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April 1999

More of last week's arrivals:

22 April : Marsh Wren at Miami Whitewater Wetlands - Tom Uhlman
22 April : Hooded Warbler at Miami Whitewater Forest - Lester Peyton
23 April : Summer Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat at Shawnee Lookout, Hamilton Co. - Lester Peyton
24 April : Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Least Flycatcher at Columbus - Bob Royse
25 April : 3 Whip-poor-will (in north) at Springville Marsh SNP (Seneca Co.) - Tom Bartlett et al.
25 April : Marsh Wren (in north) at Magee Marsh Bird Trail - Paula Lozano et al.
25 April : Prairie Warbler (central) in Jeffrey Park (Bexley, Franklin Co.) - Jeff Grabmeier
26 April : 3 Common Nighthawk (in north) at Oak Harbor, Ottawa Co. - Adam Blank
26 April : Kentucky Warbler at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati - Ed Roush and Steve Sando
26 April : Hooded Warbler (north) at Black Swamp Nature Center, Paulding Co. - Doug and Micki Dunakin
27 April : Lark Sparrow back at the Oak Openings - Greg Links, Matt Victoria et al.
27 April : Gray-cheeked Thrush at Hauck Arboretum in Cincinnati - Steve Sando and Ed Roush

We are coming up on the peak Purple Finch flight through the north. Although expected to be a very weak season, a couple of appearances have been made including at Norton (SW Summit Co.) on the 25th - Kathy Mock. Similarly, I don't anticipate much of a return flight on Red-breasted Nuthatches given their scarcity this winter; token migrants were found at Sheldon Marsh SNP on Thursday - Robert Boldry, and in Lake Co. - John Pogacnik. A few did winter in the Vinton/Hocking/Athens Co. area and the last report from there was for Lake Hope State Park 18 April - Dave St. John. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were conspicuous early last week at feeders including North Olmstead (Tue. - Scott Wright). Worm-eating Warblers pushed north with a bird at Springville Marsh SNP the 25th - Tom Bartlett et al. and another the next day at Ottawa N.W.R. - Rob Harlan and Sandy Wagner. Additional Yellow-headed Blackbirds last week include a bright adult male at Metzger Marsh W.A. on Monday - Jim Lichorat, and an immature male at Park Colony Rd. this past Friday - Dave St. John. A "Yellow" Palm Warbler was apparently still present on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail on Friday - Adam Blank. A "Brewster's" Warbler was of some interest last Monday at Metzger Marsh W.A. - Darlene Friedman. I have come to associate late April with a northward dispersal of Black Vultures. Some recent examples include a 19 April bird near Granville (Licking Co.) - Heather Nagy, 25 April at Charles Mill Lake - Craig Rieker et al., and more recently on Sunday individuals were noted in Delaware Co. along the Scioto River - Jim McCormac, a bird over Rt 62. in Holmes Co. - Jim and Elaine Snively, and in southern Wyandot Co. (no. of the town of Wyandot) - Joan Hill. The Ashland, Holmes, and Licking Co. birds are in the vicinity of plausible nesting locales but very much at the northern edge of their potential range. Speaking of dispersals, those suburban Wild Turkeys just won't go away. In relatively pastoral Kirtland (Lake Co.) it was still a surprise to find 8 birds in one's yard - fide Nick Barber. The Shaker Lakes bird (or a companion) showed itself to many on the Sunday bird walk around Lower Lake April 25th. - Jim Heflich et al.. While a bird standing atop a teacher's car outside of Nick Barber's gradeschool 22 April (Mayfield Hts.?) has me wondering whether Wild Turkey of another kind was not involved. Up to three Snowy Egrets have been frequenting the causeway at Magee Marsh W.A. all week - Matt Victoria, m.obs.. Matt again had Orange-crowned Warbler on the Bird Trail last Monday while Bob Royse had one in Columbus the same day. Twelve Winter Wren, a Fox Sparrow, and three Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers lingered on the Bird Trail that day for Matt. There have been up to 5 Upland Sandpipers along Krause Rd. through the week. American Tree Sparrow was last reported 23 April in Brecksville - Kent Miller. The most unusual birds of last weekend were 2 Eared Grebes at Metzger Marsh W.A. on the 24th - Jim Lesser.

