Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of ’s Birdlife • Vol. 40, No. 3, Spring 2017 A Black-throated Blue Warbler took a break on the Magee Marsh Boardwalk just in time for Bruce Miller to snap this perfect shot on 12 May.

On the cover: During The Biggest Week in American Birding on 12 May, Jacob Roalef made a quick run to Huron, Erie, to see this out- of-season Black-headed Gull. Vol. 40 No. 3

Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of Ohio’s Birdlife

EDITOR OHIO BIRD RECORDS Craig Caldwell COMMITTEE 1270 W. Melrose Dr. Westlake, OH 44145 Jack Stenger 440-356-0494 Secretary [email protected] 394 Bielby Rd. Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 [email protected] PHOTO EDITOR Christopher Collins PAST PUBLISHERS 3560 Alvera Ct. Beavercreek, OH 45432 John Herman (1978–1980) [email protected] Edwin C. Pierce (1980–2008)

LAYOUT PAST EDITORS Roger Lau John Herman (1978–1980) [email protected] Edwin C. Pierce (1980–1991) Thomas Kemp (1987–1991) Robert Harlan (1991–1996) Victor W. Fazio III (1996–1997) CONSULTANTS Bill Whan (1997–2008) Jen Brumfield Andy Jones (2008–2010 Cory Chiappone Jill M. Russell (2010–2012) Tim Colborn Victor Fazio III Laura Gooch Rob Harlan Andy Jones Kent Miller Laura Peskin Bob Scott Placier Robert Sams Bill Whan Brian Wulker

ISSN 1534-1666 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

COMMENTS ON THE SEASON

By Craig Caldwell er before found in Ohio. An easy-to-use on-line form is available at http://www.ohiobirds.org/ While the western half of the U.S. sweltered records/documentation.php. in Mar, our average temperature for the month The North American Classification Com- was only a little above normal despite the aver- mittee of the American Ornithological Society age minimum’s being in the upper third of the (AOS) has spoken, and few of my predictions 123 years with data. April was a different story: came true. However, as expected, Thayer’s Gull It was the hottest on record, and the whole east- was subsumed into Iceland Gull, but the other ern U.S. pushed the limits. May temperatures lumps and splits which would have changed the reversed themselves, with the average coming in composition of the Ohio list were not accepted. at number 58 (the hottest month is number 123). Splits of Northern Harrier and Northern Shrike Rainfall was above average in all three months, from their Old World counterparts do give us ranking at numbers 103, 84, and 104 respective- new scientific names for them. Yellow-breasted ly. Several areas had up to double their norms in Chat now has its own family, rather than being all three months. A band from Cincinnati east- the tail-ender of the warbler list. And as usual, ward received up to triple its usual rain in Apr families have been rearranged, and genera rear- as did the state’s southwest corner and the Akron ranged within families, as a result of thorough area in May. DNA testing. The changes were announced in Weather data are from the National Weather July and will be implemented in the summer Ohio Service (http://water.weather.gov/precip/), the Cardinal. NOAA (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and- Data for the following Species Accounts come precip/maps.php and http://www.ncdc.noaa. from reports submitted directly to The Cardinal gov/extremes/records/), and the Plain Dealer. and The Bobolink, the latter courtesy of its pub- This spring set another record: There were lisher, Robert Hershberger; eBird (http://ebird. more than a million eBird entries of Ohio sight- org/content/ebird); and the Ohio-birds listserv ings during the three months, up from about (http://birding.aba.org/maillist/OH). In the 890,000 a year ago. Not surprisingly, more than species accounts, “normal” arrival dates are from 275,000 of them were from Lucas. Harlan et al., Ohio Bird Records Committee Annotated This issue of the Cardinal contains reports of Checklist of the Birds of Ohio, 2008. Mentions of 306 species, somewhat above the five-year run- breeding locations are from Rodewald et al., The ning average of 301. The species accounts also Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio (“OBBA II”, include five hybrids and six reports at the genus 2016). or family level. This issue again includes data Taxonomic order and nomenclature follow from every county, and even underbirded Put- the Check-List of North American Birds, 7th Edition nam contributed 37 species. Thirteen species (1998) as updated through the 57th Supplement were reported in all 88 counties. Seven species (2016). These documents are published by the were seen in all but one county and 39 more spe- North American Classification Committee of the cies were seen in at least 80. AOS and are available at http://www.checklist. It was also a banner season for rarities. aou.org/. Twenty-four review species were reported. The County names are in bold italics. Locations OBRC either received formal reports or gleaned whose counties are of the same name, for ex- reviewable postings of 21 of them. Two flocks ample Ashtabula (city) and Delaware Wildlife of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, five solo Pip- Area, usually do not have the counties repeated. ing Plovers, and three Loggerhead Shrikes are County names for sites described in Cincinnati among the reports. Five of the 21 also produced (Hamilton), Cleveland (Cuyahoga), Columbus other sightings without enough information to (Franklin), Dayton (Montgomery), and Tole- enable review, and three species were reported do (Lucas) are also omitted. Shortened names with no supporting data at all. As always, the and a few sets of initials are used for locations OBRC and this editor urge birders to formal- and organizations which occur repeatedly; these ly report all sightings of Review List species, abbreviations are listed here. The term “fide” is of Core List species found at unusual times, of used in some citations; it means “in trust of ” and nesting by birds previously not known to nest in is used where the reporter was not the observer. the state, and of course sightings of birds nev-

