Once again, here are five days of shorebird reports at this time of year 
in Ohio, all taken from this list, from 2001. Mostly I've been inviting 
readers to find their own themes, but at least note the relatively low 
profile of Conneaut reports here, and the prominence of the Crane Creek 
Estuary, with several extraordinary totals more easily seen in the Fall 
2001 shorebird sightings compiled in the Ohio Cardinal, appended. If 
anyone wants to discuss any perceptions, or seeks explanations or 
theories, let's. There was an interesting discussion on fall migrant 
black terns I had to omit. Anyway, enjoy...
Bill Whan
Columbus


Subject: Birding DeLorme page 47 (8/20)
From: Greg Miller <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2001 16:17:01 -0700 (PDT)

Howdy All!

Highlights: BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, BLACK TERN, OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER, and 4 NORTHERN HARRIERS.
Birded with Doreene Linzell this morning before having
to go back to the hospital. We visited Big Island (D6)
and Killdeer Plains (C6). The Eastern edge of the easternmost 
impoundment at Big Island continues to hold the best habitat and best
shorebirds. Water levels were a little higher today
and less edge habitat was visible...fewer shorebirds,
too.
Big Island:
13 - Lesser Yellowlegs
  4 - Spotted Sandpipers
16 - Pectoral Sandpipers
  5 - Semipalmated Plovers
  3 - Killdeer
  2 - Short-billed Dowitchers
  6 - Least Sandpipers
10 - Semipalmated Sandpipers
  1 - BAIRD'S SANDPIPER
of note:
  3 - NORTHERN HARRIERS (2 females, 1 1st yr male)

Killdeer Plains:
(mud flats at pond 6--smallish, but fair #'s of
shorebirds)
  3 - Killdeer
22 - Pectoral Sandpipers
12 - Lesser Yellowlegs
  8 - Semipalmated Sandpipers
  1 - Least Sandpiper
  2 - Spotted Sandpipers
  1 - Short-billed Dowitcher
of note:
  1 - BLACK TERN (North of T68, West of Washburn Rd)
  1 - NORTHERN HARRIER (male--accross from pond 6)
  1 - OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (SE corner of C71/T108 on
the *only* dead snag--talk about slim habitat!)
Turns out now, I won't go back to the hospital for
chemo until Thursday. Awaiting results of today's bone
marrow biopsy (I'd definitely rather be birding the
doing the *bone marrow biopsy*...ugh).
-Greg Miller
Dublin, OH

  Subject: Shorebirds in NE Stark Co.
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 21:41:44 EDT
Hi Everyone,
    This evening I did my circuit around Walborn and Berlin Reservoirs.
Walborn birds of note:
1 Baird's Sandpiper
1 Western Sandpiper
        Plus 9 other shorebird species.
8 Cm. Nighthawks
2 Black Terns

Berlin Reservoir birds:
2 Baird's Sandpiper
7 Stilt Sandpiper
1 Upland Sandpiper (Thanks to Kent Miller)
1 Cm. Snipe
1 Dowitcher sp.(Breeding plumage ... still studying on this one)
Plus 9 other more common shorebird species.
   Berlin Lake Reservoir is located in the northeast corner of Stark Co.
The best place, at the moment, is on the mudflats east of the SR 225
bridge. Walborn Reservoir is 5 miles east of Berlin Res. on Price Rd.
Ben Morrison
Hartville,Oh.

Subject: Red-necked Phalaropes at Pipe Creek WMA, Red Knots at Ottawa NWR
From: "Peter Gottschling" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 22:39:23 -0400
Hi all,
I tried to find some of the great birds reported recently.  The Cedar 
PointChausee was birdy but mostly killdeer, pecs, yellow-legs and a few
dowitchers and peeps.  Sheldon had zero habitat.  Last year there was 
mudand water.  Now it is overgrown.  Did the Barnes dike do this?

There were almost no birds at Pipe Creek but the 3 red-necked phalaropes
stood out like a sore thumb.  I got very good looks and now there is no
doubt the one I saw last week was a red-necked.

Just for the exercise I walked back the Vickery trail at Pickerel Creek 
WMA. The water was up.  Just an occasional spotty and yellowlegs.  I 
went west on the grassy dike at the end and beyond the end of the trees 
there was a muddy exposed beach but only inhabited by killdeer and 
Canada geese. It looked interesting though. Nothing off the tower.

