OHIO-BIRDS Archives

August 2012

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Subject:
From:
Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 4 Aug 2012 12:01:34 -0400
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Brad Sparks and I spent this morning at Darby under a lowering sky,
walking out in large fields carrying long metal objects while thunder
rumbled in the distance. Having returned safe, I want to report maybe a
dozen sedge wrens not far north of the Kuhlwein Rd pkg lot (take the
bike trail north paralleling the road, then trail takes a sharp right,
look for birds just after you take the right-angle left that follows.
Very visible and vocal males 2-3 feet off the trail, noisiest about
dawn. A few dickcissels continue to sing, along with various sparrows.
        Now there seems to be only one pond with much water, the
northwesternmost (accessible from the old grain-bins site*), where all
the shorebird action was last year. Habitat-wise, it is perfect, and far
more easily viewed from the east side (walk east, then take second mowed
trail on left)--meaning morning visits are best. All the habitat is
close enough, but far enough away so that birds do not easily spook.
Thus, a spotting scope will greatly enhance viewing.
semipalmated plover 3
killdeer ~100
spotted sandpiper 13
solitary sandpiper 6
greater yellowlegs only 2
lesser yellowlegs 18
semmipalmated sandpiper  only 6
pectoral sandpiper around 40
short-billed dowitcher  only 1
        This habitat is ripe and welcoming, and should produce many more
shorebird species as migration continues and enough rain keeps it wet.
Bill Whan
Columbus
* it occurs to me that many birders remain puzzled by this. The grain
bins, once a prominent feature, have recently been removed since Metro
Parks acquired the land. From US40, take Darby Creek Dr south ~ 1.5
miles (passing Kuhlwein Rd and a Parks parking lot on the left). You'll
soon pass a prominent crossing of the MP bike trail, then the turn-off
to the new Darby MP Nature Center on the right (no admittance yet), but
soon thereafter is a small grove of trees in the large prairie on the
left, with two driveways. This is the site of the grain bins, where you
can see their concrete foundations, a small shed, and some driveways.
For the time being, parking here without blocking driveways is allowed.
There are no signs, bathrooms, trash cans, trail maps, or water. You can
see this spot is not for the average park visitor. The mowed trail to
the shorebird site heads east (you can see downtown Cols buildings in
that direction) from the NE corner of this area. Two trails go left from
this one to loop the pond; the second, shorter one, leads to the east
side where viewing is now better. A circuit of the pond is a bit more
than a mile's walk in hot open prairie. This will be better marked and
improved later this year by the MPs, and the less adventurous may want
to wait for improvements. The rest of us should thank the Metro Parks
for allowing responsible use of still relatively undeveloped property.

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