109 Vol. 40 No. 3

Abbreviations: in other counties as well Deer Creek = the State Park is in Pickaway, the Alum Creek = Alum Creek Reservoir, Dela- Wildlife Area is in Fayette, and Deer Creek ware, unless otherwise noted Lake is in both but mostly Pickaway Armleder Park = a Cincinnati city park on the East Fork = , Clermont , Hamilton East Harbor = East Harbor State Park, Ottawa Audubon = the National Audubon Society Edge Preserve = The Nature Conservancy’s (http://www.audubon.org) Edge of Appalachia Preserve, multiple par- Bayshore = a fishing access site near a power cels mostly in Adams and extending a bit into plant a bit east of Toledo Scioto. BBS = the North American Breeding Bird Sur- Edgewater = the Edgewater unit of Cleveland vey, a joint project of the United States Geo- Lakefront Metroparks, Cuyahoga logical Survey (USGS) and the Canadian Englewood = Englewood MetroPark, Wildlife Service Montgomery Berlin Lake = Berlin Lake (or Reservoir), Ma- Fernald = Fernald Preserve, Butler and honing and Portage Hamilton Big Island = Big Island Wildlife Area, Marion Findlay Reservoirs = several contiguous water Blendon Woods = Blendon Woods Metro Park, bodies east of town in Hancock Franklin Funk = Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area, Ashland The Bowl = a limited-access area near the Har- and (mostly) Wayne rison airport Grand Lake = Grand Lake St. Marys. The State BRAS = Black River Audubon Society Park, the state fish hatchery, and the eastern BSBO = Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Otta- 20% of the lake itself are in Auglaize. The wa (http://www.bsbo.org) rest of the lake is in Mercer. Buck Creek = , Clark Great Miami WMB = Great Miami Wetlands Burke Airport = Cleveland Burke Lakefront Air- Mitigation Bank, Montgomery port, Cuyahoga Headlands = Headlands Dunes State Nature Caesar Creek = , War- Preserve, Headlands Beach State Park, and ren, unless the lake is specified; a bit of the adjoining waters, Lake lake is also in Clinton Holden = Holden Arboretum, Lake, except for CBC = Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count its Stebbins Gulch unit in Geauga CCE = Crane Creek Estuary, Lucas and Otta- Hoover NP = Hoover Nature Preserve, wa, viewable from both ONWR and the CCE Delaware Trail which originates at Magee Hoover Reservoir = the northern 80% is in Del- Chapel Drive = a road off Ohio 83 south of Cum- aware, the rest and the dam in Franklin berland in Noble which traverses grasslands Huron = the harbor, breakwalls, and old dredge Clear Creek = ; the east- spoil impoundment in that Erie city, unless ern 2/3 is in Hocking, the rest in Fairfield noted otherwise Clear Fork = Clear Fork Reservoir (or Lake), Indian Lake = Indian Lake State Park, Logan partly in Morrow but most of the birding is Jones Preserve = Jones Preserve at Long Point, on done in the larger Richland Section. Kelleys Island, Erie CLNP = Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve Kelleys Island = the island and adjoining waters, (the former Dike 14), Cuyahoga Erie CMM = the trio of Jon Cefus, Kent Miller, and Killbuck = Killbuck State Wildlife Area, Holmes Ben Morrison and Wayne CNC = Cincinnati Nature Center, a non-govern- Killdeer = Killdeer Plains State Wildlife Area; a mental entity whose Long Branch Farm and bit is in Marion but it’s mostly in Wyandot Rowe Woods units are in Clermont Kiwanis Park = Kiwanis Riverway Park, on the Conneaut = the mudflats to the west of- Con Scioto River in Dublin, Franklin neaut Harbor, Ashtabula LaDue = LaDue Reservoir, Geauga CP = County Park Bluffs = a Lake Metroparks parcel CPNWR = Cedar Point National Wildlife Ref- overlooking the eponymous water body uge, Lucas Lake Hope/Zaleski = and CVNP = Cuyahoga Valley National Park, surrounding , Vinton Cuyahoga and (mostly) Summit Lake Loramie = Lake Loramie SP, Shelby Darby Creek = Battelle Darby Creek Metro Lorain = the dredge spoil impoundment east of Park, almost entirely in Franklin but with bits downtown in the city and county of the same

