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April 2000

A busy week - here are just the rarities of recent days. An assessment of the migration will have to wait a day or two.

A Purple Gallinule was discovered by Connie Walcott at the north end of Lake Logan (Hocking Co.) this morning (fide Jim Fry). Seen by many this afternoon; look for it in the dense vegetation along the shore. Only the 2nd record for the unglaciated plateau of Ohio.

Last Sunday John Games reported a breeding plumage Eared Grebe on Pond 3 of Killdeer Plains W.A. I failed to locate the bird Friday so was very surprised to have it side-by-side with a Horned Grebe yesterday morning.

Right on the heels of last week's Red-necked Grebe alert, 3 birds were found by Kent Miller last Tuesday along with a Red-throated Loon, on Springfield Lake (in Akron; access off Rt. 224). All four birds were subsequently seen by Ben Morrison (Tues.-Wed.) and myself (Wed.). Two of the Red-necked Grebes were still present as of yesterday - Rob Harlan. Do check out the loons (there have been up to 7 Common) carefully.

A male Eurasian Wigeon was discovered Wednesday at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on the diked pond immediately adjacent to the parking lot of the main entrance. It was subsequently independently identified Thursday by a Black Swamp Bird Observatory volunteer - fide Gerry Klug. Subsequent searches failed to relocate the bird but keep an eye out. Yesterday a female Surf Scoter was independently discovered on Wellington Reservoir (Lorain Co.) by Rob Harlan and myself.

Rob Harlan reports a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Metzger Marsh W.A. yesterday. Dan Sanders had a shrike species at Gordon Park yesterday. This was either an extraordinarily late Northern or a remarkable local record of a Loggerhead - definitely worth checking out either way. Dan also had a nice flock of Willets (16) on the Old Cedar Point causeway immediately west of Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve.

Red-necked Grebe ALERT!. After noting the 4th record below this season, the Dunakins report 5 birds on Paulding Reservoir (Paulding Co.) today. This spate of records has not been seen since a fallout in 1994. It is entirely possible, given the records in the extreme eastern and western portions of the state, that ANY body of water may be involved. Reservoirs to small lakes should be carefully examined in the next few days.

A Red-necked Grebe, 4th of the past 2 weeks, was reported from a small private pond on the north side of Lake Rockwell yesterday - Larry Rosche. The breeding plumage adult bird has been subsequently seen by several observers. Directions

A Marbled Godwit was observed making landfall at Dillon Reservoir (Muskingum Co.) on Saturday; videotaped by Dave St. John. Shorebirds have been slowly gathering steam with Black-bellied Plovers reaching the Lake Erie shoreline this weekend; 2 birds at Headlands Beach S.P. last Friday - Haans Petruschke et al. and several yesterday in Ottawa Co. - John Pogacnik. Fifteen birds were first noted flying over Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton County) on the 15th - Jay Stenger. Where are the American Avocets? Elsewhere: The Pectoral Sandpipers are winding down with 150 at Killdeer Plains W.A. Saturday - Len Powlick. Len also noted 300 American Golden-Plover in the vicinity. A bit to the south at Big Island W.A. (Marion Co.) he further reports 30 Common and 6 Caspian Tern. Four Upland Sandpipers were present in Mentor (Lake Co.) Saturday - Haans Petruschke.

A lone Sandhill Crane flew over Headlands Beach S.P. this morning - Joe Sedransk while Nick Barber reports an immature Red-throated Loon offshore there also this morning. Of interest yesterday at Headlands an American Bittern and a Common Yellowthroat - Jim Hooper. Three Short-eared Owls could still be found there on Friday - Haans Petruschke. The American Bittern at Big Island W.A. (along Rt 95) was still present last Wednesday - Dan Sanders. Cattle Egret has reached the Lake Erie basin with a bird near Castalia (Erie Co.) yesterday - John Pogacnik. At the other end of the state, two Snowy Egrets were an excellent find in the Scioto River Bottoms just west of Portsmouth (Scioto Co.) Saturday - Doreene Linzell et al. A single bird was at Magee Marsh W.A. last Thursday - Zac Baker and Brian Barchus.

