Today marks the first day of the Biggest Week in American Birding Festival. Scheduling conflicts prevented me from going, but I was going to try to spend the morning at Erie Marsh Preserve. Overnight thunderstorms and heavy rain killed that idea as I wasn't going to walk the muddy dikes. So, I decided to make an early trip to Elizabeth Park to look for warblers. As luck would have it, I arrived just as the rains started coming down, again. A singing Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush were the only vocal warblers heard. The trails were quiet, and I headed back to the car in the midsts of a down ..read more

I drove down Roberts Road this morning and made stops along the tree line to look for warblers. It was mostly clear at 8 am with temps in the low 60's.  Yellow Warblers were the most vocal. I did hear a few Palm Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers next to the car, but couldn't locate the birds close enough to photograph them. A Black-throated Green Warbler was a nice find, but again, heard only. Near the abandoned silo I found a family of House Wren chasing each other by the Bad Creek shoreline but didn't get any pics. Yellow-rumped Warblers were moving through the trees. I heard a dista ..read more

The morning brought rain. Heavy rain. That didn't stop the birding clan from reporting warblers at Pt. Mouillee HQ. This made me curious as to whether there were any at Elizabeth Park. So, when rains let up I headed to Trenton.  At 10 am I arrived at Elizabeth Park along with the first rain drops. As I stepped into the woods along the central trail of the woodlot I spotted the first of 3 Great Horned Owlets. One of the adults flushed from nearby and flew off while its two siblings flew off in different directions. I was able to approach a few feet closer and get some pics before it flew ..read more

Storms and high winds have appeared to have opened the floodgates of birds in Central Ohio and southern Michigan. Today, the storms have passed, but gale-force winds continue to blow throughout the region. But that hasn't stopped the bird reports: warblers galore in c. Ohio, record American Avocet numbers at Erie Marsh along w/ 100+ Willets. A Hooded Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler and White-eyed Vireo report at Erie Marsh got me out the door late this afternoon and down to southern Monroe Co. Having just updated my Sony a1 Firmware to 2.01 I was anxious to test the came ..read more

Reports of a Neotropic Cormorant in Pool #2 at Erie Marsh caught my attention this morning. Along with Wilson's Phalarope and Long-billed Dowitchers reports the report of 60+ American Avocets in Pool #1 had me out the door at 11:30 am. It was cloudy, overcast and chilly today with a light wind that put temps in the mid 40's today. Allergies were testing my resolve, as did a traffic jam on I-75. But, shortly after 12 pm I arrived at Erie Marsh Preserve.  To my surprise the American Avocets were not present in Pool #1. Instead, they were replaced by 26 Marbled Godwits! I wonder if these we ..read more

After failing to see any Marbled Godwits at Erie Marsh this morning I wondered if maybe they had moved north to Pt. Mouillee. With forecasts for rain this evening and cold, cloudy, chilly weather tomorrow and Wednesday I decided I should take a ride to look for them. Winds were blowing from the SSW so it was at my back as I rode out the Middle Causeway to the Walpatich Unit then north toward Long Pond, Nelson Units and the North Causeway. Only when I was riding due south did the winds become a chore. The Walpatich Unit north of the Middle Causeway was loaded with Blue-winged Teal, Northern Sh ..read more

Yesterday Ohio recorded its first State Record White Wagtail in Dayton. Closer to home 16 Marbled Godwits were found at Erie Marsh in southern Monroe County, MI. I suspected that they'd be gone by today but still held off chasing them until this morning. I was more interested in the report of dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers that had shown up along the outer dikes at Erie Marsh and was looking forward to getting my first warbler fix of the year. Skies were clear but cool this morning (30F). Winds were relatively calm but supposed to pick up in the afternoon. I took the bike and headed to Erie ..read more

Cloudy skies and calm seas greeted us as we approached the small island at 7 am. Forecasts called for low 70’s and a stiff breeze, but would turn mostly sunny with high humidity and light winds. The shallow waters next to the pier were calm and shimmered aqua-blue.  I disembarked the ship at 8:30 am and walked the island to look for birds. The walkway was roped off so my intention of wandering into the bush was discouraged; the road adjacent was being used for tram traffic. No problem though, as Bananaquits were abundant, followed by Black-faced Grassquits that appeared in the ..read more

Today we are sailing between Nassau, Bahamas and Disney’s Castaway Cay. At 7 am, while Robin and I were at breakfast at Cabanas, a nice male Magnificent Frigatebird made a pass near the the ship. I had the bins with me so I was able to determine that it was indeed a male (all black frigatebird).  I walked the Promenade (level 4) for about an hour between 10 - 11 am but failed to see any bird or marine life near the ship.  After lunch Robin and I returned to our cabin and I immediately saw a Brown Booby soaring just outsiide my balcony. Grabbin the camera I spent the next 30 minu ..read more

Robin and I flew to Fort Lauderdale, FL yesterday morning to catch the Disney Dream for a 4-day Bahamas Cruise. We arrived shortly after 10 am and were shuttled off to the Port Everglades pier where the Dream awaited. By noon we were on the ship and having lunch at the Animator's Palate Restaurant. By lunch's end we'd have access to our Room (10020), which was ideally located on the port side of the ship next to the elevators and stairs. The Cabana and Pools were on deck 11 so it was a very short walk to food and relaxation.  Dinner at Palo's ($$$) was exceptional. A nice sunset and w ..read more