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December 1998

The cold snap last week proved incentive for a few reluctant migrants. Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans have been particularly notable in their exodus. Tundra Swans were over Shaker Hts last Tue. (V.W.F.III) while the same day a flock of 56 Sandhill Cranes were seen flying over Findlay Res. - Betty Hardesty and Anna Scarbrough . On Saturday, Donald Morse noted 50+ birds overhead appx. 5-7 miles south of East Fork State Park (Clermont Co. ) ; coincidence? In between, the most stunning observation was left for Regina Schieltz to make the day before Christmas when 110 Sandhills were followed "from Versailles to Arcanum" late in the evening over Darke Co. Such a number this late in the season may be unprecedented for Ohio. On Saturday, 4 Sandhills were seen over the reservoir at Killdeer Plains W.A. - Tom Bartlett et al.. Tundra Swan were on the move Monday with 13 flying southeast past Headlands Beach S.P. - Nick Barber

As many as 5 Purple Sandpipers have been seen in the Fairport Harbor area - Ray Hannikman et al. in the past week. These birds are variously observed on the breakwall leading out to a lighthouse at Headlands Beach S.P. or from the beach at Fairport Harbor looking out to an offshore breakwall (scope necessary). Jenny also reports a 1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Eastlake Power Plant last Thur. Nick Barber reports a Glaucous Gull at Eastlake on Monday. A Pied-billed Grebe at Headlands last Wed. is one of very few I've heard lingering past the freeze. - Kevin Metcalf. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was off the beach at Magee Marsh W.A. on Saturday while a Northern Goshawk was reported just north of the headquarters building at Ottawa N.W.R. - John Pogacnik. Yesterday, Tom Bartlett located a Marsh Wren along the Magee Marsh causeway (at the first bend). A Northern Goshawk has generated a couple of reports in the Fairport Harbor/Mentor marsh area from last Tue. through Monday - Nick Barber, Emil Bacik. Nick also had a Surf Scoter at Fairport Harbor on Monday. Two more at Sims Park in Cleveland were noted the 23rd - Joe Hammond and Dan Sanders. Joe also reports that a 1st year Thayer's Gull afforded good looks at Avon Lake Power Plant on the 23rd. Another Lesser Black-backed Gull was viewed on the 23rd by Scott and Brad Jackson in Sandusky Bay from the north end of the old Bay View bridge parallel Rt 2.

Birds of interest today at Killdeer Plains W.A. include 3 Long-eared Owls (present since the 11th - Greg Emmert et al.) and a Northern Saw Whet Owl in "the Pines" near the Cedar Oak farm (present since the weekend). A Northern Shrike was detected 1.5 miles east of Pond 27, a new location - possibily representing a third territory. The bird along CH 75 just west of Ch 115 has been reported several times the past week - m.obs. Appx. 80+ Lapland Longspurs were along Washburn Rd. with another 200 larks. The goose flock at Pond 27 made up of hundreds of Canadas at rest on the ice, yielded 3 Greater White-fronts poking their heads above the crowd. Yesterday, Jenny Brumfield had better luck viewing the birds coming into Pond 27 allowing a count of 28 - a very high number for the state this late in the season. Another extraordinary number was provided by the 49 Eastern Meadowlarks at two location east and west of the Sportman's Center. Another 20 Eastern Meadowlarks were tallied at Fireside in NE Seneca Co. last Wed. - Tom Bartlett. Five Tundra Swans were present on the reservoir today.

Elsewhere: The Short-eared Owl tally at the CRP lands of Fireside (Seneca Co. ) must be revised up from the weekend's 16 (Tom Bartlett). This afternoon Tom and I managed 42 in one sweep of the horizon, ultimately estimating not less than 50 birds, accompanied by 3 Rough-legged Hawks, and 12+ Northern Harriers. The show was spectacular not just for the concentration of raptors but for the aerobatics involving multiple owls at heights in excess of 300 feet, occasionally in steep dives upon hapless Rough-legged Hawks. Dave Hochadel relates the following

"Walt Sturgeon reports that there were 20 to 30 Short-eared Owls along Lusk's Lock Rd in Columbiana County on the evening of 12-24. They have been annual for several years now at this location consisting of grassy fields on reclaimed strip mines. See Delorme page 53. The road is on the map but not named, just south of B-6. Go south from Rogers on SR 7 then west on Pine Hollow Rd. About 1 mile past Dutchman'sSchool Rd. is Lusk's Lock Rd. Go south and start checking the fields. "

In Tiffin, Brian Barchus updated the status of the Common Snipe locating 9 birds yesterday immediately below the wastewater treatment plant. A half dozen Killdeer were also present. A Killdeer was also noted at Green Lawn Ave. dam in Columbus last Thur. - Richard Cressman. Several cormorants were also locally noteworthy there. At La Due Reservoir on Sunday, Kevin Metcalf had a Dunlin and 4 Killdeer.

