If you are going to the Biggest Week, then I cannot stress enough how important it is to follow @BiggestWeek on Twitter and, if you can, get the tweets sent to your phone while you are at the festival. The tweets had me and my friend, Renee, chasing birds all over the place – with a high percentage of success. There are a number of good birders who have access to post tweets, so the area is pretty much covered.
Note: this post has embedded tweets, please be patient with the loading time.
Thanks to the tweets, our first afternoon at Magee started off with great views of a bird we only barely saw last year.
Estuary Trail, Grey-cheeked Thrush. PIB
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 7, 2013
Gray-cheeked Thrush at the beginning of >Estuary Trail
Not sure where Estuary Trail is? Do not be shy to ask someone. Birding guides are all over the boardwalk; your fellow birders are also friendly and will be happy to help!
After a long day of birding outside of Magee, we came back to another good find. Once we got to the location, the crowd of people directed us where we needed to look.
American Bittern close to the road out in the open along the Magee Causeway (north end)! – Ethan Kistler
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 8, 2013
American Bittern along the Magee causeway
I would have never thought I would see a Bittern out in the open like this! He was busy fishing while many birders got great looks.
One of my favorite tweet stories happened on our third day. Renee and I just began the Ottawa wildlife drive and this tweet came in. She saw the tweet first didn’t know what to say about it. I picked up the phone and knew why.
Boardwalk, 13, Long-eared owl. PIB
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 9, 2013
We drove through the rest of the wildlife drive without looking for more birds and made our way to Magee. As we were walking to #13 on the boardwalk, birders assured us that the Owl was still there – and it was.
Long-eared Owl at Magee Marsh!
We did have some unsuccessful attempts at chasing tweets – you can’t get them all!
Black-billed Cuckoo just flew between # 1 and 3 – adrian
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 10, 2013
I can’t tell you how many times Renee and I chased the Black-billed Cuckoo in hopes of both of us getting a life bird. Unfortunately, this is one that we did not see. They did not show themselves for long, but the chase was fun. In the process, we did get to see one of the American Woodcocks off the boardwalk.
American Woodcock found while looking for Cuckoos
Another tweet came through that had us abandon the Cuckoo search that morning…
Golden-winged warbler showing nicely at north edge of small loop on MM boardwalk (7ish). -Greg Miller
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 10, 2013
This one was a success! Thank you, Greg – you helped us both get a great life bird!
Golden-winged Warbler at the loop
The loop turned out to be pretty popular for good Warblers. At one point, there were so many birds that people were using Warblers to direct birders to another Warbler.
Prothonotary and Canada at 7A on small loop – adrian
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 10, 2013
My lifer Canada Warbler off of the “loop”
Tweets will also be sent for birds that roost during the day. Someone usually has a scope on these birds.
Common Nighthawk 100m east of west entrance to MM boardwalk. – adrian
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 9, 2013
Side trail at number 10. Whip-poor-will. PIB
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 10, 2013
Eastern Whip-poor-will on the side trail
If it’s a really good bird who is staying in place, the tweeting will continue.
Magee. Clay-Colored Sparrow, Still at start of Estuary Trail. PIB
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 10, 2013
Clay-colored Sparrow at the entrance of the Estuary trail
And hey, while we’re at the Estuary trail….
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Estuary Trail at corner near mouth if Crane Ck estuary, many Leasts nearby – J. Bouton
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 10, 2013
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on Estuary Trail
Another lifer!
I hope this post convinced you – getting live tweets sent to your phone can really help you stay connected! You will also stay up to date on the latest event happenings.
Book signing: Stokes, Kaufman, Birdchick, Ken Keffer – 1 PM – AT BLACK SWAMP BIRD OBSERVATORY
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 11, 2013
And you may just get a really great bird out of it…
Kirtland’s Warbler on East Beach at Magee Marsh 10:50am! -Greg Miller
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 14, 2013
That happened after the festival was over, but three Kirtland Warblers showed up and were tweeted about on the previous year during the festival, so you never know!