052023 Birding On a Shoestring: The Joys of Ohio, Michigan, and Magee Marsh Vicinity, part 1

 

 051123                                                    Mute Swan and Cygnet

These birds were up close and personal, and I was behind the grass stalk that you see, when I was ignored by the parent and the young bird.  Photo was taken in Michigan in the Saline area.

051223                                                           American Redstart

This was one of our boisterous males filled with song.  We were spending our first full day at Magee Marsh at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, which is a hotspot that the birds refuel at before they continue north to breed, though many do breed here before they either cross over or go around Lake Erie. 

                                                                 Western Palm Warbler

Another good looking male in his breeding dress, which will go with the one that I photographed a couple of years ago for fall migration in Oklahoma.

                                                                      Blackburnian Warbler

This species is usually high in the canopy under normal circumstances, which isn't necessarily the same during spring migration, though it has happened that way.  Look at that fiery yellow-orange coloring!

                                                           Black-throated Blue Warbler

These individuals are fast, and it took several tries to get halfway decent shots.  Isn't he handsome?

                                                                  Rose-breasted Grosbeak

These head a little more west, too, so we get to experience the flow of beauty just west of the Rockies, too.  The females look a lot different, so look them up now before you miss them.

                                                                Eastern Whip-poor-will

These birds are getting harder to find, but we were lucky, today.  Nice clear shot, even as far away as it was.

                                                                      Red-eyed Vireo

This vireo is quite a bit lower, which is fortunate, as they are generally in the upper canopy.  No complaints, here.

                                                          Black-throated Blue Warbler

Here is a second shot of young male bird.  This is the northern subspecies.

051323                                                          Wood Duck (male)

We can't miss this shy beauty.  We were are the marshes with a lot of birds that just did not want to be seen, like multiple Soras.  Many Trumpeter Swans were out here, and eagle's nests were on the outskirts.  One good tern deserved another, but no Arctic Tern was in attendance.

                                                                           Muskrat

This was a good find, as this water denizen just kept getting closer and closer.  How could we refuse? 

                                                                    Trumpeter Swan

Not everyone goes north to breed, as these resident birds like to stick close to home.  The reddish color is from the iron in the soil.

051423                                                 Red-headed Woodpecker pair

Everyone was hoping for Lark Sparrows, as well as other birds in this area.  Just as happy where I was, I had a lot more visitors than the sparrow afficionados, though rumor had it that Henslow's Sparrow was supposed to be in the vicinity, but we didn't come across it.  However, there was plenty of burn areas to keep the invasives in check, and the woodpeckers liked the insects drawn to the burn.

                                                                    Red-breasted Nuthatch

Finally!  This was at Magee Marsh and this character was footloose and fancy free and moved like a rocket.  There were also Black-and-white, one Blackpoll, Prothonotary, and a few other warblers, as well as Green Heron, more Sora, an Eastern Screech owl gray morph, three eaglets in one nest with one youngster about to fledge, Philadelphia Vireo, and more!  Don't worry, more pictures to come!