Of American Golden-Plovers

The migration spectacle of the past 10 days has to be the flight of American Golden-Plover through the northwest portion of the state. Although annual staging is expected in late April and early May within the Sandusky River drainage and the river drainages immediately east and west thereof, the recent numbers harken back to 1986, only viewed more widely. I first noted the influx as birds passing over Big Island W.A. during one of my census routes on Saturday 24 April. My attention was not on flyovers but I did record 106 birds, hearing additional flocks overhead all morning. A check of the Washburn Rd. area of Killdeer Plains W.A. later that afternoon with Dave St. John revealed 375+ birds - a mix of birds on the ground, birds taking off northwards, and additional flocks arriving. The next day Darlene Friedman and Paula Lozano in separate parties accounted for at least 210 birds along the western border of Ottawa N.W.R. (mainly Krause Rd. and to the north 2 miles). I was not able to get back to Big Island W.A. until Tuesday where again under the clear skies of a dominating high pressure system and attendant northeast winds, a dozen flocks or more were noted throughout the morning overhead by myself and John Rakestraw. These flocks generally were of 40-75 birds each. The flocks have been widespread. As I was pulling up to the intersection of Rt. 20 and Rt. 99 in Huron Co. yesterday, several small flocks totalling 280+ birds came to settle in a nearby field. The staging in the Navarre marsh (Ottawa Co.) was first noticed last Thursday - fide Mark Shieldcastle. There hundreds of birds have been seen coming in during the late evening on several days. In 5 years of manning the observation tower at Magee Marsh W.A., I have never witnessed a flight of American Golden-Plover whereby multiple flocks streamed by in a single direction for several hours. I saw a single flock of 35 in late March a few years ago. So Friday's total of 815+ heading west to east was completely unexpected. I have experienced flights of shorebirds, typically involving Pectoral Sandpipers. All flights, no matter the species, have been west to east. This path is shared only with the corvids (American Crow and Blue Jay). Songbirds, cranes, and raptors move east to west. That experience told me that in all likelihood, once the flight had ended (by 1400 hrs), additional birds could be located in appropriate habitat further west, respresenting individuals pulling up short of the Magee Marshes. I had no time to check on this Friday but little encouragement was necessary for Matt Victoria, who had already shared in much of the tower observations, to investigate; resulting in an approximation of 500-600 birds in the wet fields of Park Colony Rd. adjacent to Meinke Marina (off Corduroy Rd. in Lucas Co.). At a minimum then, 1300+ birds were present in Jerusalem Twp. of Lucas Co. that day.* I suspect these flights have continued daily, and I would appreciate hearing from weekend observers as to whether any flocks were seen overhead while on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail. Lack of observations will not tell me much as few warbler watchers are focused beyond the canopy. Case in point, 2/3 of the visitors to Magee Marsh W.A. (I spoke to about 35) today were oblivious to any movement whatsoever. Yet, the flight began in earnest at 8:30 a.m. and continued through the end of my watch at 3:00 p.m. Of the 1253 birds tallied, 80% followed the shoreline and would have been, more or less, over the boardwalk. Another 108 birds were located in fields to the west. For all the apparent coverage the Western Basin marshes receive in spring migration, especially May, it is experiences like this, whereby attention span dictates much of the day's reports, that has any serious student of Ohio's ornithology reading its history with a shaker of salt within one's reach.

Addenda : I find it interesting that 90% of 24 April birds were in basic plumage, where 99% of Monday's flight were in full alternate. Not only does this give a clue as to the timing of moult in the population at large, but it also indicates the fantastic turnover of these migrants; i.e. every day is a new batch. Dick and Jean Hoffman reported 300 at Park Colony Rd. for Sunday. It would be interesting to learn the time of day for that observation; a.m. vs p.m. This might lend some predictability to viewing staging shorebirds. My current advice for birders is (and the practical point of noting whether a flight is taking place) that days when shorebirds are on the move, a morning check of shorebird habitat will not be nearly effectual as that of one later in the day. Or if you must look early, do so at sunrise. An example regarding the latter involves Willet. My best luck for that species is to check the beach habitat in the state (whether along Lake Erie or at an inland reservoir) very early in the day. (and of course do so a week either side of 1 May).

* The observation tower at Magee Marsh W.A. is in Ottawa Co., however all birds were seen over the Lucas Co. portion of the marsh.

Northeast winds in association with high pressure systems have dominated the Ohio weather scene for the past 8 days. As many of you have come to realize this is anathema to any fall out conditions. Spring arrrivals do continue, trickling in with the gradual appearance of birds on local territories rather than dramatic overshoots at traditional migrant traps. Arrivals for last weekend.

20 April : American Redstart at Lake Hope State Park, Vinton Co. - dave St. John
21-26 Apr. : Veery in Columbus - Richard Cressman
21 April : 3 Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Scarlet Tanager, Blackburnian Warbler at Clear Creek Metropark - Dave St. John
21 Apr. : Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Logan, Hocking Co. - Becky Hatfield
22 Apr. : Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Clinton Co. - Ed and Linda Roush
23 Apr. : Eastern Kingbird (north) in Brecksville, Cuyahoga Co. - Kent Miller
23 Apr. : Worm-eating Warbler (central) in Columbus, Franklin Co. and at Batelle-Darby Metropark - Bob Royse
23 Apr. : Ovenbird at Cowan Lake (Clinton Co.) - Ed and Linda Roush
23Apr.: Tennessee Warbler at Shawnee Lookout, Hamilton Co. - Lester Peyton
23 Apr. : Warbling Vireo at Buck Creek State Park - Doug Overacker
23 Apr. : Swainson's Thrush, Nashville Warbler in Columbus - Bob Evans
24 Apr. : Common Moorhen at North Chagrin Reservation - Kevin Metcalf
25 Apr. : Common Moorhen at Gilmore Ponds, Butler Co. - Mike Busam
24 Apr. : Short-billed Dowitcher at Park Colony Rd. (Lucas Co.) - John Pogacnik
24 Apr.: Baltimore and Orchard Orioles in Zanesville - Brad Courson
24 Apr.: Chestnut-sided Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Cerulean Warbler at Brecksville Reservation - Jenny and Dave Brumfield
25 Apr.: Cerulean Warbler at Springville Marsh SNP (Seneca Co.) - Tom Bartlett et al.
25 Apr.: Yellow-headed Blackbird at Mallard Club Marsh W.A. (Lucas Co.) - Paula Lozano and Bob Finkelstein

A Green Heron had been first noted 11 April at Buck's Pond (Franklin Twp., Warren Co.) - Mark Ray. Last weekend (23-25 April) Green Heron becomes widespread in the north including 3 at Mayfield Hts. on 23rd - Nick Barber. Also noted at Maumee Bay S.P. - V.W.F.III and Magee Marsh W.A. Mark also had an American Bittern that day at Buck's Pond. This has been quite the spring migration for Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, both reported in numbers, across the state, for a prolonged period of time. Prothonotary Warbler was reported widespread with a locally rare bird at Buck Creek State Park the 23rd - Doug Overacker. Also mentioned from Charles Mill Lake (Ashland Co.) from the 25th - Craig Rieker and Mike Gallaway and at Greenlawn Dam (Franklin Co.) the 24th - Adam Goloda.

