Bulletins and Notes Archive

On Wednesday afternoon, my second IPT group had many good opportunities with warblers feeding at eye level and close range, but because of the advanced state of the greenery, flash as main light was the rule; we were basically working in the dark.  The third group saw virtually no photographable migrant warblers, though some participants did manage a few nice frames of Yellow Warbler (which breeds locally).  Local weather conditions, with easterly winds predominating simply were not conducive to producing a bottleneck of migrants on the south shoe of Lake Erie.  (It was disconcerting to hear that on Thursday, when we saw no birds at all, there was a huge fallout Point Pelee with hundreds of birds littering the beaches and bushes at the tip…)

 

In addition to weather that was no good for migration, all of my groups got to experience some simply lousy weather that included heavy rain.  But all three groups did have many excellent chances with backup subjects at Crane Creek/Magee Marsh.  These included: spectacular Baltimore Orioles which we attracted with halved oranges; an American Woodcock incubating chicks; a singing House Wren at his nest hole; many Canada Geese with goslings (photographed from our vehicles in the rain); a Whippoorwill sleeping on a log; and a Killdeer brooding chicks (also from the car). Photographically speaking, Tree Swallows often saved the day.  We had a lovely natural cavity nest along the boardwalk. We got to photograph both the male and the female entering and editing the nest hole, and many participants got to make images of them copulating.  Along the edge of the marsh, several males that were courting a single female perched repeatedly on a variety of natural perches at point blank range.  

 

After I bid farewell to my last group, I flew back to Flint, Michigan and was picked up by David Vore, a client-friend who had invited me to photograph spring migration at Tawas Point State Park along the west shore of Lake Huron (while using his summer “cottage” as a base.  The cottage was actually a large, beautiful vacation house.)  On our first visit to Tawas Point, we saw lots of birds, especially Bobolinks, Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, and Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks.  And, there were lots of Warbling Vireos.  It was, however, so windy that photography was just about impossible. 

 

On our second day it was not quite as windy, but there were fewer birds.  We did have some excellent chances with Cedar Waxwings feeding at close range in a variety of trees.  And then, it started to rain.  And it got cold.  And the wind blew, hard from the east--for days.  During the last four days, photography was just about impossible.  Tawas does seem to offer great potential for bird photography, as it is more open then either Pelee or Magee Marsh.  And there are very few people.  Next year I will be leading a single ITP at Magee Marsh and another at Pelee before heading up to Taos for a week.  Details will follow. 

 

In spite of my really bad luck in 2001, I doubt that I will ever stop pursuing those tiny bits of fluff and color that are so difficult to photograph.  Oh, I almost forgot, when we met David’s friend Gary, a local birder, his first words to us were, “You shoulda been here on Friday!” So you wanna be a warbler photographer?  Here’s a clue:  it isn't easy!

 

 

Jerry  e-mailed:

 

I thought you might like to be aware of the fact that Ellen Ruldolph's e mail to me and others about the "NANPA Regional meeting" in France did occur but was not officially approved by NANPA..   In the words of one of the attendees her e mail was in fun and in jest I just didn't want your readers or NANPA members in general have expectations based on her report.
 

I replied: