Author: Ben Barkley

Places to Bird: Part 5*, Magee Marsh

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Chestnut-sided Warbler

On our spring trip to Point Pelee in Ontario we visited some amazing birding locations, and the birds we saw were absolutely incredible.  We had 12+ species of sparrow and 10 species of Flycatcher, but the real kickers were the warblers.  On our way back from Pelee, we decided to stop at a place I had only heard of in passing…Magee Marsh.  After only one day there, I understand why this site is becoming so famous.

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Places to Bird: Part 4*, Algonquin Provincial Park

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Gray Jay

The thermometer read six degrees below zero Fahrenheit.  Within five minutes of stepping outside I had lost all feeling in my face.  We were three hours north of Toronto in the middle of nowhere in the middle of February.  We had arrived at Algonquin Provincial Park with high expectations and would not be disappointed.  Algonquin is thus far my favorite winter birding destination.  The species are incredible and the scenery might be even more impressive.

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Places to Bird: Part 3*, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

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Shorebirds feeding on the Mudflats at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

A mid-summer early morning drive down the Garden State Parkway generally equates to a weekend at the Jersey shore.  For me, though, it means birding in one of New Jersey’s top birding locations. Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, commonly known as Brigantine, is located in Oceanville, NJ near Atlantic City.  There are many factors that give “Brig” its reputation:  the flies, the smell, the heat, but also, most importantly, the birds. Continue reading →