Waterfowl in general have elicited little commentary lately. A Common Goldeneye Saturday along Clark Rd at Killbuck Marsh W.A. Saturday is somewhat late for a season not otherwise noted for their passage - Bruce Glick. Bruce counted 220 Ruddy Ducks on Pleasant Hill reservoir (Ashland Co.), a species enjoying good numbers well into the season. Also Saturday there were 75+ on Lake LeComte (Fostoria, Hancock Co.), 310 on Oberlin Reservoir and 215 on Wellington Res. (both Lorain Co.), and 200+ on Willard Res. (Huron Co.) - V.W.F.III. Other lesser, yet still substantial concentrations, were reported throughout the state. Horned Grebes continued over the weekend in modest numbers with 8 on Pond 3 of Killdeer Plains W.A.; the greatest number reported - Len Powlick.

Diurnal raptors again display slow migration progress. Despite unfavorable winds, Broad-winged Hawks were detected in numbers Thursday (650 over the Holmes Co. region - fide Bruce Glick) and yesterday a single kettle of 350 over Rt 163 in Ottawa Co. - John Pogacnik, Susan MacGillis. Black Vultures have garnered some attention recently with a single concentration of 39 Saturday morning near Shawnee Lookout (Hamilton Co.) - V.W.F.III et al., while a bird was over the entrance to Mohican S.P. (Ashland Co.) yesterday - Bruce Glick. Unexpected was an individual shooting across I71 appx 3 miles north of the Lodi/Rt 83 exit in Medina County this morning - V.W.F.III. The bird appeared to be exiting a perch (roost?) at sunrise heading upstream of Camel Creek. According to Rob Harlan, who knows these things, it is a county first. Merlins have been a part of several reports over the past few days, topped by the three at Headlands Beach S.P. on Friday - Haans Petruschke et al. Rough-legged Hawks can still be seen at Funk Bottoms W.A. (1 yesterday - Bruce Glick) and Killdeer Plains W.A. (3 Saturday - Len Powlick).

Songbird Arrivals:

18 April
Eastern Kingbird: Grand River W.A. (Trumbull Co.) - Dan Sanders

22 April
Black-throated Blue Warbler: (1) Shawnee State Forest - Doreene Linzell
Orchard Oriole: (1) Clermont Co. - Bobbye Foppe; with a (pair) Gilmore Ponds (Butler Co.) yesterday - Jay Stenger
Baltimore Oriole: (1) Scioto River, Columbus (Franklin Co.) - Bob Royse Northern Waterthrush: (1) Spring Grove Cemetery (Hamilton Co.) - V.W.F.III; reaching Holden Arboretum Saturday - Haans Petruschke and Zaleski S.F. this morning - Dave St. John.
Red-eyed Vireo : (4) Spring Grove Cemetery (Hamilton Co.) - m.obs.; reaching Clinton Co. the 23rd - Ed Roush.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak: (1) Shawnee S.F. (Scioto Co.) - Diane Fowler et al. and Zaleski S.F. this morning - Dave St. John.

23rd April
Least Flycatcher: (1) - Clermont Co. - Donald Morse

Songbird Progress:

Marsh Wren reached the northeast with a bird at Jaite (Cuyahoga Valley Nat.l. Rec. Area) yesterday - Dante Giancola. An Indigo Bunting was along the Maumee River near Antwerp (Paulding Co.) on Friday for a very early local record - Doug & Micki Dunakin. Many species of warbler are now widely distributed through the southern third of the state. Thirteen species were observerd in short time Saturday morning at Spring Grove Cemetery (Hamilton Co.) - m.obs. Nashville and Worm-eating Warblers moved into the central south, as did Scarlet Tanager and Eastern Kingbird - m.obs. Gray Catbird followed suit with an advance into the north reaching Crawford Co. yesterday - Jim Little and Paulding Co. by Friday - Doug & Micki Dunakin. A Yellow Warbler the 18th at Grand River W.A. - Dan Sanders was apparently preceded by a bird at Headwaters Park (Geauga Co.) the 16th - Carol Skinner et al. Ovenbird had reached Bluffton (Allen Co.) by the 20th - Linda Houshower.Yellow-throated, White-eyed, and Warbling Vireos were all singing on territory at Killbuck Marsh W.A. (Wayne Co.) this morning - V.W.F.III. House Wrens were also there at multiple locations. White-eyed Vireo made it into the northwest yesterday with a bird at Springville Marsh SNP (Seneca Co.) - Tom Bartlett et al..

