I checked out the middle wetland area of the Deer Creek Wildlife Area this morning. It was bone dry last week but recent rains brought back a few shallow pools and a green carpet to the area. Less obvious from a distance is more water in the cracks of the mud. Utilizing this area this morning were about 2 dozen Killdeers, 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, and one each of Semipalmated Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs. The Buffies were still there when I left around 11:00. It's ideal habitat for them, and I hope they stick around for Melanie Shuter to get them for her Pickaway Co. year list! That whole middle pond area is surrounded by a dense thicket of smartweeds this year and the only viewing is from the dike that divides the middle and south ponds. In the smartweeds are huge numbers of Bobolinks, perhaps with 200 in that area. In the wooded area between Egypt Pike and the wetlands there were numerous Tennessee Warblers, and Am. Redstarts.

I checked out the beach in the state park when I arrived in the morning finding nothing of note, but on the way out after 11:00 there were 4 Black Terns and a Forster's Tern on the beach. Unfortunately I didn't see any godwits or avocets today.

On the west side of the reservoir along D-62 (Fayette Co.) there was another sizable flock of Bobolinks(~40) feeding in the goldenrods. Also seen in that field were several Dickcissels, which was sort of a surprise since I didn't hear any there during the nesting season.


Bob Royse


Robert Royse
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www.roysephotos.com

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