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January 1998

Lark Bunting seen again today - Ed Pierce.

A Snow Goose (blue) and 3 Green-winged Teal were present at Winton Woods Saturday - Jack and Jay Stenger. Sunday, 20 Ring-necked Duck and 12 Lesser Scaup at Landen Lake, Deerfield Twp (Hamilton Co.?) - Matt Wilder. Also from the southwest, at least one of the Marsh Wrens at Miami Whitewater was present Saturday and a female Common Yellowthroat was a new find at Spring Valley W.A. (Greene Co. portion) - David Dister. In the Toledo area, Evening Grosbeaks continue at Oak Openings Lodge. A Greater White-fronted Goose was found along the Stange Rd border of Ottawa N.W.R., and a Killdeer was new at Metsger Marsh last week - Toledo RBA. A few White-winged Crossbills remain at the cemetary along Rt20A and Coder Rd as of today - Jeff Grabmeier. The Pine Warbler at Lakeshore Metropark (Lake Co.) was seen again Sunday - John Pogacnik

A Lark Bunting, probably an immature male, (possibly present a week) was conclusively identified yesterday by Ed Schlabach in Holmes County. The bird was found again this morning at 10:15 after extensive searching by a dozen or more persons. Another group relocated the bird at 4:00 p.m. The site is farmfield and hedge rows adjacent to a planted blueberry patch in and around a couple of homes. The bird travels with a sparrow flock, made up of mostly American Tree Sparrows, but also includes Field, White-throated, White-crowned, and a Chipping and a Lark Sparrow. These latter odd species were also seen today. As the Lark Bunting appears to be a real skulker, spotting these other species will narrow your search.

Directions: In Holmes Co. find the E-W RT 39 from Millersburg. Pass through Berlin, Walnut Creek. At Walnut Creek the road goes downhill. At the bottom of the hill is the first road, you want the second road (TWP 162) after a about a 1 mile straight stretch. Watch for the "Light in the Valley Church" sign. Turn right on that twp road. Follow for about 1 mile to a crossroads with county road 70. Take a right. Immediately note the newer home on the right (ranch style) and a small home on the left. From this point on look for the travelling sparrow flock. Apparently one may walk into the weedy fields and along the brushy fencerows. The road continues as a slight upgrade then levels out. It levels out at a home on the right sign out front reads Delan and Leona Miller. This is as far as you should go. The weedy cornfield (north side) hosted the flock early this morning until we flushed them out. The flock moved to the south side of the road with the Chipping and Lark Sparrow moving with them. The Lark Sparrow may sing quite vociferously. Apparently, this morning's sighting of the Lark Bunting took place immediately adjacent to the road but may well be back a ways along the hedges.

The recent fair weather with southwesterly winds has brought some early migrants including 400 Tundra Swan at Ottawa N.W.R. today Tom Bartlett, and 14 Killdeer and 2 Dunlin at Pleasant Hill Reservoir yesterday - Jason Larson. Tom also reports that last weeks adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Medusa Marsh was at the same site today - on the ice immediately NW of the Rt269S/Rt2 jct. Thayer's Gull, Iceland Gull, and Glaucous Gull were all located on the breakwall off Fairport Harbor yesterday. The gulls were observed from Fairport Harbor beach on the south side of the harbor - Nick Barber. At least 6 Long-eared Owl continue at Killdeer Plains W.A. today - Todd Chapman. A Snow Goose was present on the pond of DFS, Inc. amidst hundreds of Canadas, both Thur. and Fri. This site is just north of Rickenbacker Airport in Groveport (Franklin Co.) - Susan Cruest.

A Wednesday morning attempt at calling in King Rail at Celotex Marsh (corner of Lockwood and Plasterbed Rds, Ottawa Co.) only succeeded in bringing in pairs of Marsh Wren at two separate locations. The birds emerged from the Phragmites apparently curious. Today, a brief visit to Clear Creek Valley Metropark (Hocking Co.) failed to locate any Black Vulture but did result in a calling Eastern Phoebe immediately west of the Creekside Meadows Picnic Area. - V.W.F.III. Todd Chapman reports 2 Rough-legged Hawks at Killdeer Plains W.A. last Tuesday evening.

