Fred Losi provides these details regarding his discovery of another NE Ohio Ross's Goose on Saturday.
Ohio
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Birding News
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The BIG CHILL has hit Ohio with a dramatic change in the status of both Lake Erie and inland waters. In a word, they are frozen. NW winds through Saturday had pushed sufficient ice against the south shore as to block out all but a few open slivers. Harbors west of Cleveland were equally choked in ice, moving in as one headed west - Tom Bartlett et al. The masses of gulls reported mid-week last week (see my Ohio-birds posting from last Thursday) were not to be located. As is the norm, Bonaparte's Gull have left the area but for a few thousand birds at Cuyahoga and Lake Co. gull venues. Certainly the bulk of the Ring-billed Gulls likely followed their exodus as no substantial concentrations were reported along the shoreline despite fairly extensive coverage by a number of field crews over the weekend. With so many eyes looking, a few of the rare but regular types were discovered. John Pogacnik's breakdown for the prime location E. 72nd st in Cleveland for Sunday was . . . .
2 Glaucous Gulls (1-1st year and 1 adult)
1 Iceland (1- beautiful 1st year)
1 Thayer's (1- 2nd year)
3 Lesser black-backed Gulls (1- 1st year, 1- 3rd year, and 1- adult)
The day before, Kevin Metcalf reports 4-5 Glaucous Gulls at the same location. Gabe Leidy also reports a 2nd-winter Thayer's Gull a short distance to the west at North Marginal Rd. - Quay 55 Appartments again on Sunday.A bit unusual mid-winter, Gabe also had a Black Scoter off Perkins Beach on Cleveland's west side. During a lakewatch from Lake Co. yesterday, John Pogacnik was equally surprised by the number of scoters on the move at this date. he reported ....
Surf Scoter - 1
White-winged Scoter - 1
Black Scoter - 3
dark-winged scoter spp. 24
A little more than 1700 Red-breasted Mergansers were also noted while Kevin Metcalf had sizeable numbers of both large mergansers from Eastlake.
Among rarities, the Stark Co. Ross's Goose was still present Sunday - Fred Dinkelbach. See below for location details.
Fred Losi provides these details regarding his discovery of another NE Ohio Ross's Goose on Saturday.
"Date: Saturday, January 10, 2003Sunday 11 Jan. 2004
Time: 9:00 - 9:30 AM
Location: Front yard of 8504 Melody Lane Macedonia, OH. I live next door at 8494 Melody Lane.
Conditions: Very Sunny and approximately 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Details: I viewed the bird arriving from the north in a v-formation with two Canada Geese. It landed in the front yard of my neighbor and was there for the next half hour. I had to participate in a family activity, so I did not see the bird leave. I got excellent looks at the bird from as close as 35 feet away. I did not see the bird feeding at all. It seemed inactive except when the Canada Geese had territorial disputes with it. There were 30 Canada Geese present with the Ross' Goose.
With regard to the ID, Fred correctly noted the following items: "Size is one of the reasons that I think it is Ross'. The primary reason I think it is Ross' is the lack of a grin patch."
