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November-December 2000

The Clinton Co. Snowy Owl was still present yesterday - Doug Fisher. The immature female on Kelleys Island was reported yesterday - Bill Coleman fide Bradley Phillips. - slow news day.

Solution for slow news day: Families coming together for the holidays, often means breaking out the Scrabble, Monopoly, etc. In that vein, here is a bird quiz for everyone. You'll have to have a head for this one, as you meet the challenge of identifying 14 photos of Ohio birds head-on. Are you game?

A Purple Sandpiper at Walnut Beach (Ashtabula Co.) was a new location for the species this season. The bird was found Sunday by Craig Holt. A Killdeer and 8 Dunlins were in the immediate vicinity. Craig had a female Long-tailed Duck at Walnut Beach (in addition to the Conneaut bird). Sunday an immature female Snowy Owl was located on the breakwall at Headlands Beach State Park - Larry Rosche. This bird was still present this morning - Gary Meszaros. The last report for the Conneaut Harbor immature female Snowy Owl is for Monday - Haans Petruschke. I can see why all the hubbub over the Clinton Co. bird. According to Ned Keller's database of records for the southwest Dec. 1991 saw the last report of the species for that quarter of the state. A flock of 30 Sandhill Cranes was spotted flying west along I70 just west of Columbus yesterday - Sarah Dalton. Later that evening, Dan Hadley had 28 birds over Finneytown in the southwest. The Black-throated Blue Warbler in Cuyahoga Co. was present through 3 Dec. - fide Sean Zadar.

USGS Issues Alert for Deadly Disease in Birds - brought to my attention by Audrey Mayer.

The Long-tailed Duck and the immature female Snowy Owl continue at Conneaut Harbor through yesterday - Judy Hendrick and George Forney. The pair of Sandhill Cranes remain at Dupont Marsh (Erie Co.) through Saturday - Phyllis Jones. Three more birds were at La Due Reservoir yesterday - Jim Heflich et al.. Jim's group went further east detecting a Northern Shrike at Mosquito Creek S.W.A. (Townline Rd.) while the general vicinity of Mosquito Lake/Wildlife Area held 13+ Bald Eagles. In between they took in two Rough-legged Hawks at the Hayes Rd. site (Geauga Co.) known for winter gatherings of the species. This follows Duane Ferris' report from the day before from this location which included 7 Eastern Meadowlarks.

An Adult Black-legged Kittiwake was identified on Caesar Creek Lake (Warren Co.) from the Harveysburg Rd. access yesterday afternoon - John Rakestraw. The adult of this species has been very rarely documented from Ohio.

The Clinton Co. Snowy Owl continues through this morning - Doug Overacker. Not to be confused with a bird at Port Clinton (Ottawa Co.) this morning - Harry DiCarlo. Harry had the bird on the west jetty at the mouth of the Portage River. Art Osborn reports it was still present late this afternoon. Swinging by Cowan Lake, Doug also picked up a Red-throated Loon today.

Two Purple Sandpipers were detected at Headlands Beach State Park this morning - Ray Hannikman and Haans Petruschke. Ray and Haans further noted a late (for the Lake Erie shoreline) Field Sparrow, and a Long-tailed Duck. Another inland Lesser Black-backed Gull report originates from Walborn Reservoir (Portage/Stark Cos.) from Friday - Ben Morrison. An adult was also present at East Harbor State Park Friday - V.W.F.III. John Pogacnik reports flybys yesterday of 3 Surf Scoters and 4 Snow Geese, and today a Long-tailed Duck - all Lakeshore Park (Lake Co.).

Bill Whan makes a good point in a recent posting on Ohio-birds (see above archive at Jack Siler's). That is photodocumentation need not be restricted to those with expensive cameras and long telephoto lenses. He reiterates a point I raised in this space early last year (see entry for 10 January 1999). That is one may hold an inexpensive disposable or instamatic camera to your scope for effective photodocumentation. In the January 1999 example, I posted a Long-eared Owl courtesy Marian Kraus. Here is another example; using a camcorder held up to a scope. In so doing, Dave St. John successfully provides photographic evidence of one of very few records of Marbled Godwit for the Allegheny Plateau (photo taken earlier this year at Dillon Reservoir, Muskingum Co.).

Last report of the Cuyahoga Co. Black-throated Blue Warbler was for Monday - Sean Zadar.

The season's first Purple Sandpiper was found at Headlands Beach State Park Tuesday - Ray Hannikman fide Haans Petruschke. The day before at nearby Fairport Harbor, Larry Rosche discovered an Eared Grebe. From Conneaut Harbor that day, Larry further noted an adult Little Gull, a female Long-tailed Duck, and one of the Snowy Owls. The Red Phalarope continues through yesterday at Walnut Beach (Ashtabula Co.). The Clinton Co. Snowy Owl remains through yesterday afternoon - Ed Roush.

Apparently, the female Whooping Crane was tracked to Meigs Co. for a brief respit before heading on to Virginia - fide John Pogacnik.

