May 26 2009

Ohio – Memorial Day Weekend

I spent all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Magee Marsh/Crane Creek near Toledo, OH. Although the weather was absolutely gorgeous – mid 70’s, partly cloudy skies and a steady 15-20mph wind from the north – it was not conducive for bringing in gobs of migrants. In fact, we pretty much saw the same birds over and over again all weekend and limited numbers of those birds at that. It did allow me to work on better photos of some of the species present. Despite the disappointing diversity and quantity I still managed to come away with 8 new photo birds – unfortunately, Connecticut Warbler not being one of them.

I spent early morning Monday at Oak Openings Metropolitan Park just west of Toledo. I didn’t find the Cerulean Warbler (which was the primary objective) but I got photos of Blue-winged Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting and Summer Tanager…and if I ever keep track of an “Ohio” state-list I recorded Lark Sparrow and Blue Grosbeak as well. Mid-day I headed back to Magee Marsh and was disappointed that it was yet another “boring” day there….but relieved to hear no one had seen a Connecticut Warbler in my absence!

Other than birds I also got some cute photos of two Raccoons playfully posing in the hole of a tree trunk and a Garter snake cruising along a fallen tree. I’m still trying to get some Muskrat photos but they run away every time I get close to them.

Raccoon
Raccoon

Garter Snake
Garter Snake

Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler

Indigo Bunting
Indigo Bunting

Blue-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler

Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler

Red-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireo
Warbling Vireo

Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Wood-Pewee

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan

Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow’s Copulating

Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird


Jan 11 2009

Gullday Sunday

I recorded a total of 9 species of Gull today at E 72nd St. in Cleveland.

Species: Herring, Ring-billed, Bonaparte’s, Thayer’s, Iceland, Glaucous, Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed Gull and a single Black-legged Kittiwake.

Weather conditions: 23F, Snow, heavy at times, Wind SSW 15mph.

Photos:

Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull

Iceland Gull
Iceland Gull

Great Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull

Bonaparte's Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull

Thayer's Gull
Thayer’s Gull


Jan 10 2009

Stop Snowing!

It’s pretty much snowed constantly for the past 3 days I’ve been in Cleveland. Another big storm moved in last night and we’re forecasted to receive over a 1′ of snow by Sunday morning. I managed to get out to E 72nd St. in Cleveland yesterday afternoon before this big storm came in. I’m glad I did since I easily located a Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull within a few minutes. Unfortunately I had to shoot at a high ISO due to the fleeting afternoon sun and terrible weather conditions.


Cleveland, OH
View out the window this morning

Current Radar Map
Current Radar Map

Some shots of the Gulls:


Glaucous Gull
Glaucous Gull

Iceland Gull
Iceland Gull

And here’s what I have to look forward to the next 5 days I’m here…. Sunday will be the only day I can actually get out and photograph. Too bad it will be overcast but it’s better than it snowing all day.


Cleveland Weather Forecast
Cleveland Weather Forecast