First of all, thanks to Ken Andrews for posting the link to the Conneaut article. Hopefully next time I will know the proper procedure. As for our visit yesterday, we birded The Sandspit, The Harbor Area, and the wooded overlook area at The Township Park above the public beach, from 8:30AM to 1:30AM. Great birding, recording 50 species. At about 8:40AM, just before the hour and a half torrential rains and wind came, we did  a Bald Eagle count, scoping the breakwalls and the aggregate pile areas, from the sandspit. The amazing, annual Conneaut Harbor gathering of eagles, has begun, with 25 yesterday. 6 adults and 19 juveniles, in all stages of plumage. 58 Turkey Vultures rounded out the survey. The Lake Erie water level is still presently about as high as it can get. Shorebird habitat is excellent, if they decide to drop in, even though our only sightings yesterday were Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, and Killdeer. Some of the other highlights on the spit were a Caspian Tern, 3 groups of Common Mergansers, a single Marsh Wren, a Green Heron, and had to be seen to believe, twice, we saw a male Red-winged Blackbird actually land on the back of a low flying Turkey Vulture, pecking away at it. Apparently the vulture was to close to the blackbird nest behind the observation tower. Bank Swallows were numerous over in the dock area at the end of the marina road. The Canada Goose count in the harbor area was the highest ever, at no less than 450. After noon birding the township park on top of the hill, was very rewarding. Red-headed Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, Pileated Woodpecker, and an Eastern Kingbird, just to name a few. At the end of our adventure, we closed out with ice cream at the nice concession stand in the lower parking lot. Our total list of sightings can be found on E-bird. Just another memorable, this time all good, day at Conneaut. By 1:30PM, "The Sandspit" was becoming flooded with people. It was time to head home.


Bob and Denise Lane / 90 miles away in Mahoning County

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