to calling, would be best to locate these secretive birds. There were also several expanses of open freshwater at Eagle Bluffs, most of which had unseasonbly high water levels. This may have played into my favor, for at one spot at least 100 Black Terns were feeding, looking like giant swallows swooping and maneuvering just above the water. I counted 17 Forster's Terns in this same area as well, but these were, for the most part, flying and circling higher in the sky, maybe at 100 feet, making quite a disturbing ruckus. From other reports, 11-13 Common Terns showed up later in the day after I had left. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were a common site along the water edges, and I found two Spotted Sandpipers feeding along the banks at different times. 32 Semipalmated Sandpipers were hanging out by one of the spotteds. All six swallow species were present at the conservation area, mostly barns and northern rough-wingeds, with a single Purple Martin, two Tree Swallows, and a single Bank Swallow. A bridge on the edge of the property was home to a colony of at least 110 Cliff Swallows, probably substantially more. I think Cliff Swallows look like robust bats while flying. I ended up with either 68 or 69 species for the afternoon, and plan to make an all day trip with an early start in the not-to-far future.
Bunting, Indigo 1
Cardinal, Northern 4
Chat, Yellow-breasted 2
Chickadee, Carolina 1
Cowbird, Brown-headed 1
Flycatcher, Alder 1
Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied 1
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 1
Humingbird, Ruby-throated 1
Ovenbird 1
Thrasher, Brown 1
Towhee, Eastern 1
Vireo, White-eyed 1
Warbler, Blue-winged 2
Yellowthroat, Common 1
Sunday, I made a half day trip to the 4,000+ acre Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, near Columbia, Missouri. This is a very well-known location within the state and apparently can provide some very interesting birding. The habitat here is varied, ranging from bottomland hardwoood forests bordering the Missouri River, to ag fields, to freshwater marshs, to willow thickets.
I did not make up there until about 1030, choosing to catch up on some sleep in the morning instead of leaving at 0430 to be there near frst light. However, considering the fact that I was there from 1030 until 1625, with 95 degree heat bearing down on me, I enjoyed some great birding. Dickcissels occupied every weedy ag field, and in one field I enjoyed fantastic views of a mating pair of the harlequin-patterned Lark Sparrows. In another, I was treated to a Horned Lark display, where the male flys so high until he is barely a speck in the sun and begin singing. Gradually, he drops altitude, until at about 50-100 feet he drops like an asteroid back to earth, but in a zig zag pattern. Another field hosted a Mississippi Kite; flying low, hunting for small prey. Walking along the edges of some of these fields bordered by thick willows or brush, I would occasionally hear the speedy, electric song of the Bell's Vireo. Always the skulker, many of these birds proved difficult to locate, although I managed to get nice views of my lifer bell's, which was actually one of the first birds I saw upon arriving at Eagle Bluffs. I was also privileged to the oriole-like song of several Warbling Vireos in the tall sycamores and cottonwoods (?) along the river bank. The freshwater marshes held many Red-winged Blackbirds, and at least one spot I heard a Marsh Wren singing. I was unsuccesful at relocating a Least Bittern which was observed the day before; early morning or early evening, when they would be more apt to calling, would be best to locate these secretive birds. There were also several expanses of open freshwater at Eagle Bluffs, most of which had unseasonbly high water levels. This may have played into my favor, for at one spot at least 100 Black Terns were feeding, looking like giant swallows swooping and maneuvering just above the water. I counted 17 Forster's Terns in this same area as well, but these were, for the most part, flying and circling higher in the sky, maybe at 100 feet, making quite a disturbing ruckus. From other reports, 11-13 Common Terns showed up later in the day after I had left. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets were a common site along the water edges, and I found two Spotted Sandpipers feeding along the banks at different times. 32 Semipalmated Sandpipers were hanging out by one of the spotteds. All six swallow species were present at the conservation area, mostly barns and northern rough-wingeds, with a single Purple Martin, two Tree Swallows, and a single Bank Swallow. A bridge on the edge of the property was home to a colony of at least 110 Cliff Swallows, probably substantially more. I think Cliff Swallows look like robust bats while flying. I ended up with either 68 or 69 species for the afternoon, and plan to make an all day trip with an early start in the not-to-far future.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thanks to local Audubon member Mike Doyen for cooking up such a declicious spread for us bird banders last night. Went out to Fort Leonard Wood today and met a lot of the people we'll be interacting with over the summer, but didn't get to set up poles because of inclement weather and military activity. I plan on birding the Bohegian Conservation Area this evening if the weather holds.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Internet access has still been spotty for me during the last couple of days, I finally get a chance to post a little something on here. Below i've listed the banding totals for the last several days (alphabetically), it was exciting to catch several Mourning Warblers. There has been a male Mourning singing sporadically at the training site first thing in the morning over the last several days. These totals are from our training area at Tanager Trails Ozarks Nature Reserve, a 64-acre tract owned by Ozark Rivers Audubon on the north side of Rolla. We have only been running a maximum of five nets this week. Sunday, we will start banding at Fort Leonard Wood, where we will be at the rest of the summer.