The Northeast: A stunned Northern Saw-whet Owl was picked up roadside in Ashtabula Co. on the 25th. A Northern Shrike was present in Troy Twp, Geauga Co. last weekend. Check the area opposite the Akron maintenance bldg. on Rapids Rd. - Cleveland RBA. A Pine Warbler was found at Lakeshore Metropark (North Perry Lake Co.) yesterday morning. A feeding flock of gull offshore included an Iceland and a Glaucous Gull. Also noteworthy were 900 Bonaparte's Gull moving west. - John Pogacnik.

The V's of Canada were small, 20-30, but persistent through the day here along the Sandusky River heading north. Curious I made a quick check of goings on at Killdeer Plains WA early this morning. Upon arrival at the ranger offices, I was greeted by singing Eastern Meadowlarks, 5 in all. Noticing many a goose platform occupied by a Canada, I checked on the wintering flock on Pond 27, sure enough all gone. On the way there, a flock of 16 Yellow-rumped Warblers had me wondering if they too were a consequence of the fine weather. One more look for the Long-eared Owls took all of 5 seconds to come face-to-face with a very low bird in the second pine from the edge closest the parking lot. So often it seems feast or famine with those birds. Elsewhere a 1st year Glaucous Gull was found today at Findlay Reservoir - Sue Ross.

I wanted to take time out to note the list of waterbirds from a Sunday outing at the Little Miami River gravel pits led by Bill Stanley. At first glance this may seem an unremarkable species list, common as the birds are, but consider that this is the middle of January. There are years, many years, in which no one across the state will report any of these species outside of Castalia Pond or a hot water outlet any time in January.

10 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Horned Grebes, 8 Great Blue Herons, 2 Mute Swans, 30 Gadwall, 1 American Wigeon, 10 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Lesser Scaup, 10 Bufflehead, 15 Hooded Mergansers, 50 Ruddy Ducks, 1500 Ring-billed Gulls.

If you have seen the newscasts today you have likely been reminded of the "blizzard of '78" which hit Ohio 20 years today. What more contrast could you ask for today. After averaging 9 degrees above normal every day this winter in the Northwest, we have south winds, sunshine, and the birds just a bit over eager I think. Today I had the fortune of working outside, and from here in the Sandusky flyway, I noted Horned Larks, American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, heading north in droves - flocks of 8-15 every few minutes. These are species of course which just as easily turn around and head south again in the face of severe weather. I would like to point out though that last year spring migration began in earnest 2 Feb. and did not let up until the return of wintry weather after Easter. So this Wednesday, with anticipated warm southwesterly breezes, be watching for a little spring in the dead of winter. It may be a few crow steadily making their way along the Lake Erie shoreline, a Killdeer call over head with no sign of a Starling around, or a Green-winged Teal on the local pond where there had not been one. - V.W.F.III

Elsewhere : To add to the spate of inland Tundra Swans a week ago, there was an individual at Lake Acton (Hueston Woods S.P.) on the 19th. - Maynard Schaus. About the same time one was a flyby in the Cleveland area - Cleveland RBA. Late word of a few sightings in the Northeast include a flock of 200 Snow Buntings at Burke Lakefront Airport, 4 American Wigeon at Clague Park the 17th, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the beach at Headlands Beach S.P. the 17th, a Northern Shrike in Geauga Co. On the 18th, 1000 Common Goldeneye were seen from Cedar Point causeway and 250 Great Black-backed Gulls were present at Huron - all Cleveland RBA. Rare mid-winter, a Common Loon was at Hoover Reservoir on Friday - Len Powlick. Two Brewer's Blackbirds were in attendance with various blackbirds just south of the entrance to Bayshore Power Plant on Sunday - Greg Links. A gull movement past Lakeshore MP (Lake Co.) on Saturday included 107 Great Black-backed Gull, and 1 each Lesser Black-backed, Iceland, and Glaucous Gulls. Another Glaucous Gull was noted at Geneva S.P. while a Thayer's Gull and Iceland Gull were found at Ashtabula Harbor. A Snowy Owl "was perched on a railroad car in the harbor just east of the river" at Ashtabula - all John Pogacnik. In the Southwest, David Dister reports 2 American Pipits from Eastwood Metropark Lake (Dayton area) Saturday. While back in the Northeast, Rob Harlan had a Virginia Rail calling at Funk Saturday - look for a marshy area north of the Funk General Store.

