Hello All . . . We received word this afternoon, from a very reliable source, of a probable Western Kingbird sighting in the Big Island WA in Marion County this mid-afternoon. The location is along a relatively new bike path (rails to trails) that runs parallel and to the North of SR 95. More specifically, the location was about half-way between SR 203 (a parking area there) and Espyville Road, to the West. An easier/closer access is from Hoch Road, which runs S from the DeCliffe/Big Island Road and dead-ends near the bike path (park and walk S past the gate about 100 yards to the bike path). The DeCliffe/Big Island Road, runs parallel and to the N of the bike path. If this seems confusing, accessing a map of the area should help.
     Although I spent about an hour and a half in that area (until about 6:00 pm) without re-locating the bird, it is still likely to be in that area. I would add that the first two weeks of September (based on past documented Ohio records) is 'prime time' for finding a Western Kingbird in Ohio, with 4 records during the first week of September, 4 records during the second week in September, and 2 records during the 3rd week of September. This data is taken from the OBRC Checklist from between 1980 and 2008, and there have been several more Fall records since then. In my Ohio experience with this species, they are often found in open areas with second growth trees/shrubs, along fence rows, and often on power line wires along/near railroad tracks or other roadways. And so, be vigilant and try to photo-document this rare Ohio Review-list bird if you should find this bird or another one.
Good Birding,
Dan Sanders
Central Ohio

Sent from my iPad
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