Elsewhere: news of a Brant die-off

The Clinton Co. Snowy Owl was again seen throughout the day yesterday - m.obs. The two birds at Conneaut Harbor were also present yesterday - Micki Hendrick & Ernie Cornelius. Jenny Brumfield reports 4 adult Snow geese and the female Long-tailed Duck were present at Conneaut yesterday. John Pogacnik reports two more Snowy Owls; a bird "in the marina just east of Aviation High School at the east end of Burke Lakefront Airport" and another very dark individual on the beach west of the "hotwaters". Also yesterday, John succeeded in locating two Red Phalaropes in the Lorain Harbor. Both the adult and 1st year Lesser Black-backed Gulls reported the past two weeks continue at the pier of Huron (Erie Co.). John reports an adult Franklin's Gull in the vicinity also. The West Harbor/Middle Harbor/East Harbor State Park area was a bonanza for John, inclusive of Glaucous and Little Gulls, a Northern Goshawk, and a large flock of Pine Siskins.

The male Black-throated Blue Warbler in Cuyahoga Co. was present through yesterday - Ted Gilliland fide Sean Zadar. Late but not the latest record for Ohio. A male appeared 29 November 1993 at a Garfield Hts. feeder (peanut butter) to remain through 5 Dec. It was photographically documented by Larry Rosche.

An adult Golden Eagle was discovered this past week at The Wilds (Muskingum Co.) - Bob Paxson fide Joe Hammond. If the pattern of the past three winters repeats the bird should be in residence there throughout the winter.

Doug Overacker found what appeared to be an immature Red-throated Loon at Buck Creek State Park yesterday.

A curious and late sighting was the description of two Plegadis Ibis flying past Rocky River Park (Cuyahoga Co.) on Friday - Gabe Leidy.

The Clinton Co. Snowy Owl was seen throughout the day yesterday. Directions below. And here is a nice closeup of the bird by David Russell.

Two Snowy Owls were present at Conneaut Harbor yesterday - John Pogacnik et al. John's group also had the Red Phalarope at Walnut Beach, first noted the day before. They also spotted an immature Black-legged Kittiwake from the east side of Ashtabula (from Lakeshore Park).

Craig Holt's diligence over the years has led to Summit Lake (in Summit Co.) taking pride of place for inland sightings of the Lesser Black-backed Gull in Ohio. This past Wednesday he solidified that reputation with 2 adult birds present. Craig also reports a Snow Goose at Mosquito Lake (Trumbull Co.) on Friday. A single Tundra Swan appeared in Monroe Co. on the Ohio River - Chad Amos. In the opposite corner of the state, Jeff Grabmeier reports a Northern Shrike in Williams Co. yesterday. Another Northern Shrike from the northwest was found just north of Whitehouse (Lucas Co.) on the 23rd - Tom Kemp. Tom also reports a Pectoral Sandpiper by the outflow for Bayshore Power Plant Friday. In Columbus yesterday, Charles Gambill reports a Gray Catbird lingering at Green Lawn Cemetery.

Ted Gilliland reports a male Black-throated Blue Warbler hanging out in his yard (Rocky River, Cuyahoga Co.).

The Snowy Owl parade continues. The Clinton Co. bird was enjoyed by many yesterday. June Campbell reports yet another Snowy on Kelleys Island. Subsequently seen by Tom Bartlett yesterday, on plumage characters this represents a third individual to visit the island in the past 10 days. Dana Bollin has received three unconfirmed reports of a Snowy Owl at Maumee Bay State Park recently, although a search for the Bayshore Power Plant bird yesterday was negative - Lee Garling. The count increases to 10 (plus 2 possibles).

Only one additional Sandhill Crane report for the week; that of 6 birds over Kelleys Island yesterday - Tom Bartlett et al.. Paul Haskins reports 15+ Short-eared Owls are in at The Wilds. Red Phalaropes have not gone away as yet - a bird was found at Walnut Beach (Ashtabula Co.) yesterday - Mary Ann Faruque, Isaac Kearns, Sheila Kearns. Also yesterday, Grant Rettig picked up 25 Pine Siskins in Tiffin (Seneca Co.).

The Conneaut Harbor Snowy Owl was still present yesterday - Shirley Graff. An altogether different white bird was the Great Egret yesterday on the Overton Rd. ponds in Wayne Co. - Su Snyder. Su relates that Leroy Yoder had 141 Common Loons overhead in Holmes Co. yesterday. The Washburn Rd. (Killdeer Plains W.A.) Northern Shrike was present Wednesday - Ron Sempier. Ron also reports a Rough-legged Hawk there. Another Rough-legged Hawk, a dark morph, was identified Wednesday in Ross Co.- Scott Friedhof. Bob Barrett noticed a Killdeer on the west side of Akron yesterday. The species should linger near the Lake for another 3 weeks. Tuesday, Brian Barchus reports a Turkey Vulture over Tiffin. Sean Zadar reports an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flyby at Dike 14 (Gordon impoundment, Cuyahoga Co.) yesterday. In the face of the type of weather experienced locally, his 4 American Pipit were of interest here. Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs reached Paulding Co. a week ago - doug & Micki Dunakin.

A Snowy Owl has reached southwest Ohio. Earlier today David Russell and company sighted a bird just south of Wilmington (Clinton Co.). Apparently the bird has been present almost a week.