The outstanding songbird report of the Lakewood CBC (27 Dec.) is a House Wren. - fide Rich Kassouf. Reported the same day on the Cincinnati count (Jackson L., near Batavia) was a tanager spp. - Ohio's only December report (last year) was identified as a Scarlet while a late Nov. bird in 1993 was described as a Summer Tanager. Based on Great Lakes regional records involving 15 tanagers in recent years, Summer Tanager is the clear favorite. Not to be overlooked, a 1st yr male Common Yellowthroat has been a Worthington (Columbus area) back yard fixture since the 20th - Susan Woolard (wbd@ee.net). A Chipping Sparrow visited a North Perry feeder (Lake Co.) yesterday - John Pogacnik.

A first for an Ohio Christmas Bird Count, an American Avocet was found on the Toledo count Sunday at Cullen Park. - Tom Kemp and Greg Links. At left is an American Avocet at Cullen Park 17 Nov. Same bird? Photo courtesy Arthur Osborne.

A Ross's Goose has been confirmed for Wood County.Tom Kemp relates :

. . . identified at Williamsburg-on-the-River in Wood County, Ohio. This area is at the junction of Rtes. 65 and 235 (DeLorme page 36, A-2). From the above junction, proceed south on 235 about 1/4 mile to Back Bay Road. Turn left on Back Bay and follow it around to the larger of two lakes on your left or north. The goose has been seen most frequently in this area but does come and go. Be aware that there are also a few white domestic geese in the area.

Until next week . . . best of the season. - V.W.F.III.

The first weekend of CBCs has given me something to write about after a dearth of news lately. On Friday, the Lake Erie Islands count produced an immature Harlequin Duck off Kelley's Island shore. On Saturday, at Lorain the Common Tern, present now a month, continues on the docks. Franklin's and Little Gulls were also discovered in the harbor. - John Pogacnik Tiffin highlights for Saturday include 6 Common Snipe, 14 Killdeer, and an Eastern Phoebe. The Kelleys Island monthly census yesterday produced Black-crowned Night Heron, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Tom and I were to combine for 71 species yesterday on the way home to Tiffin. Another half dozen were had at Killdeer Plains in the evening included 3 Sandhill Crane on pond 27. The East Harbor State Park flock of Mute Swan has built to 59 while the bay duck concentration (virtually all Lesser Scaup) has reached 5000+ birds. While we frequently see such numbers on the open waters of Lake Erie, these birds are on an enclosed portion of East Harbor. The Tiffin snipe were still present yesterday on the Sandusky R. immediately below the outfall of the wastewater treatment plant. Highlights of the Hamilton CBC Sat. included a Red-necked Grebe (Great Miami R. downtown Hamilton), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Camp Cambell Garr), and Gray Catbird (Gilmore Ponds) - Mike Busam. On the Cleveland CBC Sat., a Pomarine Jaeger was located at Eastlake P.P. - fide Jean Hoffman.

Elsewhere: A Lark Sparrow was present on an Amish farm near New Bedford (Cochocton/Holmes Co. line) on the 12th - Paul Rosenberry. A Northern Shrike has appeared in Chesterland the past few days. - Haans Petruschke. An American White Pelican continues in southwest Franklin County as of yesterday - Robert Evans Robert questions whether it is the same individual as that seen earlier this month in Columbus. As of the 12th, 2 Greater and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs were still present at Ottawa N.W.R. - Bob Bell. Bob also had 18 Killdeer and 17 Dunlin there. Too bad we won't be able to determine what may be lingering at Ottawa come the Christmas Bird Count in January. The federal powers that be have closed Ottawa that day, substituting a census that began a century ago as a substitute outdoor activity for hunting, with - guess what - a day of hunting. Doubtless the irony is lost on the local management, as they are certainly oblivious to the impact on more than 3 decades of data collection at that site. - V.W.F.III

Site statistics software tell me this page is read 1200-1400 times each week. Thank you for your patronage. - V.W.F.III

The American White Pelican is still present at Green Lawn Dam in Columbus - m.obs.

Craig Rieker has verified the adult male Baltimore Oriole at an Olmsted Falls feeder. The bird was still present yesterday.

