Ohio Birds and Natural History |
Range Maps | Photodocumentation Library | Where to Find Birds | More Ohio Birding Websites

January-February 2002

A return to winter weather has made for better gull watching along the Lake Erie shoreline. The odd gull at Huron remains as of yesterday but a definitive ID remains elusive - John Pogacnik. Further east, John found two Pomarine Jaegers off Sherod Park, apparently enjoying the ice-free conditions of Lake Erie (the Lake temperature actually went up a degree during the last days of January). Waterfowl have also started accumulating at inland locations. Last Monday, Bill Rinehart discovered these four blue morph Snow Geese in Fostoria.

A check of Wellington Reservoir Tuesday produced a Surf Scoter - Greg Miller & Dan Sanders. The bird was still present Friday - Bill Whan. Ring-necked Duck numbers increased from the ~150 present since December to 288 on Friday. A similar large concentration at The Wilds earlier in the week - Jason Larson may also have heralded spring arrivals. Subsequently, puddle duck numbers and diversity has greatly increased at Killdeer Plains W.A. - m.obs. Killdeer Plains continues to host the usual lot of Long-eared Owls - now numbering 21 or more birds - fide Regina Schieltz. The Delaware W.A. Northern Shrike remains where it has been wintering since December's discovery - Marcus England et al..

Among raptors, little mentioned has been made of Snowy Owls of late, so yesterday's report of the Avon Lake bird constitutes news - John Pogacnik. At least two Merlins have been wintering once again at Spring Grove Cemetery - Bill Hull m.obs.. Bill provides the photo of one of those individuals below - shot in enterprising fashion using a digital camera and binoculars. Accompanying the photo is an image of the new female Peregrine Falcon in Cleveland supplied by Scott Wright.



The most interesting raptor discovery over the weekend involved vultures. Yesterday, Jason Larson located a large kettle of Turkey Vultures ultimately numbering 212 in the vicinity of New Concord Reservoir (Muskingum County). More newsworthy was the subsequent discovery of 38 Black Vultures within this group of Turkey Vultures. Should this group be tied to a winter roost in the area, it would provide for a nice bridging of the apparent gap between the Hocking Hills enclave and the northern extremists that have called Lake Buckhorn in Holmes County these past few years. When one plots the roosts of the Black Vulture in Ohio, away from the Cincinnati group, the species is found almost exclusively within a 40 mile wide band immediately southeast of the Glacial boundary in Ohio. Another item seemingly common to many of the winter roosts for the Black Vulture in Ohio - they favor human company. Consider the roosts at Hide-away-Hills in Hocking Co., the Hocking Hills State Park lodge, Lake Buckhorn, and the few birds at the Athens vulture roost which in some years has been in the hills just above campus of Ohio University.

Not so much as a week after the climatological mid-point of winter I find myself speaking of spring migration. After her discovery Saturday of an American Woodcock in Darke County, Regina Schieltz asked a very relevant question "Is this early or did it never leave?" I don't know that we know the answer to that question. Could we simply overlook the species in winter when it is silent? When they start up in the spring is it because it is time to vocalize perhaps having just arrived on the singing grounds (having spent the winter in some nearby lowlands where the microclimate is more favorable)? Or are they migrants from afar? By itself, Regina's sighting may not add anything to the solution but hers was not the only one. Nearby Indiana saw several reports while observers here in Ohio, alerted to the possibility of woodcocks back at spring sites, located several birds in recent days. This evening Mike Busam discovered 4 birds at Gilmore Ponds in Butler County after having read of Jason Larson's single bird calling on Zion Ridge Rd. in Muskingum County. Should the frontal boundary not drift further south than Columbus tomorrow, birders in the Ohio river counties should check their local woodcock haunts tomorrow evening as there is good chance they're back. Whether from near or far remains anyone's guess.



After 3 days of SW winds, coupled with record heat, it should come as no surprise that spring migration should be detected along Lake Erie. A lakewatch at Maumee Bay State Park Sunday produced 70 Horned Larks and 22 Lapland Longspurs - V.W.F.III. But these are species thought to be on the move most years by late January. What really catches the eye are the reports of Killdeer yesterday. In addition to the 4 on Kelleys Island, an individual was found on Rt. 203 in Marion County - Bob Royse, another on the Sandusky River in Tiffin - Matt Miller, while Trevor Manley had an individual fly over his home in Ottawa Co., and Thomas Archdeacon had a bird fly over campus in Ada (NW Hardin County). A bird was also found at Hueston Woods State Park in the southwest yesterday - David Russell.

Another shorebird of note, a Dunlin was found at Conneaut Harbor Saturday - John Pogacnik. The bird almost certainly wintered in the vicinity.