Lingering species : The immature Snow Goose at Killdeer Plains W.A. was last reported 25 Apr. - Brad Cullen. The Stange Rd. (Ottawa Co.) Rough-legged Hawk remains as of 26 Apr. - Darlene Friedman. The same day 5 migrants were counted past "Big Hill" at Maumee Bay State park - V.W.F.III. Sandhill Cranes continue to fly past Maumee Bay with one on the 24th - John Pogacnik and 3 on the 26th - V.W.F.III. I also had a female White-winged Scoter at Killdeer Plains W.A. reservoir on the 24th. Three Common Goldeneye at Lakeshore Metropark (Lake Co.) were still present 25 Apr. - John Pogacnik.

The East Fork State Park Western Grebe remains as of Wednesday - Hank Armstrong.

The Zanesville Harlequin Duck remains as of Monday- Greg Balson

The warm front passage becoming stationary over Lake Erie was ideal for concentrations along the south shore as migrants are reluctant to penetrate a cold air mass over open water. Many recent arrivals became widespread especially Chimney Swift, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Blue-headed Vireo, reported in small numbers from Magee Marsh to Lake Co. - m.obs. Numbers of birds were noted by several observers in Lake Co. At Lakeshore Metropark, interesting tallies included 350 White-throated Sparrow, 14 Purple Finch, 72 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 342 Northern Flicker. Nearby Headlands Beach State Park also hosted "hundreds" of White-throated Sparrows and 35+ Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers - Kevin Metcalf and Larry Rosche. Unusual species at these sites were limited to a 1st spring Little Gull at Headlands and a Clay-colored Sparrow at a feeder at Lakeshore. I briefly made it out this morning around a couple of the Shaker Lakes noting much of the same thing in smaller numbers but for Ruby-crowned Kinglets which also numbered 72, and at least 95 Yellow-rumped Warbler present.

Elsewhere : Upland Sandpipers became widespread with 2 back at the Krause Rd. nesting site near Ottawa N.W.R. Wednesday - Matt Victoria and a bird present yesterday at Edgewater Park (Cleveland) - Tom LePage. A couple of late Snow Geese appeared this week, with an immature white morph at Killdeer Plains W.A. (opposite Pond 27) on Tuesday - V.W.F.III, and another Wednesday at Ottawa N.W.R. - Matt Victoria. It has been a week also for Peregrine Falcons. Monday a bird soared over RT 2 as seen from the Magee Marsh observation tower, and Tuesday I had an adult female perched, then soaring, at Pond 27 of Killdeer Plains W.A. - good for a couple of minutes of filming. Wednesday the Peregrine parade continued with an immature over a Hilliard (Franklin Co.) yard - Mike Gallaway and another at Conneaut, the latter part of a stunning hawk flight - Bruce Glick, Ed Schlabach et al. Of particular interest in that flight were 1385 Broad-winged Hawks, 14 Osprey, 185 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 63 American Kestrels, a Merlin, and a Golden Eagle. A Brewer's Blackbird and 29 Common Loons rounded out the day at Conneaut. Down south Wednesday in Scioto and Adams Co., Cece Johnston and Bob Royse managed to detect the wave of migrants on this warm front a day earlier with some dramatic results. The following numbers are spectacular for the date - 17 Yellow-throated Vireo, 35 Prairie Warbler, 18 Cerulean Warbler, 30 Black and White Warbler, 49 Ovenbird, 13 Hooded Warbler. An equally stunning number of Cerulean Warblers, 13, was had the same day at Little Miami State Park - Rick Dage.

Arrivals :

10 April - Least Bittern - Ed Pierce at Mallard Club Marsh W.A.
10 April - American Bittern (in north) - Ed Pierce at Mallard Club Marsh W.A.
18 April - Wood Thrush, 2 Yellow-throated Vireo at Zaleski State Forest, Athens Co. - Dave St. John
21 April - Great Crested Flycatcher - Bob Royse et al. in Adams Co.
21 April** - American Redstart (2) - Bob Royse et al. in Scioto Co.
21 April* - Indigo Bunting - Bob Royse et al. in Scioto Co.
21 April - Least Flycatcher - Bob Royse et al. in Adams Co.
22 April - Orchard Oriole (in north) - Craig Rieker in Cuyahoga Co.
22 April - Great Crested Flycatcher (3 in north) - Matt Victoria at Magee Marsh W.A.
22 April - Orange-crowned Warbler - Matt Victoria at Magee Marsh W.A.
22 April - Northern Waterthrush - V.W.F.III at Shaker Lakes (Cuyahoga Co.)
22 April** - Blackburnian Warbler - Charlotte Mathena - Eastwood Metropark, Dayton
22 April - Nashville Warbler - Charlotte Mathena - Eastwood Metropark
22 April - Nashville Warbler (in north) - Tona Sica - The Wilderness Center (Stark Co.)
22 April - Prothonotary Warbler - Charlotte Mathena - Spring Valley W.A.
22 April** - Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Tona Sica - The Wilderness Center (Stark Co.) at feeder
22 April** - Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Donald Morse - Cincinnati Nature Center
22 April - Indigo Bunting - Ed and Linda Roush - Wilmington (Clinton Co.) at feeder

* Early | ** Very Early

. . . and as to bird sightings at Reds games, Mike Busam offers a Common Grackle at last Sunday's game with the Pirates.

