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May 2011

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From:
Sam Woods <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Sam Woods <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 14 May 2011 15:37:09 -0700
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MAY 14, 2011
It turned out to be a gray, misty day with rain
ever-threatening overhead, (on what is traditionally one of the true
"big" days of spring in terms of birder numbers), that caused a distinct
downturn in birders compared with recent years on this International
Migratory Bird Day. Sadly, the "weekend warriors" looking for a true
"classic" migration day may have once again been frustrated by the
fantastic Friday that preceded this much slower Saturday (much as last
week). That was not to say the birding was poor by any stretch-_this is
the Magee/Ottawa region after all_, but simply put there was a
changeover in the night (before the stormy weather moved in), when the
region seemed to have leaked birds, leaving lower _numbers _of birds in
general relative to yesterday, and lower diversity.

Of course having
said all of that this is Magee and so this "slow" day still conjured up
24 WARBLER SPECIES. So a bonus today was lower numbers of birders around
(compared to recent IMBDs) but plentiful warblers to check out. Top
billing among them were perhaps several furtive MOURNING WARBLERS hiding
out at the east end of the boardwalk, and the west end of the parking
lot, a lonesome PINE WARBLER on the boardwalk (possibly wondering where
the pines are), and a smattering of CANADA WARBLERS in the mix. Warbler
trends saw very few PALM WARBLERS lingering on, and much fewer
YELLOW-RUMPEDS that had been evident just a little earlier in the week.
Same too occurred with NASHVILLE WARBLERS that were abundant in the
extreme in the early part of the week, but were represented today by
just a few "remnant" birds. PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were still around,
although notably there were more females than previously and this was
very different from the explosion of "lemonheads" that was evident in
recent days. The full warbler list is posted at the end of this write-up
to fire up those Sunday searchers heading to Magee tomorrow.

Away from
this celebrity group that is Magee's big drawcard, several cuckoos
appeared suddenly mid-morning along the boardwalk, with multiple
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, and at least one YELLOW-BILLED too. Thrush numbers
and diversity were steady with some very friendly GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES
in particular, along with SWAINSON'S, VEERY and the odd WOOD THRUSH too.
Flycatchers continue to trickle in, although by no means have come
through in their true numbers just yet: WILLOWS are on territory between
Black Swamp Bird Observatory and Magee Marsh, ALDER was recorded on the
Ottawa Bus Trips as part of this vibrant birding festival, and LEASTS
continue to "_chebek_" in the woods too. Yellow-bellied were
conspicuously absent, with more due soon. Vireo diversity was maxed out,
with all possible vireos recorded between the various sites visited as
part of the BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING, with PHILLY,
YELLOW-THROATED and BLUE-HEADED gracing the front edge of Magee (just a
stone's throw from the banding demonstrations being performed at the
Black Swamp Bird Observatory marquee), and a WHITE-EYED heard at least
on one of the Ottawa bus trips.

"Wintry" species persisted, with
regular flyovers of CEDAR WAXWINGS, several RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
climbing the trunks at Magee, a pair of SANDHILL CRANES floating low
over the boardwalk, and the odd small flock of PINE SISKINS too. The
Ottawa Bus trips also picked up a lingering CANVASBACK and REDHEAD to
challenge the idea of spring in the air, and also revealed a
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER too.

Another trend of the day was a striking
seepage of sparrows from Magee, with very few WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS
that had been so conspicuously common in recent days, a few LINCOLN'S,
and a surprise CLAY-COLORED along the boardwalk to keep us on our
toes.

Not sure what the "birding prophets" are predicting for tomorrow,
but any day that yields twenty plus warblers is a good migrant day in my
book, and we'll all be happily treading the boards again tomorrow hoping
for much more of the same...

SAM WOODS


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