On the way back to Cincinnati after a weekend visit to family in the
area, we encountered a small flock, maybe 20 birds, of Bonaparte's
Gulls feeding in a tilled corn field. At least one in non-breeding
plumage but all others seen had the full black cap. They were on the
south side of National Rd, due west of Cridersville, a small burg
along the Allen and Auglaize county line (DeLorme 45C6).

They were bobbing and weaving above the field in the strong north
winds and would come down to grab some apparently worthwhile snack.
We stopped the car and watched for a few seconds and got some very
nice close looks. Actually probably as close as I have ever seen
them. We were not far from Bresler Reservoir as the gull flies, maybe
10 minutes by car, but it was still an unusual sight. Who knows what
other migrants pass through unnoticed between the barns and fields of
western rural Ohio?

My father-in-law's property in Allen County nearby had a few
interesting birds including a Wood Duck, a possible Green Heron, two
pair of Northern Flickers tussling over a nest box, an Eastern
Phoebe, Eastern Bluebirds, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglets,
American Tree Sparrows, and Eastern Towhees.

Bill Zimmerman
Cincinnati

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