Hi all,



To augment Ray Hannikman and John Pogacnik's reports, I also saw huge
numbers of sparrows along the lakefront today. Starting before 6 am this
morning in downtown Cleveland, I figured it would be good as I heard the
call notes of White-throated Sparrows passing low overhead in the darkness.
A quick check of a tiny postage stamp-sized park just east of the downtown
Merriott hotel revealed probably 150+ White-throated Sparrows foraging
amongst the ornamental hostas and in the crabapples. They were everywhere -
even on city sidewalks - along with many Dark-eyed Juncos and a few other
species.



Later, our group had a field trip into the Cedar Point unit of Ottawa
National Wildlife Refuge, just east of Maumee Bay. The brush and marsh
vegetation along the dikes were absolutely filled with sparrows, mainly
White-throated. It was impossible to accurately estimate numbers, but no
doubt many thousands of White-throateds were in that area. There were also
many White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and some Chipping and Swamp
Sparrows among others. Based on the other reports, it seems like the
Zonotrichia (White-throated/White-crowned) movement must have been all along
the Lake Erie shoreline and in massive numbers.



Good numbers of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, Hermit Thrushes, and
Yellow-rumped Warblers were also around. Not many other warblers left, but
we had Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue,
Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Common Yellowthroat, and rather late
Blackburnian and American Redstart.



A Merlin shot by at Cedar Point, overflying many thousands of waterfowl.
Common to abundant were Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black
Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, along with some Northern
Shoveler and Northern Pintail.



Jim



Jim McCormac

Columbus, Ohio

Like nature? Visit my blog: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/

Like birds? Join the Ohio Ornithological Society: http://www.ohiobirds.org






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