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May-June 2000

A surprising number of observers in the field for the first week of June revealed just how interesting this time period can be. Migration continued through the weekend. Sunday at Lakeshore Metropark (Lake Co.), John Pogacnik detected Yellow-bellied, Olive-sided, and Alder Flycatchers. His warblers included Canada, Wilson's, Bay-breasted, 2 Blackpoll, and 2 Mourning Warblers. Black Swamp Bird Observatory experienced comparable warbler and flycatcher diversity. Banding highlights included a male Dark-eyed Junco in breeding condition, a White-crowned Sparrow, and a Northern Waterthrush - Mark Shieldcastle. Yesterday morning, Gary Fowler banded a late Lincoln's Sparrow at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Shorebirds at Conneaut Harbor Sunday included Sanderling, Semipalmated Plover, 34 Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, and White-rumped Sandpiper - John Pogacnik. John further reports a breeding plumage Eared Grebe near the lighthouse. Rob Harlan had a Greater Yellowlegs at Big Island W.A., 5 White-rumped and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at Ottawa N.W.R. Sunday. Rob's effort was further highlighted by 2 Gadwall at Sheldon Marsh S.N.P. and 6 Green-winged Teal at Ottawa N.W.R.

A breeding plumage Horned Grebe continues on Lake Cowan through Tuesday - Ed Roush. A Franklin's Gull was present on the beach at Caesar Creek S.P. yesterday - Larry Gara. Larry had 2 Common Tern there the day before. Bill Rinehart had a Black Tern on Pond 33 of Killdeer Plains W.A. Tuesday. Tona Sica reports the Buck Creek State Park Bell's Vireo, the Bexley Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, and the Spring Valley W.A. Dickcissels present Sunday. Several Dickcissels were present at Deer Creek S.P. over the weekend - Scot & Janice Emrick . Yesterday a pair of Sandhill Cranes flew in to Pickerel Creek W.A. - Dan Sanders and Don Burton.

Tom Bartlett reports a Loggerhead Shrike in Seneca County Sunday. The bird was on a telephone line appx. 1 mile east of the jct of Co. 6 and US 23. On his Maumee State Forest bird survey, Tom is up to 7 Blue-headed Vireos. Unexpected was a Blue-headed Vireo on the Lowe-Volk Park census - Jim Little. On another survey in the southeast, Lynda Andrews has come across an astonishing 3 Lawrence's Warblers - the recessive hybrid between Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers. These birds were singing males at Big Bailey Rd. (in Dover Twp., Athens Co. just NE of Nelsonville) on Tuesday and 2 birds along a pipeline right-of-way in Starr Twp., Hocking Co. yesterday. Saturday, Jay Lehman heard two Chuck-will's Widows along Beasely Rd. in the vicinity of Brush Creek (Adams Co.).

A Tricolored Heron remains in the vicinity of the Sandusky Bay marshes. On Wednesday, Adam Blank found the bird in hunting area 17 of Pickerel Creek W.A. (off Rt. 6 in Sandusky Co.). Dan Sanders and Joe Hammond found the bird here the next morning. Medusa Marsh and Pickerel Creek W.A. are the principal foraging sites for the egrets and herons nesting on Turning Pt. Island in Sandusky Harbor. The logical roost site for this bird would be in this heronry. The other major foraging site for these herons is Pipe creek W.A. at the base of the Cedar Point causeway. This bird is but one of 5 Tricoloreds occupying the Lake Erie basin this past week. Such low density incursions (post-breeding dispersal?) are not unexpected at this time.

A Bell's Vireo was discovered Monday at Lake La Su An W.A. (Williams Co.) - Jeff Grabmeier. The Buck Creek State Park (Clark Co.) bird is nesting as of Monday - Doug Overacker and last reported Thursday - Troy Shively. Doug also had two Laughing Gulls on the beach at Buck Creek S.P. Monday.

The Lake Logan Purple Gallinule was observed in the late evening from the parking lot last Saturday - Jay Lehman.

Among the more interesting birds on a breeding bird survey of Maumee State Forest was a Red Crossbill Wednesday - Tom Bartlett. Also Wednesday the Bexley (Franklin Co.) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron nest held two young in the company of three adults - Darlene Sillick. A Summer Tanager was along the Creekside trail at Blendon Woods MP yesterday - Rob Thorn.

On Saturday, 2 Wilson's Phalaropes were present at Big Island W.A. as seen from the new observation deck on Rt. 95 - Doreene Linzell. Here is an image of one the Van Wert Black-necked Stilts of last week.


2000 © w/John Perchalski

A Tricolored Heron was reported yesterday at Medusa Marsh (Erie Co.) - John Pogacnik. The bird was seen at the east end of the main pool along Barrett Rd.

The Bacon Woods Metropark (Lorain Co.) Clay-colored Sparrow was reportedly heard Thursday afternoon - Dan Sanders. Dan also reports flushing two Little Blue Herons from the river just to the north of the meadow at Bacon Woods.

The Merwin Street (Cleveland) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was still present as of Friday - Paula Lozano. While the pair on Preston St. (Bexley, Franklin Co.) were back at the nest site Thursday - Rich Cressman.

Kevin Metcalf reports "two adult Sandhill Cranes were feeding in a small field on Mayfield Rd. (Rt. 322) just west of Claridon-Troy Rd. [Friday] afternoon. This is in Claridon Twp., Geauga Co." There have been sporadic reports during the breeding season for about 8 years now from this area of northeast Ohio. As yet no evidence of breeding has been obtained. Amy Lavy has posted her photos of an ibis at Senecaville State Fish Hatchery from earlier this month. From this online perspective, White-faced Ibis is not eliminated and may be more likely.

Rob Harlan mentions a female Lawrence's Warbler from the Magee Marsh Bird Trail last Wednesday. This rare hybrid is always a treat and this may be the first report of a female for Ohio. Olive-sided Flycatchers are at their peak and have been noted as singles across the state in recent days. Mourning Warbler is still reported along with a few other late passage warblers. Cedar Waxwings are at their usual late May peak passage with 500 estimated at Headlands Beach State Park this morning - Haans Petruschke. Dickcissels were noted back at Spring Valley W.A. Friday morning - Larry Gara.

