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Kirtland’s Warbler – Crane Creek, Ohio!

ctaylor — Sat, 15 May 2010 04:27:53 +0000

This morning @ 9:15 AM Kenn Kaufman found a 2Y male Kirtland’s Warbler along the beach at Crane Creek. I was notified immediately by his Twitter posting which I have texting my cell phone! I rushed out from East Cleveland as soon as I was able to and arrived just before dusk. The large group of people still observing the KIWA got me on the bird immediately and I was able to capture some stunning images before the sun set in the distance.

Here’s an excerpt from Kenn’s blog:

“At about 9:15 a.m. I was lucky enough to find a male Kirtland’s Warbler. I was luckier still that it stayed around: I sent out the word via Twitter and cell phone, hundreds of people arrived during the next four hours while I was there, and it was still being seen after 4:30 pm. The location was along the east (wildlife) beach about 300 yards east of the parking lot. The bird was feeding low for the entire time, sometimes hopping on the ground, sometimes foraging among low branches of sumacs or willows, or even among brush piles. Often it was amazingly easy to see, and several times it flew toward crowds of people and foraged unconcernedly within a few yards of its admirers. I’m sure it was seen by over a thousand birders, and undoubtedly tens of thousands of photos were taken; this is probably the most-photographed Kirtland’s Warbler in history!”

Photos!

Kirtland’s Warbler

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Purple Gallinule

ctaylor — Sat, 15 May 2010 04:23:13 +0000

So after spending 10 days in Florida and Everglades I did not see one Purple Gallinule. Who would have known I come to Ohio three weeks later and have one almost walk over my feet! I even recorded it all with my iPhone. Hooray for iPhone 3GS video.

Video Clip #1

Video Clip #2

Purple Gallinule Sign

Purple Gallinule

Habitat

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Magee Marsh, Crane Creek, Ohio – May 9

ctaylor — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:36:12 +0000

Ohio Sunset near Toledo

It was Mother’s Day and the Magee Marsh boardwalk was packed to the hilt! Fortunately I missed the even larger crowd the previous day [International Migratory Bird Day].

The morning started off pretty chilly at 35F and barely got past 45F by mid-afternoon. Other than that it was a gorgeous, sunny day! Most of the passerines present had been there a couple days already since weather conditions were not conducive to continue on their path north the previous nights.

Had a lot of fun shooting with some old pals that I’ve met on previous trips to Ohio. My friend’s grandson snapped this pic of me. See if you can spot me in it below!

Magee Marsh Boardwalk

And of course, here are some bird photos I took!

Canada Goose

Nashville Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Cape May Warbler

White-throated Sparrow

Canada Goose

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Goodbye Ohio

ctaylor — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:41:54 +0000

It was an exciting couple weeks here in Ohio but alas I must fly home tomorrow afternoon. I bid thee farewell Magee Marsh.

Magee Marsh

But before I leave I must present the photos I took last weekend. I ask that if you are under the age of 18 you don’t go any further than this as some of the following photos may offend.

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Red-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Canada Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Ruddy Turnstone

Purple Martin

House Wren

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Gray-cheeked Thrush

Herring Gull

Eastern Screech-Owl

Bald Eagle

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Bobolinks and more…

ctaylor — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:29:59 +0000

Went out this morning (between heavy thunderstorms) to Chagrin River Park with local birder, Bob Herp. Lots of Bobolinks in full alt. plumage, beautiful male Indigo Buntings, a couple American Redstarts and many Red-eyed Vireos and Yellow Warblers singing their little hearts away. Despite the overcast weather, albeit hot and muggy, I was still able to get some decent photos of the Bobolinks and in flight as well. Bob also pointed out a Downy Woodpecker that had a nest in one of the trees.

Bobolink

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Downy Woodpecker

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Ohio – Memorial Day Weekend

ctaylor — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:21:31 +0000

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

Garter Snake

Prothonotary Warbler

Indigo Bunting

Blue-winged Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Canada Warbler

Red-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Trumpeter Swan

Tree Swallow’s Copulating

Cedar Waxwing

Eastern Kingbird

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Eastern U.S. Backyard Birds

ctaylor — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:37:24 +0000

Spent the morning at North Chagrin Nature Center near Willoughby Hills, OH. Although my intention for going there was to locate and photograph the 3-5 Common Redpolls that were recently reported there, I never did find them. I did get a lot better photos of some of the more “common” backyard birds for our friends in the Eastern United States so the effort wasn’t completely in vain.

I scored, what I consider A+, photos of Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse and Downy Woodpecker among many others. See for yourself!

Black-capped Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

Tufted Titmouse

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Northern Cardinal

Red-shouldered Hawk

Pine Siskin

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)

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Gullday Sunday

ctaylor — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:44:21 +0000

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

Iceland Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Thayer’s Gull

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Stop Snowing!

ctaylor — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:02:34 +0000

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.

View out the window this morning

Current Radar Map

Some shots of the Gulls:

Glaucous 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

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Back Home!

ctaylor — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:37:03 +0000

I am now back home from my 9-day trip to Northern Ohio. Had a great time photographing all of the migrating passerines at Magee Marsh, Crane Creek and the rest of the hot-spots along Lake Erie. I recorded a total of 25 new photo birds and much better shots of many of the birds I already had.

Now to get ready for our trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos! We leave this Friday.

Some new photos toward the end of the trip I have not posted yet:

Painted Turtle

Black-capped Chickadee

American Robin

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Gray Catbird

American Woodcock

Wood Thrush

Great Black-backed Gull

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