Hi all,



First off, major kudos to Ed Schlabach and company for finding the now
oft-reported on Smith's Longspurs just west of Rockford, in Mercer County.
People have been searching for them more years than not in that county and
nearby ones for over 20 years, with no luck. Anyway, I got to see eight of
them today around 3 pm, and a quick call to Troy Shively around 5 pm
revealed that some Smith's were still present. They might be there for a
while yet, but then again, maybe not. Get 'em while you can.



One has to wonder just how many might be in Mercer, Darke, Auglaize,
Paulding, and other western counties. The corn-stubble/foxtail habitat that
the Smith's are using is abundant, making it a bit like finding a needle in
a haystack, especially if the birds happened to be far from the road. Also,
these birds apparently are spending much time in a large field of winter
wheat, which is now six inches or so tall. The birds that we saw today
dropped into the winter wheat, and good luck finding them once they are in
that stuff. It's hard enough when they are in the old corn stubble fields.
Fortunately, they are quite vociferous when on the wing, so just listen for
their dry rattling calls. Keep in mind too that there have been plenty of
Lapland Longspurs - up to 200 at once - along Manley Road, where the Smith's
are being seen.



I spent the better part of the last two days in Jackson County - meeting,
not much birding - but can report that Black-throated Green Warbler was back
on territory at Canter's Cave this morning. Broad-winged Hawks were back, as
were plenty of Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-and-white
Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and
other early birds.



Jim McCormac



Jim McCormac

Columbus, Ohio

Like nature? Visit my blog: http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/

Like birds? Join the Ohio Ornithological Society: http://www.ohiobirds.org






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