This relatively new birding venue in Ottawa County is one of the featured birding locations at the Midwest Birding Symposium 2011. I spent about 3 hrs there on Friday morning with Cheryl Harner, famed Ohio weedpicker, Mark Garland of Cape May, NJ, Clay & Bruce (Swaro reps), and many other Ohio birders. 

First, a little about the site: it is a lovely area, with mostly paved or wide, level grassy paths and a large new observation deck overlooking the marsh. It is clean, orderly, and inviting. The wetlands are filled with native American lotus, and only a few invasive phragmites, which locals are working hard to control. 

We met in the parking lot at 6:30am, & reached the deck at dawn. As the light grew, we saw 8 Great Egrets roosting in the trees across the marsh. Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-herons were also seen both perched and flying. Ducks included Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, and many restless Wood Ducks, flushing, flying, and calling. Tentative use of playback did not yield any rails. 

Two long strings of Double-crested Cormorants flew overhead, one of over 100 birds and another estimated at 260. 

We had 3 species of raptors, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk (which I missed), as well as a Turkey Vulture. 

Land birds included many Blue Jays, angry Tufted Titmice and House Wrens, flycatching Cedar Waxwings, Downy and  Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren, Indigo Bunting and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I was particularly happy to find and identify a Swainson's Thrush, which burst out of the bushes at the edge of the trail, strafed my face, then perched on a naked branch just above eye-level and sat perfectly still for a long time while I worked out the ID. 

Warblers were plentiful, but unfortunately for us they were mostly high in the treetops and back-lit. I was sure of Pine, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided, but there could easily have been other species. 

The best bird of the day for me was the Marsh Wren we heard chipping at the water's edge. With minimal encouragement, we persuaded him to show himself, and we were rewarded with great looks at this cheeky little guy. 

Meadowbrook Marsh is south of SR 163, on Bayshore Rd. It is less than 5 miles from Lakeside, site of the MBS, and an easy drive from Port Clinton. It is well-worth your time if you are visiting Ohio's North Coast, and if you live near by, you have no excuse not to come. 

Conservation dollars collected during the MBS will be matched by OOS (up to $10,000) and will be used to acquire more land to expand Meadowbrook Marsh. 

Sent from iVan, my iPhone
Kathi Hutton
Resident of SW Ohio, temporary migrant to Ottawa County

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