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June and July 1997

Some logistical notes: The area code for Dayton is now 937 note the change in the RBA. An additional source of bird info. can be found at Ned Keller's website chat hotline which I will have a link to off this page from now on. Thanks to all for a successful spring migration summary. I believe the scope, intensity, and immediacy of your contributions to these pages enhanced the birding experience of many.

The Tree Swallows are staging for migration - fall migration is now upon us. - V.W.F.III

I've been out and about the state collecting algae the past month with Susan Carty (your hostess for the April Painted Bunting) and we've had success in identifying 3 dinoflagellate species new for the state. Incidental to visiting about 60 reservoirs we have seen 11 Common Loons perhaps most interesting the 5 in Hancock Co. on 22 June and the two breeding plumage adults of the past two days. One at the marina of C.J. Brown Reservoir on the 1st and another at Miami Whitewater County (Hamilton) Park yesterday. I am very interested in learning of any additional Common Loon sightings this summer as the species appears to be much more widespread and frequent than normal. The Salisbury Quarry bird in the Toledo area appears to be summering there (Toledo RBA). Other oddities have included an adult male Red-breasted Merganser 22 June on Findlay Reservoir no. 1 and an adult male Canvasback at Medusa Marsh last Sunday. It may prove interesting to carefully survey the waters of reservoirs, large and small, for some unusual July records. BTW, the Bell's Vireo at Buck Creek S.P. (about a half-mile before you get to the marina above) was singing on the north side of the road on the 1st. at the location given below. - V.W.F.III (The Columbus RBA for last Sat. referred to 2 Bell's Vireo).

Elsewhere: Harv Hiebert reports Dickcissels as late as Sunday "at two different places northwest of Bluffton about one mile and three miles (Allen-Putnam Co. line), along with Savannah sparrows in and near uncut hay and alfalfa fields". Tom Kemp reports a Blue Grosbeak and Dickcissel from a field west of the Toledo airport last week Tue. & Wed. but not seen since. Additional Dickcissels in Putnam Co. were reported in the vicinity of Rt 613 and 108 while a Western Meadowlark was nearby on Rt 15 1 mile east of 108 (Toledo RBA). More Dickcissels may be found along county 71 at Killdeer Plains W.A. along with Sedge Wrens along county 25 west of Pond 27 - Len Powlick.

From Lorain 29 June reports of a 2nd yr Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, and Caspian Tern - Cleveland RBA. Eight Green-winged Teal were in a small pond along Brugger Rd (Pickerel Creek W.A. west end) on 24 June and a Caspian Tern at Medusa Marsh on 22 June. - V.W.F.III. A Black Tern in the southwest at Eastwood Lake on 19 June was unusual but the nesting of Chestnut-sided Warbler at Englewood was exceptional for the southwest -evidence this species continues its breeding expansion southward. - Dayton RBA

Bob Conlon reports : Bill Whan and I heard a Bell's Vireo at C. J. Brown St. Park this morning. It was singing sporadically from heavy cover along Road 2, about 75 yards beyond the point at which Road 3 takes off to the north. An uncorroborated Bell's Vireo was reported in song from Chagrin Park (Lake Co.) on the 16th (Cleveland RBA), the directions provided are as follows. From entrance go downhill to parking lot, take trail west around hill, from there a mud trail along river - this is where the bird was seen.

Bob Royce counted 100+ Henslow's Sparrows at Woodbury W.A. (Cochocton Co.) on 17 June. A census of Clear Creek Valley included these numbers (singing males?) 18 Veery, 23 Wood Thrush, 13 Northern Parula, 29 Acadian Flycatcher, and 3 Worm-eating Warbler. A Lesser Scaup was at St. Mary's Fish Hatchery this past Sunday (David Dister). Seven Double-crested Cormorant were at Gilmore Ponds also last Sunday - Mike Busam.

A Common Loon was at Bresler Reservoir and a Mute Swan at Lost Creek Reservoir (both Allen Co.) today. A Common Loon was still present at Salisbury Quarry last week (Toledo RBA). Four Double-crested Cormorant were at Pond 27east of Killdeer Plains W.A. today while Pond 27 west and Pond 30 were nearly bone dry after their draw-downs. Some shorebird habitat may remain at Pond 27 west by the return of the first yellowlegs and dowitcher late next week. - V.W.F.III.

