Lawrence Woods Nature Preserve near Kenton Ohio held a surprise...sort of...today.  Two Yellow-breasted Chats came in over the past couple of days and look like they are deciding to stay in the field behind the boardwalk.  I heard them well before I got to them. :-D 

Also got a couple of the woodland birds as well.

Pictures below.

Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-breasted Chat; Lawrence Woods, Kenton OhioYellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-breasted Chat in Flight!

Yellow-breasted Chat; Lawrence Woods, Kenton OhioYellow-breasted Chat

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo; Lawrence Woods, Kenton OHRed-eyed Vireo

Acadian Flycatcher

Acadian Flycatcher, Lawrence Woods, Kenton OhioAcadian Flycatcher

Sola Deo Gloria

To God Alone Be The Glory!

Hey! Work was canceled today due to supplier issues...what to do, what to do...I know! Lets go birding!!!

There were Wilson's Phalaropes being reported near me up at Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area.  So I jumped at the chance to go up and get a few shots of them.  Sky was overcast, rain was coming in, but I did get a couple of shots.  Hopefully it will stick around for a little while longer.

(Click on any of the pictures to go to the gallery to see more.)

Phalarope with a Lessor Yellowlegs

Wilson's Phalarope; Killdeer Plains WAWilson's Phalarope

In the weeds!

Wilson's Phalarope; Killdeer Plains WAWilson's Phalarope

At least he gave me some contrasting background. :-D

Wilson's Phalarope; Killdeer Plains WAWilson's Phalarope

Sola Deo Gloria

To God Alone Be The Glory!

Well, my trip to Magee Marsh this year was definitely one to remember.  My best ever totals for both day and trip. On Friday I had 97 species Saturday I had 91.  For the trip I had 113.  My normal lists are usually half that...because I am usually talking I think. :-D

I set a goal to find an Orange-crowned Warbler and maybe a Pine Warbler...The Orange Crowned is my last Warbler species that I need for the eastern US.  The Pine, I just need better pics of.  I dipped on both, because basically I was a day late.  Everything flew out Thursday.  I knew it was going to be close...Oh well, maybe next year. :-D

I didn't let dipping on my goal ruin my trip...There were plenty of birds there waiting to be photographed. :-D  Some rare for Magee, most not.  I have discovered when setting goals in birding photography, as well as in life, that yes goals are important, and eventually you will get there if that is the path that God has given you to walk...but don't ignore the journey...sometimes, the journey is better than the goal. :-)

Below are just some of the birds that I photographed...I am still going through them all.  So I'll post more later. :-)

(Click on the photo to go to the gallery.)

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler; Magee Marsh, Lake Erie OhioMagnolia Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian WarblerBlackburnian Warbler

The ever present American Redstart

Male American RedstartMale American Redstart Female American RedstartFemale American Redstart

Black and White Warbler

Black and White WarblerBlack and White Warbler

Canada Warbler

Canada WarblerCanada Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided WarblerChestnut-sided Warbler

A Wilson's Warbler

Wilson's WarblerWilson's Warbler

Finally, the rare for Magee; Kentucky Warbler

Kentucky WarblerKentucky Warbler

Though the Warblers were the major attraction, there were other really cool birds there that are usually too shy to get good photographs of. 

The Common Moorhen, for example are in wetlands almost everywhere.   However they are hard to see because they are super shy.  While up at Magee, I went over to one of the marshes, and was fortunate enough to one out in the open.

Common MoorhenCommon Moorhen

And this super little Eastern Screech Owl was doing his best to just blend in.

Eastern Screech OwlEastern Screech Owl

Like I said earlier, these were but just a few of the birds I saw.  If you ever have a weekend off in May, Magee Marsh is definitely a place to go and witness God's glory in nature.

Sola Deo Gloria

To God Alone Be The Glory!