Old reports of arrivals :

9 April - Northern Parula and Warbling Vireo - Mark Zloba at Edge of Appalachia Preserve (Adams Co.)
9 April - 2 Cliff Swallow, several Bank Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows among 1200+ Tree Swallows - Matt Anderson - in a swallow concentration along the Maumee River off Farnsworth Park
10 April - Magnolia Warbler - Eric Mulholland at Bruckner Nature Center (Dayton area); in the visitors guestbook as seen two days earlier but verified by Eric that Saturday. This is a new state early arrival.
11 April - male Black and White Warbler - William Craig - Chester Commons (Cleveland)
14 April - Lincoln's Sparrow - Mike Gallaway - closely studied in Hilliard yard (Franklin Co.) very early
15 April - Blue-winged Warbler - Barbara Lund - Adams Co.

New Arrivals:

14 April - Sora (in north) - V.W.F.III - at Mallard Club Marsh W.A.
16 April - Common Nighthawk - David Brinkman - at Withrow Nature Preserve (Hamilton Co.)
17 April - Green Heron - Lynda Andrews - at Chauncey (Athens Co.)
19 April - Northern Waterthrush - Chuck Holliday - Shawnee State Park (Scioto Co.)
19 April - Blue-winged Warbler (in north) - Brad Bolton - at Tinker's Creek Nature Preserve (Portage Co.)
20 April - Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (in north) - Linda Bode - in Toledo yard
20 April - Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper - V.W.F.III - at Big Island W.A.
20 April - Yellow-throated Vireo - Lester Peyton - Hamilton Co.
20 April - Orchard Oriole, Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Jim McCormac - Adams Co.
21 April - Eastern Kingbird, Common Yellowthroat - Hank Armstrong -East Fork State Park (Clermont Co.)
21 April - Eastern Kingbird - Lester Peyton - Shawnee Lookout County Park

General migration : Swifts and Broad-winged Hawks became widespread over the weekend. A movement of 300 Caspian Tern along Turtle Creek was censused by Gene Anderson last Friday. The next day saw 6 at The Wilds - Jason Larson, and Sunday David Dister had 18 birds in the vicinity of Grand Lake. Double-digit Caspian Tern anywhere in the interior in spring is noteworthy, but closer attention to the traditional peak migration for the species (about the 19th April) will likely reveal similar numbers most years. Like all spring terns in Ohio, away from staging areas along Lake Erie watch for movements during really nasty wet weather. Check staging areas during periods of high pressure for best counts. David also found a female Oldsquaw at Bresler Reservoir (Allen Co.) on Sunday. Dunlin remain few and far between with 11 at Funk Bottoms W.A. the only flock reported in the northeast - Su Snyder on Sunday. Four Sandhill Cranes were flying north along I75 north of Dayton on Sunday - Jonathan Ruedisueli. The highlights of the Kelleys Island census Saturday - were the 95 Golden-crowned and 68 Ruby-crowned Kinglets - Tom Bartlett et al.. The night before Tom called in a Northern Saw-whet Owl on the island. On Sunday, Tom censused 17 Virginia Rail and 6+ Sora at Springville Marsh S.N.P. American Tree Sparrows are still widely reported with 6 birds on a Big Island W.A. census yesterday - V.W.F.III. A flurry of Yellow-crowned Night Herons continue. On top of the three arrivals noted previously, the species was back at Greenlawn Dam (Franklin Co.) on the 14th - Tom Thomsom, and just yesterday a bird appeared in the old Hocking Canal (along the Bike Path between miles 8 and 8.5, Athens Co.) - Joyce Miller, fide Bob Scott Placier. Early Eastern Wood Pewees were noted near Marietta (Washington Co.) at the Broughton Nature and Wildlife Education Center - Mike Williams yesterday. A Yellow Warbler was also present. An Ovenbird was at Withrow Nature Preserve (Hamilton Co.) on the 16th - David Brinkman. A Short-eared Owl was locally interesting at Holden Arboretum Saturday - Haans Petruschke.

Birds and Baseball: On the heels of the report of a Song Sparrow in the outfield (just left of center) during the Indians home-opener - Rob Harlan and Sandy Wagner, comes word of a Black-crowned Night-Heron flying over the Jake during Saturday's game - Marian and Jeff Kraus. So how about it Cincy - is the National League just as bird friendly?