Kelleys Island was among several more Audubon Important Bird Areas approved over the weekend bringing the Ohio total to 92. One of the reasons for the designation of Kelleys Island is the remarkable concentrations of Bufflehead. Several years of census work by Tom Bartlett have routinely produced counts of 5-600 in fall and spring migration, with peak totals in excess of 1000. Prior to this work, the highest recorded fall total in Ohio was just 275 (in Peterjohn's 1989 Birds of Ohio). Just another example of how little we know vs what we think we know of Ohio's birdlife. Yesterday's 577 Bufflehead were concentrated within the usual 5 coves around Kelleys Island; 70% off the southeast shore of Long Point. In the spring-like temperatures, the birds were far more interested in matters of courtship including these short flights, than to take notice of a stranger on the beach photographing them.

Gull controversies have taken a step-up with the photography of a curious bird at Huron pier Saturday - Hein Prinsen. One possible identification is that of a Glaucous-winged Gull. Apparently the bird is still present, as today Dan Sanders, Greg Miller et al. studied the bird for 2 hrs. See Hein's website for images of this mystery gull.

As to the Kelleys Island Gull, as I hinted at in the captions, the bird compares most favorably with a Ring-billed X Laughing Gull hybrid. Although amply defended as such by John Pogacnik and Jim McCormac in their emails to Ohio-birds (see archive online above), the point to make regarding such hybrids is the wing shape. The Laughing Gull, of all North American gulls, has the narrowest, most pointed wing shape (only the Lesser Black-backed Gull approaches it - hence another reason why this was my first impression). Take a look at this image obtained from the Kelleys Island ferry yesterday, hopefully giving a better sense of just how thin the wing is on this bird. Unfortunately, photo-ops are few and far between as I would very much like to get some more side-by-side comparisons with Ring-billed Gulls.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch has now been gone a week since its last appearance at the Gilbert's feeder - Linda Gilbert

Short-eared Owls are always something to watch and up to six birds at the Voice of America property in Butler county have been a real treat for a number of observers this month. Bill Hull provides this still off digital video.

The Avon Lake Power Plant Snowy Owl was still present Saturday - Joe Sedransk. Another was released from Mona Rutger's care back to the wild at Magee Marsh W.A. the same day. A Northern Saw-whet Owl discovered Friday at Englewood Reserve (north of Dayton) was still present Sunday - Pat McCarty. A Northern Shrike continues at Spencer Wildlife Area (Medina County) for the second week - Don Burlett. A few weeks ago I asked for info on the fate of the Golden Eagle shot in Morrow County. I quickly received these links to online articles in the Columbus Dispatch from Brian McGuire. INJURED GOLDEN EAGLE WILL NEVER FLY AGAIN TIPS SOUGHT IN SHOOTING OF GOLDEN EAGLE

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was still present at the Gilberts yesterday. The bird even appeared chubbier than I remembered from December. Yesterday's 47 deg. weather must have been agreeable, as rather than visiting the feeder it was content to pick along the edges of the frozen pond, uplifting wood chips, and cleaning off the adjacent lawn sculpture; presumably looking for arthropods. Linda Gilbert has identified some arthropods in the vicinity, possibly thrips, that are available to the nuthatch. Should anyone obtain video, it may be possible to learn more of the behaviour of this fascinating little bird.

I understand that the Ottawa N.W.R. CBC came in with record watefowl numbers as well as record blackbird numbers. The waterfowl are still present over the weekend with thousands of duck and geese from Metzger Marsh west to Howard Farms - Brian Zweibel. Apparently 100-150 Snow Geese have been reported in the mix, matching the 137 tallied on the CBC. Snow Geese have appeared at several locations around Ohio the past 10 days. In the apparent absence of the Ross's Goose in Newark, two white morph and a blue morph Snow Goose appeared - Nelson Moore, Lee St. John, Dave St. John. An individual white morph was present at Sheldon Marsh SNP (amidst 4600+ Canadas) Saturday, while a blue and a white were offshore on Lake Erie just west of Huron pier the same day. - V.W.F.III

Here is an adult blue morph Snow Goose which has been "hanging around suburban West Chester in Butler Co." - photo courtesy Scott Reeves.

This is the time of year visitation to the Owl Pines at Killdeer Plains W.A. (Wyandot Co.) greatly increases. The main object of the pilgrimage is to view one of the Long-eared Owls in residence. As the photo below demonstrates, it is not absolutely necessary to enter the main grove to come to face to face with a Long-eared Owl. For a month now, 1-2 birds have been consistently found within the lone 'cedar' along the road straddling the fence around the Cedar Oak Barn on CH71 just east of T103. Photo courtesy Rich Nicholls.

