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April 2007

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From:
Rob Thorn <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Wed, 4 Apr 2007 05:35:26 -0400
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Taking advantage of the good weather, I spent a few hours scouring likely migrant traps along Darby Creek and nearby woodlots.  Spring here seems to have slower, more languid pace than the forested hills of Shawnee & Zaleski (as mentioned in several recent posts).  The forest here is in a long, narrow corridor, more suitable for migrants than for large numbers of breeding neotropicals.  Stops included the Cedar Ridge area of Battelle-Darby MetroPark, Prairie Oaks MetroPark (Sycamore Plains and Darby Bed areas), and 2 small upland woodlots just east of the Darby area (Hilliard & Prairie Lincoln parks).  Highlights included

Waterfowl - a few migrants linger at Darby Bend's old quarry lakes, including 8 Gadwall (from the ground; aerial survey not really necessary here :-), as well as some scaup and coots.
Raptors - a migrant Sharpie was hunting at Cedar Ridge, where there is also a Cooper's Hawk nest taking shape in the south picnic area with calling adults hanging around.  Calling adults were also at both woodlots.
Shorebirds - hardly any, despite decent flooded fields at several locations.  Kildeer were the only species found.

Red-headed Woodpeckers - no migrants noted, despite being in good habitat most of the morning.  They're migrants/rare breeders here, with unpredictable habits.

Sapsuckers - close to peak for them, with 8 on the morning.  Especially interesting was that most of them were in the upland woodlots (including 4 at Prairie Lincoln).  The warm temps appear to have pushed early sap flows in oaks and hickories, allowing these woodpeckers to 'escape' the riparian corridors that they usually infest because of the early cottonwood & silver maple flows.

Swallows - no migrant flocks at any stops (Darby Bend often accumulates them), although small numbers of resident Tree Swallows were already contesting nest boxes at spots in Battelle-Darby & Prairie Oaks.

Wrens - surprisingly few.  2 Carolinas & 1 Winter were at the upland lot at Prairie Lincoln, but other sites were empty save for 1 singing Carolina at Cedar Ridge.  The harsh late winter may have cut down Carolina populations in areas away from suburban feeders.

Kinglets,Gnatcatcher- Golden-crowned kinglets still widespread (seen at every stop, including the isolated upland woodlots), Ruby-crowned & gnatcatchers just starting to show up.  The only gnatcatcher was at Cedar Ridge, but several have accumulated in migrant traps around Columbus in the past few days.

Thrushes,Mimids - Hermit Thrushes at several locations, perhaps even more common because all of the birds were silent.  Brown Thrashers were at Prairie Oaks, a breeding location.

Warblers - Yellow-throated Warblers singing at several locations along the Darby, especially at Cedar Ridge.  1 Louisiana Waterthrush calling there, as well.  MetroParks Natrualist Tim Taylor mentioned that the waterthrush had actually been around 10+ days, but that the Yellow-throateds were recent arrivals.  No other early migrant warblers were apparent.

Sparrows - Many singing Chipping & Field Sparrows were at several stops, presumably on territory.  Towhees were also widespread.  Most of the wintering/early migrant Zonotrichia (White-throats,White-crowns) are gone, and none of the later migrant flocks have arrived yet.  Tim mentioned finding a Swamp Sparrow at one location earlier, but I wasn't so lucky.  A few juncos were still lingering around feeders at the 2 MetroParks.


Rob Thorn
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