Thanks for reporting the exciting sighting, and the detailed instructions for finding the Golden-winged Warbler. One minor correction to the instructions - the entrance to the trail is on the RIGHT side of the road. The GWWA was singing away when I saw it on a short tree in the late morning, and I got a great look at it before it flew off to the snags further down the trail, and I lost track of it. Beautiful bird! Prairie warblers were plentiful, and seemed to be flying near to say hello.
Thanks again for reporting this.
Bob Hikida
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leidy Gabe
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2014 8:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] 5/24-26 - terriotorial Golden-winged Warbler - Lake Hope SP (Vinton Co.)
I spent some time birding the back country of Lake Hope SP & Zaleski SF, this weekend. The highlight was a territorial male GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, which I viewed daily May 24-26. I tried diligently to discern a mate for this bird (Golden-winged or otherwise), but had no luck in this department. The bird is clearly occupying a territory, and as we know, Golden-winged is basically extirpated as a breeder in this state. As a matter of fact, the only breeding record I'm familiar within the twenty or so years was a bird I was lucky enough to document rearing hybrid young at Horseshoe Pond (Summit Co.), several years ago.
Directions: From SR-278, turn onto Irish Ridge Rd. immediately before the campground entrance to Lake Hope SP. At 3.5 miles, Irish Ridge intersects with Long Ridge Rd., at which point you will make a left.
One half-mile up Long Ridge you will pass a gated gravel driveway on the left, and .2-mile beyond you'll come to a large cut log on the left, with an obscure pull-off, and more obvious dirt bike trail. Park here and follow the trail down the hill to the far side of the clear-cut the bird is occupying a territory on the left side of the trail, often singing from the dead snags. I should also add that there are an awesome selection of typical clear-cut species present in good numbers - Prairie, Blue-winged, & Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Yellow-breasted Chats, and Red-headed Woodpeckers.
Retracing your steps, there is a another fantastic clear-cut along Irish Ridge Rd., 2.5 miles from SR-278. This one is also marked by a large, cut log and overgrown pull-off. I didn't discover this area until midday on my last day, but it's most extensive than the first, and features some open oak woodlands, which look great for Summer Tanager, and with more imagination, Mississippi Kite, a species known to breed in this region in recent years.
I'm hopeful that those with more frequent access to this area than I may be able to keep an eye on this bird in the coming weeks. A Golden-winged in this region, near its natural range, has a exponentially better chance of attracting a Golden-winged female as a mate. The return of this species to our state as a breeder would be great news!
Good birding -
Gabe Leidy
Sheffield Lk
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Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
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