Greetings birders - 
 
Sprague's Pipit is a sickly-good bird for Ohio, and even though we have a previous record it should be treated with sheer 'accidental' status. Observers must be extraordinarily careful to note ALL details on a likely suspect, including ALL marks, from pink legs, to extent and type of streaking on breast, to presence of scalloped streaking on the back to wholesomely pale bill, to extensively white edges to tail to behavior and calls. All of these characters in combination must be confirmed. American Pipit - our regular migrant - shows highly variable shades of pale buff brown to pale grayish brown in transition and winter plumage. American Pipit is highly more likely to be relatively easily seen in open ground habitat, and will often be bold to walk around open mudflat/wetland edges. Observation of most pipit species tends to be intermittant at best, as these rather secretive but active birds much prefer to creep and bop around in partial view to the confusion and oft-times frustration of would-be observers. Of the two species, Sprague's would certainly be the most difficult to locate. 
 
If there was habitat in which a Sprague's would favor in Ohio right now, the greater Bellevue region certainly would resemble prairie and plains pothole regions.
 
Bill Whan's encouragement for multiple photograph records of this particular candidate is the single best advice, (as well as, obviously, extended periods of study).  
 
Best of luck in seeking out this rare pipit candidate. Meanwhile, take a look farther south of Bellevue, to the flooded fields of T81, T80, and C34 (much reported areas, look on rarebird.org for many more details) to find the still-present (today) Black-necked Stilts (4), multiple Wilson's Phalaropes, hordes of Pectoral Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs, and several Least, Semipalmated, and Stilt Sandpipers in the mix. At the C34 pond, today, an immature Peregrine Falcon blasted a Lesser Yellowlegs to the awe of a group of birders who were equally stunned at this predator's sheer speed and agility. 
 
ALSO, good news for Lorain Impoundment. Over the next 10 days, workers will be pumping dredge spoil from the river into the impoundments. That means...during the pumping habitat will be awesome....and later, as the levels drop again: bingo. Hopefully, anyway. Today, habitat was really slim, but we still managed to pick up several peeps, Semipalmated Plovers, and Spotted Sandpipers. 
 
Best of birding - 
Jen
 
Jen Brumfield
Sharon Center, OH
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