May 16
Robin, American 2
Thrush, Swainson's 4
Thrush, Wood 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Warbler, Mourning 1
Warbler, Wilson's 1
Waterthrush, Louisiana 1
Wren, Carolina 1
Yellowthroat, Common 1
Total: 13 indiv., 9 species
May 17
Cardinal, Northern 1
Chat, Yellow-breasted 1
Flycatcher, Acadian 3
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 2
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted 1
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 2
Redstart, American 1
Robin, American 1
Thrasher, Brown 1
Thrush, Swainson's 4
Thrush, Wood 1
Vireo, White-eyed 4
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Warbler, Canada 2
Warbler, Hooded 1
Warbler, Magnolia 2
Warbler, Mourning 2
Yellowthroat, Common 1
Total: 31 Indiv., 18 species
May 18
Bunting, Indigo 2
Chat, Yellow-breasted 1
Cardinal, Northern 2
Catbird, Gray 2
Flicker, Northern (Yellow-shafted) 1
Flycatcher, Acadian 5
Goldfinch, American 2
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 2
Jay, Blue 1
Ovenbird 1
Robin, American 1
Thrasher, Brown 1
Thrush, Swainson's 7
Vireo, White-eyed 2
Warbler,Kentucky 1
Warbler, Magnolia 1
Warbler, Mourning 1
Warbler, Tennessee 1
Warbler, Wilson's 3
Waterthrush, Louisiana 1
Yellowthroat, Common 2
Total: 40 Indiv., 21 species
May 19
Cardinal, Northern 1
Flycatcher, Acadian 2
Goldfinch, American 1
Oriole, Orchard 1
Robin, American 5
Thrush, Swainson's 4
Towhee, Eastern 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 2
Warbler, Magnolia 2
Total: 19 Indiv., 9 species
As I am sitting at Panera Bread typing this blog, a lady in a Ford Probe accelerated her car (on purpose from what I was told from a bystander) and jumped the curb behind the restaraunt, got airborne, and landed 50-100 feet below at the bottom of a steep hill beside Interstate 44 E.
Still no Internet access at the apartment, so my posts will be brief and to the point until I do. About to meet the past president of the local Audubon Society chapter with Karen and Harley for a nice homeade steak dinner. He has told me about some good places to find Greater Prairie-Chicken, Henslow's Sparrow, and Bell's Vireo that are fairly close by, so that will give me something to do in the coming weeks during my spare time.