New Arrivals:

Black and White Warbler - 7 April at Lakeshore Metropark - John Pogacnik
Black-throated Green Warbler - 7 April in Toledo near the state line - Rick Nirschl
Whip-poor-will - 8 April in downtown Columbus! - Pam Raver.
White-eyed Vireo - 8 April on the campus of Hocking Tech (Athens Co.) - Bob Scott Placier
Sora - 9 April at Spring Valley W.A. - Kathy Beal
Common Tern (2) - 9 April at Magee Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III
House Wren - 10 April at East Fork State Park - Donald Morse Jr.
Chimney Swift - 9 April at Lake Logan - Dan Sanders
Broad-winged Hawk - 10 April in Scioto Co. - Cece Johnston
Cerulean Warbler - 10 April in Scioto Co. - Cece Johnston
Nashville Warbler - 11 April at Lake La Su An W.A. (Williams Co.) - Jeff Grabmeier
Prairie Warbler - 11 April at Sugar Creek Metropark -fide Charlotte Mathena
Ovenbird - 13 April in Shawnee State Forest - Bob Royse and Cece Johnston
Worm-weating Warbler - 13 April in Shawnee State Forest - Bob Royse and Cece Johnston
Henslow's Sparrows - 13 April (5) at The Wilds (Muskingum Co.) - Jason Larson
Henslow's Sparrow - 13 April at the Peabody Reclamation Area (Starr Twp., Hocking Co.) - Lynda Andrews. Gray Catbird - 15 April at Miami Whitewater Wetlands - Lester Peyton

General Arrivals :

Additional Prairie Warblersappeared 13 April in Shawnee State Forest (Scioto Co.) - Bob Royse and Cece Johnston, and at Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton Co.) - Lester Peyton. Northern Parula appeared in Scioto County on the 10th and Delaware County on the 14th - Cece Johston. Black and White Warblers have since been located in Scioto Co. (10th) - Cece Johnston, Glen Thompson Reserve (Greene Co.) on the 11th - David Dister, and Monday at Antrim Lake (Franklin Co.) - Dan Sanders. Black-throated Green Warblers appeared everywhere in southern Ohio last Friday including Clear Creek Valley - Dave St. John, Spring Valley W.A., and Caesar Creek S.P. - fide Charlotte Mathena, and Green Lawn Cemetery - Len Powlick. Ospreys became widespread in the north; noted the 7th at Pine Lake (Mahoning Co.) - Nancy Brundage and Penitentiary Glen (Lake Co.) - John Pogacnik, the 8th at Ottawa N.W.R. - Matt Victoria, and the 9th over Brecksville - Kent Miller. White-eyed Vireos have subsequently been reported for Cowan Lake the 11th - Larry Gara, and Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton Co.) Lester Peyton and Scioto County - Bob Royse and Cece Johnston - both Tuesday. Also in the northwest, on Monday Pine Warblers were found in the Oak Openings - Matt Victoria, and Magee Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III. Broad-winged Hawk had reached the north in Brecksville by yesterday - Rob Harlan. A central Ohio Chimney Swift was reported Tuesday over Hilliard (Franklin Co.) - Mike Gallaway. Two early Palm Warblers were at Meander Lake (Mahoning Co.) - Carole Babyak on the 7th. Subsequently, singing males appeared at Magee Marsh W.A. - Sandy Wagner, Rob Harlan and Green Lawn Dam Wednesday - Adam Goloda. Although recorded annually in April, I have long considered the eastern "Yellow" Palm Warbler a mythical form in Ohio. No longer, as I was able to study Sandy's find at Magee. A Sora called at Mallard Club Marsh W.A. yesterday - V.W.F.III. Another early Barn Swallow was reported the 6th at The Wilds - Jason Larson. The species was widely noted thereafter. Another House Wren was noted in the south, a bird at Cowan Lake (Clinton Co.) Sunday - Ed and Linda Roush.

Concentrations :

Cece Johnston and Bob Royse had interesting tallies of 117 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and 55 Yellow-throated Warblers for their outing in Scioto County on Tuesday. This week is usually associated with the peak staging of Pectoral Sandpipers and Lapland Longspurs at central Ohio locations. By Thursday last week, 710 Pectorals could be found at Killbuck Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III. On Saturday, Big Island Twp, Marion Co. (encompassing Big Island W.A. and environs) hosted at least 825 Pectorals. Units EDF of the wildlife area this Tuesday held 765 birds alone so numbers continue to grow there. Elsewhere, Charlie's Pond held 150 Pectorals last Thursday - Doreene Linzell. Saturday's longspur count in the Big Island area exceeded 800 birds - most on Units HG along Rt. 95. On Tuesday, I had 720 on Units DF (north side of Rt. 95). Close examination of the flock did not reveal anything different. Most birds are males, most of which are 90%+ along in moult to alternate plumage. Many continue to skylark, chase females, and defend territories, going so far as to knock local Savannah Sparrows off their singing perches. No sign these birds are ready to leave just yet - Wednesday's Maumee Bay migration census detected only 4 Lapland Lonspurs in the first 2 hours after sunrise. Indeed very little was moving in the face of a northwest breeze; 54 Common Snipe was the highlight. One Short-eared Owl remains at Big Island W.A. on Tuesday, while Jason Larson reports 12 Rough-legged Hawks continue at The Wilds as of Saturday. Yesterday, Rough-legged Hawks were still in residence at Magee Marsh W.A., along Stange Rd. near Ottawa N.W. R., and along Darsch Rd., south of Magee Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III. Sunday's nasty weather was perfect for reservoir birding. At Buck Creek State Park, Doug Overacker noted some outstanding numbers for Lesser Scaup (500) and Ruddy Duck (200), and Bufflehead (40). Likewise a check of the Fostoria area reservoirs and that of Findlay (all Hancock Co.) on Sunday produced 1550+ Lesser Scaup, 1050+ Ruddy Duck, 500 Red-breasted Merganser, and 48 Buffleahead - V.W.F.III. Common Loons have been widely reported but in no greater concentration than the 66 at Pleasant Hill Resrvoir on Monday - Rick Nirschl. A good concentration of Double-crested Cormorant was had last Friday on Acton Lake (Preble Co.) with 142 birds present - Casey Tucker.

