Black Swamp Bird Observatory, 13551 W State Route 2, Oak Harbor, OH (2026)

08/31/2026

**Metzger Marsh Morning Flight Count Update – August 31, 2026**

It was a warm, muggy, and generally quiet morning along the lakeshore today – but some sporadic migration provided a few interesting highlights! The weather was warm and humid all day, with a moderate southwest breeze and high cloud cover.

A few shorebirds in the morning hours provided some excitement, starting with a rare Upland Sandpiper (1) that flew high overhead a little after 8:00. These prairie-nesting birds are regular but very low-density migrants through the region, and this was the first time this species has been recorded at the site since we began counting here two years ago! Shortly afterwards, an uncommon Baird’s Sandpiper (1) flew in from the lake, providing another new addition for the season total.

There weren’t too many songbirds moving today, but there was another modest movement of Cedar Waxwings (153) heading east down the d**e. A few Cape May Warblers (5) and Yellow Warblers (2) flew over throughout the morning, but there were generally fewer Neotropical migrants moving than there have been the last few days. Another strong flight of swallows picked up in the later hours, with Barn Swallows (410) narrowly beating Purple Martins (331) for the title of most abundant bird.

Finally, the southwesterly wind in the early afternoon produced a great movement of dragonflies along the d**e, highlighted by large numbers of Common Green Darners (77) and Black Saddlebags (69), but also including the first Comet Darner (1) of the season.

In total, we recorded 30 species and 1,178 individual birds in active migration today.

Tomorrow’s forecast calls for strong winds from the west-southwest, which may mean fewer birds will fly – but there’s no way to know for sure until the morning! As always, you can keep up with the count live from the field at https://trektellen.org/count/view/5084/ or better yet, come on out to the outer d**e at Metzger Marsh and see for yourself what’s happening. As a reminder, the count site is located just east of the main lakefront parking lot at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, along the raised d**e that borders Lake Erie.

Photo: Purple Martin

08/31/2026

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: August 31, 2026
Pictured: Connecticut Warbler (adult male and immature female)

- Number of Birds Banded: 21
- Number of Recaptures: 5
- Number of Species Banded: 9 (+4 recap only)

- Top Five Species Banded: Gray Catbird 8 (+1 recap), Ovenbird 3, Swainson's Thrush 3, Connecticut Warbler 2, and the other five species with 1 banded each.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 23
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 50
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 7 (15 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 4.75

Notes: After a day off for rain, it was great to be back out, despite the muggy conditions. With high humidity and cloudy skies throughout much of the morning, the station was fairly quiet in terms of birdsong/chatter. That being said, and given the low activity, it ended up being fairly diverse for our last day of August.

Migrating Swainson's Thrush, Ovenbird, Blackpoll Warbler, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher all had showings today. AND for our last day of August, we added warbler species number 15 to our ongoing warbler tally this fall with Connecticut Warbler (not one, but two!).

As folks gear up for finding fall warblers and deciding which one is which, it's good to keep in mind that Connecticuts look pretty much the same as they do in spring. However, the younger birds (especially females) tend to be much browner in the hood rather than gray. BUT the solid eyering is still there, albeit buffier on young birds. The hardest part with Connecticuts is actually finding one in the dense vegetation they often occupy.

Follow along with the numbers throughout the season and find out how you can support the station on our website: https://www.bsbo.org/migration-tracking.html

All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL.

08/31/2026

Bird ID Tips with Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Today’s comparison: Greater Yellowlegs (GRYE), Lesser Yellowlegs (LEYE) and Solitary Sandpiper (SOSA)

🐦 GRYE beaks are roughly 1.3x the length of the head, compared to an equal measurement of LEYE.
🐦 GRYE bills are often slightly curved upward and show a pale area near the base, compared to the dark, straight, needle-like bill of LEYE.
🐦 Typically, GRYE calls are 3-4+ ringing notes, compared to 1-2 softer notes for LEYE.
🐦 SOSA legs are a duller greenish-yellow. They show a pronounced eyering and more contrast on the back patterning.

Which field mark do you rely on most when telling these species apart? What species do you want to see compared next? Let us know in the comments!

Want to learn more about shorebirds? BSBO's next Birds at Home Virtual Learning Series is focused on shorebird identification! Learn more at https://www.bsbo.org/birds-at-home.html

08/31/2026

Sheldon Marsh was absolutely hopping for this month’s Frequent Flyers trip! A cool, crisp morning and beautiful weather greeted our members for what turned out to be a spectacular day of fall migration birding.

And the birds were everywhere! Sheldon Marsh was bursting with activity, with an incredible abundance of birds, not only in sheer numbers, but also in species diversity.

Migrating warblers stole much of the show, with a big number of Cape May Warblers, Blackburnian, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Prothonotary Warblers among the highlights. Vireos were on the move with our group seeing Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbler Vireo, and an early Blue-headed Vireo. A close Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was another exciting migrant, while Green Herons and Wood Ducks added to an already impressive morning.

