Prothonotary Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2022 — Some years at the Biggest Week in American Birding the Prothonotary Warblers, who nest at the marsh, don’t show up until the last days of the festival. Other years they are already there when the birder’s arrive. This was one of those years, at least the second week of the Biggest Week when I visited, when I saw my first Prothonotary on my first day…and when there were at lest 4 pairs building nests along the boardwalk. One pair was even building a nest on the boardwalk, in a cavity between an upright post and the rail. The wardens had to put highway cones and incident tape around it to protect it from the hordes of birders. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 and 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Prothonotary Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2022 — Some years at the Biggest Week in American Birding the Prothonotary Warblers, who nest at the marsh, don’t show up until the last days of the festival. Other years they are already there when the birder’s arrive. This was one of those years, at least the second week of the Biggest Week when I visited, when I saw my first Prothonotary on my first day…and when there were at lest 4 pairs building nests along the boardwalk. One pair was even building a nest on the boardwalk, in a cavity between an upright post and the rail. The wardens had to put highway cones and incident tape around it to protect it from the hordes of birders. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 and 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Blue-winged Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2022 — This bird was playing hide and seek in the foliage and blossoms of the Apple tree along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh. Confident folks standing with me were identifying this warbler as a “Golden-winged” presumably because of the yellow tint to the wing bars, but it is very likely a first year female Blue-winged. There is a chance it is a hybrid, but I feel better about just calling it a Blue-winged. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 and 200 @ f4 @ 1/640th to 1/500th.

Chestnut-sided Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2022 — Chestnut-sided Warblers gave Magnolias a run for their money, numbers wise, on many days during this year’s Biggest Week in American Birding. And they are another bird that forages at eye-level and close to the boardwalk, as well as being very photogenic. What’s not to like! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .7 EV.

Magnolia Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2022 — The Magnolia Warbler seemed to be the default warbler during the second week of the Biggest Week in American Birding, at least along the boardwalk at Magee. There were more than I ever remember seeing there. And it is such a striking bird. And you have to look at every single one you see, just to make sure it is not, well, the bird you would rather see (Kirtland’s). So the Magnolias keep you busy (and wake). This is all good. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.

Black-throated Green Warbler: Magee Marsh Boardwalk, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2022 — Often among the most numerous and photogenic of the warblers at Magee every May, the Black-throated Green tends to feed right at eye-level and to favor the edges along the boardwalk. This year was no different…though this year it was outnumbered by Magnolia Warblers for the first time in my memory…perhaps it has something to do with the habit changes at Magee. This is adult male in full glorious plumage. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f5 and f5.6 @ 1/1000th.