Add Larry Gara and me to the list of those who have gone up to see the
celebrated wood storks.  We found all three at the U-shaped pond previously
described and we too took several dozen pictures.  As Jim MacCormick pointed
out, the birds are juveniles, as indicated by the mud-buff feathering on the
head, upper neck and the middle of the back.  The bill and legs are
yellow-pink.

Juvenile herons, ibises and storks are strongly subject to postnuptial
wanderings, as well as many adults.  Still, this is a wonderful surprise and
well worth the vilsit.  We spent an hour with them.  They were still there
at noon when we left.  There was a low ceiling with lifting fog and misting
rain.  Larry and I opined that the weather conditions contributed to the
birds staying put so late.  There is a great deal of habitat within easy
foraging distance that looks good for wood storks.  With better conditions,
the birds might have been moved to spread out more.

To embroider on Jim's directions for those coming from the south and west,
you can approach the pond from OH 83.  From I-70, take OH 83 north through
New Concord and Otsego, taking care to observe the sharp left in Otsego.
 From there the road climbs over a ridge and descends into the Wills Creek
drainage.  Wills Creek is a substantial waterway at this point.  Turn right
just before the bridge onto Tyson Road.  It's mud and gravel, but no problem
to drive.  Tyson Road parallels Wills Creek past some very likely-looking
habitat, then veers away from the creek and climbs up to a bluff overlooking
a large bottomland cornfield.  After passing the cornfield, the road drops
down again.  The U-shaped pond is just ahead on the north side of the road,
opposite power pole #37

I don't know who has this atlas block, but I am envious.  The whole area is
 dynamite.

Cheers,

Bob
--
Robert D Powell
Wilmington, OH, USA
[log in to unmask]
http://rdp1710.wordpress.com

Nulla dies sine linea

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