Migration is definitely on the downhill slope here in central Ohio, with migrants being fewer & harder to come by.  These last few days in May are particularly good times to check 'traps', looking for the last concentrations of migrants.  I worked several areas along Blacklick Creek around this Columbus suburb, partly for OBBA2, partly for migrants.  This included Reynoldburg Civic Park, Blacklick Woods Multi-use Loop, and Portman Park.  The urban sprawl here has been so swift & relentless, that many of these sites have become 'islands'  of wooded habitat in a sea of subdivisions, so they've become better traps over the past decade.  While there were no eye-popping rarities this morning, there was a steady dribble of late migrants & unusual residents to keep the morning interesting.  Highlights included

Flycatchers - a last wave included many E.Wood Pewees at all 3 sites, as well as Acadians at Reynoldsburg Civic (RCP) and Blacklick Woods Loop (BWL).  Territorial Willows were calling at Portmann and BWL, but no Alders could be found at any of the sites despite good habitat.

Vireos - many Red-eyed were singing at all 3 sites, most of which were likely migrants.  3 singing Warbling at Portmann were likely residents, as they have bred here regularly.  A singing White-eyed at RCP was unexpected, and could be a pioneer in this perfect habitat.

Thrushes - singing Wood Thrushes at RCP and BWL were likely residents, certainly at the latter.  RCP had 2 GRAY-CHEEKED, which I heard first, then tracked to the thickest part of the riparian shrubbery.  Why do these guys always head for the deepest darkest densest tangles?

Mimids - Catbirds were abundant & conspicuous at all 3 sites.  Resident Mockingbirds were on territory at RCP, but no Brown Thrashers could be found at any of these areas, despite good habitat.

Waxwings - now back in force, with pairs and small flocks at all 3 sites.

Warblers - the thinning ranks of migrants included Chesnut-sided (2 at RCP, 1 at each of the other sites), Redstarts (actually singing juvenile'Yellowstarts') at all 3 sites, Magnolia (Portman), and Blackpoll (RCP).  These were against a background of resident Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats at all 3 sites, and singing Yellow-throateds at BWL and Portman.

Grosbeaks, Buntings - a single singing Rose-br.Grosbeak at RCP could've been either a migrant or a pioneer.  Indigo Buntings were perhaps the most common bird of the morning, taking advantage of the extensive edge habitat at all of these sites.

Sparrows - no migrant sparrows, but the large meadows at BWL held the only numbers of singing E.Towhees & Field Sparrows along the route.  These species become much rarer in suburban-type habitats around here, and are rather scarce closer in to Columbus.


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]