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April 1998

Jim Fry's Chuck-wills-widow is back in Hocking County as of 30 April.

The trickle of migrants into the northern third of the state continues. Blue-winged Warblers made themselves known Friday in Cuyahoga County with birds at Lake Isaac Sean Zadar and downtown Cleveland - Tim Colborn. Also Indigo Bunting had reached Bluffton Friday Linda Houshower, and the northeast along the Lake Saturday - John Pogacnik. Bobolink were first noted in the Guernsey/Muskingum area last Thursday - fide Jason Larson. Henslow's Sparrows were near the Lake at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland on Saturday - Haans Petruscke. Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, and Great-Crested Flycatcher, were among a host of birds present Friday/Saturday in the Columbus area - (Bob Royse) and subsequently found in Seneca County Sunday - Tom Bartlett et al.. Baltimore Oriole, American Redstart, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak were noted Saturday at Lakeshore Metropark (Lake Co.) - John Pogacnik. John further reports a Glaucous Gull there last Thursday and a Brewer's Blackbird on Sunday. Saturday Swan Creek Metropark (Toledo) held Orange-crowned and Blackburnian Warblers - Matt Victoria. The first northern Whip-poor-will had returned yesterday to a Parma (Cuyahoga Co.) backyard - Craig Rieker. Chestnut-sided Warbler was in Quail Hollow S.P. near Hartville (Stark Co.) yesterday. - Gabe Hostetler. Cape May Warbler had reached central Ohio with a bird at Conkle's Hollow (Hocking Co.) yesterday - Bob Placier. Common Moorhen and Least Flycatcher were new for Magee Marsh Wildlife Area yesterday - Jason Larson. On the shorebird front, notable sightings were limited to 16 Semipalmated Sandpipers on Friday in a flooded field near Pickaway County airfield - Len Powlick and an impressive 650 American Golden-Plover along the road leading to Metzger Marsh W.A. in Lucas Co. yesterday - Jason Larson. The return flight of winter finches has begun in earnest this past weekend with Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskin, and Purple Finches being reported across the northern counties - m.obs. In good years this usually continues for another 10 days and includes diurnal flights along the lakeshore. It is situations like this that see Evening Grosbeaks in the same tree as Rose-breasteds at the Magee Marsh Bird Trail often throwing first timers for a loop.

In the Southwest: A Snowy Egret was first seen on April 28 at Gulf Park, just outside Cleves, Ohio. It was still there on the 29th, but not on the 30th. Four Cattle Egrets were seen following a tractor in a field near Wilmington on the 26th April - Cincinnati RBA.

This week's slow-moving weather system has done little for migration in northern Ohio. The sameness of the complement of birds along the Magee Marsh Bird Trail these past three days is best expressed by telling you that to see the Nashville Warbler go to trail marker 19 and look up. The bird has been present in the same tree for three days. Some diurnal movement of Blue Jay and American Pipit briefly gave hope for something more but nothing much materialized. Matt Victoria and I managed about 95 species for the morning in the immediate vicinity of the Ottawa/Lucas marshes from Maumee Bay S.P. to SR 19.

Highlights were limited to 7 Willets on the beach at Maumee Bay S.P., a Cattle Egret nearby, 3 calling American Bittern at Mallard Club Marsh, singing Warbling Vireos at Anchor Pt Marina and Ottawa N.W.R., and 5 Upland Sandpiper along Krause Rd. The 300 Bonaparte's Gulls (virtually all immatures) in a flooded field along SR 19 in Ottawa Co. is large number so late. The Snowy Egret continues to spend a lot of its time at the Magee Marsh pond by the visitors center. If not there check the entrance to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge - V.W.F.III

Elsewhere the migration trickles northwards with an American Redstart reaching Mohican State Forest today - Ed Rebmann. And a Yellow-breasted Chat north to Newark (Licking Co.) yesterday - Rick Lusetti.

A Swainson's Warbler was banded and photographed by Black Swamp Bird Observatory yesterday in Ottawa Co. - fide Mark Shieldcastle. If confirmed this would be the 2nd state record this decade.

Flying in the face of the slow passerine migration but in keeping with the very early nesting of Canada Goose this year along Lake Erie's shore, a Hooded Merganser brood was noted at Killbuck Marsh on the 21st - Ron Bauer. This is a WEEK earlier than the earliest date listed in the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. (Peterjohn and Rice, 1991).

Errata : Scioto Trails is in Ross Co.