Tom Bartlett and I reached 100 marks on species for the month today. To do that we went south yesterday and northwest today and managed 80% of our monthly total for the weekend. In the process a few interesting sightings:
At Fisher Rd (Co. 17) pond in Athens Co. yesterday a Sora answered a tape and a Killdeer was in a nearby field. 133 coot was a large mid-winter number at L.Logan and a Bufflehead was locally unusual there. No sign of the Snow Geese at Pickerington Ponds but 1 white morph was at Killdeer Plains amongst a diminished flock of waterfowl. Three Northern Saw-whet Owls were located in the pines but for the 3rd time in a week I failed to locate even 1 of the six Long-eared Owls (take that to be an artifact of who was looking not that they are gone). Today a visit to the Black-crowned Night-Heron roost at the Acme Power Plant in Toledo was succesful with 17 birds visible from the opposite bank. The river just south of I280 bridge was thick with Canada Geese and appx. 3000 duck - mostly Canvasback and a few Common Merganser. Woodlawn Cemetary held 30+ Pine Siskin and about 8 Common Redpoll. The Rt 20A cemetary still had at least 28 White-winged Crossbills but we didn't linger for a thorough census. Bayshore Yacht Club offered up 1500 Common Merganser, 90 Ruddy Duck (quite high for this date), and a few Lesser Scaup. At nearby Point Place were 8 Ring-necked Duck. Over at Bayshore Power Plant, a single Double-crested Cormorant, and some Hooded Merganser were among the few identifiable waterbirds. At the edge of Questar range were another 9-11,000 duck, the vast majority apparently Canvasback. Many feeders in the area were visited by numbers of cowbirds and grackles but no sign of the reported Yellow-headed Blackbird. About 15 Tundra Swan were seen from Rt 2 while driving by Ottawa N.W.R. and in fields a little further east were several conglomerations of Canada Geese totalling at least 6000 birds. Only 1 white morph Snow Goose was found among them. Moving on to Sandusky Bay we were surprised by the shift from mostly Canvasback to once again mostly Common Goldeneye. At least 2800 (90% drakes) goldeneye were counted from the bridge at Bayview. The Canvasbacks had moved north of the railroad bridge. I always check the ponds around the RT269 S jct with Rt2 which include Medusa Marsh. From the overpass the 3 Great Egrets were immediately evident to the NE (facing Sandusky); an area favored by roosting Great Blues in winter. Directly across the road to Bayview, is a pond, when partially ice covered, seems to offer up an interesting gull more often than not. This afternoon it was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. Swimming nearby in a small opening in the ice were 16 Double-crested Cormorant. Tom took me through some back roads of NE Seneca County, ostensibly for my year meadowlark but only succeeded with his year Snow Bunting. In the process we could not help but notice the Northern Harriers. In a 3 square mile area of CRP land, in a span of 30 minutes 2 dozen birds were found, in all 34 for this corner of the county. Another good winter for harrier. - V.W.F.III

At least one Great Egret remains near Medusa Marsh. The bird was standing on the ice of Sandusky Bay (south of Rt 2) in the company of 3 Great Blue Herons at dusk. The water remains open below the Sandusky Bay Bridge and from a moving vehicle I estimate not less than 2000 Canvasback packed into the diminishing area. Two Double-crested Cormorant were occupying a small bit of open water on the north side of Rt 2 at Medusa Marsh. - V.W.F.III & Tom Bartlett.

Three Snow Geese were present at Pickerington Ponds Metropark (Franklin Co.) and 2 Tundra Swans at Walden Pond, Blendon Woods Metropark yesterday - Columbus Metroparks. A Tundra Swan has been present these past 3 weeks at National Quarry Lake, Bluffton (Allen Co.) - Linda Houshower. Purple Finch are being reported from Caesar Creek S.P. feeders - Dayton RBA. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Summit Lake Tuesday and the Merlin in Bath remains as of that afternoon. The Merlin was in a dead tree at Banning and Kemery Rds - Don Burlett. Little action along the Lake Tue.; Pied Billed Grebes around the docks at Lorain and E. 55th marina, a Horned Grebe at Lorain, 5300 Bonaparte's Gulls at E. 55th while 650 were still at Conneaut. A hybrid goose, a Canada X Greater White-fronted in all likelihood, was also at Conneaut. - V.W.F.III. The Athens roost of Turkey Vultures is overflowing with 207 birds this year (normal is 50-100) - Ron Cass. From Salt Fork S.P. this week, Jason Larson reports 9 Northern Pintail, 3 Killdeer, and 1 Green-winged Teal.

