MCWL finished 2008 with a white-fronted goose (Jeff Harvey) for a total of 
183 species  (all confirmed by photo and/or multiple observers) for the 
year -- thanks once again to our faithful observers Jeff Harvey, Jim Dolan 
and Bob/Denise Lane and occasional visits from CMNH staff. Two other rare-
for-Ohio species, cinnamon teal (Bob/Denise) and least tern (Jeff) did not 
have sufficient documentaton for listing. 

Breeding species on the 260-acre sanctuary included bald eagle, green 
heron, black-crowned night-heron (possible), hooded merganser, common 
moorhen, pied-billed grebe, American coot, marsh wren, plus dozens of 
other species, all of which were listed on the Ohio Atlas in 2007. All 
waterfowl species suffered high losses of young from a large population of 
snapping turtles. The fledgling moorhens, and grebes appeared to have been 
completely wiped out by the turtles and the many raptors prowling the 
sanctuary daily. 

Visitors included ibis species, very probably glossy, which stayed for 
several days in the midst of the great egret flocks (highest GREG count 
was 47). A whimbrel, willet (possible) and American bittern also were 
observed for one-day visits, plus the shorebirds listed below. 

As always, a main focus of the sanctuary is migrating shorebirds. We had 
good numbers during both spring and summer/fall migrations on the 
mudlflats maintained for these declining species. The unusual shorebird 
visitors were whimbrel, marbled godwit (Jim), American avocet and Wilson's 
phalarope (Larry Rosche). 

Shorebirds -- 25 species: 
Black-bellied plover (many), American golden plover (few), semipalmated 
plover (many), killdeer (many), American avocet (1 or 2), spotted 
sandpiper (at least 2 broods), solitary sandpiper (many), greater 
yellowlegs (dozens), willet (1 possible), lesser yellowlegs (hundreds), 
whimbrel (1 observed), marbled godwit (several), ruddy turnstone (few), 
sanderling (few), semipalmated sandpiper (hundreds), least sandpiper 
(hundreds), white-rumped sandpiper (1 or 2), Baird's sandpiper (1 or 2), 
pectoral sandpiper (hundreds), dunlin (many), stilt sandpiper (few), short-
billed dowitcher (dozens), Wilson's snipe (dozens), American woodcock (1 
or 2), Wilson's phalarope (1 obs). Total shorebird numbers at the 
sanctuary rose to nearly a thousand at times.  

The species list with all details, including dates, can be found on eBird 
under Hotspots in the state - Ohio - Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. 

Once again, serious birders are welcome to email to make arrangements to 
visit the sanctuary with one of our observers.  
 
Bill Jones
Canfield (Youngstown)

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