My husband and I made the trek up to see the Harris’ Sparrow at the Miller’s
today.  It was so worth the drive from Columbus!  The two of us, plus a
couple of other visitors, were immediately greeted by two of the Miller
boys, their scope and binoculars at the ready.  After about an hour in the
mud, bitter cold, driving wind, and horizontal snow flurries, we took a
lunch break.  Of course, upon our return, we learned that the Harris’ had
put in an appearance in our absence.  RATS.  But it only took about 15 more
minutes, as the sun broke through, for the youngest Miller boy, Wayne, to
spot the prize bird on the ground with a bunch of white-crowns.  Wayne is
the one who originally spotted the Harris’ weeks ago and he is quite
enthusiastic about birding.  A gracious and generous host indeed!  My
husband and I were # 353 and 354 in the guest book.  Wayne said that birders
have come from as far away as Indiana!

 

Also at the Miller’s today were rusty blackbirds, a mockingbird, house
finches, downy, American robins, killdeer, song sparrows, and nuthatches.
On our drive there and back (via 161 – 62 – 39 – 401 – 406), we enjoyed
seeing (from the warmth of our moving car) a great blue heron, flocks of
red-winged blackbirds over corn-stubbled fields, a pair of turkey vultures,
endless American crows, Canada geese in flooded fields, mourning doves, rock
pigeons, several kestrels perched on power lines, Eastern bluebirds,
mallards, hooded mergansers, common grackles, a flock of 8 wild turkeys in a
field near Millersburg, European starlings, red-bellied woodpecker, and a
pair of red-shouldered hawks.

 

Even this blustery March day couldn’t put a damper on our enthusiasm for
birding.  A great day!

 

Gerry Brevoort, Columbus

 

 


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