Lake Erie Weekend Whimbrel

Labor Day weekend started out hot, but quickly turned to stormy on Sunday. The lake was really throwing its best rollers at the Lakeside dock- which had to be closed. Most tourists headed home, but this is my favorite time on Lake Erie!

Angry clouds and wind stir the waves. The power of storms on the lake is surreal. And you never know what might drop in...

A lone Whimbrel showed up at Lorain Harbor.

It casually put on quite a show as he strolled through the grass in search of tasty bugs and worms.

Whimbrels dwarf the other mud-flat visitors, like this Sanderling. These jumbo-sized birds seem to drop into shore habitat for very brief visits during their fall migration. Generally it is touch down, feed a bit and off again. They rarely hang around long, perhaps the high winds and foul weather kept this bird grounded longer than usual.

The waves were really pounding the exterior walls of the harbor, but it was well worth the buffeting we took by the wind to see this bird!

Meanwhile, back in Lakeside- the birds are gathering in the park for a convention. I think it is called Midwest BIRD Symposium. No vendors or speakers, but the Lakeside hospitality is a draw.

And remember the first snapshot? That's Kelleys Island, we'll be headed there on Sunday of the Midwest Birding Symposium. I hope you will be with us!

The Kelleys Island ferry is plenty big enough to withstand almost any weather Lake Erie might throw at us. The locals call it "BOB" (Big Orange Boat).

Lakeside is ready to roll out the red carpet for 1000 birders coming to MBS, and I can't wait to share my old hometown with all of you! Hope to see you there!

Like Traveling?

Like traveling? So do I! But unfortunately it leaves me with a jumbo sized carbon footprint, and admittedly, a bit of guilt as an environmentalist.

This is why I agreed to work the booth at the upcoming Midwest Birding Symposuim! If you are wondering about your carbon footprint, and would like a way to "offset" it, consider giving a donation to acquire more land at Meadowbrook Marsh.

Paying a few bucks for your carbon foot print might not save the world, but it is certainly a start. Conserving property at this marsh in Marblehead, Ohio is a worthy cause.

Plan a visit to Meadowbrook Marsh while you are at the symposium, and you will see just how special it is!

Now- download this form and complete it. You'll be helping in so many ways!

Got Carbon? Let MBS help you offset it.

Sky Fishing at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

As with any good fishing story, this one starts at sunrise. The Friday morning kick-off of Midwest Birding I was the local guide for Paul Baicich and Wayne Petersen. Oh yeah, throw me in the brier patch.

The sun was just creeping into the sky as we drove out on the dikes to meet the experts in shorebird banding. For the botany lovers, this vegetation is your basic wetland fare: Marsh-mallow- Althaea officinalis, Smartweeds- Polygonum sp., Cat-tails- Tphya sp., and Beggar's-ticks Biden cernua dominated this scene.

Clad in high waders, Tom Kashmer carefully works his way out to the sky nets. This scientific expedition is is all about collecting data on the comings and goings of shorebirds, but first, they must be caught in the nets.

Once the birds are safely retrieved from the nets, Tom and Tom gather the details, weight, wing length, fat-reserves and so and on. The bird receives a souvenir band, as the guys pledge to love, honor and cherish....

Tom Barlett holds a Wilson's Snipe for our inspection. One never tires of seeing birds close-up, details we know only as blurry field-marks are wonderfully clear at this distance.

The dowitchers and snipe have amazingly flexible bills. It comes in very handy while probing in the mud for tasty treats.

After the paparazzi finish with photos, (Bird Chick in the foreground) the birds are released unharmed and sent on their merry way.

Thanks to Tom and Tom for this marvelous adventure, and Dana Bolin and Micheal Bolton (the Ottawa census guy, not the singer) for this opportunity to visit the dikes for some sky fishing and a morning of a lifetime.

MBS: Dawn at the Marblehead Lighthouse

Sunrise off the Marblehead lighthouse is beautiful to behold, and it was especially wonderful to share with some of my Midwest Birding Symposium friends. The bloggers were out in droves, certainly Nina fom Nature Remains and Kathi at Kat-Doc got great photos too. Be sure to check their posts, along with Jim McCormac's Birds and Biodiversity- who has the first of his posts up already.

Dawn at the Marblehead Lighthouse (click to enlarge)

As an Bald Eagle flew overhead, the shush of the waves lapped the shore, balancing the incredible beauty of dawn's first light, and it was just one of the highlights of MBS. Now multiply that feeling by 5, and you'll get and idea of the high of 800 participants (especially for those of us who saw the Kirtland's Warbler).

Thanks to the many, many volunteers from all over the state- without them we could not have done MBS. Special thanks to Bill , Ann, Laura and Katbird from Birdwatcher's Digest for pulling the strings to make this event go. And the incredible OOS Team: Jen, Jim, Marc, Judy, Andrea, Ann and Dana for the many months of work that went into the event. Thanks also to Lakeside and their awesome team! Hope to see you all again in 2011!

Follow the signs to MBS

Short post due to a long day! We have been working away in Lakeside to prepare for every little detail for this weekend's Midwest Birding Symposium. Many of the guides have rolled in, and we are looking forward to the convergence of 800 birders in one of the most scenic towns on Lake Erie. I'll make a better attempt for some birds and plants tomorrow.

So drive safely and once you get to Lakeside- follow these signs to Hoover Auditorium on Third St.

We'll be happy to sign you in for the most fun you can have legally. Oh yeah, and golf carts- and SEGWAYS! 'Cause that's the way we roll!

PS to Bloggers: Come see me if you need internet, and I will let you log on with my air-card! Gotta keep those blogs up and running!

Red Knot- not red

By briefly interrupting the family vacation at Lakeside, a short trip to Maumee Bay State Park beach produced some spectacular looks at a not red Red Knot. This juvenile has been hanging out with the holiday weekend sun-worshipers and it was too good, and too close, to miss!

The Red Knot probes shallow water in search of a meal. (click on photo to enlarge) Thanks to Kenn Kaufman and Janet Creamer for assisting in the finer points of identification of a fall bird. Kenn mentioned last week's two juvenile Red Knots at Pickeral Creek wore more of a silvery sheen than this one, but the distinctively barred flanks and a gray rump when in flight are key markers.

This juvenile Sanderling is a good size comparison for the somewhat larger knot. Both birds were foraging not far from small flock of Ring-billed Gulls, who were nearly twice as large in size: about 9-10" for the knot and 17" for the gulls. We had a great opportunity to study them at our leisure.

Another beautiful day on the Lake Erie shoreline, add in the mix the Caspian Terns in various plumages, and I am really getting reved for Midwest Birding! Bring it on!