110 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017 name, unless otherwise noted Pickerel Creek = Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, Lost Bridge = a Great Miami River crossing Sandusky on Lawrenceburg Road near Elizabethtown, Pickerington Ponds = Pickerington Ponds Metro Hamilton, where a covered bridge was lost Park, Fairfield and Franklin to fire in 1903 Pipe Creek = Pipe Creek Wildlife Area, in the m. obs. = multiple observers city of Sandusky, Erie Magee = the boardwalk and immediate vicinity Pleasant Hill Lake = an impoundment straddling in Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, unless the Ashland/Richland line; most viewing is otherwise noted. The northern third of the on the eastern, Ashland, end. causeway is also in Lucas, the rest in Ottawa. Rocky Fork = Rocky Fork State Park, Highland Mallard Club = Mallard Club Marsh WA, Lucas Salt Fork = Salt Fork SP, Guernsey Maumee Bay = , Lucas, Sandy Ridge = Sandy Ridge Reservation, unless otherwise noted Lorain Medusa = Medusa Marsh, Erie, an informally Seneca Lake = most of the lake and the (non- named and privately owned area between state) Park are in Noble, while the dam is in Sandusky and Bay View Guernsey Metzger = Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, SF = State Forest not to be confused with Metzger Reservoir, Shawnee = , Scioto, unless Allen otherwise noted Mill Creek = Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, a Shawnee Lookout = Shawnee Lookout County limited-access area in Mahoning Park, Hamilton Mohican = Mohican State Forest and State Park. Sheldon Marsh = Sheldon Marsh State Nature Many trails cross the boundaries so some re- Preserve, Erie ports include sightings from both without Sherod Park = a city park overlooking Lake Erie distinction. in Vermilion, Erie Mohican SF = Mohican State Forest, Ashland SNP = State Nature Preserve Mohican SP = , (mostly) SP = State Park Ashland and (slightly) Richland Springfield Lake = in Greater Akron, Summit Mosquito Lake = Mosquito Creek Lake, also Springville Marsh = Springville Marsh State Na- called Mosquito Creek Reservoir, Trumbull. ture Preserve, Seneca Mosquito (Creek) Wildlife Area adjoins it. Spring Valley = Spring Valley Wildlife Area, al- MP = Metro Park, MetroPark, or Metropark de- most entirely in Greene but extending into pending on the system Warren NC = Nature Center Stillfork = The Nature Conservancy’s Stillfork NF = National Forest Swamp Preserve, Carroll NP = Nature Preserve, except as part of CVNP Sunset Park = a city park overlooking Lake Erie OBBA II = the second Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas in Willoughby, Lake OBRC = Ohio Bird Records Committee SWA = State Wildlife Area Old Highland Stone = that company’s wa- TNC = The Nature Conservancy (http://www. ter-filled gravel pits,Highland nature.org) Old Woman Creek = Old Woman Creek Nation- TP = Township Park al Estuarine Research Reserve, Erie Villa Angela = the Villa Angela unit of Cleve- OOPMP = Oak Openings Preserve MetroPark, land’s Lakefront Reservation Lucas WA = Wildlife Area ONWR = Ottawa , Lu- Wake Robin = a trail and boardwalk in Mentor cas and Ottawa Marsh State Nature Preserve, Lake ONWR Blausey, Boss, and Navarre = units of Wendy Park = a lakeshore Cleveland park, ONWR separate from the main area, all in Cuyahoga Ottawa; of them only Boss is open to the Wilderness Road = a road which traverses Funk public Bottoms Wildlife Area, Wayne, and adjoining ONWR WD = Ottawa National Wildlife Ref- farmland uge Wildlife Drive, the monthly opening of The Wilds = a limited-access big-mammal breed- areas otherwise closed to vehicles, Lucas and ing and research facility in Muskingum, also Ottawa used generically to include the surrounding Painesville TP = Painesville Township Park, over- reclaimed strip mines looking Lake Erie in Lake Willow Point = Willow Point Wildlife Area, Erie Pearson MP = Pearson Metro Park, Lucas