The weekend saw a phenomenal report of white-winged gulls along the Lake Erie shoreline in the northeast. Independent corroboration of few of these birds is as yet available. At Conneaut, independent observers verify a large concentration of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, at least 1 Iceland Gull, and at least 2 Glaucous Gulls. - John Pogacnik, Joe Hammond, V.W.F.III.

Out-of-the-ordinary :

Snowy Egrets arrived Friday at Magee Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III and at Grand Lake St. Mary's Fish Hatchery on Sunday - David Dister. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons appeared on the 8th at Englewood Metropark - Jamie Krupka, Sue Smith, and Dan Sanders, and the 10th at Cobey Park in Galion (Crawford Co.) - James Little. A Pileated Woodpecker Sunday in Van Wert (Van Wert County) was extraordinary - Jean and John Perchalski. Consider that in 6 years of atlassing only 2 single observations of the species were made for the 9 county region involving Van Wert and environs. The species continues its gradual spread in the northwest. An adult Northern Goshawk was unexpected at Antrim Lake in Columbus on Monday - Dan Sanders.

Errata : the reference last week to a "Little Heron" should have read Little Blue Heron, which BTW, was last reported 7 April - fide Jamie Krupka.

The East Fork State Park Western Grebe remains as of Tuesday - Hank Armstrong

The Zanesville Harlequin Duck remains as of Tuesday - Charlotte Anderson and Su Snyder

The Red-necked Grebe at Lake Logan was missed by observers on Friday but resurfaced on Saturday - Bill Perine et al.

The Long-billed Dowitcher at Buck Creek State Park remains through Sunday - Doug Overacker

The scoter fallout continued with a male Surf Scoter on Lake Snowden (Athens Co.) last Friday-Saturday - Bill Perine et al., and at Nimsila Reservoir (Summit Co.) last Friday 2 White-winged Scoter, while Saturday at Wellington Reservoir there were 3 male Surf Scoter and 1 female White-winged Scoter - Terry and Barb Sponseller. Also Friday a Surf Scoter was present on Paulding Reservoir (Paulding Co.) - Doug and Micki Dunakin.

Shortly before 11:00 am yesterday, my mother, Carolyn, called to say she had a Wild Turkey just walk past the patio. Understand she lives in Shaker Hts., all of 15 minutes from downtown Cleveland. I grilled her, as I would any other novice, and was sufficently convinced to drop everything (posting yesterday's bird news) and search the backyard which abuts a private golf course, the last whereabouts of the bird. After 30 minutes, I gave up and returned to the driveway where my mother further recounted the dash for the instamatic camera, rushing out the door only to find the bird down the back passing over the hillside down to the golfcourse, and the ensuing dash across the lawn, to peer carefully over edge, see an unmindful, tame bird and snap two quick pictures. Over-hearing the conversation, our neighbor came over to say she had wondered what my mother might have been chasing down the backyard. My mother replied "well my son would never have put it in his magazine without a photo". I've seen the photos and indeed an immature Wild Turkey is clearly evident.

I subsequently learned at last night's Kirtland Bird Club meeting of a Parma Wild Turkey two days ago, and a Parma Hts bird today - Sean Zadar. Suburban Cleveland - the last frontier for Wild Turkey.

Well, it seems on the matter of photodocumentation, at least I have my mother whipped into shape. Now if I can only get the rest of you . . . . :-)

Actually, on that score, it seems I have lit a fire under Dave St. John. Yesterday he videotaped a Red-necked Grebe at Lake Logan and discovered another Palm Warbler.

Elsewhere: A Pine Warbler had returned to its territory in the Cuyahoga Valley on Tuesday - Dwight Chasar. Along Ira Rd., in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, yesterday Dave and Jenny Brumfield heard a Yellow Warbler singing. An adult Little Heron was seen on Tuesday at Englewood Metropark (Dayton area) - Charlotte Mathena. On the 1st, 2 Oldsquaw were present at Lake Rockwell (Portage Co.) - Bill Toneff. Bill also had 6 Surf Scoter at Wellington Reservoir (Lorain Co.) back on 26 March. Yesterday, a migrant 1st year Golden Eagle was described from Ottawa N.W.R. - Mike Stasko et al..

Overall this spring migration remains about average in chronology. Only this past Friday and Saturday did American Coot (600 at Magee Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III) and (4000 at Metzger Marsh W.A. - Jason Larson et al. plop down out of the skies. By this time in 1997, we had already passed the peak numbers of the season. Ruddy Ducks have only just started their annual staging along the western Basin of Lake Erie with 650 at East Harbor State Park on Saturday - Kathy Mock - pretty much right on schedule. So why the early birds :

1 April : Spotted Sandpiper videotaped at Lake Logan - Dave St. John
2 April* : Northern Parula at Pataskala (Licking Co.) - Heather Nagy
3 April : Yellow-throated Warbler at California Woods Nature Preserve (Hamilton Co.) - David Brinkman, Dunlin at Olentangy R. Wetlands Research Park (Columbus) - Robert Evans, Blue-headed Vireo in Alexander Twp., Athens Co. - Steve Edinger
4 April : Two Least Sandpipers at Buck Creek State Park (Clark Co.) - Doug Overacker, another Blue-headed Vireo at Spring Valley W.A. -Dayton RBA
5 April : Palm Warbler videotaped at Magee Marsh W.A. - Dave St. John .

