USA – Ohio: GGAS Partner Set Departure Birding Trip Report, May 2022

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07-14 May 2022

This trip was highlighted by two incredible Kirtland’s Warblers!

Overview

This eight-day special Golden Gate Audubon Society (GGAS) tour of Ohio commenced in Detroit in the neighboring state of Michigan on the 7th of May and completed back in Detroit on the 14th of May 2022. The tour visited many of Ohio’s great parks and wildlife areas in both the northern and southern portions of the state. These included Magee Marsh State Park, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Pearson Metropark, Sharon Woods Metropark, Shawnee State Park and Oak Openings Metropark.

This tour connected with amazing and colorful migrant species and many fantastic Ohio breeding species, giving us a great list for only one week of birding together. Avian highlights included Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Cedar Waxwing, Philadelphia and Yellow-throated Vireos, Sandhill Crane, Black-necked Stilt, Bald Eagle, Acadian Flycatcher and 34 warbler species such as Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Canada, Mourning, Golden-winged and Blackburnian Warblers. We also managed to score not one but TWO Kirtland’s Warblers, certainly a difficult and impressive feat to pull off in Ohio.

A total of 149 bird species were seen with one additional heard only species bringing the total recorded to 150. In addition to the birds, some other animals were spotted including White-tailed Deer, Muskrat, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Common Snapping Turtle, and the state endangered Blanding’s Turtle. Full bird and mammal checklists can be found at the end of the report.

Magnolia Warbler was one of the favorite species of the trip and rightfully so. 

Detailed Report

Day 1, 7th May 2022. Arrival in Detroit and Ohio birding

All participants on this trip were in Detroit early so we all met up around mid-morning and headed straight to Ohio for lunch and then some afternoon birding. The first birding stop of the day was a local creamery stand with a flooded field behind it where we logged our first species for the trip: Trumpeter Swan, Bald Eagle, Great Egret and Wood Duck. From there we headed off to Pearson Metropark, hopeful to find our first warbler of the trip. The birding was a bit slow because the winds had been northerly for the previous few days, keeping birds further south. Despite this, we managed some nice species including Myrtle and Palm Warblers, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Wren, Chipping Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Then we explored the northern portion of Pearson and added American Yellow Warbler, Tree Swallow and American Goldfinch. This was a great start to our Ohio warbler tour.

Day 2, 8th May 2022. First taste of Magee Marsh and Ottawa

We had breakfast and coffee at the hotel and then headed out for our first full day of birding. Our first stop was the famous migration hotspot of Magee Marsh and we spent an entire morning there. The entrance road was surrounded by marsh habitat and scanning through this yielded Blue-winged Teal and Trumpeter Swan.  We continued to the main parking lot, slowly worked our way across the trees in the parking lot and then worked the long boardwalk trail here. Although a “slower” day in terms of migration, we still recorded six species of warblers: Black-and-white, American Yellow, Palm, Myrtle and Black-throated Blue Warblers and Common Yellowthroat. Of course, there were other lovely birds as well like White-throated Sparrow, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Grey Catbird, Belted Kingfisher and Warbling Vireo. This was certainly a good introduction to Magee Marsh and some of the migrants and resident species. It was then time for lunch at the local Blackberry Corner Tavern.

After lunch we headed out to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and did the auto loop, which was open at this time of year. We started off with a Purple Martin colony at the entrance, an Eastern Phoebe at the bridge and an Eastern Screech-Owl taking a snooze in a tree cavity. There were plenty of Red-winged Blackbirds throughout the drive, as well as American Yellow Warblers. About halfway through, we found some better sections of water and noted Great Blue Heron, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Gadwall and a flock of American White Pelicans flying overhead. Along the back stretch of the drive, we came across Great Horned Owl owlets, with one of the parents off in the distance watching. This was indeed a fantastic auto drive at Ottawa. Then it was time for dinner and back to the hotel for the evening.

It was hard to beat the color pattern of the Black-throated Blue Warbler!

Day 3, 9th May 2022. Drive south and Sharon Woods

We headed out on the long journey to southern Ohio and Shawnee State Park. We decided to take the route through Cincinnati with a stop at the beautiful Sharon Woods Park. Due to recent winds and weather, there were definitely more migrants and bird activity here in southern Ohio than what we had seen up north. It was an absolutely perfect day to be outside birding and right away we were treated to Chestnut-sided and Blackburnian Warblers. As we ventured further into the park, we picked some jaw dropping closeups of Magnolia and Bay-breasted Warblers as well as Northern Cardinal, Swainson’s Thrush and House Wren. It was such a gorgeous day that we decided to go and fetch our lunch and head back to the park to enjoy it. It’s a good thing we did because as soon as we got back, we saw a group of birders who were on a Kirtland’s Warbler! This rare bird gave all of us amazing point-blank views. Overall, we recorded nine species of warblers at Sharon Woods before moving on.

We arrived at the foothills of the Appalachians, where we stopped at Edge of Appalachia Preserve for about 30 minutes of birding. Here we picked up our first southern breeding warbler species in the form of Prairie Warbler. Of course, we ticked a few other new trip birds as well like Field Sparrow, Black Vulture, Yellow-breasted Chat and Eastern Towhee. We continued to the lodge for dinner to cap off our long day of driving and birding.

