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June 2016

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From:
Ken Ostermiller <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Ken Ostermiller <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:50:37 -0400
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Excellent description, Bob, of Columbiana County birding opportunities.

If birders do visit this county you might try using the new Columbiana
County Birding Drive:
http://ohioebirdhotspots.wikispaces.com/Columbiana+County+Birding+Drive
This birding drive provides a route and driving directions to visit five of
the birding locations that Bob mentions. It doesn't cover every part of the
county, but would provide a full day of birding.

Ken Ostermiller

Ken Ostermiller

On Wed, Jun 15, 2016 at 9:32 AM, robert lane <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> My wife Denise and I, would like to enlighten everyone to the birding
> opportunities in seldom birded by others, Columbiana County. Even though we
> live in Mahoning County, we reside only 0.4 of a mile north of the
> Columbiana County line. Having the advantage of growing up in the area, we
> have a Columbiana County Lifelist of 258 species. E-birders have a lot of
> catching up to do, with the present E-bird list at 215. Attached is a story
> I was asked to write for "The Bobolink" publication, back in 2010,
> detailing the variety of areas that can be explored in Columbiana County.
> Basically, the only changes to the story are that The Greenway Trail is now
> about 13 miles long, and Sean Logan is no longer the director of The Ohio
> Department of Natural Resources. Take a ride and see another part of Ohio.
> Hope to see you in the field.
>
>
> Bob Lane
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>       Next door, and to the east of The Bobolink Area, is the wonderfully,
> habitat diverse, and scenic Columbiana County. Over the past five summer
> seasons, during The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, there have been about 155
> bird species recorded. The northern half of the county is glaciated, and
> the southern half unglaciated; varying in elevation from 1446 at Round
> Knob, to 664 at the Ohio River, a change of 782 feet. The diversity of the
> county can be described as we see what borders it.
>      The rolling farmland of the western edge borders Stark and Carroll
> Counties; The Bobolink Area. In this area, along the headwaters of the
> Mahoning River, are Great Blue Heron rookeries, and some extensive marsh
> habitats, one of which, this past summer, provided the first documented
> county record of nesting Sandhill Cranes, producing two youngsters. In
> August of 2005, two Black-billed Magpies were found by my wife, Denise,
> near our hometown of Damascus. They stayed for nearly two months; being
> seen by many, including many Bobolink Area residents. Cliff Swallows can be
> found nesting on a few of the local barns.
>      The southern edge is foothills, adjacent to Jefferson County, and
> includes the 2265 acre, seldom visited, Highlandtown Lake Wildlife Area.
> This past late spring there were four Glossy Ibis seen here for several
> days. Whip-poor-will, Ruffed Grouse, and an occasional Black Vulture are
> seen here. To the south, nearby, across the county line, are nesting Common
> Ravens. A hopeful future find for the appalacian hills of Columbiana County.
>      The southeast corner is the Ohio River and the state of West
> Virginia. Here can be found: Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Double-crested
> Cormorant, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, and even an out of season Common
> Loon on the river.
>      Everything to the east is the state of Pennsylvania. The vast Beaver
> Creek State Park and Forest stretches along the tributaries of the Little
> Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. This area is nestled in rugged
> sandstone cliffs, cascading streams, and many hemlock laden hillsides and
> gorges. In May 2007, the lower portion of the Little Beaver Creek Watershed
> was dedicated as one of Audubon Ohio's Important Bird Areas. At the state
> park is a restored operating grist mill and a historic village. Remnants of
> the Sandy and Beaver Canal can be seen here and throughout the county. A
> visit to The Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center, when in the area, is a
> must! There are over three hundred mounted birds and mammals on display, on
> weekends, May thru October. There have been 23 species of warbler recorded
> here in summer. The highlight specie of this area is the Common Merganser,
> of which, at least seven families with young were found this past season.
> Black-throated Blue Warblers are seen and heard, but nesting has not been
