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March 2000

A black male Ruff was reported Tuesday (4th) at Toussaint W.A. from the fishing access along Rt. 19 by Kent Glausser. The area was thoroughly searched Wed. and Thursday with no sign of the bird. Early April is a typical time for the appearance of the species. It should be looked for among Pectoral Sandpipers and yellowlegs. Shorebirds in Ottawa County have been the headliners for that group. Last Saturday a little less than 1500 Pectoral Sandpiper were surveyed along the estuaries in that county. Principal locations include Turtle creek at Duff-Washa Rd., Toussaint Creek W.A. (especially from the Fisherman's Access), and Little Portage Creek (from Little Portage W.A., Oak-Harbor SE Rd crossing, and upstream along Little Portage East Rd). Nearby Muddy Creek just to the south and Meadowbrook (on the Marblehead Peninsula toward the Dempsey Access) round out the list of locations in Ottawa County. These sites combined for 2300+ Pectoral Sandpipers yesterday - V.W.F.III. Other shorebirds have been limited to roughly 90 Greater Yellowlegs and about 50 Lesser Yellowlegs, a pleasant concentration of 120+ Common Snipe on the Little Portage Creek, and the usual Killdeer. Last Friday saw the first concentration of snipe reported with 60 for Big Island W.A. - V.W.F.III. A surprising 70 Dunlin were also present there that day. Elsewhere, Greater Yellowlegs made a big move on the weekend as 47 birds were noted Sunday at Big Island W.A. where there were but three two days earlier - Ron Sempier. A little further south arrivals Sunday included Upland Sandpiper and American Golden-Plover at Delaware W.A. (Delaware Co.) - Charlie Bombaci. Today a pair of Spotted Sandpipers were photographed at Lake Logan - Dave St. John. This site seems to habitually be among the first for the spring arrival of the species in Ohio.

The first Caspian Tern report comes from Conneaut Harbor way back on the 26th - Bob Finkelstein et al. Subsequently, individuals were noted last Saturday at Maumee Bay S.P. and Lake Co. - John Pogacnik. The next day 7 were at Lorain Harbor - Hank Armstrong and Jay Lehman. A pair of terns fitting the description of Forster's were reported along Rt. 33 at a borrow pit in Hocking Co. a week ago - Bill Perrine fide Dave St. John. Two Forster's Tern were positively identified Sunday at Lorain Harbor - Hank Armstrong and Jay Lehman. The species was in Cleveland by Wednesday - Nancy Klamm. Herons and egrets have made their presence felt this past week. Great Egrets were back at the Turning Pt. Island rookery a week ago - Sheryl Young . By Saturday, 27 nests were occupied by at least 40 birds - V.W.F.III. Ten Black-crowned Night-Herons were also present. The latter species had already been noted at the Merwin St. (Cleveland) staging site last week. That flock has built to 36 as of this morning - Paula Lozano. A Snowy Egret was feeding on the Toussaint River as seen from the Fisherman's Access of Rt. 19 yesterday - V.W.F.III. It was there again today - Greg Links.

A Ross's Goose was discovered Saturday at the Mercer Wildlife Area adjacent to Grand Lake (off S.R. 703) in Mercer Co. - David Dister, m.obs. - a deja vu experience for David who documented a bird at the other end of the lake almost three years ago to the day.

A pair of Sandhill Cranes, first seen at the corner of Green Rd. and Rte 20 in Madison Sunday (Anders Fjelstad), were still present yesterday - John Pogacnik. Migrants continue along the south shore of Lake Erie with a bird over Maumee Bay S.P. last Saturday - V.W.F.III. Three birds were on Pond 27 of Killdeer Plains W.A. Sunday - Ron Sempier. Gulls have not been nearly as exciting as the previous two weeks, but individual Glaucous Gulls were discovered at Eastlake and Avon Lake Power Plants over the weekend - Hank Armstrong & Jay Lehman. An immaculate breeding plumaged adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was sitting on the mudflat of Meadowbrook Lake (Ottawa Co.) yesterday - V.W.F.III.