New Arrivals: Ruby-throated Hummingbird yesterday at Rockbridge (Hocking Co.) - Jim Fry. Yesterday at Ault Park (Hamilton Co.), Dave Hedeen enjoyed the season's first Great Crested Flycatcher and Worm-eating Warbler . The day before it was a Scarlet Tanager at College Hill (Hamilton Co.) for Steve Pelikan. Green Herons, first noted in the Southwest (Shawnee Prairie, Greenville) on the 18th - Regina Schieltz, have been noted widely in the days since including the northeast - Ben Winger, John Pogacnik. The season's first Cattle Egret was in an odd location. Bill Perine with his ornithology class discovered a bird at Lake Hope (Vinton Co.) Tuesday. Chuck-will's Widow was singing back at its territory in Pike Co. Wednesday night - Dave Riepenhoff. A Whip-poor-will reached the northeast the same day - John Pogacnik. John further noted arrivals of Yellow Warbler, Cliff Swallow, and Common Moorhen at Grand River W.A. yesterday. Unusual was a Red-necked Grebe at Norton Lane in GRWA and an Upland Sandpiper had returned to Morgan Swamp.Another Red-necked Grebe graced Paulding Reservoir yesterday - Doug & Micki Dunakin. At Conneaut Harbor, the mudflat hosted 110 Caspian Tern as that species peaks for the spring passage. These numbers were mirrored inland at Shreve Lake the day before with 11 birds present - Su Snyder. At nearby Killbuck Marsh W.A. Wednesday, Prothonotary Warbler and Spotted Sandpiper had returned - V.W.F.III. Later that day, at Funk Bottoms W.A. were 120 Dunlin, 2 Least Sandpipers, and 2 Semipalmated Plovers. Yesterday, Spotted Sandpiper, Bank Swallows, and a Cliff Swallow could be seen from Beaver Creek Res. (Seneca Co.) - V.W.F.III. Palm Warbler reached the northwest last Sunday - Brian Zweibel with 2 on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail; the northeast yesterday at Shaker Lakes - Ben Winger. Cerulean Warblers have been found in the southwest on the 18th (Shawnee Lookout, Hamilton Co. - Lester Peyton) and the southeast the 19th (Zaleski S.F. - Dave St. John). Lester also found an Eastern Kingbird and noted a passage of 25+ Black Vulture. Is it just coincidence that 20-28 April is the prime time for vagrant Black Vultures along the shores of Lake Erie? Locally very rare, 3 Surf Scoters were detected on Pond 3 of Killdeer Plains W.A. on the 19th by Dan Sanders.

Migration, especially that of songbirds, received a boost this weekend but the record early dates of the past three springs for April migrants have been as scarce as the overflight conditions that produce them. That may have changed last night as Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers reported from Ault Park in the Cincinnati area this morning are very early. On the other hand, Dave Hedeen also reported the first Blue-winged Warbler this morning - a perfectly average arrival date for southern Ohio. Northern Parula, Black and White, Black-throated Green Warblers became widespread in the south over the weekend - more below.

Apparently, the pair of Greater White-fronted Geese at Pickerington Ponds were still present last Tuesday - Paul Schiff. This is remarkably late for the species in spring.

The breeding plumaged Eared Grebe at Gordon Park (Cleveland lakefront) was seen again Saturday - Sean Zadar et al. Sean detected another Northern Saw-whet Owl there Friday. As suggested a week ago in this space, the region seems to be experiencing a northward flight of owls and observers should be checking known stop-over sites and beyond. Saturday, Haans Petruschke reports a Northern Saw-whet Owl from Holden Arboretum, while additional birds were found at Oakwood (Cuyahoga Co.?) Saturday - Scott Wright and Sunday at Springville Marsh SNP (Seneca Co.) - Tom Bartlett. On Friday at Springville, Kim Fredritz discovered a Long-eared Owl another species returning north. Pine stands and grape tangles along the shoreline of Lake Erie are all opportunities for such a find. Short-eared Owls were also reported over the weekend with 3 birds from Headlands Beach S.P. Saturday - Haans Petruschke.