Day 4, 10th May 2022. Shawnee State Park

Shawnee State Park is an amazing forest full of southern breeding species as well as migrants working their way north. We had the entire day to explore this area and take in the beauty of nature. We started off along Pond Lick Road with a singing Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula and Yellow-throated Vireo. We managed to catch up with Yellow-throated Warbler, before hitting the top ridge to hopefully find some new migrants. At the top we spotted an Ovenbird belting out his song, which echoed through the forest. A Black-throated Green Warbler was singing but unfortunately stayed far too high for us to enjoy. We also enjoyed the rare and state endangered Pink Lady Slipper Orchid. After the sun had risen sufficiently, we headed back down and birded some different territories, looking for breeding species. This was very successful and we picked up Kentucky, Worm-eating, Hooded and Cerulean Warblers.

This Acadian Flycatcher allowed close and prolonged study.

At lunchtime, we enjoyed a picnic on top of a ridge with a scenic overlook whilst being serenaded by Cerulean and Tennessee Warblers. The afternoon was full of more warblers and also some other colorful species like Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush and White-eyed Vireo. As we explored the vast forest, we could hear the song of the Acadian Flycatcher, but it took a while before we could get a visual from a very accommodating bird. The rest of the afternoon was spent back near the lodge and cabins. We had an amazing encounter with an extremely territorial Pine Warbler which nearly collided with our heads as he flew along singing! After dinner at the lodge, we met up in the parking lot to listen for Eastern Whip-poor-will. As we were waiting for the sun to set, a few Common Nighthawks flew by overhead and the Chimney Swifts circled around before going to roost. Once it was dark, we managed to hear several Eastern Whip-poor-wills calling and even found one sitting in the road for a moment! This was another great day in the amazing Shawnee Forest.

Day 5, 11th May 2022. Shawnee State Park and back up north

The morning started off with some birding around the lodge and cabins. Cerulean Warblers were singing all around the lodge and we saw our first Blackpoll Warbler of the trip, as well as a small flock of Cedar Waxwings. We headed back to the lodge to have breakfast and pack up our things. After loading the van, we made another quick stop along Route 1 to target a more southern breeding warbler that we still needed. It didn’t take long for us to find a Louisiana Waterthrush. We watched this bird fly up and down along the fast-moving stream for some time before heading out and starting the long drive back north.

The afternoon was spent around Maumee Bay State Park between the beach and the boardwalk. At the inland beach, we picked up Caspian and Forster’s Tern, both new for the trip. It was a pleasant evening for a stroll along the Maumee boardwalk, where we netted eight warbler species, including a few new ones like the glowing Prothonotary Warbler and the chestnut-cheeked Cape May Warbler. Some non-warbler species included Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Tree Swallow and two different roosting Common Nighthawks. We finished our walk and headed back to the lodge for a nice dinner.  We were already up to 26 species of warblers for the trip and were all excited about what the improved weather would mean for the rest of our time along Lake Erie.

This Northern Waterthrush put on a nice show, strutting around for a minute.

Day 6, 12th May 2022. Oak Openings and Magee Marsh

This morning we headed west and made a stop at Cannonball Prairie, a small park. The prairie and grasslands were fantastic for sparrows and we were not disappointed as we picked up White-crowned, Henslow’s, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows. There were also some Orchard Orioles flying around and a couple of Tennessee Warblers feasting on the nectar of nearby flowers. After this great start to our day, we headed over to the amazing oak-savannah habitat of Oak Opening Metropark. This vast park hosted a few breeding species we were still needing. We stopped at tornado alley first, for a quick walk and it yielded one of the absolutely best warblers, a Golden-winged Warbler singing periodically and giving all of us nice, prolonged views. Further up the trail we came across Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager and Red-headed Woodpecker. Continuing our way through the park, a quick stop in the sandier area netted us Lark and Field Sparrows as well as Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch and Nashville Warbler. We made another stop in the northern section of the park when, from the van window, we heard a singing Blue-winged Warbler. We got out of the van and all had a nice view. This was another great pickup and then it was off to lunch.

The post-lunch plan was to head to the Magee Marsh boardwalk and spend the afternoon there. Activity had certainly increased since earlier in the week, with 15 warbler species! Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Magnolia and Prothonotary Warblers were all observed at such close range that we didn’t even need binoculars to see their beauty and detail. This was all part of the wonder of this area. A skulking Wilson’s Warbler was also added to our warbler list and a Veery in the parking lot area was another nice addition to our trip list. After a nice dinner, we met up at dusk to venture onto some fields near Maumee lodge. As darkness fell, we heard the “peents” of the American Woodcock sounding off and caught a glimpse of it circling high in the air making its display. With a little patience, we eventually got it for a short time in our torch light as it perched along a mowed path. This was a great close to an action-packed day.

