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July 1998

The Lorain impoundment offers the only bright spot for shorebirds. On Wednesday 3 American Avocets and a Laughing Gull - Craig Holt (fide Larry Rosche) were present. On Thur., Dick & Jean Hoffman had 2 Wilson's Phalaropes and 2 Red Knots there. An avocet was still there yesterday morning - Jason Larson et al.. By evening the avocet was not to be found but the complement of birds now included 2 Snowy Egrets, a Baird's Sandpiper, a Hudsonian Godwit, and a Red Knot - John Pogacnik. Clearly the dredge disposal of the impoundment does not offer sufficient resources for these birds to remain for long, but in the absence of shorebird habitat in the state those shorebirds that pass through have only that bit of mud to set down on.

Jason also reports 2 Cattle Egrets across from the Davis-Besse Power Plant, while Magee Marsh personnel report an adult Little Blue Heron from the visitors parking lot pond for the past few days through Friday.

It has been a quiet week. A Tuesday report from the Lorain impoundment by Nick Barber includes 3 Hudsonian Godwits and 2 Willets. This site should prove interesting this fall. Already it has held an American Avocet on the 9th Tom LePage fide Jason Larson, and 2 Stilt Sandpipers on the 13th Jason Larson. Elsewhere, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge personnel intend to lower pool 2A and maintain it for shorebird habitat. Mallard Club Marsh Wildlife Area (Lucas Co.) should also be checked for shorebirds as it held about 200 birds, including a Semipalmated Plover, on the 13th Jason Larson. The recent heavy rains moving across much of northern and central Ohio should allow for temporary wetland especially on the clay soils of the Sandusky River drainage. From Charlie's Pond yesterday Len Powlick reports seven species of shorebird including 24 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 2 early Common Snipe. From Monday, John Pogacnik reports 6 species of shorebird from the new wetland at Girlded Rd along Radcliffe Rd west of Rt 608 (Lke Co.). At nearby Arcola Creek (at the end of Dock Rd) a Stilt Sandpiper. And Larry Gara reports that the "Cowan Lake spillway's ideal shorebird habitat is starting to attract the migrants. [16 July] there were 3 Spotted, 10 Semi-palmated, 17 Least and 16 Pectoral Sandpipers.".

Last week I spoke with Killbuck Marsh W.A. personnel who informed me that at least 2 pairs (probably 3) of Sandhill Cranes raised young. Last year saw the peak of the area population with post-breeding numbers of 16 birds. Also at least 2 Barn Owl nests were known for the area this season.

I have been remiss in mentioning this summer's Common Loons. Among several reports the most recent is that of 2 birds at Findlay Reservoir on the 18th - Jean & John Perchalski. Another was present at the marina of Alum Creek Reservoir (Delaware County) on the 8th - Mike Williams, and another immature bird was present on Metzger Reservoir (in Lima) on the 12th - David Dister. The same day, David also had a female Ruddy Duck and a Lesser Scaup at St. Marys Fish Hatchery, while a Caspian Tern over Ferguson Reservoir was a good find for early July inland.

And some of you may be interested in this . . .

On May 19th at 2p.m. I was traveling as a passenger in a survey vehicle eastbound on I-70 one mile west of State Route 800 in Belmont County when I viewed a kettle of thirteen vultures just ahead. One of these birds had bright white plumage yet the head was still pink. Mark Ray.

Subsequently . . .

At approx. 12:00 on Sunday, 7/12, I saw an albino turkey vulture circling on a thermal with 6 other TVs. The bird was completely white except for the outer-most primary feather on both wings. I saw this bird near Egypt Valley Wildlife Area on Rt. 70. - Dave Lee Kaplan.

These two sightings are in immediate proximity of each other. It would seem that a ghost of a vulture haunts Egypt Valley. - Ed.

