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!