A male and female pair of Surf Scoters were still on a couple of Wayne Co. ponds (Overton and Silver Rds.) Tuesday - Su Snyder; Su had discovered a male on Saturday. Other waterfowl happenings: Ruddy Ducks are just beginning to stage at the usual sites. Van Wert Reservoir held 50 over the weekend - John Perchalski. Oberlin Reservoir (Lorain Co.) hosted 485 on Wednesday and 635 graced Willard Reservoir the same day - V.W.F.III. Wellington was also home to 600 Lesser Scaup; a decent inland concentration. The Sandusky Bay crowd estimated at 26,000 last Saturday may have been breaking up late in the week - V.W.F.III. Some puddle duck numbers of interest include the gatherings of Green-winged Teal along the Ottawa County creeks often feeding amongst the above mentioned Pectoral Sandpipers. Dozens could be found along any waterway but 275 on Turtle Creek (Duff-Washa Rd.) and 170 along the upper reaches of the Little Portage Creek were the largest groups. There were 3 Snow Geese at the Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton Co.) on Sunday - Bill Hull. Following up a report he received the day before Dave St. John sighted a Red-necked Grebe on Lake Logan this morning.

Little in the way of raptors to report. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was noted Saturday in Lake Co. - John Pogacnik while a bird on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail first located on 29 March (Tom Kozlowski) was last reported Sunday - m.obs. A pair of Peregrine Falcon occupying steeples of St. Mary's (cathedral?) in downtown Sandusky have some wondering about potential breeding there - Sheryl Young. Those of you in the northeast who have occasion to take Rt. 2 west birding or otherwise may be interested in a Red-tailed Hawk nest on the south side of the road immediately west of the Vermilion rest area (opposite exit sign for Wakeman). The nest is occupied by a Great Horned Owl with the head and ear tufts visible in silhouette in the right light.

I have no more recent report of the Conneaut Harbor Black-headed Gull than Saturday.

White-winged Gulls picked up over the weekend with 2 Iceland Gulls at Lakeshore MP yesterday - John Pogacnik . Two Icelands at nearby Headlands Beach S.P. may have have overlapped with the Lakeshore MP observation. Haans Petruschke further reports yesterday from HBSP, an adult Thayer's Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a Glaucous Gull.

Clearly there was a songbird fallout in the northeast, largely involving the Eastern Phoebe with 31 noted Saturday at Lakeshore Metropark - John Pogacnik and nearby Headlands Beach S.P. hosting 25+ - Kevin Metcalf. Kevin also reports a singing Northern Shrike at HBSP. Yesterday, the Northern Shrike along Force Rd. at Killbuck Marsh W.A. was especially conspicuous and cooperative for excellent viewing - V.W.F.III. A smattering of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Hermit Thrush were reported across the state, but the only notable concentration of either was the 65+ GCKI at Springville Marsh (Seneca Co.) yesterday. Tom Bartlett et al. also tallied 12 Winter Wrens there yesterday. A Chipping Sparrow in Tiffin on Friday is my first report from the northwest - Zac Baker. It is not often I get to speak of warblers in March, but the appearance of a couple of early Pine Warblers in the northern third of the state are worth a mention; a bird in Tiffin (Seneca Co.) last Tuesday - Grant Rettig, and individuals at Holden Arboretum - Haans Petruschke and Lakeshore MP on Saturday - John Pogacnik. John also had another overshoot Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. These sightings were eclipsed by the very early arrival of a Black-throated Green Warbler at Buck Creek State Park yesterday - Doug Overacker. Doug also noted Vesper Sparrows in the vicinity, while the mudflats sported 150 Pectoral Sandpipers and a very early Dunlin. Elsewhere: The 110 Turkey Vultures kettling over Scheele Preserve on Kelleys Island Saturday strikes me as a remarkable flock for the Lake Erie Islands - Delores Cole. Delores also reports a local sighting of Northern Saw-whet Owl for the island last Thursday.

