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July 2011

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From:
rob thorn <[log in to unmask]>
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rob thorn <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 6 Jul 2011 21:59:40 -0400
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I spent the last 2 mornings roaming through OBBA2 blocks in south Franklin & north Pickaway Counties.  Yesterday I focused on areas around Groveport, while today I centered my efforts on Rickenbacker Airport and Ashville.  Areas covered included 3-Creeks MetroPark, the Groveport Canal park/towpath, Bareis Preserve, Walnut Woods MetroPark, Stage's Pond, and a lot of small areas scattered between these sites.  While there was nothing earth-shaking, there were a lot of neat birds out & active, despite the heat.  Notables included:

Great Egrets - several spots, with the most being 4 in the flooded fields along Old Hamilton Rd north of Groveport

Cooper's Hawks - young birds were calling for food at both Groveport Canal Park and Stage's Pond (2).  Adult birds were seen at many locations.

American Kestrels - surprisingly scarce despite 'good' habitat.  One was along Walnut Pike, while another was at Stage's Pond.

Yellow-billed Cuckoos - these elusive residents were calling at Groveport Canal park and at Stage's Pond

E.Kingbirds - pairs were belligerently attacking larger birds at both Bareis Preserve (Canal Winchester) and 3-Creeks

White-eyed Vireo - stunningly scarce, despite good habitat.  None were at Walnut Woods, and only 1 was calling at Stage's Pond

Yellow-throated Vireo - opposite condition to White-eyed, with birds much more widespread than in past years.  I found them in small woodlots all over the area.

Brown Thrasher - surprisingly, single birds were still singing along the Groveport Canal Park and at Stage's Pond.

Black&White Warblers - have started their annual Summer wanderings, with singing males at the Groveport Canal park and at the Confluence area of 3-Creeks.  Nesting is unlikely in either location.

Ovenbird - a defensive, chipping bird was in the forest at Stage's Pond.  I couldn't coax it to reveal any nest or fledgeling, so it remains just a possible nester, quite unusual for this location.

Yellow-br.Chat - seem to be having a good year, with birds at many more locations than in prior years.  Best numbers were 2-3 birds at Bareis Preserve, Walnut Woods, and Stage's Pond.

Blue Grosbeak - a male has been singing around the parking area at Bareis Preserve for several weeks now.  No real evidence of a pair, but it is neat to hear the rolling finch-like song of this species.

Rose-br.Grosbeak - no big #s this summer, but I did have single songsters along the Groveport Canal park and Stage's Pond

Savannah Sparrow - scarce, as most farms are plowing more acreage this year.  Best spot was along Richardson Rd at Walnut Woods, where the weedfields held 2-3 singing birds

Vesper Sparrow - more widespread, possibly because of more plowing.  Birds were singing at many locations; the most were 2 singing along Airbase Rd along the south margin of Rickenbacker

Dickcissel - no birds found, with a similar loss of habitat (see Savannah Sparrow) in areas that formerly held a few.

Orchard Orioles - another strong year, with singing birds at many new locations.  Oddly, however, they were missing from Stage's Pond.  Normally this has been a very reliable location, and it's possible that they were just not very noisy today.

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