Nick Barber updates from Killdeer Plains WA yesterday raise the Northern Saw-whet Owl and Long-eared Owl totals a notch to 5 and 6 respectively. Kathy Noblet and Sue Ross report a census of Killdeer Plains WA from yesterday. They missed some waterfowl present on Sat. including Wood Duck and 15 Northern Pintail. - Ned Keller et al.. John and Elaine Snively report an Eastern Phoebe along the entrance road to Crane Creek S.P. yesterday. The Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Cincinnati Nature Center continues from Dec. being seen yesterday - Bobby Foppe. Two independent parties failed to locate the White-winged Crossbills at Woodlawn Cemetary yesterday but 30-40 remain at the 20A cemetary west of Maumee - Snivelys. Common Redpolls were present at Woodlawn Cemetary yesterday - Bill Flanagan et al.. Two female/immature Surf Scoters were present at C.J. Brown Res. (just west of the campgrounds) on Sat. - David Dister. David also had 2 Winter Wrens and a dozen Pine Siskins at Glen Helen (Greene Co). One of the more consistent and conspicuous locations for Black Vulture in Ohio must be the section of Rt 33 in the vicinity of Logan (Hocking Co.). Although best viewed in spring one was recently reported near Clear Creek Valley yesterday - Mike Gallaway. Three Snowy Owls (on the breakwall) and a white Snow Goose were at Conneaut harbor Sunday - Joe Hammond et al.. Half-hardy species abound in Holmes Co. with recent reports of 4 Savannah Sparrows, 30 Eastern Meadowlarks, and a Wood Duck - Rob Harlan.

A Golden Eagle was seen this morning along Providence Rd about a mile north of Rt 24 in western Lucas Co. On Sat. 2 Short-eared Owl were present near the sledding hill at Maumee Bay S.P., and Snow Geese were seen along Rt 2 near Metsger Marsh. Also that day a 2nd yr Glaucous Gull was found at Collin Park on Summit St. in north Toledo. A Greater White-fronted Goose was reported from Castalia Pond for Friday, while 2 Surf Scoter were east of Bayshore in Oregon on the 14th. On the 15th the Oak Openings Northern Shrike had moved to along Whitehouse-Spencer Rd south of Rt 20A. - ALL Toledo RBA.

I failed to locate the Common Redpoll this morning at Maumee Bay S.P. but pished up a male Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the effort. There were 2200+ Common Merganser offshore. No Greater White-fronted Goose at Castalia although it may have been obscured by the 700 Canada Goose there. Other waterbirds finally coming into Castalia with most of Sandusky Bay frozen included a coot, 106 Northern Shoveler, 4 male Northern Pintail, 1 male Ring-necked Duck, 125 American Wigeon, and a high count of Gadwall - 60. Still few Mallard/American Black Ducks as many concentrations of those species remain along the Lake Erie shore. Common Mergansers were as abundant along Lake Erie's shoreline as I have ever seen in the Western Basin. Some sample numbers include 6000+ between Sheldon's Marsh S.N.P. and Huron Pier, and another 1800 just east of Old Woman Creek estuary. It was also a surprise then to find a discrete flock of 3100+ Red-breasted Merganser occupying the mouth of the Huron R. - only a 100 or so Commons mixed in and then predominantly along the periphery of the flock. The area under the Sandusky Bay bridge is often the last to freeze and today was occupied by 1120 Common Goldeneye and 650+ Canvasback. Another 300 Canvasback were off Huron Pier while another 200 Common Goldeneye were east of Old Woman Creek estuary. - V.W.F.III

The Shraders are reporting the Common Gull back again at Eastlake P.P. yesterday afternoon. Also relocated, the King Rail south of Gypsum (Ottawa Co.) at the corner of Lockwood and Plasterbed Rds. The bird responded Friday to a tape - Bruce Glick. Marsh Wren also continue at the site as of yesterday - Ed Pierce. The Woodlawn Cemetary White-winged Crossbills continue as of yesterday. Observers are having various luck with owls at Killdeer Plains W.A. Up to 4 Northern Saw-whet Owls, 5 Long-eared Owls, and this evening 11 Short-eared Owls were seen. The reservoir held a Common Loon and 5 Tundra Swans yesterday but these were absent today. Tom Bartlett continues to report interesting birds from Kelley's Island where the ferries are still running. Of note yesterday were Brown Thrasher, Common Loon, a large number of Bufflehead, and a couple Hermit Thrush.