A good year for Short-eared Owls as Tom Bartlett discovered the first summer record for Seneca County on Saturday. I have occasion to assist in algae sampling of various bodies of water this summer across the state - yesterday 2 Common Loon and a non-breeding pl. male Ruddy Duck were at Willard Reservoir (Huron Co.).- V.W.F.III

Ed. Note. Just to clarify the Mohican gorge is predominately State Park not State Forest - more bird notes to come from this project.

Atlassing the hemlock ravines of Mohican yesterday with Tom Bartlett was very productive for northern breeding species. Three singing Blackburnian Warblers, on the south side of the river just upstream from the covered bridge, added to Steve Mckee's other two for the season. The Lyon Fall's 1.6 mile trail (moderate difficulty around falls) from the covered bridge to the base of the Pleasant Hill dam further produced 39 Acadian Flycatchers, 7 Canada Warbler, 3 Magnolia Warblers, Solitary Vireo, Winter Wren, Worm-eating and Kentucky Warblers, and a Northern Waterthrush among others - all in song. All but the wren, waterthrush, and Kentucky Warblers could be encountered along the first 300 meters of trail. Two-thirds of the gorge are as yet to be censused. Mourning Warbler , new for the [area], was represented by birds just off the road including one across from the Memorial Shrine parking lot [actually state forest] - opposite restrooms (off Rt 97). Brown Creeper, singing its musical cascade of notes, was at the Gorge Overlook, as was a Worm-eating Warbler feeding young at a nest 15 meters from the parking lot. Pine Warbler was also heard from this parking lot. Steve McKee (Gorman Nature Center) is still looking for volunteer help for a project spurred by the Division of Forestry's intent to log most of the state forest. One that we now know harbors at least 100+ Black-throated Green Warbler territories and many more gems - thanks to Steve.

Late migrants continue to be reported with a Wilson's Warbler at Springville marsh on Monday - Tom Bartlett. Dickcissels are now reported from Seneca County (Tom Bartlett) and paulding Co. (Doug and Micki Dunakin).

A second look at the Tuscarawas loon is now available.

After a week's absence I am not surprised to find that the "untidy" identification of the Tuscarawas loon as a Yellow-billed Loon is now a bit of a mess. As I departed for North Carolina last Thur. I checked in with the loon for another half-hour study specifically for features mentioned in the literature. Under ideal bright polarized light (overcast but clouds very high) the bill tip was definitely dark inconsistent with YBLO. I understand this has been independently corroborated (Cece Johnston and Bob Conlon). I expect to have more discussion of the matter shortly - right now the lawn is calling. - V.W.F.III

Another photographic record of Scissor-tailed Flycatcher comes to us from New Matamoros (Washington County, on the Ohio River east of Marietta) from this past Tue. the 10th June. Chad Amos, birder and ODNR biologist sighted the bird on his farm, called locals and fetched his camera. I understand a search yesterday by Lynn Barnhart et al. failed to relocate the bird. I will pass along any updates as I receive them. (fide Bob Placier). This is apparently not a new species for the county coming a century after the first sighting - Peterjohn 1989.

Another rare flycatcher observation in the south was an Olive-sided on the Hocking Tech (Athens Co.) campus June 4th. - Bob Placier. While routinely observed into June along lake Erie, June records for southern Ohio, especially counties bordering the Ohio River are decidely rare. Other lingering migrants/non-breeders include a typical non-breeding plumage Common Loon at the dam of Seneca Lake (a few meters from shore opposite the county line marker for Guernsey/Noble Co.s) affording a comparison within a couple of hours yesterday with the Tuscarawas bird. A SY Mute Swan was at the southern marshy end of Seneca Lake (junction Rt. 313/147) later in the day. An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk along McElhaney Rd just south of Clendening Lake was not far from the only atlas record for Harrison County. I also had a female Red-breasted Merganser half way along the north shore of Tappan Lake yesterday. - V.W.F.III. An adult male Lesser Scaup at pond 33 of Killdeer Plains WA on the 5th - Nelson Moore. An Osprey was at Mosquito Lake on the 4th (Youngstown RBA), while Great Egret and the nearby Surf Scoter were last seen on the 8th. - Dick and Jean Hoffman. Judy Hochadel had Greater Yellowlegs at the Surf Scoter site (but no Surf Scoter) yesterday along with a breeding plumage Horned Grebe along the causeway (SR88) east end south side. The Hoffman's had an outstanding find later on Sunday just north of the Ashtabula County airport locating a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers feeding young. Another possible rare breeder persistently reported by most visitors is the Short-eared Owl at Killdeer Plains WA (behind hill at Sportmen's Center) while a male Ruddy Duck continues at Big Island WA (both as of th 8th) - Joe Hammond.

