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December 2001

The weekend, once again, has brought to light some absolutely extraordinary bird records. Where to start .... First let's update you on the more mundane happenings around the state. Remember that Northern Gannet from a week ago Friday at Fairport Harbor, well it put in two appearances last week, with the latest sighting Saturday - Emil Bacik. It's been what, 10 . . 15 years since a gannet in Ohio was anything but a flyby or dead specimen. The bird was not to be seen yesterday but as Larry Rosche put it, "Fairport Harbor was pretty good"; an adult Black-headed Gull and a Brant were among the highlights. My last report for the Lorain County adult Black-headed Gull was the 25th - John Pogacnik. John reported a Harlequin Duck flyby from Lakeshore Park (Lake Co.) on the 26th. Not reported since the 26th is the Brown-headed Nuthatch Ok, how about a contender for RAREST discovery of the winter season (taking a moment to realize we are still ONLY a third of the way through this reporting season). What's that you say? How could anything contend with a Brown-headed Nuthatch (first state record). Try what may well be only the 2nd verifiable WINTER record of Louisiana Waterthrush for EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. On Saturday, Larry Rosche verified a Louisiana Waterthrush in Twinsburg here in northeast Ohio. Apart from Larry's impeccable description, documentation is provided by the photograph (in an appropriately wintry scene) below; courtesy Judy Semroc.

On Friday, Jason Estep of Newark Ohio, spied a Ross's Goose; the first of the autumn (now early winter) migration. He studied the bird through yesterday on the west end of Newark (Licking) " It is hanging out on Raccoon Creek behind the WNKO Radio Station at the end of 40th St." Details of the bird seen overhead, and VOCALIZATIONS, as well as key characters of the bill coupled with the photo evidence below verifies the identity of the bird. This is the first time that I can recall vocal description within a documentation of this now quasi-rarity in the state. Jason describes the call as " It vocalizes in flight and sounds like a child's (or cat's) squeeky toy (you know, like a rubber ducky). Apparently, with the aid of Aimee Morrison, Jason located a Ross's Goose call on the Internet; for them proving to be the clincher in the ID.

This year has been another very exciting one for birding in Ohio. Approximately 312 species made themselves known to the birding community in 2001 in definitive fashion. Any annual total above 310 usually means a few remarkable birds have been observed. And we start off the current decade with not one but two apparent first state records, a Eurasian Collared-Dove collected during the fall hunting season and the Brown-headed Nuthatch which continues to entertain daily at the feeders of the Gilberts in Geauga Co. I would like to thank everyone for helping me write this (sometimes) weekly column. Although in the minority, those dozens of birders who share in their observations on a regular basis have greatly enhanced the 2001 birding experience for hundreds who gather their birding information through this interface, whether directly from page or the archive of the Ohio-bird listserv. Indeed, by mid-fall weekly visitation of this page was running about 2800, I think in large measure because of the remarkable degree to which I could illustrate this page. I'm not sure what I did to deserve it, but the latter half of the year was especially exciting for me as each week my email would bring another great photo attachment. I owe the dozen or so photographers my thanks and apologize to those whom I could not get to right away when I could not quite keep up. I don't forget such offerings, and hope to find use for any unpublished material in 2002. On that note, I would like to close out the year with a surprisingly colorful submission by photographer Lou Gardella. For Lou, a bit of Christmas cheer came Christmas Day bearing Halloween colors. As much out of place as the bird sporting them. Here is a truly eye-popping sight for northeast Ohio in late December; a Baltimore Oriole. Read the mouseover caption for further details.

In the same vein, be sure to check out the photoessay provided by Jay Lehman of the Selasphorus Hummingbird recently in Cincinnati.

The adult Black-headed Gull was still at the mouth of the Black River (Lorain, Lorain Co.) yesterday - John Pogacnik.

Brenda Kovalsky and Emil Bacik report 2 Pomarine Jaegers, and an adult Golden Eagle from the breakwall at Headlands beach (Mentor, Lake Co.). Inside the breakwall at nearby Fairport beach, a Red-throated Loon was discovered. A Snowy Owl was also present.