Here is a photoessay of a mystery gull photographed this morning on Kelleys Island. In trying to fit this square peg into a round hole, the nearest hole we could come up with in the field was Mew Gull. However, upon closer examination of these photos, we may just have to shave something off the peg and stick it in a triangle. If the identity of the bird shown below piques your curiosity then click on the image at right for more of this gull misery . . . uhhh I mean gull mystery.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was lasted reported seen Tuesday - Ned Bixler

The six Greater White-fronted Geese continue at the gravel pit in Clinton Co. as of yesterday - Scott Reeves. The Newark Ross's Goose was present on Tuesday - Randel Rogers.

As the Fairport Harbor Purple Sandpipers were once again in the news last week, here is a photo from there taken in early December - courtesy Jay Lehman.

It is not looking like the much anticipated winter finch irruption is panning out. Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, and even the odd White-winged Crossbill (two last week in Wyandot Co.) are being reported sporadically but not with the regularity or numbers expected after what seemed a fair showing in the fall season. Recent redpoll flocks include 24 birds seen at Lakewood Cemetery in Cuyahoga Co. on the 1st - Marian Kraus, and 6 birds at Calamus Swamp in south-central Ohio on Tuesday - Dave Horn. Scott Wright obtained this photo at Lakewood Cemetery last week.



Directions to Calamus Swamp by Dave Horn: Calamus Swamp is a wetland owned by Columbus Audubon. It's on the east side of state rte. 104 about 1/2 mile S. of the intersection of 104 and US 22 (4 mi. W. of Circleville).

The first week of the Ohio Winter Bird Atlas has passed - here are a few samples of block data that have been turned in thus far. While I do not have the time to present anything more than a sampling of blocks, I will strive to add blocks which include popular birding destinations so that one may check up on the blanks that need filling in on the eve of your next visit.- V.W.F.III

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was last reported Saturday - Michele Hendrick and Ernie Cornelius.

The Newark Ross's Goose was also present Saturday - Chris Spagnoli.

Here is the latest image (shot through a scope) made available by Jason Estep



A few Snow Geese are around; three were present on Wellington Reservoir (Lorain Co.) last Friday - V.W.F.III; the four on Shelby Reservoir #2 were still present on Sunday - Thomas Archdeacon; another bird was present Saturday on the campus of Tri-C West (Cuyahoga Co.) - Gabe Leidy and Dave LeGallee. The Ottawa N.W.R. CBC tallied appx. 129 on Sunday - fide Tom Bartlett. An adult male Long-tailed Duck was discovered Sunday on Salisbury Quarry (west of Toledo) in Lucas Co. - Matt Anderson.

Dan Sanders provides this update on the geese in Clinton County:

I headed out to the Wilmington area [Sunday] where Snow and Greater White-Fronted Geese have been reported for nearly a week now at the Melvin Rd Gravel Pit, about 7 miles East of Wilmington, just off SR 22. Heading toward Wilmington and about l mile before reaching the Melvin Rd turnoff, I noticed large numbers of Canada Geese feeding in a corn-stubble field on the South side of the road. Among them were large numbers of Mallard and Black Ducks and also the 6 Greater White-Fronted Geese. At the quarry, there were about 250 additional Canadas, a few Ruddys, Coots, and 2 Snow Geese; l adult White and a lst Winter Blue.

Killdeer Plains W.A. has been frequented by birders lately. The highlight has been a Northern Goshawk first reported by Heather Nagy although possibly present beforehand - Len Powlick. Subsequently seen by Bill Rinehart and this past Sunday by Brian Zweibel. A few Long-eared Owls and a couple of Northern Saw-whet Owls continue to be reported. Short-eared Owls seem to have increased in number - possibly 7-9 birds. Both shrike species were once again reported although the Loggerhead proves elusive for most. Fairly unusual for southwestern Ohio, a Northern Shrike was discovered by Kathy Beal on her property just east of Xenia (Greene Co.). As it happens, Kathy discovered the last Northern Shrike reported from the southwest a couple of years ago. A Northern Shrike was discovered along the causeway through Magee Marsh W.A. on Saturday - Brian Barchus & V.W.F.III. We also discovered two Yellow-headed Blackbirds earlier within a blackbird flock at the corner of Decant Rd. and Rt. 2 in Jerusalem Twp., Lucas Co. Sunday the township itself was home to more than 20,000 blackbirds so finding these Yellow-headed Blackbirds takes a bit of luck and patience. Jason Larson reports a Common Redpoll and some siskins from Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Siskins continue at several feeders in Tiffin.

Unlike last year, we seem to be just easing into the winter gull season. It's been a week or more since the brief flash of unusual sightings around Christmas. The headliner from this weekend is the adult California Gull reported from Eastlake Power Plant Saturday - John Pogacnik. A few Bonaparte's Gulls are around and so was a single first winter Little Gull at Fairport Harbor. At Eastlake, John also reports a 2nd-winter Thayer's Gull, an adult Iceland Gull, and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Also Saturday, Paula Lozano had Glaucous Gulls at the Lorain "hotwaters" and Avon Lake Power Plant. The hotwaters also hosted a Surf Scoter. While Jason Larson reports the Avon Lake Power Plant Snowy Owl continues as of yesterday.

