16 May 2009
Last nights rumors of a storm and a mass of birds dropping in at Magee, did 
not totally work to plan. The night time storm did not happen quite as 
dramatically as hoped, although certainly birds did drop in at Magee, and a 
good crowd of keen birders lined the edges, scoured the underbrush, and 
blazed the boardwalk in hot pursuit of the latest sightings. The 
“paparazzi” were lined up along the edges of the lot and cameras went 
into overdrive. It is difficult to argue that warblers are not A-list 
celebrities when you take a good look at this fascinating Magee Marsh 
birding scene. Friday had been forgettable, however Saturday was truly 
memorable. We soon moved our thoughts on from the dreary, slow day that was 
yesterday, and turned our attentions to another magic Magee day today. This 
may not have been a great day, but it was unquestionably a very good one. 
Warblers gave us the Magee Marsh “low down” (where they frequently 
dropped down low and dangled temptingly in front of us), and there was also 
a good crop of other migrants to go to work on too. 

On the warbler front birders managed to chalk up at least 26 different 
species. Rumors floated around concerning an early morning report of a 
tantalizing Connecticut Warbler that unfortunately never came to fruition 
for anyone thereafter. We all continue to wait with baited breath for a good 
arrival of the “Big C”. Among the available goodies in the warbler crowd 
were a Blue-winged hanging out in the brush just in from the western end of 
the boardwalk, and a late Louisiana Waterthrush, a “southerner” that 
surprised a few of us by dropping in this late in the season, just beyond 
the little loop from the western end. An unobtrusive Hooded Warbler was also 
a good turn up during the morning at the west end of the big loop on the 
boardwalk, and a lone Orange-crowned continued to get reported. Also notable 
was another pair of Prothonotarys that were setting up shop at Magee, this 
pair nest-building around marker 16 along the boardwalk; the males’ 
powerful song continues to haunt the undergrowth now at two separate 
locations along there.

Warblers massed in the trees along the boardwalk and posed along the edges 
of the parking lot that left birders buzzing with excitement, and 
photographers positively beaming after a fruitful day in Magee. Wilson’s 
and Canadas enjoyed a big bounce in numbers today, and were hard to miss as 
they showboated along the trails and edges. Commonest Magee migrant warblers 
though appeared to be American Redstarts, Magnolias, and Chestnut-sideds. 
Scorching male Blackburnians flitted elegantly around the edges of the 
packed car park, and the odd dandy Blackpoll also competed for our 
affections. Bay-breasteds also arrived overnight, as did the next 
installment of Cape Mays and Northern Parulas. It was a difficult to tell 
whether the “wraiths of the underbrush”, Mourning Warblers, were 
newcomers or hangers on from previous days as at least three of these were 
in the exact same top spot as in previous days – at the extreme western 
end of the parking lot, around marker 4 on the western end of the Magee 
boardwalk, and another lingered on just before the small bridge as you come 
in from the western end.  Another at least showed up along the edges too, 
and was visible just east of the western end of the boardwalk, and a further 
bird was found further afield along the boardwalk. A good showing for this 
bird, that could still frustrate when it chose too, fading into the 
undertangles whenever it felt like it. 

In smaller numbers than some of the warbler gang, although still in good 
form were Swainson’s Thrush and Red-eyed Vireos that had a strong presence 
in this Erien woodlot today. A few Gray-cheekeds were also out there 
although in much smaller numbers. Other “anti-warblers” included the odd 
Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, and Blue-headed, Philadelphia, and 
Red-eyed Vireos. A Common Nighthawk tried and failed to be invisible as it 
roosted prominently by the western entrance to the boardwalk, although an 
American Woodcock did a better job, probing the dank, dark leaf litter for a 
while before fading into the undergrowth and promptly disappearing after its 
early showing.  Another noticeable feature of the day was an overnight 
arrival of empids, with Leasts continuing to turn up, but now having a 
significant number of Yellow-bellieds for company, and at least one singing 
Alder was also present along the trail.

All in all a good display for the weekenders that had turned up in force to 
get another Magee fix. For those of us who are completely and utterly 
addicted to the mayhem of migration birding long may this birding madhouse 
continue. 

Sam Woods/Tropical Birding (www.tropicalbirding.com)
Black Swamp Bird Observatory Bird Guide in Residence (www.bsbobird.org)
Lost in Birding Blog (www.samwoodsbirding.blogspot.com)


 

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