The Ottawa Crane Creek estuary was about 1/3 empty and had scattered 
birds. From a distance I observed two basic plumaged red knots but when 
I walked across from what I thought was their location they had gone. 
At the west end there were over 20 semi-palmated plovers.
Turtle Creek south of the route 2 bridge had birds on the flats but 
there were only killdeer, pectoral, and yellowlegs (mostly lesser).
Lemon road at Duff Washa only had a few peeps and lots of killdeer.
Peter

  Subject: Paulding County migrants
From: "D & M Dunakin" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 23:09:57 -0400

Greetings from the Swamp,

Well, today was a big one for Micki at one of our local woods in 
northwest Paulding County. She happened across the largest push of 
warblers she has ever gotten in August- 11 total species, with 3 to 4 
individuals for several species!! Her sightings included:
Golden-winged (our first of the year)
Tennessee
Chestnut-sided
Magnolia
Black-throated Green
Blackburnian
Blackpoll
Black-and-white
Am. Redstart
C. Yellowthroat
Wilson's

I couldn't top that, but found a few surprises at the Paulding Sewage 
Lagoons. The Red-necked Phalarope juvenile (most likely the same bird) 
was back again for the third sighting in the last four days, and the 
appearance of our first Am. Golden Plover for the fall migration was 
indeed welcome. Who knows what these birds see in all of this dried up 
sewage, but they're welcome as long as they want to come!!
Bird long and prosper,
Doug & Micki Dunakin
Antwerp, Ohio

  Subject: 3 Red-necked Phalaropes @ Pipe Creek (8/21)
From: Greg Miller <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 20:17:27 -0700 (PDT)

Howdy All!

After an ultrasound at the hospital this morning,
Doreene Linzell and I headed to Erie County this
afternoon. The weather was absolutely delicious. We
birded Medusa Marsh (p38 A3), Pipe Creek (p38 A4),
Cedar Pt Chausee (p38 A5), and Edison Woods (p38 B6).

Highlights: 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 3 BAIRD'S
SANDPIPERS at Pipe Creek; 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER at
the Cedar Pt Chausee.

We started at the West end of Medusa and scoured the
wetlands from every available vantage point we could
find. Our search for White Pelican came up empty
again. #300 eludes me again... Present were 106 Great
Egrets and 3 Bald Eagles. The impoundment where the
Avocets & Whimbrel were earlier this year is still
high and affords no good shorebird habitat.

At Pipe Creek, only the far NW impoundment is open.
Everything else is overgrown with vegetation. Though
numbers were pretty small, quality was good.

10 Lesser Yellowlegs
13 Killdeer
15 Pectoral Sandpipers
  4 Spotted Sandpipers
23 Semipalmated Sandpipers
  3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
  3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS
  1 Short-billed Dowitcher
  1 Least Sandpiper
  5 Semipalmated Plovers

other: 1 Canada Warbler along the path

On to the Cedar Pt Chausee where the water levels
continue to subside. Extensive mudflats are present,
but only wet mud on Sheldon Marsh side is now fairly
distant, making identification of peeps difficult. On
the opposite side, more mudflats are exposed,
including a grassy area that may be good for
Buff-breasted Sandpipers in the future.

200+ Killdeer
300+ Pectoral Sandpipers
200+ peep sp.
   1  dowitcher sp.
  70  Lesser Yellowlegs
  80  Semipalmated Sandpipers
  60  Short-billed Dowitchers
  30  Semipalmated Plovers
   6  Black-bellied Plovers
   1  AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER

other: no Willet, no Marbled Godwit, no Red Knot
Greg Miller
Dublin, Ohio

  Subject: Dillon update
From: "Margaret Frazier Bowman" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 10:46:04 -0400

Dillon was disappointing this morning:  water up, but very few shore 
birds. Ken Davis stopped a few minutes while I was there, and we spotted 
and watched 3 soras.  Later, another appeared, making 4 on the morning.
Shorebirds:
peeps (about 20, with some flying behind vegetation)
        Least (6 identified)
        Western (2 juveniles)
        the rest were too distant to identify positively.
        killdeer (4)
        Semipalmated Plovers (3) - the first I had seen this year at Dillon
wood duck (1)
mallards (abt. 10)
green-backed herons (2)
great blue herons (32+)
great egrets (5)
double-crested cormorants (8)

The only shorebirds were on the mudflat and in the shallows beyond the
vegetation at the eastern-most part of Road #7 from which the water is
visible.  (East of the Horseman's Day Area.)

