PUBLICATIONS

Publication TYPE: Ohio-birds listserv posting
Date: 1 Dec 2004
Subject: Western Basin 29-30 Nov 2004

Western Basin 29-30 Nov2004

Some odds and ends sightings the past couple of days from the Western Basin. Ned Bixler related that on Monday (29 Nov) there were 5 Greater White-fronted Geese at Maumee Bay S.P. and a great many Snow Geese at Ottawa N.W.R. visible from Veler Rd.

I was at Veler Rd. around 11:00 am on Tue (30th) with no waterfowl visible at all. Nor were there any to be seen just to the north along Lucas-Ottawa County line Rd.

There is a surprising amount of standing water in the fields especially along Benton-Carroll Rd. off Rt. 2; reminds one of an early spring landscape. A few Canadas were along Benton-Carroll as well as a modest blackbird flock estimated at

1200+ Rusty Blackbirds
5000+ Red-winged Blackbirds
2500+ European Starlings

High water was found along the Toussaint and Turtle Creek access points and no shorebirds were detected. There was a single Great Egret remaining on the Toussaint R. visible from Rt. 2. No shorebirds (or anything else) was found along the Little Portage at Oak-Harbor SE Rd., Muddy Creek, or the Sandusky Oxbow.

Lake Erie was almost as smooth as glass offshore at Sherod Park (Erie Co.). Usually unremarkable in anything less than a gale, I was surprised to find the following resting offshore.

 

39 Common Goldeneyes
40+ Buffleheads
600 Red-breasted Mergansers


plus a flyby Belted Kingfisher

At Vermilion, only a handful of gulls resting on rocks jutting out from the shoreline included a 3rd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull which posed nicely for photography. The bird was one of those with mostly pink legs although the photos revealed dirty mustard yellow feet.

cheers

Vic Fazio
Shaker Hts, OH