The White Ibis at Killdeer Plains W.A. was still present when I left it at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon (Tuesday). Earlier at 2:00 I had walked within 75 yards then crawled to within 45 yards for identifiable photos. All the while the bird was content to forage in the shallows along the north side of the pond. My observations the past two days have placed the bird square in the middle of the lounging Canada Goose flock. I found the bird immediately on both occasions today, however it is possible for the bird to disappear entirely behind the girth of a goose - V.W.F.III. Last evening, the bird was seen as late as 6:00 p.m. by Bruce Glick et al.

An immature Little Blue Heron was in the western impoundment of Pond 27 in the submerged grass shortly before 3:00 pm. Right next door within the eastern impoundment, Bruce Glick and company had 1 possibly 2 Stilt Sandpipers yesterday. Stilt Sandpiper was also amongst the shorebird mix at Mallard Club Marsh W.A. (Lucas Co.) recently - Jason Larson. Mallard Club may be your best bet for shorebird habitat this season in the northwest marshes.

Just learned from Bob Conlon, whom had I called about the bird around noon, the White Ibis where I had left it, in the NE corner of Pond 3. He and Bill Whan left the bird at 2:40 p.m. I have since learned that a group from Dayton saw the bird Saturday unaware of last week's report. Unfortunate that fact could not circulate in time for weekend birders.

Sixth time a charm.
As I commute several times a week to a job that takes me through Killdeer Plains W.A., I have been stopping by Pond 3 on the hunch that the ibis might be coming and going between other ponds in the area. Today, one last time, I pulled into the parking lot off TH 123, and within 10 seconds of scanning the shoreline to the north found a white dot within some Canada Geese. Probably just the upturned rear-end of a goose I thought, but watch it a bit for movement. And so it does to the right coming apart from the goose. Grabbing the stock mounted scope off the seat, I spy one adult breeding plumage White Ibis, actively foraging in the green partially submerged grass. This at a point about 10 O'clock from facing out into the pond or NNE of the parking lot. Too far for a photo and a little heat haze but otherwise good views. Despite last week's bird identified as an immature, I believe this is the same bird. This bird has a sandy brown cast to wing and belly feathers that appears to be stain. The red of face and bill is outstanding. Black wing tip pokes out from the secondaries of the closed wing clearly. Legs were hidden by vegetation. I left the bird at 10:33 am. - V.W.F.III

The Patagonia Picnic Table Effect is thriving at Killdeer Plains Wildife Area of late. Foremost finds on the heels of the Western Kingbird are the state's 5th White Ibis, apparently an immature bird first seen Monday (Eric Mulholland) and relocated yesterday morning at Pond 3 by Tom Bartlett. Tom had the bird just north of the parking area at 7:15 am. This site is one road east of the Cedar Oak farm (winter owling site), or two roads east of the reservoir along RT 71. Through 8:10 a.m. I had not seen it this morning but then I was there for a half hour before Tom saw the bird yesterday (looking for it) and a few hours later and still failed to locate it, so don't take much stock in my not seeing it. For that matter, I've looked 6 times for the Western Kingbird, which was apparently seen as recently as Monday drifting southwards of the County 71 site towards Marseilles (Doug Overacker) as far as the cemetery. It was also reported from the vicinity of Cedar Oak farm last Wednesday (Len Powlick). Len also had a Marbled Godwit that day on Pond 27 East of Killdeer Plains W.A. which was relocated this morning by Dan Sanders and Don Burton. Meanwhile back at Cedar Oak farm, a probable juvenile Lark Sparrow was found on Sunday -Gene Stauffer. Got all that?

Fall migration is well under way with additional shorebirds at KPWA including 22 Pectoral Sandpipers, several Least Sandpipers last week - Len Powlick, plus a Solitary Sandpiper yesterday, and two Short-billed Dowitchers the past two days - V.W.F.III. A flooded field 4 miles south of KWPA along Rt 203 held 21 Least Sandpipers -V.W.F.III. Solitary Sandpiper was also back at lake Seneca (Williams Co.) on the 5th - Jeff Grabmeier. The Lorain impoundment 6 July held 5 Short-billed Dowitchers, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 6 Least Sandpipers, 2 Common Terns, Caspian Terns, a Bonaparte's Gull, Marsh Wren, a pair of Green-winged Teal - Kevin Metcalf.

