Fall is Finally Here! Sept. 8-14th

A strong cold front pushed through this week and brought migration with it. Twenty warbler species were captured and/or observed this week including Black-and-white Warbler (BAWW), Prothonotary Warbler (PROW), Tennessee Warbler (TEWA), Nashville Warbler (NAWA), Yellow Warbler (YEWA), Magnolia Warbler (MAWA), Cape May Warbler (CMWA), Black-throated Blue Warbler (BTBW), Black-throated Green (BTNW), Blackburnian (BLBW), Chestnut-sided (CSWA), Bay-breasted (BBWA), Blackpoll (BLPW), Ovenbird (OVEN), Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Connecticut (CONW), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), Wilson's (WIWA), Canada (CAWA), and American Redstart (AMRE). All five brown thrushes we would expect visited as well. A large push of BBWAs and MAWAs arrived on 13 September following the cold front with most leaving that evening as numbers dropped off considerably on Sunday. BLPWS continue to pick up, and a pleasant surprise of a returning banded adult female Blackpoll Warbler from fall 2013 was recorded. Further support that the Lake Erie Marsh Region is important to this long distance migrant.

Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warblers can be difficult to tell apart in fall plumage. The opportunity to have the birds in hand, with a good view of different field marks, can assist you in identifying more BBWAs and BLPWs in the field.

BBWA left BLPW right

 Note the dark streaking on the BLPW flanks and back whereas the BBWA has comparatively little. The photo below shows the front of these two species and demonstrates the subtlety of the streaks on the BBWA and the more distinctive streaking of the BLPW.

BBWA left and BLPW right

BBWA

Note darker and heavier streaking on the back of the BLPW 

One of the striking differences is the feet and leg coloration of the BBWA and BLPW. Surprisingly, leg color can often be observed in the field and can assist in accurate identification. While the color may not register, the light reflective color of the BLPW and dull light absorbing of the BBWA can often be picked up by your eyes providing an indication to the species. See Below:

BBWA feet and legs are a gray color when compared to BLPW below

BLPW have browner legs with yellow on the pads of the feet, which can often be seen in the field.

We do not get many of the forest resident guild along the beach ridge. Species such as Black-capped Chickadee (BCCH), White-breasted Nuthatch (WBNU), and Tufted Titmouse (TUTI) seem to avoid the lakefront for most of the year due to the lake-effect cold of the winter. However, we have seen an influx of these species over the last few years. The beach ridge may be a dispersal habitat rich in food during the critical time of fall migration.

It is easy to tell males from females on Nuthatches by their head color. Females have a pewter gray head and males have a solid black cap.

WBNU female: Note the gray cap, and the specialized bill shape for extracting insects from under tree  bark

WBNU male with black cap

The coming week should result in an increase in the numbers of Blackpolls and thrushes. With our first Ruby-crowned Kinglet showing up this week, we anticipate their arrival as well. And White-throated Sparrow numbers will begin to increase, too.

Get outside and enjoy the diversity of fall migration. Public banding demonstration is this Saturday at BSBO from 10 AM to 11:30 AM.

First Week of September Brings in a Few New Species

CAWA- hatching year male
Making their final appearance in NW Ohio for the year

This week brought some northerly winds giving the appearance of fall with thrushes arriving in moderate numbers. Diversity was still punctuated by 'one of this and one of that' species, which included 15 species of warbler (Black-and-white Warbler (BAWW), Tennessee Warbler (TEWA), Magnolia Warbler (MAWA), Black-throated Blue Warbler (BTBW), Chestnut-sided Warbler (CSWA), Bay-breasted Warbler (BBWA), Blackpoll Warbler (BLPW), Ovenbird (OVEN), Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Connecticut Warbler (CONW), Mourning Warbler (MOWA), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), Wilson's Warbler (WIWA), Canada Warbler (CAWA), and American Redstart (AMRE). Blackpoll Warblers have started their influx southward and their numbers will be increasing over the next 3 weeks.

BTBW male


Identifying flycatchers can be challenging. Here you have a small flycatcher with no eye ring, wing bars, and bi-colored beak (upper mandible is dark and lower is light, usually yellow).

EAWP: Note buffy-colored wing bars 

With no eye ring, the head appears dark. The buffy wing bars signify that this is a bird hatched this summer. We aged this bird as a Hatching Year Eastern Wood-Pewee (EAWP).


                                  Other birds of note for the week:

Cedar Waxwing (CEDW): Male has the black throat

CONW: Note the pointed tail (retrices) assisting in the aging of this bird as HY

CONW: because you cannot get enough good looks at this bird!

This coming week we should see an increase in Blackpolls, Magnolias, and Swainson's Thrushes. 

There will be two public banding demonstrations coming up on Saturday, Sept. 20th and Saturday, 27th 10:00 AM at the BSBO headquarters. Come out and see some of these visitors up close and learn about fall migration.

You can also monitor our research data on the BSBO website and read daily migration updates on BSBO's Facebook page.

End of August Brings a Few Surprises

This week brought a brief cold front, but the majority of the week was hot and humid with no favorable winds for migration in the Lake Erie Marsh Region. A few migrants did filter in bringing our first Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and multiple Veeries. Fourteen species of warbler were observed and/or captured this week including Ovenbird (OVEN), Northern Waterthrush (NOWA), Black-and-white Warbler (BAWW), Prothonotary Warbler (PROW), Tennessee Warbler (TEWA), Mourning Warbler (MOWA), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), American Redstart (AMRE), Magnolia Warbler (MAWA), Bay-breasted Warbler (BBWA), Blackburnian Warbler (BLBW), Black-throated Blue Warbler (BTBW), Canada Warbler (CAWA), and Wilson's Warbler (WIWA).

Philadelphia and Warbling Vireo Comparisons

Philadelphia Vireo (PHVI): Note yellow throat and chest

PHVI: Note darker cap emphasizing lighter superciliary line above eye

Warbling Vireo (WAVI): Superciliary line not as apparent (white) on WAVI 

WAVI: Note throat and belly are whitish on WAVI not lemon yellow like the PHVI

While comparing vireos, here are a couple of warblers that could be confused with vireos at first glance:

TEWA: Note bill and head shape that helps separate this from a vireo

BTBW (female): Note bill shape and wing marking

One of the highlights of the week, as shared by volunteer Laura Gooch

After-second-year female Cooper's Hawk with dark cap and orange eyes

Laura captured the best shot of the bird flying away.
Note the band on its leg!

 Next week's forecast appears to be more of the same weather patterns with no apparent cold fronts moving through NW Ohio. Fall migration has begun and one never knows the surprises that await those that get outside. Explore your favorite birding spots and enjoy the first week of September!