May 12, 2009
Two words to describe warbler watching at Magee Marsh: eye-level.  I have 
been asked repeatedly why the typically treetop warblers hang out so low in 
the trees at Magee. Well, I can’t answer that question with any certainty, 
but I do know that I am consistently getting the best views of these birds 
that I have ever had.  At one point I had to choose between watching a 
fire-throated Blackburnian Warbler mere feet in front of me or a 
sophisticatedly beautiful Bay-breasted to my side.  Alas, it didn’t 
matter, they both stuck around for so long that I got leisurely views of 
both!  This meant I was able to study in great detail my favorite feature of 
the Blackburnian: the flaming orange central forehead stripe.  This 
individual’s happened to be flecked with black, adding yet more flare to 
the incredibly complex plumage exhibited by this exquisite sprite.  This is 
the classic Crane Creek experience.  

A total of 24 warbler species put in an appearance today; Magnolia, 
Yellow-rumped, Chestnut-sided and Black-throated Green were most numerous.  
Thrushes were scarce, but a friendly Veery continues to charm observers by 
hopping about inches from their feet between the boardwalk and the canal. A 
rosy Red-breasted Nuthatch crept about the vines, a pleasant surprise for 
those who saw it.  A Yellow-billed Cuckoo torpedoed in over the heads of its 
admirers, furtively hopping about the tree before being chased away by a 
robin unhappy about the cuckoo’s location in relation to its nest.  Sora 
is still present—but shy as ever—even after its nest was dismantled by a 
muskrat over the weekend.

Away from the boardwalk, the afternoon guided outing easily found a single 
female Wilson’s Phalarope feeding manically in the wetlands at Veler Rd.  
A Ruddy Turnstone in dapper breeding plumage livened up the beach adjacent 
to Metzger Marsh.  

With south winds a-blowin’ and a storm predicted for tomorrow night, we 
have high hopes for the next two days.  No doubt many birders are hoping the 
season’s first Connecticut Warbler (and those particularly optimistic 
birders a Kirtland’s) blows in with the storm.  

Josh Engel
Tour Leader, Tropical Birding: www.tropicalbirding.com
Black Swamp Bird Observatory bird guide-in-residence: www.bsbobird.org
The Guiding Light blog: www.oxypogon.blogspot.com



 

______________________________________________________________________

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]