No luck was had with either the Lorain Co. Clay-colored Sparrow or the Van Wert Black-necked Stilts yesterday. The Lake Logan Purple Gallinule is still present (Yesterday?) - Dave St. John.

Chuck Anderson had a flock of about 80 Whimbrels overhead near Otsego Park (Wood Co.) Tuesday heading NNE. Interestingly the sighting took place at 7:30 in the evening.

Birds of interest this month: The female Kirtland's Warbler mist-netted by Black Swamp Bird Observatory on the 13th, and the Fairport (Lake Co.) Loggerhead Shrike from the 6th.

KIWA: 2000 © w/Victor W. Fazio, III / scan courtesy Tom Bartlett
LOSH: 2000 © w/Haans Petruschke

A pair of Black-necked Stilts were discovered yesterday on the sediment ponds adjacent to the Van Wert reservoirs (immediately south of town in Van Wert County) by John Perchalski. John obtained some marvelous video of these very rare shorebird visitors to Ohio. They were present through the evening and were relocated today by Jonathan Ruedisueli in the grass adjacent to the parking lot between the two reservoirs. As of 4:00 p.m. the birds were back on the sediment ponds - John Perchalski. These birds were very approachable and would prove quite a treat should they remain.

Reminiscient of last year's bird at Berlin Hts., a Clay-colored Sparrow has been singing, apparently holding territory, in a meadow within Bacon Woods Metropark (Lorain Co.) from the 11th through yesterday - Larry Richardson. Off Rt. 2 at the Sunnyside exit head south on Vermilion Rd. until the entrance sign for Bacon Woods. Go to the farthest parking lot and take the straight path through the woods. This site is roughly 10 miles east of the Berlin Hts. orchard occupied for 3 weeks last year.

The Caesar Creek State Park Franklin's Gull was still present on the beach as of this morning - Larry Gara. Back on the 19th, Doug Overacker had one on the beach at Buck Creek State Park (Clark Co.). Four Cattle Egrets along LaRue-Prospect Rd. at Big Island W.A. yesterday is the first flock reported this year - Bob Royse. The day before, Ron Sempier had a Sandhill Crane there. Jeffrey and Becky Cullen studied two 1st year Glaucous Gulls on the mudflat just east of the Old Cedar Point causeway on Saturday. They were careful to rule out heavily worn 1st winter Herring Gulls before their moult into second summer. These latter birds, which may appear remarkably white, and holding something of the juvenile bulk which gives them a particularly robust appearance, will retain a two-tone bill at this time of year offering even seasoned gull observers a moment's pause.

Some of Ohio's birding youth gathered at Magee Marsh W.A. Sunday morning detecting among other things, no less than three Summer Tanagers - Nick Barber et al.. More on Magee happenings later.

The Caesar's Creek California Gull was briefly seen Thursday morning - John Rakestraw. The adult Franklin's Gull was still present there yesterday - Gene Stauffer. A long awaited May report from Conneaut Harbor (which has been producing very interesting sightings at this time of year for the last several years) included a 2nd-year Little Gull and an adult Laughing Gull yesterday afternoon - John Pogacnik. A smattering of shorebirds were highlighted by 6 Red Knots; as large a spring flock Ohio has seen in many years. John went on to Grand River W.A. where in "the small lake at the end of T-236" he located a King Rail; an exceptional record for the northeast.

A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was discovered this morning in Cleveland along the West Bank of Cuyahoga River as seen from Merwin Street on East Bank - Paula Lozano.

A flock of 61 Whimbrels was discovered Friday at Mosquito Lake W.A. (Trumbull Co.) along Gardner-Barclay Rd. appx. 1/2 mile W of Hoagland-Blackstub Rd. - Dave Hochadel; not seen Sunday. There was no sign of the Senecaville Glossy Ibis as of Thursday. In its place the pond drawdowns attracted several shorebird species including a White-rumped Sandpiper - Jason Larson. Also present a full alternate Horned Grebe. Another Horned Grebe was still lingering offshore at Kelleys Island thru Thur. - Jordan Vince et al. Earlier on the 16th, Sean Zadar found a Clay-colored Sparrow on the island. Jordan photographed a Summer Tanager on the island the same day. The species was heard in song a quarter mile from this sighting Saturday - V.W.F.III. Another extra-limital Summer Tanager Saturday, a female, was found on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail - Rob Harlan, m.obs.; part of the fallout of migrants along the Lake Erie shoreline. A Connecticut Warbler spent the day Saturday at the west end of the Crane Creek State Park parking lot - entertaining many. An immature female Hooded Warbler was also of local interest. Small numbers of Pine Siskin were noted daily through Saturday moving along the lakeshore while a Red-breasted Nuthatch also continues on the Trail - Rob Harlan, m.obs. The day before saw a noticeable fallout of songbirds, led by American Redstarts, in central Ohio. Delayed migrants in central Ohio include Ruby-crowned Kinglet and White-throated Sparrow on the 18th and Yellow-rumped Warbler the 20th along the Scioto River in Columbus - Bob Royse. A Blue-headed Vireo was among the highlights of the census at Lowe-Volk Park in Crawford County Saturday - Jim Little. A Purple Finch was among the highlights of the fallout noted Friday at Blendon Woods (Franklin Co.) - Rob Thorn. The roadside census of the shoreline of Kelleys Island Saturday produced 74 American Redstarts and the usual 200+ Yellow Warblers; consistent with the past two years. Other census highlights included singing Worm-eating, Kentucky, and Prairie Warblers, among 26 warbler species for the day; including resident chat and Yellow-rumped Warbler banded at Long Point by Tom Bartlett. Tom's catch of the day was a Sedge Wren. Lingering songbirds of interest were two singing Winter Wrens and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Alder Flycatchers, Canada and Mourning Warblers (8 singing males on Kelleys Island alone) were conspicuous (if only by their song) over the weekend in the Western Basin. An Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Snowy Egret were of local interest. Another 6 Snowy Egrets could be easily seen Saturday in the immediate vicinity of Magee Marsh/Ottawa N.W.R., including a bird south of Rt. 2 along Benton-Carroll Rd., and 4 along the Crane Creek causeway - V.W.F.III. Friday Ben Morrison and Kent Miller found a Little Blue Heron at Metzger Marsh W.A. from the 1st pulloff. They also discovered a Cattle Egret so. of Rt. 2 W. of Lemon Rd. Another Cattle Egret from the Southeast - this one just outside of New Matamoros (Washington Co.) Friday - Chad Amos.