More Red-breasted Nuthatch news as a family party was reported from Meander Reservoir - Carole Babyak, and on the 4th July, a HY individual visited Tom Bartlett's feeder in Tiffin (Seneca Co.), while another bird was located at Atwood Lake (Tuscarawas/Carroll Co.s) - Joe Hammond the same day.

In other news, Hancock County's second record of Western Meadowlark was found singing yesterday - Betty Hardesty and Anna Scarborough. Check the access ramp area of Lake LeComte south of Fostoria. Two adult and 1 young Sandhill Crane were seen along S.R. 83 in Holmes Co on 2 July. Appx. 1 mile south of County Line Rd. - Phyllis Jones. Four Sandhill Cranes flew low overhead, travelling west over I-74 (Hamilton Co.) Monday morning - Jason Cade et al.. Back on the 28th June there was a 3rd yr Lesser Black-backed Gull at Conneaut - John Pogacnik. Carole's other highlight from Meander Reservoir this summer has been a territorial Pine Warbler.

Last year saw Ohio's first inland Great Egret nesting, now another has been seen on a nest within the colony of Black-crowned Night Herons that has formed at Gilmore Ponds (Butler Co.). Oh yes - the 18 BCNH are also a significant inland record - Cincinnati RBA. Great Egrets can be found away from nesting sites all summer, but a bird Sunday at Big Island W.A. was travelling with a Great Blue Heron toward a known rookery. - V.W.F.III. The Cincy RBA also reports two Blue Grosbeaks from Frederick's Landing (Clermont Co.) and 4 Least Bitterns from the Miami Whitewater Wetlands.

I got back into town yesterday to discover my email for the past week corrupted. If there were any bird notes among the 31 messages, obviously I won't be repeating them here. - V.W.F.III

I have heard about the Western Kingbird just north of the reservoir at Killdeer Plains W.A. Documentations are already in hand from Gene Stauffer and Bob Conlon. I take it that the bird was first found the 27th and seen at least through Tuesday - Jason Larson. Some observers have been present 2.5 hours before discovering the bird. It apparently keeps to a section of County/Township 71 immediately west of Rt 67. This is just a couple of miles west of the "owl pines" frequented by birders in winter.

I have received written documentation of a flyby Least Tern at Metzger Marsh W.A. for 16 June - Phil Harner.

Elsewhere: Tom Bartlett was able to confirm breeding of Short-eared Owls in Seneca County with the discovered of a just fledged young at Fireside. On Sunday, a breeding pl. male Ruddy Duck was lingering at Grand Lake St. Mary's - Dave Dister. The total number of Dickcissel and Grasshopper Sparrow terr. for the 2 square miles at Big Island W.A. along Rt 95 were 47 and 56 respectively last week. The Cerulean Warbler census in the southeast has been an adventure with the recent severe weather. Another surprise working the back woods was perhaps Ohio's furthest south territorial Least Flycatcher singing along Mackeltree Rd immediately south of Shawnee State Park (Scioto Co.). through Sunday. Northern Parula started an incursion into new breeding areas within Ohio as the Atlas was winding down so while no Scioto County records were made during the 80's it is no surprise that 3 terr. were located along Pond Run (Pond Lick Rd) just south of Shawnee State Park. I have received documentation of what may be the first nesting of Red-breasted Nuthatch in southeast Ohio. Frank Renfrow found the birds 12 June in the campground at Hocking Hills State Park.

Greg Links set me straight with regard to Brown Creeper nesting in NW Ohio indicating that it is a rare but regular summer resident within the Oak Openings going back at least to 1991 (The Ohio Cardinal 4: 17). I further note TOC records for Seneca County (1992) and Wyandot Co. (1993). The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas only recorded 3 sightings of Brown Creeper during its six years (1982-87) for all of NW Ohio.

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