We were on our way to the Biggest Week in American Birding in northeast Ohio. As our plane touched down in Detroit, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly lucky. This year had already given us so many unforgettable moments, and now we were headed straight into one of the most celebrated migration hotspots in the country.
Magee Marsh: The Disneyland of Birding
On Saturday morning, we arrived at Magee Marsh to find nearly a hundred cars already in the parking lot. Birders with binoculars, scopes, and cameras were everywhere. Greg Miller, the famous “Big Year” birder, calls Magee Marsh the “Disneyland of birding,” and as we stepped onto the boardwalk, it was easy to see why.
We moved along with the crowd, pointing out a Bay-breasted Warbler on our left and then spotting two Magnolia Warblers on our right, with American Redstarts seemingly everywhere. We were stunned to see an Eastern Screech Owl perched on a branch just feet from the railing. Warblers, vireos, tanagers, and orioles were all so close you felt you could almost touch them. Exiting the boardwalk felt like getting off a fantastic ride for the first time—you just want to go back and do it all again.
From Van Tours to Rare Sightings
Next, we drove to the Maumee Bay Lodge, the festival headquarters, to register for our Leaders’ Choice van tour. The light rain didn’t slow the birds down at our first stop, Meinke Marina, where we viewed Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Dunlin, and a pair of Horned Larks. Our next stop was Metzger Marsh, where we saw five Trumpeter Swans, a variety of ducks, Common and Caspian Terns, more warblers, and an incredible eight Bald Eagles.
Our leader, Jacob Rolaef, then took us to Pearson Metropark, one of the many beautiful Metroparks in the Toledo area. At the visitor center feeders, we saw American Goldfinches, White-crowned Sparrows, and a Gray-cheeked Thrush rustling through the leaf litter. In the park, we found Downy Woodpeckers, a Red-tailed Hawk, and Barn Swallows.
On the way back to the lodge, Jacob told us about a rare Connecticut Warbler sighting at the Magee Marsh Beach West area.
Of course, that’s where we headed next. On the way, we made a quick stop on Stange Road and were rewarded with a lifer: a Upland Sandpiper. This was truly turning out to be our Biggest Week in birding. When we arrived at the marsh, a crowd of birders was searching for the Connecticut Warbler, but unfortunately, it wasn’t seen again that day. However, we did find a Swainson’s Thrush, a Veery, and nine warbler species, including a Mourning Warbler for Sharon’s list. Mike is still on the hunt for his first Mourning Warbler!
A Cuckoo, A Whip-poor-will, and Ice Cream
Day two started early at the farm fields near the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, where we saw over 50 Cliff Swallows collecting mud for their nests. We then returned to Pearson Metropark after hearing reports of a Black-billed Cuckoo. After searching and using a bird app recording (a hotly debated practice we rarely do), we saw a group of birders from a Big Day tour pointing to something in the trees. The leader told us they had just seen a magnificent Black-billed Cuckoo, which flew off moments before we arrived. To that tour group, we want to say, “You’re welcome!”
Our final destination was Oak Openings Metropark, a spacious preserve with a huge variety of habitats. While eating our lunch, a Field Sparrow and a few Cedar Waxwings came to visit. We immediately knew we were going to love this park. On a trail to Mallard Lake, a father and son were kind enough to show us an Eastern Whip-poor-will the son had spotted—another lifer for us! We heard a chorus of vireos, including Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Warbling.
Our final stop was at the corner of Reed and Girdham roads, where Lark Sparrows were standing right in the intersection. Nearby, we located several Red-headed Woodpeckers and a Broad-winged Hawk. Other notable birds this afternoon were a Pileated Woodpecker, eight Baltimore Orioles, and eight Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Wrapping Up an Unforgettable Biggest Week
By the time we wrapped up the weekend with chocolate swirl cones at Chitter Chatter Ice Cream, it felt like we’d squeezed every bit of magic out of the Biggest Week. From the “Disneyland of birding” at Magee Marsh to lifers like Upland Sandpiper and Eastern Whip‑poor‑will, the festival delivered everything we hoped for and more. We left Ohio tired, happy, and already talking about when we might return. With 101 species for the trip — including 25 year birds and 4 lifers — our 2015 list surged forward, and the momentum carried us straight into the next chapter of our Little Big Year.
Trip: Total Species: 101 • Year Birds: 25 • Life Birds: 4
2015: Year Birds: 331 • Life Birds: 25
Next up: West Coast Florida Specialties
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