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December 1997

From the morning this is what John Pogacnik had to say :

. . . around 9:00 today, it was sitting on the clothesline of the house that has lavender trim around the windws. This house can be found by continuing on Overly past the brown house where it has been frequenting to where Overly makes a sharp turn to the left. The bird came from the direction of the open garage door, flew to the clothesline, then headed out over the open corn field towards the brown house. Could it be roosting in this garage ?

. . . and from Robert Royse in the afternoon

It was seen near the brown house described by Cece Johnston on her posting last Mon. The bird was seen on both sides of Overly Rd. between 2:30 and 3:00

As reported by Pam Raver:

The Says Phoebe in Knox Co. was seen at least twice today. Once before 10 am at the same Overly Rd. spot as it was seen yesterday. It then disappeared and was not relocated until around 2 pm. This time it was closer to the reservoir but still on Overly. To your west side of the road is a large red barn. Beyond it you can see the reservoir dike. The bird was sitting on posts between the barn and the reservoir until residents came outside to shoot hoops, when it flew towards the lake and was not relocated as of 4 pm.

Elsewhere: An Eastern Phoebe was at Englewood MP on the 16th. Four Oldsquaw were on Ferguson Res. on the 14th - Dayton RBA. A Hermit Thrush was present on Cleveland's eastside the 19th. A Merlin was back at Bath Twp the 20th. A Green-winged Teal was noted at Conneaut and a Wood Duck at Ashtabula both the 21st - Cleveland RBA. Mosquito Lake hosted 3000 mallard and 4 Bald Eagles the 16th - Youngstown RBA. A mixed flock of crossbills, totalling 14 birds was present in Holmes Co. last week.

The latest word from Tom Bartlett's cell phone is that the bird was still at the Tuttle and Overly location as of 1:30 p.m. Apparently it did its disappearing act again. Keep that in mind when searching for the bird.

On this date in 1989, the year of the first Say's Phoebe sighting, I was on the Brecksville CBC in minus 15 degree F ambient temps. A bit different today, as a dozen of us met in the rain at the spillway of Lake Kokosing in Knox County with thoughts of Ohio's second Say's Phoebe on our minds. By 9:00 am, with no bird seen, some of the early arrivals had to depart. Doing so via a back road below the dam, Larry Rosche and the Brumfields noticed a phoebe flying along side the road. Although they were miles from the dam, they stopped for a look only to see the Say's Phoebe. They returned for the rest of us, and subsequently at least 18 persons had studied the bird through 10:30 am. That is the latest word I have. - VWFIII

Directions: The new location is on Overly Rd off Waterford Rd (Waterford is the road running along the southern side of Lake Kokosing and from which you access the spillway parking lot). You can reach Waterford from the east off of Rt 13 just north of Fredericktown. Overly is east of the spillway and heads only north. It winds a little but shortly after a strong 90 degree bend watch for a T-section with Tuttle Rd. From this point and for about 300 yards east the bird was actively foraging and calling on the right side (south) of Overly Rd.

It may still be that the bird travels to the spillway so check along the dam as well.

Ron Harlan checked out the Say's Phoebe story at Lake Kokosing this afternoon to be rewarded with an hour long view of a Ohio's second Say's Phoebe feeding from a foot wide puddle within an otherwise dry spillway at the dam of Lake Kokosing (Knox Co.)

Rob says the situation could not be a more "western type habitat" than could be found in Ohio. The bird would occasionally perch on the rocky sides of the spillway. The puddle apparently had the attraction of some wormy content.Park at the spillway lot - go to the walkway across the spillway and look down.

Only previous record for Ohio is a single observer sight record in 1989. I understand some instamatic photos were taken of this new bird through a scope but I hope we can do better.

John Pogacnik reports - "An adult California Gull was seen about 3:30 along the river [ at Lorain Saturday]. It was sitting on the taconite pile west of the sewage plant. Two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also seen in the same area, as well as 5 Dunlin [on the mudflat]. A Common Tern was also seen at the Hot Waters area. On the islands count held Friday 12/19, a Cape May Warbler, an "Audubon's" Warbler, and a "Solitary Vireo" were all seen on Kelley's Island.

Today on the monthly census of Kelley's Island, Tom Bartlett, Dave Dariano, and I did not see the above birds but did locate a Gray Catbird and an Eastern Phoebe among the 41 species tallied there. Tom also has an Eastern Phoebe yesterday on the Tiffin CBC, while 2 Osprey were found on the Hamilton-Fairfield CBC yesterday (Mike Busam) giving some idea of how well the half-hardy species are faring this mild season.

More wintry species reported included this find of a Snowy Owl by Doug & Micki Dunakin:

. . . this morning during our Goll Woods CBC in Fulton County, the bird was sitting on the ground and resting comfortably two miles north and 1.5 miles east of Archbold, Ohio, about 400 feet north of an old brick schoolhouse along the north side of County Road F between Roads 22 and 21. The Delorme location is page 25, D5.2.

