Magee Marsh 2009

[Loupey]

We've had a terrific turnout of spring migrants in our yard recently so I was getting antsy to get up to Magee for the annual spring migration.

My son and I made it to Magee this past Sunday, but it was unfortunately a bust with the crazy weather we've been having. Ended up leaving early for the 2 1/2 hour drive home. Turned out we had more desireable birds in our backyard than we saw up there. But I hope to make it up there one more time before it's all over. I'm thinking that this weekend will be peak (but I can't make it up there ).

Anyway, here are a few from the trip with my son:

1 - house wren with nesting material
2 - palm warbler (male)
3 - yellow warbler (female)
4 - yellow-rumped warbler
5 - blue-gray gnatcatcher

But I did see my first blackburnian warbler up there so all was not lost

[Martin Brazil]

As always, a great set of pictures Loupey.

[Loupey]

Martin - thank you.

I received several email postings that Magee today had anywhere from 17 to 29 species of warblers right now.

Anyone within driving distance who wants to see a truly amazing sight should hit Magee right now.

[AgingEyes]

Love the last one !!

[paulnj]

Awesome! Our influx must have been last night sadly....

I sure hope you can get up there soon.

[SARtech]

These are very nice Loupey. I can't pick a favorite, I like them all! (LOVE the head angle on the yellow though)

[tnvol]

I really like the last one. Great pictures!

[Loupey]

AgingEyes, Paul, Kristine, tnvol - thanks for commenting. Yeah that last one is my favorite from that trip.

[Loupey]

So I was monitoring the bird reports and weather from up there earlier this week. Every report is glowing, right? The only day I could get away it was predicted to raining - but starting in the afternoon. So I had to go for it.

On the drive up, I'm watching the skies grow more ominous. I get there armed with my 50D, 500mm, and monopod and hit the outhouses first But the skies were already so thick that nothing makes a distinct shadow (i.e. dark). I managed to squeeze a shot off of a baltimore oriole with just enough light to eek out 1/350s at f/5.6 at ISO 400. Everything else was so dark that I had to keep the shutter speed pegged at 1/250s with the aperture either wide open or stopped down just 1/2 stop (f/4.5) and the ISO cranked to between 400 and 800 - far from ideal.

I had to laugh at the shooting conditions because my DOF was so shallow as I often had to back up to be able to focus close enough. A branch or twig in every shot. Crowds of people so thick at times that you can't walk through it. It doesn't get any more difficult than that, right?

Then it started to rain. The crowds disbursed (which is a good thing) but my gear was totally soaked. Didn't have any rain cover large enough for the gear so I had to keep it inside my jacket (which I couldn't keep closed) and whip it out, mount it on 'pod, and shoot everytime something interesting was nearby. I must say that I'm happy that my 50D didn't short out (the 500mm is heavily gasketed). 11 hours later, I thought I might have a small handful of OK shots.

Of course everyone was telling me the entire day "you should have been here yesterday (with all the birds)"

Anyway, here are a few from that 2nd trip in the order encountered:

1) Baltimore oriole (the fast one at 1/350s )
2) Prothonotary warbler (branches - argggh!)
3) female redstart
4) bay-breasted warbler (just after it started raining)
5) unidentified bird

continued...

[Loupey]

...continuing

6) blackburnian warbler
7) (least?) flycatcher
8) magnolia warbler
9) wilson's warbler
10) yellow warbler

That's my long-winded story.

But I might be able to get away one last chance next week. So we'll see

[OldClicker]

Excellent group of captures even with the foul weather. The Yellow warbler is one of my favorite birds. - TF

[Loupey]

Thanks for looking, OldClicker.

I saw my second ever Eastern Screech during that rainy day. A great-horned nest is in the vicinity and one chick is sometimes visible. The visitors have marked the exact (one) location on the boardwalk where it is possible to see it - but one must stand on a bench and tip-toes to get a halfway decent look at it but at considerable distance.

[AgingEyes]

So many little birds !

And an owl, too !!

All very colorful !!!

[paulnj]

Awesome Loupey and the ID's are all spot on!

[Loupey]

Made it for my third and final trip recently. The weather was awesome (comfortable & blue) but unfortunately the birds didn't think so. It didn't take long to figure out what the tone of the day will be. I overheard one birder telling another "this is the quietest morning all week".

So although I missed those days when the trees are "dripping with warblers" - not an exaggeration btw - I managed a few OK shots and got to see my first mourning warbler. Birders are some of the most social and friendly people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and there were plenty there.

1) Canada warbler (again)
2) Blackburnian warbler (again)
3) Yellow warbler (again)
4) Prothonotary warbler gathering nesting materials (behind grass/weeds unfortunately)
5) Northern parula

[Loupey]

and the non-warblers...

6) flycatcher (another least?)
7) warbling vireo
8) green heron
9) nighthawk (common?)
10) olive-sided flycatcher

So now that the backyard is closed and Magee has peaked, it's macro time and some dragonfly hunting

[paulnj]

The 4th is a WHIP POOR WILL

[A.M.D.A.]

Loupey, absolutely beautiful images... thank you for sharing!

Did you use TC on any of these, and also, are they MF?

[Loupey]

Paul - thanks for the ID :thumbsup:

Alex - thanks for the comments. No TC on any of these. MF on all - I've only posted perhaps 5~6 AF shots here in the N&W forum over the last two years. This place is unique in that the warblers, which normally wouldn't allow me to get within 30'~40' of, will often land in the 6'~10' range. So close in fact that I often just watch because I can't focus that close.