OHIO-BIRDS Archives

September 2009

OHIO-BIRDS@LISTSERV.MIAMIOH.EDU

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
rob thorn <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
rob thorn <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:21:59 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (40 lines)
I visited parts of these 2 reservoirs north of Columbus in search of unusual migrants.  I focused on the areas that tend to be the best funnels for migrants: SE Alum Lake (Plumb Rd access and New Galena) and N Hoover (Wiese Rd and Area M-N).  These two areas are surprisingly close (< 10 minutes drive), and offer quite a spectrum of habitats.  Lots of stuff was on the move this morning, with small mixed flocks at many areas.  Notables included:

Herons - the shoreline at Alum is too high, but Hoover is starting to show some mudflats, which attracted 7 Great Egrets and 10 Great Blue Herons between Wiese Rd and Area N.

Shorebirds - despite the increasing mud, shorebirds were not yet common at Hoover.  What was there were 20 Kildeer, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, and a flock of 6 Stilt Sandpipers (in the bay next to Dustin Rd).  The best early spot for sandpipers at Hoover is usually the Eastside flats (which I didn't visit this morning).

Raptors - a Sharp-shinned Hawk was lurking along Plumb Rd access, while a juvenile Red-tail was patrolling Wiese Rd.  No eagles of Osprey noted at either reservoir.

Swifts - small numbers were cruising past the point at New Galena and the boardwalk at old Galena, but they are waning in numbers.  Several roosts in nearby Westerville still attracted a collective 600 birds this evening.

Woodpeckers - a Red-headed was calling along the old road in Area N at Hoover.  With Charlie Bombaci's reports of this species in the vicinity, this might be the new 'go-to' spot for this species in central Ohio.

Flycatchers - Pewees were at several locations, and New Galena had both a Phoebe and an Acadian Flycatcher

Vireos - surprisingly no Red-eyed at any sites, but New Galena still held 3 calling White-eyed Vireos

Wrens - still numbers of House Wrens at several locations, but a bit early was a WINTER WREN along the old road at Plum Rd. access.

Thrushes - nice movement, especially apparent at Alum where there were 20+ Swainson's, 2 Gray-cheeked, and 1 late-ish Wood Thrush in 1.5 hours.  There was not a location that didn't have a few Swainson's.

Mimids - loads of Catbirds at nearly every stop; New Galena alone had over 50.  The trails at New Galena also still held 2 Brown Thrashers.

Cedar Waxwings - possibly the most common bird of the morning, with small flocks of 10-20 everywhere, mostly flycatching for insects along the shoreline trees and bushes.

Warblers - good numbers, but the bulk of them were Magnolias (15+) and Redstarts (10+).  Also seen were Cape May (4+), Black-thr.Blue, Black-thr.Green, Yellow-rumped (FOS), Black&White, Blackpoll, Wilson's, and Common Yellowthroat

Icterids - no lingering orioles, but an early flyover flock of 120 Redwings at New Galena was a taste of Fall to come.

Grosbeaks/Buntings - Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were at New Galena and Wiese, while the only Indigo Bunting was one along the power-line cut at Wiese.

______________________________________________________________________

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]

ATOM RSS1 RSS2