May 16
Robin, American 2
Thrush, Swainson's 4
Thrush, Wood 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Warbler, Mourning 1
Warbler, Wilson's 1
Waterthrush, Louisiana 1
Wren, Carolina 1
Yellowthroat, Common 1
Total: 13 indiv., 9 species
May 17
Cardinal, Northern 1
Chat, Yellow-breasted 1
Flycatcher, Acadian 3
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray 2
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted 1
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 2
Redstart, American 1
Robin, American 1
Thrasher, Brown 1
Thrush, Swainson's 4
Thrush, Wood 1
Vireo, White-eyed 4
Vireo, Red-eyed 1
Warbler, Canada 2
Warbler, Hooded 1
Warbler, Magnolia 2
Warbler, Mourning 2
Yellowthroat, Common 1
Total: 31 Indiv., 18 species
May 18
Bunting, Indigo 2
Chat, Yellow-breasted 1
Cardinal, Northern 2
Catbird, Gray 2
Flicker, Northern (Yellow-shafted) 1
Flycatcher, Acadian 5
Goldfinch, American 2
Hummingbird, Ruby-throated 2
Jay, Blue 1
Ovenbird 1
Robin, American 1
Thrasher, Brown 1
Thrush, Swainson's 7
Vireo, White-eyed 2
Warbler,Kentucky 1
Warbler, Magnolia 1
Warbler, Mourning 1
Warbler, Tennessee 1
Warbler, Wilson's 3
Waterthrush, Louisiana 1
Yellowthroat, Common 2
Total: 40 Indiv., 21 species
May 19
Cardinal, Northern 1
Flycatcher, Acadian 2
Goldfinch, American 1
Oriole, Orchard 1
Robin, American 5
Thrush, Swainson's 4
Towhee, Eastern 1
Vireo, Red-eyed 2
Warbler, Magnolia 2
Total: 19 Indiv., 9 species
As I am sitting at Panera Bread typing this blog, a lady in a Ford Probe accelerated her car (on purpose from what I was told from a bystander) and jumped the curb behind the restaraunt, got airborne, and landed 50-100 feet below at the bottom of a steep hill beside Interstate 44 E.
Still no Internet access at the apartment, so my posts will be brief and to the point until I do. About to meet the past president of the local Audubon Society chapter with Karen and Harley for a nice homeade steak dinner. He has told me about some good places to find Greater Prairie-Chicken, Henslow's Sparrow, and Bell's Vireo that are fairly close by, so that will give me something to do in the coming weeks during my spare time.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
I arrived about 0910 today in Rolla, Missouri, where Karen (the other intern that I will be working with) and I will complete a weeks worth of basic bird banding training before heading to Fort Leonard Wood to start the summer banding season. I birded around Tanager Trails for several hours before Karen and the IBP biologist arrived, and even though it was raining a good portion of the time, I managed to find 4 Wilsons Warblers, 3 Tennessee Warblers, a female Golden-winged Warbler, a second year male American Redstart, a male Magnolia Warbler, a singing Kentucky Warbler, and one or two Nashville Warblers. I also had both waterthrushes, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, and Yellow-breasted Chat. I also finally got my lifer Olive-sided Flycatcher at Tanager Trails about 1030 this morning!
We only had two nets open for 2 or 3 hours this afternoon, but caught a Wood Thrush, Northern Cardinal, Brown Thrasher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and two Acadian Flycatchers.
Our apartment is very nice, situated on a small, wooded mountaintop just off Route 66 in the small town of Devil's Elbow, MO.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Well the rainy weather moved out during the night, and this morning was sunny, warmer, and with a slight breeze. Perfect conditions for migrants to arrive after that rainy front finally pushed out. And indeed, there were birds this morning. The boardwalk held warblers everywhere, some of the trees looked like they had yellow, blue, and red ornaments hanging from them and moving around. And there were birders EVERYWHERE today too, even more than Monday. There were flocks of 15-20 species of neotropical migrants containing 30 or more individual birds in several places around the Magee Marsh boardwalk and parking lot. Highlights of the short morning included Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, fantastic looks at a male Mourning Warbler, a Wilson's Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, and truckloads of American Redstarts everywhere. Lots of Magnolias, Nashvilles, Chestnut-sideds, Northern Waterthrushes, Yellow-rumpeds, and a handful of Canadas. A few Blackburnians, Cape Mays, Bay-breasteds, BT Greens, BT Blues, Black-and-whites, Blackpolls, Northern Parulas, and Tennessees seemed to be ever present as well.
The main highlight of the day, which still has me in a good mood to this moment, was seen at the Magee East Beach, about 300 yards east of the parking lot, by Kenn Kaufman about 0920. As soon as I recieved the Twitter alert for this bird, I hurried off the boardwalk and down to east beach, which is less than a quarter mile away. As of 0930, when I arrived, Kenn Kaufman was still the only person there. I made my way down the beach to where he was standing, and he pointed out a beautiful male KIRTLAND'S WARBLER. The bird was foraging about 50 feet from the lake shore, in some willow saplings and 10-15 foot tall sumac. It would feed along the ground and low in the willows and then hop onto a branch 1-2 feet high periodically and sing. I was viewing it for about thirty seconds when i lowered my binoculars and looked to the west, to see a thundering herd of birders (yes, there is such a thing!), about 300 of them in my estimation, young and old, walking and running along the shore, making a beeline for where Kenn and I were standing. I remarked to Kenn, "there's a few more people making there way to where we're at". Soon enough, many were joining us in observing this amazing bird. After a minute of two, around 60 people were standing elbow to elbow, jostling for a better look. This is when I decided to head out, for I wanted to check out the west end of the boardwalk one last time before I had to hit the interstate. I had seen my share of the bird, and I was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic with all those people surrounding me. However, that memory of standing there with Kenn, watching a male Kirtland's Warbler feeding along the south shore of Lake Erie, and then lowering by Audubon 10X42's to see a chaotic mass of people hurrying towards us like they were being chased by a tidal wave, will remain etched in my memory for a long time to come.