Diurnal raptors remain slow movers into the region. Broad-winged Hawks were detected on the 13th at Miami Whitewater Forest (Hamilton Co.) - Lester Peyton and Hueston Woods S.P. (Preble/Butler Co.) - David Russell, while the first Lake Erie movement was noted Saturday from Maumee Bay S.P. with 6 birds passing by - V.W.F.III. Migrant Ospreys were widely noted last week, including several along Lake Erie. Friday's Maumee Bay S.P. hawk watch produced two Sandhill Cranes - Lee Garling bringing the season's tally to the average of 25 for the Western Basin. An individual was briefly noted in a field just south of Springville Marsh SNP last Wednesday - Eric Mulholland.

Shorebirds and waterfowl were largely unchanged over the weekend. A male Oldsquaw visited a pond in a private estate (Stoneacre Park within Toledo) on Friday - fide V.W.F.III. The dominant wind of the past week has been E-NE resulting in reflooding the surfaces of the various estuaries which have been hosting large numbers of shorebirds lately. This is a necessary process for renewal of these sites, furthering prolonging their usefulness to the shorebirds and holding off the day of reckoning when vegetation takes hold covering the mudflats. Solitary Sandpipers reached the Lake Erie area Saturday with individuals on Kelleys Island - Tom Bartlett, Maumee Bay S.P. - V.W.F.III, and Lakeshore MP (Lake Co.) - John Pogacnik. Virginia Rails made their presence felt across the state especially in the north, over the weekend. Birds were detected at Mallard Club Marsh W.A., Salt Fork S.P., Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (Beaver Marsh), - various observers; and Manhattan Marsh in Toledo - John Sawvel.

Landbirds: Whip-poor-wills are a bit late this season with my first reports from the southeast coming yesterday of calling birds in Zaleski S.F. - Dave St. John. The day before, an overshoot, was discovered on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail - Brad Hammond. Chimney Swifts noted in Scioto County on the 12th - Stephen Harvey, became widespread Saturday, including a flyby at the hill of Maumee Bay S.P. - V.W.F.III. A run down of the songbird arrival of recent days . . .

10th
Black and White Warbler : 1 f. @ Lake Hope, Vinton Co.- Dave St. John

14th
Common Yellowthroat: 1 @ Magee Marsh W.A. - Mary Warren
Hooded Warbler : 1 @ Rockbridge, Hocking Co. - Jim Fry

15th
Blue-headed Vireo : 3 @ Cedar Falls, Hocking Co. - Dave St. John; 3 @ Shawnee S.F., Scioto Co. - Bob Royse; 1 @ Scioto Trails, Ross Co. - Len Powlick
Ovenbird and Yellow-throated Vireo were also detected by Len and Bob at the above locations.
American Redstart 1 @ Shawnee S.F., Scioto Co. - Bob Royse
Prairie Warbler: 1 @ Zaleski S.F. - Dave St. John; 3 @ Cedar Falls, Hocking Co. - Dave St. John; 4 @ Shawnee S.F., Scioto Co. - Bob Royse
Palm Warbler : 2 @ Cowan Lake, Clinton Co. - Larry Gara
House Wren : 1 @ Cowan Lake, Clinton Co. - Larry Gara
Warbling Vireo : 1 @ Cowan Lake, Clinton Co. - Larry Gara
Northern Parula : 4 @ Shawnee S.F., Scioto Co. - Bob Royse; 1 @ Little Miami River, Warren Co. - Gary Sexton

16th
Cliff Swallow : 6 @ Hoover Reservoir, Delaware Co. - Rob Thorn
White-eyed Vireo : 1 @ Shawnee S.F., Scioto Co. - Stephen Harvey