A flock of 15+ American Golden-Plover had been reported last week from the southwest but numbers were only noted along the Lake today when two flocks totalling 140+ birds passed eastwards within view of the Magee Marsh observation tower. Around 4:00 pm a check of fields to the east revealed 14 birds along Darsch Rd and 150+ along Duff-Washa Rd just west of Rt 19. The birds offer all plumage combos from full alternate to a couple of birds still in basic plumage with only a hint of moult. Additional shorebirds were limited to both yellowlegs (predominately Greater), small clouds of Dunlin, and a couple of Solitary Sandpipers. - V.W.F.III. Mark Victoria also found a few small flocks of American Goldens elsewhere in Ottawa Co. today. Little else to report from the observation tower. Rain much of the morning kept hawks to a minimum but with afternoon sunshine came a brilliant adult Peregrine Falcon lazily soaring overhead for a good minute and a half. A Snowy Egret was periodically viewed in the pond adjacent to the visitors center. The Magee Marsh Bird Trail harbored the same complement of birds as yesterday with Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireos, Prothonotary, Pine, Nashville, Northern Waterthrush, a few Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, a lingering Golden-crowned Kinglet, and a stakeout Eastern Screech-Owl - Sue Ross, Kathy Knoblet, Matt Victoria, Tom Kemp et al.. Otherwise very slow and now behind schedule.

Elsewhere : The Willets of Caesar Creek State Park remain as of this morning - Larry Gara. Common Moorhen was also at Big Island W.A. by the 25th - John Games & Ron Sempier. Lake Hope Furnace (Vinton Co.) offered up one of the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds yesterday - Adam Blank. Another had been detected in the southwest at College Hill on Sunday - Steve Pelikan. A local oddity was a Bald Eagle over Hocking College in Athens Co. yesterday - Denis Profant. Today Bob Placier had a gathering of 13 Solitary Sandpipers just northwest of The Plains (Athens Co.); an excellent total for the southeast river counties. Gray Catbird has reached the northeast lakeshore with a bird in Parma today - Craig Rieker as has Indigo Bunting with a bird in Avon Lake today - Sandy Quandt. The first migrant Cape May Warblers of the year were 3 birds Monday at Spring Grove Cemetery (Hamilton Co.) - Neill Cade.

The first Lake Erie reports of Nashville and Prothonotary Warblers and White-eyed Vireo come from Magee Marsh W.A. yesterday - Laurie Edwards. Southwest shorebirding has been impressive this season especially through the diligent efforts of Larry Gara. After recently photographing avocets and godwits, yesterday Larry had 5 Willet on the beach at Caesar Creek State Park. I have just received good information that Eastern Wood Pewee has been on territory in Medina Co. since 22 April - Greg Emmert.

A check for the White-faced Ibis yesterday morning was unsuccessful - Pat Sica

Summary of recent arrivals:

Common Moorhen - 25-26 April, Spring Valley W.A. - Dayton RBA
Semipalmated Plover - 24 April, Spring Valley W.A. - David Russell and John Dobyns
Eastern Kingbird - 25-26 April, Spring Valley W.A. - Dayton RBA
Swainson's Thrush - 26 April, Miami Whitewater Forest (Hamilton Co.) Jack and Jay Stenger
Orange-crowned Warbler - 25 April, Shaker Lakes (Cuyahoga Co.) Cleveland RBA
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 26 April, Miami Whitewater Forest (Hamilton Co.) Jack and Jay Stenger; Burnett Woods (Hamilton Co.) Ned Keller, Kathy McDonald
Blackburnian Warbler - 27 April, Scioto Trails (Scioto Co.) Bob Royse
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 27 April, Scioto Trails (Scioto Co.) Bob Royse
Yellow-breasted Chat - 27 April, Scioto Trails (Scioto Co.) Bob Royse
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 27th April, Burnett Woods, David Styer
Lincoln's Sparrow - 26 April, Gilmore Ponds (Butler Co.) Eric Baumgardner and Jerry Lippert
Orchard Oriole - 26 April, Shawnee Lookout (Hamilton Co.) Jack and Jay Stenger; Spring Grove Cemetery (Hamilton Co.) Neill Cade

In addition the Toledo RBA reports arrivals of Common Nighthawk, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Lark Sparrow in the past week.

Also noted: 5 Pine Siskin remain at Spring Grove Cemetery (possible nesting?) on Saturday - Neill Cade. Neill also had 15+ Warbling Vireo there. Two Northern Shoveler linger at Winton Woods on Friday - Jack and Jay Stenger. Evening Grosbeaks continue in Whitehouse - Toledo RBA.

