- RBA
* Ohio
* Statewide
* December 31, 2008
* OHST0812.31

- Species Mentioned (Caps denote a review list species)

Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Northern Pintail
Harlequin Duck
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Red-throated Loon
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Sandhill Crane
BLACK-HEADED GULL
CALIFORNIA GULL
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Pomarine Jaeger
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE
Barn Owl
Snowy Owl
Long-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Northern Shrike
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Mockingbird
Orange-crowned Warbler
Palm Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
HARRIS'S SPARROW
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

This is the Ohio Rare Bird Report for December 31, 2008.
Compiler: John Habig. Email: [log in to unmask]

Species in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE REVIEW LIST SPECIES. Details of these
sightings are desired by the Ohio Bird Records Committee. Careful
observation, not ornithological expertise, is the only qualification for
submitting your data. For details and pointers see:
http://www.ohiobirds.org/records/documentation.php

Greater White-fronted Goose: These geese made a widespread appearance in
the state this week. The geese originally reported by Ed Ehrman on the
23rd were still present at the Ikea pond in West Chester on the 27th.
Dan Sanders found five at Darby Bend Lakes in the Prairie Oaks Metro
Park located in western Franklin County on the 25th. John Pogacnik
reported one in a field with Canadas and Tundra Swans near Ottawa NWR on
the 27th. Accidental in the unglaciated plateau Thais Tepper reported
that there were 12 on the northeast side of Seneca Lake in Guernsey
County on the 28th. Howard Gratz reported that he found 17 on the lake
at Foundation Park in Mt. Vernon, Knox County on the 28th. Bruce and
Michelle Leonhardt spotted four in Colerain Township, Hamilton County on
the 29th. The Neubauer's found three at Englewood MP in Montgomery
County on the 30th. Charlie Bombaci reported nine were found along CH 29
in Hardin County and two at Killdeer Plains on the 30th.

Snow Goose: Nate Nye reported a white phase goose in Hilliard on the
24th. Charlie Bombaci found four white morph geese at the Baldridge Boat
Ramp and one at the Maxtown Boat Ramp at Hoover Reservoir on the 25th.
Two Snow Geese were reported by Troy Shively during the Grand Lake-St.
Mary's CBC on the 27th. A white-phase goose was reported from Wellington
Reservoir by Su Snyder on the 27th. Hallie Mason reported a blue-phase
on Cemetery Rd in Killbuck on the 28th. Pat Riley's trip list for
Fernald, Hamilton County, on the 28th included Snow Goose. Tom Kemp
reported that Snow Goose was found on the 3rd Rudolph CBC held on the
28th. Brian Wulker reported two at Allen Rd in West Chester on the 29th.
Steve Jones reported that seven were at Killdeer Plains on the 29th. On
the 30th the Neubauer's reported two at Englewood MP.

Cackling Goose: Gabe Leidy reported one near the parking lot of E. 72nd
St on the 24th. Nate Nye found five mixed in with a flock of Canada
Geese in Hilliard on the 24th. Charlie Bombaci found one at Hoover
Reservoir on the 25th. Dan Sanders was at Prairie Oaks MP on the 25th
and found five cacklers at Darby Bend Lakes. Troy Shively reported five
in some open water on Grand Lake-St. Mary during the CBC on the 27th.
Jill Bowers reported that 15 were found in the Eastview Pond behind the
Wal-Mart in Celina on the 27th. Three were found at Englewood MP on the
30thy by the Neubauer's.