A Yellow Warbler was noted in the Columbus area also yesterday - Steve Landes. Steve further reports the areas first migrant Indigo Bunting and Least Sandpiper. Over the weekend, the House Wren (Hoover Res., and Springville Marsh SNP) and Blue-headed Vireo (Greenlawn Dam - Richard Cressman and Kelleys Island - Tom Bartlett) had reached central Ohio. Several White-eyed Vireos were along Minker's Run (Athens Co.) this morning, as was a Wood Thrush - Dave St. John. Prairie Warbler was in central Ohio (Columbus) Saturday - Bob Royse. Of local interest, the Brecksville (Cuyahoga Co.) Yellow-throated Warbler had arrived by Saturday - Ben Winger, Bob Finkelstein, while at Lake Hope S.P. (Vinton Co.) Dave Sapienza had the species visiting a suet feeder the same day.

If the migration at Big Island W.A. this morning was any indication shorebirds were pouring into central Ohio today. Tomorrow should present prime conditions for maximizing one's shorebirding effort. Likewise tomorrow should be a good day overall with an expected hawk flight along the shore of Lake Erie.

A few highlights from Big Island W.A. for the past two days. Today a flight of Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs (rarely do I detect a diurnal flight of this species - and the first away from Lake Erie), and American Golden-Plover. I had already heard of the 200 American Golden-Plover just north of Upper Sandusky (Wyandot) on Tuesday - Rick Counts so was forwarned. In all 380 were detected in the a.m. over the RT. 95 B.I. access. Accompanying the flight (although in separate flocks) were 460 Pectoral Sandpipers, and 48 Lesser Yellowlegs. Another 40 Lesser Yellowlegs and 300 Pectoral Sandpipers were found in wet fields in the immediate vicinity of Big Island W.A. A few Common Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs (15) added to the diversity, with Upland Sandpipers back on territory as of yesterday. Otherwise pretty humdrum stuff, 2 Short-eared Owl, an American Bittern on Unit F, staging numbers of Lapland Longspurs now number 670 birds. They are once again, as reported these past three springs, in courtship flight singing the backward Bobolink song. Yesterday, an adult male Peregrine Falcon was observed for the better part of 15 minutes straffing the waterfowl congregation - with no apparent luck. Indeed, a Northern Harrier with prey afforded a distraction, bringing the P-bird to do its best to 'hover' over the mantling harrier (which is to say with obvious effort circle within a 15ft diameter area) which took exception to the attention leaping up at the Peregrine talons first. Easily side-stepped by the Peregrine which continued on its search for easier fare.

Yesterday, Larry Rosche discovered an Eared Grebe off Gordon Park. Pond 27 at Killdeer Plains W.A. held 130 Gadwall, 110 Ruddy Duck, and 40 Northern Shoveler. One dark morph Rough-legged Hawk was present yesterday. No sign of the Oldsquaw today on Pond 3.

Yesterday morning , Jim McCormac discovered a Yellow Rail calling at the Calamus Swamp, in Pickaway County, 1.5 miles west of the town of Circleville. Charles Gambill located the bird that afternoon "in the sw corner of the swamp on the 104 side, their is a side / farm road that cuts the south side of the area, it came from a cattail, watery sparse grass area, . . . the area is not marked with a sign, its just aparking lot under construction, and the gravel path ends at the swamp, follow the flags around." An Americam Bittern was also present.

Also yesterday at Findlay Reservoir (Hancock Co.), Sue Ross, Anna Scarborough, and Betty Hardesty discovered a 1st winter Glaucous Gull and an adult Great Black-backed Gull. Both are very rarely detected away from the shores of Lake Erie.

Meanwhile, at Killbuck Marsh W.A. along Force Rd, Su Snyder found an American Bittern. She also reports the male Surf Scoter at Overton/Mechanicsburg Rd. remains as of yesterday.

An Eared Grebe, present two weeks, is in the Columbus area ("north side of Billingsley Rd. From I-270 north of Columbus (w. of I-71) exit on Sawmill Rd, go north 1/4 mi, turn right on Billingsley, pond about 1/2 mi on left" - Bill Whan/Richard Cressman) - nice review yesterday by Richard.

