Pic of the Day

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica: Magee Marsh, Ohio

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica: Magee Marsh, Ohio

     When the warblers arrive at Magee Marsh they are ravenous, leaping from branch to branch searching for any morsel of food that they can find.  I photographed this Chestnut-sided as he snatched an insect from under a leaf during its search.  Magee is a very important stopover for Neotropical migrants during migration.  Its wooded acreage provides thousands upon thousands of migrating birds essential nourishment needed to continue their journey north.

     Warblers at Magee are difficult to photograph.  Though they are many in number, they are extremely active as the flit to and fro.  They never seem to stay in one place for more than a second. I take hundreds of photographs hoping to get a few good images.

All Photos: Nikon D800, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, 1/1000 second @ F5.6

Pic of the Day

White-eyed Vireo, Vireo griseus; Magee Marsh, Ohio

     America's Biggest Birding Week is taking place right now at Magee Marsh, just east of Toledo, Ohio.  The birds are moving through in large numbers and varieties.  Over the last six days I have seen more than a dozen different warbler species and four species of vireo's, including this White-eyed Vireo.  Lots of other passerines are passing through as well.  The Biggest Birding Week will go for twelve days or so, but migrants will continue to pass through until the end of the month at Magee Marsh.  Enjoy the spring migration!

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/400 second @ f 7.1