What does a guy who's unemployed do with his extra time?  ahaha.  Daydream, of course!

So, remembering that the calendar has greater sway on birds than just weather here is a list of new arrivals based on an April 7, 2010 download of weekly Ohio Birds Checklist (available free from www.ohiobirds.org--see checklists in left column):

New Arrivals (this week)
 Snowy Egret - R
 Cattle Egret - R
 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - R
 Broad-winged Hawk - R
 Sora - R
 Solitary Sandpiper - R
 Dunlin - R
 Franklin's Gull - R
 Caspian Tern - R
 Common Tern - R
 Whip-poor-will - R
 Marsh Wren - R
 Black-throated Green Warbler - R
 Yellow-throated Warbler - R
 Black-and-white Warbler - R
 Brewer's Blackbird - R

New Arrivals (next week)
 Green Heron - R
 Common Moorhen - R
 Spotted Sandpiper - R
 Upland Sandpiper - R
 Laughing Gull - R
 Chimney Swift - U
 White-eyed Vireo - R
 Yellow-throated Vireo - R
 Blue-headed Vireo - R
 Red-eyed Vireo - R
 Bank Swallow - R
 Wood Thrush - R
 Gray Catbird - R
 Blue-winged Warbler - R
 Northern Parula - R
 Yellow Warbler - R
 Prairie Warbler - R
 Palm Warbler - R
 Cerulean Warbler - R
 American Redstart - R
 Prothonotary Warbler - R
 Worm-eating Warbler - R
 Ovenbird - R
 Hooded Warbler - R
 Grasshopper Sparrow - R
 Henslow's Sparrow - R
 Yellow-headed Blackbird - R

Note that these birds are listed with "R" for rare.  Many of these species will become far more common as migration progresses.

A low pressure system will bring in colder temperatures Friday as it passes through Ohio.  My best bets for birding this weekend would be reservoirs and marshes in Western Ohio and woodlands in Southern Ohio near the Ohio River (Cincinnati to Portsmouth).  These areas will be the first to get a little warmer.  For those birders hitting the woodland areas focusing on South-facing slopes will increase your odds.  Trees on a South-facing slope get more direct sunlight and will be first areas with buds, blooms, and insects.

Thursday - rain and possible t-storms through much of the state.  Migration outlook is poor, but storms may drop some birds.
Friday - much colder.  Migration outlook poor, but some birds dropped by Thursday's storms may still linger.
Saturday - Southwestern part of state warmest; Northeast coldest.  Migration above average for Southwestern Ohio and average for rest of state.
Sunday - Saturday night temps near average, but better than Saturday, especially for Northeast part of state.  Migration outlook probably close to average.
Next Wednesday's near surface air movement from the South looks to be promising for hawks as well as other migrants.

This is the time of year to bird often.  Birds come through in waves.  A birder would do well to spend 20-30 minutes checking local hotspots every day.  It is a wonderful thing to watch the progression of migration.

Good Birding!


-Greg Miller
Sugarcreek, OH

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