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

March 1998

The Fairport Harbor Mew Gull : Here are 5 pictures (total = 160k).

Nothing new noted along the Magee Marsh Bird Trail this morning. A Solitary Sandpiper and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were seen from the hawk tower. The raptor flight was surprisingly good ahead of the weather front :

Turkey Vulture - 169
Bald Eagle - 9
Northern Harrier - 4
Northern Goshawk - 2
Cooper's Hawk - 8
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 30
Red-shouldered Hawk - 10
Red-tailed Hawk - 92
American Kestrel - 4

Elsewhere Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Yellow-throated Warbler were present this morning at Miami Whitewater Forest (Hamilton Co.) - Lester Peyton. A mixed species group of 20+ crossbills was located at the "gorge" of Mohican State Forest this morning - Loudonville Highschool ornithology class.

I should have mentioned the 460 Lapland Longspur at Big Island W.A. Monday. This seems a much sought after species by Ohio birders. Clearly one needs to walk into the farm fields. At Big Island, along Rt 95 park at the designated parking area 1 mile west of Rt 203. Directly across from the parking area is a paved crossing over the rail tracks. Walk across the tracks to a path leading directly south 200 yards crossing a ditch at a small bridge. Anywhere here longspurs are plausible but on Monday they distinctly favored an area appearing a bit greener than much of the farm field off the the west about 600 yards. Once within the greener patch I was afforded easily the best views of Lapland Longspur of my life. The birds were reluctant to flush, and did so only when I was within 30-40 ft and then only moved on 20-30 yards. Occasionally when I thought all had moved on, I proceeded forward only to flush a bird but 10 feet away. All varieties of plumage were seen. Had I a scope along it would have been an excellent opportunity for study but as is binoculars were satisfactory. If you know the call, the birds were easily located as the sound of 460 birds was readily heard from 200 yards away. Some were performing what I suspect were courtship aerials/chases and emitted bubbly melodic vocalizations I know I have never heard before from a longspur. I studied perhaps 75 or so individuals looking for something different and did locate a very washed out bird that looked nothing like the others. Without camera documentation, I will leave it unknown but I expect to be back there within the next 48 hrs, camera in hand. - V.W.F.III.

Pectoral Sandpipers arrived in a big way Monday with 124 found in and around Big Island W.A. - V.W.F.III.

After listing a few Chipping Sparrow arrivals Sunday I have been made aware of widespread arrival of the species over the weekend from Paulding to Mahoning Co. - m.obs. An early bird was at Headlands Beach S.P. on the 17th - Nancy Brundage et al.. Reminiscient of the 29 March 1994 bird at Ottawa N.W.R. {The Ohio Cardinal 17(3) : 104}, another early overflight Worm-eating Warbler was reported at Lakeshore Metropark - John Pogacnik. Ned Keller found a Yellow-headed Blackbird among the large blackbird roost at Miami Whitewater Wetlands on Sunday. I am late in reporting a pair of Green Herons from 6 March near Fremont seen by Dan Webb. This is possibly a new early date for Ohio by about 6 days. Another Green Heron has been reported this past weekend - Linda Houshower.

As expected migration has really picked up with many arrivals of typical late March species. Only one notable overflight to mention thus far - the Blue-headed Vireo located this morning at Headlands Beach S.P - Nick Barber et al.. More arrivals :

Solitary Sandpiper ; 29th @ Kelleys I. - V.W.F.III

Brown Thrasher ; 26th @ Niles - Youngstown RBA ; 28th @ Headlands Beach S.P. - Nick Barber et al.

Pine Warbler ; 27th @ Metzger Marsh - Dick and Jean Hoffman ; 28th @ Mohican S.F. - Tom Bartlett

Louisiana Waterthrush ; 28th @ Magee Marsh Bird Trail - Shawn Veres & Greg Emmert ; 29th @ East Harbor S.P. - V.W.F.III ; 29th @ Springville Marsh S.N.P. {banded} - Tom Bartlett

Chipping Sparrow 27th @ Clear Creek Valley - Marc England ; 28th @ Liberty Twp, Trumbull Co.? - Youngstown RBA ; 28th @ Green Lawn Cemetery - Pam Raver ; 29th @ Kelleys I. -V.W.F.III

. . . also notably early locally at Headlands Beach S.P. (Lake Co.) were Winter Wren and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker yesterday - Nick Barber et al..

