Magee Marsh - Ohio & Michigan : May 2011 (part 1)

Back in May 2011 I visited the North American Birding Hotspot of Magee Marsh on the southern shore of Lake Erie in North Ohio. This site is roughly opposite Point Pelee in Ontario, Canada. A few years prior Magee had come to prominence for UK birders and after a little research I decided to give it a go with Pete Livermore. 

Overall Magee Marsh and the surrounding birding locales was, I found, an excellent place to see most of the North American warblers on migration and given the weather, strong onshore winds with rain, during the trip many warblers were very low down in the trees, being head height and at arms length. Whilst excellent views were obtained the poor light did make photography difficult but who cares when birding is this good. Visits were made to other nearby sites, mainly to get away from the crowds on the boardwalks at Magee due to the event known as the 'Biggest Week in American Birding'. 

Place such as Maumee, Oak Openings, Ottawa, East Harbour State Park were often full of birds and few birders. 

We concluded the trip with a few days in Michigan to target the rare and localised Kirtlands Warbler and were managed to see a couple during a foggy morning but the birding around the Amish Lands was superb, natural meadows full of Bobolinks and for me bird of the trip, the displaying Upland Sandpipers right next to the car. 

So here are a selection of birds which makes this locale a 'must visit' for any birder that loves migration and north american birding.


One thing is for certain; you can't miss the sign



Wilson's Warbler

American Redstart (male and female)


Bay-breasted Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler


Black-throated Green Warbler

Canada Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler


Magnolia Warbler


Nashville Warbler

Northern Parula


Ovenbird

Prothonotary Warbler


Yellow Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler


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