Greetings one and all. Sorry in advance for the long post but it was a long day. :-) There is a question down in there somewhere as well as foodie recommendation at the end.
I got up bright and early with the intention of hitting a couple of hot spots up in north central Ohio, and then seeing where the wind took me.
I went up to Mansfield to get the Upland Sandpipers I hoped that they were close enough to get a good photograph...they weren't...Oh well there's always next time. I did get some great views and I was there before Flyboys opened so I had to settle with looking through the fence. What I couldn't believe was that I wasn't the first there! There were a half dozen 10 speed birders there. Touring for birds on ten speed bikes! Hi guys! Their NEXT stop was Clay's Park! Close to 60 miles away. Ahh to be young again!
After flyboys opened, I went inside grabbed a cup of coffee and some pie for breakfast. Yum. Then went out to the backside patio of the restaurant to get a better view of the Sandpipers. It was neat to watch them going between grassy areas... One would stand up on one of the marker lights then one at a time the others would walk across then the other would fly over...it was like one was a traffic guard. :-)
Also there was a Red Tailed Hawk that was perched on one of the marker lights. Then when it took off it flew directly down the runway! Just like all the other "birds". :-)
Met some other birders including "The infamous" Laura Keene. ;-)
I counted 8 Uplands.
1 Red Tailed Hawk
and Several Savannah Sparrows
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After the post last night from Cheryl Harner, I decided to go a little farther east and head over to Byers Woods and see if I can get a bobolink. Saw two, but the pics I took were awful. So I "focused" on Bluebirds.
Went on a couple of trails there with other birders, and met Cheryl. Among others birds spotted were Eastern Meadowlark, Great Crested Flycatchers, Cedar Waxwings, Both Barn and Tree Swallows, Bluebirds by the Dozen, Indigo Bunting, and A female Red Breasted Grosbeak. We heard a White Eyed Vireo, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, and a couple of different sparrows.
Had a hotdog, and went back out, the only thing that I could add to the above is that I saw the tail end of a Thrasher, and heard a Towhee telling me to "drink your tea"...so on the way to my next destination...I did.
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My next destination was the other side of the state. A few days ago, Russowl had sent me a picture of a Tern that looked like a Fosters but we weren't 100% sure. So I headed towards Bressler Lake to try and confirm it. When I googled mapped Bressler Lake, all I could get was the district 2 office...in Findlay, it's not there BTW, it's a little West of Lima on Kemp Rd. Nice little Up lake. Terns weren't there, They are usually there in the morning fishing around the dock. So I'm going to go back later in the week when I have some free time.
Does anyone have any info of Terns in the Lima area? We're thinking that they might be nesting somewhere but haven't a clue where to look.
________
My birding day ended with a pleasant curve ball. Russ had been guiding me towards the lake through emails and relay phone calls from my wife. After I got there, he sent another email inviting me over to check out his birding backyard. I had time to kill so I figured might as well... His place BEGS to be an OBBAII Block party. From the road to the edge of his property is literally for the birds. It's like Blendon woods squeezed into 5 acres. It's like everything... Prairie, woods, a little water. It was defiantly a high point of my day. In less than an hour we saw easily 20 different species. Plus one we could figure out. and one again no picture...we left our cameras at the house. Yellow on bottom from the tip of the beak all the way to the tail, and olive green on top again from the beak all the way to the tail. Bigger than a warbler...We think it's a Yellow Bellied Flycatcher, if that sounds familiar, please email me. Oh well. Thanks Russ.
Finally, after all of that, I needed to sit and relax and EAT!!! I was running on empty since before I got there so I asked Russ for a place on the way to sit down and have some real food. He recommended "Ike's Great American Restaurant." OMGoodness, that was the best sit down meal that I've had since last year when I went to the Black Stallion. Here is a link to reviews and such: http://www.activediner.com/Ikes-Great-American-Restaurant-Inc/restaurant/Lima/OH/US/profile/176577 . It is on the south west side of Lima. If you're over that way, I highly recommend it service and food is excellent.
Whew like I said long day....but not as long as the biker birders ;-)
Happy Birding and God bless.
Steve Jones
(a.k.a. sjlarue)
Blog: http://sjlarueslenses.blogspot.com/
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
(Matthew 10.29-31)
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