I had to run a work-related errand to Lake Erie today (Saturday 4/30/05), and was not intending to go birdwatching due to the weather forecasts for rain.  As I left Columbus it seemed that the weather forecasts were right on track as it was dark and overcast.  About halfway to the lake the sun began to make an appearance and I thought there might be a chance to actually fit some birding in.

 

Once I completed my errand the sun was out and it looked like the rain would hold off so I decided to go ahead and visit the lake.  I started my visit to the lake on Stange & Krause Rds.  From there I headed to Metzger Marsh, and then to Magee Marsh/Crane Creek.  For just casual birding I didn't do too badly.  I picked up just over 70 species which includes such notables as AMERICAN BITTERN, SNOWY EGRET, and LITTLE BLUE HERON.  Unfortunately time didn't permit me to be more ambitious in my search.  I didn't get the chance to visit Ottawa NWR, or Maumee Bay state park, or any of the side roads that normally harbor shorebirds.

 

I missed a few species that were reported throughout the day including Eurasian Wigeon, Golden Plovers, and Black-&-White Warbler.

 

Things were still pretty slow along the lake, probably due to recent weather trends.

 

Below is my list for the day.  Some of the species have photos associated with them.

 

Enjoy!

 

Casey

http://caseybirdphotos.blogspot.com/

 

 

Pied-billed Grebe	

Double-crested Cormorant	

AMERICAN BITTERN	

LITTLE BLUE HERON    http://photos1.blogger.com/img/276/4443/1024/IMG_0702.jpg 	

SNOWY EGRET	

Great Egret	

Great Blue Heron	

Turkey Vulture	

Tundra Swan	

Canada Goose	

Wood duck	

Mallard	

Gadwall	

Green-winged Teal	

American Wigeon	

Blue-winged Teal	

Bufflehead	

Northtern Harrier	

Bald Eagle	

Cooper's Hawk	

Red-tailed Hawk	

Ring-necked Pheasant	

Sora	

COMMON MOORHEN   http://photos1.blogger.com/img/276/4443/1024/IMG_0729.jpg 	

American Coot	

Killdeer	

Greater Yellowlegs	

Wilson's Snipe	

American Woodcock  http://photos1.blogger.com/img/276/4443/1024/IMG_0718.jpg	

Ring-billed Gull	

Forster's Tern	

Mourning Dove	

Rock Pigeon	

Northern Flicker	

Red-bellied Woodpecker	

Downy Woodpecker	

Empidonax sp.	

Warbling Vireo (heard)	

Blue Jay	

American Crow	

Horned Lark	

Tree Swallow	

Barn Swallow  http://photos1.blogger.com/img/276/4443/1024/IMG_0749.jpg 	

Winter Wren	

Carolina Wren	

Ruby-crowned Kinglet	

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	

Hermit Thrush	

American Robin	

Brown Thrasher	

European Starling	

Prothonotary Warbler	

Yellow-rumped Warbler	

Pine Warbler	

Palm Warbler	

Yellow Warbler	

Field Sparrow	

Chipping Sparrow	

Savannah Sparrow http://photos1.blogger.com/img/276/4443/1024/IMG_0762.jpg	

Song Sparrow	

Swamp Sparrow	

White-throated Sparrow	

White-crowned Sparrow	

Northern Cardinal	

Eastern Meadowlark	

Red-winged Blackbird	

Common Grackle	

Brown-headed Cowbird	

House Finch	

American Goldfinch	

House Sparrow