Elsewhere: Yesterday - an adult Glaucous Gull at Conneaut and an estimated 1000 Great Black-backed Gulls at Avon lake - Joe Hammond and Bill Whan. Also yesterday on the Firelands CBC, 4 Red Crossbills were located at the Woodlawn Cemetary in Norwalk (1 m, 3 f.). - Scott Andres. The Hamilton-Fairfield CBC also netted a Rough-legged Hawk and a Snow Goose - Mike Busam. Old news - 12 Oldsquaws at East Fork S.P. on the 13th and a Merlin at Miami Whitewater Wetlands on the 11th. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found last weekend at the Cincinnati Nature Center - Cincinnati RBA

Earlier in the week I received a report of a Say's Phoebe from Lake Kokosing WA. (Knox Co.) As the report was days old and I had few details I gave only a brief mention to it here. The original sighting was from Thur. the 11th Dec. by Scott Albaugh. Scott subsequently has agreed to document this record. Apparently without his knowledge a Say's Phoebe was seen at the same location on Sunday (14th) by Chris and Kathy Gillen, recently of Connecticut, who only just contacted me today (20th) with this information (plus a nice description) after noting the reference on this page.This establishes the bird's presence over 4 days as recently as a week ago. A birder could do worse than to check out the dam area of Lake Kokosing.

Another inland record of Lesser Black-backed Gull comes from Findlay Reservoir yesterday - Sue Ross et al.. Sue also reports a White-winged Crossbill from a feeder in Hancock County today. East Harbor S.P. highlights today also include a White-winged Crossbill bringing recent reports to 6 from 5 counties. Also at East Harbor a Brown Thrasher, and a surprising 16 Winter Wren. Here's a complete list. Bob Royse reports from Madison County:

There were 4 Short-Eared Owls and 3 Northern Harriers on Hume-Lever Rd. Other N.Harriers were seen on McGuire Rd. and BigPlain-Circleville Rd.. Presumably other Short-Eared Owls could be found on the other roads if I looked there after dusk. This area has proven to be a reliable spot to see Short-Eared Owls this time of year.

A late report of a Say's Phoebe last Thur. at Lake Kokosing in Knox County would be interesting if verified - Scott Albaugh. Apparently subsequent searches failed to relocate the bird. A report from the Wilds mentions 4 Short-eared Owls (Columbus RBA) while Killdeer Plains is presently hosting up to 30 Short-eared (Cece Johnston) and 5 Long-eared Owl. - Scott Albaugh. Cece also had a Surf Scoter on the reservoir for only the 2nd local record and 3 Rough-legged Hawks. The Lake Erie shoreline has been dull of late with few reports. On Saturday Wellington Reservoir in Lorain still held 400 Ruddy Duck, 600 coot, and about 60 Canvasback among other waterfowl - V.W.F.III. Moderate weather otherwise continues to disperse gulls and waterfowl. In the southwest a female White-winged Crossbill at Mitchell Memorial Forest demonstrated the knack for this species to appear ANYWHERE in the state during irruptive years. - Mike Busam et al. Darlene Sadler had 30 Sandhill Crane over her home in Hamilton County the same day. Lester Peyton reports the female White-winged Crossbill still present today and had another 8 Sandhill Crane overhead. Lastly, the first Northern Saw-whet Owl report I have received comes from Jenny Brumfield upon locating an individual at Sieberling Naturealm, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area on Saturday.

ROGU Update: At least 50 pairs of eyes were trained on Conneaut Harbor this morning but as of noon the bird has not been relocated. Up to 3 Little Gull and a flight of Snow Bunting (75+) were otherwise noted. A Glaucous Gull was found at nearby Ashtabula - J. Pogacnik.

Craig Holt discovered a Ross' Gull at Conneaut this morning about 9:00 am. Described as an adult bird, this would be a first state record. I understand that John Pogacnik watched it through dusk. The bird was frequenting the east side of the harbor. A more thorough review of this weekend's sightings will be posted tomorrow evening - V.W.F. III

No birding news but here's a new resource on Ohio birds, Ohio Wildlife Center , by Don Burton whom many of you know.

A Scarlet Tanager is coming to a feeder near Waterville. The Greater White-fronted Goose continues in the vicinity of the west end of Ottawa N.W.R. and the entrance of Metzger Marsh W.A. - Toledo RBA. Yesterday at Headlands Beach S.P. 2 Surf Scoter, 2 Red-throated Loons, and an Oldsquaw. A Turkey Vulture passed over Rocky River on the 5th. Eastlake held 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the 3rd, while an adult Merlin was at North Chagrin M.P. the same day. - Cleveland RBA. Killdeer Plains W.A. is producing the usual host of species that attract birders this time of year. The Washburn Rd area is again good for Lapland Longspur including 100 this morning - Bob Royse. Bob also had a nice tally of 300 American Tree Sparrows. Yesterday Gene Stauffer reported a similar complement of species along with a couple of Killdeer.

The King Eider off the breakwall from Mentor Headlands Beach S.P. was seen through at least yesterday - Cleveland RBA. The Snowy Owl at Findlay Reservoir, first sighted last Tuesday (Kathy Noblet and Sue Ross) was there today. - Sue Ross. Sue also had an Oldsquaw in Fostoria last Tuesday. Another flock of , this time 53 birds, passed over YMCA camp Kern (warren Co.) this morning - John Rakestraw.

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