The Kirtland's Warbler was unbanded, which I think is very interesting since I assume that all the birds belonging to known Michigan populations are probably banded and heavily studied. I was so excited when I got to Magee East Beach that I completely forgot that I owned a camera and telephoto lens. Which is unfortunate since I could have got some amazing shots. The bird was extremely cooperative and easily within photographic range. It was still being seen as of 1630, and I'm sure many other birders and photographers got some amazing shots. A picture of part of the crowd that was taken shortly after I left can be found here: http://twitpic.com/1nowoq . Two more photos of this spectacle can be found on the right side of the page under the heading "More Photos".
I did not take a photograph of a single bird today. The swarms of neotropical migrants were just too overwhelming for me to even think about taking my camera out of the bag. In four hours of birding along the west end of the Magee Boardwalk, the west end of the boardwalk parking area, Magee East beach, and driving down the causeway, I ended up with 25 species of warblers and 74 species of birds. There was a constant stream of Blue Jays, Tree Swallows, and Eastern Kingbids migrating overhead this morning. I really had to prod myself to leave at 1110 today, I could have spent all morning watching the warblers, flycatchers, vireos, Scarlet Tanagers, and Baltimore Orioles moving through the trees by the parking area.
My list of warblers observed this morning is below (in alphabetical order); I only birded a small area for a very short time (0710 to 1110), and only saw a very small percentage of all the birds that were there. I did not even really bird past marker 6 on the boardwalk (there are 33 total). No telling how many individual birds as well as other species I missed.
American Redstart 38
Bay-breasted Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 8
Blackburnian Warbler 4
Blackpoll Warbler 7
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 9
Cape May Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 9
Common Yellowthroat 8
Golden-winged Warbler 1
Kirtland's Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 13
Mourning Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 7
Northern Parula 4
Northern Waterthrush 10
Ovenbird 4
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Tennessee Warbler 4
Wilson's Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 17
Yellow-rumped Warbler 17
Other migrants of note:
Baltimore Oriole 13
Barn Swallow 6
Blue-headed Vireo 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Blue Jay 167+
Eastern Kingbird 10+
Eastern Phoebe 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 8
Great-crested Flycatcher 5
Least Flycatcher 6
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Scarlet Tanager 15
Swainson's Thrush 2
Tree Swallow 195+
Veery 1
Warbling Vireo 5
Willow Flycatcher 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
The Magee parking lot looked like the front of Wal-Mart in terms of numbers of vehicles. The west and east parking lots were almost completely full, and the expansive middle lot still had about 80 to 100 cars. There must have been thousands of birders down there at once this morning. I had to fight to make my way through the first 6 markers of the boardwalk, both railings were packed elbow to elbow. There also were about 200 people birding along the western edge of the parking lot about 0830. In one spot just to the east of the boardwalk's western entrance, I counted approximately 70 people standing in about a 50 square yard area watching warblers, tanagers, and orioles.
Miscellanious observations from today: The swallow swarms from the last two days have dissipated. Only had two species today at Magee. Admittedly, I was consumed by warblers all morning, but swallow numbers were noticeable down. Nashville Warbler numbers were down slightly today. Thrush numbers down too. Great views of the male Mourning, observed it foraging and hopping (instead of walking like Connecticut) along the ground, periodically coming into the open to perch on a low branch. There were 18 species of warblers seen this morning in a very short period of time during a spur of the moment "big sit" at Black Swamp Bird Observatory. A "Brewster's Warbler" was observed by several people along the west end of the boardwalk earlier this afternoon. At least 3 Mournings, 2 Blue-wingeds, and 2 Wilson's were present along the boardwalk during the course of the day.