It was also an exceptional day for woodpeckers! We enjoyed great numbers of both adult and juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers, along with Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers. With woodpeckers calling and flying through the woods and migrating songbirds seemingly around every corner, there was rarely a quiet moment.

A huge thank you to our guest co-guide, Sabrewing Nature Tours co-owner Brian Zwiebel, for sharing his expertise and helping make such a bird-filled morning even more enjoyable.

Beautiful weather, fantastic birds, and a wonderful group of birders made this another memorable Frequent Flyers adventure!

Want to join us on an upcoming trip? Check out all of our Frequent Flyers outings:
https://www.bsbo.org/frequent-flyer-birding.html

Not a BSBO member yet? We'd love to have you join us!
https://www.bsbo.org/join-or-renew.html

08/30/2026

**Metzger Marsh Morning Flight Count Update – August 30, 2026**

Migration pressed on through a dark and rainy day today, and there was another small but diverse movement of birds along the lakeshore at Metzger Marsh. It was a bit of a gloomy morning, with steady rain setting in around 9:00, but some songbirds flew before the rain and even a handful kept moving as the showers continued into the late morning today.

There was another modest flight of warblers heading east along the d**e, dominated today by Cape May Warblers (11). A few American Redstarts (3) and Blackburnian Warblers (2) flew with them, and another early Yellow-rumped Warbler (1) showed in the mid-morning. A few Bobolinks (3) also came over, and another uncommon Olive-sided Flycatcher (1) was the highlight of the morning.

A interesting but ultimately unidentified gull over the lake provided some more excitement, but there weren’t many other waterbirds on the move today. Another dispersing Common Merganser (1) was the only duck recorded migrating, and a single Lesser Yellowlegs (1) was the only shorebird flying today.

Swallows made another healthy flight, with a good movement of primarily Barn Swallows (434) heading west in the early morning, Bank Swallows (2) continue to depart the region, and Purple Martins (105) should be next to follow suit.

In total, we recorded 28 species and 843 individual birds in active migration today.

Tomorrow will be warmer with a stronger wind from the southwest, and there should be a handful of birds on the move again. As always, you can keep up with the count live from the field at https://trektellen.org/count/view/5084/ or better yet, come on out to the outer d**e at Metzger Marsh and see for yourself what’s happening. As a reminder, the count site is located just east of the main lakefront parking lot at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, along the raised d**e that borders Lake Erie.

Photo: Prothonotary Warbler

08/29/2026

**Metzger Marsh Morning Flight Count Update – August 29, 2026**

We’re settling in for a spell of warm southerly winds to finish out August here in northwest Ohio – and if the next few days are like today, it should be a nice way to start September in terms of bird migration! While these conditions don’t typically produce huge numbers of birds, they do often provide great diversity of migrants at our count site and that’s exactly what we enjoyed today, with lots of visitors stopping by to take in some migration as well.

Shorebirds were the highlight of the morning with 12 species recorded. Semipalmated Plovers (12) moved in good numbers, and some adult Black-bellied Plovers (2) also provided great looks as they flew by whistling their plaintive calls. A few Ruddy Turnstones (3) also put in appearances, and the first Sanderling (1) of the year was recorded early in the morning.

Songbirds were less numerous today but a few warblers did fly on the weak morning wind, mostly Cape May Warblers (6) – which are likely to be the dominant species flying over for the next several weeks. There wasn’t much of a swallow flight today until Purple Martins (114) picked up late in the morning, and Cedar Waxwings (9) were again scarce.

A few raptors meandered down the lakeshore towards the end of the count, including a handsome male Northern Harrier (1) which was the first of the season. There was also a healthy westbound flight of Monarch butterflies (46) over the lake as things warmed up late in the morning.

In total, we recorded 44 species and 606 individual birds in active migration today.

Tomorrow will again feature a light southerly wind, with a chance of some morning rain showers. If the precipitation and cloud cover don’t suppress migratory activity, there should again be some migrants coming through in the morning! As always, you can keep up with the count live from the field at https://trektellen.org/count/view/5084/ or better yet, come on out to the outer d**e at Metzger Marsh and see for yourself what’s happening. As a reminder, the count site is located just east of the main lakefront parking lot at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, along the raised d**e that borders Lake Erie.

Photo: Bay-breasted Warbler

08/29/2026

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: August 29, 2026
Pictured: Swainson's Thrush and Cape May Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 16
- Number of Recaptures: 3
- Number of Species Banded: 8 (+1 recap only)

- Top Five Species Banded: Gray Catbird 7 (+2 recap), Ovenbird and Swainson's Thrush with 2 banded each, and the remaining five species with 1 banded each.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 28
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 59
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 6 (14 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 4.83

Notes: Despite a boost in species diversity both during our point count and observed throughout the morning, banding numbers weren't much higher than yesterday. The main driver of the increase in the number of birds banded today was, unsurprisingly, Gray Catbirds. The youngsters were out and about this morning, taking us from 2 banded yesterday to 7 banded today.