111 Vol. 40 No. 3 Winous Horseshoe = a limited-access part of Winous Point Shooting Club, Ottawa Winous Point = Winous Point Shooting Club, Ottawa Wintergarden Woods = Wintergarden Woods and Saint Johns Nature Preserve, Wood Woodman Fen = a natural area, part of Dayton’s Five Rivers MetroParks system, Montgomery Zaleski = Zaleski State Forest, Vinton

112 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

By Craig Caldwell Cackling Goose Four spent from 02 to 25 Mar at the David Ficht- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ner Outdoor Education Center, Stark; Patty Six spent the last week of May into early Jun in McKelvey’s was the last report. Mark Shaver’s northern Holmes with a few forays across the six along Mahan-Denman Road, Trumbull, on line into Wayne. A different sextet was at Gilm- 11 Mar was the high count. Reports also came ore MP, Butler, on 28 and 29 May. Both groups from Knox, Wood, and Wyandot. were extensively photographed, but no one pro- Canada Goose vided a formal report to the OBRC. The high count of 876 came from Ed Pierce’s ONWR census team on 05 Mar (fide Douglas Vo- gus). Next were Kate Frost’s 400 in the Ottawa section of Magee on 15 May and Aaron Bartley’s 375 in West Branch SP, Portage, on 17 Mar. (All 88 counties) Mute Swan Karen Zeleznik counted 14 from the Magee causeway on 23 Apr and slightly smaller num- bers were there and nearby on other dates. Dave Smith found the inland high number, eight, at Lake Logan SP, Hocking, on 25 Mar. (42 These Black-bellied Whistling Ducks couldn’t decide which counties) county they wanted to be in. Su Snyder had the patience to wait Trumpeter Swan for them to show up where she was in Wayne on 25 May. The ONWR census crew tallied 107 on 02 Apr Greater White-fronted Goose (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). The most Colette Fischer made the last report, from Pace- not in Lucas or Ottawa were 50 at Pickerel setter Park, Lucas, on 31 Mar. A group of bird- Creek on 05 Mar (Michelle Liebold) and the in- ers counted 44 at Funk on 04 Mar. Josh King land high count was 28, at Killdeer on 09 Mar provided the second-highest count, 41 at Mercer (Gene Metz). (35 counties) WA on both 14 and 21 Mar. (15 counties) Tundra Swan Snow Goose Kim McKenzie saw the last, two birds along the The last one spent from 21 to 29 May at Mercer Magee causeway on 26 Apr. Ryan Lesniewicz es- WA (m. obs.). The high count was about 4000, timated that ONWR hosted about 1500 on 02 which remained from Feb at a quarry in Clin- Mar; Ed Pierce et al. tallied 1346 there on 05 Mar ton at least until 04 Mar (Rick Asamoto). Car- (fide Douglas Vogus). Susan Carpenter provided ey Titus counted 30 over Middleburg Heights, the inland high count of 171, from Darrow Lake, Cuyahoga, on 16 Apr for the second-highest Summit, on 14 Mar. (29 counties) number. (30 counties) Wood Duck Ross’s Goose The fields along Krause Road, Ottawa, held Lots of birders saw the last one, at Cullen Park, 225 for Darlene Friedman on 27 May. The most Lucas, on 20 Apr. A few birders saw four at inland were 220 which Atlee A. Yoder saw at Funk on 04 Mar. Duos were on a private prop- Funk on 20 Mar. Adams, Fayette, Putnam, erty in Lucas on 26 Mar (Kim Warner) and by and Van Wert didn’t yield reports. Fairport Nursery Road, Lake, on 01 Apr (Jim Gadwall McConnor). All the others, from 13 counties to- The last of the season were a single bird at Wen- tal, were solos. dy Park (Jen Brumfield) and two at Magee (Sue [Snow x Ross’s Goose] Johnson) on 28 May; there was a single early Jun Rebecca Irwin reported two from Rocky Fork on 26 sighting as well. Metzger hosted about 1000 on Mar and one was seen at Killdeer on several dates. 27 Mar (Warren Leow) and the most inland were 417 at Killbuck on 19 Mar (Cristy J. Miller). (71 Snow/Ross’s goose counties) Up to four indeterminate birds were reported from seven counties. 113 Vol. 40 No. 3

