A morning at Middle Creek Wildlife Area

After the very heavy rain storms we had last evening, I decided it would be a good morning to check out MCWMA.

I arrived around 8:15am and began my morning by checking the ponds at Stop 1. Not much was on the ponds - a few Canada Geese and 2 Great Blue Herons on the water. The fringe area around the ponds was very active with birds as I recorded 21 species before I left the area - including willow flycacther, yellow warbler, common yellow throated warbler, eastern kingbird and tree, barn & northern rough winged swallows before moving on.

Common Yellow Throated Warbler

Great Blue Heron

I next made my way to stop 3 and the scoped the fields overlooking the lake area and added another 12 species including Eastern Meadowlark signing in the fields.

Eastern Meadowlark - singing away

After I finished scanning the fields I continue along the tour road toward the cul-de-sac area ponds. As I approached the area, I caught a 'flash' something sitting in a tangle of brush near the ponds. After finding a place to park, I scanned the area and much to my surprise - spotted a Black Crowned Night Heron and a Green Heron sitting the brush about 10 feet from each other. BCN Herons are fairly common in our area, but very rare at MCMWA - only the fourth time I ever saw one here.

Black Crowned Night Heron

I next continue on the tour road toward the fields where Bobolinks seen. I pulled up and wasn't disappointed, as I heard several Bobolinks signing and  spotted several in flight along with many tree swallows and more eastern Meadowlarks.

Bobolink

Tree Swallows

I next went to the where I had previously seen and heard Yellow Throated Vireo's - and sure enough the Vireo was present again today - along with several red Eyed Vireo's. I finished the morning back at stop 1 and spotted a Red Tailed Hawk (no eagle's today) and a Baltimore Oriole to end the day.

 

Total species for the day was 57 in 3 hours of birding -a very good morning indeed. 

An afternoon at Middle Creek Wildlife Area

Today I decided to make an early afternoon trip one of my favorite spots for birding...Middle Creek Wildlife Mgt Area...looking for the Alder Flycatcher that had been reported there recently.

As I arrived at the area, where the Alder Flycatcher was reported been heard, but rarely seen, I immediately heard the distinct call....  well 5 minutes and I already had my target bird for the day...so I decided to check the other area's of the management area and see what was about.

After about two hours of driving and walking around the area, I had 55 species...with the surprise being an Yellow Throated Vireo in the trees near the boat launch area of the park, as I was nearing the end of the tour.

Yellow Throated Vireo

Another interesting species seen was one Snow Goose....only one....I would guess the Eagles have taken care of the rest that where here a few weeks ago. I also had a first of year Blue Grosbeak. I know they where in the area..I have just been missing them on my visits..not this time....I had several goods looks...always a treat.

Blue Grosbeak

All in all a good two plus hours of birding with several species added to my year list

Biggest week in American Birding -  Day 5 - May 12

It was Thursday, May 12 - and time to pack up and head for home...but not before one last trip thru Ottawa NWR and one more walk on the Magee boardwalk.

As we entered Ottawa NWR we spotted what we thought was a Pied Billed Grebe - didn't really pay it much attention as it was on the main pond in front of the visitors center....we proceeded to enter the visitor's center and came to find out it was a Horned Grebe in full breeding plumage.... another life bird for several in the group - and a lesson learned - always check the bird don't assume.

Horned Grebe

After seeing the Horned Grebe we drove to the boardwalk for the last time. We arrived and decided to start our walk at the west end and park at the east end of the boardwalk. As we where getting our gear ready, one of the group walked to the Lake Erie beach area for a look around. She excited called us to look at what she had found - a Ruddy Turnstone sitting on the concrete abutment...another life bird for one of the group..and a wonderful way to start our last walk in and around the boardwalk area.

Ruddy Turnstone

What else could happen...we just wait.

As we where walking to the west entrance - all the people where leaving and heading to the east entrance - what had happened to cause this exodus - only one thing - a Kirkland's Warblers was spotted not 100 feet from where we where parked!! We walked (or fast walked) back and joined the growing crowd trying to get a look at the Kirkland's Warbler - but could not..as way too many people had gathered in the area. 

We decided to walk the boardwalk in hopes that maybe it had moved into the broadwalk area -we didn't see a Kirkland's but we did see many other warblers including Black Throated Blue, American Redstart, Black & White and Nashville and had great looks at Gray Cheeked Thrush. 

As it was getting close to our leaving time - we decided to look for the Kirkland's Warbler one last time....the crown had grown larger since we left and several in the group found 'spots' and waited.

Kirkland's Warbler

As it tuned out only two in our group did see the Kirkland's Warbler - but as we where standing there discussing what to do...a Black Billed Cuckoo flew in a landed on a tree not 100 feet for us...a fitting end for a wonderful trip....a Kirkland's Warbler and Black Billed Cuckoo

Black Billed Cuckoo

We reclucklently, headed for our vehicle to start the 8 hour drive home - as we left the Magee Broadwalk area - we all where looking forward to next trip.


We ended the five day trip with 139 total species and several in the group added as least one lifer to their life list - with one in the group adding 12 to her life list.

Can't wait to go back next year - already counting the day!!!


 The Biggest week in American Birding and the Warbler Capital of the World.

biggest week in american birding

 

magee marsh map

 

Biggest week of American Birding Day 4 - May 11 - Oak Openings & Ottawa NWR

On Wednesday, we decided to visited  Oak Opening MetroPark in search of Red Headed Woodpeckers and Lark Sparrows (this would be a lifer for two in our group). 

The day was sunny but cool as we left our hotel at 8am for the 1 hour drive to the park. We arrived at the visitors centers an immediately heard a Great Crested Flycatcher calling - a great start to the day. After walking a few trails in the immediate area and adding and seeing several more species - we drove a short distance to the area where we previously had seen & heard Red headed Woodpeckers and sure enough as we pulled into the parking area...someone in the group spotted the first flash of those tell tale white wing bars....it wasn't long after that that we spotted the first of many RH Woodpeckers in the area.

Red Headed Woodpecker

We stayed in the area, watching the Red Headed Woodpeckers, for another 30 minutes, before deciding to take our lunch break in the area where the Lark Sparrow where being seen - a small dunes meadow area - the dunes area is closed during the nesting season and you must watch for the Lark Sparrows from the road over looking the dunes meadow. This area is the eastern most range of the Lark Sparrow, and one of the few area's where it can observed on a regular basis. We where there about 45 minutes we one of the group - spotted the first one - this was a life bird for several in the group and they where very excited to see it....we ended up seeing 5 in the 2 hours we spent in the area  - and to top it off as we where getting ready to leave a male Summer Tanager appeared - what a way to end the day...can it get any better then this....just wait and see what happens on Thursday - our last day.

Pair of Lark Sparrows - photo by L Black

Lark Sparrow

After leaving Oak Opening we decided to return to Ottawa NWR for another look at the American Avocet again and to see if any other shore birds had arrived overnight.

We ended the tour of Ottawa NWR with no new species to add to our growing list - even thought we did tally 45 species - we did not see the American Avocet again. As it was getting late, we decided to call it a day and get some dinner - it was 8:30pm!

We ended the day with 75 total species and upped the trip total species count to 118 - it was a good day of birding for sure.