I was unable to complete a photo-quiz for this year's holiday season, but here is an interesting bird for your consideration. As interesting as the bird itself, is the means by which this image was obtained. I am not a serious enough birder to go out into the woods and fields in the cold early mornings, but I do a lot of watching of my feeders/water bath from the comfort of my living room window. In order to help me spot more birds at my feeders than spending long periods watching them directly from the window, I have set up three relatively inexpensive color mini-security cameras (with speakers) right at the feeders/water bath to record sights and sounds over a long period of time. One of the cameras is connected directly to a TV, with a VCR attached, where I can record 6 hours of bird activity and play the tape back later at fast-forward to look for "unusual" sightings. The other two cameras are connected to my computer, where I can set it up to record a digital image every 10 seconds. The computer program can record up to 1000 images. This is where I captured the image of the xanthochroistic Red-bellied Woodpecker.- Bill Miloscia

A Northern Gannet was found today at Fairport Harbor by Tom Kellerman

An Adult Black-headed Gull was found yesterday at Lorain Harbor - at the mouth of the Black River - Sean Zadar. Sean also located an adult California Gull on the beach at Avon Lake. There was also Glaucous Gull (adult) at Lorain and a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Huron yesterday - Greg Miller

. . . and oh yes . . . the Brown-headed Nuthatch was seen this morning at 10:45 am.

Can anyone shed any light on an apparent newspaper report of a Golden Eagle shot in Morrow County recently. BTW, there is at least one bird present this winter at The Wilds {annual since 96-97) - fide Al Parker.

Also this morning a shrike was briefly seen in silhouette at Killdeer Plains W.A. EAST of the Sportman's Center where a Loggerhead has been reported however it dropped out of sight before an ID could be made (it's been 17 years - oh well). I did locate the Northern Shrike reported WEST of the Sportman's Center. During the almost 90 minutes before noon looking for these birds, several flocks of Sandhill Cranes flew overhead (very low - even circling as if to land only to continue). I saw a total of 112, while Thomas Archdeacon spied 34 - different birds? The day before, this movement was already apparent over the NW (Whitehouse, Lucas Co.) with 107 just before noon - Matt Anderson. Thomas also had the first report of Greater White-fronted Geese for the fall - 6 birds on Pond 27 at Killdeer Plains W.A. He also located 35 Killdeer in a field south of the headquarters.

The Lorain County reservoirs still harbor a decent amount of waterfowl including 680 Ring-necked Ducks, 380 Ruddy Ducks, 11 Pied-billed Grebes, and 530 American Coots at Wellington. Another 155 Ruddy Ducks were present at Oberlin City Reservoir as were 4 Great Black-backed Gulls - all noted this afternoon - V.W.F.III.

Winter finches continue to be sporadic. Nineteen Pine Siskins dropped in briefly at a Tiffin feeder this morning - V.W.F.III.

The Geauga County Brown-headed Nuthatch returned over the weekend - m.obs. Here is the latest image courtesy Jeff McCoy. Jeff and Andy Sigler identified a Pomarine Jaeger at Huron yesterday. I had a jaeger a mile east of there Saturday which exhibited jizz closer to that of a Parasitic but small female Pomarines have been known to fool the best. Two Pomarine Jaegers were off Huntington Reservation (Cuyahoga Co.). In any other fall, all these jaegers would be BIG news.

Other rarities of the weekend. The Selasphorus hummingbird continues in Cincinnati. An adult California Gull was found resting on the sandbar at Huron Pier Saturday afternoon - V.W.F.III. The Red Phalarope (present since the 9th of November) was still at Huron Saturday, although several parties missed the bird on Sunday. A juvenile Little Gull at the ferry dock on Kelleys Island Sunday was the first of the season and a local rarity - Tom Bartlett & V.W.F.III. The Red-throated Loon off Rocky River Park (Cuyahoga Co.) also was seen through yesterday - Jeff McCoy & Andy Sigler. Both Bayshore/Maumee Bay Snowy Owls were located yesterday for the Toledo CBC - fide Greg Links. Here is a picture of the Avon Lake bird taken yesterday by Ernie Cornelius courtesy Michelle Hendrick.

