Bird Men Are From Marsh #85-#89

It was around 6:30AM along a gravel road in the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area that I turned to my birding buddy Greg Miller and said, "Have you ever been called a 'bird nerd'? I think we're bird nerds." Of course in this case Greg would probably be considered the Uber-lord Bird Master and I'd be like the Junior-bird Padawan Learner or something. To those who might not know, Greg is tied for forth place (with 715) in all of North America for the most birds seen in a single year! If you want to know the whole story, read the book written about him and two other birders: "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession" (2004) by Mark Obmascik. Of course if you are not the reading kind (wait... this is a blog) they are also making a MOVIE based on the book starring Jack Black (who plays Greg), Owen Wilson and Steve Martin. Suffice it to say that going birding with Greg is good for what ails you.

Greg: the Maestro at work.

Today we hit the aforementioned Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area as well as Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area. Yes, I said Funk Bottoms. We also decided that the title "Funk Bottoms" is awesome and would be a good name for a band. Our target birds were marsh and shorebirds of any variety. We did very well today, especially considering the slow time of year. Fall migration has not yet really picked up in earnest, but some early birds are starting to arrive. Our first bird, and the most satisfying of the day to me, was a Marsh Wren. I really enjoyed seeing the wren because a few days earlier I stood in one spot for 30min trying to see the bird that never revealed itself! Today, however, it flitted out from cover and sang proudly from atop a small stalk in full view.

Marsh Wren, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Along the Clark road area we set up the spotting scope and managed to pick out a Bank Swallow from among the gathering flocks of Barn and Cliff swallows that are preparing to migrate. There were scores of Wood Duck and Eastern Kingbird as well, but no shorebirds at this location today, though one did circle overhead before flying out of sight.

Bank Swallow, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

At the Funk Bottoms observation platform off of 95 we spotted two Great Egret in the grassland looking toward the green oil wells. One also flew beautifully overhead. At this location we also heard a Common Moorhen very close but didn't get a sighting. Other birds were Green Heron, Swamp Sparrow, Swallows and Great Blue Heron but also no shorebirds here.

Great Egret, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Finally we headed down Wilderness Road were, sadly, the swamp is being systematically pumped out and filled in. What may happen to the future of shorebird migration in our area is uncertain at best. Today we saw 30+ Killdeer as well as 3 Solitary Sandpipers and one each of Spotted Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper. Time was slipping away and as we drove off I heard Sandhill Crane calling from the distance, beckoning me to return and watch another day.

Spotted Sandpiper, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Least Sandpiper, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology


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Photo Credits:

Marsh Wren - www.naturespicsonline.com
Bank Swallow - D. Gordon E. Robertson
Great Egret - Marek Szczepanek
Spotted Sandpiper - Mike Baird
Least Sandpiper - Britta