The first annual Bobolink Area Big Day was held on Saturday, May 17. This will be an annual event to be held on the third Saturday of May. This year a dozen teams competed in two divisions - motorized and non-motorized.  The Big Day began at midnite and ended at 6 pm so the groups could enjoy a buffet meal and share results. The group voted to start the event next year at 6 pm on Friday evening and go to 6 pm Saturday. For more information, contact the sponsor, Robert Hershberger, at:Time and Optics, 6954 CR 77, Millersburg OH 44654, 330-674-6554

The number of migrant birds was quite low on Saturday, but the total number of species found reached 183. Best team numbers were 148 for motorized and 135 for bikers. Local records are 167 and 147 respectively.No rare warblers made the list this year. The best bird (voted on by participants) was a Lark Sparrow found near Mohawk Dam in Coshocton County. Other good birds were Blue Grosbeak, Clay-colored Sparrow, Sanderling, Wilson's Phalarope, Surf Scoter, Am. Woodcock, Peregrine Falcon, both kinglets and both bitterns.

Kevin and Kenneth Kline biked up to Prairie Lane (Wooster) yesterday (5/19) to look for the phalarope and found two of them, but the big news was 14 Whimbrels that made a flyby pass over the marsh while the Klines were there!


  Bruce

  Bruce Glick
  [log in to unmask]
  Millersburg, Ohio



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