Last Friday, Bill Toler identified a Northern Rough-winged Swallow at Castalia Pond. This bird was independently found and identified Sunday as a Northern Rough-winged Swallow by John Games & Ron Sempier. This becomes the 2nd winter record of the species after the December 1999 record in Lucas Co. More Lingering: A Common Yellowthroat was in the cattails at North Chagrin Reservation (Cuyahoga Co.) Wednesday - Kevin Metcalf. A bit more unusual, the three Forster's Terns were still on the same sandbar at Port Clinton beach Wednesday as that which they have occupied for three weeks now. Here's a photo of one of the adults from last week (the 4th).

All the more remarkable however, were the shorebirds still to be seen within the Western Basin estuaries. Along Crane Creek Wednesday there were 71 Dunlin, 4 Least Sandpipers, 5 Long-billed Dowitchers, and 18 Killdeers. To the best of my knowledge, that is a new late date for Long-billed Dowitchers in Ohio as Peterjohn 2001 lists nothing later than the 7th. But in another category entirely, a flock of 18 Lesser Yellowlegs set down in front of me just before sunrise at Metzger Marsh W.A. earlier that morning. BTW, it is my first FLOCK of Lessers in December contra my Ohio-birds post which left out the word flock. I saw the species along the Chaussee through 5 December 1998. There have been one or two CBC records and Dave St. John had two birds at Salt Fork S.P. in January of the El Nino (non)winter of 97-98; an unpublished record I happen to accept.

I mention all that as in the last 3 weeks of keeping tabs on these birds, the only other report from ONWR to cross my desk was a brief reference to the December monthly census. I just had expected a bit more enthusiasm for an area that has been outstanding this fall.

Possibly representing the tail end of the Surf Scoter push into the region last Sunday, 5 or 6 birds were found Wednesday on Clear Fork Lake (Richland/Morrow Cos.)- John Herman - fide Su Snyder. The same day two birds were off Oberlin Beach - Dan Sanders & Greg Miller.

Winter Birds - yes you remember them. Just to remind us that we're not in North Carolina even if we do have the weather for it, I have two more Snowy Owls to report. However, in both instances these could be birds previously reported. A bird was seen yesterday at the east end of Burke Lakefront Airport near the Aviation Highschool in Cleveland (a traditional spot for the species) - Scott Wright. The other report was posted to John Yochum who passes along this note from Don Stanley.....

Approx. 9:30 am Dec11, I saw an imm. Snowy Owl. It was seen on SR33 approx. 1/2 mile west of Waynesfield 261. It was sitting on a telephone pole on the south side of SR33 Waynesfield 261."

[Ed. Note: this is about 5 miles NW of Indian Lake State Park from whence you will recall the first Snowy Owl of the season was brought to a rehabilitator]

And in the same category, appearances by single White-winged Crossbills continue to tease us; today a bird appeared at the feeder of Karen Tanquist in Peninsula (Summit Co.).

I have had no report of the Brown-headed Nuthatch since Wed. However, Alan Wiese provides this tantalizing note regarding the possible whereabouts of the bird when not at the Gilberts (which if you think about it is most of the time).

I observed a b-h huthatch on my rear deck bird feeder at ca. 0930, Sat., 12/08. My immediate reaction in spotting this bird was that "it looked and behaved like a typical w-b nuthatch, but the brown coloring looked strange." The nuthatch perched briefly in an adjacent, half-dead dogwood tree before completing two trips to my feeder, and then flying off to the nearby sycamore tree next to the pond. About 1 hour after the sighting, I spotted the Plain Dealer article and concluded that I had indeed possibly observed the bird also present at [the] Gilbert's feeder. Aware now of this species, I purposely stood in my kitchen on Sunday morning, my eyes affixed to the feeder location in hopes of another sighting. At approximately 1045, the bird surely appeared, but only for a single feeding. As in the Saturday morning sighting, the nuthatch was very active during its brief sojourn. The Gilberts Bell St. residence is about 2.7 miles NW of my residence in Bainbridge Twp. I have advised a birder friend of mine about the sightings, and he will visit my property this weekend, hopefully to help reconfirm my previous sightings.