The entire area of northwestern Ohio is spectacular, with grid pattern roads dominated by agricultural fields, many of which are goood for shorebirds. The marshes close to the lake are good for swans, geese, terns, coots, moorhens, grebes, and some late waterfowl. The woodlots by the lakeshore is where all the migrants are congregating.
My four and half days of birding at Magee Marsh was one of the most productive, enjoyable, and interesting birding experiences I have ever had. I ended up with 136 species and 28 species of warblers. A good total considering the often rainy and stormy weather, and that I only birded a few limited areas. Thanks especially to Black Swamp Bird Observatory for their knowledgeable and helpful staff, and for helping organize this event they call the "Biggest Week in American Birding". It is certainly aptly named. And thanks to Kim Kaufman for buying my lunch today as well!
I am really hoping that I will be able to come back next year, hopefully for at least a week. Now that I know the area and how the event is set up, I have some ideas about what I would do different.
Tonight I am staying in Eureka, Missouri, about 80 miles east of Rolla, where I will begin MAPS training tomorrow. Not sure if I will have internet access during hte next few days, I will post again when I have the chance. Here's for the best!
The main highlight of the day, which still has me in a good mood to this moment, was seen at the Magee East Beach, about 300 yards east of the parking lot, by Kenn Kaufman about 0920. As soon as I recieved the Twitter alert for this bird, I hurried off the boardwalk and down to east beach, which is less than a quarter mile away. As of 0930, when I arrived, Kenn Kaufman was still the only person there. I made my way down the beach to where he was standing, and he pointed out a beautiful male KIRTLAND'S WARBLER. The bird was foraging about 50 feet from the lake shore, in some willow saplings and 10-15 foot tall sumac. It would feed along the ground and low in the willows and then hop onto a branch 1-2 feet high periodically and sing. I was viewing it for about thirty seconds when i lowered my binoculars and looked to the west, to see a thundering herd of birders (yes, there is such a thing!), about 300 of them in my estimation, young and old, walking and running along the shore, making a beeline for where Kenn and I were standing. I remarked to Kenn, "there's a few more people making there way to where we're at". Soon enough, many were joining us in observing this amazing bird. After a minute of two, around 60 people were standing elbow to elbow, jostling for a better look. This is when I decided to head out, for I wanted to check out the west end of the boardwalk one last time before I had to hit the interstate. I had seen my share of the bird, and I was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic with all those people surrounding me. However, that memory of standing there with Kenn, watching a male Kirtland's Warbler feeding along the south shore of Lake Erie, and then lowering by Audubon 10X42's to see a chaotic mass of people hurrying towards us like they were being chased by a tidal wave, will remain etched in my memory for a long time to come.
The Kirtland's Warbler was unbanded, which I think is very interesting since I assume that all the birds belonging to known Michigan populations are probably banded and heavily studied. I was so excited when I got to Magee East Beach that I completely forgot that I owned a camera and telephoto lens. Which is unfortunate since I could have got some amazing shots. The bird was extremely cooperative and easily within photographic range. It was still being seen as of 1630, and I'm sure many other birders and photographers got some amazing shots. A picture of part of the crowd that was taken shortly after I left can be found here: http://twitpic.com/1nowoq . Two more photos of this spectacle can be found on the right side of the page under the heading "More Photos".
I did not take a photograph of a single bird today. The swarms of neotropical migrants were just too overwhelming for me to even think about taking my camera out of the bag. In four hours of birding along the west end of the Magee Boardwalk, the west end of the boardwalk parking area, Magee East beach, and driving down the causeway, I ended up with 25 species of warblers and 74 species of birds. There was a constant stream of Blue Jays, Tree Swallows, and Eastern Kingbids migrating overhead this morning. I really had to prod myself to leave at 1110 today, I could have spent all morning watching the warblers, flycatchers, vireos, Scarlet Tanagers, and Baltimore Orioles moving through the trees by the parking area.
My list of warblers observed this morning is below (in alphabetical order); I only birded a small area for a very short time (0710 to 1110), and only saw a very small percentage of all the birds that were there. I did not even really bird past marker 6 on the boardwalk (there are 33 total). No telling how many individual birds as well as other species I missed.