The Kelleys Island census today yielded 55 species in a 4 hr perimeter survey. Just how many raptors island hop across the lake is a bit of a mystery. Conventional wisdom has it that few of the broader winged species (e.g. vulture, buteos) should be travelling across such an expanse of water. Of course some occasionally do. Today we noted 51 Turkey Vulture, 6 Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 Cooper's Hawk, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 American Kestrel, and 3 Red-tailed Hawks. The bulk of these were in a single kettle over the state park. Other birds of interest included 7 Eastern Phoebes, 6 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Great Horned Owl nest with young. Offshore the 56 Common Goldeneye and 187 Bufflehead were more than expected, while the complete LACK of Ring-billed Gull was something I would have thought implausible in a 4 hour census of the Lake Erie shoreline.

Rarities lately have been limited to a fly-by Common Raven (photographed at Lakeshore Metropark, Lake Co. on Friday - John Pogacnik) and a possible Loggerhead Shrike near the intersection of Hoagland-Blackstub and Gardner-Barclay Rds. in Mosquito WA in Trumbull County yesterday morning - Youngstown RBA. Also 4 possible Harlequin Duck were reported from Headlands Beach S.P. yesterday - fide Nick Barber. The adult Pomarine Jaeger remains at Fairport Harbor as of today - Nick Barber et al.

Elsewhere : A female Merlin in Marietta was an excellent find locally on Thursday - Bill Thompson III. Another Merlin was noted at Maumee Bay S.P. yesterday. - John Pogacnik. And another Merlin was part of a hawk flight past Perkins Beach (Cuyahoga Co.) on Thursday - Dick andd Jean Hoffman. The Mountwood Bird Club outing Thursday recorded a Brant and 2 Snow Geese at Senecaville Lake. - Richard Esker. Twenty Snow Geese were seen at Headlands Beach S.P. yesterday - Ray Hannikman & Emil Bacik. Three Hermit Thrush and 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were among highlights for Green Lawn Cemetery [Columbus] yesterday - Pam Raver. Little Gull (yesterday) and Glaucous Gull (today) remain at Fairport Harbor - Nick Barber et al. Savannah Sparrow had reached the northeast by the 27th at Geauga Metroparks - Sean Zadar and Norm Kotesevec. At Springville Marsh (Seneca Co.) today Tom Bartlett counted 45+ Golden-crowned Kinglet and noted Purple Martin.

A good day at Magee Marsh W.A. I managed 71 species just at Magee in 8 hrs with 6 of that spent on the hawk tower. Passerine highlights from a 1 hr census (7:20 - 8:20 am) of the Magee Marsh Bird Trail revealed :

Eastern Phoebe - 7
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 male
Winter Wren - 23
Hermit Thrush - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
Eastern Towhee - 14
Song Sparrow - 65
Dark-eyed Junco - 11
Fox Sparrow - 38

A substantial diurnal migration along the beach involved 125 American Pipit, 200+ American Robin, and 18 Lapland Longspur from 7-9:00 am. Raptors were on the move early. The hawk tower highlights for today are:

Great Egret - 1
Turkey Vulture - 256
Northern Harrier - 4
Bald Eagle - 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 66*
Cooper's Hawk - 6
Red-tailed Hawk - 13
Red-shouldered Hawk - 19
American Kestrel - 7
Sandhill Crane - 2
Greater Yellowlegs - 1
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1
Common Snipe - 4
Northern Flicker - 7
Tree Swallow - 600+

* Ties single day March record set last year.

The first Purple Martin reported was a flyby along the beach at Magee Marsh - Gerry Klug. The number of American Wigeon doubled overnight with 165 along the Magee Marsh causeway.