You may recall that the bird did not appear Saturday at the Gilberts until shortly before noon and then not at all on Sunday.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was present yesterday at the Gilberts in South Russell, Geauga Co.) - Delores Cole.

Another Selasphorus hummingbird has been reported (6th of the season?). This bird is attending a feeder in Cincinnati - fide Jeff Hays.

The most exciting discovery this week is the presence of both shrike species within a half mile of each other at Killdeer Plains W.A. (Wyandot Co.). Credit goes to Troy Shively for studying the birds closely and making the tough call; later verified by Dan Sanders & Greg Miller. While Northerns are regular at Killdeer Plains W.A. in winter (up to 6 in 1997-98), the regionally endangered Loggerhead Shrike is not annual anywhere in the state of Ohio during the winter season. Both bird are being seen along CH75. This is the E-W road with the Sportman's Center. Both Tuesday and yesterday, the birds occupied a section of the road a quarter mile east of the Center (Loggerhead) and a quarter mile west of the Center (Northern). What makes this all the more exciting is the remarkable digiscope photography by Joe Hammond. These photos of both shrikes from yesterday are provided courtesy of Joe Hammond.

Northern Shrike	Loggerhead Shrike

If that is not enough for comparison, checkout this side-by-side head detail provided by Joe. Compare the bill structure, and the degree of white above of the black mask forward of the eye.

Tuesday 11 December 2001

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was back again this morning - Gary Meszaros. Gary also reports a Pomarine Jaeger overhead at Headlands Beach State Park this morning.

Photos courtesy Ernie Cornelius The Brown-headed Nuthatch in Geauga County OH.

In failing to relocate the White-winged Scoter previously reported from the St. Mary's Fish Hatchery, Greg Miller found 3 Red-necked Grebes across the road on Grand Lake. The Red Phalarope was at Huron yesterday and the Glaucous Gull was still at Avon Lake Power Plant - Jim Fowler.

With all northern reservoirs ice-free (by this date that is the exception not the rule), waterfowl have been reluctant to leave. As we near the Christmas Bird Count recording period (starting today for some counts), large numbers of birds still linger. Lorain County reservoirs yesterday held 520 American Coot, 830 Ruddy Ducks, and 480 Ring-necked Ducks - V.W.F.III.

Monday 10 December 2001

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was back again this morning - Linda Gilbert.

A Red-throated Loon was found yesterday at Buck Creek State Park - Doug Overacker. John Pogacnik reports 3 flyby Pomarine Jaegers from Lakeshore Park (Lorain Co.) yesterday. Oak Openings feeders were home to 75 Pine Siskins yesterday - Thomas Archdeacon. Thomas also had 20 Snow Geese at Maumee Bay State Park. Along the Cedar Point Chaussee yesterday highlights for Craig Rieker included a flock of 55 Dunlin. I understand the Headlands Beach State Park Purple Sandpipers were still present yesterday - Gary Meszaros. Yesterday afternoon at Killdeer Plains W.A., Bill & Roxanne Rinehart observed two Northern Shrikes. A really good find any where in Ohio these days, the St. Mary's State Fish Hatchery hosted a female White-winged Scoter yesterday - John Perchalski. Further south, Bill Stanley discovered two Surf Scoters on East Fork Lake (Clermont Co.) yesterday. These scoter notes from the west and southwest come on the heels of a major fallout of the group along the Ohio River in Kentucky. Just how far up the Ohio River the fallout took place locals may wish to investigate.

Another Snowy Owl to report. This one an immature in Heath (Licking Co.) last Tuesday - as reported in the local newspaper (fide Gina Buckey). The bird was found very near the Licking County Airport recalling the bird in May 1997. Locals should be on the lookout for it. The Avon Lake Power Plant bird was easily seen at noon today. I also saw the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull there - V.W.F.III.