Matt Anderson and Greg Links have been good about information regarding the White-winged Crossbills at the Moclova Cemetary along 20A, west of Maumee (Lucas Co.), originally found on the area Christmas Bird Count. The birds were still present this morning and readily seen as per earlier reports. Here are directions courtesy Matt Anderson.

John Pogacnik reports :
"Two immature Brant were found at Conneaut Harbor in Ashtabula County today around 3:30. They were mixed in with over 700 Canada Geese that were coming in to roost for the evening. Also present was a 1st year Thayer's Gull and an adult Glaucous Gull. At Ashtabula Harbor, a 3rd year Glaucous Gull and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were found.

Elsewhere: A Tundra Swan is present at a wetland beside the Shawnee Square Shopping Center in Chilicothe - Joe McMahon. Greg Links reports 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen on the 11th, at the Acme Power Plant in Toledo, along the Maumee River. Access is from Olive Street, on the west side of the river. This is the traditional wintering location in NW Ohio for Black-crowned Night-Herons (There were 23 herons there last Sat.). Also, Common Redpolls continue at Maumee Bay State Park (20 or so seen 1/11), and 2 Short-eared Owls were here (NW of the sledding hill) at dusk.

On Wed. Cece Johnston had about 10,000 ducks in the bay area and rafts extending out into the lake east of Bay Shore Power plant. Mostly Common mergansers, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Cansvasback, a few Redhead. There were also 3 Surf Scoters, half dozen Pied-billed and 2 Horned Grebes.

A Northern Shrikereported from the 7th by Dan Sanders remained on territory as of 3:00PM Sunday, 11 January - Steve Richards. Steve reports
"This area is easily viewed from the road, but is fairly expansive so if you are interested, you may have to engage in a bit of a visual search to locate the bird. A spotting scope would prove helpful. Directions. ."

No Common Gull but an Iceland Gull was at Eastlake Power Plant on Saturday Nick Barber. The Say's Phoebe was last reported to me as present on Wed. - Rob Harlan. Observers yesterday failed to locate the bird - Joe Hammond.

This just in from John Condit. I strongly urge locals to check this out and report back.

Dr. Toby Gaunt was in this morning (Mon.) and reported a strange gull on the Scioto river, sitting on the yellow barrels upstream of O'Shausnessy (spelling?) Dam in Delaware County. It had a BLACK HEAD and RED BILL. It did not fly so was unable to see wing pattern. On another yellow barrel close by was another gull, which he identified as a winter plumage Bonaparte's. If you want to contact him his e-mail address is: gaunt.1@osu.edu

Two Brewer's Blackbirds were located within a blackbird flock at the entrance of Metsger Marsh W.A. on Sunday - Nick Barber. Nick further reports 20 White-winged and 1 Red Crossbill continue at Woodlawn Cemetary in Toledo, and a late Common Loon at Maumee Bay S.P. The Oldsquaw at Hoover Res. remains as of yesterday. A Double-crested Cormorant was another good find there - Joe Hammond. Two Dunlin were still at Lorain impoundment on Sun. The cold weather may have been a stimulus to Bonaparte's Gull as finally some substantial numbers (appx 9000) had gathered at Lorain Harbor yesterday. No sign of the Little Gull which had been reported by the Hoffman's there on Thur. Little to be seen at Huron or Cedar Point although 550 Red-breasted Mergansers were off the Sandusky waterfront yesterday. NW Ohio reservoirs {e.g. Beaver Creek, Findlay) are still open but generally seem devoid of bird activity. - V.W.F.III. Along with the usual owls, Killdeer, Eastern Meadowlarks, a Snow Bunting, and Lapland Longspur were reported yesterday from Killdeer Plains W.A. - Rob Harlan.

John Pogacnik reports: An adult Common Gull (Larus canus canus) was found at the Eastlake Power Plant in Lake County around 3:30 today (1/9). The bird was identified by its mantle color, which is darker than a Ring-billed Gull (RBGU). The darker gray mantle blends directly into the etensive black wing tips. (The Mew Gull-Larus canus brachyrynchos has white separating the gray mantle from the black tips of primaries 4 or 5 through 7) There are two large white spots (mirrors) on the outer two primaries. These large white mirrors were quite noticeable as the bird flew by and were probably the best mark for finding the bird. The bill was shorter than a RBGU). There was a narrow dusky ring around the tip of the bill. This ring was not distinct and as black as in a RBGU. There was some dusky head streaking and the eye was dark.

