Bay-breasted Warblers at Magee Marsh...

I always look forward to seeing Bay-breasted Warblers as they migrate through our area (Cincinnati, Ohio) in May. Their beautiful chestnut-colored flanks and black mask are striking, and they are not quite as hyper as other warblers as they move through the branches gleaning insects, so I usually get wonderful views of them. Problem is they are few and far between around my house, so when I headed up to Magee Marsh this May for The Biggest Week in American Birding warbler festival, I had my fingers crossed that a few would head my way (and did they ever, along with almost every other warbler possible!)...

Bay-breasted Warbler along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh during "The Biggest Week in American Birding" warbler festival. 

Yesterday while trying to decided what kind of post to put together for Birding is Fun, I got my sketchbook out from the trip to see what kind of sketches I had drawn of Bay-breasted Warblers. I thought if I found a few sketches I liked, I'd paint a few paintings...

...sketchbook entries from the Biggest Week in American Birding (Magee Marsh in Toledo, Ohio).

I liked a few of the sketches, so I grabbed my watercolors and headed outside on the deck to paint. It was gorgeous outside--warm but not too hot, and a pair of Cedar Waxwings were overhead in the mulberry trees trilling and buzzing and chirruping in their special way. Listening to the birds while painting was nice. I even heard a Bobwhite (which is incredibly rare for our neighborhood. I haven't heard one since 1992!! The Bobwhite called out his name six separate times before moving on). In all, I did three quick watercolors of a Bay-breasted Warbler...

...if you have a chance next year to attend The Biggest Week in American Birding, don't hesitate! You will be amazed at all the warblers you'll see!

                   Happy Birding!
                             Kelly