Three White-faced Ibis have been reported (photographed) at Saltfork State Park yesterday. Directions. They have been identified as two adult and one immature bird. Seen as recently as yesterday evening. - Pat and Tona Sica, Bruce Glick, Charlotte Anderson.

A Little Blue Heron was found at Adams Lake (Adams Co.) Saturday - Bobbye Foppe. Bobbye also had 25 Prairie Warblers for the day along the back roads.

The Red-necked Grebe continues along the SR88 causeway across Mosquito Lake yesterday - Larry Rosche, Vernon Weingart. John Pogacnik reports a flight of 7 birds late in the evening yesterday at Lakeshore Metropark, Lorain Co.

A year to the week since 9 Marbled Godwits appeared at Delaware W.A., eight birds briefly set down at Caesar Creek State Park yesterday morning - Larry Gara. Perhaps they were the same flock returning with the ninth bird overshooting his mates and landing at C.J.Brown Reservoir Sunday evening - David Dister. Larry further reports several Prothonotary Warblers and Warbling Vireos at Spring Valley W.A.

I located Upland Sandpipers today north of Rt 95 at Big Island W.A. and along Groundhog Rd about 10 miles to the southwest. Two Lapland Longspurs remain along Groundhog Road. The main diked marsh at Big Island at noon today held 150 Pectoral Sandpipers and a very brown Sandhill Crane. - V.W.F.III

Migration Progress : A overflight Eastern Wood Pewee was noted at Independence Dam (Defiance Co.) - Doug and Micki Dunakin. American Redstarts made themselves known in a big way being seen Friday in Scioto/Adams Co. - Cece Johnston, Saturday at Saltfork State Park - Jason Larson, and Sunday at Springville Marsh - Tom Bartlett. Indigo Buntings are now widespread if still in low densities. - m.obs. Cece also reports Cerulean Warblers down south on Friday. They were back at Buck Creek State Park (Clark Co.) on Sunday - Doug Overacker and Greendale Wetlands (Hocking Co.) - Bob Placier. Doug reports Baltimore Oriole also yesterday at Buck Creek. The first Summer Tanager report comes from Green Lawn Cemetery (Columbus) yesterday - Joe Hammond. Joe also had a lingering Winter Wren there. House Wrens are now widespread through the southern 3/4 of the state - still missing my yard nester who was one of the earliest back last year. Red-eyed Vireo was reported Saturday from Scioto Trails State Park - Len Powlick. From the Greendale Wetlands, Bob Placier further reports the first Great Crested Flycatcher and Gray Catbird as well as additional Baltimore Oriole - all yesterday. Great Crested Flycatcher was also noted over the weekend at Spring Valley W.A. - Dayton RBA.

The Holden Arboretum Eared Grebe was seen again this morning - Haans Petruschke. The Mosquito Lake causeway Red-necked Grebe was relocated yesterday - Dave Hochadel. A Whip-poor-will was a new arrival the 15th at East Fork Lake S.P. and 3 Evening Grosbeaks were noted at Cleves on the 12th - Cincinnati RBA. Bob Royse reports several Ovenbird and a Blue-winged Warbler from the Scioto Trails on Tue. Bill Whan & Joe Hammond add Hooded Warbler to the list of new arrivals with a bird at Scioto Trails yesterday while Marc England found Tennessee and Nashville Warblers at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus this morning. Today's Big Island transect north of Rt 95 revealed 90+ American Pipit and 10 Lapland Longspur.

20 April 1998 Greater White-fronted Goose Big Island W.A., Marion Co.



Wed. 22 April 1998

The Magee Marsh Bird Trail was opened to the public this afternoon. Some repairs to the boardwalk will continue for a week or so.