The adult Black-headed Gull in residence on the mudflat at Conneaut Harbor (Ashtabula Co.) is sporting a nearly complete hood as of yesterday - Jean Hoffman, V.W.F.III. Six adult Little Gulls were still present.

Inexplicably scarce in spring migration of recent years, two White-winged Scoters were an excellent find at Caesar Creek S.P. yesterday - John Rakestraw et al.. The birds were observed in the cove at the end of Harveysburg Rd.

On the way up to Conneaut yesterday, I was reminded of the late March/early April phenomenon of pre-breeding dispersals experienced by many bird species we regard as largely resident. Last year, east Cleveland suburbs were inundated by Wild Turkey; something brought to mind yesterday by a suicidal individual which managed to clear all 4 lanes of Interstate 90 at about windshield height, missing several vehicles by a second or two. All gallinaceous species tend toward wanderlust in early spring. And so too Pileated Woodpeckers, perhaps explaining the bird at Pickerel Creek W.A. in Sandusky Co. yesterday - Brad Cullen. The recent warmth, while not as dramatic as earlier fronts, was sufficient to bring new early migrants to the region. This morning, Tom Bartlett reports Northern Rough-winged Swallows back at a Tiffin breeding site. A classic late March overflight species, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was detected in Bluffton Thursday - Linda Houshower. Resident Ospreys are back at Salt Fork S.P. (Guernsey Co.) as of yesterday - Jason Larson. In the northwest last Sunday Field Sparrows made themselves known in Seneca - T.Bartlett and Hancock Cos. - Becky Cullen.

The adult (w/partial brown hood) Black-headed Gull remains through yesterday - m.obs. The bird has been identifiably photographed by Bruce Glick. Quite exciting is the opportunity to study the bird in close proximity with Little Gulls (up to 21 yesterday - Joe Hammond) and Bonaparte's Gulls. As is often the result with a large concentration of birders, other gulls discovered in the vicinity this week include Glaucous, Thayer's, and Lesser Black-backed Gull.

A look at the Columbus Indigo Bunting - courtesy Bob Royse

An adult Black-headed Gull was detected at Conneaut Harbor (Ashtabula Co.)yesterday afternoon (3:00 pm) by Ed Schlabach et al. fide Dave Hochadel. The harbor is reached by following SR 7 north from Interstate 90. Two Little Gulls and a Glaucous Gull were also present.

Two Greater White-fronted Geese were still present at Pickerington Ponds as of yesterday morning - Rob Thorn. Two Great Egrets were at Pickerel Creek Thursday - Brad Cullen. Staging Lapland Longspurs continue to build; the Sager Rd site SW of Big Island W.A.) Marion Co. again held 160+ birds on the Friday census - Dave St. John, while later along Washburn Rd. (Killdeer Plains W.A.) Dave estimated 2000 individuals closely matching the 1996 numbers.

A quiet week for new migrants. A Barn Swallow was reported from Darke Co. (near Greenville) last Saturday - fide Regina Schieltz. Earlier on the 6th, a Purple Martin had returned to Holmes Co.(Millersburg) - Morris Yoder fide Jason Larson. At least one of the Grand River W.A. (Trumbull Co.) Northern Shrikes remains as of Monday - Nathan McNett. Another Northern Shrike was reported for last Friday on Force Rd at Killbuck Marsh W.A. - Winnie Sarno & Elaine Snively. A Common Redpoll put in an appearance at a Columbus area feeder Tuesday morning - Doreene Linzell. As far south as this irruptive was noted this winter, individuals heading north may appear suddenly at central Ohio locations through March while Lakeshore feeders may host a bird or two well into April. During the late 70's, oddball birds appeared at migrant traps along Lake Erie through 9 May. The two Greater White-fronted Geese were still present for Tuesday's visit by Steve. Laura Gooch was surprised by 8 White-winged Crossbills on Tuesday in Cleveland Hts.

Gull activity has picked up with migrant Bonaparte's Gulls noted in the southwest and northeast. At Conneaut Harbor yesterday, the gathering of 2500 birds also held 4 Little Gulls - an excellent number in spring - Dan Sanders. Dan also sighted a Lesser Black-backed Gull there. Charlie's Pond (Pickaway Co.) had 11 Common Snipe yesterday - Len Powlick.