American Redstart 38
Bay-breasted Warbler 6
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 8
Blackburnian Warbler 4
Blackpoll Warbler 7
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Canada Warbler 9
Cape May Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 9
Common Yellowthroat 8
Golden-winged Warbler 1
Kirtland's Warbler 1
Magnolia Warbler 13
Mourning Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 7
Northern Parula 4
Northern Waterthrush 10
Ovenbird 4
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Tennessee Warbler 4
Wilson's Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 17
Yellow-rumped Warbler 17
Other migrants of note:
Baltimore Oriole 13
Barn Swallow 6
Blue-headed Vireo 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Blue Jay 167+
Eastern Kingbird 10+
Eastern Phoebe 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 8
Great-crested Flycatcher 5
Least Flycatcher 6
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Scarlet Tanager 15
Swainson's Thrush 2
Tree Swallow 195+
Veery 1
Warbling Vireo 5
Willow Flycatcher 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
The Magee parking lot looked like the front of Wal-Mart in terms of numbers of vehicles. The west and east parking lots were almost completely full, and the expansive middle lot still had about 80 to 100 cars. There must have been thousands of birders down there at once this morning. I had to fight to make my way through the first 6 markers of the boardwalk, both railings were packed elbow to elbow. There also were about 200 people birding along the western edge of the parking lot about 0830. In one spot just to the east of the boardwalk's western entrance, I counted approximately 70 people standing in about a 50 square yard area watching warblers, tanagers, and orioles.
Miscellanious observations from today: The swallow swarms from the last two days have dissipated. Only had two species today at Magee. Admittedly, I was consumed by warblers all morning, but swallow numbers were noticeable down. Nashville Warbler numbers were down slightly today. Thrush numbers down too. Great views of the male Mourning, observed it foraging and hopping (instead of walking like Connecticut) along the ground, periodically coming into the open to perch on a low branch. There were 18 species of warblers seen this morning in a very short period of time during a spur of the moment "big sit" at Black Swamp Bird Observatory. A "Brewster's Warbler" was observed by several people along the west end of the boardwalk earlier this afternoon. At least 3 Mournings, 2 Blue-wingeds, and 2 Wilson's were present along the boardwalk during the course of the day.
The entire area of northwestern Ohio is spectacular, with grid pattern roads dominated by agricultural fields, many of which are goood for shorebirds. The marshes close to the lake are good for swans, geese, terns, coots, moorhens, grebes, and some late waterfowl. The woodlots by the lakeshore is where all the migrants are congregating.
My four and half days of birding at Magee Marsh was one of the most productive, enjoyable, and interesting birding experiences I have ever had. I ended up with 136 species and 28 species of warblers. A good total considering the often rainy and stormy weather, and that I only birded a few limited areas. Thanks especially to Black Swamp Bird Observatory for their knowledgeable and helpful staff, and for helping organize this event they call the "Biggest Week in American Birding". It is certainly aptly named. And thanks to Kim Kaufman for buying my lunch today as well!
I am really hoping that I will be able to come back next year, hopefully for at least a week. Now that I know the area and how the event is set up, I have some ideas about what I would do different.
Tonight I am staying in Eureka, Missouri, about 80 miles east of Rolla, where I will begin MAPS training tomorrow. Not sure if I will have internet access during hte next few days, I will post again when I have the chance. Here's for the best!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A decent day of birding today. A thunderstorm with heavy rain in the morning, with the clouds giving way to a little bit of blue sky in the afternoon. Again, mostly the same birds along the boardwalk this morning, since this weather has been lingering. I had some great photo ops of a Blackburnian Warbler, and about the best view I have ever had of one. Lots of Nashville Warblers today. At Metzger Marsh today, there was a nice migrant flock moving around in the woodlot by the parking area- containing 13 species of warbler, 2 species of empid (Least and "Traill's"), along with a Wood and Gray-cheeked Thrush. Among the warblers were a singing male Canada and a singing male Wilson's. The Black Terns were still present over the marsh. I then proceeded to Krause road, where a third Yellow-headed Blackbird (this one a male) was reported earlier in the day. The wind was howling, and I stuck out on the blackbirds. However, there were 5 Black-bellied Plovers in breeding plumage, 8 Short-billed Dowitchers, and about 70 Lesser Yellowlegs near the observation platform off Stange Road.