Margaret Bowman
Newark, OH

  Subject: Baird's sandpiper at Spring Valley WMA
From: "Scott Reeves" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 11:49:45 -0300

Checked the mudflats at Spring Valley WMA in Warren County in 
southwestern Ohio this AM.  Highlight was a juvenile Baird's sandpiper 
feeding on a dry mudflat and easily observed from the south parking lot. 
  Other shorebirds were concentrated in the southeastern portion of the 
wetland and included semipalmated plovers (2), killdeer (10), solitary 
sandpiper (1), semipalmated sandpipers (5), pectoral sandpipers (3) and 
least sandpipers (30).
A quick look at the beach at Caesar Creek Lake revealed seven Caspian 
terns among the ring-billed gulls as well as pectoral sandpipers, least 
sandpipers (2 each) and killdeer.
Scott Reeves
[log in to unmask]
Mason, OH

  Subject: Western Basin Shorebirds, 8/21/01
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 13:23:33 -0400

Started at Ottawa NWR at about 12:00 (noon) until 3:00 pm. and birded 
the mudflats of the Crane Creek estuary out on the east-west dike.  A 
gorgeous day for a hike!  As reported previously by Peter Gottschling, 
the birds were spread out over a large exposed area.  It took a while to 
scan the whole area and to cover the extensive mudflats west of the 
north south tree-line at the western edge of the eastern-most mudflat 
area.  Thirteen species of shorebirds, but probably missed a few, since 
the birds were so scattered.

Snowy Egret              1
Great Egret              80
Least Sandpiper          64
Semipalmated Sandpiper   24
Pectoral Sandpiper       96
Lesser Yellowlegs        119
Killdeer                 220
Greater Yellowlegs       3
Black-bellied Plover          3
Spotted Sandpiper        5
Short-billed Dowitcher        22
Stilt Sandpiper               20
Semipalmated Plover      32
Baird's Sandpiper        3
Marbled Godwit           1

Baird's Sandpipers and the Semipalmated Plovers were at the western 
mudflat area where the dike road turns sharply south.
Other birds:
Bald Eagle               3 , imm.
Canada Warbler           1, in willows along dikes
Also stopped at Cedar Pt. Chaussee and have only one bird to add to 
those posted by Greg Miller.
Dunlin                   1, bird still had black belly

Jay G. Lehman
Cincinnati, OH
[log in to unmask]

  Subject: Baird's Sand[piper
From: "Larry and Lenna Mae Gara" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 16:21:35 -0400

This PM around 3 o'clock I observed the BAIRD'S SANDPIPER which Scott 
Reeves found at Spring Valley this morning. The bird was in the mudflat 
by the parking lot working mostly at the edge near the lily pads. There 
were also some Least and Semipalmated along with l Solitary Sandpiper. 
It is a good chance to study at Baird's at close range.
  Stormy Cheers, Larry Gara

  Subject: Wilson's & Red-necked Phalaropes @ Pipe Creek (8/22)
From: Greg Miller <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 21:02:16 -0700 (PDT)
Howdy All!
A soggy day, but a good one with Dan Sanders in Erie
County again. Please forgive my short post, but I'm
bushed and have to get up early for less fun tomorrow
(week of chemo at the hospital).
  *Huron River:
1 BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (lots of habitat, few birds)
  *Cedar Pt Chausee:
2 BLACK TERNS (opposite Sheldon Marsh side--water
levels very low on Sheldon side and shorebirds are
distant)
  *Pipe Creek:
1 WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 3
BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS
  *Rt 4 & Bogart Rd (just south of Rt 2):
5 CATTLE EGRETS
  *Medusa Marsh:
1 SNOWY EGRET (easternmost impoundment), 0 WHITE
PELICANS
One last try for the White Pelican again produced a
negative report. [sigh]  We checked Medusa thoroughly
again as well as the Old Bridge from either side, the
Sandusky Bay Bridge in both directions, and East
Harbor and Middle Harbor (North side of the Sandusky
Bay off Rt 269) from a number of vantage points
between 4-7pm.  Unfortunately, we came up
empty-handed.  If it's still in the area, it's hiding
well...
-Greg Miller
Dublin, OH