The Hoffman's comment on the inland explosion of cormorants in the northeast, while Joe Hammond further notes 5 at Big Island on the 8th. Cormorants once nested at inland sites in Ohio and these summering individuals may well represent the vanguard as the burgeoning lake populations look for alternative nest sites. I would be very interested in any such reports so as to chart the particulars. - V.W.F.III.

Finally, the Hoffman's have their own photographic contribution with regard to the Cleveland Pomarine Jaegers this past spring.

Scott Crawford reports :
(Wednesday, June 4) there was an immature male Surf Scoter at Redhead Pond at the north end of Mosquito Lake. Also present was an adult female Wilson's Phalarope. They were both present from about 4:30pm until I left at 7:00 pm. Redhead Pond is located at the north end of Hoagland-Blackstub Road on the west side of Mosquito Lake. From Rt. 87, take Chaffee-Dodgeville road south. You will pass Bufflehead Pond on the right (east). Chaffee-Dodgeville soon turns west. South of that bend is Shoveler Pond. Continue west for about 3/4 mile. Redhead Pond is to the north.

Yellow-billed Loon in Tuscarawas County widely viewed (40+ by noon) this morning. Questar views at 35 meters. See first photos and my initial impressions.

In other news Glossy Ibis were reported over the weekend from Magee Marsh W.A. and Pipe Creek (Erie Co.) W.A. The Lorain Impoundment on Saturday held 10 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Caspian Tern, 1 Bonaparte's Gull, 33 Dunlin, 26 Semipalmated Sandpiper, and a very rare spring Baird's Sandpiper. The Summer Tanager at Cece Johnston's feeder continues after 10+ days. Jim Fry's Chuck-will's Widow also continues after 4 nights.

Yellow-billed Loon ( a state first ) was discovered today in Tuscarawas County

The bird was studied at length and detailed notes taken from 20 feet on a small farm pond in Tuscarawas County. Observers: Ed and Robert Schalabach, Bruce Glick et al.

Directions (courtesy Bruce Glick): entering Sugarcreek from the west on Rt 39, go through the first light coming to a Y intersection - main Rt 39 bears left / business district follows right - going right through town you will come across railway tracks (pond is 1.2 miles from this point). Continue on road to another branching - main road bears left - but continue straight over hill (Pleasant Valley Road) - watch for a cement factory and Mormon's Five Star feedmill on right. The pond is on the right another 1/10th of a mile. Owner states permission to drive in barring heavy traffic in which case park back at the feedmill.

Summer season updates of this page are likely to be once a week given the reduced birding traffic.

The recent flurry of warbler activity at the Shaker Lakes included a late Worm-eating Warbler last Wed. evening - Gary Smith. Friday night Jim Fry had a Chuck-will's-widow calling from northwestern Hocking County - possibly a county first. Combined with persistent reports from Gallia County in recent years, perhaps birders in southeast Ohio should go about at night with a heightened awareness of this nightjar. Marcus England reports another central Ohio Connecticut Warbler, this one at Sharon Woods M.P. on the 27th. Dickcissels were reported from Hodge Rd N of C.J.Brown Reservoir last week - Dayton RBA. I've been informed that one of the two nesting pairs of Short-eared Owls at The Wilds in Muskingum County have been successful in hatching FIVE young - possibly the first successful nesting in 30 years - Jason Larson. Lingering migrants include a male Black-throated Blue Warbler singing just across the street here in Tiffin this morning. - V.W.F.III.

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