Also present were Glaucous, Iceland,and Little Gulls. [Ed. Note: Common Gulls have recently appeared in Maryland and Pennsylvannia]

Last word I have on the Say's Phoebe is from Monday.

Doreene Linzell reports :

As of 1/9 at 2:30 the Oldsquaw reported earlier is still on Hoover Reservoir (Columbus). To see it, take Sunbury Road north from Rt 161 to Walnut Street (the Certified gas station). The bird is keeping company with a male Common Goldeneye.

Ants at the hummingbird feeder, gnats and craneflies buzzing about, Leopard Frogs a leaping, and the Great Egret flock has grown to 3. In a word MILD weather for hereabouts. Pickerel Creek W.A. Song and Swamp Sparrows were singing as though it be March, make that late March. A Common Yellowthroat briefly announced itself from some cattails. A flyby Snow Bunting made for a momemtary lapse in the spring-like scenario. The insect and frog activity made it plain that it was not all that ridiculous to be photographing 3 Great Egrets at Medusa Marsh this morning. They are easy enough to see; as you venture onto or off of the east end of the Sandusky Bay bridge glance south. They are roosting in the exact spot where 2 spent all of November. Best viewed from the east-bound lane. I went on to East Harbor S.P. but failed to locate a catbird but was surrounded by calling Winter and Carolina Wrens. Recalling that the Hoffman's reported Dunlin about 10 days ago at Lorain impoundment I ventured over for a look-see. There, just apart from the 900 Bonaparte's Gull, were 5 Dunlin. Elsewhere, a Common Yellowthroat was at Pipe Creek W.A. last week - Paul Sherwood.

A Correction : The King Rail was found at the corner of Plasterbed and Lockwood Roads. This is south of the Gypsum plant property (NW shore of Sandusky Bay). The marsh is southwest of the intersection. This is also where we had the two Marsh Wrens. The marsh along the road is accessible. The rest is private. - John Pogacnik

A Yellow-headed Blackbird was found Sunday amidst a flock of cowbirds in the Williston Rd area N of Rt 579 ( about 4 miles due west of the sharp northward turn in RT 2 adjacent to Ottawa N.W.R. ). It was not relocated in the afternoon. In the northwest, Killdeer were discovered on both the Grand Rapids-Waterville CBC and Ottawa N.W.R. CBC. More interesting birds on the Grand Rapids CBC included Common Snipe, Turkey Vulture, and Palm Warbler. The Palm Warbler was just northeast of the junction of Eber & Weckerly Rds. White-winged Crossbills were located at two sites emphasizing again the fact that these birds are scattered in small numbers over a large area. The flight call is distinctive and a good way to pick up the species away from established haunts.

Mute Swans are nothing new but I would like observers to pay particular attention to the species especially inland records. Consider this excerpt from the winter 1996-97 Ohio Cardinal seasonal report :

At least 65 birds were located across the State this season. Despite local efforts to curb breeding, the species has continued its spread, penetrating inland with 8 reports from the SE and 3 from the SW. The largest increases were in the NE where 25 birds were reported throughout the winter. - V.W.F.III

The Say's Phoebe in Knox County remains as of noon Saturday - Roger Troutman. So much correspondance has been generated regarding the phoebe that I have created its own file which you may peruse for specific information.

One of those birding feats of interest to Ohio birders has been the January Century - to see 100 species by the end of January. Several persons are engaged in a run this year and some are already approaching 80 species in the first few days. Such efforts always seem to turn up a number of unexpected birds.