Northern Pintail: There was a Pintail Phenomena this week! Very unusual
in mid-winter in such numbers John Pogacnik reported that he found 62 at
Ottawa NWR on the 27th. Kenn Kaufman had 52 at Port Clinton on the same
day flying east to west. An even more amazing total of 227 were found by
John Pogacnik during his Lakeshore Waterbird Survey on the 28th. John
also found 90 at E. 72nd Street on the 28th. Away from Lake Erie, in
north-eastern Ohio Shari Jackson reported they were found on the Quail
Hollow CBC on the 27th with seven at the Walborn Reservoir. Brad Sparks
reported that he found 75 in flooded bottomlands during the Portsmouth
CBC on the 27th. Rick Counts reported a noteworthy 80+ in Hardin County
on the 28th. On the 30th Rick reported that the number had increased to
over 100. Larry Gara reports that Pintails were also found at Melvin
Quarry near Wilmington and Shane Egleston reported that they were also
at a West Carrollton gravel pit on the 28th. Pat Riley reported one at
Fernald on the 28th. Tom Kemp reported that 136 were found on the 28th
during the Rudolph CBC. Craig Holt found five at Pine Lake in Mahoning
County on the 29th. A total of 12 were found on the Cincinnati CBC on
the 28th. To keep things going the Neubauer's reported a conservative
number of 60 at Englewood MP on the 30th. Charlie Bombaci reported 23 at
Killdeer Plains on the 30th.

Harlequin Duck: One immature male was reported by John Pogacnik during
the Lakeshore Waterbird Survey on the 28th.

Black Scoter: John Pogacnik reported three during his Lakeshore
Waterbird Survey on the 24th. Greg Links reported one behind the Supper
Club in Bayview on the 31st.

Long-tailed Duck: On the 24th John Pogacnik saw two during his Lakeshore
Waterbird Survey. Rick and Richard Oxley located a male and female at
Lake Shore Park in Ashtabula on the 27th.

Red-throated Loon: Shane Egleston called the compiler at 2:00 PM on the
25th to let me know that he had found a Red-throated off of the north
pool of Caesar Creek Lake. This could possibly be the same bird that
Rick Asamoto found last Friday off of Harveysburg Road.

Golden Eagle: Bob Paxson reported seeing one at The Wilds on the 31st.

Merlin: Shaune Skinner reported one in Section 70 at Greenlawn Cemetery
on the 26th. Two on the Rudolph CBC, held on the 28th, were reported by
Tom Kemp. Brian Wulker reported a female was in a tree line between
highway and the IKEA parking lot on the 29th. Craig Caldwell reported
that two came to roost in Section 83 of the Calvary Cemetery on the 29th
at about 4:45 PM.

Sandhill Crane: Kelly Milewski reported that 30 were sighted on the 31st
circling over Mallard Lake at Oak Openings.

BLACK-HEADED GULL: Gabe Leidy reported one adult at E. 72nd St on the
morning of the 24th. Rick and Richard Oxley reported one from E. 55th St
on the 26th. Possibly the same bird seen by Gabe, John Pogacnik located
an adult at E. 72nd St on the 28th.

CALIFORNIA GULL: Gabe Leidy and his group reported two at E. 72nd St on
the 30th. One was a 1st cycle and the other a 3rd cycle bird.

Thayer's Gull: Gabe Leidy found two different individuals on the 26th.
One was at E. 72nd St and the other was at E. 55th Street. John Pogacnik
reported a 1st cycle and an adult at E. 72nd St on the 28th. Gabe Leidy
reported two 1st cycle birds at E. 72nd St on the 30th. This bird could
possibly be the same bird as seen by John on the 28th.

Iceland Gull: A 1st year bird was reported on the 24th at E. 72nd St by
Gabe Leidy. Dennis Vollmer reported an adult at Weir Rapids on the
Maumee River on the 25th. One 1st cycle gull was observed by John
Pogacnik on the 26th during the Lakeshore Waterbird Survey. Gabe Leidy
reported three at E. 72nd St on the 26th. One was a 1st year bird,
another a 2nd year bird and one adult. Gabe also reported one 1st year
bird at E. 55th St on the same day. John Pogacnik reported one
first-cycle on the 28th at E. 72nd St on the 28th. Gabe Leidy reported
on the 30th that four 1st cycle birds and two adults were observed at E.
72nd St.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: Away from Lake Erie Dennis Vollmer reported
six adults above the dam at Grand Rapids on the 24th. Dennis had two
more at Weir Rapids and one at Roche de Beouf on the Maumee River just
south of Waterville on the 25th. Rick and Richard Oxley reported seeing
one at E. 55th St on the 26th. Kenn Kaufman had a first cycle bird at
Port Clinton on the 27th. John Pogacnik had two 3rd cycle birds on the
28th during his Lakeshore Waterbird Survey. John also found one
first-cycle, two third-cycle and three adults at E. 72nd St on the 28th.