Ruddy Ducks continue offshore at Crane Creek State Park, on Beavercreek Reservoir, and at Sandy Ridge Metropark in Lorain Co. - various observers. Red-breasted Mergansers continue on Beavercreek Reservoir and offshore at Kelleys Island - V.W.F.III. Up to 9 (2 f., 7 m.) Gadwall remain at Pickerel Creek W.A. Saturday - V.W.F.III. A Merlin was a passage migrant there that afternoon, as was another at Lakeshore Metropark over the weekend - John Pogacnik. John had Common Loon there while two were offshore at Kelleys Island Friday - Pat Hays. Shorebirds in the northwest have been unremarkable, possibly owing to the expanse of flooded fields after last week's rains. The northeast winds reflooded all the estuaries (the highest water in 18 months) forcing birds into these fields. A flooded field adjacent to the Sandusky River oxbow N of Fremont (Sandusky Co.) held 690 Dunlin Thursday - V.W.F.III. A minute later immediately to the N, a Sandhill Crane battled the wind for some time before taking shelter along the Little Muddy at Rt. 523. - V.W.F.III.

A significant midge (Chironimidae) hatch Saturday was noticed from Maumee Bay to east of Cleveland. At Kelleys Island, this was noticed as a very large concentration of swallows (200+) a quarter mile offshore in a feeding frenzy over a very discrete portion of the lake. With time was running short, I detected within the swallow group at least a dozen Cliff Swallows; migrants or of a local breeding colony as yet undiscovered? - V.W.F.III.

A Glossy Ibis has been reported from the Senecaville State Fish Hatchery (Guernsey Co.) - Amy Lavy. The bird was photographed Wednesday but apparently was first noticed by the hatchery manager the day before.

There are no further sightings of the gulls at Caesar's Creek State Park - apparently they have moved on.

A flock of nine American Avocet set down on the Crane Creek estuary as seen from Ottawa N.W.R. Tuesday afternoon - Tom Simmons. High water subsequently has reduced the concentrations of shorebirds within all of the Western Basin estuaries. Upper reaches of the Little Portage River held 475 Dunlin and little else yesterday - V.W.F.III. Widespread reports of small flocks of Whimbrel in the Lake Erie Basin the past two days herald the impending main passage of this species. Whimbrels move within the tightest migration window of any species of the midwest in spring - generally coming and going in the space of 4 days. Peak is routinely 500-1000 birds on the north shore of Lake Erie - however few observers in Ohio make the appropriate effort (watching the lakeshore intently during and immediately after storm passage within the Western Basin) to notice this flight. As a result the species' status in Ohio has not been fully explored. The effort by John Pogacnik to watch the lakeshore in the Central Basin does detect something of this passage including 6 birds yesterday morning - on a par with multiple sightings in Ontario yesterday. Based on a few recent incidental reports, there is a possibility that late afternoon (4:00-8:00 p.m.) may offer the greatest potential for witnessing a flight in the Western Basin. Elsewhere the Prairie Lane (Wayne Co.) site for shorebirds held 3 White-rumped Sandpipers yesterday evening - Su Snyder. Another was along the Old Cedar Point causeway Wednesday - Joe Sedransk. Joe had a single UPland Sandpiper along Krause Rd. the same day. A female Wilson's Phalarope stopped in Van Wert Co. on Wednesday - John Perchalski. John had 3 White-rumped Sandpipers at the sediment ponds in the county earlier in the week.

There has been modest passerine activity along Lake Erie this week. A morning walk around the Glacial Grooves of Kelleys Island yesterday morning was good for 79 species - Sean Zadar and V.W.F.III. The variety is still there, especially if you know the songs, but numbers have dropped off considerably.

At the Lake Logan Purple Gallinule site yesterday (no gallinule) a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron afforded a good study for Dennis Profant's ornithology class. In Vinton Co. along King Hollow Rd. Bob Scott Placier found a Least Bittern as part of his wetland survey. The first report of King Rail this season comes from Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams Co. - Jeff Grabmeier. A pair of birds were seen along CR S 0.8 miles west of SR 576 on Tuesday. Just across the road a Sandhill Crane was feeding in a field. Possibly a late migrant, but I have observed a pair in a cornfield (known to nest in cornfields) in July just across the border from Williams Co. in Indiana.

The gulls of Caesar's Creek State Park 15 May 2000. Click on the California Gull for a full page of images. The Laughing and Franklin's were still present this morning - Larry Gara.

California

Franklin's

Laughing

2000 © w/Victor W. Fazio, III

The Lake Logan Purple Gallinule remains as of 5:30 pm yesterday - V.W.F.III. At the north end of the lake, take the road west where just before heading uphill a turn off to the left leads to a parking lot. Watch the reeds to the north of this parking lot - but the bird could well be anywhere in the shore vegetation.

The 2nd summer California Gull was present all day Monday on the beach (just off Rt. 73) on the west side of Caesar's Creek Reservoir. This bird is readily identifiable among the small (40 or so) contingent of Ring-billed Gulls. It was accompanied by a Franklin's Gull approaching full alternate and a Laughing Gull. These birds were exceedingly tame, approachable to 15 ft. Indeed, while photographing the 2 Willets also present from 10 ft away, the California Gull flew in, after a 15 minute absence, to land just a few feet beyond the Willets. Up to five immature Bonaparte's Gulls, a Black Tern, and 13 Semipalmated Plovers were reported in the immediate vicinity by various observers.

