MAY 10, 2011
The activity certainly picked up on the southern edge of
Lake Erie today. The early morning crowds found a smorgasbord of
migrants along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh, while on the Ottawa NWR
there were also many highlights to be had. The hope is that this is a
portent of things to come; perhaps it was the leading edge of the fabled
second wave which everyone is hoping will hit Lake Erie within the next
couple of days.

One of the first birds to be seen along the boardwalk
at Magee Marsh was a sought after BLACKPOLL WARBLER, and the number of
warbler species grew quickly, with CANADA, CAPE MAY, WILSON'S,
PROTHONOTARY, BAY-BREASTED and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS all quickly
joining the list, along with the usual range of more common species. A
whisper of BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO soon spread like fire down the boardwalk,
and many people eventually got good looks at this usually difficult
bird. The SCARLET TANAGERS from yesterday seemed to be hanging around,
and they were also joined by the now expected AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, plus a
selection of thrushes, with SWAINSON'S and VEERY both seen well.

On the
Beginner Bird Walk at Ottawa NWR the woodlots were hopping as the small
group quickly racked up a good list of warblers which included an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. The melodic, ethereal song of WOOD THRUSH
haunted the forest, while a sharp two syllable call allowed the group to
identify LEAST FLYCATCHER. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was exciting, matched
soon after by the burry song of a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO which eventually
showed well. Elsewhere on Ottawa NWR, BLUE GROSBEAKS, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS,
SWAMP SPARROWS and a late RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH kept everyone happy on
the bus trips to the Darby Unit.The trend of increasing bird numbers
continued in the afternoon, with the boardwalk thoroughly pumping. While
looking at an AMERICAN WOODCOCK one keen-eyed observer realised a
WHIP-POOR-WILL had been sitting under everyone's noses all day, and
imagine the surprise when the throng that gathered to see this bird
realised there were in fact two WHIP-POOR-WILLS just off the trail. It
was possible to see five species of vireo within a few minutes, with
PHILADELPHIA, BLUE-HEADED, YELLOW-THROATED, RED-EYED and WARBLING VIREOS
all showing well. The warblers continued in good numbers, with an influx
of OVENBIRDS. They could be seen trotting through the brush from just
about any point on the boardwalk.

The afternoon Ottawa NWR bus trips to
the Cedar Point Unit produced a late staying CANVASBACK, CANADA WARBLER,
ORCHARD ORIOLE, and a good record of the Gambell's subspecies of
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. The Black Swamp Bird Observatory bus trip was
also very productive, with Metzger Marsh throwing up the now expected
TRICOLOURED HERON, plus an OSPREY. Shorebirds were also plentiful again,
with County Line Road the best site. GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS,
DUNLIN, SOLITARY, SEMIPALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS, along with
BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS kept the crowds happy.So, the
outlook is good for the next few days, and with the prospect of the next
wave of migrants hanging over our heads, the birders will be thick on
the ground in north-west Ohio. Was today just an appetiser, a tease, a
hint of things to come? The only way to find out will be to come and
join in the festivities at THE BIGGEST WEEK, and see for yourself. Or
you could read this report tomorrow night, but that would be
boring.

See you on the boardwalk!NICK LESEBERG


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