Migration Progress : House Wren has returned to the lakeshore where a bird was nest-building Sunday in a Port Clinton yard - Gene Anderson. Returnees in the Toledo area this weekend included Scarlet Tanager at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve - Gary Hayes - Nature Conservancy staffer. Listed on the Toledo RBA were Yellow and Worm-eating Warblers, and Yellow-throated Vireo. The Eurasian Wigeon at the west end of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, visible from the corner of Stange and Krause Rds, was seen again on Saturday. Also the 18th, a Marbled Godwit was spotted in the same area. The Snowy Egret was a flyby at the Magee Marsh observation tower today - V.W.F.III. Ottawa Co. shorebirding is sparse as fields dry up. Duff-Washa Rd held a few Pectoral Sandpipers, Greater Yellowlegs and the first Short-billed Dowitchers. Russell Rd and Cover Rd are still worth checking as is a flooded field along Toussaint E Rd, about 2 miles west of Rt 2. These areas combined for 200+ Dunlin, and about 45 Greater Yellowlegs - V.W.F.III. The first American Avocet report comes from Cowan Lake (Clinton Co.) with 5 birds there yesterday on the campground beach - Larry Gara. The Holden Arboretum Eared Grebe continues as of yesterday and has progressed further into alternate plumage with the "ear tufts" ever more prominent - Haans Petruschke. It's getting a bit late in the season for inland sightings of Greater Scaup so I'll mention a female bird studied closely by David Dister Sunday on Bresler Reservoir (near Lima) and a male on Pond 33 of Killdeer Plains W.A. on Monday - V.W.F.III. Three Surf Scoters continue to be seen at Salem Reservoir in Columbiana County. fide Dave Hochadel.

More on "winter" finches. White-winged Crossbills apparently had been present at Garfield Park (Cleveland Metroparks) and were last seen Friday - Bob Hinkle - Chief Naturalist Cleveland Metroparks. On the matter of Pine Siskins - apparently a follow-up of his March sighting locally at Greenlawn Cemetery in Tiffin, Tom Bartlett witnessed feeding of recently fledged young. The birds were still present Easter Weekend. The last report of the North Olmstead Evening Grosbeaks was for the 10th. - Cleveland RBA.

Migration Progress: The Eared Grebe at Holden Arboretum continues into its second week being seen again Sunday - Haans Petruschke and late yesterday evening - Jason Larson. Another Eared Grebe turned up at Eastwood Lake (Dayton RBA). Another Red-necked Grebe (in breeding pl.) was discovered yesterday along S.R. 88 causeway at Mosquito lake, Trumbull Co. - Judy Hochadel. [I neglected to mention one at Killdeer Plains W.A. on the 5th - Len Powlick] Judy also mentions Merlin and 30 Greater Yellowlegs from the area. The Pickerington Ponds Little Blue Heron was seen again Sunday - Doreene Linzell. A Snowy Egret was new at the entrance to Crane Creek State Park yesterday - Matt Victoria et al.. Twelve Caspian Terns on the Ohio side of the Oxbow (Hamilton Co.) 16 April was good tally for southern Ohio - Jack and Jay Stenger. Bank Swallow arrived on the 12th at Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton Co.) - Jason Hovekamp. Cliff Swallow was noted this past weekend at Spring Valley (Dayton RBA) and in the northeast along Lake Erie - John Pogacnik. Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows arrived in numbers at The Wilds Saturday. Short-eared Owl and Rough-legged Hawk remain there. - Jason Larson. Henslow's Sparrows were also present Saturday at Twin Creek Metropark (Dayton RBA). Harkening back to last year, another 18 April arrival of Baltimore Oriole - this one a bird in a Kirtland Hills yard - fide Jason Larson, and Indigo Bunting in the Hocking Hills - Dave Slomer. Also the 18th, a Yellow Warbler was noted at Spring Valley - Ned Keller. I understand that the Cape May Warbler in Hocking Co. has not been seen since March, however videotape of the bird has been forwarded to WildOhio for broadcast. - fide Donna Daniels. Notable in the southeast on Sunday was the first White-eyed Vireo and an American Bittern - both at Greendale Wetlands (Hocking Co.) Bob S. Placier. American Bittern was calling near mid-day at Big Island W.A. yesterday. Migrant White-crowned Sparrows were new there. A pair of Short-eared Owls were in the extensive CRP lands along T80 in northeast Seneca Co. yesterday evening - V.W.F.III. Conneaut Harbor held a Little, Franklin's, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Saturday - John Pogacnik.