Some miscellaneous file updates. Here is a PDF download of the Atlas field sheet provided by Doug Snapp.Tuesday 6 Jan. 2004
SEASONAL RARITIES: Tis the season for the Ohio Winter Bird Atlas and this survey effort, especially as concurrently undertaken by Christmas Bird Count participants, has been very successful in detecting some good mid-winter records. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are cool anywhere in Ohio in January, but northern records are definitely few and far between. A bird present in December at Independence Dam (Defiance Co.) was still there on Sunday - John Yochum. On the 1st, one was found at East Harbor State Park (Ottawa Co.) by Tom Bartlett. The next day on the opposite side of Sandusky Bay on the headquarters road for Pickerel Creek W.A a Gray Catbird sat alert displaying its crest (most unusual) in annoyance at this pestering observers pishing - V.W.F.III. Not to be outdone, another Gray Catbird was discovered the next day at Mitchell Memorial Forest (Hamilton Co.) - Kathy McDonald. Northern Mockingbird continue to be conspicuous appearing ever more frequently throughout the northwest to the shore of Lake Erie. The third mimid species in as many days for the NW portion of the state awaited Tom Bartlett at Springville Marsh SNP (Seneca Co.). There, a Brown Thrasher responded well to a Virginia Rail tape - sorry no rails to report. Northern Shrikes have been reported from several localities in December but the bird Saturday at Springville Marsh was a new locality for the year - Tom Bartlett. A shrike continues at Killdeer Plains W.A. but the bird was far too distant for Jay Lehman to determine whether it was the Northern or Loggerhead reported at that location earlier this winter. Winter Wrens have proven numerous at both East Harbor State Park and Springville Marsh. While Carolina Wrens were recorded in UNREAL numbers for the NW, especially the Sandusky Bay region. But these numbers are eclipsed by reports of a Sedge Wren in Darke Co. and House Wrens on the Hoover Reservoir CBC. Winter season reports of either of these species should be accompanied by documentation. A Brewer's Blackbird was back at the Miller Spring (state land blue hole just west of Castalia Pond off Rt. 6) where the observers Craig Rieker and Mike Gallaway had one last year on the same date. Nearby Resthaven W.A. was good for several Eastern Towhees and two Marsh Wrens both normally quite hard to come by in this area in January. A Marsh Wren staked out in northern Wyandot Co. during December was still present on the 3rd - Rick Counts. Unprecedented however, was the adult female Indigo Bunting closely studied roadside (Oxbow Rd.) at Resthaven - V.W.F.III, S.Carty, and S. Young. Elsewhere, a Dickcissel was still present in Holmes county - Marlin Weaver. A Savannah Sparrow at Killdeer Plains W.A. is a rare January location and a good find - Dan Sanders.
Among non-passerines birds of seasonal interest include the Common Loon on the 1st in the vicinity of Pickerel Creek W.A. - Craig Rieker and Mike Gallaway. Complementing this loon on the Gyspum CBC was a Pied -billed Grebe at the harbor entrance at Port Clinton - V.W.F.III. The area still hosted extraordinary numbers of Double-crested Cormorant with up to 92 roosting at Turning Point Island in Sandusky Harbor. Swans have been numerous. The Mute Swans which stage in the late fall at East Harbor State Park have had little incentive to move on. The Gypsum CBC tallied well over 100. Meanwhile migrant Tundra Swans have had equally little reason to continue on. About 650 were still present in the Sandusky Bay/Port Clinton region on the first with more than 500 present on the Darby Unit of Ottawa N.W.R. alone - Mark & Julie Shieldcastle. Waterfowl have been especially diverse with at least 26 species in the NW. These have included 2 Long-tailed Ducks as flybys off Metzger Marsh W.A. on Sunday, a Wood Duck at Springville Marsh SNP on Saturday. The latter species is notable anywhere in Ohio in January so two birds at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati on Friday (Neill Cade and Hank Armstrong) definitely rate a mention. Both Greater White-fronted Goose and Snow Goose on a pond along Rt. 67 in Wyandot Co. immediately south of Upper Sandusky - Rick Counts et al. Less than a mile away, also on Saturday, another pond hosted both Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal - Tom Bartlett / V.W.F.III. The Northern Pintail normally confined to a handful of southern Ohio reports in January has been especially widespread with a flock of up to nine birds in Wyandot Co. and a bird east to Sandy Ridge (Lorain Co.) - Sam Walker. Other less marginal over-wintering waterfowl (e.g. Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon) have been especially common. The 68 shovelers reported at Camp Denison this past week ( - Bob Foppe) is simply outstanding and may be a record for Ohio away from the wintering enclave of Castalia Pond. In fact it is worth highlighting the full diversity of waterfowl from Camp Denison as reported by Bob though much of this diversity, with the notable exception of the shovelers, had departed by yesterday:Monday 5 Jan. 2004
40 Pied-billed Grebes, 140 Canada Geese, 20 Gadwall, 50 Am Wigeon, 10 American Black Ducks, 70 Mallards, 68 Northern Shovelers, 3 Northern Pintails, 8 Green-winged Teal, 2 Canvasback, 1 Redhead, 300+ Ring neck Ducks, 4 Lesser Scaup, 6 Greater Scaup, 1 Common Goldeneye, 90 Hooded Mergansers, 30 Ruddy Ducks, mixed in with a group of 300+ American Coots.