Selected migrants from the hill at Maumee Bay State park today 7:30 - 11:30 am.

Killdeer - 82
Common Snipe - 28
Horned Lark - 64
American Robin - 133
American Pipit - 166
Rusty Blackbird - 1200
Lapland Longspur - 13

Also Savannah Sparrow was foraging about the hill.- V.W.F.III

A Northern Saw-whet Owl was along the Magee Marsh Bird Trail today. Check the tangle immediately south of the first bench from the west entrance. The hawk tower reports another 250 raptors - a slow down from yesterday with about 200 of those Turkey Vultures. Accipiters did pick up a bit with about 20 Cooper's Hawk; a good tally for that location. Two more Sandhill Crane flew by early. Hank Hiris had 6 Pectoral Sandpiper on his 15 March census of Magee Marsh W.A but none noted since then. Migrant Eastern Towhee arrived along the Magee Marsh Bird Trail last week but really put in a strong showing today at Green Lawn Cemetery with 12 birds - Tom Thomson. Eastern Phoebes are now widespread. - m.obs.

Migration is expected to accelerate rapidly in the face of great warmth the next few days. Despite cool temps, today's southerly breeze did spur some diurnal migration along the lake in the Western Basin. The Magee Marsh tower crew observed the following migrants today.

Turkey Vulture - 190
Bald Eagle - 4
Northern Harrier - 9
Cooper's Hawk - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 3
Red-tailed Hawk - 89
Red-shouldered Hawk - 32
American Kestrel - 2
Sandhill Crane - 4
Greater Yellowlegs - 1
Tree Swallow -23

The Magee Marsh area also held 670 American Coot, 55 American Wigeon, Field Sparrow in song at the entrance, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Winter Wren along the trails. Metzger Marsh W.A. held 1200+ Ring-necked Duck. - V.W.F.III

[Ed. note] The number of Sandhill Crane seen from Magee Marsh WA this spring has reached 40 birds besting the great 1996 season.

An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was present much of the day Saturday at the fish hatchery by Grand Lake- St. Mary's in Auglaize Co. - Jim McCormac

Monday, between 8:30 and 12:00am I walked a 6 mile transect across areas D&F of Big Island WA (the farm fields N of Rt 95 between Espyville and Rt 203). Highlights: 1 Common Snipe, 1 Short-eared Owl, and 1600 Lapland Longspur. Had I not walked the fields I think my estimate for longspur would have been about 120 from the road. Today I walked the 5 mile transect about 5 miles south of La Rue, off Sager Rd. Highlights included 45 American Pipit, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, and 166 Lapland Longspur. - V.W.F.III

2 Greater Yellowlegs were noted Monday at Big Island W.A. by Todd Chapman along with 21 Blue-winged Teal. These teal were noted ten days earlier but are only now becoming widespread and numerous as another dozen were found at Funk Bottoms. Funk is enjoying some large duck concentrations with 150 Northern Pintail counted there Sunday - Jason Larson. Jason also had 3 Greater Yellowlegs and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs there. At least 2 Long-eared Owl and 2 Northern Saw-whet Owl continue at Killdeer Plains W.A. as of this past weekend - Greg Emmert, Jenny Brumfield et al. Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, and Pine Siskins continue at Mohican State Forest - Matthew Gingerich et al.. Pine Siskin even put in a brief appearance at a Tiffin feeder on Saturday. Matthew also had Eastern Phoebe and Common Loon at Pleasant Hill Lake. Eastern Phoebe was also noted in the northwest with a bird at Maumee bay S.P. on the 21st. - Toledo RBA. On the 22nd Lorain held 2000 Red-breasted Mergansers, while the impoundment hosted 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the wintering 5 Dunlin. - Cleveland RBA.

The Tufted Duck was reported for Saturday morning but not found in subsequent searches that day - Joe Hammond, Jason Larson.

The Mew Gull has not been confirmed since the 19th.