Sunday 9 December 2001

The Brown-headed Nuthatch put in appearances yesterday from 11:45 to 3:00 pm. - Scott Wright, Chris Spagnoli, Sean Zadar et al.

Two Purple Sandpipers were present at Headlands Beach State Park yesterday - Dan Sanders. The Red Phalarope remains at Huron, where the two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and Snowy Owl were also seen - Ron Sempier & John Games. Ron and Bill Toler independently identified a Snowy Owl at Avon Lake P.P. yesterday. Ron and John also had a Glaucous Gull and a probable Pomarine Jaeger spp. at Avon Lake Power Plant. Paula Lozano et al. independently identified the jaeger as a Pomarine. She too had the Glaucous Gull as well as a Lesser Black-backed Gull at Avon Lake. I only briefly stopped in at Huron failing to see anything much of note (as I did not walk the pier). I can only report 860 Double-crested Cormorant from Bay View on Sandusky Bay and 59 Great Blue Heron at Medusa Marsh yesterday. Bill Toler still had the Rocky River Park Red-throated Loon yesterday.

In songbirds, a Northern Mockingbird from the far northwest is always interesting; Lach Ohman had a bird in Bryan (Williams Co.). In Tiffin, news came a pair of White-winged Crossbills all week at a local feeder - fide Tom Bartlett. A Northern Shrike put in a brief appearance at Maumee Bay State Park yesterday - Brian McGuire.

Saturday 8 December 2001

Joe Sedransk reports the heavily barred Snowy Owl was present yesterday at Maumee Bay State Park (Lucas Co.). Marcus England reports a Northern Shrike in central Ohio (Delaware Co.). The bird was found yesterday at Delaware Wildlife Area. Marcus relates

The shrike flew in front of my car along Panhandle Road about 1/4 mile from where the road veers east away from the reservoir's edge.

In the northwest. John Yochum reports 12 Snow Geese at Napolean (Henry County - ooohhhh-ahhhh a bird report from Henry County). The birds were readily viewable from westbound US24 on Thursday.

Amidst all the nuthatch hub-bub, don't forget other feeder visitors. A male White-winged Crossbill visited an Oak Harbor feeder yesterday (Lois Harder fide Kathy Mock), while as of the 5th two males were still coming to a New Bremen (Dayton area) feeder - fide Dayton RBA. I've already posted an adult male photo, so here's a female courtesy Craig Rieker. This is from last month's visit to Craig's feeder in Cuyahoga Co.

Friday 7 December 2001

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was sighted today at 9:42 and 10:15 am today - Joe Hammond, Gabe Hotstetler.

Two immature Brant briefly visited Headlands Beach State Park late this morning - Joe Hammond et al.. Bill Toler studied the Red-throated Loon yesterday off Rocky River Park (Cuyahoga Co.). A Turkey Vulture over Geauga Co. today - Elinor Elder - is the latest in a string of reports for the species this past week. Three Sandhill Cranes remain at Cowan Lake State Park (present now for 15 days) - Ed Roush. Ed adds that the number of Killdeer has built to 180. As strange as that may seem, for several autumns over recent years, mudflats of the SW have seen such build-ups very late in the fall season. Buck Creek State Park sometimes reports hundreds.

Mystery of the Gold Lettering. Twice this fall (back in August and again very recently), listserv email references have been made to the "gold" letters on green neck collars of Trumpeter Swans. I did not understand this until the first week in October when I came across the family party of M30 and M83 at the Rt. 19 bridge over the Toussaint river (just north of Oak Harbor). These birds were tame and allowed very close approach. My initial angle was mostly against the light, and the lettering shone a bright gold color. However, this is but a trick of the light. The white lettering had become dirty, possibly with algae, and at certain angles came off as quite yellow. See below. These photos are not manipulated in any way, indeed they do not convey just how yellow the lettering may appear to the human eye.

BTW, these birds were present in the same location last week - V.W.F.III.

