My earlier post omitted the warbler list for Magee, so here it is
again (with the list this time at the end)...

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...

WARBLER LIST FOR
MAGEE/OTTAWA REGION TODAY:

Tennessee
Nashville
Northern Parula
Yellow
Warbler
Chestnut-sided
Magnolia
Cape May
Black-throated
Blue
Yellow-rumped
Black-throated
Green
Blackburnian
Pine
Palm
Bay-breasted
Blackpoll
Black-and-white
American
Redstart
Prothonotary
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Mourning
Common
Yellowthroat
Wilson's
Canada

Sam Woods


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