Killdeer - 150+ Lesser yellowlegs - 2 Greater yellowlegs - 1 Spotted sp - 2 Least sp - 2 NOIDS - 2 Great blue herons - 35 Belted kingfishers - 2 Barn swallows Mute swan ("escapee") ? Received the following note from John Habig about shorebirds in Englewood Dam area. It was published in the Auk in the 1920s. Interesting comparison. Englewood lake has been drying up badly. Steady rains would be the only solution as the "renovation" project seems to be having a negative effect on the water levels. Ed and Bev Neubauer Englewood, Ohio SOME SHOREBIRD RECORDS FOR THE MIAMI VALLEY, OHIO BY BEN J. BLINCOE Having near at hand a rather favorable locality for the study of shorebirds during the autumn migration, I have had the good fortune to observe several species apparently of rather rare occurrence in Ohio except in the lake shore region. The species here mentioned were observed at Englewood dam, located on the Stillwater River about ten miles north of the city of Dayton and one of the five great dams forming a system of flood prevention in the Miami Valley. During the dryer parts of summer and early autumn, coinciding with the fall migration of these birds, numerous mud flats and islets appear about the small lake above the dam, offering to passing sandpipers and plovers a wayside resting station. In identifying the following species I have used 8x binoculars, and have consulted Chapman’s “Handbook,” Dawson’s “Birds of Ohio,” and othen books and literature in the ornithological periodicals pertaining to nearby localities. NORTHERN PHALAROPE. Lohipes lobatus. A single bird was observed on September 7, 1921; the following note referring to this individual is extracted from my notebook: “It was extremely active, even appearing nervous; swimming about rapidly it frequently took wing, flying a short distance (a few feet or several yards‘), dropping back into the water, nearly always turning about suddenly after alighting. Seemingly it pursued a course in one direction no longer than a few seconds, then turning quickly proceeded in the opposite direction or, perhaps, took wing, but almost immediately returning to the water. These actions I attributed to its oceanic habitat where obviously the bird must act quickly to avoid an impending wave. It was not seen running along the shore during about thirty minutes observation, 30 The Wilson Bulletin-March, 1929 though once it was seen on a small gravel-bar where it went to arrange its feathers after having bathed; here a Killdeer ran at it, knocking down and walking over the phalarope. After this uncouth reception it again took to the water nearby.” With half a dozen shorebirds near the phalarope it was possible to compare its size, length of bill, etc., and color markings were readily observable. DOWITCHER. Macrorhamphus lymnodromus griseus. One was observed at close range on July 15, 1927, in company with Yellowlegs, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers. It is probable that this bird is referable to the subspecies scolopaceus; Dawson states that both forms are rare migrants in Ohio, and Butler makes the same statement for Indiana; however Butler states that “of all the references to the Dowitcher only one refers to the short-billed form” (g&ens). STILT SANDPIPER. Micropalama himantopus. About sunset of July 15, 1927. I discovered one of these birds in company with about sixty individuals of several common species of shorebirds. It was inclined to associate mainly with a group of about fifteen Yellow-legs, and while these fed principally in shallow water, the slightly smaller and much darker sandpiper was singled out as confining its feeding activities on the mud flat. As the bird tilted the tail upward in reaching down to pick up food, the heavily barred underparts were very noticeable and a decided contrast with the light underparts of the Yellow-legs; there was a distinct line over the eye contrasting with the dark crown; even the rufous coloring about the back of the head was perceptible, while comparison of bill and legs with all species present was easily accomplished. Its actions closely resembled no other species present, the bird appearing less vivacious than its associates. RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. Pelidna alpina sakhabina. A flock of five was observed on October 18, 1924, and a single individual on November 16, 1924. SANDERLING. Crocethin alba. A single bird was observed on September 13, 1925,. WILLET. Catopthrophorus semipalmatus. While observing a mixed flock of shorebirds on August 16, 1924, a Willet glided down to the mud flat alighting within thirty feet of me. It appeared as a giant beside the Yellow-legs, the largest birds present before its arrival ; in flight the broad white band through the wing was quite conspicuous. The bird quickly perceived that it was under observation and flew to a small island about fifty yards distant. A local game Easter Birds of Little Egypt 31 warden, who also saw this bird while I watched it, remarked that it was the first “curlew” he had ever seen here. The subspecific identity of this bird is, of course, questionable; Dawson does not attempt to designate the geographic race to which belongs the single specimen mentioned in his “Birds of Ohio.” GOLDEN PLOVER. Pluvialis dom.inica dominica. Two observed September 16, 1923. Although once common as an Ohio bird its recent scarcity suggests publication of my only record for this locality. PIPING PLOVER. Aegialitis meloda. A single bird observed August 16, 1924; accompanied several other species on a mud flat; a Semipalmated Plover near it rendered identification doubly certain. Dawson remarks that this is a rare bird in the interior of Ohio. In addition to the eight species above referred to, ten members of the Zimicolae occur at Englewood Dam more or less regularly as migrants and two species, the Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper, breed quite regularly. Whatever may have been the effect on the land birds. the building of this dam certainly has had a salubrious effect on waterbird life. Ben and and his wife Edith Blincoe were nature writers for the two Dayton newspapers for many years. ______________________________________________________________________ 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/. 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