Eurasian Wigeon Green-winged Teal One or two were seen at Funk between 03 and Three birders independently reported one at 25 Mar (m. obs.) and one of them might be the Sandy Ridge on 27 May; it was the last. The 02 bird seen at nearby Killbuck from 04 to 25 Mar Apr ONWR census produced 415 (Ed Pierce et (m. obs.) Single birds were also at these loca- al., fide Douglas Vogus). Funk hosted about 300 tions: Zoar Wetland Arboretum, Tuscarawas, on 31 Mar for the inland high number (Jon Ce- from 06 to 21 Mar (Kent Miller), Beach City fus, Kent Miller, and Ben Morrison). (68 counties) WA, Tuscarawas, on 21 Mar (Kent Miller), Canvasback Bristolville, Trumbull, on 21 Mar (Mark Shav- One Jun sighting followed this season’s last, er), and Castalia Pond, Erie, on 28 Mar (Paul which was Paul Jacyk’s three birds at Bay View Sherwood). Park, Lucas, on 26 May. The second-last sight- American Wigeon ing was considerably earlier; Pat Leuders saw One early Jun sighting followed this season’s last, one at Killdeer on 09 May. The high count of a bird which Logan Kahle found at Big Island on 150 came from East Harbor on 28 Mar (Richard 24 May. Susan Carpenter noted about 1100 at Ernst). (42 counties) Killbuck on 21 Mar for the high count; Warren Redhead Leow’s 800 at Metzger on 27 Mar was the sec- John Sharits saw the last of the season, “sleep- ond-highest. (66 counties) ing on an island” in Mercer WA on 29 May, and American Black Duck again there was also a mid-Jun report. The sec- Several birders saw three at Holden Arboretum ond-last date was 14 May, when Jesse Huth saw on 27 May; curiously there were no Jun sightings. one bird at Maumee Bay and Jamie Koller two Jon Cefus, Kent Miller, and Ben Morrison saw at Headlands. Todd Eiben noted about 900 at 55 along State Route 36 in Tuscarawas on 03 Wellington Reservation, Lorain, on 18 Mar. Bri- Mar for the high count. (54 counties) an McClain came in second with 730 at Upper Mallard Sandusky Reservoir #2, Wyandot, on 01 Mar. The 05 Mar ONWR census produced 1405 (Ed (68 counties) Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). Irina Shulgi- Ring-necked Duck na’s 600 at Killdeer that same day was the sec- For a change, there were several Jun sightings, ond-highest number. Only Putnam didn’t have not just one or two, after this season’s last. Aaron a Mallard sighting. Nisley and Wayne Stutzman saw that one at Kill- [American Black Duck x Mallard] buck’s Wright Marsh on 26 May. Cristy J. Miller Detail-oriented birders found up to four in 11 saw about 1400 at Killbuck’s Wright Marsh on counties. 19 Mar. The high number elsewhere, 800, was shared by Kent Miller and Ben Morrison at Wal- Blue-winged Teal born Reservoir, Stark, on 16 Mar, and a host of Ed Pierce et al. counted 141 in ONWR on 02 birders at Mogadore Reservoir, Portage, on 21 Apr (fide Douglas Vogus). Dave Chase found 110 and 25 Mar. (71 counties) along Wake Robin on 13 Apr. Eric Elvert provid- ed the inland high number of 101, from Engle- Greater Scaup wood on 13 Apr. (75 counties) One which hung around Pipe Creek until 16 May was the last (m. obs.). The most were 200 at Northern Shoveler Maumee Bay on 13 Mar (m. obs.) and the most John Sharits saw the season’s last, four birds in away from Lake Erie were 96 at the Findlay Res- Mercer WA on 29 May; a couple of mid-Jun re- ervoirs on 15 Mar (Amy Downing). (55 counties) ports followed. The second-last was more than a week earlier, on 21 May at Darby Creek (Heath- Lesser Scaup er Luedecke). The high count was 260, by Atlee Jacob Myers saw the last, one bird at Wauseon A. Yoder at Killbuck on 20 Mar. (74 counties) Reservoir, Fulton, on 31 May. At least 2000 were at ONWR on 02 May (Ed Pierce et al., fide Doug- Northern Pintail las Vogus). Wellington Reservation, Lorain, Adrian Smith saw the last, at Norwalk Memorial hosted about 1100 for Todd Eiben on 18 Mar for Reservoir, Huron, on 27 May. Michelle Liebold the inland high count. (73 counties) saw about 800 at Pickerel Creek on 05 Mar and the inland high number was 476, along Wilder- Scaup sp. ness Road also on 05 Mar (Helen and Ken Os- Paul Jacyk and Kim Warner found about 6000 at termiller). (49 counties) Mallard Club on 27 Mar.

