Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Erie

Our (Stacia, Birdfreak, and Bella Nova) first full day visiting Jennie and Dakota we headed up to Lake Erie to get acquainted with the area, see some birds, and hang out by the lake. We first registered at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) for the Biggest Week in American Birding before getting started finding some birds.

Dakota and Bella Nova checking out the water
Dakota and Bella

Stacia along Lake Erie
Stacia Along Lake Erie

Dakota and Bella Nova
Dakota and Bella

The weather was chilly, cloudy and windy but we were determined to at least get a preview of the area and tour Ottawa NWR. After scouring the beach for rocks and sea glass we did the auto tour at Ottawa which was opened for the Biggest Week (smart thing on their part!). Some notable birds were nesting Trumpeter Swans, tons of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, and a couple of Bald Eagles.

Pied-billed Grebe (photos by Stacia)
Pied-billed Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

Trumpeter Swans tucked in to avoid the wind
Trumpeter Swans

Great Egret
Great Egret

Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Stacia and Birdfreak by Lake Erie
Stacia and Me

Eddie (Birdfreak) and Dakota skipping rocks
Me and Dakota Skipping Rocks

Thankfully, the weather improved quite a bit the next day when we hit the famous Magee Marsh Boardwalk!

4 thoughts on “Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Erie

  1. Sorry I missed crossing paths with you – I heard reports that your license plate had been spotted, but I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    Or something like that.

  2. I was shuffling around here and there Saturday and Sunday. My nephew was helping BSBO band birds by the Tropical Birding tent on Sunday (posting about that soon!) so I was there for awhile as well. Hopefully we’ll meet up sometime 🙂

  3. Shannon – we found a bunch of sea glass! The shore there is epic for sea glass!!

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