These photos (courtesy Brad Sparks) depict a raptor earlier reported from Scioto County in mid-February as a Gyrfalcon. Subsequent discussion has debated this identification, offering the possibility of a partial albino buteo, particularly a Rough-legged Hawk. I hope to offer a page summarizing this discussion in the near future.

And the first set of photos posted by Dr. Stephen Harvey.

To paraphrase Alec Baldwin, the last few days have seen some extraordinary ornithological activity. The record warmth through the region, most notably Tuesday and Wednesday and the attendant southwesterly winds induced a heavy migration of the early facultative migrants we expect in March. Such progress was made by many species as to suggest the season stands 10 days ahead of the norm. The recent cold snap will do much to bring matters back on schedule but looking ahead another warm-up is expected late next week.

Evidence for the rapid progression is seen in the diurnal passage of migrants as viewed from Maumee Bay S.P., as well as a few records of songbirds elsewhere along the Lake Erie shoreline. Tuesday's diurnal flight (sunrise - 10:30 am) revealed healthy numbers for the early date - nothing really unusual.Sample numbers:

Killdeer - 68
Common Snipe - 4
Mourning Dove - 17
Horned Lark - 18
Tree Swallow - 1
American Robin - 1334
American Pipit - 32
Snow Bunting - 16
Lapland Longspur - 4

As I said nothing special. Tree Swallows had been noted earlier with 4 foraging at Toussaint W.A. the day before. Passing individuals were also apparent from the Magee Marsh W.A. observation tower Monday and Tuesday. Still it was a surprise to see two pairs defending territory at the Magee Marsh visitor center by Wednesday. Common Snipe were also fairly widespread at this point as 5 were detected that morning at Mallard Club marsh W.A. and another 4 were at Toussaint W.A.on Monday. Greg Links had a dozen at Metzger marsh W.A. Wednesday. What causes me to remark on the early push was what took place Wednesday. With temperatures skirting 80 deg. F along the Lake shore, winds brought the largest passage of birds by the Maumee Bay sledding hill that I have seen in 6 years of census. The more than 22,000 blackbirds were still dominated by the Red-winged Blackbird (appx. 14,000) but the thrushes stole the show. If you have been up to the Western basin marshes this time of year you should be well familiar with the golden-brown hues which form the canvas of Lake Erie vegetation; the winter-dried grasses, phragmites, etc. From atop the sledding hill at Maumee Bay State Park the scene makes for a pretty picture. Now imagine 10 ... 15 ... 20 daubs of turquoise-blue paint splattered across the canvas like a Robin Williams movie. Only they are moving, undulating across the landscape a few meters above the ground. This image was repeated again and again. The result of a remarkable flight of Eastern Bluebirds, and one not soon forgotten. Here are the comparative numbers for the Wednesday flight - sunrise - 10:30 am.:

Killdeer - 27
Common Snipe - 1
Mourning Dove - 38
Horned Lark - 75
American Robin - 3395
Eastern Bluebird - 272
American Pipit - 60
Snow Bunting - 1
Lapland Longspur - 49

To extend the cinematic brain spasm I seem to be experiencing at the moment, Tuesday evening at Medusa Marsh revealed a scene that would have made Hitchcock jealous. Upon arriving (6:00 p.m.) at the phragmites pool (immediately west of the main pool on Barrett Rd.), I was truly taken aback by the concentration of blackbirds pouring into the area to roost for the evening. Over the next twenty minutes, I did what I could to get a handle on the concentration but I can only say the numbers were in excess of 80,000 birds; roughly 50% Red-winged Blackbird, 45% Common Grackle, and 5% other. The phragmites themselves hosted thousands, with the occasional explosion of wings hinting at how really numerous the birds were. Much easier to estimate were the 30,000 or so birds which provided an early leaf-out for the trees in the old heron rookery across Rt. 2. Then there were the trees throughout Medusa Marsh itself for a half-mile in each direction, not one left uncovered. When I left, birds were still arriving at 1000/minute from the direction of Sandusky. And in all that, not so much as a hint of xanthic pigment.