Directions:From 71 take 73 into the middle of Wilmington, turn right onto 68 south.Follow 68 south out of town and turn left on 134 south. Take 134 a couple miles until Farmers Rd-turn left. Proceed about 2 miles to the junction of Accomodation Rd. The owl was perched on a utility pole at the junction. It was initially seen on a fence post south of the intersection. - David Russell

Ed Roush relates the bird was still present as of 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. Depending upon the outcome of the Athens Co. report, this would be either the 8th or 9th Snowy Owl of the season for Ohio. The dark juvenile bird which appeared Saturday at Conneaut Harbor was last reported Monday - Gary Meszaros. Still three shy of the 1989 November mark, but then half of those birds were accounted for from the Huron impoundment and Burke Lakefront Airport. Mike Busam did his bit, walking the length of the pier at Huron this morning. Such an exercise is always feast or famine, and today's excursion left him looking forward to a feast of another kind. Yesterday evening Mike fared better with an Eared Grebe in the river. Today, he did pick up the Forster's Tern along the river as also reported by Jenny Brumfield. Late to be sure, but this past Sunday Jeff McCoy had 7 birds at Port Clinton. Jenny had arrived just in time to see the 1st year Glaucous Gull take off from the flats immediately west of the pier. This bird was an especially dark cream color, a form I've not seen in Ohio before. My outing was otherwise fairly uneventful, although the remaining Common Tern at the Lorain "hotwaters" obliged the camera.

I have mentioned these Huron pier flats before as an ideal location, for the novice, to sit and study gull plumages. Daunting as this level of identification can be, the flat attracts a sizeable number of birds in early winter to a site inshore (and very near the parking lot) with the morning sun at your back. Sufficient variety exists to allow the serious student ample opportunity for discovery. This past Sunday, Jeff McCoy studied and described in some detail a potential "Nelson's Gull" - a recognized hybrid of the Glaucous and Herring Gulls. The previous day, at Sherod Park (Erie Co.), accompanied by Andy Sigler, Jeff also studied a possible Great Black-backed Gull X Herring Gull - another known hybrid; one previously documented from Ohio. From Sherod, Jeff also recorded 4 Long-tailed Ducks and a single Red-throated Loon; part of the major Common Loon flight which took place up and down the Lake Erie shoreline over the weekend. Offshore at Port Clinton, Jeff and Andy had 4 Surf Scoters. Yesterday's Lakeshore Park waterbird survey recorded 3 Red-throated Loons while this morning's highlight was more Black Scoters - John Pogacnik. Rounding out the gull reports from today, Ben Winger noted an adult Iceland Gull at rest at Wildwood Park (Cuyahoga Co.).

Errata: Note the correction below to the date of the gannet sighting - it was yesterday.

As many of you are aware, a Whooping Crane reintroduction effort led to the presence of a pair of birds in the U.P. of Michigan. Whether the same or not, a pair of birds with satellite transmitters were tracked to Pt. Pelee last night and have subsequently crossed Lake Erie ending up in the vicinity of Sandusky. For those seeking to locate these birds, I suggest Medusa Marsh, Pipe Creek W.A., and Sheldon Marsh SNP, in that order. Of course, they may well be simply out in the middle of a cornfield.

On the matter of cranes, I posted this description of the fall migration of Sandhill Cranes through Ohio Monday evening on Ohio-birds. Basically, I suggested the conditions today and tomorrow are ideal for a substantial movement through the western third of the state. It seems I did not account sufficiently for the 3 straight days of SW'ly winds - the movement has involved birds well east of the main flyway.

Flocks reported the past two days . .

22 Nov. - 42 overhead at Lakeshore Park, Lake Co. - John Pogacnik
22 Nov. - 25 overhead at Batavia, Clermont Co. - Donald Morse
22 Nov. - 15 overhead at I75 at Cincinnati-Dayton rd. - Scott Reeves
21 Nov. - 32 overhead in Delaware Co. - Ralph Ramey
21 Nov. - 100 overhead near Cedar Bog, Champaign Co. - Troy Shively / alerted by Troy the naturalist at Cedar Bog (Terry Jawarski) sighted 30 birds overhead.
21 Nov. - 35 set down at Cowan Lake, Clinton Co. - Ed Roush
21 Nov. - 23 overhead in Greenville, Darke Co. - Regina Schieltz

I doubt the flight is over so watch those skies in the coming days. By week's end check stopover sites such as Big Island W.A., Killdeer Plains W.A., Delaware W.A., Deer Creek W.A., Cowan Lake, Indian Lake, etc.

Lynda Andrews is tracking down a report fitting the description of a Snowy Owl for the northwestern quarter of Athens Co. The sighting comes from Big Bailey Rd. north of Athens (just east of Nelsonville) today.

Lakeshore watchers should be aware of the report of a 1st yr Northern Gannet from TODAY. Just before noon, John Pogacnik had the bird flying west past Lakeshore Park in North Perry (Lake Co.). Plausible hang-outs for the species, based on historical sightings, include Eastlake Power Plant, Fairport Harbor, and Avon Lake Power Plant.

Craig Holt reports dredge spoil disposal operations at the Lorain impoundment have resumed. This is where the Red Phalarope was sighted along with 5 Dunlins and a snipe. Craig's lakeshore census from Huron on Sunday netted 433 Common Loons besting tallies elsewhere. Two Long-tailed Ducks, 7 Tundra Swans, and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were also present. He sighted the male Long-tailed Duck off Rocky River Park Sunday accompanied by 4 Surf Scoter.

