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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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It was a beautiful day in the Mojave Desert on Saturday. Highs in the low 80’s and perfectly clear and sunny skies. Pretty much all migrants to be expected were encountered. The trees were dripping with Empids and Wilson’s Warblers. Hammond’s, Dusky, Gray, Pac-Slope Flycatchers and Western Wood-Pewee’s. Wilson’s, Yellow, MacGillivray’s, Yellow-rumped (Audubons and Myrtle), Orange-crowned, Nashville, Townsend’s and Black-throated Gray Warblers. Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks sporting their alt. plumage colors.

Some photo highlights:

MacGillivray’s Warbler

Hammond’s Flycatcher

Spotted Sandpiper

Desert Spiny Lizard

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I couldn’t make it down to De Forest Park on Friday for the Yellow-green Vireo due to prior obligations but I was there first thing Saturday morning…with about 30 other birders. After 4 hours of not seeing anything other than Warbling Vireos, Orange-crowned’s and Yellow Warblers I gave up and headed home.

Sunday I decided to check Galileo Hills to try and catch any early fall passerines. It was relatively slow with a limited number of Warblers: Orange-crowned (3), Yellow (25+), MacGillivray’s (1), Northern Waterthrush (3+). Passerine migration is certainly starting with FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet (3), Willow Flycatcher (6) and one Cassin’s Vireo (1).

A few photos:

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