In sharp contrast to November, so far Dec. reports have been pretty slow. Oddly, at a time when I should be noting gull highlights, I find myself writing about warblers. Outstanding, although not unprecedented, was a Yellow Warbler found at Lorain Harbor yesterday - Matt Victoria. On Saturday, John Pogacnik discovered a HY male American Redstart in a patch of Phragmites behind his house in North Perry (Lake Co.). Wonder whether the HY male across the lake at Long Point last week was still being seen. Other notable stragglers include two Barn Swallows yesterday over a field along Veler Rd. in the vicinity of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge - Matt Victoria.

Elsewhere: David Dister had a flock of 27 Sandhill Crane winging their way south over "Beaver Creek Township, western Greene County" yesterday morning. The twelve Short-eared Owls at Killdeer Plains W.A. continue as of yesterday. Bill and Roxanne Rinehart also had 1 Long-eared and a Barred Owl in "The Pines" at Killdeer Plains. Casey Tucker reports a "winter plumage" Red-necked Grebe on Acton Lake (Hueston Woods State Park) yesterday; seen much of the day. Raptor highlights from "The Wilds" in Muskingum County this past Saturday include 1 Short-eared Owl, 14 Northern Harriers, and 5 Rough-legged Hawks. Forty Bufflehead there is a high count for the southeast. - Jason larson Last Friday, Joe McMahon and Bill Bosstic spotted a Brewer's Blackbird at Ross Lake just east of Chilicothe. Lakeshore MP produced a Ruby-crowned Kinglet on Saturday - John Pogacnik.

A 1st yr Northern Gannet, possibly the same bird reported last Sunday at Lorain Harbor, was seen flying into Fairport Harbor today, passing west over the observers on the breakwall at Headlands Beach State Park. - Nick Barber and Ray Hannikman. Nick also reports a Purple Sandpiper on the island breakwall at Fairport Harbor and a 1st yr Thayer's Gull at Eastlake. The Huron 1st yr Thayer's Gull was well seen today across the river from the pier - Leroy Yoder et al. . The adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was also present, as was an adult off the Lorain docks. Gulls are beginning to gather within the Lorain impoundment once again with Leroy's group discovering a Franklin's Gull among them. A quick check of the Sheldon Marsh mudflat produced a shorebird bonanza. Present were 41 Killdeer, 14 Common Snipe, 2 Dunlin, 1 Least Sandpiper, 1 mystery peep, 1 Wilson's Phalarope, TWO Lesser Yellowlegs, and 1 Greater Yellowlegs. - V.W.F.III. It's appropriate on a day of record heat across the state (locally reaching 66 F), that the Wilson's Phalarope should become the latest on record for Ohio. Instead of spinning today, the phalarope and both Lesser Yellowlegs engaged in this intricate weaving ballet over the drier sandflat, frantically picking at the surface of the substrate rather than probing within it or the shallows. Again I suspect, interstitial arthropods, oligochaets, etc. are tough to come by, the resource of the moment being sandflies or of that ilk. Interestingly, the Greater Yellowlegs seemed a bit put off by all this activity keeping itself at the periphery of the fray, making stabs yes, but for every one by it, the other birds made three. The smaller Tringa and the phalarope made the Greater Yellowlegs look downright sluggish. After casting aspersions upon December Lesser Yellowlegs reports looks like I must eat some crow. Noticed 1000+ coming into roost by the Tiffin mall this evening. Just let me grab my knife and fork . . .

The Lake Co. Rufous Hummingbird was not seen today - John Pogacnik. The American White Pelican continues at Green Lawn Dam as of this afternoon - Robert Evans.

I followed up on the yellowlegs report at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and found 2 juvenile Greater Yellowlegs, not Lessers. The birds are in the far northwest pond where many shorebird observations were had earlier in the season. Elsewhere at Ottawa there were 109 Tundra Swan, 260 Green-winged Teal, 2 Snow Bunting, and 10 Killdeer. I realize the number of birds does not generate the obvious thrill it does for me as for many others. But the discovery of 260 Green-winged Teal, no doubt observed by any recent visitor, yet not commented upon, speaks volumes regarding the nature of this fall migration and therein of greater import than a few straggling glamour birds e.g. orioles. As neat as those discoveries are, to tally at a single site more of a species than recorded during the entire winter season, for all of Ohio, for the past 5 years COMBINED says more about resource (food, habitat, etc.) availability than a few vagrants. Just a reminder not to overlook this type of contribution to the birding database. - V.W.F.III

The Columbus (Green Lawn Dam) American White Pelican was seen at dusk yesterday - Robert Evans. Observations indicate this to be a different individual from that seen through November at Shaker Lakes. This is quite likely the latest seasonal record of the species for Ohio.