A Red-throated Loon was discovered Saturday on Clear Fork Reservoir (Richland/Morrow Co.) - Su Snyder. The Caesar Creek Lake bird was still present the same day - Larry Gara. Both are described as winter adults. John Pogacnik reported two flyby birds past Lakeshore Park on saturday. No such luck off Kelleys Island on yesterday's census, but 80+ Common Loons was above average locally. The presence of sizeable numbers of loons has been felt elsewhere. Largest was the flight of 212 birds past Headlands Beach State Park (Lake Co.) yesterday - Haans Petrsuchke.

Red Phalaropes continue to make their way along the south shore of Lake Erie. Saturday, John Pogacnik and Vince Urbanski report 2 birds at Walnut Beach in Ashtabula County. From Lakeshore Park just east of Ashtabula they observed 3 more flying off the breakwall. At Conneaut Harbor, they relocated the bird photographed the day before by Scott Wright. Yesterday, an individual had reached the Lorain impoundment - Craig Holt fide Sean Zadar.

Snowy Owls, even the ones in residence, are notoriously difficult to locate. Scott Wright saw the Conneaut Harbor bird Friday, only to be missed by John and Vince the next morning, but that afternoon, Jeff McCoy's Indiana birding contingent had 2 Snowy Owls in addition to the above Red Phalarope. Similarly, the Kelleys Island Snowy Owl proved elusive after the initial sighting only to fly across the road directly in front of Delores Cole in the vicinity of the west end quarry on Friday.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls picked up in numbers with 2 adult birds at Lorain Harbor and one at Avon Power Plant Sunday - Sean Zadar, an adult flyby from Lakeshore Park (Lake Co.) Saturday - John Pogacnik, and another adult on the Cleveland lakefront immediately east of the E.55th marina yesterday - Larry Rosche. Sean identified a 2nd yr bird from North Marginal (Cleveland lakefront) Saturday at the Forest City Yacht Club. One of the adult birds at Lorain Harbor yesterday possessed such heavy gray streaking on the head (normal winter plumage) as to give a hooded appearance - V.W.F.III. Such a distinctive bird should be easily picked out of the crowd. Despite large numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls, other hooded gulls have been disappointing. A rare Western Basin record of Little Gull involved a juvenile bird foraging at the Kelleys Island ferry dock on Marblehead Friday - Tom Bartlett. Inland, up to 800 Bonaparte's Gull were counted at Hoover Reservoir yesterday - Rob Thorn.

Locally unusual, a Northern Shrike on Kelleys Island yesterday was a census first - V.W.F.III et al. In excess of 12,000 Red-breasted Merganser were counted - also high locally. A deliberate search yesterday for lingering migrants on the Marblehead Peninsula produced single Common Terns at East Harbor State Park and in Middle Harbor - V.W.F.III. Sean Zadar found two more at Lorain Harbor yesterday. Lingering shorebirds in the northeast Saturday included the 3 Dunlin at Conneaut Harbor from earlier in the week, while at Walnut Beach a Long-billed Dowitcher, a Black-bellied Plover, and 2 Killdeer were seen by John Pogacnik and Vince Urbanski. They also noted 2 more Killdeer at Geneva State Park. The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present this morning - Gary Meszaros. Tundra Swan movement appears gradual through the area thus far, with 105 birds Saturday over southern Geauga Co. - Duane Ferris. Hooded Mergansers are staging at Lake Rockwell with up to 147 Saturday - Brad Bolton. A Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw) found Wednesday off Rocky River Park (Cuyahoga Co.) -Ted Gilliland was still present yesterday - Sean Zadar et al. Ted and Sean also relocated the Surf Scoter off Gordon Park (Cuyahoga Co.) Saturday. A Red-necked Grebe yesterday from Lakeside Yacht Club (Cleveland lakefront) was an interesting find - Paula Lozano et al.. A Merlin was present at Wildwood Park (Cuyahoga Co. lakeshore) yesterday - Larry Rosche. The Ohio flight of Sandhill Cranes is poised to makes itself felt this coming week - thanksgiving weekend being coincident with the expectation of the first substantial flocks over the western third of the state. Two birds were discovered in Dupont Marsh on the Huron River (Erie Co.) Sunday - Bradley Phillips.

A Red-throated Loon, described as a winter adult, was found on Caesar Creek Lake (Warren Co.) from Harveysburg Rd. this morning - Scott Reeves. Wednesday afternoon Haans Petruschke found an Eared Grebe off the Coast Guard beach near Headlands Beach State Park (Lake Co.). Sean Zadar had Surf Scoter off Gordon Park the same day.

John Mathews photographed a "free-flying" Black-billed Magpie at the Cincinnati Zoo yesterday. The Black-billed Magpie is a frequently kept cage bird and the appearance in the vicinity of a zoo should raise a flag. However, the observer was encouraged by references which suggested the species could be found in the area in winter. The three winter records accepted by Peterjohn in Birds of Ohio 1989 involve two Lucas Co. birds and a Delaware Co. record all from the 1950's. Any modern record for Ohio will require intense scrutiny for acceptance. It is not enough that an observation take place within the appropriate time period expected for a true vagrant. Other factors, especially whether evidence of an exodus of the species from its native haunts can be found in adjoining states, play a role in the review of potential exotics/escapees. Careful examination of the bird for feather wear would also be a clue as to the captive vs wild origin. While I hope locals do not dismiss the sighting out-of-hand*, neither should anyone jump to the conclusion of natural vagrancy.