> confirmed. Swainson's Warbler has been reported three times in the past
> several years, but no confirmation. In the late 1960's they were reported
> from these same locations. In July 2009, a male Blackburnian Warbler was in
> the pines at the Beaver Creek State Park Campground. Golden-crowned
> Kinglets nest east of the Pancake Bridge near Sheepskin Hollow State Nature
> Preserve. Some of the other birds found in this Ohio hotspot are:
> Blue-headed Vireo, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Summer Tanager, Purple
> Finch, and the following warblers: Northern Parula, Magnolia,
> Black-throated Green, Pine, Prairie, Cerulean, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, and
> Kentucky, just to name a few.
>      The northern edge completely borders Mahoning County and holds most
> of the human population. Common Nighthawks and Chimney Swifts can be found.
> At the Egypt Road Swamp are Alder Flycatcher, American Woodcock, Cedar
> Waxwing, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Blue-winged Teal, along with a colony of
> Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies. Hard to believe now; but in the early
> 1980's, the first nesting pair of Canada Geese recorded in the county was
> here. My, how times have changed!
>      The eastern interior of the county is comprised of some large tracts
> of reclaimed strip mines, providing all the grassland species, including
> numerous Henslow's Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark,
> Bobolink, and sometimes Northern Harrier.
>      For bicycle enthusiasts; the eleven mile long, paved Greenway
> Multi-Purpose Trail goes thru marsh area on the north end, then thru open
> fields, then thru hemlocks, and finally thru large sycamores paralleling
> the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek. For those who want to combine
> birding with bicycling, this is a dream ride. Sixty species are normally
> recorded in a four hour ride. Near the Franklin Square Trailhead this past
> late spring, an adult male, Yellow-headed Blackbird, was present for three
> days, a first for the county. Nests that have been found along the trail
> are: Mute Swan, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Moorhen, Barred Owl,
> Wood Duck, Eastern Kingbird, Wild Turkey, Yellow-throated Warbler, and
> Spotted Sandpiper, just to name a few. About halfway along the trail is the
> Teegarden Covered Bridge Trailhead Area; at this location you transition
> from seeing and hearing Black-capped Chickadee to Carolina Chickadee. Here
> you easily find Belted Kingfisher, Cerulean Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
> and Baltimore Oriole. Dragonflies abound here, the three inch plus
> Dragonhunter can sometimes be found near the parking lot in late July.
>      The last area to be mentioned is our favorite birding spot: the
> Guilford Lake and Salem Reservoir Area. Most of the habitats are here, from
> large bodies of water, to extensive marshland, to sycamore and hemlock
> lined stream banks. During the present, Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, in Block
> 53B5CW, a remarkable 123 species have been recorded. Guilford Lake has a
> beautiful State Park Campground, and has summering Double-crested
> Cormorants, and Ring-billed Gulls, along with nesting Bald Eagles, Great
> Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owl. The Ohio Department of Natural
> Resources Director, Sean Logan, lives here with his family. On a historic
> note is the fact that Gillford Reservoir, note the original spelling, was
> constructed about 1836 to provide water for the Sandy and Beaver Canal.
> Below and to the east of the causeway is the Depot Road Marsh. The
> Firestone Yeagley Wildlife Area Parking Lot is on Depot Road, providing
> viewing access from your vehicle. American Bittern, Least Bittern, Virginia
> Rail, Prothonotary Warbler, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow, American Coot, Sora,
> and numerous Green Heron can be heard and seen here. Common Moorhen and
> Hooded Merganser families can easily be seen. At Salem Reservoir Osprey can
> be found, and in July 2009, a Forster's Tern frequented the bait shop for
> several days. Sandhill Cranes and Blue-winged Teal have summered at
> Tritten's Pond in the past. The last known Barn Owl location in Columbiana
> County is here, in an old unused barn, which is also home each year, to
> baby Turkey Vultures. They are raised each year in an old grain bin for
> about eight weeks, and then fledge from the barn at about ten weeks.
>      I hope you have enjoyed this review of Columbiana County summer
> birding opportunities and I would like to extend an invitation to all to
> come and explore an eastern neighbors' backyard.
>
> August 2010
> Bob Lane
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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