A Greater White-fronted Goose was photographed (see above) around 11:00 am this morning at Big Island W.A. in the middle diked marsh. Also of note at Big Island W.A. today 185 Blue-winged Teal and two Upland Sandpipers in territorial displays (south side of Rt 95)- V.W.F.III

After scouting flooded fields on Saturday in the vicinity of Big Island W.A., I made a concerted effort to census Pectoral Sandpipers. In the immediate vicinity of Big Island W.A. I turned up 2890 birds (1750 along RT 95, 670 in the main diked marsh area, 300 near Sager Rd, and 170 along Rt 203 just N of Big Island). A check along Washburn Rd area of Killdeer Plains W.A., where a few hundred birds had been noted by others 2 weeks ago, only revealed 30 individuals. I noticed about 90 Pecs leaving a wet depression a bit to the south. Across the road, I checked the depression but could not see far into it. The view was obscured by a rise with 6 inch winter wheat, but what were those odd lumps against the sun? There should be no such lumps exposed in wheat fields - a scope check revealed the heads of 75 Pecs. Just as I was leaving satisfied with that number, three distinct flocks burst from the wheat, circling a half-dozen times, they allowed several counts for a fairly accurate total of 220 birds. In the space of 4 hours, I had censused over 3200 Pectoral Sandpipers within appx. a 4 square mile area. Between the two wildlife areas there is roughly another 60 square miles of land very similar in agricultural makeup. That is to say there are many expansive fields currently dotted with facsimile prairie potholes. If but one tenth of that area held a similar concentration of shorebirds there may well be in the neighborhood of 10,000 Pectoral Sandpipers in the space of one central Ohio county. I relate this not to manufacture some impressive number but to emphasize two things to the lay ornithologists that are todays birders. Challenge suppositions made in the literature about what is expected, most expecially ask what is the basis for the supposition. In many cases, I find that comparatively little experience may be behind the assertions. And second, recognize a phenomenon in progress; here the example of widespread flooded fields (which may well be completely dry by weeks end) act as an environmental cue for Pectoral Sandpiper to rest in the area. How unusual/normal the event is remains for many follow-up observations to be made. Certainly today generated several questions in my mind that I will keep with me on future field excursions, prominent among them - just how many Pectorals are hiding out there in the winter wheat? - V.W.F.III. FYI : The annual spring inland maxima of Pectoral Sandpipers as reported to The Ohio Cardinal magazine back to 1978.

Yesterday a third Eurasian Wigeon surfaced, this one on Clark Road, off Rt. 83 at the Killbuck Wildlife Area near Shreve (Wayne Co.) - Susan Snyder. The bird has been confirmed by several observers and photographed.

An adult Little Blue Heron appeared at Pickerington Ponds yesterday - Len Powlick.

Just got back from Kelleys Island courtesy Kelleys Island Audubon. Tom Bartlett's census produced 65 species repeated here in detail. Not bad given the weather. We had another 6 species in the 16 hours preceeding this morning's census including the lone Ring-billed Gull of the weekend. Four flooded fields in and around Big Island W.A. held at least 900 Pectorals Sandpipers yesterday. More than 100 American Pipits and 5 Lapland Longspurs were located along Groundhog Rd just north of Sager Rd yesterday.

Big Island W.A. is presently flooded to a degree I've not seen in several years. Presumably these wetlands along Rt 95 should harbor staging shorebirds in coming days and weeks before they dry up. Best to visit the day BEFORE a frontal system is predicted to pass through the area. Today a few Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpiper were evident north of Rt 95 near Espyville. The transect further revealed 134 American Pipit and 35 Lapland Longspur.

The Eared Grebe at Holden Arboretum continues as of today - Nick Barber. A remarkably early Mabled Godwit was reported from Charlie's Pond today - Len Powlick.

The Eared Grebe found over the weekend on Corning lake at Holden Arboretum remains as of today - Haans Petruschke. I neglected to mention last week that I received documentation of a Bewick's Wren in NE Pike Co. - apparently at a site occupied by an individual in the mid-1980's. It has not been seen subsequent to the 2 April observation - Bill Whan, Bob Conlon, and Dave Minney. The site will be investigated for any further developments and any news will be passed along.

I only just learned that a Cape May Warbler has been wintering at a suet feeder in Logan Co. and as of late March was molting into a spring male plumage. I await further details as to whether it is still present. - fide Donna Daniels - O.D.N.R..

Wood Thrush reached the northeast today - John Pogacnik. John further reports a Franklin's Gull at Fairport Harbor today while Iceland Gull and Forster's Tern were noted from Lakeshore Metropark yesterday. Common Tern also arrived with 3 birds at Lake Logan on Tuesday - Bob Scott Placier. Lake Alma (Vinton Co.) was the site of the first report of Prairie Warbler yesterday - Dave Sapienza.