*A number of years ago, a Black-bellied Whistling Duck was reported in northeastern Ohio. It was dismissed by the birding community immediately as an exotic and no follow-up to the report was made. Afterall, locally we were unaware of any natural vagrancy to the Midwest. However, the appearance proved coincident with a massive push of the species into the northeast including a flock in Quebec. Subsequently, the species has established a pattern of vagrancy into the Midwest; as yet to be reported again from Ohio.

Ohio's 6th Snowy Owl this season, appeared yesterday at the airstrip on Kelley's Island - Pat Hays. The Conneaut Harbor bird continues through yesterday - Gary Meszaros. Below I erred in referring to the 1979 Snowy Owl invasion - that should read 1980 (when up to 20 birds appeared in Ohio before the winter period). The 1989 season wasn't too shabby either with 12 birds in November that year.

Brant continue in the news. Haans Petruschke reports 11 birds at Eastlake Power Plant (Lake Co.) yesterday, while recent days have seen a number of reports from the Sandusky Bay to the Divison of Wildlife - fide Mark Shieldcastle. Mark also reported Long-tailed Duck from Maumee Bay. In a failed bid to relocate the Grand Lake California Gull, Joe Hammond and Dan Sanders report a single Snow Goose there.

A Franklin's Gull appeared this morning on the beach at Caesar Creek State Park - Larry Gara. Highlights at Killdeer Plains W.A. yesterday include a Tree Swallow and the Washburn Rd. Northern Shrike - John Kuenzli. Note that John ammends his Blue-winged Teal tally there to 25+.

After consulting with several parties regarding the Harlequin Duck sightings on the weekend. It is clear that two birds were involved, a first winter male (Ray Hannikman, Sean Zadar et al.), and an immature/female (Peter Gottschling et al.). Both sets of observations were very close, protracted views noting details that are incompatible with the possibility of their being of the same bird.

Commentary: Late Short-billed Dowitcher reports.

Every year sees reports of Short-billed Dowitchers well into the fall season and this year has seen a half dozen listings in just the past couple of weeks. None of these reports have given any hint of the unusual nature of these observations. It has been established through specimen collection, and careful field documentation that the dominant dowitcher species in Ohio after 1 October (conservatively) is the Long-billed Dowitcher. The Long-billed Dowitcher, in some seasons, can be every bit as abundant in late October as the adult flight of Short-billed Dowitcher in July. The principal flight of juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers is roughly 20 August - 20 September with numbers tailing off quickly thereafter. Short-billed Dowitchers are known in Ohio generally as singles after the first few days of October.

The Cattle Egret at Oak Harbor (Ottawa Co.) from last Wednesday.

Mon. 13 Nov. 2000 The Conneaut Harbor Snowy Owl was present today - Gary Meszaros. This favors the suggestion that the Ashtabula harbor bird was our fifth Snowy Owl of the season. Gordon Demars may have resighted two Black-legged Kittiwakes at the Huron pier today. Both birds were at the very end of the pier, seen from just a few feet away. He gives an apt description of two juvenile birds. I received only negative reports of the ibis yesterday. The identification of this bird remains equivocal given the reports I have received of a red eye. I have added two more images by Gordon Demars on the ibis page. These are blurry but provide added angles of the head detail.

Long-tailed Ducks (Oldsquaw) made a push into the area including 6 past Lakeshore Park (Lake Co.) - John Pogacnik and a bird reaching Rocky River - Paula Lozano. Both sightings yesterday. John added another Northern Shrike to the tally, with a bird at Grand River W.A. (Trumbull Co.) yesterday. At Conneaut Harbor, one should watch for the 2 Pomarine Jaegers he reported off the west breakwall yesterday. In the Western Basin yesterday, Jay Lehman reports 300 Dunlin a piece at Little Portage river and Ottawa N.W.R. on the Crane Creek estuary. Fifty plus Tundra Swan were also on the estuary flats. The next storm should see the big flight of the species through the area (tomorrow?). Jay also had a Forster's Tern off Bay Bridge (Sandusky Bay). In the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (formerly National Recreation Area), Craig Rieker and Mike Gallaway report 2 Virginia Rails at the Beaver Marsh yesterday. In the southeast, at Waterloo Experimental Station (Athens Co.) Bob Scott Placier has an adult Merlin. Zac Baker reports a Pine Warbler in Tiffin (Seneca Co.) for yesterday.

A near adult California Gull has been identified from Grand Lake near St. Mary's in Auglaize Co. by David Dister. The bird was discovered around 11:20 am this morning. - fide Mike Busam. Yesterday at Pleasant Hill Lake (Ashland Co.), Su Snyder and Leroy Yoder report a possible adult California Gull seen at a distance.

A Harlequin Duck was found yesterday at Headlands Beach State Park (Lake Co.) along the breakwall - Haans Petruschke, m.obs. Multiple parties failed to relocate the bird today.