The adult Pomarine Jaeger continues at Fairport Harbor - Haans Petruschke. Haans further reports a flyby Black Scoter and a Glaucous Gull on the pier. Also in the area a Red-throated Loon - Kevin Messner, John Pogacnik et al.. Further east at Conneaut, John Pogacnik reports an adult Black-headed Gull and 3 adult Little Gulls amidst 500 Bonaparte's Gull. A darkly marked immature Snowy Owl and a Glaucous Gull were highlights from Ashtabula, while Iceland Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull were present at Lakeshore Metropark (Lake Co.). Common Redpolls are back in the news after a hiatus, with 3 at a feeder in Lake Co. and 15 landing by the the hawk tower of Magee Marsh W.A. yesterday for great scope views - Tom Bartlett, et al.. Despite NW'ly winds there was a hawk flight with at least 25 Red-shouldered Hawks noted. Good numbers of crow were leaving Marblehead peninsula for Kelly's Island earlier in the morning signalling there may be a diurnal migration for the day. The Kelly's Island census was postponed as the recent storm which brought Lake Erie a full 5 ft above normal in the Western Basin also did damage to the ferry pier putting a hold to service. This flooding was evident in many fields unfortunately one could access few of them as of yesterday because of closed roads in Ottawa/Sandusky Co. This same storm is of the ilk which is often responsible for downings of loon and grebes of inland reservoirs. Now is a good time to check the reservoir in your area. Double-digit Horned Grebe were noted in the Cleveland area - Paula Lozano, while Jeff Grabmeier had 7 at O'Shaugnessy Reservoir. Joe McMahon and Bill Bosstic had 7 Common Loon at Rocky Fork Lake while 2 Black Vulture continue at Paint Creek Lake on Saturday. Ring-necked Ducks are building in the northeast as usual with 3200 at Killbuck Marsh - Jason Larson and 142 at Corning Lake (Holden Arboretum) on Saturday - Haans Petruschke. Unlike last year when 8000+ invaded the northwest, I have as yet to hear about a similar buildup in the Western Basin this season.

Adding to the intrigue surrounding the large white crane heading east from Magee Marsh W.A. last Tuesday, comes a statement from Dave Hochadel that he received a report last Thursday of 2 Whooping Crane in Geauga Co. along SR700 and SR422. This is why one should always carry a camera.

A probable Tufted Duck was reported from Killbuck Marsh W.A. [Directions] yesterday - Bruce Glick and Jason Larson.

Phil Harner and Howard Hintz saw a large crane crossing the Magee Marsh W.A. causeway last Tuesday heading east. Albeit a 15 second look through a windshield, the bird was white and clearly seen were the red facial markings. Phil saw black wing tips. On the possibility the bird may yet remain in the Western Basin, I bring this description of a Whooping Crane to your attention. Howard only just brought this to my attention as he assumed it is likely an escapee. Maybe . . . maybe not.

The last report of the Fairport harbor Mew Gull is for Thursday morning - John Pogacnik.

An American White Pelican was seen at Mallard Pond (Moquito Lake W.A., Trumbull Co.) on Thursday but not Friday - Judy Hochadel.

Elsewhere: A Little Gull at E. 55th marina yesterday - Jim Heflich. The flooded farm field just East of Big Island Wildlife Area on St. Rte. 95 held a Sandhill Crane - Dave Lehner and Todd Chapman.

The Mew Gull was last seen at 4:00 pm yesterday at the marina in Fairport - Pat Hartman. Observers of the Mew Gull on Saturday report an additional 8 species of gull in the area including Iceland, Glaucous, Lesser Black-backed, and Little Gulls. Both Pomarine Jaegers were also seen Saturday. - m.obs.

The Killdeer Plains WA saw a lot of birding activity generating quite a number of reports. New migrants include American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, 9 Fox Sparrows, Pied-billed and Horned Grebes. Washburn Rd was good for up to 15 Snow Bunting and 25 Lapland Longspur. On the ponds seven white and 2 blue Snow Geese were seen. At least 2 Northern Saw-whet, 3 Long-eared, and 2 Barred Owl were located. Several Short-eared Owls also remain as does 1 Rough-legged Hawk. - m.obs.