Day 7, 13th May 2022.  More Magee Marsh and Howard Marsh

On our final full day of the trip, we headed back to Magee Marsh to see what new goodies had dropped in overnight.  Birding was excellent and we managed to see 59 species in about three hours, including 19 warblers! Everywhere we turned our heads there was a new bird to be seen. To name just a few, we observed Magnolia, Bay-breasted, American Yellow, Palm, Black-throated Green, Wilson’s, Cape May and Nashville Warblers, plus Scarlet Tanager, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Swainson’s Thrush and Brown Thrasher. All of these species were common as we walked and saw multiples of each, most of which were very close up. We also managed to get on a few special species that did require some patience. A Mourning Warbler made brief appearances as it hid in the dense vegetation, but eventually we all managed a glimpse or more. Additionally, a few Canada Warblers were hanging around, but all of them were being sneaky and difficult to see. With patience and determination, we got on one of these gorgeous birds. Towards the end of our walk, we spotted a Northern Waterthrush strutting its stuff along the forest floor, searching for food. It was fun watching the waterthrush do its thing.

After lunch we headed to Howard Marsh, a new park where some fantastic species have been recorded. We picked up Pied-billed Grebe, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Lesser Scaup, Dunlin, Common Tern, Osprey and Bald Eagle. We also spotted a couple of rare breeding birds (for Ohio) that have made good use of this marsh recently: Yellow-headed Blackbird and Black-necked Stilt. In the early evening, we checked out a different area of Magee Marsh called the Estuary Trail. More amazing warbler action was had as we explored this trail, with Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted and American Yellow Warblers all over the place. Towards the end of the trail, there was a big commotion amongst other birders, who were looking at a Kirtland’s Warbler. We hurried there and enjoyed some point-blank views of this special warbler, sometimes less than 15 feet (5 meters) from us! The warblers were fantastic, but there were also some other nice species including Eastern Kingbird, Least Flycatcher and Veery. On our way out, we spotted a stunning Philadelphia Vireo which allowed us close views so that we could really study the key features before it flew off. We couldn’t wish for a better final evening to our warbler tour than this and we headed off to dinner to celebrate.

Philadelphia Vireo

Day 8, 14th May 2022. Departure

Our final morning offered a short optional birding session around the boardwalk of Maumee Bay State Park before breakfast. It was a bit of an overcast morning and the birding was slow. The usual Prothonotary Warblers which breed in this area were out and about and we were treated to a weeping Great Crested Flycatcher. At the end of our walk, just before turning back, we spotted an amazing family of Eastern Screech-Owls! We found mom, dad and four little fluffball babies scattered near the nesting cavity they had recently left. On our walk back we got onto a Hairy Woodpecker which was new for the trip and ended up being species number 150, a lovely round number to end the trip with! After our walk we met up with those who had stayed behind, grabbed some breakfast, packed our things and headed back to the Detroit airport where we said our goodbyes after a truly fantastic week of birding in Ohio.

Bird ListFollowing IOC (12.1)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. Species seen only on the pre-trip day of this trip are marked with (+) after the common name.

The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.

Common Name Scientific Name
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
Gadwall Mareca strepera
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
 
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus
 
Swifts (Apodidae)
Chimney Swift – VU Chaetura pelagica
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
   
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove (Introduced) Columba livia
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Sora Porzana carolina
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
American Coot Fulica americana
 
Cranes (Gruidae)
Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis
 
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
 
Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
 
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Grey (Black-bellied) Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Dunlin Calidris alpina
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri
Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Ospreys (Pandionidae)
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Owls (Strigidae)
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Eastern Screech Owl Megascops asio
 
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Leuconotopicus villosus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Eastern Wood Pewee Contopus virens
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis (Vireonidae)
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Crows, Jays, and Magpies (Corvidae)
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Waxwings (Bombycillidae)
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice (Paridae)
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Larks (Alaudidae)
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
Swallows (Hirundinidae)
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Purple Martin Progne subis
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
American Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae)
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
Nuthatches (Sittidae)
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae)
Grey Catbird Salpinctes obsoletus
Northern Mockingbird Catherpes mexicanus
Brown Thrasher Cistothorus palustris
 
Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae)
Common (European) Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Thrushes and Allies (Turdidae)
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
Wood Thrush (H) Hylocichla mustelina
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Veery Catharus fuscescens
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae)
House Finch (Introduced) Haemorhous mexicanus
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
 
New World Sparrows (Passerellidae)
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Henslow’s Sparrow Centronyx henslowii
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
 
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteriidae)
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
 
New World Warblers (Parulidae)
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum
Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia
Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
Kirtland’s Warbler (Rarity) Setophaga kirtlandii
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina
Cerulean Warbler Setophaga cerulea
Northern Parula Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
American Yellow Warbler Setophaga aestiva
Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus
Myrtle Warbler Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla
   
Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae)
Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
 
Total Seen 149
Total Heard 1
Total Recorded 150

 

Mammal List

Common Name Scientific Name
Squirrels and Relatives (Sciuridae)
Woodchuck Marmota monax
Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger
Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus
Rodents (Cricetidae)
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae)
Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
Raccoons and Relatives (Procyonidae)
Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor
Deer, Elk, Mooses (Cervidae)
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
Total Seen 8

 

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