The Magee Marsh Bird Trail Chuck-will's Widow was heard calling Sunday morning at 5:30 a.m. by John Chadwick and Jim Phillips.

On Prairie Lane (between Wooster and Killbuck Marsh W.A., Wayne Co.), Su Snyder reports the Red-necked Phalarope still present in the late evening yesterday. Su also had 15 Short-billed Dowitchers and 4 Black-bellied Plovers. A mile to the south is Messner Rd (the northern limit to Killbuck Marsh); along which a singing Connecticut Warbler was discovered yesterday morning on the south side about 120 yards west of Moore Marsh. Black-billed Cuckoos were especially vocal in the wildlife area with 7 birds found calling from Force to Valley Rds. - V.W.F.III. Willow Flycatchers were suddenly widespread with 20+ territories occupied.

The first White-rumped Sandpiper of the season was last Friday at the Oak Harbor- SE rd access to Little Portage River (Ottawa Co.) - V.W.F.III. Another was found on the public beach at Salt Fork Reservoir (Guernsey Co.) on Saturday - Jason Larson. Like the gulls above, this bird and the accompanying Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers were approachable to 12ft. Jason also reports 5 American Pipits there. Dunlin numbers at Sheldon Marsh had greatly increased Sunday with 400+ present - Mike Zuilhoff. Stilt Sandpiper, while regular in some numbers in the fall, is very scarce in spring within Ohio. John Pogacnik first reported 2 flybys from lakeshore Metropark a week ago, now a bird has been found in a puddle along the road to Metzger Marsh W.A. Sunday - Joe Hammond et al., and another at the Miami Whitewater Wetlands Saturday - Ned Keller. This latter bird was accompanied by 2 Wilson's Phalaropes (male and female). The wetlands at Sandy Ridge Metropark in Lorain County has been delighting local birders all season. Recently John Pogacnik noted 4 American Bitterns, a Common Moorhen, and 7 Ruddy Ducks among variety of species.

A California Gull was discovered, appropriately by Ohio's adopted Californian Jon Dunn, yesterday afternoon at Caesar Creek State Park (Warren Co.). The second-year bird was accompanied by a Laughing Gull, Franklin's Gull, and all four tern species on the beach - fide Ned Keller. The adult Franklin's Gull was first reported Friday by Bruce Stehling. Another adult Franklin's Gull was detected Friday at Pleasant Hill - Bruce Glick.

Remarkably, the Purple Gallinule at Lake Logan was still present as of the 10th - seen in the open by Bill Perrine's ornithology class. The Common Moorhen was also present.

I have received a description of a possible female Bullock's Oriole at Lakeview Cemetery on Cleveland's eastside yesterday morning - Craig Caldwell states "it foraged in the top of a medium-sized chestnut oak. This bird was near the upper pond, a little uphill of Elliot Ness's grave." This wouldbe second state record needs verification.

I have received a good description of a Clay-colored Sparrow from North Chagrin Reservation ("behind the Nature Center") for Friday afternoon - Bryn Roberts. Bryn also detected a Prairie Warbler there.

An immature Little Blue Heron was discovered at Phillips Park (Dayton-Xenia Road, east of Beavercreek, DeLorme 65;C7) yesterday morning - John Rakestraw.

The male Eurasian Wigeon persists in the Western marshes being seen by a group within one of the restricted portions of the Ottawa NWR marsh system - this bird may well reappear at more public venues.

The Prairie Lane Red-necked Phalarope was still present today - Su Snyder. It was accompanied by 3 Wilson's Phalaropes and a Black Tern Five Black Terns were discoverd at Acton Lake (Butler Co.) yesterday afternoon - Dave Osborne, Bill Heck

Gerald Robe reports a "raft" of Surf Scoters on the upground reservoir of Killdeer Plains W.A. last Tuesday. Yesterday morning, "near the cove along the north path near Greenlawn Dam", Adam Goloda et al. found a Connecticut Warbler. Adam discovered broken egg-shells below the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron nest in Bexley Park. This particular effort seems to have been abandoned. Friday's shorebird passage included 2 Marbled Godwits and 90 Short-billed Dowitchers from Headlands Beach State Park in just 40 minutes of observation - Kevin Metcalf. Following on from the Metzger sighting, Susan MacGillis reports a pair of Northern Bobwhites along Decant Rd. (about 4 miles west of Metzger Marsh) on Friday. Susan also reports 2 Dickcissels from the 2nd pulloff along the causeway at Metzger Marsh. If I understood correctly, a report received today referred to a sighting this morning of these birds in the same area.

Another busy weekend at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area:

Early yesterday morning Doreene Linzell and company observed a bird coming to the feeder at the visitor center which, implausible as it must have seemed, they identified as a female Painted Bunting. Doreene caught up with me near the Bird Trail and asked for verification of a most convincing description but as I could not get away for a few minutes (see below) I dispatched an Amish crew (Melvin Weaver et al.) to the scene. When I finally arrived they had indeed verified a female Painted Bunting - which showed herself to several hundred more observers throughout the day as late as 7:00 pm - fide Doug Overacker. Pending OBRC acceptance this would be Ohio's second record of Painted Bunting.