114 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Harlequin Duck ers were seen later at our few known nesting One which Nancy Anderson had found off Sims locations. For instance, Bob Lane saw a female Park, Cuyahoga, on 26 Feb remained until 09 with 10 youngsters in Sheepskin Hollow SNP, Mar (m. obs.). One or two were seen there a Columbiana, on 28 May. Sue Johnson’s 450 month later, between 05 and 12 Apr (m. obs.). off Huron Township, Erie, were the most. Kyle Surf Scoter Logan and Emily Lourwood counted 70 at C.J. One spent from 10 to 14 May at the Findlay Brown Reservoir, Clark, on 19 Mar for the in- Reservoirs; Shane Myers reported it last. The land high. (52 counties) only other sighting that month was Robert Bat- Hooded Merganser terson’s two at Alum Creek on 07 May. Robert Marc Hanneman saw the most, 95 at Pymatun- Royse contributed the high count, nine at Deer ing SP, Ashtabula, on 21 Mar. Next was Dave Creek on 21 Apr, and Philip Chaon saw six off Chase with 75 at Mentor Lagoons NP, Lake, on Edgewater on 16 Apr. (18 counties as far south 14 Apr. (78 counties) as Clermont) White-winged Scoter On 13 May, Lee Adams and Peggy Eubank were the last to see one which had been at Alum Creek since early Apr. Other singles were in Franklin, Lucas, Summit, and Wayne. Black Scoter Troy Shively saw the last, one at Indian Lake SP, Logan, on 17 Apr. Seneca Lake, Noble, hosted seven from 11 to 16 Mar (m. obs.), and Alum Creek three on 09 Mar (James Muller, Bryan Sharp). (13 counties) Long-tailed Duck John Pogacnik saw two females fly past Lake Erie Leslie Sours captured a photograph of this female Hooded Mer- ganser at Griggs Reservoir, Franklin, on 24 May. Bluffs on 19 Apr; they were the last. Brian Mc- Clain’s single bird near Fremont, Sandusky, on Red-breasted Merganser 05 Apr was the second-last. Steve Jones saw the A female had been at Buck Creek for several days most, five at Lake Milton SP, Mahoning, on 31 before the last report, on 29 May (Julie Karlson Mar. (11 counties) and Doug Overacker). That pair also provided Bufflehead the inland high number, 800 at Buck Creek on Margaret Peak Preserve, Lorain, hosted the last, 29 Mar. The overall high counts were Jen Brum- on 14 May (Ed Wransky). Ben Morrison saw field’s 3200 from Wendy Park on 07 Apr and her about 370 on Berlin Lake, Portage, on 12 Apr, 900 at Burke Airport two days later. (68 counties) and Michael DeLong saw about 200 off Cullen Ruddy Duck Park, Lucas, the same day. (71 counties) Kent Miller counted 583 at Mogadore Reservoir, Common Goldeneye Portage, on 27 Mar. (68 counties) One spent from 28 Apr into early Jun in the Prai- Northern Bobwhite rie Oaks section of Darby Bend MP, Franklin; Bill Stanley saw 15 at Old Highland Stone on 01 it was the last (m. obs.). The last otherwise was Apr and Nicole Freshour found seven in Crown Connor Fox’s bird in the Crane Creek Estuary City WA, Gallia, on 16 May. (22 counties) of ONWR on 25 Apr. Up to 150 were off Sims Park, Cuyahoga, in early Mar (m. obs.). The Ring-necked Pheasant most elsewhere were Dan Gesualdo’s 105 off The high count of 15 was by Ron Sempier, at Sherod Park on 07 Mar, and the inland high was Big Island on 15 Apr. Steve Landes came close Robert Batterson’s 34 at Alum Creek on 03 Mar. with 12 at Darby Creek on 11 May. (35 counties) (35 counties) Wild Turkey Common Merganser The high count was 118; Kent Miller found What were probably the last migrants were two them along only a quarter mile of State Route off Lake Erie Bluffs on 16 May (John Pogacnik). 36 in Tuscarawas on 06 Mar. Jeffrey Roth saw One on Sunfish Creek, Monroe, on 19 May, 96 by Hornsmill Road, Fairfield, on 03 Mar. (82 was a potential nester (Janice Emrick), and oth- counties)

