12 species of sparrows, as well as unprecedented numbers of white-throated sparrows and swamp sparrows, (at least in the 20+years i have birded headlands), were among the highlights of a major influx of birds in to the headlands beach state park area today.  the wake robin trail hosted a leconte's sparrow around the noon hour and a clay-colored sparrow was located there very late in the afternoon.  i estimated a count of more than 1,000 white-throated sparrows from the headlands beach area and mentor lagoons and about 75 swamp sparrows from both locations.  very high numbers were also recorded for the following species:  brown creeper (80), both kinglets (150+ for both species), hermit thrush (50+), song sparrow (300+).  peregrine falcon, american kestrel, and merlins were also noted throughout the morning.  other highlights were a rather late least bittern surprisingly flying westward along the beach, an american bittern flushed from the state nature preserve, and a northern saw-whet owl observed under unusual circumstances.  i noticed a chunky bird with rounded wings flying out over the lake and came to the conclusion that it was an owl, but a small one.  jerry talkington also saw the bird and where it went in to land.  as noted above there were many small birds around and they found the owl and were scolding it.  jerry found the owl in low shrubbery along the breakwall as it was being mobbed by kinglets and sparrows.  this was the first time i had ever witnessed a flight of any distance, let alone over water, for a northern saw-whet owl.  only bird of note over lake erie (except for the owl) was 2 northern shovelers flying with a few mallards.

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