I spent the morning block-busting for the OBBA2 on the eastern edge of Pickerington, mostly in the drainage of Sycamore Creek (How many of those are in Ohio?).  The creek has a surprsingly intact riparian corridor, despite being in a rapidly-developing suburb.  I also made a brief stop at the northern wetlands of Pick Ponds, as well as a side bike trip from Portman Park over to Chatterton along the Blacklick Creek greenway.  Migrant landbirds were scarce, but lots of residents were some consolation.  SHorebirds could still be found at Chatterton wetlands, but fewer were at Pick Ponds.  Highlights included:

Herons - Great Blues were at many locations, most presumably were communters from the Pick Ponds colony.  @ Green Herons were chasing around the edge of Hickory Lakes, just north of Pickerington North High School.

Waterfowl - the male Lesser Scaup & Bufflehead continue to hang around the Wood Duck observation area marsh at Pick Ponds.  2 Bue-winged Teal males there were also a treat

Shorebirds - the mudflats at Chatterton are in perfect shape, and had fair #s of shorebirds inclduing 8 Kildeer, 10 Semipalmated Plovers, 8 Semipalm, Sprs, 2 Least Spr., and 2 WHITE-RUMPED SPR.  Despite lots of exposed mud, Wood Duck marsh at Pick POnds had only Kildeer.

Flycatchers - good #s of Pewees & Great Cresteds just about everywhere.  WIllows were calling from several meadow areas along the Blacklick Bikepath, but the best was a calling YELLOW-BELLIED at Portman Park.

Swallows - a slow day, but it was enlivened by 2 Purple Martins investigating gourds at Pick Ponds.

Vireos - plenty of resident Red-eyed & Warbling, along with 1 singing White-eyed at Sycamore Creek Park

Thrushes - nothing but resident Wood Thrushes, but they were quite common

Warblers - the only obvious migrants were a Blackpoll in north Pickerington and singing Magnolia & Amer.Redstart at Sycamore Creek Park.  Otherwise, Yellows and Yellowthroats wer almost abundant

Grosbeaks, Buntings - a singing Rose-br.Grosbeak was along the path at Chatterton, while Indigo Buntings were common at virtually every stop.


Rob Thorn
[log in to unmask]
EarthLink Revolves Around You.

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

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