The east entrance of the Magee Marsh Bird Trail was opened today - closed areas of the trail are taped off. A Blue-headed Vireo was singing from the road - Matt Victoria et al. A Northern Waterthrush sang briefly in the vicinity of the observation tower. 1st brood of goslings at Magee Marsh W.A. were out Sunday; several days earlier than the past two years. A Green Heron was present yesterday - fide Magee Marsh personnel. A very minor flight of 16 raptors today included 5 Ospreys. That's 3 years in a row first arrival of migrants at Magee Marsh on the 15th. Numbers of Dunlin were noted in the pond south of the observation tower with about 500 birds coming and going. Lesser Yellowlegs were widespread in groups of 10-20. Northern Rough-winged Swallow was noted over the tower and at Metzger Marsh. ENE winds today raised water levels again as Cover Rd field was a lake as was the field immediately east of Stange Rd near Ottawa N.W.R. This latter site held a wide variety of duck, about 60 Pectoral Sandpiper, and 800 Bonaparte's Gulls. These large numbers of Bonaparte's continue at several locations in the vicinity of the NW marshes but have yet to yield something more of interest.

Elsewhere : A Northern Parula was spied by many last Sunday on the Shaker Lakes (Cuyahoga Co.) bird walk. Another was less of a surprise today at Clear Creek Metropark (matching the arrival at this location on this date last year) - Pam Raver, Doreene Linzell, Gina Buckey. Gina et al. also had a Black and White Warbler there today. A Black-throated Green Warbler was seen there last Saturday - Marc England. Both parties report large numbers of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers - recall how scarce the species was at this time last year. Bob Royse went further afield down to Scioto Trails to seek out the vanguard of neotropical migrants and reports Yellow-throated Vireo there today. Yellow-throated Warblers arrived late last week at southern breeding locales as is expected but have been commented upon by several birders as present in high numbers.

The Southwest has much to report : A Green Heron on the 13th on the Little Miami River at East Fork Lake - Tom Uhlman. The first Wood Thrush report comes from Spring Grove Cemetery on Sunday - Neill Cade, Jack and Jay Stenger. Neill's party also had a lingering Winter Wren on Saturday at the cemetery. David Styer reports 2 early House Wren today at Burnett Woods and a "Yellow" Palm Warbler Sunday at Gorman Heritage Farm, Evendale. A Snow Goose was unexpected at Hamilton Riverside last Friday - Debbie Iding.

Another Eurasian Wigeon report comes of a bird along Krause Rd off Rt 2 adjacent to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and may well represent the bird seen at Ottawa N.W.R. last Sunday. The Krause Rd bird was found yesterday by John Pogacnik. John further reports 5 Cattle Egrets along Rt 163 in Ottawa Co. and two Upland Sandpipers at Rt 163 & RT 590 in Ottawa Co.

An Eared Grebe has been present 11-12 April at Corning Lake, Holden Arboretum (Lake Co.) - Haans Petruschke. Sandhill Crane continue at Funk Saturday - Jeff and Marian Krause. Blue-headed Vireo has reached the central portion of the state with a bird at Green Lawn Cemetery this morning - Joe Hammond, Pam Raver. Nothing much to report from the Toledo Naturalists walk at Pickerel Creek Saturday but for 52 Common Snipe flushed from the westernmost diked marsh. - V.W.F.III et al.

Magee Marsh Bird Trail update : As of Monday afternoon the causeway leading out to Crane Creek State Park was open to the lakeside grassy area. From there one could wade to the Bird Trail. Better just to wait a few more days as Magee Marsh W.A. personnel clear debris and pump out water.

Two or more American White Pelican were seen on a broadcast of a Lima based Television station. The birds were present today on Grand Lake-St.Mary's (Auglaize/Mercer Co.) - fide Ed Pierce.

Those of you visiting the Ottawa/Lucas marshes this weekend should be aware that the area was hard hit by the worst flooding in 25 years yesterday. This was due largely to the NE winds blowing lake Erie inland (43 inches above the average water level. Much of Rt 2 and adjacent portions of Rt 53 south to Rt 523 and Rt 19 south to RT63 were closed as of noon yesterday. ). The seiche created should slosh back to the other end of the lake in the next couple of days. Waters are receeding and roads are likely to be open if not already but debris may still be a hazard.

A possible Eurasian Wigeon apparently is being reported from Castalia Pond for the past two days - Gabe Hostetler. This is very near a report from Pickerel Creek W.A. and may represent the same individual. The Castalia bird has been reported by Dan Sanders and Joe Hammond, however Gabe has expressed reservations regarding the identification. Further observation notes are desirable.