Ohio's fourth Snowy Owl in the last 8 days was found yesterday at Conneaut Harbor - Peter Gottschling et al.. Don Burlett's party saw it there today, although I failed to do so around noon. Had it moved on to Ashtabula which can be seen in the distance from Conneaut? John Pogacnik found a bird in the harbor area of Ashtabula today. Knowledge of the timing of the two observations may help discern whether Ohio has a fifth Snowy Owl present.

Two Brant were swimming about the boat basin at Gordon Park this morning - Sean Zadar. Sean also reports the Yellow-billed Cuckoo remains at Dike 14 (Gordon impoundment). Yesterday, 7 Brant went by observers at Headlands Beach State Park, while further east from Lakeshore Metropark John Pogacnik reports 4 flybys. A single immature bird was noted at Headlands Beach this morning - Haans Petrsuchke.

Two juvenile Red Phalaropes were along the breakwall at Headlands Beach State Park late this morning - V.W.F.III.


Photo Victor W. Fazio, III, Copyright © 2000.

Kevin Metcalf had a flyby White-rumped Sandpiper from Headlands Beach State Park yesterday. Yesterday's little Franklin's Gull flight included a bird at the corner of the "intersection of Jones and and Hawley roads" in a field with Ring-billed Gulls. - Craig Rieker. Also in Lorain Co., Craig noted 30 Red-breasted Nuthatches at Findley State Park, and 2 Chipping Sparrows on Hawley Rd. At Headlands Beach State park this morning 24 Common Redpoll and 7 Snow Bunting were among very few birds of any kind - V.W.F.III. Another 36 Snow Buntings and three Dunlin were foraging on the flats of Conneaut Harbor. Inland concentration of Bonaparte's Gulls include 215 birds on the Ohio side of Lake Pymatuning today - V.W.F.III, 115 birds on Caesar Creek Lake - Larry Gara and 400 birds at Pleasant Hill Lake yesterday - Su Snyder. Su and Leroy also found 2 White-winged Scoters, 4 Black Scoters, and 2 Long-tailed Ducks (Oldsquaw) resting among a variety of waterfowl on Clear Fork Reservoir (Morrow/Richland Co.). Scoter numbers on the big lake picked up yesterday with 99 flying past John Pogacnik at Lakeshore Metropark (Lake Co.). Of those identified, 72 were Surfs and 6 were Blacks. In Erie Co., from Sherod Park the same morning, Dan Sanders and Joe Hammond recorded 15 Black Scoters, a single Surf Scoter, and an adult male White-winged Scoter. Joe picked up another Surf Scoter flying past the pier at Huron (Erie Co.) yesterday. For Joe and Dan, 20 Dunlin were present at Avon Power Plant (Lake Co.) and another 12 at Rocky River (Cuyahoga Co.) on Friday.

Northern Shrikes continue to light up birder radar screens. Jared Mizanin reports a bird in the immediate vicinity of the Jaite Glossy Ibis late in the afternoon yesterday. At Killdeer Plains W.A. (Wyandot Co.), a bird was located on TH68 just east of Washburn Rd. - Doug Overacker et al. Also at Killdeer Plains W.A., Doug reports 27 Tundra Swans and a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk

Ohio's THIRD Snowy Owl of the season is an immature bird inland south to central Ohio at Lima (Allen Co.). The bird was seen yesterday afternoon by Hank Armstrong at Ferguson Reservoir.

Finding an inland Ohio Snowy for yourself: While the dikes of inland reservoirs may be the first choice of habitat for these wanderers, invading Snowies, virtually all young-of-the-year having little experience with cities, have turned up in the darndest places. Basically, anywhere in Ohio is within bounds, and should you find yourself at a stoplight near a shopping mall - say in Dayton, Columbus, Youngstown, etc., and you notice a big white ball of fluff sitting oddly atop a light pole or a roof-top antenna (disappearing habitat I should think) - pull the binoculars out and take a good look. Out in the fields, look for white milk cartons. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred it will be a milk carton unless you are algologist Susan Carty. In her first foray to see a Snowy Owl, she asked me what she should be looking for. Driving down the road, I answered a white blob like that milk carton over there. Her reply was "you mean the one with a pair of eyes"!

Several sightings of Black-legged Kittiwakes in the Central Basin should awaken the larophiles in all of us to the possibilities of a new season. I assumed the two sightings by myself this morning from the end of the pier at Huron (Erie Co.) were the same bird. Yet, in each instance the birds continued on their course westwards with no apparent circling as the Bonaparte's, intent on the Gizzard Shad, were want to do. Towards midday, a perplexing bird observed by Joe Hammond and Dan Sanders from the same location may have represented a third sighting. Further east, from his perch in Lake County, John Pogacnik tallied an immature as part of his lake watch. Franklin's Gulls were also apparent with an individual on the river at Huron and another observed by John.

The Jaite (Cuyahoga Valley) Plegadis ibis remains this day. Here are some initial photographs. Click on the image for additional photos by Scott Wright and Gordon Banner. You should always pass your cursor (and keep it moving) over an image at Aves.Net for the surprise that may lay beneath.



Photo courtesy Scott Wright, Copyright © 2000.

The Jaite Plegadis ibis continues directions - m.obs. This bird can be studied very closely.

