Starting last Saturday morning, April 15, and continuing through the 19th, the winds have been from the E-NE, so I wasn't expecting many birds during some mid-day birding at Magee Marsh on Wednesday April 19. Hermit Thrushes were more numerous than last Wednesday. Ruby-crowned Kinglets now outnumber Golden-crowned Kinglets, as expected. I only observed a few Myrtles and White-throated Sparrows and one Pine Warbler.
The causeway contained about 20 American Coots, and not much else. Although another birder told me an American Bittern was hanging out along the causeway that was easily viewable.
My best sighting along the causeway was a mink crossing the road about 10 yards in front of me.
The porto-jons near the boardwalk's west entrance were setup some time in the past week, so you know the crowds will be increasing. In fact, at 10:30 a.m. when I arrived, 16 vehicles were parked near the west entrance. Seemed like a decent crowd for a Wednesday morning on April 19.
The weather was nice: sunny, high clouds, east wind 5-10 mph, temps upper 50's to low 60's.
I toured the entire boardwalk:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet xi
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1)
Myrtle Warbler x
Pine Warbler (1)
Hermit Thrush xi
Golden-crowned Kinglet x
Junco x
White-throated Sparrow x
Rusty Blackbird x
American Tree Sparrow x
Swamp Sparrow x
Winter Wren (2)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
A tern flew over the boardwalk, and I heard a Barn Swallow by the nature center.
Mid-morning crowd on Wednesday April 19.
Greening up a little.
A turtle near the boardwalk on the move.
The area inside the little loop will be used as a test site for controlling the garlic mustard. These pictures were taken on the 19th, but officials erected the the signs last Wednesday April 12.
Garlic mustard control test site.
