May 14, 2009 There was a large turnover of birds overnight in the hottest of Black Swamp hotspots: the Magee Marsh boardwalk. Slow at first in the cold, wind and rain, both birds and weather brightened simultaneously. The later of the spring migrants were well represented today. There was a large influx of dapper Canadas and wily Wilson’s. Most birder’s were satiated with Mourning Warbler today, a drastic change from yesterday’s more frustrating Oporornis experience. Redstart was the day’s most common warbler, their orange or yellow tail spots brightening virtually every viny tangle in the woods, while Yellow-rump numbers were conspicuously down. The season’s first Connecticut Warbler proved elusive, much to the dismay of most birders. It was seen twice, first heard and seen in the morning near the east end of the boardwalk, then seen again around midday near #32. While there has been a trickle of flycatchers in recent days, the first real wave arrived today. While Least was still the most common Empidonax, several silent ‘Traill’s’ and at least one Yellow-bellied were along the boardwalk. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was uncommonly showy on the little loop, while Eastern Wood-Pewee was present in small numbers. Cuckoos were well represented. Multiples of both Black- and Yellow-billed were present, if elusive. It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time to catch up with these highly mobile migrants. The subtly beautiful Philadelphia Vireo was surprisingly numerous in the woods today. Both Eastern Screech- and Great Horned Owls continue to impress the crowds, as does the occasionally showy—and occasionally stealthy—Sora. A pair of Peregrines was seen, one half of which was watched catching a Common Tern over the lake. With continuing south winds, tomorrow promises to be another stellar day. Who will be tomorrow’s star of the show? Josh Engel Tour Leader, Tropical Birding: www.tropicalbirding.com Black Swamp Bird Observatory bird guide-in-residence: www.bsbobird.org The Guiding Light blog: www.oxypogon.blogspot.com ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]