- RBA * Ohio * Statewide * February 12, 2009 * OHST0902.12 - Species Mentioned (Caps denote a review list species) Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose Cackling Goose Wood Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Horned Grebe Black Vulture Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Merlin Killdeer Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock CALIFONIA GULL Thayer's Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Red-breasted Nuthatch Hermit Thrush Northern Mockingbird American Pipit Pine Warbler Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Dickcissel Yellow-headed Blackbird Rusty Blackbird White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin - Transcript This is the Ohio Rare Bird Report for February 12, 2009. Compiler: John Habig. Email: [log in to unmask] Species in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE REVIEW LIST SPECIES. Details of these sightings are desired by the Ohio Bird Records Committee. Careful observation, not ornithological expertise, is the only qualification for submitting your data. For details and pointers see: http://www.ohiobirds.org/records/documentation.php This week's highlight continues to be the White-winged Crossbill invasion. The crossbills are still widespread in the State but in fewer numbers. Waterfowl were concentrated along unfrozen sections of rivers and streams. Killdeer began moving back into the state and American Woodcock made their presence known in southwest Ohio by performing their "Sky Dance". Greater White-fronted Geese: Chris Knoll saw seven at Norwalk Reservoir in Huron County on the 6th. Craig Holt reported one was near the spillway at Evan Lake in eastern Mahoning County on the 8th. John Pogacnik located six about three miles west of Sheldon's Marsh on the 8th. Snow Goose: Chris Distel reported two were along the Great Miami River in Hamilton on the 7th. Rick Asamoto reported two were along the Great Miami River in Miamisburg near the Linden Ave Bridge. Steve Landes reported 13 were at Melvin Quarry on the 8th. John Pogacnik located two about three miles west of Sheldon's Marsh on the 8th. Ross's Goose: Dave Russell reported one was on the Great Miami River in Hamilton just east of the main bridge on the 6th. Mike Busam reported that the bird had moved downriver about one-half mile, closer to the Columbia Bridge, on the 8th. Steve Landes reported one was at Melvin Quarry on the 8th. Cackling Goose: Rob Thorn reported one was along Rathburn Rd just west of Reese on the 7th. Rick Asamoto reported two were along the Great Miami River in Miamisburg near the Linden Ave Bridge. Wood Duck: Jay Lehman and Shane Egleston observed three were along the Scioto River just downstream from Rivers Edge Office complex on the 7th. Four flew over the wetlands at Caesar Creek SP on the 12th. Bill Stanley reported two were at East Fork SP on the 12th. Surf Scoter: Bob Royse reported one was still on the Scioto River just below 5th Ave in Columbus on the 6th. White-winged Scoter: Rick Asamoto reported the two drakes were still present on the Great Miami River in West Carrollton on the 8th. Sherrie Duris reported that one was reported behind the Bayshore Supper Club on the 8th. The scoter was still present on the 11th. Horned Grebe: Chris Knoll reported one was at Norwalk Reservoir on the 6th. Dave Russell reported two were on the Great Miami River in Hamilton on the 6th. Dale Brubeck located one on the Scioto River below Griggs Dam on the 7th. Mike Busam located one on the Great Miami River in Hamilton between Black St bridge and the Miami-Hamilton Low Dam on the 8th. Laura Seals reported one was at Crooked Run Nature Preserve on the 10th. Black Vulture: Kurt Wray photographed one feeding on the Sandusky Bay on the 6th. Rough-legged Hawk: Joanie Mackowski reported one was at Armleder on the 7th. Paul Wharton reported three were at Fernald Nature Preserve on the 7th. Ten to 12 were seen at the Wilds on the 7th. The Neubauers reported seeing five at the Wilds on the 9th. Chris Pierce reported 2 were along Hayes Rd just east of Middlefield on the 8th. Brenda Rushka reported one at Killdeer Plains WA on the 8th. Mylinda Weber reported that two were across from the Pop Corn farm on Caroll-Northern and Allen Rd in Fairfield County on the 11th. Jerry Klug reported one was flying north over his house in west Toledo on the 10th. Golden Eagle: Barb Hohman reported one adult and one immature were at the Wilds on the 6th. Dan Sanders was able to relocate the adult on the 7th. Merlin: Albert Scruggs reported one was at Armleder on the 7th. Bill Zimmerman reported two were present in Old