Elsewhere - I had alluded to the possibility of Pine Warblers on territory in the south before the mid-March dates usually given in the literature based on my one observation of saturation of territories by 10 March in Athens Co. during a "normal" spring. My suspicion was confirmed by Ron Cass with birds singing at the usual Zaleski State Forest site 27 Feb. and Dave Sapienza's observation of birds singing at nearby Lake Hope (Vinton Co.) 1 March. Pine Warbler was also in at Mitchell Memorial Forest 28 Feb. (Hamilton Co.) - Cincinnati RBA. Pam Raver reports on Sunday a "lone female White-winged Crossbill (on the ridge, in hemlocks behind the chapel) at Green Lawn Cemetery (Columbus). While at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati on Saturday there were 4 Red and 13 White-winged Crossbill - Neil Cade. Big Island W.A. on Sunday held 65 Green-winged Teal and 11 Tundra Swan - V.F. & Tom Bartlett. John Rakestraw reports an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Supper Club by the Bayshore Power Plant (Lucas Co.). The hawk watch at Magee Marsh W.A. last Friday produced just 31 hawks but included an adult Golden Eagle - V.W.F.III - I am looking forward to tomorrow. Hawk watchers have also been producing regular sightings of Sandhill Cranes with 20 tallied through the end of last week. Another flock of 6 birds were located just west of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in a farm field last Friday. Shawn Veres et al. report a flock of 10+ Savannah Sparrow just west of the hawk tower at Magee Marsh and a Brewer's Blackbird at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area on Sunday. Eared Grebe was reported from LaDue Reservoir Saturday - Sean Zadar & Norm Kotesevec. Neil Cade et al had a Sora at West Fork Dam & settling pond (Hamilton Co.) on Saturday. A Sora and 3 Virginia Rails had been reported from Miami Whitewater wetlands (also Hamilton Co.) the previous Sunday - Jay Stenger.

The Fairport Harbor Mew Gull was seen briefly around 10:00 am - Bob Conlon et al.

The Fairport Harbor Mew Gull was present this morning as were both Pomarine Jaegers and 1 Little Gull - John Pogacnik.

Elsewhere : The Dunakins report a very large flock of Lapland Longspur for Paulding Co. yesterday. They estimated 500-600 birds. Craig Rieker had another Pine Warbler, this one at Findley State Park yesterday. Likely a wintering bird although about now is not too early for the birds at Zaleski State Forest in Athens Co. to be back on territory. The 11 territories I mapped here in the early 1990's could be filled by 10 March in a normal spring let alone the current conditions. If anyone wants to check this out, I am referring to the drive loop off Rt 356 just south of Rt 681 and Mineral. Craig also had a female Merlin on a light post on the RT 10 bridge over Rt 57 in Lorain Co. Fox Sparrows were at Charlemont Park in Lorain. Last Sunday, Terry and Barbara Sponseller found a Northern Saw-whet Owl at the campground in Nimsila Reservoir (Summit Co.). The bird was relocated yesterday morning by John and Elaine Snively . It was in a pine by the parking space for camp site #70. This camp- ground is off East Nimisila Rd. DeLorme page #51 A6. Pied-billed Grebe was a new arrival yesterday at Killdeer Plains WA - Matthew Gingerich. Also present at KPWA yesterday were 2 Long-eared, 1 Northern Saw-whet, and 3+ Short-eared Owls. Yesterday from Cleveland Lakefront State park and the adjacent East 55th Marina (from E.72nd St. exit Rt 2/90 in Cleveland) I had 3700 Bonaparte's Gull; an amazing concentration for March. I failed to locate any of the 4 Little Gull seen earlier in the day Hoffman's. You may wish to visit their site (see column at left) for more details.