None were present the following evening.

Hawk watches Monday and Tuesday from Magee Marsh were unremarkable; at least for the target species. Two Sandhill Cranes Monday brought the season's total to about 19 with 9 of those coming the previous Monday - Gerry Klug and Tom Koslowski. More surprising was a noon-time Short-eared Owl, apparently shadowing a hunting Rough-legged Hawk along Rt. 2. The bird was seen for some time ABOVE the hawk easily 150 ft off the ground. Sensing the Wednesday flight was going to be the main push for the week, I remained at Maumee Bay S.P. counting raptors and other big birds from 10:30 - 14:00 hrs.

Turkey Vulture - 68
Bald Eagle - 6
Northern Harrier - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 4
Cooper's Hawk - 7
Red-shouldered Hawk - 158
Red-tailed Hawk - 39
Rough-legged Hawk - 1
Golden Eagle - 2 adults
Unid. Buteo - 12
American Kestrel - 4
Sandhill Crane - 1

Elsewhere: A Golden Eagle was reported earlier in the week (Holmes Co.?) - seen by Ed Schlabach fide Leroy Yoder. A Greater Yellowlegs was reported from Killbuck Marsh W.A. last Saturday while the area Sandhill Crane tally for Wayne Co. was 12 birds - fide Leroy Yoder. The Magee Marsh Bird Trail was active again Wednesday with 7 Fox Sparrows, 4 Golden-crowned Kinglets, an Eastern Towhee, an Eastern Phoebe, and a very early Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Greg Links. Greg also reports an early singing Savannah Sparrow at Mallard Club Marsh W.A. on Wednesday. Another Eastern Phoebe was sighted by the observation tower - Gerry Klug. The fisherman's access at Toussaint W.A. probably offers the best shorebird habitat at the moment. With few shorebirds in as yet it is hard to tell but two Pectoral Sandpipers were among the 40 Killdeer there on Wednesday - V.W.F.III. A yellow-headed Blackbird was at the cemetery adjacent to the Duff-Washa Rd. crossing of Turtle Creek last Sunday - Eric Durbin. Waterfowl concentrations are few and far between. Only about 4000 bay duck were visible on Sandusky Bay from the Medusa Marsh side but a check from the Dempsey Access on Marblehead Peninsula found their current hide-a-way, tucked into the nook formed by Johnson's Island. Approximate 6500 scaup accompanied by another 500 bay duck made up the bulk of this group. Three winter male Oldsquaw were a pleasant surprise amidst these rafts on Tuesday. Monday the respectable concentration of puddle ducks in the main pool of Medusa Marsh included 255 Green-winged Teal, 235 American Wigeon, 185 Gadwall, and a few shovelers and pintail. East Harbor State Park was uneventful; about 1200 scaup and 21 Mute Swans.

BTW, the new trail section at Magee which begins near the observation tower on the parking lot side is nearing completion. This section winds into the woodlot at the first bend in the causeway - an excellent migrant trap in its own right. On a sadder note, one of the last of the flood-prone fields in the area, Howard Rd., has been torn up by earth-moving equipment. The pile of drainage tile nearby signals the demise of this spring shorebird site.

Errata: Below the reference to 10 weeks should read 6 weeks for The Wilds Golden Eagle as I only have corroboration from 19 January. - V.W.F.III

The wintering immature Golden Eagle remains at The Wilds as of yesterday - Jim McCormac; present now 10 weeks. The adult there has not been reported in three weeks. Troy Shively believes he resighted the Golden Eagle at Killdeer Plains W.A. yesterday.

The two Greater White-fronted Geese at Pickerington Ponds were still present today - Jeff Grabmeier. Four Sandhill Cranes had returned to Funk Bottoms W.A. as of today - Jeff & Marian Kraus.