A Red Phalarope was discovered in the water at Headlands Beach State Park today by Dan Sanders and Joe Hammond.Look along the breakwall. Another Cattle Egret has surfaced; this one in Portage Co. Larry Rosche reports "It was at the Walsh Quarter Horse Stables on Old Forge Road half way between Mogadore Road and Sunnybrook Road."

The three Surf Scoters off Port Clinton were still present yesterday - Art Osborn.

In September, for the BIG DAY, I positioned myself at several sites along the Michigan/Ohio border (just in Ohio naturally) awaiting the waves of Broad-winged Hawks to wash over me. This never materialized, for although I picked the day (60,000 at Erie Metropark), I missed the timing. I observed 11:00-15:00 hrs, on a day when everything came through later in the day. Still, I was impressed with a shopping mall along Rt. 184 just west of Interstate 75 exit. Here is a rundown of Joe Hammond's experience with North Pointe Mall in Toledo, voicing our shared interest about next year and Swainson's Hawks.

Meanwhile, the hawkwatchers at Talamanca, Costa Rica recently reached ONE Million hawks for the season.

The West Nile Virus has been isolated in Erie Co., PA - Ohio next?

Barely out of the first week of November and I know of at least 4, possibly 5 different Snowy Owls in the southern half of the Lake Erie basin. Two of these are in Ohio, with the latest sighting an immature bird at Headlands Beach State Park (Lake Co.) this morning - Al Kelley, via Dan Kelley, via August Froelich. Folks, this is shaping up to be the largest invasion of the species into the southern Great Lakes since 1979.

The Jaite Plegadis ibis remains through Wednesday - Craig Caldwell.

An adult Cattle Egret was found yesterday just before noon along Oak-Harbor SE Rd. From Rt. 19 immediately south of Oak Harbor (Ottawa Co.) go east a mile or two (#9114 on the mail box) to a grassy paddock with 3 horses. The bird was just 20 yards off the road actively foraging. Not less than 90 Great Egrets could be located in the Ottawa Co. marshes yesterday. The bulk of these (62), as has been the case the two previous Novembers, hang out along the north shore of the Portage River easily viewed from Rt. 2 as you cross the bridge heading west - V.W.F.III.

A Red-necked Grebe in transitional plumage was found off Gordon Park yesterday - Sean Zadar but not relocated today.

The Western Basin marshes continue to be productive after last Friday's report. Yesterday, shorebird highlights at Ottawa N.W.R. included 880 Dunlin, 27 Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 Least Sandpiper - (V.W.F.III), and 24 Black-bellied Plovers (Joe Hammond and V.W.F.III combined data). All the plovers were observed moving overhead off the lake heading SE. I have been noticing this phenomena involving Black-bellies since a late 1991 visit. Something to consider by those interested in assessing how many of the species actually pass through the area. Multiple Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs can still be found at Ottawa N.W.R., and Turtle Creek (at Rt. 2) while another Lesser was at Meadowbrook Lake (Marblehead Peninsula). Common Snipe were at Sheldon Marsh S.N.P. (Joe Hammond) from the Old Cedar Point causeway, with up to 20 at Turtle Creek - V.W.F.III. Good numbers of Sanderlings continue with 22 at Sheldon Marsh (Joe Hammond), and 29 at Ottawa N.W.R. - V.W.F.III. Waterfowl were at good numbers with 1100+ Gadwall, 870 Green-winged Teal, 440 American Wigeon, 39 Tundra Swan, and 3 Snow Geese (adult blue morphs). For Larids there was a high concentration of Bonaparte's Gulls with 97 Common Tern sitting on the flats amongst the throng. All told some 15,000 Bonaparte's Gull were counted from the Crane Creek estuary to East Harbor State Park (Ottawa Co.) - a good fall number for this portion of the Western Basin. Common Terns were also detected at West Harbor, and Port Clinton. The latter site also hosting 11 Forster's Terns (V.W.F.III), and 3 Surf Scoters (Joe Hammond). Moving east yesterday, Joe along with Dan Sanders, located adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Huron and Lorain (Lakeshore Park).

While one or two pairs of Brant were heading west offshore Lake Co. over the weekend as noted below, on Sunday Jay Lehman had 4 heading east off Conneaut Harbor. Red-breasted Mergansers are picking up with 12,700 off Gordon Park today - Sean Zadar and 20,000 off Lorain yesterday - Joe Hammond et al.. Ruddy Ducks are beginning to stage at inland reservoirs with 500 birds split between Bresler and Metzger Reservoirs in the Lima area (Allen Co.) - David Dister. David notes that Snow Bunting and Tundra Swan were also in the area. Tuesday, Dave St. John responded to my appeal on Rough-legged Hawks, visiting The Wilds to discover at least 6 light morph birds in residence. On the 3rd, Jenny Brumfield had a Rough-legged Hawk at Funk Bottoms W.A. (Wayne Co.). Kurt Knebusch had another Saturday elsewhere in Wayne Co. (Oil City Rd.). The only other raptor note I have, is that of an Osprey lingering on Muskingum River at Newark - Amy Lavy.

A late note regarding the Plegadis ibis in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I normally reserve the ID of such fall dark ibis but went with Glossy on the basis of notes included below. I am now aware that the age of the bird is in dispute let alone the specific identification. This despite (or perhaps due to) lengthy observations at very close range.