So what would distract me from a Painted Bunting - try a Kirtland's Warbler in the hand. Black Swamp Bird Observatory, which puts on a banding demonstration for International Migratory Bird Day, had just brought in a female Kirtland's Warbler. I felt obliged to take a few photos for them. But it was to be a day of such records - another first for Magee Marsh (besides the bunting) was a singing Chuck-will's Widow. As many of you know, IMBD at Magee, means The BIG SIT for Tom Bartlett at the head of the Bird Trail. This effort (if one can call it that given the comfy lounge chair in use much of the time) benefits the BSBObservatory, at the same time posting updates of the area highlights on the bulletin board for trail goers to read through the day. Tom goes from "5 to 5", starting the count at 5:00 am. I've been tagging along these past 5 years - somebody has to point out those Rock Doves (he missed the one bird again this year). At 5:30, I broke out the rail tape in the vain hope a response may be had in the wind we were experiencing. A Sedge Wren call happens to be the first bird on the tape - it played - and just 40-50 ft directly in front of us an explosive series of "chuck-wills-widow" blew us away. As the bird continued, only with a few pauses of 15-20 seconds, for the next ten minutes, we looked down the length of the empty parking lot wondering where everyone was - remarkably Julie Shieldcastle drove in to set up the tent for Black Swamp Bird Observatory - racing to the car, Tom dragged her out to hear the last refrain. And that was just the beginning.

The Bird Trail itself was fairly uneventful, mundane by the standards set this past week. Four plus singing male Mourning Warblers entertained many. The Prothonotary Warbler was still present; a rumoured Connecticut Warbler awaited this morning for verification when it was widely seen; a Worm-eating Warbler - Paula Bartlett - was the Trail's third of the season; a singing Alder Flycatcher was a local arrival (but where are the Willow's!). No hawk movement - yet a Peregrine Falcon and an Osprey were had by Tom. A shorebird flight augmented his list including a flock of 17 Ruddy Turnstone. A Lesser Scaup was a bit late and Gadwall overhead were among several firsts for this his sixth year. In the end 91 species were detected by Tom, including the Whip-poor-will just 50 yards away which had briefly given two loud "O'whips" when the Chuck-will's Widow had first opened up. The resting Whip-poor-will was subsequently seen by hundreds.

As the day progressed word from afar brought news of other good birds; a singing Clay-colored Sparrow was found by the dumpster in the parking lot at the end of Metzger Marsh W.A. at 7:30 am - Jim Lesser and Darlene Friedman. The Yellow-headed Blackbirds there cooperated for most - now with 6 males present - Dave St. John. A singing Sedge Wren along the boardwalk of Maumee Bay State Park was one of few reported this spring - Joe Hammond et al. On the artificial beach there, Doug Overacker's group discovered two Willets at 11:00 am. Shortly after, they had a Wilson's Phalarope and a Cattle Egret at Park Colony Rd. This shorebird site held a few Dunlin and perhaps two dozen Short-billed Dowitchers at midday - shades of the 1000 plus shorebirds (including 200 dowitchers) present the day before - Duane Ferris.

A Piping Plover was on the Huron River mudflats (south side of Rt. 2 bridge) at 9:30 this morning - V.W.F.III.It was accompanied by 140 Least Sandpipers, 38 Semipalmated Plover, 60 Lesser Yellowlegs, 14 Greater Yellowlegs, 85 Dunlin. Morning storms drove shorebirds off the lake for shelter on the flats along the Old Cedar Point causeway shortly after the above observation. The fallout took but a few minutes resulting in the tally of 357 Short-billed Dowitchers, 134 Common Terns, 1 Caspian Tern, 11 Bonaparte's Gulls, 11 Great Black-backed Gulls, 27 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 Black-bellied Plovers, 235 Dunlin, 40 Least Sandpipers, and 8 Ruddy Turnstones .

The basic plumage Red-throated Loon discovered on Beaver Creek Reservoir (Seneca Co.) Wednesday evening - V.W.F.III - could not be located yesterday. If this is the same bird reported from here 10 days earlier then the bird may have simply been overlooked. Ruddy Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers were also in attendance. A Ruddy Duck and Lesser Scaup were off Bayview (Ottawa Co. side) yesterday. No sign of the Meadowbrook Sandhill Cranes yesterday. The Magee Marsh Bird Trail Red-breasted Nuthatch was still present Wednesday - Joe Hammond. Pine Siskin continues in the St. Mary's cemetery within Tiffin (Seneca Co.) as of this morning - V.W.F.III. Snowy Egrets are suddenly showier than ever - a pair were conspicuous along the Crane Creek causeway yesterday - V.W.F.III while a bird was at Ottawa N.W.R. A nesting pair on Turning Pt. Island are readily seen. Go to the boat ramp just south of downtown Sandusky (off Rt. 6) to view the spoil island. Look across the middle portion where dead snags host several cormorant nests. The Snowies are immediately to the right. - V.W.F.III. Cattle Egrets seem especially elusive this season - one spent the morning at the corner of Rt. 2 and Benton Rds - just east of the entrance to Crane Creek State Park - yesterday - Adam Blank, m.obs.. A Common Moorhen was at Pipe Creek W.A. today - Paul Sherwood. Northern Shoveler and Green-winged Teal were present at Park Colony Rd. (off Corduroy NW of Metzger Marsh) Wednesday - Joe Hammond. American Wigeon have been hanging out along the Old Cedar Point causeway - V.W.F.III.

An American Woodock was observed building a nest along the Magee Marsh Bird Trail yesterday - m.obs. At least 23 warbler species were present on the Trail as of noon - V.W.F.III. A Prothonotary Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat were highlights. What the Swainson's Thrushes were eating under the picnic tables on the beach, I don't know but they were oblivious to human intrusion. The remarkable numbers of Northern Parula (8-10) persist. Indeed they may be heard anywhere - as in walking the dog this morning in Tiffin. Numbers of Canada Warblers picked up (4 singing) while female Blackburnian and immature male American Redstarts and Black-throated Green Warblers reflect the progress of the flight. Resthaven W.A., often overlooked by birders, was as productive as any site yesterday - a one hr evening drive picked up Yellow-breasted Chat and Blue-winged Warbler.

An Adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found along the towpath in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area yesterday morning "just past the Beaver Marsh" - Isaac Kerns and Ben Martineau. "It was staying in the dense area past the river bend (with the info plaque)".

The Metzger Marsh W.A. Yellow-headed Blackbirds were still present yesterday. The observation of 14 birds here last summer - Julie Shieldcastle - suggests these birds may stick around another season. Equally remarkable was a female Northern Bobwhite photographed at Metzger Marsh W.A. Wednesday morning in the grass at the northernmost parking lot - Brian Zweibel. A natural dispersal from the Oak Openings population?

