In the migrant traps along the Lake Erie shore in n.w. Ohio (Magee Marsh
Wildlife Area, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, etc.), the floodgates of
migration have not opened yet. Following some unseasonably warm weather in
early April, things have slowed down, and the stage of migration now seems
about average or even just a little late.

Last spring, in 2009, April 24 was the first really big day for arrival of
neotropical migrants. Good numbers and variety of warblers, vireos, and
other migrants, including a few Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks, were seen at the Magee boardwalk and elsewhere in the area. Based
on what's around right now, and on weather predictions for the next few
days, that won't be repeated on the same date this year. Migrants in the
woods at Magee are dominated now by Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, Hermit Thrushes, and others of the moderately-early bunch.
There are Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warblers present, but not in huge numbers
yet, and a few Pine Warblers, and some Rusty Blackbirds and Winter Wrens are
still in the woods. But with winds only light out of the east right now,
with no major air flow from the south and with scattered showers this
weekend, the next big rush of spring migrants probably won't arrive until
after this weekend.

The weather forecasts going forward are uncertain enough that I don't want
to make strong predictions, but purely on the basis of the current ten-day
forecast, the first really big day for lots of warblers might turn out to be
Thursday April 29 or Friday April 30. But I'll be watching the weather
forecasts closely and will probably revise that thought closer to the time.

In the meantime, anyone coming to Magee should look at the habitat along the
causeway on the way out to the beach and boardwalk. Especially in the area
west of the causeway, the water is low, exposing some good shorebird flats.
I had American Golden-Plover and Pectoral Sandpiper there on 4/22, Dunlin
and Short-billed Dowitcher on 4/15, both yellowlegs on both dates.  Also of
interest: with mudflats immediately adjacent to marsh, Soras are unusually
visible. I saw three Soras in a few minutes of scanning on 4/22, all poking
along on the mud at the edge of the dense marsh growth.

As a reminder, the birding pages of Black Swamp Bird Observatory have a lot
of free information for anyone coming to this region:  maps of birding
sites, frequent updates on sightings, info on local accommodations, etc.,
all accessible through http://www.bsbobird.org/birding/

Kenn Kaufman
Oak Harbor, Ohio

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