While birds haven't been finding their way into the nets, there have been a good amount of birds up in the sky. Between large flocks of blackbirds (mostly Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles), groups of European Starlings, and glimpses of swifts and several different swallow species swooping overhead, we've had plenty of reasons to look up!

Unfortunately, it looks like we'll be having southerly winds for the next few days (and a corresponding increase in temperature), so we'll probably be coasting at this level of bird activity for a while longer and looking forward to the days when things start to pick up a bit.

Follow along with the numbers throughout the season and find out how you can support the station on our website: https://www.bsbo.org/migration-tracking.html

All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL.

08/28/2026

**Metzger Marsh Morning Flight Count Update – August 28, 2026**

Strong northeasterly winds along the lakefront typically make for a slower morning of counting, and today wasn’t much of an exception to the rule. Luckily, the weather apart from the wind was warm and sunny, and it was another lovely day to be out counting birds!

A distant jaeger species chasing terns over the lake in the mid-morning was the first we’ve seen of this group of Arctic-breeding seabirds this season. Unfortunately this individual wasn’t close enough to identify to species level, but we’ll hope for some closer looks over the next few months! There was also a small movement of Bonaparte’s Gulls (32) and terns, including some Black Terns (5).

A Ruddy Turnstone (1) heading west in the late morning was also a highlight, although shorebirds were generally few and far between today. Perhaps the most exciting moment of the morning was watching an American Kestrel (1) and Peregrine Falcon (1) out over the lake squabbling with each other, eventually both fighting their way back to shore where they continued migrating to the south.

In total, we recorded 24 species and 621 individual birds in active migration today.

Tomorrow’s forecast indicates cooler temperatures and southerly winds, which should hopefully contribute to an increase in diversity at the count! As always, you can keep up with the count live from the field at https://trektellen.org/count/view/5084/ or better yet, come on out to the outer d**e at Metzger Marsh and see for yourself what’s happening. As a reminder, the count site is located just east of the main lakefront parking lot at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, along the raised d**e that borders Lake Erie.

Photo: Purple Martin

08/28/2026

Daily Update: Navarre Marsh Banding Station
Date: August 28, 2026
Pictured: Veery and Black-and-white Warbler

- Number of Birds Banded: 9
- Number of Recaptures: 6
- Number of Species Banded: 5 (+3 recap only)

- Top Five Species Banded: Veery 3, Gray Catbird 2 (+1 recap), Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2, Northern Waterthrush 1 (+1 recap), and Black-and-white Warbler 1.

- Total Number of Species on Point Count: 15
- Total Number of Species Recorded: 46
- Total Number of Warbler Species Recorded: 4 (14 for fall)
- Total Number of Hours Station Operated: 4.92

Notes: Even though winds were out of the northwest throughout the night, a switch to northeast before dawn didn't do us any favors bring new birds in. Because the ridge of habitat the station resides in faces the northeast, any time there are northeast or east winds from Lake Erie, new arrivals will tend to get pushed farther inland away from the station.

That being said, Veeries didn't seem to mind as three ended up stopping by. The average number of Veery captured in fall is only 22, so we're making good headway toward average now being at 6 banded for the season.

Note the pale bar in the greater coverts of our pictured Veery. What looks like a wing bar is actually a characteristic shared by young thrushes. The juvenile greater coverts (juvenile being the first feathers grown in/near the nest) often have pale tips that extend up the shaft of the covert feathers (almost looking like a teardrop at the tip of each greater covert). The presence of these shaft streaks easily lets us know that this is a young Veery hatched this summer. Adult thrushes may have pale tips when the feathers are fresh, but lack the streak up the shaft.

Follow along with the numbers throughout the season and find out how you can support the station on our website: https://www.bsbo.org/migration-tracking.html

All banding, marking, and sampling is being conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s BBL.

08/28/2026

🍂 Introducing Fall Warbler Fridays! 🍂

Fall warbler identification can feel daunting, with plumage and behavior changes from spring. Every Friday for the next few months, BSBO will share tips to help with some of the trickiest species. Many warblers retain traces of their breeding plumage, so a bird that looks unfamiliar at first glance can be identified once you know what to look for. Behavior and habitat offer clues, too.

Today, we’ll be highlighting Prairie Warbler.

🍁 Although faint, PRAW retain darker facial patterns around and especially below the eye.
🍁 PRAW retain black streaking on the flanks.
🍁 In spring, adult males are bright yellow. Many fall birds (especially females and juveniles) are overall duller and more olive-washed, especially in the head and throat.

Learn more about the timing of fall migration at https://www.bsbo.org/timing-of-fall-migration.html

Black Swamp Bird Observatory

08/31/2026

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