Quite rare in spring, a Red-necked Phalarope was along Prairie Lane (between Wooster and Killbuck Marsh W.A. in Wayne Co.) Wednesday evening - Su Snyder and Evelyn Meyers. It was accompanied by 93 Short-billed Dowitchers. Dowitchers and Semipalmated Plovers have been remarkably widespread in recent days across any available habitat - no matter how small - in the Western Basin (Lucas to Erie Co.s).

A few arrivals: Connecticut Warbler this morning at Lakeshore Park (Lake Co.) - John Pogacnik. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on the Magee Marsh Bird Trail Wednesday - Joe Hammond. An Olive-sided Flycatcher yesterday at Shaker Lakes - Ben Winger.

A Blue Grosbeak was reported from Lowe-Volk Park (Crawford Co.) for Saturday by Phil Honsey.

The Magee Marsh Bird Trail continues to be very productive. I could only account for 23 warbler species (no Blackburnian?). Northern Parula (at least two giving the SE song type), Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush continue in numbers (a half-dozen of the latter were singing on the tower loop trail alone - an overlooked aspect of the Magee birding experience; a Hooded Warbler was also present). After Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart was the most numerous warbler (40+). The Cape May Warbler is experiencing its best spring there in years. Females of many species are now widely seen including a Cerulean. On Sunday female Prairie and Mourning Warbler were already present - Kent Glauser. The Kentucky Warbler from Sunday was widely seen. Overhead, Eastern Kingbirds have started in small numbers, Cedar Waxings and Bobolinks are now numerous, while American Goldfinches and Blue Jays still continue in abundance. A Dark-eyed Junco and a Red-breasted Nuthatch were surprises on the boardwalk today - Larry Richardson. Pine Siskins trickle through as do a few Sharp-shinned Hawks. By noon the hawk-watcher had little to report, but I noticed a fair number of Broad-winged Hawks streaming over Oak Harbor. Sora has been regular from the causeway.

Following Joe Hammond's lead, I checked up on shorebird habitat within the estuaries. There was some exposure in the upper reaches but not the extent seen in late March.

Early a.m. at Duff-Washa Rd. crossing of Turtle Creek: 12 Short-billed Dowitcher, 75 Dunlin, and a few yellowlegs;

Late afternoon at the Sandusky River Oxbow (off Rt 53 north of Fremont): 115 Dunlin, 14 Lesser Yellowlegs, 6 Least Sandpiper, 1 Solitary Sandpiper;

and on the Little Portage River (Upper) - 12 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 10 Greater Yellowlegs, 10 Dunlin, 15 Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 Least Sandpiper;

Little Portage (Lower) - 14 Semipalmated Plover, 820 Dunlin, 16 Short-billed Dowitcher, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers; Little Portage (mouth) - 45 Dunlin, 2 Least Sandpipers, 2 Semipalmated Plovers.

Further east, the most unexpected observation came at Meadowbrook Lake on the Marblehead Peninsula (Ottawa Co.) where a pair of Sandhill Cranes were feeding just 75 yards from the road. These birds were so brown as to be invisible to the naked eye against the background despite the close proximity. Only scanning for the few shorebirds (6 Least Sandpipers) led to their discovery. The Old Cedar Point causeway (Erie Co.) at first seemed devoid of birds despite extensive mudflats. Eventually, 105 Least Sandpipers were counted scattered loosely across the NW corner. Six Dunlins and 32 Semipalmated Plovers accompanied them.

A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron afforded a close study for a class at The Wilderness Center (Stark Co.) on Saturday - Carl Hoagstrom; seen along Fox Creek. An Alder Flycatcher singing at Spring Valley W.A. (Greene/Warren Co.) yesterday is a very early arrival - David Dister. A Plegadis ibis was observed flying into the Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Hamilton Co.) on Saturday - Ron Kolde.

Two singing Clay-colored Sparrows were detected along the perimeter fence to the Gordon Park impoundment (Cleveland) yesterday - Sean Zadar et al.. Up to three Yellow-headed Blackbirds were found at Metzger Marsh W.A. yesterday - Joe Hammond. Joe adds there were 1000 Dunlin on the Crane Creek estuary at Ottawa N.W.R. He notes the SW winds have reversed the seiche and mudflat is once again exposed. In which case all of the shorebird sites mentioned in March should be once again attractive for migrants. The Magee Marsh Bird Trail was again productive with about 24 warbler species yesterday including a Kentucky Warbler - Jerry Sadowski. Wilson's Warblers are a little more numerous in southern Ohio. Another migrant Blue Grosbeak- this one at Shawnee Lookout (Hamilton Co.) - Audrey Mayer. In several attempts yesterday, Haans Petruschke failed to relocate the Mentor area Loggerhead Shrike.

I returned to Shaker Hts. this afternoon to find a message from Bruce Stehling regarding an American Swallow-tailed Kite from the southwest seen yesterday morning. I have been unable to reach him for further details but after checking the Ontario Birds emails, I think the point is moot. An American Swallow-tailed Kite appeared at Pt. Pelee today. What can do you to see kites in Ohio? Best bet is mid-May, on weather conditions we have seen the past three days, sitting on the hill at Maumee Bay State Park (or Conneaut at the other end)- perhaps a picnic interlude from all those warblers. A Mississippii Kite is likely annual - just a matter of parking yourself under the pathway.

The male Eurasian Wigeon at Ottawa N.W.R. was still present as of this afternoon - Sean Zadar. Furthermore, Sean had 2 Plegadis ibis heading east from Metzger Marsh W.A.

At East Fork S.P. (Clermont Co.) David Chaffin describes a 1st spring male Blue Grosbeak "across the dam, past the boat ramp on the right past the dam, and along the midportion of the next straightaway" - from Tuesday. Back on the 28th April, Tom Bartlett discovered a Blue Grosbeak on a wire along a road just south (1 mile?) of the Maumee State Forest headquarters in Fulton County.