For those of you relatively new to winter birding in Ohio those numbers were pretty much unheard of just 15 years ago. While still typically a notable attraction in the counties bordering Lake Erie, coots and Ring-necked Ducks continue to favor the Wellington Reservoir in Lorain County as a late season hang-out. Hundreds of both species were still present on Sunday - only about the third year I can recall triple digit concentrations for either species into January. The only scoter report I've received thus far this month has been that of a pair of Black Scoters on the first at East Harbor State Park.
Winter gulls have been weak thus far. The Lesser Black-backed Gull has not been too difficult to find in the Sandusky Bay/Marblehead Peninsula area recently with at least 4 different individuals present. Most have been immature birds appearing at such locales as East Harbor State Park and Dempsey Access on Marblehead and Pickerel Creek W.A. in Sandusky Co. - various observers. An Iceland Gull and two Dunlins were still present at Conneaut Harbor on Saturday - John Pogacnik. Just a little farther inland at the Rt. 7 exit with I 90, John noted 3 Turkey Vultures in flight. A bird in the NW however ran into some trouble as I found its very fresh carcass at roadside on the Metzger Marsh W.A. causeway Sunday (Do you think we can count it as a count week bird for the Ottawa CBC?).
RECENT STATE RARITIES:Kevin Metcalf kindly has provided this close-up of the Stark County Ross's Goose dispelling any notion of the inaccuracy of the identification. This bird was still present near Navarre on Saturday - Norman Lowe.Wednesday 31 Dec. 2003
The Selasphorus hummingbird was coming to the feeder in Massillon on the 2nd. - Elaine Snively. Elaine provides these directions
It is the home of Mary Jo and David Knowles. Their address is 3625 Southway, near the corner of Southway and Genoa Rds. They are very gracious and welcome visitors. Southway is north of U.S. 30 and south of 172 (the old Lincoln Highway).
The Butler Co. Rufous Hummingbird also made it into the January period being reported on the 1st by Hank Armstrong and Neill Cade.
There has been a veritable explosion of ornithological literature on Ohio in recent years; here's the latest book announcement:
Edited for Publication by Ronald L. Stuckey
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
A hardbound book of over 275 pages consisting primarily of Milt Trautman's commentaries on 223 birds of the western Lake Erie area covering the period 1920-1990.
Price to be determined
Anyone wishing to reserve their copy for prepublication sale should send their name and address to
Seems the State of Ohio has been bookended by Ammodramus species this past week. Matching the NE's Grasshopper Sparrow is the Henslow's Sparrow in the SW (near Milford) - Joe Bens & Ryan Atwater. This was one of 91 species found on the Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count - fide Ned Keller. See details on Ned's website provided by Jay Stenger.
Apparently there is some question regarding the purity of the Stark County Ross's Goose as the bird has been described as "long-legged". Hopefully more description will clear up the question. Ohio does have a history of sightings of the Ross's X Snow hybrid.
Moderate weather is expected through the weekend and should contribute to a number of half-hardy species lingering well into January. Still no exceptional reports of warblers or orioles, but 4 Dunlins remain at Conneaut Harbor as of the 29th - Craig Holt. Various Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been reported during the CBC period including north to Independence Dam (Defiance) - John Yochum; but this is not especially unusual. There are however very few January records north of Columbus. In addition to the prospect of interesting songbirds, should some of the larger bodies of water open up in the interior, some unique waterfowl concentrations may be recorded for the Winter Atlas.Monday 29 Dec. 2003
| Yet another Rufous Hummingbird has come to light. A juvenile female is coming to a feeder in Butler Co. This should be about the 12th Rufous Hummingbird of the fall migration matching last year's count. Should you wish to see this bird please contact the homeowners Richard & Robin Sauer. Apparently the Blendon Woods (Columbus) Rufous Hummingbird was last seen Christmas Day, while the Bath (Akron area) Rufous Hummingbird is still going strong as of the weekend (photo courtesy Judy Semroc). While this is the most northerly hummer remaining in Ohio this late in the season, it is surpassed regionally by the Kingston, Ontario bird still present yesterday.
Anyone wanting to keep up with the latest on the Post-breeding Hummingbird Distribution in the United States will want to bookmark this website by Stacy Jon Peterson. |
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The other Ohio rarity is the increasingly frequent Ross's Goose. The latest appearance is that of a bird in Stark county. The intial report was related thusly on the 24th . . .