  Subject: Paulding Sewage Lagoons
From: "D & M Dunakin" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 00:16:23 -0400

Hello once more,
The Paulding Sewage Lagoons provided yet another day of rest and 
refreshment for the Red-necked Phalarope, who has now been seen 4 days 
out of the last 5. There were 10 other species of shorebirds present, 
all common creatures save the Baird's Sandpiper, who also seems to like 
these environs. The other lagoon was visited by a pair of Northern 
Shovelers and a Lesser Scaup. Add the Mallards and the Blue-winged and 
Green-winged Teal seen in the past week, and you can see that we're 
building up quite a clintele here.
Bird long and prosper,
Doug & Micki Dunakin
Antwerp, Ohio

  Subject: Hudsonian Godwit at Caesar Ck SP
From: Ed & Linda Roush <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 14:10:35 -0400

This AM at Caesar Ck SP (Warren Cty) beach, mixed in with the usual mass
of Ring-billed Gulls, were 6 Caspian Terns and a Hudsonian Godwit in
near-winter plumage was staying close to a Greater Yellowlegs.
Ed Roush
Wilmington

  Subject: Northwest Ohio 8/23/01
From: "Joseph W. Hammond" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 21:45:18 -0400
Greetings,
Dan Sanders and I headed north today (8/23/01) in search of warblers and
shorebirds of which we found seven and 17 species, respectively. We 
birded from 0930-1600 h. Here are the highlights:

Magee Marsh WA
1 Least Flycatcher
1 Magnolia Warbler
1 Blackburnian Warbler
1 American Redstart
1 Northern Waterthrush
3 Common Yellowthroats
1 Canada Warbler

Ottawa NWR
3000+ shorebirds (14 species) and 200+ terns
1 Northern Shoveler
7 Black-bellied Plovers
1 Marbled Godwit
1 White-rumped Sandpiper
3 Baird's Sandpipers
7 Stilt Sandpipers
1 partial albino Caspian Tern
1 Prothonotary Warbler (gorgeous)
1 Northern Waterthrush

Pipe Creek WA
11 species of shorebirds including the following:
2 Common Snipe
1 Wilson's Phalarope
3 Red-necked Phalaropes
Good birding,
Joe Hammond
Columbus, OH

  Subject: Paulding Sewage Lagoons
From: "D & M Dunakin" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 00:41:12 -0400

Hello one more time,
Paulding Sewage Lagoons came through again, with 13 species of 
shorebirds today, led by the six day veteran Red-necked Phalarope. 
Joining him on this post-storm day were the usual supporting cast of 
Pectorals, Yellowlegs, etc. Two other species made an appearance- a 
single Stilt Sandpiper and three uvenile Sanderlings, looking quite 
dapper with their white-speckled backs!! Thanks, John, for spotting the 
Sanderlings!
We all realize that unlike the permanent shorebird habitat many of you 
enjoy, our unique situation at Paulding will last only until the 
contractors finish removing sludge from the lagoons. Then we'll be back 
to looking at Killdeer and Spotteds and longing for these few days of 
glory!! So, bear with us if we seem to brag about these lagoons; it just 
shows what can happen when a little bit of habitat is created!!!
Bird long and prosper,
Doug & Micki Dunakin
Antwerp, Ohio

  Subject: Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes at Pipe Creek 8/23/01
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 08:26:12 -0400

