Howdy all,

It's not often that I find my own life birds anymore, but today is an
exception. As lab instructor for the ornithology course, I was leading
Dr. Burtt and the ornithology class through the area for a field lab
looking for waterfowl. As we pulled into the Leonardsburg marsh area
along Leonardsburg Rd., I noticed a white waterfowl sitting with the
Canada Geese. I prayed it wasn't a domestic. Of course I was hoping
for a Snow Goose, but was then extremely surprised to see it was a
ROSS'S GOOSE!!! Not only is this such a rare bird for Ohio, but it was
a lifebird for me! I attempted to rouse the class with excitement,
which worked on some students, though some could only complain about
the test they'll later today. I suppose some students just take the
class for the grade. Anyhoo, here is the list from this morning.

Location:     Delaware Wildlife Area
Observation date:     2/26/09
Number of species:     47

Ross's Goose     1
Canada Goose     350
Wood Duck     2
Gadwall     3
American Wigeon     25
American Black Duck     4
Mallard     120
Northern Shoveler     1
Northern Pintail     60
Canvasback     21
Redhead     14
Ring-necked Duck     65
Lesser Scaup     6
Hooded Merganser     23
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Great Blue Heron     5
Bald Eagle     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Coot     1
Ring-billed Gull     450
Herring Gull     2
Rock Pigeon     15
Mourning Dove     4
Belted Kingfisher     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     2
Downy Woodpecker     1
Blue Jay     5
American Crow     12
Horned Lark     4
Carolina Chickadee     2
Tufted Titmouse     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Eastern Bluebird     1
American Robin     25
European Starling     40
American Tree Sparrow     2
Song Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow     1
Dark-eyed Junco     3
Northern Cardinal     2
Red-winged Blackbird     20
Common Grackle     4
Brown-headed Cowbird     2
House Finch     3
American Goldfinch     1
House Sparrow     X

Good birding,

Sean


--
Sean Williams
Ohio Wesleyan University
Lab of Dr. Jed Burtt

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