Leave it to Joe Hammond to get us in the mood for white-winged gulls; here is the 1st winter Glaucous Gull, presently at Lorain, literally head & shoulders above the surrounding Ring-billed Gulls.

The Newark Ross's Goose was still present Wednesday - Tammy Nickerson. Directions: On Cherry Valley Road is a place called the Cherry Valley Lodge. If you turn in the main entrance and then follow it to the right, you will end up behind the lodge. There is a snow covered bike path that you can hike out to a very good unobstructed view of the Creek. It is about a 5 minute walk at a brisk pace. As you hike out the bike path, pay attention to when you start getting close to St. Rt. 161. Very shortly after that, the view of the Creek opens up and is very unobstructed. This is a good chance to spook the geese and have a mass exodus (been there done that....). This long mostly unobstructed stretch of creek is were we are seeing the bird. - Jason Estep.

The bird is also seen out in the fields

From SR 16, turn S on Cherry Valley Rd and instead of taking a left on 40th St (which will take you to the radio station), continue a short distance to Main St and at the light, turn West (right). Follow this to Thornwood Dr where you will turn left (South). After crossing the railroad, you will find a large corn-stubble field on your left. This is where we found 500 or more Canadas feeding. The white goose, describe above, was there, but no Ross's. We could see that there were geese feeding beyond a rise in the field and so back-tracked on Thornwood across the tracks and took the first Rd (Faye) to the right (East). This road is under construction and is for local traffic only. Take it to the next intersection and turn right (South) on Keller. Go across the Railroad tracks and in a short distance you will see a large Marathon Oil Company gasoline storage facility. You can pull off the side of the road here and this is where we found the Ross's Goose; in the same corn-stubble field, but on the other side of the hill. - Dan Sanders.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was still present at the Gilberts feeder yesterday - Brian Barchus. - see last November Birding News entry for directions.

Jason Larson and crew spotted no less than 4 Purple Sandpipers on the breakwall at Headlands Beach State Park (Lake Co.)

Six Greater White-fronted Goose and a Snow Goose continue at a gravel pit in Clinton Co. - Ed Roush & Larry Gara. Four Snow Geese were also to be found on the first at Shelby Reservoir #2 - Thomas Archdeacon.

There are presently FIVE Snowy Owls at Burke Lakefront Airport - m.obs.

Tom Bartlett discovered a Northern Goshawk, White-winged Scoter, and Long-tailed Duck Tuesday on the Gypsum Christmas Bird Count. Looking for the ducks on Catawba Island and Marblehead Peninsula (and failing to locate them), I saw two more Northern Goshawks in the area on Wednesday. A juvenile male was along the shoreline at Port Clinton, while a 2nd yr female was perched by the side of Rt. 2 near Bay View. A possible Northern Goshawk was reported the same day at Killdeer Plains W.A. - Heather Nagy. Killdeer Plains W.A. has offered up Red-headed Woodpeckers, Eastern Meadowlarks (flocks totalling 45 birds), and numerous Northern Flickers this week. Most observers are travelling there for the annual Long-eared Owl hunt. Two birds are present in the juniper by the side of the road in front of Cedar Oak Barn and another two are within the Owl Pines. Two Northern Saw-whet Owls persist this week - m.obs.. Out of place, was a Fox Sparrow at the Owl Pines on Tuesday - V.W.F.III. Elsewhere at Killdeer Plains one could find Tundra Swan while the Northern Shrike was reported by a couple of parties. I have uncertain information regarding the continued presence of the Loggerhead Shrike.

A White-winged Crossbill popped in to a feeder at Carey (Wyandot Co.) for the Carey Christmas Bird Count Wednesday - Kim Fredritz. In stark contrast to this northern finch, the Dunakins spied 45 American Pipits in Paulding County on the first. At Chagrin River Park (in Willoughby), John Pogacnik reports yesterday all three mimids; Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, and Brown Thrasher. Doug Overacker witnessed a very late flight southwards overhead of 25 Sandhill Cranes on in Clark County. Waterfowl remain in great diversity along the Lake Erie shoreline. Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks, and other species generally absent from Lake Erie in January could still be found in small numbers from Marblehead to the Central Basin. Some 4000 Canada Geese settled on Lake Erie off Sheldon Marsh SNP on Tuesday evening.- V.W.F.III. Earlier that afternoon, I had 3300 Common Mergansers and 600+ Common Goldeneyes off Catawba I. The Gypsum CBC recorded three Wood Ducks while another was found on the Muskingum River the same day (the 1st) - Amy Lavy.

maintained by Victor W. Fazio III / last modified 26 Nov. 2000