The Lake Co. Rufous Hummingbird remains as of Wed. - John Pogacnik.

Yet another adult male Baltimore Oriole was identifed in recent days. This one discovered by Barb Sponseller on Tuesday at Ottawa National Wildlife Area. The bird was within the shrubbery appx. 100 yards down the dike between the 2nd and 3rd ponds north from the parking lot. The Ottawa area has come alive this week after seemingly much neglect this fall. Going further down the above dike, and travelling to the right, Barb also noted 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, apparently the bird from last week found some company. There were also 55 Snow Geese and 77 Tundra Swan. It would be nice to get some documentation of these Lesser Yellowlegs as I don't know if the one or two Dec. sightings for Ohio were ever documented acceptably. Elsewhere nearby, blackbirds are flocking "at the corner of SR163 and SR51 then went east to SR163 and Nissen Rd., northeast to Elliston-Trowbridge Rd. and True Rd., east to Graytown Rd. and True Rd." - fide Joe Hammond. Following up on an earlier report of Brewer's Blackbirds from this vicinity, Dan Sanders located 5 Brewer's Blackbirds and a 1st winter male Yellow-headed Blackbird on Tuesday. Brewer's Blackbirds have clearly increased in recent years where I believe they should be epected every year in late fall throughout western Ohio. Whether this increase is tied to the continued breeding range extension eastwards or their presence has been overlooked is hard to distinguish. I suspect both a greater number of birds and a greater awareness of the species, as well as increasing familiarity by Ohio birders with identification, is leading to these increased reporting rates. A lone male Brewer's Blackbird was present yesterday east to Medusa Marsh, a bird walking on a mudflat in and about a flock of Killdeer. At least 10 birds were at Killdeer Plains north of the Sportman's Center on CH75 yesterday - V.W.F.III. Evidence of the mild season can be found in the tremendous numbers of Great Blue Heron and Double-crested Cormorant still to be found on Marblehead peninsula in Ottawa County. Yesterday East Harbor State Park alone was occupied by 96 herons and 80 cormorants. An equally stunning flock was the incredible 53 Mute Swans, representing more than half of the record state count for an entire winter season. For all of ODNR's laudable efforts to curb the breeding population in Ohio, the exploding numbers in the northern Great Lakes will continue to disperse, with many finding a home in Ohio.

Yesterday, at Medusa Marsh, the mudflat at the northwest corner of the main pool ( a mile east of Bay View), held a Baird's Sandpiper just 20 yards from the car for a thorough study. Two Common Snipe were across the pool at the edge of another flat. Killdeer numbers had doubled to 42 from Tuesday. Good numbers of Green-winged Teal are still present. A mile south on Rt 269 (from Rt 2) a drake Wood Duck has been present all week. Along the Old Cedar Point causeway (a mile west of Sheldon Marsh SNP) the lone drake Northern Pintail had company with two more joining him. The flats are extensive here. At no time have I seen Lake Erie so low in the past 25 years. It must appear as it once did to old-timers who speak of driving on the beaches before the floods of the 1960's. Where Tuesday was dismal for shorebirds, yesterday was brilliant. Along the causeway, on the east side, a channel lined with grasses, was also lined with shorebirds. All told, 16 Killdeer, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, and the Wilson's Phalarope from the weekend were to seen within 15 yards of the roadway. - V.W.F.III. At Huron pier, one of the adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls was in evidence providing a very close study, while even closer was a 1st yr Thayer's Gull. Other adult Lesser Black-backs include one on the docks at Lorain and another in the shallows west of the pier on Wednesday - Joe Hammond et al.. Joe also had a Dunlin within the impoundment, and an adult Common Tern on the docks present since Monday. On Monday Joe and Dan Sanders, had a 1st winter Little Gull , a 1st winter Black-crowned Night Heron, and a 1st winter Thayer's Gull at Lorain. The Avon Lake Great Black-backed Gull was up to 125 from Sunday's 113.