Thursday 6 December 2001: p.m. report

The Brown-headed Nuthatch was viewed by several persons at 10:00, 10:30, and just before noon. As was true the day before, the noon visit was prolonged offering great viewing. The feeder visit I witnessed was very brief, rather the bird spent some time in the nearby oaks - once venturing down the trunk not much more than 10 ft from the observers. Indeed, the bird has shown exceptional tolerance of observers. Listen for the vocalizations of this bird including a "nee-nee-nee" as characterized by Kevin Metcalf. Today the bird appeared from a row of pine trees across the road (Bell St.) to the NE. In the yard, approaching the feeder and while in the oaks, the call was a quieter although sharp chip note as if the bird was on alert. A lilting, see-saw twitter was also heard at its departure. The most reliable viewing times appear to be between 10:00 am and 12:30 p.m. - V.W.F.III.

As this bird has the potential to attract a substantial number of people over the weekend, and as there is only room for perhaps 8 cars in the Gilberts drive (actually on their lawn which one must be very careful not to tear up), and as one cannot otherwise pulloff Bell St., I suggest some car-pooling arrangements meeting back at the intersection of Rt. 306 and Bell St. where there is a shopping center.

Directions: The Gilberts live at 1604 Bell St. about 2.5 miles east of the intersection of Rt. 306 and Bell St. in Geauga Co. Route 306 is a major N-S road which can be picked up off I90 in the north or Rt. 422 to the south. The latter is readily picked up off I271 to the east of Cleveland. Coming in from the west? I480 just past the Warrensville exit splits with one fork feeding directly into 422 (just make sure you take 422 east). Travel time from say Tiffin should be under 2.5 hrs. Coming a long way for the bird? While in the area you may wish to investigate La Due Reservoir about 6 miles to SE - often interesting for waterfowl this time of year.

Thursday 6 December 2001

The Brown-headed Nuthatch appeared twice yesterday morning between 10:50 and noon - Greg Miller, Kevin Metcalf, m.obs. Kevin relates the bird spent more time in a couple of adjacent oaks than visiting the feeder. Listen for the high-pitch, drawn-out call.

The recent record warmth has permitted a number of species to linger into the season along Lake Erie's shoreline. Three Forster's Terns were still to be seen on the sandbars off Port Clinton (from the Municipal Parking Lot) Tuesday. Elsewhere in the Western Basin Tuesday, 5 Greater Yellowlegs were at Metzger Marsh W.A., while the mudflats of Crane Creek estuary held 3 Black-bellied Plovers, 11 Killdeers, 327 Dunlins, 8 Long-billed Dowitchers, and 3 Least Sandpipers. Another 4 Least Sandpipers remain at Meadowbrook Lake on the Marblehead Peninsula as of Tuesday - V.W.F.III..

Troy Shively reports a Long-eared Owl along the road in the vicinity of the Cedar Oak Barn at Killdeer Plains W.A. on Tuesday. The Snow Goose flight noted Sunday brought 4 birds to Van Wert County where John Perchalski keeps lonely vigil over the corn stalks. The number at Ottawa N.W.R. grew to 119 Tuesday with about 20% immature birds. The morph ratio was 2:1 blue to white. Puddle ducks remain in surprising numbers while bay ducks are largely missing-in-action; 1100 Green-winged Teal and 530 Northern Pintails on the Crane Creek estuary are remarkable concentrations for December.

This time of year usually sees a large concentration of Hooded Mergansers somewhere on an inland reservoir. Len Powlick struck it rich Saturday with 200 birds on Hoover Reservoir. There were still 86 birds along the Crane Creek estuary Tuesday - V.W.F.III. Several flyby Brant yesterday at Headlands Beach State Park - Kent Miller did spice up the waterfowl scene a little in the northeast. Sandhill Cranes were noted around the state Sunday- Monday. Sunday 28 birds were reported from Funk Bottoms W.A. (Wayne Co.) - Su Snyder. Also Sunday, 126 in the vicinity of Spring Valley W.A. with 100 still present yesterday - Tom Uhlman . . . and because one can never tire of Snowy Owls here is the bird Scott Wright rescued from the Shoreway near E.55th St. in Cleveland 10 days ago . . .

