We spent most of the afternoon birding the Battelle Darby north complex,
specifically A) the low bushy/weedy fields along the northside of Kuhlwein
Rd.and the the expansive pasture on the southside B) the southside wetlands
(formally the grain/elevator area), an expansive marshy area of tall
cattails/weeds and large shallow pools, the wide Teal/Harrier trails are
here, and for woodland species C) Nature Center road. with hilly hedgerows
and intwined grassy areas and woodland edge/margins; an excellent place to
study roadside sparrows in mixed flocks especially after a snow, the fence
rows often have a raptor or two (often a harrier) perched here, D) BD metro
park entrance with its open woodlands. All water open. Mostly overcast and
cold, light winds; a passing front brought slate gray skies and light to
moderate winds, NNW, 10+ mph......most of the waterfowl in the south
wetlands began moving in response to the weather.
Canada Goose 750 (common resident, common to abundant fall migrant; the non
migratory -- large, proportionately long necked maxima -- makes up a good
percentage of wintering and spring birds, while the strictly migratory
(augmenting "wintering" birds), probably B. c. canadensis, which about 50+%
of these birds seemed to be indicating that tarue migrants will continue in
decreasing numbers; spring migration seems inconspicuous than fall,
apparently past peak, but difficult to tell (northbound flights apparently
largely or entirely nocturnal due to much more narrow window in spring)
e.g. "heavy fligfht, northbound" nearly continuous, 8 pm - 4 or 5 am,
several date, 15 - 24 Feb. 2013)
Wood Duck 3 (first true arrivals here this year)
Gadwall 30 (left the south wetlands, late, went north)
Am. Wigeon 25 (two flocks, 8 and 17)
Mallard 600
ABDU 400
GWTE 90 (three flocks, about 30 ea, N late)
NPIN 270 (85 - 90% males; two flocks, one of 190 birds--new arrivals; most
Ive seen here since last fall)
BWTE 21 (Early--one flock, about 16 or 17 male)
NOSH 45
RNDU 27 (one flock, from south heading north, liked to stop, but circled
widely over pasture, continued north--at least 20 males)
TV 6
N. Harrier 9 (incl. 5 m -- a very high percentage m/f, indicating
northbound birds)
SSH 2
RSHA 2
RTHA 4
Merlin 1 (m -- very early for migrant, probably a wintering)
Sandhill Crane 2 (flying N, looking as if to land in pasture but,
rebounding, circled pasture twice, continuing N; later seen in this pasture
with loafing geese--first I've seen here since: 4 BD wetlands, greenways
loop 6/28/2012)
Killdeer 8
Ring billed Gull 30
Mourning Dove 12
Short-eared Owl 1 (late in day, flying over pasture behind geese)
RBWO 7
YBSA 5 (very quiet, 2 at Nature Center, 3 metro park)
DOWO 6
Horned Lark 11
B Jay 7
A Crow 20
Carolina Chick 3
T Titmouse 11
C Wren 3
A Robin 25
W Pipit 3 (new arrival)
YR "Myrtle" Warbler 10
N Cardinal 9
A Tree Sparrow 45 (most at nature center)
Sav. Sparrow 2
WT Sp 25
DE "Slate-colored" Junco 26
Red winged Blackbird 300
E. Meadowlark 5
Rusty Blackbird 4
C Grackle 75
BHCO 100
A Goldfinch 2
Good birding!
--
David Tan
Columbus
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