Already Thinking About Next Year’s Biggest Week…

I still have my mind on the Biggest Week in American Birding. It was an unforgettable experience that will be tough to top. I saw 150 species of birds and had twelve – yes TWELVE – life birds. Last week, I wrote a post about some highlights from my trip. This week, I will continue by sharing some photos to show you what can be expected if you decide to attend next year – yes – I am already thinking about next year…

This Clay-colored Sparrow was a life bird!

Birds, birds and more birds

Beautiful birds are everywhere you look!

Cape May Warbler from the boardwalk tower

Baltimore Oriole near the boardwalk parking lot

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher taken from the boardwalk tower

You will see more than just birds

Aside from birds, you can see some cute mammals, rare snakes and many turtles.

This Raccoon was playing peek-a-boo with me

Do not let the crowds scare you away

Crowds will form where there are good birds – the good thing about these crowds is that someone in it will see a good bird so no bird goes unseen. When they spot a bird they will let you know what they are looking at and help you find it. I took some photos with my phone of the crowds, both what I saw…

What’s that? A Golden-winged Warbler?

And some viewpoints from the birds…

A bird’s view from the ground

A bird’s eye view of the boardwalk

There are other great spot to visit

If the crowds are too much for you, there are quiet spots both on and off the boardwalk to visit. You do not have to even stay at Magee Marsh – you can also go to the trails at Maumee Bay State Park, take the auto tour at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, go for a day trip to Oak Openings, watch birds from the Windows On Wildlife at Pearson Metropark, look for waterbirds at Metzger… there are so many great hotspots!

Red-bellied Woodpecker at taken from the “Windows on Wildlife”

Beautiful view from Oak Openings, taken with my phone

Hard-to-see birds will be in someone’s sights

How many times can you say that you’ve seen a Whip-poor-will perched in a tree??

Other birders directed us to this Whip-poor-will

You can test top-of-the-line scopes and binoculars at Optics Alley

I think this photo speaks for itself…

The scope line-up at Optics Alley

Bird by day, hang out by night!

Birds & Blooms hosted a karaoke night. I did not sing, but those who did gave a great show!

Kim Kaufman killed it on the karaoke floor

There are other great events during the day

While we were making our way out of Magee Marsh, we stopped at the visitor center and were surprised by some live birds of prey from Back to the Wild. These birds were injured and cannot be returned to the wild, so they are now used for educational purposes. It was nice to get some photos of more cooperative birds. And further down the road at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, they were banding wild songbirds – they had a Northern Waterthrush when we were there.

This young Peregrine Falcon was flapping around

This Bald Eagle was hit by a train and is now blind in one eye with an injured wing

My favorite little raptor, the American Kestrel

I hope to see a Barn Owl in the wild some time soon

This Barred Owl was keeping an eye on us

The Great Horned Owl was not as angry as he looks

You will make new friends

It was great birding with friends who we met last year – even after seeing them a year ago at 2012’s Biggest Week, we connected like we see each other all the time. We also met many new friends along the way. Everyone, from the bloggers to the guides to visitors on the boardwalk were pleasant to be around and we could not ask to be around a better group of people!