I leaned today why the swallows suddenly were swarming yesterday evening and today at Magee- they are feeding on the Muffinheads- a small, abundant insect-which have apparently just emerged with the recent rain.
During the few days I've been up here, I have been absolutely amazed by all the other birders, in particular other young birders (anywhere between about 5 and 25 years old), and all the Amish birders. There were lots of Amish kids birding along the Magee boardwalk the last few days, and the kids outnumbered the adults several to one. Such a striking difference from North Carolina, where you'll be lucky to see another birder all day long.
Tomorrow should be good for the start of a new wave of migrants- this rainy weather should move out by early to mid morning. There were numbers of diurnal migrants on the move this evening- mainly Broad-winged Hawks and large flocks of Blue Jays, which may mean there'll be a new selection in tomorrow. I'll head out to the boardwalk about 0630 tomorrow morning and bird untill 1100 or 1200, then I'll be making tracks towards Missouri!
I leaned today why the swallows suddenly were swarming yesterday evening and today at Magee- they are feeding on the Muffinheads- a small, abundant insect-which have apparently just emerged with the recent rain.
During the few days I've been up here, I have been absolutely amazed by all the other birders, in particular other young birders (anywhere between about 5 and 25 years old), and all the Amish birders. There were lots of Amish kids birding along the Magee boardwalk the last few days, and the kids outnumbered the adults several to one. Such a striking difference from North Carolina, where you'll be lucky to see another birder all day long.
Tomorrow should be good for the start of a new wave of migrants- this rainy weather should move out by early to mid morning. There were numbers of diurnal migrants on the move this evening- mainly Broad-winged Hawks and large flocks of Blue Jays, which may mean there'll be a new selection in tomorrow. I'll head out to the boardwalk about 0630 tomorrow morning and bird untill 1100 or 1200, then I'll be making tracks towards Missouri!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Unfortunately, the weather today was not as good as forecasted- temperatures remained between 50 and 55 degrees and the sun stayed hidden all day. Still birds around, just a bit harder to find. The Magee Boardwalk held some new things this morning- several Indigo Buntings, a couple male Scarlet Tanagers, noticably more Blackburnian and Tennessee Warblers, and lots more Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. However, most migrants were staying high in the trees today and were harder to see and identify. Ottawa NWR held a few shorebirds today- Least, Semi, Pectoral, Spotted, Solitary Sandpipers, both yellowlegs, and many Dunlin. Great close views of Trumpeter Swan along the entrance road. Along Krause Road a second female Yellow-headed Blackbird had joined the single one I found yesterday. I visited Metzger Marsh this afternoon and had a late Ruddy Duck and Lesser Scaup, a scattering of warblers, and seven Black Terns, along with several Common Moorhens, one of which was on a nest. This evening, the swarms of swallows along the Magee Causeway held numerous Trees, Barns, and Banks, along with a healthy number of Purple Martins and a handful of Cliff Swallows. I had three Northern Rough-wingeds earlier in the day, completing a sweep on all possible swallow species. At about 20:45 this evening I made my way to the Black Swamp Bird Observatory to watch the famous woodcock displays- which left me completely in awe. Today's species total: 106. Will add to this post tomorrow when I am not about to fall asleep on the laptop.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Today was wet to say the least. Despite pouring rain and high winds for most of the day, I made my way back and forth between the Magee Boardwalk and parts of Ottawa NWR. The boardwalk held most of the same species as it did yesterday, although I noted fewer numbers of most, which is to be expected considering the weather. However, I did get a Wilson's Warbler near the east end of the boardwalk, around marker 23, which I did not have yesterday. This, and my lifer Yellow-headed Blackbird (a female, which I got on Krause Road by Ottawa NWR) proved to be the biggest highlights of the day for me. Despite the lousy weather, I still managed to crack the 80 species barrier for the day. In addition, I saw two Mink. I also ran into a couple of friends from Moore County again this afternoon (I saw them yesterday too), as well as a fellow I birded a lot with in Florida during the Space Coast festival in January. Listened to a great talk by Kenn Kaufman this evening on the patterns of bird migration. It really helped give some insight to the distribution of many of these neotropical migrants during the spring and fall, and why some species are more prone to vagrancy than others.
If this rain moves out tonight like it's supposed to, then the birding tomorrow could shape up to be great since it is supposed to be a bit warmer as well. Hopefully there will be some turnover in the migrants that have been around, and some new things will come in. Tomorrow I'll meet up with Mecklenburg Audubon and check out the boardwalk in the AM, and possibly drop by BSBO to check out a banding demo. They have a huge bird banding program during migration here, in which they band thousands of birds every spring. I plan on heading to Ottawa NWR and Metzger Marsh in the afternoon to search for shorebirds (white-rumped, bairds, turnstones, SB dowitcher, etc. that have been seen), some recently observed American White Pelicans, along with waterfowl and more open country birds such as Grasshopper Sparrow. Since I don't have a lecture to attent tomorrow evening, I plan on heading to the BSBO's Gallager trail about 20:00 to check out the often-talked about woodcock displays. Off to bed very early tonight, sleep deprivation is kicking in already...
If this rain moves out tonight like it's supposed to, then the birding tomorrow could shape up to be great since it is supposed to be a bit warmer as well. Hopefully there will be some turnover in the migrants that have been around, and some new things will come in. Tomorrow I'll meet up with Mecklenburg Audubon and check out the boardwalk in the AM, and possibly drop by BSBO to check out a banding demo. They have a huge bird banding program during migration here, in which they band thousands of birds every spring. I plan on heading to Ottawa NWR and Metzger Marsh in the afternoon to search for shorebirds (white-rumped, bairds, turnstones, SB dowitcher, etc. that have been seen), some recently observed American White Pelicans, along with waterfowl and more open country birds such as Grasshopper Sparrow. Since I don't have a lecture to attent tomorrow evening, I plan on heading to the BSBO's Gallager trail about 20:00 to check out the often-talked about woodcock displays. Off to bed very early tonight, sleep deprivation is kicking in already...
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Magee boardwalk really does live up to the hype. Nashvilles, Cape Mays, Black-throated Blues, Black-throated Greens, Yellows, Chestnut-sideds, Magnolias, Bay-breasteds, Prothonotarys (the list goes onnnnn) all gave ample photo ops at extremely close range and maybe 15 feet off the ground, tops. A female Golden-winged Warbler and a male lifer Mourning Warbler were probably the two most unusual Parulids of the day for me. The boardwalk also held many Baltimore Orioles, tons of Veeries, a handful of Gray-cheeked Thrushes, a Philadelphia Vireo, and 6 or 7 Warbling Vireos. However, a spectacle even more amazing then the birds, in my opinion, was the sheer number of birders and geared up bird photographers that were at this 1 to 1.5 mile strech of boardwalk that meanders through 7 acres of woods and edge. For example, I was competing with about 150 to 200 people, conservatively, for a view of the Mourning Warbler.
I also visited several other adjacent parts of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area today. Best birds other than on the boardwalk was my lifer Trumpeter Swan, a pair of Blue-winged Teal, a pair of Gadwall, several Least Sandpipers, two Whie-crowned Sparrow along the beach on Lake Erie, and a handful of Bald Eagles. Equally interesting was the numbers of Yellow Warblers I observed throughout the whole area today, I ended up with a very conservative tally of 51. My days final list came to 81 species, including 24 warblers.
The weather is not looking too good for tomorrow, but I plan on birding Ottawa NWR for a bit if the weather allows. Off to bed now, another long day ahead
I also visited several other adjacent parts of Magee Marsh Wildlife Area today. Best birds other than on the boardwalk was my lifer Trumpeter Swan, a pair of Blue-winged Teal, a pair of Gadwall, several Least Sandpipers, two Whie-crowned Sparrow along the beach on Lake Erie, and a handful of Bald Eagles. Equally interesting was the numbers of Yellow Warblers I observed throughout the whole area today, I ended up with a very conservative tally of 51. My days final list came to 81 species, including 24 warblers.
The weather is not looking too good for tomorrow, but I plan on birding Ottawa NWR for a bit if the weather allows. Off to bed now, another long day ahead
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Got to my motel at Port Clinton, Ohio a little bit ago. A long day of driving, about 11 hours and 650 miles from Southern Pines. Lots of swallows, mostly barns with a few rough-wings mixed in, are flying around over the bay behing the motel. A Green Heron passed over along with a Great Blue as well. I already met a few other birders that are staying in the room adjacent to mine, and they were saying the birding's been great the last couple days up here. Hoping for the best tomorrow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