The 1st yr Mew Gull was still present at 4:00 pm this afternoon. This bird is tame and allows very close approach. One may well be able to document this bird with an instamatic camera and not have to leave the car to do so. This is perhaps the least frequent gull species that we expect to see in Ohio so such an opportunity for prolonged study is very special. And this particular individual is dramatic for its zebra striped rump. I would urge all birders not just listers and gull enthusiasts to make a visit to Fairport Harbor. The other attractions continue as both Pomarine Jaegers were present late this afteernoon, along with the Glaucous Gull. I had the adult Pomarine pass about 30 feet away while at the end of the jetty; that too is a special opportunity - how many adults does one get to study in Ohio? - V.W.F.III

I would like to extend a thanks to John Pogacnik for keeping us electronically up to date on this bird and Ray Hannikman who has been onsite chaperone allowing birders to quickly locate the Mew Gull. Ray will be there again tomorrow.

The Mew Gull continues as of yesterday at Fairport Harbor (east end of the marina) when it was thoroughly stuided by multiple observers and videotaped - John Pogacnik et al.. Directions

Both Pomarine Jaegers were seen at Fairport Harbor on Thursday and at least 1 bird yesterday - Dick&Jean Hoffman, Duane Ferris et al.. The jaegers may be distant or sitting on the breakwall making for scope viewing. John Pogacnik further reports in the area a Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, and the Greater White-fronted Goose last seen at Arcola Creek [Arcola Creek is at the north end of Dock Road and is in the NE corner of Lake County] was again present yesterday.

Elsewhere: 12 Tundra Swans remain yesterday at Big Island W.A. where local migrant duck numbers are on the rise - Todd Chapman. Lapland Longspurs continue along Washburn Rd at Killdeer Plains WA as of Thursday - Joe Hammond & Bill Whan. Joe and bill also report the first Blue-winged Teal of the season there. At LaDue Res. yesterday Sean Zadar and Norm Kotesevec report a winter plumage Eared Grebe - also new for the season. Last Friday the 27 Feb., David Dister had a single Sandhill Crane over Englewood Metropark (Dayton) while 7 birds were seen passing through the Magee Marsh W.A. region last Monday - (ODNR). Seven more birds were situated at magee Marsh W.A., visible from the westernmost end of the Crane Creek Beach S.P. parking lot, on Wed. - Lee Garling. Two early Eastern Phoebes were detected by David at last Saturday along the Stillwater floodplain near Englewood Metropark.

John Pogacnik reports photographing a Mew Gull at the marina at Fairport Harbor yesterday. The two Pomarine Jaegers were still present in the harbor along with a Glaucous Gull and an adult Little Gull - m.obs.

The Ottawa N.W.R. walk on Sunday produced 500 Tundra Swans and 3 Tree Swallows.

Today's diurnal migration from the hawk tower at Magee Marsh W.A. (9:00 am - 3:15 pm):

Northern Pintail - 60
Northern Harrier - 1
Bald Eagle - 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 26
Red-shouldered Hawk - 2

John Pogacnik states that as of yesterday the 2 Pomarine Jaegers remain at Fairport Harbor (Lake Co.) as do 1 adult Little Gull and a 1st year Glaucous Gull. Also a Greater White-fronted Goose was reported to John for the weekend and at noon Monday but subsequent searches at Arcola Creek Metropark (Lake Co.) failed to locate the bird. The Toledo RBA is reporting a Northern Shrike from along the Magee Marsh W.A. causeway for last week and also recently (date?) a Tree Swallow in the area (where?).

Today - the North Olmstead feeder was still hosting 1 male and 6 female Evening Grosbeaks. An adult Little Gull was among Bonaparte's Gull at the Gordon Boat ramp in Cleveland Lakefront S.P. - Bob Finkelstein. Also today at Findley S.P. (Lorain Co.) Craig Rieker's concerted effort to find Red-breasted Nuthatches yielded 50+ individuals. Also present were 104 Turkey Vultures, a Barred Owl calling mid-afternoon, and 10 Common redpolls. Yesterday saw Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Fox Sparrow at Greendale Wetlands (Hocking Co.) - Bob Placier. Larry Rosche's update of the Headlands Beach S.P. Pomarine Jaeger clarifies that there was 1 adult and 1 2nd yr bird present on Sunday. Two Little Gull were also there. Dave Hochadel notes a local American Woodcock in Trumbull Co. 26 Feb. may be the earliest spring return for that county. Dave further reports a concentration of a dozen Northern Harrier last week along the North Park Ave. ext nr the Mosquito Lake W.A. office. A Pine Warbler was reported for Mitchell Memorial Forest (Pine Meadows Picnic Area) on Saturday - Sun. 1 March 1998