 From 10:45 am to 12:00 noon yesterday Thursday , there were two species 
of phalaropes at Pipe Creek.  I found a window of dry during a rainy 
morning.  The three Red-necked Phalaropes previously reported  by Ben 
Morrison were still present.  They were in the far (east ) side of the 
NW pool just beyond the island and were putting on quite a show of 
phalarope behavior--swimming, spinning and stabbing food from the 
surface.  In addition, there was a Wilson's Phalarope, an immature bird 
under-going molt. A good source for this plumage is Shorebirds--An 
Identification Guide by Hayman.  The Wilson's was significantly
larger than Red-necked, much lighter in color overall, with a longer 
very pointed bill, yellow legs, no wing bars during a short flight 
across the pond, and was feeding by walking in the water , belly deep, 
and very actively stabbing food from the surface.  If all birds stay in 
place, this is an excellent chance to study and compare both species in 
close proximity.  Also present while I was there
Lesser Yellowlegs        3
Pectoral Sandpiper       1
Least Sandpiper          4
Spotted Sandpiper        2

Thanks to Ben Morrison, Peter Gottschling and Greg Miller for responding 
to my private messages for directions to the NW pond at Pipe Creek.
Jay G. Lehman
Cincinnati, OH
[log in to unmask]
                         *   *   *   *   *   *

        Finally, here is the seasonal shorebird compilation from the Fall 2001 
issue of the Ohio Cardinal, with a larger picture and larger 
implications (abbreviations: HBSP=Headlands Beach SP, CCE=Crane Creek 
Estuary at Ottawa, ONWRC=Ottawa NWR Census, SVWA=Spring Valley Wildlife 
Area, MWW=Miami-Whitewater, BCSP=Buck Creek SP, BIWA=Big Island WA, 
CPNWR= Cedar Pt NWR):

Black-bellied Plover:  Over 800 were reported, most at the CCE’s 
bounteous shorebird habitats. R. Hannikman had the first at HBSP on 4 
Aug. On 9 Aug V. Fazio spotted 10 ad and two juv at the CCE, but 
relatively few reports emerged until October’s juveniles arrived, with 
~200 on the 4th at the CCE (J. Hammond), 125 on the ONWRC of the 7th, 
and 29 on the 28th at Conneaut (B. Royse). There were many Nov birds, 
with 104 on the 4th’s ONWRC, 28 at the CCE on the 8th (Fazio), 39 there 
on the 18th (Fazio), six there the 24th (J. Pogacnik), and one at 
Findlay Res on the 26th (J. Taber fide B. Hardesty).

American Golden-Plover:  Three were on the CCE on 10 Aug (B. Conlon). 
September’s largest count was 20 in Paulding on the 11th (M&D Dunakin). 
October sightings were dominated by the CCE, with a good high count of 
430 there on the 10th (V. Fazio); nine were at Berlin Res on the 5th (B. 
Morrison). One report came from Nov, a single bird at the CCE on the 3rd 
(J. Haw).

Semipalmated Plover: Returned during the previous period, and August 
numbers were decent, with 30 at the CCE on the 2nd (J. Hammond), and 96 
there on the 30th (V. Fazio). Relatively skimpy numbers were found 
thereafter, and of only four Oct reports, the latest was of a single 
bird at Conneaut on the 23rd (G. Miller).

Killdeer: On 2 Aug 100+ were at Toussaint WA, with ~400 at the nearby 
CCE (J. Hammond). A survey of shorebird spots in the western Lk Erie 
marshes yielded 3700+ on 5 Aug for V. Fazio. At Berlin Res, 599 were 
present 11 Aug (K. Miller) and 649 on 6 Sept (B. Morrison). Significant 
numbers in Nov were 52 in Van Wert on the 2nd (J. Perchalski) and 90 at 
Hoover Res on the 3rd (R. Thorn).

American Avocet:  About 25 birds, half or so inland. One of the summer’s 
Medusa Marsh birds persisted through 9 Aug (T. Bartlett fide V. Fazio). 
One was at Conneaut on 11 Aug (T&M Romito), with 1-3 at BCSP 12-14 Aug 
(D. Overacker). Five were at Conneaut on 10 Sept (B. Royse), and one in 
Paulding on 21 Sept (D&M Dunakin). High count was of eight at Caesar Ck 
SP on 20 Oct (L. Gara), and the last report came from the CCE, with a 
bird on 24 Nov (J. Pogacnik).

Greater Yellowlegs:  Forty birds inland in Paulding on 16 Aug were 
unusual (D&M Dunakin), and would have been the season’s high count, save 
for 44 found on the 2 Sept ONWRC. Six reports came in Nov, with one of 
26 birds at Port Clinton on the 18th (V. Fazio), and the last of a 
singleton on the CCE on the 24th (J. Pogacnik).