I was suprised to learn that the two Greater White-fronted Geese at Pickerington Ponds earlier in the season were still present as of the 1st - Clay Corbin.

The male Surf Scoter remains on the pond at Overton/Mechanicsburg Rds. near Wooster (Wayne Co.) as of Sunday - Su Snyder. Su also noted a local fallout of Ruddy Ducks with 380 birds noted in the vicinity of Killbuck Marsh W.A. Three more Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) were present Saturday afternoon on Lake O'Springs in Canton - Terry Sponseller. Three more were noted as flybys from Lakeshore MP (Lake Co.) Saturday - John Pogacnik. John further tallied an Iceland and a Glaucous Gull.. John Games and Ron Sempier further report a female Oldsquaw on Pond 3 of Killdeer Plains W.A. Sunday amidst numerous Ruddy Ducks. John also reports 5 Brewer's Blackbirds and 8 Rough-legged Hawks at KPWA. Another waterfowl concentration of note, likely associated with the recent weather, is that of 150 Common Loons on Clearfork Reservoir (Morrow/Richland) Saturday - Brad Courson. Friday Doug Overacker detected the season's first Solitary Sandpiper at Buck Creek S.P. (Clark Co.). A better find by far was Doug's first county sighting of a Northern Saw-whet Owl along the railroad tracks at the north end of C.J. Brown Reservoir; seen again Saturday. If I recall correctly, this would be within a few yards of where Doug showed me my first Ohio Long-eared Owl on a cold February morning in 1981. Another Northern Saw-whet Owl was detected, this one Sunday-Monday at Gordon Park (Cleveland lakefront) - Sean Zadar et al.. That's 4-5 birds in the past 10 days suggesting the return passage is underway. Perhaps this is a good time to check out all the favored haunts of the species more thoroughly. Sean reports a Common Tern at Gordon Park on Sunday.

Corrigenda: The Killbuck Marsh W.A. American Bittern mentioned below is from the previous week, along Valley Rd. - T.J.Vince. An American Bittern was detected at Spring Valley W.A. on Sunday - Darlena Graham.

Two Common Redpolls remain at a North Perry (Lake Co.)feeder - John Pogacnik. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are now widespread if still in small numbers.Sunday migrants from Bob Royse in Columbus included a very early female Black-throated Green Warbler. His resident of note, the Indigo Bunting was again seen; now on a daily basis.

Finally, a word on a pair of city Peregrines in Cleveland. I usually don't make much of these sightings but for my Dad I'll make this exception. You see yesterday afternoon, a staffer in his department (about the 10th floor, NE corner of the A building of the Cleveland Clinic) called me up to tell me that outside my Dad's office window on the ledge were a pair of Peregrine's with at least one egg. I understand Wildlife is on their way there today to check out the pair. Having just touched down in Singapore, I doubt my father knows anything of this yet - the office staff have already named the incipient chick Sophie after his dog.

Images of the March 2000 Conneaut Harbor Black-headed Gull. My apologies to Haans Petruschke, who made these available to me some time ago, for the delay in posting. Click on the images for a closeup.



Of course, Copyright 2000 Haans Petruschke. All Rights Reserved.

A reminder to view the current cold snap as a birding opportunity. It may put a damper on the much anticipated warbler arrivals but now is an excellent time to be doing one of three things:

1.)On the Lake - windy cold fronts can offer surprising diversity for waterbird movements along the lake, especially involving odd gulls and ducks. Under these conditions, typical winter meccas such as Eastlake, Avon Lake, and Lorain, as well as the Cleveland Lakefront are places to be. Even the Western Basin often joins in with some interesting finds.

2.) Inland - check out the reservoirs, especially the big bodies; Hoover, Meander, Salt Fork, Pleasant Hill, Findlay, C.J.Brown; again gulls and ducks are the targets for unusual sightings but neat concentrations of loons, grebes, Ruddy Ducks may also be your reward. The last few days have seen a widespread fallout of Surf Scoters.

3). Don't wish to go far afield - try your backyard. Stoke those feeders to the hilt - going so far as to throw out some old oranges and top off that hummingbird feeder which you should have put out last week:-)
What might your see? How about a Rosy Finch - Ohio's first report came in an April snowstorm (Conneaut 1971), as did our one and only Brambling (Akron 1987), and then there was that Painted Bunting (back in . . . hmmm . oh yeah 1997, Tiffin).