* Ties record early date for state (Previously a bird appeared in Cleveland in 1988 - Ray Hannikman).

Yes we've hit a warm spell but not the record heat of this time 1986 or 1997, each leading up to a massive cold front with ensuing snow flurries. While forceful warm fronts with attendant strong southwesterly breezes are logical instigators of overflights in spring, let's not forget the power of 6 straight days of high pressure and the associated clear skies that presumably make for satisfactory peregrination. One manifestation of this type of weather involvement (and not expected in sudden dramatic warm-ups associated with low pressure system passage), is a more broad scale migration, across species and involving multiple sightings. It is one thing to get an overflight of Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, but this weekend saw numbers of these birds. Up to 7 Ruby-crowned Kinglets at Magee Marsh W.A. by Monday V.W.F.III, with several individuals in Columbus - m.obs. Gnatcatchers were widespread with a bird at Sheldon Marsh S.N.P. Saturday - Jason Larson, 2 at Springville Marsh S.N.P. - Tom Bartlett and one at Sugar Creek Metropark (Dayton RBA) on Sunday, plus 4 at Scioto Trail State Forest (Ross Co.) Monday - Bob Royse. Another dramatic debut this weekend was made by Brown Thrashers which were suddenly everywhere being reported from Athens, Clark, Franklin, Seneca Counties, and by the Lake at Huntington Reservation (Cuyahoga County) Saturday - Tim Colborn. Great Egrets, although in some small numbers within the western Lake Erie marshes, overnight (Saturday night) were everywhere in the northwest, while 2 birds at Salt Fork State Park were of local note - Pat and Tona Sica. A Cattle Egret foreshadowed the movement flying past the observation tower at Magee Marsh W.A. on Friday - V.W.F.III et al. American Bitterns joined the wave of herons this weekend with appearances near the Cedar Pt. marshes (Lucas Co.) - John Pogacnik, at Spring Valley W.A. - Dayton RBA, and at Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton Co.) - Neill Cade. Black-crowned Night-Herons also elevated their numbers by the observation tower at Magee Marsh W.A. from the first bird on 27 March - Zac Baker to 13 birds by last Thursday - Mary Warren. Mary's other notable find along the loop trail by the Sportman's Center at Magee Marsh W.A. Thursday-Saturday was a Long-eared Owl in the pine trees.

Passage Migration : Hawk watching was very good Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Overall numbers were low, especially as the anticipated Turkey Vulture flight was not detected, however variety of species and age classes made for an educational time for novices crowding the tower at Magee Marsh W.A. Friday the highlight was two Northern Goshawks while Saturday saw a striking adult dark/red morph western Red-tailed Hawk. A few such birds are seen in the northwest in winter (possibly on the increase), however, this was my first spring migrant at Magee Marsh in my 5th season. Remarkably, later that afternoon, a visit to Pickeral Creek W.A. yielded another adult dark morph Red-tailed Hawk, this one perched by Parking Lot D. off Rt. 6. Ospreys continue to be sporadically reported in southern Ohio, the most interesting report being that of a bird along RT. 315 (near Henderson Rd.) in Columbus. It was seen throughout the holiday weekend by several observers - Dave St., John, Jeffrey Mills, et al.). A 3-hour migration count at Maumee Bay State Park revealed more of the same with another 800+ American Pipit and 2500 American Robins making up the bulk of the non-blackbird flight. Numbers of Killdeer still going through indicate an unusually protracted migration by that species. I'm usually too busy to watch the lake, so when John Pogacnik joined me, I was not too surprised that he was able to show me a Caspian Tern and a couple of adult male Surf Scoters just offshore. I was a little surprised by the small flight of Lesser Yellowlegs - 25 birds. Usually, any diurnal Lakeshore flight is noted the end of the month, with early April reserved for numbers staging at inland gathering sites. I suspect the extremely dry conditions we are experiencing, with virtually no flooded fields available for staging, may force birds to travel beyond their accustomed stopovers, before they can afford (energetically) to do so. John Pogacnik's lakeshore flight in Lake County on Sunday included 3 Black Scoter, and Oldsquaw, Iceland Gull, and Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 2 Forster's Tern. I neglected to mention previously 3 Forster's Tern at Dillon Reservoir on 25 March - Dave St. John. The only other Lesser Black-backed Gull in the area lately was an adult at Pickeral Creek W.A. on Saturday - V.W.F.III. The only other Black Scoters were three birds at Huron Saturday - Jason Larson.

Elsewhere: Sandhill Cranes were evident most days last week and through the weekend in the Western Basin. Individuals were noted again at Magee Marsh W.A. and Maumee Bay S.P. Friday and Saturday by many observers with 4 along Cousineau Rd. the only flock of note - John Pogacnik. John also reports from eastern Lucas County marsh areas, a Yellow-headed Blackbird, an Eared Grebe at the mouth of Cooley Canal, and a Solitary Sandpiper at Reno Beach Saturday. Sunday Solitary Sandpipers were found at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge - Tom Bartlett, and Miami Whitewater Wetlands - Neill Cade. Neill also had 2 Virginia Rail at MWW. New lakeshore arrivals at Magee Marsh W.A. Saturday included Purple Martin - V.W.F.III and Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Rob Harlan. Subsequently, both Purple Martin and Northern Rough-winged Swallow were noted at Veterans Park (Lake Co.) on Monday - John Pogacnik. Joe Hammond also had Purple Martin in Pickaway County on Saturday, noting in the same area a Killdeer on eggs, and recording Louisiana Waterthrush at Highbanks Metropark in Delaware Co. The earliest Louisiana's were videotaped by Dave St. John 30 March on territory in Athens Co. After appearing the previous week in southwest Ohio, Vesper Sparrows reached the northwest this weekend with 3 birds noted along Krause Rd., in Ottawa Co. - Jason Larson.