Lesser Yellowlegs:  The high count came early, with 380+ at the CCE on 9 
Aug (V. Fazio). Paulding had another local record number with 135 on 16 
Aug (M&D Dunakin). Numbers were relatively low once juveniles showed up, 
perhaps because Pte Mouillee in Michigan was attracting lessers by the 
thousands. Remarkably, six sightings came from Nov, including 44 at Port 
Clinton on the 18th (Fazio) and three at the CCE on the 24th (J. Pogacnik).

Solitary Sandpiper:  High counts were 31 at Beach City WA in Tuscarawas 
on 4 Aug and 24 the following day at Berlin Res (B. Morrison). Singles 
lingering into Oct were at BCSP on the 5th (D. Overacker) and at Caesar 
Ck SP on the 14th (L. Gara) and the 21st (N. Cade).

Willet:  Thirteen reported, the first at Sheldon Marsh 16 Aug (G. 
Miller), with a high count of but two at Pipe Ck WA 26 Aug (A. Osborn). 
Remarkably, though nearly routine for some shorebird species this fall, 
there were an unusual number of late sightings, four in Oct: one the 2nd 
at SVWA (B. Royse), one the 4th at Crane Ck SP (B. Whan), one the 7th at 
the CCE (ONWRC), and one the 20th at Conneaut (J. Pogacnik).

Spotted Sandpiper:  Thirty-one at Berlin Res on 9 Aug was an excellent 
count (B. Morrison). R. Thorn had a couple on the Greenlawn Dam in 
Columbus on 7 Oct, and T&P Bihn reported 16 at Metzger Marsh on 20 Oct.

Upland Sandpiper:  Mostly undetected, but five were in Paulding on 6 Aug 
(D&M Dunakin), and another at Berlin Res on 21 Aug  (B. Morrison).

Whimbrel:  Eleven birds reported, all near Lk Erie, the first the 
continuing individual at Medusa Marsh through 2 Aug (J. Hammond), the 
last not at all late on 22 Sept at Conneaut (D. Le Gallee). High count 
was four at Conneaut on 19 Aug (J. Pogacnik).

Hudsonian Godwit:  As many as 50 birds reported, with a high count of 18 
at the CCE on 27 Oct (J. Pogacnik). Most were near Lk Erie, but an ad in 
near-basic plumage was at Caesar Ck SP on 23 Aug (E. Roush), three 
molting adults on 8 Sept at Hoover Res (G. Balson et al.), and six in 
Fulton 5 Oct (J. Yochum). R. Harlan and S. Wagner had a flyover during 
an Indians game in Cleveland on 30 Sept. The last seen was 8 Nov at the 
CCE (T. Gilliland et al.).

Marbled Godwit:  At the CCE, three were found 8 Aug (V. Fazio) and were 
observed being flushed by humans on 10 Aug (B. Conlon); three were 
reported the following day at nearby Pte Mouillee MI. Also at the CCE 
were one 21 Aug (J. Lehman), one 23 Aug (J. Hammond), one 30 Aug (T. 
Shiveley), then one 9 Sept (Hammond), 12 Sept (G. Miller), and one 27-28 
Oct (J. Pogacnik). At Sheldon Marsh, one was found 16 Aug (Miller), 17 
Aug (P. Lozano), 21 Aug (E. Yoder), 25 Aug (D. Sanders), 30 Aug (Fazio), 
8 Sept (Hammond), and 12 Sept (Miller). Anyone’s guess as to how many 
individuals were involved at these, the only two locations where the 
species was found.

Ruddy Turnstone:  Not a good showing, with only 19 birds reported. The 
high count was four, at the CCE on 9 Aug (V. Fazio). The last two 
sightings were inland, with one at Findlay Res on 18 Sept (B. Hardesty) 
and another at Lk St Marys on 30 Sept (J. Ruedisueli).

Red Knot:  Around 50 birds reported, all at the CCE, Sheldon Marsh, or 
Conneaut Harbor. The first came from 15 Aug at the CCE (J. Brumfield), 
and the latest on 10 Oct there (V. Fazio). The high count of 11 also 
came from the CEE, on the 2 Sept ONWRC.

