Hello all,
         For those that do not like reading long posts, this is a long
post...

         Summer birding can be frustrating, especially for those birders
with no close access to suitable habitat. For those looking for open-field
and grassland nesters in Cuyahoga County, the Squire Valleevue Farm run by
CWRU is an excellent location. The only other meadow habitats of this
caliber are a few places in the National Park, but those may be in Summit
County. Without fail, if you visit the farm about 2 hours before sunset,
you can find nearly a dozen Bobolinks displaying and calling in the field
immediately west of the parking lot. As you walk, you will see hordes of
Eastern Bluebirds on the trail immediately in front of you. Field Sparrows
trill in the distance, and Tree Swallows glide overhead. If you make the
first right, turning north from the westbound trail, you can cut between
the 3 ponds, and reliably see Indigo Buntings and Brown Thrashers. New this
year, in one of the conifers bordering the trail, was an active Orchard
Oriole nest. The nest itself was visible and the female was quite actively
feeding the chicks. The loop northeast of the parking lot is 100% reliable
for Eastern Meadowlarks, and you will see at least a few of them, and even
hear them. I have yet to see Henslow's or Grasshopper Sparrows here, but I
think if one were to go early in the morning, they would be actively
calling. The rule about access for CWRU faculty and students is not
enforced. Without a doubt, I would say that this is one of the most
productive and underbirded spots in Cuyahoga County, containing both
grasslands, meadows, water, and deep woodland. It is certainly worth a trip
or two.

Good birding,

Gautam Apte

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.


You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]