Today Al LaSala and I headed north to do grassland birding with some wetland birding thrown in for good measure. Darlene Sillick was originally supposed to go with us, but she instead was being the “Saintly” lady that she is and agreed to present a program for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Al and I started north to go to Big Island Wildlife Area in Marion County and as we were driving along Rome Corners Road we started our day with a Wild Turkey hen with her youngsters in tow. Hopefully a good omen. We birded at Big Island, then we were off to Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area in Wyandot County. A quick brown bag lunch and on to the grasslands along the county roads in Wyandot and Hardin Counties. My highlight of the day was probably a field with 60 plus Bobolinks in Hardin County . The same location also had over 30 Dickcissels, Vesper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Eastern Meadowlarks. We thought we heard one or two Henslow’s Sparrows calling but had no success in locating them. Too many birders skip grasslands as they think they are unproductive or don’t produce the “right” birds. Every time I see fields filled with these delightful sparrows, Dickcissels with their crisp call or Bobolinks as thick as flowers I know otherwise. Here is a list of the species we saw, or if heard only indicated with an “H”. I’ve coded some of the areas as follows: BI = Big Island Wildlife Area KP = Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area WC = secondary roads in Wyandot County HC = secondary roads in Hardin County DWA = Delaware Wildlife Area AC = Alum Creek Reservoir Pied-billed Grebe (KP Pond 3) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (HC) Green Heron (DWA) Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan (BI) Wood Duck (KP Pond 3 with ducklings) Mallard Blue-winged Teal (HC) Hooded Merganser (KP Pond 3) Osprey (AC- two pair. Watch young being fed) Bald Eagle (BI) (KP) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin0A Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Pied-billed Grebe (KP Pond 3) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (HC) Green Heron (DWA) Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan (BI) Wood Duck (KP Pond 3 with ducklings) Mallard Blue-winged Teal (HC) Hooded Merganser (KP Pond 3) Osprey (AC- two pair. Watch young being fed) Bald Eagle (BI) (KP) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimor e Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Here is a list of the species we saw, or if heard only indicated with an “H”. I’ve coded some of the areas as follows: BI = Big Island Wildlife Area KP = Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area WC = secondary roads in Wyandot County HC = secondary roads in Hardin County DWA = Delaware Wildlife Area AC = Alum Creek Reservoir Pied-billed Grebe (KP Pond 3) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (HC) Green Heron (DWA) Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan (BI) Wood Duck (KP Pond 3 with ducklings) Mallard Blue-winged Teal (HC) Hooded Merganser (KP Pond 3) Osprey (AC- two pair. Watch young being fed) Bald Eagle (BI) (KP) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - th ere were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolin k (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American G oldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Pied-billed Grebe (KP Pond 3) Great Blue Heron Great Egret (HC) Green Heron (DWA) Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan (BI) Wood Duck (KP Pond 3 with ducklings) Mallard Blue-winged Teal (HC) Hooded Merganser (KP Pond 3) Osprey (AC- two pair. Watch young being fed) Bald Eagle (BI) (KP) Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted=2 0Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Wild Turkey (Rome Corners Road, Del Cty) Sora (H - BI) - there were 3 calling near us but they stayed deep in the vegetation Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper (BI - obvious territorial behavior when we were near) Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker (KP) Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo (H - KP) Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark (all areas) Tree Swallow Northern Rough-legged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow (bridge at US 23 and OH 37) Barn Swallow White-breasted Nuthatch (KP at nest) House Wren Marsh Wren (H - BI) Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler (KP at nest) Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci Common Yellowthroat (KP) Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (HC) Savannah Sparrow (HC) Grasshopper Sparrow (BI) (WC) (HC) Henslow‘s Sparrow (H - HC) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (BI) Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Dickcissel (BI) (KP) (WC) (HC) Bobolink (BI) (HC) Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Char lie Bombaci Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Charlie Bombaci ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. 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