Wednesday 5 December 2001

The South Russell (Geauga Co.) Brown-headed Nuthatch returned Monday and was resighted yesterday - Haans Petruschke.

The 5 Pomarine Jaegers were present Monday off Rocky River Park (Cuyahoga Co.) - Isaac Kerns. Only two were reported from this location yesterday - Joe Hammond et al.. Isaac relates that the birds may be gone from this location for hours. He suspects they spend some time to the west, perhaps off Bradtreet Landing.

A Snowy Owl Update Doug Freimark went back to Maumee Bay State Park and obtained this photo of the other Snowy Owl present there - a heavily barred immature female. After a week or more without a report, the Sandusky Bay Bridge individual was resighted Sunday - fide Toledo Naturalists website. I have passed over the bridge looking for the bird 4 times since the weekend and have yet to see the bird so it likely hunkers down in the rocks. The bird may be seen at either end of the bridge, on either side. Another Snowy Owl was seen at the Avon Lake Power Plant yesterday - Joe Hammond et al.

Joe's crew also located the Fairport Harbor Merlin and had the first report of a Thayer's Gull for the season - a first year bird at Huron pier. Both were digiscoped by Joe with very satisfactory results. Other highlights for Joe yesterday included a Red-throated Loon off Rocky River Park and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Avon Lake Power Plant. I had the adult bird at Huron pier earlier yesterday afternoon. The Red Phalarope was present at 3:15 pm.

Monday 3 December 2001

The Vermilion Flycatcher was relocated yesterday in the usual spot at Ottawa N.W.R. The bird was seen as part of the monthly census whereby participants are permitted access to non-public areas. If you have any intention of looking for this bird, please do not trespass. Your next opportunity (barring a specific action by the refuge staff) to investigate the site will be the January monthly census. That said, I will confide that I have investigated the legal limits of observation from the end of Veler Rd. This road is the one immediately north of the county line road upon which the bird has been sighted. From the end of Veler Rd. look to the southeast noting the maintenance shed and vehicles. From there to a point roughly 200 yards to the east follow a line of short willows. Make no mistake, this is very distant. However, Art Osborn, myself, and others have confirmed that it is possible to readily scope out many of the perches used by the bird along this line of vegetation. One needs a high quality scope at 45X or better. Morning light is very poor confounding any advantage one may gain from observation during the bird's most active period. [In such a situation, my KOWA was humbled by Su Snyder's Swarovski - still I was able to make out and identify Northern Cardinal and American Tree Sparrow in the vicinity of where the flycatcher often sat.] Sunny with a southwest breeze will offer the optimal conditions assuming the bird is obtaining insect prey in the lee of the wind. The final ingredient is patience - even those with access to the bird within Ottawa NWR were present for hours. I mention all this as tomorrow will offer prime conditions for making the attempt. Good Luck.

The Brown-headed Nuthatch has been a no-show for a week now.

Possibly the most exciting birding event one can readily view at the moment is the presence of FIVE Pomarine Jaegers off Rocky River City Park just west of Cleveland (Cuyahoga Co.). A couple of individuals have been present the better part of a week - Ted Gilliland - with 5 appearing Saturday. All 5 were still there yesterday - Sean Zadar. Sean also described a Parasitic Jaeger at Avon Power Plant (Lorain Co.) the day before. The Red Phalarope remains at Huron through yesterday - Doug Overacker. A tame Purple Sandpiper entertained many obervers at Headlands Beach State Park through the weekend - Larry Rosche.

Apparently there has been a flight of Snow Geese into Ohio over the weekend. In the southwest (Darke County), Regina Schieltz reports several flocks totalling in excess of 50 birds. While in the northeast (Cuyahoga Co.) appx. 30 flew over Cleveland yesterday morning - Mary Krejci. Mary reports that her daughter sighted a Snowy Owl "in Brunswick (Medina County) just south of Rt. 303 between I-71 and Pearl Road" yesterday morning. On Friday, one of the two birds frequenting the south shore of Maumee Bay (Lucas Co.) was photographed on "The Hill" at Maumee Bay State Park - Doug Freimark.

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