The Northwest has seen considerable birding activity owing in part to the Sat/Sun Gypsum (Sandusky Bay) & and Ottawa N.W.R. CBCs. Doubtless we will hear shortly from Tom Bartlett on the ONWR count results but I can forward a few highlights. Eighty-three species were found Sat. in the Sandusky Bay area with but 3 parties [ I would like to resurrect this count and am looking 3-4 more parties for next year]. The mix of birds included an immature Northern Goshawk flying west over Medusa Marsh, 2 Tree Swallows over Pickerel Creek (by the pump station parking lot off Rt 6), a King Rail responding to a tape at Winous Point (a special permission site), and a Gray Catbird at the jetty of East Harbor S.P. At Rt 2 & RT 269, the SW pond held 44 Great Blue Herons and 2 Great Egrets. Just about every puddle, bay duck, and merganser species were present in numbers. Yesterday, my personal highlights of the ONWR CBC included a Sora which called persistently in response to pishing ( I was after a Swamp Sparrow). The bird was in a diked marsh off the west side of Rt 2 adjacent and north of where a stream (Crane Creek?) crosses about a mile south of the turnoff for Metsger Marsh W.A. Additional birds of note were a Northern Mockingbird at Metsger Marsh ( in with a flock of 22 Northern Cardinals), 5 White-winged Crossbills over Reno Beach, 9 Snow Buntings at Howard Beach, and all four regular blackbird species in numbers. The Rusty Blackbirds (37) and Red-winged Blackbirds (106) at the northernmost end of Yondota (right at the Stop sign announcing no authorized entry).

The Say's Phoebe continues in Knox Co. as of today.

Happy 1998 everyone - may it be as full of rarities as last year. - cheers V.W.F.III

Additional sightings from the NW : Winter Wrens continue in unheard of abundance at East Harbor S.P. with 13 on Sat. - Tom Bartlett. Rusty Blackbirds were also there Sat. - Rob Harlan. Up to 11 Double-crested Cormorant remain in the vicinity of Bayview. A remarkable 9000 Canvasbacks were at the southern end of Sandusky Bay. A Glaucous Gull was at Medusa Marsh (off RT 2 and 269) and another elsewhere on Sandusky Bay on Sat. The Bay area, including the Cedar Pt causeway (Sandusky), is seeing high concentrations of the larger gulls - a good source of some of the more unusual gull sightings. Rob Harlan estimated 2000 Great Black-backed Gulls at Cedar Point Sat. while more than 700 were on the Gypsum CBC. Rob had 2 Glaucous Gulls at Cedar Point. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was along the Rt 53 causeway to Catawba Island on Thursday - Tom Bartlett. The Bay area in general can also be good for lingering "half-hardy" species such as the above mentioned catbird. There are still sizeable flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers to be found around Marblehead and Catawba Island - I had 28 on Johnson Island. An overlooked site that in many ways is like a miniature Kelley's Island, Johnson Island is off the southeastern end of Marblehead Peninsula. The private causeway toll is $1.00 payable in coin or dollar bill. Drive straight through the "intersection" to the Civil War cemetary - this is the only parking lot - otherwise drive slowly along the perimeter road.

Further west the ONWR/Metsger Marsh areas is presently good for 110 Tundra Swan and 29+ Snow Geese - Jenny Brumfield et al.. Common Redpolls continue at Maumee Bay S.P. - Marc England. The Crossbill flock (up to 60 WWCR, 4 RECR) at Woodlawn Cemetary in Toledo (Access is off of I-475, either the Central Ave or Jackman Rd exits. - Greg Links) continues as of yesterday. Jenny Brumfield had this sage advice for anyone searching for the crossbills at Woodlawn.

"Hanging out near both ends of the big bridge should prove successfull for most searches. Also, look especially in the small-cone type spruces and hemlocks- the crossbills seem to prefer these. Also, look for Pine Siskin flocks, they are noisy and tend to hang out with the crossbills often. And, if you find a crossbill flock, you may be able to approach them rather closely if you stay especially quiet and move slowly."

The SOUTHEAST: A male Peregrine Falcon has apparently taken up residence in Nelsonville (Athens Co.) being reported now for 6 weeks dieting on the local pigeons. - Ron Cass. Ron further reports an albino Red-tailed Hawk from the Big Baily complex of the Wayne National Forest between Doanville and Chauncy (Athens Co.).

The NORTHEST: At Conneaut on the 1st, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and 9 Tundra Swans - Tom Bartlett. One Snowy Owl was still present (there were 2 on the 28th) It was sitting on driftwood on the beach directly west of the harbor - John Pogacnik.

CENTRAL OHIO : The Northern Saw-whet Owls at Killdeer Plains W.A. now number 6 as of Sat. An Oldsquaw was at Hoover Reservoir at the pull-off immediately opposite the certified gas station on Sunbury Road on the western side of the Reservoir - Dave Demmon.

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