Migration Progress : Chimney Swifts arrived the 8th in Wooster - Kurt Knebusch. Today an Upland Sandpiper had returned to Big Island W.A. - V.W.F.III. Dave Sapienza reports an accumulation of Pied-billed Grebes at Lake Alma (Vinton Co.) with 45 there on Wednesday. A Palm Warbler of the "Yellow" form was reported in Willoughby east of Cleveland today - John Pogacnik. A Gray Catbird in Columbus last weekend was just ahead of schedule - Marc England Marc further recorded Wednesday Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Greenlawn Dam along with 2 Black-throated Green Warblers. I understnad the night-heron was first reported Sunday by Adam Goloda. A report of 2 Surf Scoter at Killdeer Plains W.A. last Sunday - (Len Powlick) adds to the rash of sightings last weekend in the central west.

Shorebirds in Ottawa Co. today included 375 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Dunlin along Duff-Washa Rd, another 75 Pectoral Sandpipers in the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge impoundment just south of the Magee Marsh W.A. observation tower. Another 60 were at the Russell Rd site off Rt 2 near the nuclear power plant. These sites further totalled 31 Lesser and 18 Greater Yellowlegs. The Cover Rd site just southeast of the power plant held few shorebirds but did harbor 780 Bonaparte's Gulls. Such spring farm field gatherings are worth checking out for a wayward Franklin's Gull but no such luck today. Searches yesterday and today for the Eurasian Wigeon at Ottawa N.W.R. failed to locate the bird. Otherwise very little moving this morning with no diurnal flight evident. - V.W.F.III.

I would remind everyone that Eurasian Wigeon is a documentation review species for Ohio. That is to say we average less than 2 birds a year in the previous 10 years. Some years we get more than usual and apparently observers may become casual about its presence here. Last year of 5 reports, several involving multiple observers, no documentation was received by the Ohio Bird Records Committee. We have been promised a documentation of the widely seen Castalia Pond bird so we may eventually have a published record for 1997 on the books. I only just learned that another Eurasian Wigeon was reported for Pickerel Creek W.A. for Sunday. I hope we don't see a repeat of last year.

Migration has been pretty much business as usual. One excellent find was a Spotted Sandpiper at the Fostoria Reservoirs (Hancock Co.) today - Sue Ross et al. Sue also had 4 Surf Scoter at Findlay Reservoir today. Oldsquaw reports have been scarce this spring so 1 at Clearfork Reservoir on Sunday is notable. - Brad Courson. Another southern Ohio record of Merlin was that of a bird at Ross Lake last Thurday - Joe McMahon. More on raptors as 9 Rough-legged Hawks were located Sunday at "The Wilds" - Jason Larson. Only 16 RLHA have been tallied on the hawk watch at Magee Marsh W.A. as of this past weekend. After first birds noted last week Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher were widespread with a bird in the Northeast last Friday (Pinery Narrows, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area - Cleveland RBA), and the south yesterday at Lake Alma (Vinton Co. - Dave Sapienza) and Sunday at Spring Valley W.A. - Dayton RBA. After last weeks early bird in the notheast Northern Rough-winged Swallow were noted in the southwest today at Eastwood Lake Metropark - Dayton RBA. Barn Swallow was a new arrival today in Butler County - Mike Busam.

Marsh Wren were back at Mallard Club Marsh W.A. (Lucas Co.) today as they were back at Big Island W.A. on Sunday -Len Powlick. White-winged Crossbills yet again in the news with 3 birds (1 m, 2 f.) at Shaker Lakes (Cuyahoga Co.) on Sunday. Also Sunday 2 Northern Mockingbirds were near the Art Museum in Cleveland coincident with widespread sightings in Wyandot and Marion Counties - clearly a push of migrants took place this weekend - All Cleveland RBA. Blue-headed Vireo was reported for the 2nd April at Eastwood Lake park (Dayton). Other Dayton area birds include arrivals of Osprey on the 6th at Spring Valley W.A. Osprey was also reported S. of Lake Alma (in Jackson Co.) - Dave Sapienza for yesterday. These arrivals are likely migrants. The Berlin Reservoir breeders have been reported since the 28 March. Yellow-throated Warbler had reached Cowan Lake as of today.The 3 Surf Scoter reported a week ago at Eastwood Lake were still present as of today. - Dayton RBA.

Eurasian Wigeon at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge yesterday morning.