So much for the non-winter of 1997-98. This past February proved to be the 2nd warmest since 1882 for Northwest Ohio. In other words pretty extreme and so were the birds. How about THREE Tringa species in the Lake Erie Basin in the past 3 days. First the Greater Yellowlegs of Thur., then a Lesser Yellowlegs Fri., and most amazing a Solitary Sandpiper seen and heard yesterday by Tom Bartlett at Springville Marsh S.N.P. (Seneca Co.) Peterjohn (1989) hypothesized a normal arrival for Solitary Sandpiper to be about mid-April with occasional overshoots the last few days of March and early April. Published arrival dates for the species subsequent to Peterjohn are limited to 3 years, 30 March 1996, 13 April 1989, 15 April 1990; apparently supporting the status quo. This particular record may be a first for the winter reporting period in any Great Lake state (by which I mean to exclude Vermont - no matter the bill the President may sign this week declaring Lake Champlaign a "Great Lake" ;-) .

The other big news yesterday were 2 ADULT Pomarine Jaegers well studied at Headlands Beach S.P. - Nick Barber et al. relates . . .

"both had about a one-inch streamer projection and double-flash in the under-primary coverts. One had an extensive bar on the upperwing because it is moulting its greater upper- secondary coverts".

Last year's spring birds were unprecedented so we shouldn't get too jaded but then these are adult Poms - probably not much chance of that.

To continue with Tom Bartlett's 75 species outing yesterday here are these highlights. At Springville Marsh in the first hour of daylight, 2 Sandhill Crane and 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds. [Ed. Note: I went out this morning quite early only to be greeted by a very dense fog which appears to be persistent into mid-day. So no blackbirds but an early American Bittern offered a series of thunder-pumps]. Tom ventured to Lorain where he found 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, the adult still at the Lorain mudflat (present since Tue.) and a 2nd yr bird in a marina off Rt 6 as you are coming into Lorain from the west. I don't have the numbers tallied as yet but my impression is that the past 12 months has seen a significant increase in this species within Ohio. The statewide 10 year average for 1983-92 was 11 birds/ year, but lately we've been finding that many a season. Perhaps no more than a blip, but curious nonetheless.

And elsewhere . . . Northern Turkey Vulture roosts are filling in. Yesterday the Perkins Observatory (Rt 23, Delaware Co.) birds were back.- V.W.F.III. Nick Barber also had a possible Iceland Gull at Headlands yesterday. Also in the Northeast, a Red-throated Loon was reported from Corning Lake, Holden Arboretum (Lake Co.) for Thursday (Cleveland RBA) - but nothing there yesterday Dick & Jean Hoffman. Evening Grosbeaks have been reported from a North Olmstead residence, American Woodcock were at Jaite last weekend. Funk Bottoms (Wayne Co.) held a Rough-legged Hawk and 25 Killdeer - Cleveland RBA. Funk historically has proved a rarity haven in March and early April while it has water. I reccommend putting this one on your early spring itinerary. And finally Fox Sparrows - migrants should not appear for another week and in numbers not until the 3rd week of March, yet yesterday 4 birds were at Springville Marsh - Tom Bartlett and 2 at Green Lawn Cemetery (Columbus) - Pam Raver et al.. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was heard last night at Delaware W.A. - Marc England, Jeff Jones

You can never accuse birds of being boring - they are ever changing. One of the more useful and rewarding tasks for the lay ornithologist is to perpetually test the stated "facts" of field guides and monographs. Just remember to be ready to support your new assertion with as much evidence as you may gather.

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