Sanderling:  Nearly a thousand birds for the season, with a high count 
of 286 on 10 Oct at the CCE (V. Fazio), where nearly 700 of the season’s 
total were found.

Semipalmated Sandpiper: Fall birds, nearly all juveniles, were not 
numerous. The high count was 250+ at Marblehead on 26 Aug (V. Fazio); 
120 were at Sheldon Marsh on 2 Aug (J. Hammond), and 135 at the CCE on 5 
Aug (Fazio). Fifty-two were at Berlin Res on 10 Sept (B. Morrison). Oct 
reports included two at CCE on the 6th (Hammond) and 10 at Mosquito Lk 
WA on the 11th (C. Babyak).

Western Sandpiper:  Fewer than 30 reports, nearly all juveniles in the 
glaciated portion of the state.  On 11 Aug two were at Berlin Res (K. 
Miller), one at MWW (N. Cade), and another at W. Branch SP (L. Rosche). 
The high count was three, in Paulding on 17 Aug (M&D Dunakin), at the 
CCE on 27 Oct (V. Fazio), and on 5 Nov at the CCE (R. Harlan, S. Wagner).

Least Sandpiper:  Unusually skimpy in numbers this fall. The high counts 
were early, with 180 at the CCE on 9 Aug (V. Fazio), and 141 at Berlin 
Res on 11 Aug (K. Miller), with other inland counts less than 50. A poor 
breeding season? Clement weather kept two at the CCE through 24 Nov (J. 
Pogacnik) and one at BCSP the following day (D. Overacker).

White-rumped Sandpiper:  Only ~25 reported, with a high of six at the 
CCE on 26 Sept (G. Miller). Inland numbers included two at Berlin Res on 
10 Sept (B. Morrison) and one at SVWA on 2 Oct (S. Reeves). Did not 
linger, with the latest on 27 Oct at HBSP (K. Metcalf).

Baird’s Sandpiper:  Of ~125 reported the first was in Paulding on 12 Aug 
(D&M Dunakin). Twenty-five or more were inland, the furthest south one 
at SVWA on 22 Aug (S. Reeves). The high count was 15 at the CCE on 8 
Sept (J. Hammond et al.), and the latest were two at the CCE on 3 Nov 
(J. Haw) and two at Port Clinton 18 Nov (V. Fazio).

Pectoral Sandpiper: Customarily numerous through the period, reported 
almost entirely from western Lk Erie; the high count of nearly 2,000 in 
a 8 Aug survey of that area by V. Fazio, and the largest flock was 500+ 
at Sheldon Marsh on 16 Aug (G. Miller). On 18 Nov, two were at Port 
Clinton (Fazio) and one at BCSP (D. Overacker).

Purple Sandpiper:  Only one, at Ashtabula on 18 Nov (J. Pogacnik).

Dunlin:  More than fourteen thousand reported, the highest count a 
remarkable 6500+ at the CCE on 28 Oct (J. Pogacnik); the next highest 
was 2600+ there on 1 Nov (V. Fazio). Also notable were the following 
early arrivals: an albinistic individual at the CCE 9 (Fazio) and 10 Aug 
(B. Conlon), an adult at Sheldon Marsh 21 Aug (J. Lehman) and 25 Aug (D. 
Sanders), one at the CCE 30 Aug (J. Brumfield, T. Shiveley), and a 
basic-plumaged bird at Hoover Res on 5 Sept (Sanders).

Stilt Sandpiper:  Nearly 200 reported. New to Kelleys Isl records was 
one on 17 Aug (T. Bartlett). The high count of 25 at the CCE (J. 
Hammond) was no surprise, and 17 on 1 Oct at BIWA (D. Sanders) was good, 
but of greater interest was its persistence: 24 Oct in Wayne (S. 
Snyder), 26 Oct at BCSP (D. Overacker), and 18 Nov, when 11 were at Pt 
Clinton (V. Fazio).

