Midwest Birding Symposium!
This year's Midwest Birding Symposium was held in Lakeside, Ohio and organized by Bird Watcher's Digest. The event was a huge success with over 700 registrants. Although there were no fall-outs to speak of there was a first-year male Kirtland's Warbler found at East Harbor State Park just around the corner from the festival and was the thirst state record of this species for fall. That bird created massive excitment and at times there were over a hundred birders stomping around the area looking for the bird on the trail it was found. Most everyone got great looks on the bird, but yours truly must wait for another day to get his life Kirtland's. Bummer!
I stayed in Marblehead, OH at Lake Point Motel where the owners, Beth and Keith, took great care of me and everyone else staying there. For 50 bucks a nigh it couldn't be beat. I looked out my door each morning to the crashing waves of Lake Erie and a tremendous view. This being my first time up here it was quite the delight. The fall weather was fantastic and the birding was just as good. Good laughs, great people, and a well organized event made for a terrific weekend. Thanks to Bill Thompson III and company for putting up a tremendous effort.
The show floor was packed just about round the clock and the optics vendors were very busy. I had the opportunity to show off our new Nikon EDG Fieldscopes and EDG binoculars while working the booth. The stunning yet unknown country of Guatemala was right next to me and gave me a chance to get re-acquainted with my good friends from Latin America.
The birding was good, but regular for this area. On my first visit to Magee Marsh (home of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory), I had seen some new things that I often do not see like Bay-breasted Warbler and Gray-cheeked Thrush (they come through in mast years on the eastern Colorado plains). However, the most common bird there were Black-throated Green Warblers (BTGR), shown above. This first-fall female jumped out in front of me and after some quick squeaking to entice the bird closer, it jumped right in front of my camera. Although, the foliage stopped me from taking great shots, this photo allows for a good study.
The most likely culprits for confusion would be Golden-cheeked Warbler and Townsend's Warbler. Black-throated Green Warbler is the only Dendroica genus warbler (that looks like this) to have a yellow lower belly. The Golden-cheeked and Townsend's are pure white in that area. Golden-cheeked doesn't have the contrasting auriculars, but rather a faint eye-line protruding from the eye back. There is the range to consider as well since a Golden-cheeked Warbler in Ohio this time of year would create quite a stir nationally. Also, the Townsend's migrates using the higher elevations into the foothills whereas BTGRs tend to stick to the lower elevation migrant traps. Townsend's is a possibility out west like here in Colorado, but the auriculars are sharply defined even in a first-fall female. Look at the ear coverts in the photo above. Would you consider them contrasting? Notice the yellow on the lower flank and belly!
Thanks for reading and please check back. My target bird of the trip was Philadelphia Vireo, so I will let you know my results in the next post. Good Birding to all!
The most likely culprits for confusion would be Golden-cheeked Warbler and Townsend's Warbler. Black-throated Green Warbler is the only Dendroica genus warbler (that looks like this) to have a yellow lower belly. The Golden-cheeked and Townsend's are pure white in that area. Golden-cheeked doesn't have the contrasting auriculars, but rather a faint eye-line protruding from the eye back. There is the range to consider as well since a Golden-cheeked Warbler in Ohio this time of year would create quite a stir nationally. Also, the Townsend's migrates using the higher elevations into the foothills whereas BTGRs tend to stick to the lower elevation migrant traps. Townsend's is a possibility out west like here in Colorado, but the auriculars are sharply defined even in a first-fall female. Look at the ear coverts in the photo above. Would you consider them contrasting? Notice the yellow on the lower flank and belly!
Thanks for reading and please check back. My target bird of the trip was Philadelphia Vireo, so I will let you know my results in the next post. Good Birding to all!
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