Location: About 1/3 mile west of the parking lot at the refuge. Follow the road going west from the parking area. Look to the northwest in the first flooded field. It was in the area with numerous muskrat houses. There were many 'puddle' ducks in the area including 50-60 American Wigeon, 75+ Gadwall, 50+ Northern Shoveler, 25+ Blue-winged Teal and 50+ Green-winged Teal. It seemed to stay with one pair of American Wigeon. - Tom Bartlett

This morning at Big Island W.A. 720 Pectoral Sandpipers remain in the middle diked pool. Pond 6 at Killdeer Plains W.A. has lowered enough to expose some shoreline mud, hosting 58 Pectoral Sandpipers there this afternoon. 56 Pectoral Sandpipers were also reported from Mosquito lake on Thursday - Youngstown RBA. Only 42 Lapland Longspurs were detected on the north side of Rt 95 at Big Island W.A. today.

Some belated arrivals: Dunlin were reported 28 March at both Big Island W.A. (Dave Offenberger) and C.J. Brown Reservoir - Dayton RBA. Black-crowned Night-Herons were back along the Cuyahoga River (in Cleveland) by 26 March with 5 birds - Paula Lozano. Three Surf Scoter were reported 31 March from Eastwood Lake - Dayton RBA while a Greater White-fronted Goose was seen at C.J.Brown Reservoir 28-29 March - Dayton RBA. A Black-throated Green Warbler was found in Lake Co. on Friday while Caspian Terns had returned to Lorain also on Friday. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was present at Lorain yesterday - John Pogacnik. Another recent report of crossbills, this time 8+ White-winged Crossbills at the Lantern Court area of Holden Arboretum yesterday - Haans Petruschke. A Sandhill Crane was noted over Camp Kern in Warren Co. April 3rd - John Rakestraw. An early Northern Rough-winged Swallow was recorded 1 April in Struthers (Mahoning Co.) - Youngstown RBA.

Finally Wed.-Thur. saw a considerable increase in some puddle ducks especially Nothern Shoveler and Gadwall. While this weekend Ruddy Duck have climbed with 280 at Wellington upground reservoir yesterday. The peak for these species should take place this coming week.

As we come into the season, once again shorebird habitat is scarce. Those of you visiting Ottawa Co. will want to keep in mind Duff-Washa Rd just a mile or so west of its jct. with Rt 19. A wet field there looks promising although I've only seen a couple of yellowlegs there thus far. Cover Rd just south of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Plant off Rt 2 still retains a suitable amount of water. One of the ponds immediately south of the Magee Marsh hawk tower has been drawn down and has exposed mudflats but viewing is difficult. The pond itself is Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge property in case you do find something noteworthy there. Reed Rd (off Rt 2 just north of Davis-Besse) remains a flooded field (the property now sports "for sale" signs) with more water than I have ever seen there and likely will stay that way for awhile. At Killdeer Plains W.A. in Wyandot Co. some wet areas have attracted a few Pectoral Sandpipers but I don't hold much hope out for that area. The good news is that the middle diked marsh at Big Island is perfect at the moment. This morning I travelled down Rt 203 from Killdeer Plains to Big Island W.A. about 12-15 minutes away. Half way down (or 4.8 miles N of the Rt 203/95 jct.) are a couple of flooded areas on the east side of the road. Enough water to attract Ring-necked Ducks, the area held 207 Pectoral Sandpiper this morning. There is no pull off here but little traffic and the birds are very near the road allowing for quick examination. Upon arriving at the new Big Island W.A. properties along Rt 95, I immediately was aware of small groups of Pectorals moving NE'ward. My supposition was that they were originating from a concentration point to the southwest. That concentration point prove to be the middle pool of the diked marshes along LaRue-Prospect Rd. As I arrived at 7:30, birds were departing in groups of 30-40 allowing for easier census. After 30 minutes appx. 500 had left while 400+ remained. All told there were more than 1200 Pectoral Sandpipers in the vicinity of Big Island W.A. this morning. Now would be a good time to check any local flooded fields for similar flocks. Doing so earlier in the morning would seem to be prudent. - V.W.F.III. The only other shorebirds were 3 Least Sandpipers which chose a puddle adjacent to the parking lot at Big Island W.A.

I suspect the numbers of Lapland Longspur remain as I could plainly hear them from the roadside. It occurred to me that they are occupying an area I believe recently sown with seed by ODNR as part of their prairie restoration scheme. The longspurs presumably may remain there so long as the food supply lasts.

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.

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