Haans Petruschke et al. discovered a Loggerhead Shrike "along S.R. 535, (Fairport Nursery Rd.) in Fairport, Lake County, sitting on the fence on the south side of the road, this afternoon at about 2:00 p.m. "

The Magee Marsh Bird Trail has hosted 30-31 species of warblers these past two days. New yesterday were Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Pine Warbler. The male Yellow-headed Blackbirds continue at Metzger Marsh W.A. Bobolinks have generally arrived (Note correction to The Wilds below) as have Common Nighthawk as of last night in all but the northeast. I have an anonymous report of a Dickcissel for the Bird Trail on Thursday. Normally I wouldn't mention such a report but for the concident arrival of a very early bird on territory yesterday at Big Island W.A. (Marion Co.) - Dave St. John. Scattered locations at Killbuck Marsh W.A. produced 12 Sora and 9 Virginia Rails this morning. The 17 territorial Prothonotary Warblers was about an average count for the territory covered. A Rough-legged Hawk was late as was one at Bono (Lucas Co.) yesterday - V.W.F.III. Sandhill Cranes continue along Wilderness Rd. (south of Funk Bottoms W.A., Wayne Co.) - Kurt Knebusch. The Highland Metropark Summer Tanager returned by Thursday - Dan Sanders.

At least 25 species of warblers were to be seen this morning from the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Bird Trail (Lucas Co.) - V.W.F.III. If you noted my post earlier, I neglected to list the 8+ male Magnolia Warblers. Here is a list of the principal migrants.

The Ottawa N.W.R. Eurasian Wigeon was relocated yesterday in the original location (1st pond beyond the parking lot to the west) - Su Snyder. The Krause Rd. (SW corner of Ottawa N.W.R. off Rt. 2) Upland Sandpipers are back - Rob Harlan. A pair of Snowy Egrets were along the Crane Creek S.P. causeway yesterday - Lee Garling. Lee adds there was a Whip-poor-will yesterday - reported by Dave Borneman today - along the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Bird Trail. So too yesterday were both the Long-eared Owl (since Monday) and Northern Saw-whet Owl (since 29 March apparently in the exact same spot but not reported for a month) along the Trail. Neither was detected this morning.

Learning of the absence of any reports from The Wilds this spring, Dave St. John visited yesterday to report 17 Henslow's and 30+ Bobolinks.

Yesterday at noon, 3 Surf Scoters were at Beaver Creek Reservoir (Seneca Co.); two females and an adult breeding plumaged male - V.W.F.II. Reservoirs should not be ignored at this time of year. If the recent spate of Red-necked Grebes and Red-throated Loons are not enough to convince you to check out a reservoir during the warbler doldrums in the heat of the day then consider the rich history of scoter records in May from such places as Findlay, Wellington, New London reservoirs. Although Black and Surf are the predominant species, a White-winged Scoter at the Camp Denison gravel pits Monday (Bill Hull) added to this pattern of late spring records.

A Sandhill Crane has been feeding along the Crane Creek causeway Monday and Tuesday - Adam Blank, m.obs. A Long-eared Owl has been along the Bird Trail (east end of the main loop) Monday-Tuesday - Russell Hack, m.obs..

The Scioto River bottoms (Scioto Co.) Snowy Egret was last reported on the 26th - Stephen Harvey.

Reasonably thorough searches for the Lake Logan Purple Gallinule failed to relocate the bird yesterday evening - but you know how that goes.

As most readers are aware the past 5 days has seen the rapid onset of the neotropical portion of the spring migration. Here is a brief overview of arrivals:

Baltimore Orioles are now widespread after reaching the lakeshore at Headlands Beach S.P. 27 April - Kevin Metcalf and Magee Marsh Bird Trail 1 May - Adam Blank. Additional local arrivals noted by Adam included Chestnut-sided Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, and Veery. Swainson's Thrush was first detected 22 April when banded by Tim Tolford in the southwest (Gilmore Ponds, Butler Co.). Orchard Orioles noted earlier in the south reached Killbuck Marsh W.A. (Wayne Co.) on Saturday - V.W.F.III. Eastern Kingbird was present at Shaker Lakes also on Saturday - becoming widespread in the south over the weekend. Records of the Eastern Wood-Pewee were restricted to the south with birds in Clermont Co. Friday (Donald Morse), Greene Co. Sunday (The Narrows - David Edens), and Hocking Co. Sunday (Lancaster - Clay Corbin). The first Acadian Flycatcher was a bird on territory at Clear Creek Valley (Franklin Co.) on Monday - Bill Whan & Bob Conlon. Least Flycatchers were widely noted 30 April with 3 birds at Shaker Lakes - Nick Barber et al. and one in the northwest (Lake La Su An W.A., Williams Co.) also Sunday - Jeff Grabmeier. Nearby at Rds. S & 8, Jeff further noted 3 Henslow's Sparrows - rare in the northwest. Grasshoper Sparrows made their debut in dramatic fashion with 45 territories established at Big Island W.A. (Marion Co.) last Thursday and Friday - V.W.F.III. A migrant was found at Gordon Park (Cleveland) the 28th - Sean Zadar. There were still 130 Lapland Longspurs at Big Island W.A. on Friday - V.W.F.III. Lark Sparrow was back at its Girdham Rd haunts in the Oak Openings (Lucas Co.) on Saturday - Jay Stenger. Jay also found a Sedge Wren at Magee Marsh singing just north of the visitor center trail on Sunday. The species had been first noted the day before at Grand River W.A. (Trumbull Co. ) by John Pogacnik.