Staging of American Golden-Plover in central and northwest Ohio in May is well known. Less understood is the late March/early April appearance of flybys along Lake Erie's shore. Most season's, a single report is turned in but this past Saturday saw flocks of 35 past Magee Marsh W.A. - Rob Harlan, 9 past Maumee Bay State Park (some of the 35?) - V.W.F.III, while 17 winged overhead at Springville Marsh S.N.P. - Tom Bartlett. Just as Saturday was the day for plover, Friday was the day for Pectoral Sandpiper with 405 the final tally of flybys from the observation tower at Magee Marsh W.A. - V.W.F.III. The other notable shorebird sighting of the weekend was that of a probable Long-billed Dowitcher at Buck Creek State Park on Sunday - Doug Overacker.

Odds & Ends: Five Snow Geese (4 white, 1 blue) were present at Beach City W.A. on 31 March - Paul Rosenberry. The last report of a Northern Shrike was for 27 March at Killdeer Plains W.A. Zac Baker reports an 'Oregon' Junco from Tiffin Friday. Lastly, you may recall the reports of an albino Turkey Vulture during the summer and fall of 1997 along Rt 70 around mile marker 220 and the vicinity of Egypt Valley W.A. Well the bird is back, reported by Pete Dring for 30 March along I70 at marker 200. Visitors to the area are encouraged to report this bird as we have a unique opportunity to follow the life an individual.

The Zanesville Harlequin Duck was last reported for Saturday - Pete Miller.

An outstanding find this weekend, was the presence of a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes on a farm near Greenfield (Highland Co.) by Mark Skinner. This species is on the verge of extinction in Ohio and not known to nest annually.

The identification of the Common Raven in Ohio is problematic. Extirpated around 1905, the species was subsequently reported in a brief publication in the AUK by Milton Trautman on the basis of a bird seen soaring near South Bass Island the winter of 1945-46. The ability of ravens to soar (i.e. gain altitude through updrafts) is a fundamental distinction from the similar American Crow. Such a soaring bird was described in March 1993 from Noble County, however, documentation was insufficient for the Ohio Bird Records Committee to accept the record. Locals in the area have reported a bird or birds present in subsequent years (again in early spring). Jim McCormac, of the Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves, has made us all aware this past year of the growing proximity of breeding ravens in adjacent Pennsylvannia at reclaimed strip mines. West Virginian's in the past decade have made several observations of ravens along the Ohio River (in West Virginia). Together, these sightings point to an Allegheny origin for potential future southeast Ohio observations. March of last year saw the publication in this space of a photograph of a Common Raven by John Pogacnik in Lake Co. (moving along the shore of Lake Erie). Northern populations (possibly Upstate New York) generate a record almost annually of a bird moving along the north shore of Lake Erie in fall (October) and it is logical that a returnee may appear in spring along the south shore. This record is presently before the Ohio Bird Records Committee. Adding to the growing list of tantalizing report, is the recent observation (Sunday) of two birds in Trumbull County by Dave Hochadel. While that report may go unverified, it should not be dismissed. Ohio birders may well be on the verge of seeing the full-fledged return of the Common Raven. Clues to follow include looking in March-April when birds may disperse seeking new territories, and once found may be most conspicuous through vocal and swooping displays along a ridge. Great care in observation will be required to obtain a convincing record, but I have no doubt we are not long for a regular presence of the species within our borders.

I neglected to mention an Osprey at Hoover Reservoir last Sunday - Doreene Linzell. A Purple Martin over the weekend at Hebron Fish hatchery has a better chance of surviving than its overzealous brethren of 6 weeks ago - Mark Skinner. A Northern Rough-winged Swallow on the last day of March in the southwest matches the norm for the arrival of the species - Neill Cade. Bonapartes Gull have been on the increase inland, no more so than at Buckeye lake with 60 there last Friday - Gina Buckey. Great Egrets too have melted into the interior with birds appearing at Green Lawn Dam over the weekend - Adam Goloda, and Monday at Charlie's Pond - Len Powlick, while reaching the northeast at Lake County on Wed. - John Pogacnik. Additional birds of interest on John's migration count included a Sandhill Crane, Little Gull, Franklin's Gull, and Caspian Tern. Biologically interesting numbers included 19 Eastern Phoebe, 40 Eastern Bluebird, and 118 Mourning Dove. Waterfowl at Killdeer Plains W.A., included 16 Tundra Swan, a male Oldsquaw Sat. - Bill Rinehart - was joined by a female on Sun. - Jenny and Dave Brumfield. Jenny also noted 335 American Wigeon, 243 Northern Pintail, and 184 Green-winged Teal. The same day my counts were similar for pintail but Im missed the teal and wigeon, while seeing at least 210 Northern Shoveler, 3 times Jenny's count. Such is turnover at Pond 27, where much of the pond surface is available as refugia in back of the area visible from the road. Jenny also had 13 Brewer's Blackbirds at Funk Bottoms W.A. on Sunday.

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