As predicted, there was a decent influx of temperate-zone migrants this
morning in the area of Magee Marsh / Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in n.w.
Ohio.  Most noticeable were Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow-rumped Warblers,
and greatly increased numbers of Hermit Thrushes and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
In addition to the Yellow-rumps, there were at least a couple of Pine
Warblers (including a very obliging singing male near the entrance to the
Magee boardwalk), a Northern Parula (on the boardwalk), and a Northern
Waterthrush (along the north edge of the woods at Magee).  I was
particularly surprised to see this bird; as early as April 18th, I would say
that Louisiana Waterthrush would be more likely here than Northern.  There
were also a few Purple Finches actively moving through this morning, as well
as Northern Flickers and small flocks of Cedar Waxwings.

Along the auto tour at Ottawa NWR there was an impressively wide variety of
duck species for so late in the spring, the first Common Moorhens that I've
seen locally this spring, and a male Northern Harrier performing
territorial/courtship displays, suggesting that the species might nest here
this year.  Flyover shorebirds included both yellowlegs, 50 American
Golden-Plovers, Dunlins,  Pectoral Sandpipers, and Wilson's Snipe.  All of
these species were seen on the ground at the northwest end of the auto tour
(east end of Veler Road) but they were quite distant, even in the telescope.
A good hawk flight developed by late morning, with decent numbers of
Broad-winged, Cooper's, and others passing over the refuge toward the
west-northwest.

The current weather forecast calls for showers tomorrow (Sunday the 19th).
For anyone who wasn't able to get out today, if you can get out tomorrow
between showers, it should still be good for the songbirds and waterbirds
(although probably not for hawks).

Once again, as last spring, Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) is offering
frequently updated predictions on the migration in northwest Ohio.  To find
the updates, go to  http://www.bsbo.org/   and follow the links for "best
bets for birding."  This will lead you not only to the migration forecasts,
but also to directions and maps for birding sites, a downloadable checklist,
information on local lodging and restaurants, and more.  If it looks like
there's going to be a major fallout of migrants I will try to post something
to Ohio-Birds as well, but the day-to-day predictions will always be
available on the BSBO site.

Kenn Kaufman
Oak Harbor, Ohio

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]