(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



The Daily Bucket -- Open Thread: Fall Migration at Lake Erie Marshes [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-09-21

Last Saturday a birding pal and I went to Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and Howard Marsh Metropark along the southwest coast of Lake Erie. Magee is famous for spring Warbler migration, but I’ve learned it’s also a hotspot in the fall. I didn’t see the variety that I usually do in spring, but I’m thrilled to see any Warbler that stays put long enough for a good look, and hopefully a photo. I’m in the middle of home projects today, so I’ll be in and out.

The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns. We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow.

I’ll go in the sequence of our walks that day, starting at Magee Marsh. There was little to see on the entrance causeway. So we headed for the boardwalk. Birding got off to a good start with an immature Bald Eagle perched next to the parking lot.

Bald Eagle at Magee Marsh. I’m guessing this is a three-year old. It looks rather portly, but it was a cool morning with a breeze coming across Lake Erie. So I’m thinking it was fluffed up a bit from the cold.

There is a Cypress tree at the boardwalk entrance. When I was there a couple weeks ago, it was buzzing with activity. Saturday not so much, but there were still several birds flitting around.

Magnolia Warbler.

Another view. I’ve learned to try to catch the undertail as they are unique in each warbler species. Zoom



Cedar Waxwing.

Blackpoll Warbler. This was the predominant warbler species there, although I didn’t get many photos. Note the dark legs with orangish feet. Zoom

A very similar bird in the fall to the Blackpoll — Bay-breasted Warbler. Note the blush wash on the side. Zoom

I posted this construction barrel orange fungus the other day. No color enhancement.

Mourning Doves (lower left and center bottom) and a Merlin (right middle), to show how tiny the Merlin is.

Zoomed in on the Merlin, who is zoomed in on something.

I think this is an American Bluet Damselfly. There were everywhere once the sun warmed things up and were very tiny.

Autumn Meadowhawk on the boardwalk railing. Much bigger than the bluet.

Howard Marsh Metropark is just a few miles west of Magee Marsh, along Route 2. Between them is the main section of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Metzger Marsh. The siren call of a Red Knot had us bypassing them and heading straight for Howard. The section we visited was opened just a year ago. The bird life has been nothing short of amazing. We headed for the boardwalk, which stretches across the southeast corner of the marsh.

Lesser (left) and Greater Yellowlegs in the shallow water along the boardwalk. In addition to the size difference, the slight upturn of the Greater Yellowleg’s bill can be see in this photo, as well as the straight bill of the lesser. Zoom

A Bald Eagle spooked a flock of American White Pelicans that had been sitting quietly at the main part of the marsh.

Close up of the immature Bald Eagle and the Pelicans.

On the way to looking for the Red Knot, we found what I think are two immature Black-bellied Plovers (foreground) and an immature American Golden Plover (blurry in the background). Zoom

A few feet down the boardwalk, our prize awaited. Red Knot (far right), with two Semipalmated Plovers and a Semipalmated Sandpiper. Zoom

Trumpeter Swans with Dowitchers to their right, Red Knot to their right with its head down, and American Golden Plover walking along the shore. Zoom

Trumpeter Swan, Dowitchers, Stilt Sandpiper, Double-crested Cormorant and Canada Goose. One of the Dowitchers had what looked to be a longer bill than the other. Zoom

A better view of the Dowitcher with the long bill. All the Dowitchers I’ve seen this year have been Short-billed, and that’s what’s been reported most often at Howard. Zoom

As we were walking back to the parking lot, an Osprey put on a show, with swallows hot on its tail.

Osprey

Osprey with unknown swallow. Zoom

I’ll close with another photo of the Snowy Egret showing those beautiful yellow feet. Zoom

Now it’s your turn. What’s going on in nature in your area?

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/21/2194481/-The-Daily-Bucket-Open-Thread-Fall-Migration-at-Lake-Erie-Marshes

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/