Greetings!

I was finally able to take a research break this afternoon to head over to Strouds Run for a quick look around. The quick look turned into two+ hours, but it was worth it. After a quick start at the beginning of the year, grad research and classes have brought things to a grinding standstill, so it is great to be able to get out when I have a bit of time.

I started the day with 71 species and I was hoping to get one or two southern lingering species today, but instead, it turned out to be a fantastic day. One the way there, north of Athens and west of the park, I had an adult Red-shouldered Hawk (#72) fly over the road. Inside the park, I birdied around the western and northwestern forks of Dow Lake today, in the area of the park office, where the trails are lined with brambles and thickets.

The trail along the lake produced Winter Wren (#73) and a male Eastern Towhee (#74). Large flocks of robins were in several areas today, and on the way back to the car, when I looked up at a flock that flew over, I spied some T.V.'s overhead. The last bird turned out to be a single Black Vulture (#75) and then another 26 showed-up to join the flock of 40+ T.V.'s!

Just down the road at the park office, I located a small, mixed flock with a single, male Golden-crowned Kinglet (#76). He flew across the road, and I chased him for a better look. As I entered the pines, on the hillside, I flushed a Hermit Thrush (#77)! The edge of the lake was alive with activity, with another large flock of A. Robins, swamp sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler, and a pair of N. Flickers.

Right before I left the parking lot, I looked up to see two massive kettles of vultures - one of  60+ T.V.'s and one of  50+ Black Vultures. They eventually merged into one huge flock! It was quite an impressive site. With the Y.B. Sapsucker, from the other day, Strouds Run is starting to quickly turn into one of my new favorite birding spots.

I managed to pick-up a lot of serendipitous birds today, so...I might get lucky and still make that century! :)

Now...back to research and the herbarium...

Good birding,

Jason


Jason S. Larson
11 Depot Street
Apt. #5
New Concord  OH  43762-1227

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