Eastern Phoebes have moved into the north with a bird at Sheldon Marsh SNP today - Ben Winger and two in Mahoning Co. (Meander Res.) today - Carole Babyak. Ben further reports a Blue-winged Teal, 2 Fox Sparrows, and 2 Eastern Towhees at Sheldon Marsh. An Eastern Towhee was also reported from Portage Co. - Jeff Greene. Len Powlick reports 100 Lapland Longspur remain along Washburn Rd. (Killdeer Plains W.A.) today. Up to 9 Rough-legged Hawks remain at The Wilds today - Richard Cressman. Local arrivals at Buck Creek State Park today included American Pipit, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Horned Grebe - Doug Overacker. Yesterday Doug had the first Common Loon of the season. Up to 7 Short-eared Owls could be found at Killdeer Plains W.A. today - James Hooper.

Mystery Redpoll - Please examine these photographs. What is your opinion? email

An adult Golden Eagle was observed through scope views perched and again in flight at Killdeer Plains W.A. yesterday (vicinity of Pond 27 near Washburn Rd.) - Todd Chapman. Todd further reports 3 Tundra Swans off Rt. 95 at Big Island W.A. this morning

Up to three Pine Warblers were on territory at Waterloo Experimental Station (Athens Co.) by Wednesday - Dave St. John. This site has reached saturation at 11-14 territories by the 10th in the past. Another Pine Warbler was reported from Shawnee State Forest this morning - Brad Sparks. Jim Fry noted his annual Hocking Co. returnee by the 27th Feb. An Eastern Phoebe was finally reported with a bird at Caesar's Creek S.P. yesterday - John Rakestraw. Strange no overflights were detected last weekend. Another early Tree Swallow was detected; this one at Wright Marsh (in Killbuck Marsh W.A., Wayne Co.) on the 1st - Tim Shue fide Gabe Hostetler.

Two Greater White-fronted Geese were reported from Pickerington Pond (Fairfield/Franklin Co.) yesterday - Richard Cressman

Common Redpolls may still be found with 10 present at Lorain Harbor yesterday - Rob Harlan. Also there yesterday was a female Oldsquaw - Sean Zadar. Ducks in generela are dominated by Redhead and Canvasbacks at Lorain with hundreds of each. While off Bayshore (Lucas Co.)- Bill Whan, Joe Hammond and Sandusky (Erie Co.) thousands of scaup are staging - V.W.F.III. Amidst the throng at Bayshore, Bill and Joe found 3 Surf Scoters. Puddle ducks continue to filter into the marhes of the Western Basin with pintails and shovelers in small numbers at Ottawa N.W.R., and Gadwalls and Green-winged Teals at Medusa Marsh yesterday. No sign of the weekend Eurasian Wigeon.

Yet another strong southerly airflow and moderate temperatures pushed early migrants into the region. Rob Harlan had his earliest Tree Swallow over the Magee Marsh Bird Trail yesterday. Rob further reports a pair of Sandhill Cranes at Ottawa N.W.R. along Veler Rd. Veler was also good for 8 Short-eared Owls. The Magee Marsh Northern Shrike was still present while I had close views of the Ottawa N.W.R. bird also yesterday. Shorebirds are not usually a group garnering attention in February in Ohio, but yesterday Turtle Creek at Duff-Washa Rd. (Ottawa Co.) held 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Pectoral Sandpiper among the usual Killdeer - V.W.F.III. A Lesser Yellowlegs reported in the northwest for last Thursday would be the earliest spring record for Ohio - fide Toledo RBA. Lapland Longspurs are massing at inland staging sites with 750 noted along Washburn Rd. (Killdeer Plains W.A.) yesterday - Bob Royse, and 127 along Ground Hog Rd. (6 miles sw of Big Island W.A.) on Saturday - Dave St. John. Somewhat early (although in keeping with recent years), the dominant blackbird at Magee Marsh W.A. yesterday evening was Rusty Blackbird with 1400 sitting in the trees at one time along the causeway. Three more Sandhill Cranes were detected yesterday passing over Spring Valley W.A. - Patti Niehoff.

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