"A Ross's Goose was hanging out in a small pond near Navarre in Stark County today with some Canadas and domestic waterfowl. Go East out of Navarre on Fohl Road. Just before you reach Shepler Church Rd there is a small side street, Dee Mar that goes left into a residential area. The geese are really close to the road in a small pond". - Charlotte, Mike, and Jeff Greenfelder
The bird was subsequently verified by Jason Larson and most recently reported yesterday - Susan Ruth Marengo.
With the springlike conditions yesterday, and a moderate December overall, there has been a relative dearth of late lingering songbirds. To be sure, the Grasshopper Sparrow found by Kevin Metcalf Saturday at Headlands Beach State Park for the Mentor CBC was a great regional find, but not much else stands out. Craig Rieker had a couple of Virginia Rails at Lake Abrams yesterday and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet at Sieberling Naturealm (Summit co.) remains - Woody Stover. In a cattail marsh in northern Wyandot Co. Rick Counts reports a Marsh Wren.
Winter visitors of note include the now annual wintering Golden Eagle at The Wilds. Lis Boehm reports an immature bird there on Saturday. Northern Shrikes have been hard to come by as have virtually all winter irruptives. Along with the usual resident at Killdeer Plains W.A. (Wyandot Co.) a bird remains at Holden Arboretum as of the 27th - Haans Petruschke. Another bird has been reported for Maumee Bay State Park (in the vicinity of The Hill), and a fourth along the causeway at Magee Marsh W.A. In the same Wyandot Co. marsh, Rick also had a flock of 5 Brewer's Blackbirds. These are the first of the season I've heard about.Sunday 28 Dec. 2003
Some interesting news items from elsewhere courtesy Kathy MockSaturday 20 Dec. 2003
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | NZ seabird returns 150 years on
be sure to check out the related items regarding rediscoveries of "lost species" in Brazil and Fiji earlier this year.
I've been corrected regarding the number of Rufous Hummingbirds still present this week in Ohio. At least SIX birds are coming to feeders. In addition to the closely followed Columbus area and Akron area birds previously mentioned, there are two birds in the Dayton area, another in Columbia Twp. in Lorain County, and Maumee in the Toledo area. The latter bird may be visited by birders. Please refer to Bill Whan's 18 Dec. post to Ohio-birds (link above) for directions and other details.
Bob Royse reports both Loggerhead and Northern Shrikes are in residence at Killdeer Plains W.A. in Wyandot Co. as of yesterday. This is the third year in a row for the appearance of the state endangered Loggerhead at KPWA during the late fall/early winter period. Speculation that the same individual is involved may not be undeserved in this case.
Still noteworthy inland, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was discovered Thursday at Berlin Reservoir (Stark/Portage/Mahoning Co.) by Ben Morrison. Ten years ago, I would have taken any report of a Turkey Vulture after Thanksgiving in the counties bordering Lake Erie as noteworthy. Most readers of this space are aware such sightings are no longer all that rare. Even so, I think it worth noting those more northerly records after the first half of December. Yesterday, Tom Bartlett had a bird over Tiffin (Seneca Co.) while Wednesday Dave Horn had a bird over I-71 just a couple of miles south of Cleveland Hopkins Airport (Cuyahoga Co.).Wednesday 17 Dec. 2003
| Larry Rosche has made available these images of recent rarities. At least two Rufous Hummingbirds remain in Ohio. The female at Blendon Woods in Columbus and the adult male, pictured here, coming to a feeder in Bath Twp., Summit Co.
Below is a Purple Sandpiper photographed by Larry at Headlands Beach State Park last Thursday. |
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Jen Brumfield has made available these images of the Bath Ohio Rufous Hummingbird. This adult male, present since late September, was photodocumented 2 Nov. This image by David Brumfield are from a digital camera through a window.Monday 24 November 2003
Art Osborn photographed this interesting icterid at Wildwood Park, Toledo late this afternoon. I leave them for you to make the determination as to identity. We have a medium-sized blackbird, with a bill seemingly too fine for a male grackle and too straight for a Brown-headed Cowbird. Unlike a Rusty or a Brewer's Blackbird the eye is reddish-brown. There is a purplish cast to the flight feathers and around the nape. In one angle, the facial area is a mask of black. Enjoy . . .