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Ruffed Grouse Rock Pigeon Raymond Heithaus found the season’s first, in Jack Stenger took the trouble to count 111 at the Whipple SNP, Adams, on 14 Apr. Other Ad- Kilby Road gravel pits, Hamilton, on 05 Mar. ams sites, plus Ashtabula, Morgan, Noble, Brown, Jackson, Meigs, and Van Wert didn’t Scioto, and Vinton also produced reports of have reports. single birds either seen or heard. Eurasian Collared-Dove Nate Koszycki saw five along Ransom Road, Erie, on 20 May, rather far from their usual haunts. But they were found in nine other coun- ties as well, as their numbers and distribution in Ohio continue to grow. White-winged Dove Yvonne Thoma-Patton posted photos tak- en 22 May of one in her Oregon, Lucas, neighborhood.

On 18 May an incredible Ruffed Grouse stood proudly for Mar- gret Bowman along Bristol Church Road, Morgan.

Pied-billed Grebe Dick Hoopes provided the high count, 22 at La- Due on 26 Mar. (71 counties) Horned Grebe Art Wang saw the last, off Metzger on 22 May. Yvonne Thoma-Patton has had a White-winged Dove, a rarity Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker found about in Ohio, show up at her backyard feeder in Lucas two different 100 at Buck Creek on both 09 and 18 Mar. (69 years. This one paid a visit on 22 May. counties) Mourning Dove Red-necked Grebe John Pogacnik counted 111 at Lake Erie Bluffs One spent 13 to 19 Mar cruising both the Ash- on 24 Mar. Inga Schmidt saw 45 at Geneva SP, land and Richland sections of Pleasant Hill Ashtabula, on 03 Apr. (All 88 counties) Lake (m. obs.). Brad Goodner saw another at Yellow-billed Cuckoo LaDue on 18 Mar. Phil Cantino heard one in Wayne NF, Athens, Eared Grebe on 21 Apr. Singles made it to the far north on 01 One spent from 20 to 27 Mar at Buck Creek (m. May, when Dan Gesualdo saw one at Pipe Creek obs.). Paul Sherwood saw another on 18 Mar and Kari Warner Matsko another at Concord along the Cedar Point Chausee, Erie. Ravines, Lake. Brandt Schurenberg counted 12 in Glenwood Gardens, Hamilton, on 29 May, and sites in Butler, Hamilton, and Lucas each hosted six. (66 counties) Black-billed Cuckoo Phil Cantino also noted the first of this species, which like the yellow-billed he heard in Wayne NF, Athens, a few days later on 24 Apr. The north coast’s first were two at Wintergarden Woods on 02 May (Jack Leow). Three sites in Lucas and one in each of Columbiana and Lo- rain each held three. (50 counties) Common Nighthawk Bill and René McGill saw and heard the first, at Jeff Peters found and photographed this incredible Eared Grebe Armleder Park on 13 Apr. Debbie Parker saw the with its reflection at Buck Creek on 21 March.

