Mammoth Goes Birding…and stuff, Day 18

 Friday, April 25

Raining. We left at 9:30--earlier than intended, because leaving so early would get us there  before our check-in time.  And we did (get there early), but the very nice lady in the office said we were allowed to check-in without an extra fee anytime after noon—I think we got there at about 12:05.

Camp Perry Lodging is a great place—if you don’t mind a little small arms fire in the distance. It’s right in the middle of the Ohio National Guard training facility—they have a bunch of RV sites on a flat, grassy field with narrow asphalt driveways and pads. The grass was drowning in dandelion blooms and hardly a single bee to enjoy them. It’s sad.

Maybe the bees were on the flowering trees—some sort of white flower trees were blooming out all over and covering the roads with petals. Quite lovely.

It wasn’t at all crowded on the last weekend of April—maybe six other RV scattered around among 30 or so sites? 

The sewer hookup was the old style without a locking connector. But Ed made it work. And the fresh water came out brown at first, but a couple of minutes of running cleared it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can’t see Lake Erie from the site, but it’s only a short walk to a “beach” and pier. Dogs are not allowed on either of them, but the nice lady said we wouldn’t want to take our dog there anyway—there was black icky muck at the water’s edge and a rough, spiky surface on the pier. I ended up not going to either of them, but we walked in the grass where we could gaze out over the water.

It was a little bit expensive considering that there was no dog park, playground, or anything to do. But very clean and safe feeling.

 
That first day, we took a quick trip over to Magee Marsh to check out the boardwalk. This is a famous birding site for spring migration—the tired songbirds drop down in the marshes and small trees there at the edge of Lake Erie, presumably to “fuel up” and rest before attempting the water crossing. Miraculously, some of the lakeshore has been preserved for birders, and a long boardwalk takes thousands of excited birders there every spring.  That place, along with the High Island sites on the Texas Gulf Coast, are the most famous spring migrant “traps” in the world. Pretty much any songbird that migrates from Central or South America to Canada can be seen there.  Briefly, in the springtime.

We found out that contrary to reports, dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk.  So we were only able to cruise around on the trails, where dogs are allowed.  We planned to come back next day, and I guess that means we’ll have to leave Molly at home. 

 Trumpeter Swan!