OHIO-BIRDS Archives

March 2007

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From:
Robert Royse <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Tue, 6 Mar 2007 19:47:25 -0500
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I headed back to Deer Creek for a couple of hours this afternoon hoping to get a handle on some of the waterfowl numbers there.

First the birding highlights. New for me this year were :

6 Tree Swallows (2 groups of 3)
1 Wilson's Snipe in flooded field at the end of D-57
1 American Woodcock flushed near the marina

As far as waterfowl goes, the numbers are staggering. Because of the high water level, many areas of the reservoir really can't be accessed well enough to scope, many birds were in flooded fields out of view, more were flying in  from every direction nearby farm fields later in the evening. The best places to scope out for waterfowl right now are :

1 - The south end (where there is still some ice) from the beach and picnic areas along D-5.  Many ducks and gulls are hanging out where the open water and ice meet.

2 - The "breakwall" at the marina (which right now is only about 1 foot above the water level of the reservoir and was underwater yesterday.

3 - The end of D-62 at the N end. (D-58 from Pancoastburg is flooded over.)

4 - The end of D-57, where there is a good flooded field. Other flooded fields are just beyond and out of sight, but seem to have many more puddle ducks flying in and out of them.

5 - The water treatment pond by the horseman's day use area in the state park.

6- cornfields south of the reservoir, especially along Rt. 22 and Mouser Road.

OK now for some rough (very rough) estimates :

Canada Goose - Let's say 2500+.  At least 1000 were in the reservoir, and flocks were in the cornfields and flying in from every direction at dusk.

Tundra Swan - an easy one. 116 of the big white birds were counted at the end of D-57

Wood Duck - ~25 were seen with many more undoubtedly hiding in inaccessible spots.

Gadwall - ~50 with many more probably overlooked

American Wigeon - 500+ (200+ were by the side of the road on D-57)

American Black Duck - 150+ (many more could possibly have been mixed with the Mallard swarms)

Mallard - ~4000? They're everywhere in the reservoir and fields with flocks flying in from every direction at dusk.

N Shoveler - ~100

N Pintail - 400+ widespread around the reservoir with some substantial flocks in nearby corn fields.

Green-winged Teal - 100+

Canvasback - ~50

Redhead - ~150

Ring-necked Duck - ~1200 (500+ were in the park pond and were numerous everywhere else too.)

Lesser Scaup - ~75 (including some very tame birds in the spillway)

Bufflehead - less than 20 scattered here and there

Common Goldeneye - several in the S end

Hooded Merganser - 100+ scattered throughout the area and in the creek

Common Merganser - several in the creek (seen from the Yankeetown Rd. bridge)

Red-br Merganser - ~10 in the S end near the beach and dam wall

Also 1 Pied-billed Grebe and 1 Am Coot!

Bob Royse


Robert Royse
[log in to unmask]
www.roysephotos.com

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