Longtime friend Jim Fry and I went to Big Island Wildlife Area in Marion County this afternoon to seek a couple of species that had eluded Jim thus far this year. We managed to chase one down and we tallied another species we were not even thinking about, a Sedge Wren. The species we had on our to find list was Common Gallinule. We didn't merely locate a Common Gallinule, but instead we located 7 adults and 21 chicks. These were all in the area along Prospect-LaRue Road. What made this an extra treat was that I was using a new spotting scope in got at the Westerville Wildbirds Unlinited store for the first time. I had my old scope for almost 30 years and my wonderful wife  said it was time to treat myself to a new spotting scope. The clarity of the new scope compared to the old scope is like comparing a Lamborghini to a Yugo.

Species we observed with young in tow included Pied-billed Grebe, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Common Gallinule and American Coot.

The Sedge Wren was in the wetland area off the observation platform off Ohio 95. Dickcissel were also singing near the observation platform.

A total list follows.

Charlie Bombaci

Species list:
Pied-billed Grebe & Immatures
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose & Immatures
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck & Immatures
Mallard & Immatures
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Common Gallinule & Immatures
American Coot & Immatures
Killdeer
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Kingbird
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Sedge Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow


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