On this date in history : 1997 - Ohio's one and only Boreal Owl made itself known to a Lake County resident when it hit her window. The bird recovered to be released a few days later.

A few non-passerine reports overlooked from the earlier edition of today's news.

Su Snyder updates the male Surf Scoter still present on the Overton Rd. pond (near Wooster) today. While today 11 birds were present on Eastwood Lake in the Dayton are - fide Charlotte Mathena

An American Bittern was discovered at Beach City Dam W.A. on the 28th - W. Paul Rosenberry. Two birds were found 1 April at Miami-Whitewater Wetlands - Edie ?. I had heard of a report from the Holmes County area a week earlier than these reports - fide Bruce Glick, while this week an unverified report comes from the Wright Marsh area of Killbuck Marsh W.A. Something to keep an eye out for. Under the snipe heading below add 50 birds at Killdeer Plains W.A. on Sunday - Ron Sempier. Ron had 2 Short-eared Owls at KPWA, while Brian Zweibel had two at Magee Marsh W.A. Wednesday. Five birds were still present at Big Island W.A. last Friday - V.W.F.III. Killdeer Plains hosted 5 Rough-legged Hawks last Friday - V.W.F.III with 4 still present Sunday - Ron Sempier. Under the heading of migrant Sandhill Cranes, add three birds over Greendale Wetlands (Hocking Co.) on the 30th - Bob Scott Placier. A Chimney Swift was reported over northwest Columbus the 25th - Lynne Aldrich fide Peter Gottschling.

A female Spotted Towhee was reported banded at the Navarre Marsh banding station of Black Swamp Bird Observatory - fide Tom Bartlett. There are only two documented records of the species for the state.

The Columbus Indigo Bunting put in yet another appearance after a notable absence. The bird was back in Bob Royse's yard Wednesday.

A number of migrant songbirds have debuted during the past week. The Blue-headed Vireo reported from just north of Dayton yesterday is the first I have received - fide Charlotte Mathena. A Yellow-throated Warbler was noted 31 March at California Woods (Hamilton Co.) - David Brinkman. The next day they were "all along Stony Brook" at Scioto Trails State Forest (Ross Co.) - Peter Gottschling. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were reported Sunday in Columbus from two locations - Bob Royse and Jeff Grabmeier. Jeff adds there were 75+ Golden-crowned Kinglets at his location - Jeffrey Park. Early arrivals include the Gray Catbird at Shawnee Lookout (Hamilton Co.) on the 1st - Audrey Mayer, and the two overflight Black and White Warblers from yesterday. One at Maumee Bay State Park - fide Greg Links and one at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center - Bob Finkelstein. Barn Swallow has already been mentioned but a 3 April bird from Tiffin - Grant Rettig - is still early. Purple Martin had reached Paulding County by 2 April - Doug & Micki Dunakin. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher arrival was noted 4 April at Scioto Trails - Bob Royse and the next day found widespread across the southern counties - Lester Peyton, Dave St. John, m.obs.. Similarly, Louisiana Waterthrush is now noted widely in the southeast, yet only first reported from 31 March in Athens Co. - Dave St. John. A member of the species had already been caught and banded in Ontario by this date, apparently completely overflying Ohio. An overflight to northeast Ohio was reported at South Chagrin Reservation (Cuyahoga Co.) on Monday - Wendy Weirich fide Ben Winger. The first numbers of Tree Swallows were reported over the weekend with 150 gathered at Big Island W.A. on Sunday - Ron Sempier. Ron also counted 100 Eastern Meadowlarks that day at Killdeer Plains W.A. - a known staging area for the species. From the winter, Pine Siskins are sporadically noted across the state. Four Red Crossbills had remained at a Rockbridge (Hocking Co.) feeder through Tuesday - Jim Fry. The Magee Marsh W.A. Northern Shrike was last reported along the Magee Marsh Bird Trail the 30th - Ben Zweibel, Lee Garling.

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.

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