Stragglers of interest recently include a Bay-breasted Warbler yesterday in Lucas Co. - Matt Anderson, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Gordon Park on the 2nd - Sean Zadar. If you think that's odd - check out this Kentucky Warbler in Montreal; photos taken yesterday. Sometimes the birds just go the wrong way. (see this commentary on reverse migration).

Elsewhere: A Snowy Owl was reported for Friday morning at Bayshore P.P. (Lucas Co.) - fide Lee Garling. The Ottawa N.W.R. Northern Shrike was observed yesterday - Don Miles et al. Don also watched two White-winged Scoters offshore at Old Woman Creek. A Surf Scoter was present at Caesar Creek State Park Saturday - Scott Reeves. Also Saturday, two Brant were flybys at Headland Beach State Park - Haans Petruschke while two (same two?) were at Conneaut Harbor on Friday - Kevin Metcalf. Kevin updates the number of Snow Buntings there reaching 75 birds. A Merlin remains there harassing the bunting flock. The 62 Tundra Swan in passage by Gordon Park (Sean Zadar) Saturday should give Lake Erie shoreline watchers a heads-up for the main passage of this species in the next week or two.

Not too many concentrations of Red-breasted Nuthatch have been mentioned so I'll note the 5 yesterday at Sheldon Marsh SNP (Erie Co.) - Don Miles. American Tree Sparrow and Fox Sparrow are now being reported from the northwest with birds at Springville SNP (Seneca Co.) - Grant Rettig. Since the 22nd of October, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows have been causing quite a stir in Cincinnati - the species is exceedingly rare in the southwest. Apparently, now up to FOUR birds are being seen - Don Kinsman.

A Franklin's Gull continues at Hoover Res. as of Saturday - Rob Thorn. Two more were present at Ottawa N.W.R. Friday - Ben Morrison. Ben's 300 Common Tern was a phenomenal Ohio total for November. Additional sightings at Ottawa N.W.R. include 20 Black-bellied Plover, 6 Least Sandpipers, 40 Long-billed Dowitchers, and a late Caspian Tern. Ben further recorded a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Huron in what has thus far been a lacklustre season for the species.

The following email was posted on Ohio-birds earlier today.

A Glossy Ibis was sighted today, Sunday November 5th, at the Jaite marsh in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This small marsh is located on Riverview Rd north of Vaughn Rd in Cuyahoga County. The ibis was first seen from Riverview Rd, 0.2 of a mile N of Vaughn Rd. at 10:15am. It was still present when we left at 2:30pm. A number of other observers confirmed the sighting. The bird did not seem to be disturbed and fed rather continuously during the time we observed it. - Dwight & Ann Chasar

Haans Petruschke offers additional information.

Note the above addition of a toll-free number to this service. This trial service will be in operation over the winter beginning immediately. It is intended to facilitate quick communication of the discovery of rare birds, especially from a cell-phone or pay-phone from the field without the delay of returning to a home phone to do so. This number is solely for the REPORTING of sightings and does NOT tie in to any rare bird alert.

I'll give more space to the other weekend sightings in a day or two. For the moment, birders should be aware of increased Sandhill Crane reports - some locals, some migrants. At La Due Reservoir 5 birds were seen yesterday - Duane Ferris. Friday morning two birds were flying over Kingston-Adelphi Rd. (Ross-Pickaway County Line Rd.) - David Horn. Yesterday morning Su Snyder had 14 birds along Wilderness Rd. at Funk Bottoms W.A. (Wayne Co.).

Tantalizing hints of what the winter finch scene may look like include central Ohio sightings of Pine Siskin going back 3 weeks - Rob Thorn equalling the first report from the northwest. Apparently, I overlooked a 26 October report for the Ohio river at Crooked Run N.P. (Clermont Co.) - Suzanne Clingman. The Common Redpoll is now in the northeast with 2 birds at Gordon Park yesterday - Sean Zadar. Also yesterday, Tom Bartlett had 10 Red Crossbills flying over Springville Marsh SNP, Seneca Co.

Northern Shrike and a Rough-legged Hawk were among highlights from Killdeer Plains W.A. last Saturday - Ron Sempier. Ron reports a possible Black Tern as well - this would be a very late record for Ohio. Brian Barchus reports a Golden Eagle over Rt. 53 in the vicinity of Tiffin (Seneca Co.) yesterday. The Snow Bunting count at Gordon Park was up to 53 yesterday - Sean Zadar.

More October oddities: I only recently learned of a specimen of Long-tailed Jaeger retrieved from a road in Lake County. The crushed specimen was found a quarter mile N of the Geauga Co. line on 11 October by Dan Sanders and Don Burton. Don has documented the record with the specimen destined for the museum. Also recently I learned of an Adult male Western Tanager sighting for Elmwood Park (Rocky River, Cuyahoga Co.) on 3 October. - Tom Lepage. Unfortunately, efforts by Tom and Rob Harlan to relocate the bird later in the day proved fruitless. Finally, the reason the Erie, PA Wood Stork has not been seen at Conneaut Harbor yet is because it hasn't left Presque Isle State Park. Isaac Kerns saw the bird this past Sunday - there's still hope.

Press Release: Project FeederWatch

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