May 6, 2011 During the week there were clearly many Ohio birders ruing the fact they had missed "Super Sunday" last week. Today they got their compensation. And then some. Super Sunday was quickly forgotten for Fantastic Friday. A good flow of southwesterlies during the night brought a swift change to the turgid events of recent days and brought significant numbers of birds and joy to birders working the woodlots of this exciting Ottawa/Magee region of Ohio. A positive Kaufman forecast and a sharp eye on the weather ensured that a healthy pack of birders braved the cool morning temperatures for this, the first full day of the Biggest Week in American Birding festival. And what an opener! Birds were simply everywhere, and the action was non-stop, causing changes to birders plans, and delayed lunches and birders simply got hooked on all the excitement around them. All day long good numbers and variety of warblers graced sites like the warbler mecca of Magee Marsh and neighboring refuges like Cedar Point and Ottawa NWR which were not overshadowed as they boasted some quality species of their own. The tally in the area hit a heady THIRTY WARBLER SPECIES, and many of these showed off all day long and seemed happy to be feasted on by all. Early doors the shape of things to come was evident at Ottawa NWR where the trail was bustling with many NASHVILLE WARBLERS, and also held a couple of "starlets" too with both BLUE-WINGED AND YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS creating a stir. The biggest crowds of birders of course headed for the Magee Marsh boardwalk, where a dedicated slew of birders listened to the sweet calls of warblers ringing through the woods, and quickly racked up a good batch of warblers for the day list. Things kicked off early with GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER tantalizing the first birders to walk the walk, and pretty soon they were also talking the talk after such initial fortune. Not long later at least one male CERULEAN WARBLER made a star turn, and tantalized those gathered on the boardwalk, by turning up suddenly and then disappearing just as suddenly thereafter. This A-list warbler drew gasps on and off all morning as it flirted with the birders lined along the busy end of Magee boardwalk (the western end). Other celebrity warblers included several YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS climbing the trunks at this, the business end of the boardwalk. Although to be fair, any part of the boardwalk today felt like the business end, as birds were simply everywhere, and wherever you walked warblers followed. In addition to the pure, crisp looking GOLDEN-WINGEDS along the boardwalk, an enticing BREWSTER'S WARBLER (hybrid) also popped up right near the western entrance to the walkway. Indeed this was where much of the action centered, and provided joy for birders with their incredible low down looks, and elation to photographers with the constant stream of photo opportunities. Any time of day a short sourjourn at this western entrance would bring a profusion of warblers into view with a little patience, and many joined official "walks" and frankly walked nowhere! CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED, NASHVILLE, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BAY-BREASTED, and even a muted PINE WARBLER appeared there to more than satisfy birders and photographers alike. Other celebrity warblers at Magee included a scattering of BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, a few neon PROTHONTARY WARBLERS gracing the swampy areas, and perhaps less appreciated (by virture of their distinctly more "subtle" appearance were a few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, in addition to a few of their lookalikes, TENNESSEE WARBLERS too. A few of the usual latecomers to the migration party were also at Magee, including the "necklaced one" , AKA CANADA WARBLER, and even a skull-capped male WILSON'S WARBLER. Another much desired A-lister was found at Metzger Marsh, in the form a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Another significant development was the first MOURNING WARBLERS of the season with at least 2 birds found at the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge bus trip today. We are awaiting the well-publicized "second wave" of warblers, which did not seem to be part of this significant movement today, which still held masses of both PALM WARBLERS and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but still consisted of relatively few MAGNOLIA WARBLERS that should come in force with the next coming wave. Sometimes it is hard to look beyond the warblers, as they continually grab the headlines and bring joy to the hearts of many, although we should as there were other notable birds around today including LARK SPARROWS at the East Beach of Magee Marsh, an area that also held at least one BLUE GROSBEAK. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS also showed up at both Magee in the morning and also on one of the Cedar Point NWR bus trips. On top of that vireos were thin on the ground, although those that were there did their very best to make sure we saw them, including some showy PHILADELPHIA VIREOS near the popular entrance to the Magee boardwalk, a few BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, and several YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS deeper within. Some signs of winter were also provided by PINE SISKINS and the odd lingering RUSTY BLACKBIRD at Magee too. The popular TRICOLORED HERON lingered on to thrill more at neighboring Metzger Marsh too. The action along the Magee Marsh boardwalk was magnetic and just when you thought you had seen it all something else would turn up to draw you back, like the addictive Whip-poor-whill that slept so helpfully just off the boardwalk all afternoon. A bonus was provided too by an AMERICAN WOODCOCK that was just a stones throw away from the sleeping goatsucker. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS dominated at Magee, although held a few LINCOLN'S for company too. At this early stage of the season flycatchers continue to be scarce and few in numbers, although the odd GREAT-CRESTED AND LEAST FLYCATCHER turned up here and there, but refused to sing in the cool conditions prevailing along the boardwalk. However, in spite of all of this quality migrant fare on offer the best bird of the day was neither a warbler or a species that most people would traditionally come to Magee for: a BARN OWL sat quietly all day long just off the boardwalk with a well-trained scope homed on it the whole time, to ensure that many walked away with this on their much-coveted state or county lists. Not sure exactly what Mother's Day weekend will bring, although even if it yields just half of what was around today it will bring smiles to many mothers everywhere! Sam Woods ______________________________________________________________________ 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/. 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