I was left with impression Tuesday that the bulk of the Killdeer Plains W.A. Greater White-fronted Geese had left for good. But yesterday, back they were. All 92 on the distant flat as is their want, well apart from the Canada's. Two white-fronts associate with the Canada's and do not join the 92 when these birds leave for the fields each day. Another 13 Greater White-fronted Geese were found 2.5 miles north of Pond 27 along CH 113. The Short-eared Owl flock at Killdeer Plains numbers at least 12 with most seen in the vicinity of the manager's headquarters on CH 113 - V.W.F.III. Elsewhere, two Snow Geese, one white and the other blue phase were seen on a large farm pond off State Route 1234 several miles south of Wilmington in Clinton County - Larry Gara. Sighted there the previous day by Linda and Ed Roush.

Shortly before 2:00 pm today, Robert Evans found himself viewing an American White Pelican "standing in the shallows on the point above Greenlawn Dam, preening". The previous latest record for Ohio is 29 Nov. I wonder if the immature bird is still at Horseshoe Lake in the Shaker Lakes park system, having moved there of its own accord when dredging operations began last week on the lake it was occupying. I saw it there last Thursday. - V.W.F.III

The Killdeer Plains W.A. Ross's Goose and Greater White-fronted Geese were still present at sunrise yesterday morning. However, on opening day of the gun season for deer, pretty soon it sounded like the 4th of July (no exaggeration - I thought it was pheasant they were after, the shots came so fast and furious). A couple of orange-vested individuals began making their way along the far north dike of Pond 27, which is ostensibly a game refuge. Their presence forced the wave of geese which included 1000 Canada's to set off the mud bars coming much closer my way. The Ross's Goose was plainly evident as such, whether by a short neck, stubby bill, or overall size. When a Snow Goose eclipsed the Ross's Goose, only the head (and none of the neck) of the Ross's Goose was to be seen above the back of the Snow Goose. I also had the benefit of watching the Snow Goose flock sail past 9 "Richardson's Goose". While possibly a tad bulkier than the hutchinsoni Canadas, the Ross's Goose profile was no higher than any of these birds. The Greater White-fronted Geese (save three) chose flight rather than the water. For the next twenty minutes, 92 birds circled Pond 27 gaining altitude, calling all the while. At somewhere between 1500 and 2000 feet, when the cacophony took on a distant crane quality, the V formed up into the light westerly breeze and kept going. At about the time they had set wing, the 9 Snow Geese accompanied by the Ross's Goose, took off. They only spent about 10 minutes gaining altitude. In that time, the flock circled before me a dozen or more times allowing very close scrutiny of the two species in flight. The Snows were made up of 5 adult whites, 2 adult blues, an immature blue, and a classic intergrade of blue and white. In comparison with an adult white Snow Goose flying in tandem with the Ross's Goose, the length of the Ross's, beginning even with tail tips, would bring the Ross's bill tip no further than mid-neck on the Snow Goose. The Ross's is also bulkier in the chest, not as streamline as a Snow.

I mention all this because of the apparent difficulty some parties had in separating this Ross's Goose out from the rest of the flock. And because, in the early morning light, this event easily qualifies as one of the more glorious avian spectacles I have witnessed in Ohio. - V.W.F.III.

My purpose in going to Killdeer Plains W.A. was to record several of the lingering shorebirds for the winter period. However, they had other plans. Not a snipe, yellowlegs, Dunlin, or Least Sandpiper to be found. Forty-four Killdeer were momentarily present but most of them took off shortly after I arrived a few minutes after sunrise. A check of the "Owl Pines" only found a deer hunter set up shop, so I retreated quickly. A similar story at Sheldon Marsh SNP, where no Wilson's Phalarope was to be seen. To the west along the Old Cedar Point causeway, the extensive flats were home to 37 Killdeer, a Dunlin, and a peep. At first this was clearly an adult basic Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper, and very active running about the dry portion of the flat. Initially it was side by side with the Dunlin, and distinctly smaller. The bill was short, very short. There are no documented Ohio records of Semipalmated Sandpiper after late October, and I doubt any for the midwest. As such, given a WESA/SESA in the field this late, one usually automatically calls this a Western Sandpiper. In Florida, I certainly would. But the short bill and diminutive size, even for a 'peep', bother me. That, and having left my KOWA at home, require me to beg off any identification. I did eventually determine from the rapid running and flutter flight that the bird was likely picking at flies/gnats over the sand, a few of which were in evidence around the car.

After visiting Medusa Marsh and East Harbor the day's Killdeer total was upped to 115, and the known species total reached 69 for the first of December. - V.W.F.III

Elsewhere: Matt Victoria had no less than three Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the Huron pier yesterday. If that impresses you call the Toledo RBA to learn of the flock of SEVEN just outside of town in Michigan. The Lake Co. Rufous Hummingbird was present yesterday - John Pogacnik.

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