I spent all of yesterday morning birding three areas in Wayne County. In
all areas, migrant songbirds were virtually absent, but breeders were
singing well. I started out at 7am walking *Messner Rd* through the marsh
in the Killbuck WA. Four prothonotary warblers were singing loudly and seen
well. A cooperative marsh wren showed himself singing right along the road.
Four red-headed woodpeckers were seen, as were four green herons. Willow
and great crested flycatchers were common. I had 29 species in the first
hour.

Next I walked through *Wright Marsh* in the Killbuck WA. An E. meadowlark
was singing in the first field, as were several swamp sparrows in fields
further in. A green heron was perched high in a dead snag. Willow
flycatchers were singing everywhere, as were some great crested and wood
peewees. Yellow warblers and common yellowthroats were abundant, but no
other warblers were heard. Again, a marsh wren was very cooperative,
singing in the open near the trail. The only waterfowl were Canada geese
and a few mallards and coots. I recorded 36 species in an hour.

I then went to *Shreve Lake*, which is now mostly drained and has a lot of
shorebird habitat. There was a one flock of shorebirds wheeling around in
the sky that settled down within reasonable scope distance. It was a mixed
flock of about 50 or so birds with about 20 dunlin, about a dozen each of
semipalm plovers and least sandpipers, and 4-6 white-rumped sandpipers.
Fortunately, at least two of those were preening, showing their white rumps
nicely. Other than a few great blue herons, that was all that was there.

Moving over to *Wilderness Rd* near Funk Bottoms, I found that the peat
pits there were pretty well filled up with water now, leaving very limited
shorebird habitat. The only shorebird I found were two spotted sandpipers.
I did see one immature bald eagle and four sandhill cranes at the far end,
but that was all of interest.

For the morning, I had 57 species on my list and it was a joy to be afield
on such a nice morning. Randy Rowe, Wooster

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