Posts in Category: biggest week in american birding
Biggest Week in American Birding! Warbler close-up
Bay-breasted Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2024 — There is nothing like a good close shot of a warbler…in this case a Bay-breasted…like the ones you sometimes get along the Magee Marsh Boardwalk. This shot was only at 538mm equivalent on the M.Zuiko 800mm equivalent zoom, so I was indeed close, zoomed out a ways to fit the bird in the frame. OM System OM-1Mkii in Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding: Success
Black and White Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — I had only a very tiny window in the foliage to work with here, but the Black and White Warbler was close and very busy finding spiders and (dare I hope) ticks. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding! Palm
Palm Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — Still working through my warblers and others from The Biggest Week in American Birding this past May. This Palm Warblers posed so nicely who could resist? OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 736mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding! caterpillar catcher
Prothonotary Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2024 — A Prothonotary Warbler doing what it does…finding and eating some kind of tiny caterpillar in the undergrowth. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding! Eye to Eye
Blackburnian Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — The pattern on the top of the Blackburnian’s head is rarely seen, as this warbler is almost always well above eye-level. Here it tipped its head to get a good look at me, or maybe at its own reflection in my lens (or maybe it was not looking at me at all and I just happened to be in line with some insect it was after). OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 776mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding! Red-head vs Tree Swallow
Red-headed Woodpecker and Tree Swallow: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — There was at at least one pair of very active Red-headed Woodpeckers, possibly more, between the Boardwalk and the parking area at Magee. I photographed this one having a dispute over the ownership of a nest cavity with a Tree Swallow (a more common occurrence than you might think) in the band of trees between the parking and the lake, one lunch time. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding! more Chestnuts
Chestnut-sided Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — Chestnut-sided Warblers were among the most abundant warblers at Magee this year. They often are, but the lack of numbers among other species really made it stand out this year. As usual, the Chestnut-sided was also among the most photographically cooperative, feeding at and below eye-level and right next to the boardwalk, though the leaves this year made more challenging. I have lots of photos of Chestnut-sided. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding: Blackburnian Song
Blackburnian Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — Looking back through my photos from the Biggest Week in American Birding, I have, actually, quite a few shots of Blackburnian Warbler, one of my favorites, even though I am pretty sure I only saw 3 individuals. Here he is in full song. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator. The Blackburnian, by the way, is one of the birds due for a name change, since it was named after a person, Anna Blackburne, an English naturalist. And it is one of those birds for which I can not imagine a better name 🙁
Biggest Week in American Birding! Memorial Day Eagle
Bald Eagle: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Crane Creek State Park, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — A pair of Eagles has nested over the parking area at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area for many years now. Last year there were at least 2 other nests in immediate area, but this year only the original nest seems to be active. The Eagles are very present, and a big draw for the tourists who get tired of looking for, and even at the small warblers along the boardwalk that have all the birders so excited. I mean an Eagle is an Eagle! And what better day to post an Eagle than on Memorial Day, when our thoughts go out to those who have served and died. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. I had switched to Program mode with my custom birds in flight and action modifications just in cast the Eagle flew…which it was showing signs of doing. Processed in Photomator.
Biggest Week in American Birding: Veery
Veery: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Crane Creek State Park, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2024 — It is not all warblers at Magee Marsh, of course. There were, besides Robins of course, several different thrushes showing along the boardwalk, different days during the Biggest Week. This Veery was almost under the boardwalk, only a few feet out in the dense tangle between the boardwalk and the channel at the east end. Seeing it as no problem. Photographing it took some effort to find an open line of sight. OM System OM-1Mkii with M.Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.