Already present at Killbuck Marsh a week earlier, a wave of Common Moorhen produced odd southern Ohio records with individuals Sunday at Old Reid Park (Clark Co.) - Doug Overacker, and Lake Logan (Hocking Co.) - Connie Walcott et al. A Black-billed Cuckoo was calling vociferously at Lake Logan Monday - Bill Whan. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo arrival was more widespread with southwest, southeast, and lakefront (Magee Marsh Bird Trail - 1 May) reports - Russell Hack. Russell adds from the Trail American Redstart, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Blue-winged Warbler. Down the road a piece that same morning at the Navarre Unit of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Ottawa Co.), Black Swamp Bird Observatory was busy banding the season's first Golden-winged Warblers (2); a Cerulean Warbler would have been a local arrival - Mark Shieldcastle. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak has followed the Baltimore Oriole with a low density dispersal across the state; visiting Kevin Metcalf's feeder in Geauga Co. 27 April. Additional firsts include Lincoln's Sparrow 1 May along the Scioto River in Columbus (Franklin Co.) - Bob Royse, while Bob had Yellow-breasted Chat and Blackburnian Warbler later in the day at Scioto Trails (Ross Co.). A Tennessee Warbler in Butler Co. - Mike Busam is the first report I have received. Nick Barber further reports from Shaker Lakes on Sunday Magnolia Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler. Orange-crowned Warbler was reported from central Ohio on the 27th (Green Lawn Cemetery - Heather Nagy & Ernie Limes). Their Philadelphia Vireo the same day was something of an overshoot. The Phildelphia Vireo yesterday at Zaleski State Forest (Vinton Co.) was more in keeping with the average arrival - Dave St. John. Like Bob, Dave also had Yellow-breasted Chats Monday with 3 in Athens Co. Kentucky Warbler was another Green Lawn Cemetery arrival last Thursday with a couple of birds on territory in Clear Creek Valley Saturday - V.W.F.III. Worm-eating Warblers were also back in the Valley but no overshoots have been reported as yet on the Lake Erie shoreline.

Latest Songbird Arrivals: 2 May - Summer Tanager at Spring Grove Cemetery (Cincinnati) - Neill Cade; Cape May Warbler in the Shaker Lakes - Ben Winger et al.; Bay-breasted Warbler along the Greenlawn Ave. Bike Path in Columbus (Franklin Co.) - Dan Sanders; and a Wilson's Warbler Monday in East Liberty (Delaware Co.) - Michelle Hogberg

In the wintry northeast Sunday Cliff Swallow and Northern Waterthrush were of local interest - Haans Petruschke. A bizarre looking partial albino Cliff Swallow was spotted at Big Island W.A. Saturday - Zac Baker.

Songbird Concentrations:Few warbler waves have been noted - even the Yellow-rumped Warbler which may experience peak lakeshore numbers 1 May has not seen a concentration greater than 50 yet. Only other flocks of note are a dozen Nashville Warblers at Mosquito Creek (Trumbull Co. - Carole Babyak), and a dozen Pine Warblers from Lower Shaker Lake (Cuyahoga Co.) on Saturday - Nick Barber. Another 15 Nashvilles were at Spring Grove Cemetery (Cincinnati) yesterday - Jay Stenger. Fourteen Black-throated Green Warblers were in Blendon Woods Metropark (Franklin Co.) this morning - Rob Thorn. A trickle of Scarlet tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and Red-eyed Vireos across the southern half of the state has become a modest flight in the extreme southwest - Jay Stenger et al..

Non-passerines: The flats of Huron River afford some shorebirding opportunities. Dan Sanders estimated 250 Lesser Yellowlegs there on Saturday but only a dozen remained on Sunday - V.W.F.III. I did count 127 birds at Big Island W.A. on Friday. The Rt. 95 section of Big Island W.A. also hosted a Short-billed Dowitcher, 5 Least Sandpipers, 200+ Pectoral Sandpipers, and 50+ Dunlin. A total of 11 species of shorebirds were present possibly explaining the adult male Peregrine Falcon swooping among the flocks. American Golden-Plovers have started to concentrate near the Lake. Park Colony Rd (off Corduroy west of Metzger Marsh W.A. in Lucas Co.) is the only bright spot at the present time for shorebirds - until the Lake seiches reverses lowering water levels within the estuaries. Saturday 300 American Golden-Plovers were present accompanied by 30 Black-bellied Plovers - Jay Stenger. On Sunday 40 American Golden-Plovers were found at Big Island W.A. - Mary Ann Faruque. A remarkable variety of ducks remained through the weekend at Big Island W.A. and Killdeer Plains W.A. Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, American Wigeon, and at KPWA Gadwall were numerous. Ruddy Ducks have only thinned during the past couple of days although 5-10 birds may be found on many reservoirs. A male Bufflehead on Pond 3 of KPWA was unexpected on Saturday - V.W.F.III. The 1000 American Coot between the two properties yesterday is a ridiculously high concentration for May.

An immature Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was found at Green Lawn Ave. Dam (Columbus) last Thursday - Robert Evans. On Monday, Bill Whan and Bob Conlon were able to confirm a nesting pair of Yellow-crowned Night-Herons in Bexley Park (Columbus). The birds are on private property at the corner of Preston and Dale Rds. Ohio's northernmost Chuck-will's Widow was back for his 4th season along Buena Vista Rd near Rockbridge, Hocking Co. First heard Saturday evening - Jim Fry. A pair of Black Vulture at Spring Valley W.A. were of local interest yesterday - John Rakestraw. Otherwise raptors have received little attention. A second-year male Merlin hunting the Rt.2 frontage of David-Besse Power Plant in Ottawa Co. Friday was a nice view. An adult female Rough-legged Hawk was present at Big Island W.A. last Thursday - V.W.F.III. A pair of Black Terns at Killbuck Marsh W.A. yesterday were the first noted - Su Snyder. The outstanding spring concentration of 80 Forster's Tern at Sheldon marsh SNP (Erie Co.) - Dan Sanders foretold a more general dispersal across the state with 7 birds on Pond 3 of KPWA and 2 dozen birds on Alum Creek Reservoir yesterday - V.W.F.III.

The Purple Gallinule at Lake Logan (Hocking Co.) was still present yesterday afternoon around 4:00 pm - Jim Fry.

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