St. Joseph's Cemetery on the 7th. Lou Gardella observed three at Calvary Cemetery on the 8th. Paul Krusling reported one at the entrance to Mt. Echo Park in Price Hill on the 9th. One was photographed by Tom Henneman at Sidecut MP across from the Cemetery on River Road. Rob Thorn reported one was at Ridgewood Park. Killdeer: Jonathon Frodge heard one flying over his house on the 8th. Neil Cade reported two were on Kilby Rd in Western Hamilton County on the 8th. One was flying around behind the Bayshore Supper Club on the 10th. Steve Jones reported a possible Killdeer at LaRue on the 11th. Bill Hull had 11 fly over Armleder on the 11th. Keith Tarvin reported two flew over near Oberlin in Lorain County on the 11th. Kenn Kaufman reported that two flew over the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) at the entrance to MaGee Marsh on the 11th. Manon VanSchoyck reported one flew over his yard in Licking County on the 11th. Jim Glover reported that three were flying over the beach at Buck Creek SP on the 11th. Rob Thorn reported one or two were at Swickard Woods in New Albany on the 11th. Inga Schmidt reported that three had returned to Frohring Meadows on the 12th. Wilson's Snipe: Jonathan Frodge located one along the Great Miami River in West Carrollton on the 8th. American Woodcock: Chris Clingman reported two were performing the "Sky Dance" in the meadow at Crooked Run Nature Preserve on the 10th. Don Koller reported that he heard two dancing on the morning of the 11th in Laurel, near New Richmond. CALIFORNIA GULL: Gabe Leidy reported one first-cycle at E. 72nd St on the 7th. Thayer's Gull: Gabe Leidy reported two first-cycles and one second-cycle bird were present at E. 72nd St on the 7th. Louisa Kreider reported one adult was at Avon Lake power plant on the 9th. Iceland Gull: Gabe Leidy reported seven first-cycle birds were observed at E. 72nd St on the 7th. Paula Lozano reported one was there on the 8th. Louisa Kreider reported three first-winter birds and one adult at Avon Lake power plant on the 9th. Lesser Black-backed Gull: At E. 72nd St Gabe Leidy reported a first-cycle and one adult was present on the 7th. Louisa Kreider one adult was present at Avon Lake power plant on the 9th. Glaucous Gull: Craig Caldwell reported that one was at the warm water outlet from the Avon Lake power plant on the 6th. Gabe Leidy reported a first-cycle, one second-cycle and two adults at E. 72nd St on the 7th. Paula Lozano reported six to eight were present there on the 8th. Louisa Kreider reported at least two first-winter and two adults at Avon Lake power plant on the 9th. Eastern Phoebe: Bob Royse reported that one has apparently survived the cold weather and is being seen again on Lake Shore Dr south of 5th Ave on the 6th. Northern Shrike: Sue and Greg Cudworth reported one was on the west side of the path leading to the lake at Herrick Fen in Portage County on the 7th. Lori Brumbaugh reported one was at the Wilds along Zion Ridge Rd about one-half mile from Rte 146 on the 8th. John Pogacnik reported that the one along the causeway at MaGee Marsh was still present on the 8th. Bill Whan reported one was at Prairie Oaks MP on the 9th. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Chris Knoll reported that he saw one in evergreens at Castalia Pond on the 6th. Jay Stenger reported one was in section 52 of Spring Grove Cemetery on the 6th. Bob Royse reported one was at Woodlawn Cemetery on the 9th. Inga Schmidt reported one was Frohring Meadows in Geauga County on the 12th. Hermit Thrush: Steve Pelikan reported one was at Mount Airy Forest in Hamilton County on the 8th. One was also just south of Mt Hope. Northern Mockingbird: Steve Jones reported one was at Oak Hill Cemetery on the 9th. American Pipit: Bob Royse reported that one was along Westley Chapel Rd in the Johnstown area on the 6th. Greg Bennett reported four at North Reservoir on the 11th. Pine Warbler: Dave Slager reported that one was at the north end of the pine stand near Drake Union at OSU on the 11th. This is probably the same bird Dave reported on January 13th. Chipping Sparrow: Brad Sparks had one visit his backyard feeder in Reynoldsburg on the 7th. Mark Gilsdorf reported that one was still present at Old Newtown Golf Course on the 8th. One has been at Kidron Park. Fox Sparrow: Steve Pelikan reported one was at Mount Airy Forest in Hamilton County on the 8th. One returned to a private feeder next to the Toledo Botanical Garden on the 10th. Chris Knoll reported that one is still visiting the BSBO feeder as of the 11th. Bill Stanley reported one was at East Fork SP on the 12th. Lapland Longspur: John Pogacnik