Glaucous Gull: On the 24th Dennis Vollmer saw one adult above the dam at
Grand Rapids. Also, on the 24th Gabe Leidy reported one 1st year bird at
E. 72nd St. Dennis had an adult on the 25th at Roche de Beouf. Gabe
Leidy had four 1st year birds at E. 72nd St and five 1st year birds at
E. 55th St on the 26th. Gabe said some of these birds may have been the
same bird seen at both locations. On the 26th Rick and Richard Oxley
reported one from E. 55th Street. John Pogacnik reported three at E.
72nd St on the 28th, one adult, one first-cycle and one second-cycle.
Gabe Leidy reported that three 1st cycle birds and one adult were seen
at E. 72nd St on the 30th.

Pomarine Jaeger: Su Snyder reported that the jaeger at Avon Lake was
still being seen on the 27th. John Pogacnik sighted one during his
Lakeshore Waterbird Survey on the 28th.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: Troy Shively reported that approximately 20 were
seen during the Grand Lake-St Mary's CBC on the 27th. They were along
the Celina-Coldwater bike trail just across the street from Bella's
Restaurant. The birds may be roosting in the area so the best time to
search for them may be early or late in the day. This number represents
the largest number of the doves seen so far in Ohio. In 2007 there were
4 - 5 birds in this area and it appears that they were successful in
their breeding attempts.

Barn Owl: John Pogacnik reported seeing one on the 27th flying low over
a field along Zenzer Rd in Ottawa County. John reports this road is a
couple miles southeast of the Magee Marsh entrance. The bird was last
seen flying south over Zenzer Rd and Turtle Creek.

Snowy Owl: Rick and Richard Oxley reported that the Burke Airport owl
was being seen from Gate 12 on the 26th. Tom Kemp reported that Steve
McNamee found one on Anderson Rd north of Nelson Road during the Rudolph
CBC on the 28th.

Long-eared Owl: Tom Kemp reported that one was found during the Rudolph
CBC on the 28th. Steve Jones reported that one was in the traditional
cedar tree on CH 71 at Killdeer Plains on the 29th. In the Belmont area
one is reported in the traditional spot at 7828 Township Rd 83. Another
is being reported on private property just north of Sugarcreek. Greg
Links reported three were in the campground at Maumee Bay SP in the
31st.

Northern Saw-whet Owl: One is being reported on private property just
north of Sugarcreek.

Northern Shrike: Nate Nye found one on the 24th at Prairie Oaks MP near
the Prairie View Picnic Area. John Pogacnik reported one on the 27th
located near the end of the causeway at Magee Marsh. Dan Barda saw one
along SR 193 north of Dorset and south of SR 167 in Ashtabula County on
the 28th. Tom Kemp reported one found in Cricket Frog Cove (Wood County
Park District) during the Rudolph CBC on the 28th.

Red-breasted Nuthatch: Three were found on the Cincinnati CBC on the
28th. Glen Crippen reported at least six at Old Man's Cave on the 30th.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Casual in mid-winter, Tom Kemp reported that one
was found on the 28th during the Rudolph CBC. The Cincinnati CBC found
four on the 28th. Greg Links reported one in the SW corner of the Maumee
SP campground on the 31st.

Northern Mockingbird: Mike Sweeney reported that one was at his
residence in Perrysburg Township near Toledo on the 25th. A pair were
reported on old Millard off of Otter Creek Rd in the Toledo area on the
27th. Greg Links had two at the Maumee SP campground, one at the fishing
access in Bayshore, two near the Harbor View Yacht Club, and one at the
base of the High-Level Bridge on the east side of the river on the 31st.


