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.
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