reported two were along the back roads around Ottawa NWR on the 8th. Rick reported there were "hundreds" along CH112 north of Upper Sandusky on the 11th. Kenn Kaufman reported on the 11th that longspurs had been flying over BSBO in a northward direction since the weekend. Snow Bunting: Bob Royse reported that in the Johnstown area approximately 30 were present near the intersection of Croton and Jacob White Rds and another 20 or so were on Tagg Rd on the 6th. Small flocks were present along the back roads around Ottawa NWR. Chris Pierce reported 250 were along Hayes Rd just east of Middlefield on the 8th. Rick Counts had 60 flying over Oak Hill Cemetery on the 9th. Rick reported there were "hundreds" along CH112 north of Upper Sandusky on the 11th. Kenn Kaufman reported on the 11th that buntings had been flying over BSBO in a northward direction since the weekend. Dickcissel: Rob Thorn reported that many observers saw the Blendon Woods bird on the 10th. Yellow-headed Blackbird: John Pogacnik located one along Rte 6 just north of where Rte 269 turns toward Castalia on the 8th. Rusty Blackbird: Tom Bain reported 14 were at Calamus Swamp. Chris Knoll reported one was at Oak Openings on the 11th. White-winged Crossbill: John and Ann Edwards reported six showed up in their Rocky River yard on the 7th. Julie Dougherty observed 20 at Holden Arboretum on the 7th. Up to 30 were at Kidron Evergreen Park. Greg Bennett reported six were at Triangle Lake SNP on the 9th. Jerry Tinianow found one female in his urban yard which is located about one-half mile south of Whetstone Park in Columbus on the 9th. Steve Pelikan reported some flew over his home in College Hill on the 8th. Bill Whan reported 24 were in his Columbus backyard on the 9th. Denny McDonnell reported ten were at the feeders of the North Chagrin NC on the 10th. Inga Schmidt reported 13 were at Frohring Meadows on the 12th. Andy Bess reported five were at Mitchell Memorial Forest in Hamilton County on the 12th. Lisa Rainsong reported they were present at the Lake View Cemetery on the 6th near the Garfield Monument. Chris Pierce observed 12 here on the 8th. Rick Counts reported that 12 were at Oak Hill Cemetery in Upper Sandusky on the 6th. On the 7th Rick found 13 here and eight on the 11th. Brenda and Steve Rushka found six at Oak Hill on the 9th to get their lifer white-wings. Rick Counts had 18 here on the 9th. At Pleasant Ridge Cemetery located on Rte 103 just west of Sycamore Rick Counts observed six on the 7th. Jay Stenger reported 50 were at Spring Grove Cemetery on the 6th. Bob Foppe located 15 here on the 8th. The Clark County Audubon website reports that some are still frequenting Ferncliff Cemetery as of the 7th. Kevin Myers found 15 at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton the 8th. Inga Schmidt reported approximately 14 were at Highland Park Cemetery off of Northfield and Chagrin Blvd on the 9th. Common Redpoll: Steve McNamee reported that he found five in Toledo on the 6th on Irving St near Putnam and Warren. Chris Pierce reported five were at the West Woods MP feeders in Geauga County on the 8th. Bob Royse reported approximately 150 were at Woodlawn Cemetery feeding high up in Sweet Gum trees on the 9th. Eight were at Secrest Arboretum on the 7th. Brian Roberts had a flock of four at his feeder in Richfield on the 10th. Pine Siskin: Chris Knoll reported that several were singing at Woodlawn Cemetery across from Norwalk Reservoir on the 6th. Lori Brumbaugh reported some were in Spring Grove Cemetery on the 6th. Paul Wharton reported five were at Mitchell Memorial Forest MP on the 7th. The Clark County Audubon website reports that some are still frequenting Ferncliff Cemetery as of the 7th. Kathy Mock reported two were present at her feeders in Barberton on the 8th. Paula Lozano reported that at least six were present at Lakewood Park Cemetery on the 8th. Chris Pierce reported four were at the West Woods MP feeders in Geauga County on the 8th. Greg Bennett reported some were at Mogadore Reservoir on the 9th. Bob Foppe reported six were at Spring Grove Cemetery on the 8th. Inga Schmidt found 10 at South Chagrin Reservation Arboretum on the 9th. Bob Royse reported approximately 45 were at Woodlawn Cemetery on the 9th. The First Rusty Blackbird Blitz runs from February 7-17. The population of Rusty Blackbirds has dropped precipitously since 1966. This is an excellent opportunity to combine your time birding with science and conservation. The protocols for participating and forms to use can be found at www.ebird.org. - End Transcript John Habig Carlisle, OH ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]