Orange-crowned Warbler: Jay Stenger reports that one was photographed at
a feeder during the Cincinnati CBC on the 28th.

Palm Warbler: Greg Links found one in the Maumee Bay SP campground on
the 31st. It was in some grape tangles in the SW corner of the
campground.

Chipping Sparrow: Jay Stenger reported that 23 were tallied on the
Cincinnati CBC on the 28th.

Savannah Sparrow: On the 25th Charlie Bombaci found a lone bird along
the road at Hoover Reservoir. Jay Stenger reported that a total of 40
were found on the Cincinnati CBC on the 28th. Steve Jones reported one
at Killdeer Plains on the 29th. Kirk Westendorf reported that he found
five at Armleder Park in Hamilton County on the 30th.

Fox Sparrow: Jim Phillips reported one coming to his feeder near the
Toledo Botanical Garden on the 25th. Five were found on the Cincinnati
CBC held on the 28th. Sherrie reported one by the Lutheran Homes on
Wheeling St in east Toledo on the 27th. Greg Links found one at the
campground in Maumee Bay SP, one at Island City Park in Rossford, and
one in the Manhattan Marsh/Detwiler area in north Toledo on the 31st.

HARRIS'S SPARROW: Jay Stenger reported a Harris's Sparrow was seen and
documented on private property where access was granted for the
Cincinnati CBC on the 28th. It is unlikely that further admittance will
be allowed.

Snow Bunting: Russell Reynolds reported that he saw a flock with at
least a 1000 in it near Lima on the 23rd.

Dickcissel: Bruce Simpson reported that the female originally reported
on the 14th at the Blendon Woods Nature Center Bird Viewing Area was
still being seen on the 28th.

White-winged Crossbill: Jim McCormac reported that he and others had
seen 40 in the Clear Fork Gorge at Mohican SP on the 28th during the
Mohican CBC. Another area to search is behind the Pizza Hut near the
canoe livery where another small flock was reported at Mohican. Paul
Hershberger reported that there were 30 - 40 below the Wills Creek dam
in Muskingum County on the 29th. Brenda Barber reported six flew over
her group on the 29th while they were in the Zimmerman Trail parking lot
at Mentor Marsh. John Watts called Bill Whan to report he discovered a
female from the parking lot at Cantwell Cliffs in Hocking County on the
29th. Matt Anderson reported one male and one female at the Whitehouse
Cemetery on the 31st. Woodlawn Cemetery yielded 18 to Greg Links on the
31st. They landed in a Spruce near the bridge.

Common Redpoll: Woodlawn Cemetery had some mixed in with feeding
goldfinches and siskins on the 24th. Hallie Mason reported that five
were reported on the Ragersville CBC held on the 26th in Tuscarawas
County.

Pine Siskin: Greg Bennett reported some at Turkeyfoot Lake on the 25th.
Greg Gilsdorf reported one at the Cincinnati Nature Center on the 25th.
Brad Sparks reported 35 from his section of the Portsmouth CBC on the
27th. The Cincinnati CBC tallied six on the 28th. John Watts found 30 at
Cantwell Cliffs on the 29th. Chris Knoll reported that there were at
least 12 at the BSBO feeders on the 29th. Greg Bennett reported siskins
on Sunnybrook Rd near Mogadore Reservoir on the 30th. Glen Crippen
reported several small flocks at Old Man's Cave on the 30th. Janet Wertz
reports that 16 were at her feeders on the 31st in Stow. Barb Hohman
reported 100 at her feeder in Devola, Washington County on the 31st.
Matt Anderson reported 125+ at Whitehouse Cemetery on the 31st.

The upcoming weekend is the last chance to participate in a CBC. If you
haven't done so yet please consider taking part in a Christmas Bird
Count near you this season.  Information on counts can be found at
http://www.ohiobirds.org/calendar/winter_counts/winter.php.

- End Transcript

John Habig
Carlisle, OH

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]