Buff-breasted Sandpiper:  About 50 birds reported, all or nearly all 
juveniles. In Minnesota this fall, by contrast, 480 adults were found 
the first week of Aug, with a high count of 164 in a single field (C. 
Mandel). Our first, a bird on 13 Aug at Berlin (B. Morrison et al.) was 
indeterminate as to age because of viewing conditions. The high count 
was eight at Sheldon Marsh 30 Aug (T. Shively, J. Brumfield). Inland 
reports included one at Hoover Res 30 Aug (G. Balson), three there 3 
Sept (D. Sanders), one there 18 Sept (J. Hammond), one there 22 Sept 
(Balson), three in Paulding 4 Sept (M&D Dunakin), one at BCSP 14-16 Sept 
(D. Overacker), one at MWW 26 (P. Wharton) and 27 Aug (S. Reeves), one 
at EFSP 9 (B. Stanley) and 10 Sept (B. Foppe), and one 21 Aug, six 11 
Sept, and four 25 Sept at Findlay Res (B. Hardesty).

Short-billed Dowitcher:  Migrants tapered off in Aug, with the seasonal 
high count only ~100 at Sheldon Marsh on the 16th (G. Miller). Only ~30 
reported inland, with a high of five on 8 Aug at Mosquito Lk WA (D. 
Hochadel), and the furthest south one in Ross on 9 Aug (B&D Lane). The 
latest was in the CCE on 4 Oct (J. Hammond et al.).

Long-billed Dowitcher:  After one summer report, the first fall bird was 
on the CCE on 2 Aug (B. Whan), an adult already in molt; four were there 
the 9th (V. Fazio), and six the 10th (B. Conlon).  The first 
basic-plumaged adult was seen at BIWA 11 Sept (Fazio). On 4 Oct 110 were 
at the CCE (Whan), and 214 by the 10th  (Fazio); 46 were counted 27 Oct 
(J. Pogacnik), and 60 on 5 Nov (ONWRC). Has the staging population 
displaced from Metzger resorted to temporarily low water levels at CCE? 
The last seen was at Huron on 12 Nov (D. Sanders).

Common Snipe:  Eleven were at Sheldon Marsh 4 Oct (B. Whan), 21 at the 
CPNWR on 21 Oct (E. Tramer), two in Van Wert on 2 Nov (J. Perchalski), 
five at the CCE on 8 Nov (V. Fazio), and 28 at BCSP on 10 Nov and 39 on 
18 Nov (D. Overacker). On the latter date, Fazio observed a remarkable 
310 at Metzger Marsh WA.

American Woodcock:  Sightings were customarily sporadic, the first 7 
Sept in Columbus (B. Royse), and the last of two in Lake 26 Nov (J. 
Pogacnik). R. Campbell had two in Belmont on 3 Nov, and N. Keller 
relayed a report of one in downtown Cincinnati on 17 Nov.

Wilson’s Phalarope:  All reports: 2 Aug, an adult and a juvenile at CCE 
(B. Whan, J. Hammond); 17 Aug one at Marblehead (V. Fazio); one at Pipe 
Ck WA 22 (G. Miller) and 23 Aug (Hammond); one at Conneaut 3 Sept (J. 
Pogacnik); one late at Port Clinton on 18 Nov (Fazio).

Red-necked Phalarope:  Twenty to 25 birds reported, the high count seven 
at Sheldon Marsh on 8 Sept (B. Whan). The first, a juvenile, appeared at 
the CCE 12 Aug (P. Lozano), and an adult there 15 Aug (J. Brumfield). A 
juvenile in Paulding 18-24 Aug was unusual (M&D Dunakin). Two at Pipe Ck 
WA 18 Aug (B. Morrison) grew to five 30 Aug (T. Shively). Two were at 
Fairport Harbor 29 Oct for G. Meszaros.

Red Phalarope:  Nine birds, all on or near Lk Erie: one at Ashtabula 14 
Oct (J. Pogacnik); one at Sheldon Marsh 12 Oct (D. Sanders fide J. 
Hammond); one 23 Oct at Little Portage WA (V. Fazio); three 27 Oct at 
HBSP (K. Metcalf); one at Rocky River, Cuyahoga on 3 Nov (N. Walesch); 
one 9 Nov at Huron Harbor (D. Sanders, m obs) through the end of the 
period, and one at Conneaut 18 Nov (Pogacnik).

Phalarope, sp: One at Clear Fork Res on 19 Oct was too far out to 
identify (J. Herman).

______________________________________________________________________

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]