116 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017 first for the north coast, in Lorain (city) on19 the second, along the ONWR WD on 19 Mar. Apr. Dan Gesualdo counted 38 above Volunteer Counts of nine came from Wake Robin by Dave Bay, Erie, on 17 May, and Kathy Telfer saw 25 Chase on 21 May and Cory Chiappone and over Magee that same day. (50 counties) Peter Keefe on 23 May. Dave wrote, “Amazing Chuck-will’s-widow numbers of rails this year at this location. There The first was heard at Buzzardroost Rock, Ad- may have been several more.” (32 counties) ams, on 25 Apr (m. obs.). The high count was Sora four, from along Hamilton Road, Adams, on 30 Ken Andrews found two in the Rockside Road May (Jacob Roalef), and many other locations area of CVNP, Cuyahoga, on 29 Mar. Sever- in that county hosted one or two. Reports also al birders noted one or two at Wake Robin the came from Zaleski on 29 Apr and 24 May (Bruce same day. Benjamin Miller counted 12 along the Simpson), ONWR Navarre on 14 May (Ryan Ja- ONWR WD on 13 May. (39 counties) cob), Magee on 20 May (Rick Nirschl, m. obs.), Common Gallinule and near Minford, Scioto, on 22 and 23 May The first date was 08 Apr; Ryan Lesniewicz saw (Jessica Waddell). one along the causeway at Magee that day. The Eastern Whip-poor-will high count of 10 was shared by Brian Barchus Todd Schmelzenbach heard the first, two by at ONWR on 10 May and Jen Brumfield et al. at Llewelyn Road, Vinton, on 04 Apr. Heather Metzger on 12 May. (21 counties) Slayton found two at Maumee Bay on 16 Apr, American Coot the first for the far north. Matt Anderson count- Warren Leow saw about 2000 at Metzger on 27 ed 13 early in the morning of 13 May at OOP- Mar. The next highest number was Barry McE- MP. The most elsewhere were eight, in Shawnee wen’s 1325 at CPNWR on 02 Apr. Susan Car- on 28 Apr and 02 May (m. obs.) and in Perry on penter found 770 at Killbuck on 21 Mar for the 11 May (Margaret Bowman). (25 counties) inland high count. (75 counties) Chimney Swift Sandhill Crane Phil Cantino saw six over the Hocking Adena Gary Cowell counted a total of 65 in three Bikeway, Athens, on 06 Apr. One made it to the groups at Funk on 25 Mar. The most elsewhere Black River Reservation, Lorain, on 10 Apr for were 36 at ONWR on 05 Mar (Ed Pierce et al., Dick Lee. John Pogacnik counted 682 at Lake fide Douglas Vogus). (46 counties) Erie Bluffs on 17 May, and Robert Sams watched about 500 funnel into a chimney in Findlay, Black-necked Stilt Hancock, on 22 May. (All 88 counties) The first were at Pickerel Creek on 20 Apr, when birders saw up to eight. Ryan Lesniewicz Ruby-throated Hummingbird found 12 there on 22 Apr. The most elsewhere The first were a bit early; Christine and Ken were trios by State Route 2 in Lucas on 08 May Cooper saw two in Franklin and Bethany Gray (Matthew Shumar) and at the Prairie Creek another in Greene on 15 Apr. One arrived at wastewater treatment plant, Mercer, on 19 May Michele Jackson’s Lorain home on 25 Apr. Hen- (Josh King). Others were in Crawford, Greene, ry Trimpe saw nine along the Wetmore Trails in Logan, and Wayne. CVNP on 20 May. (78 counties) American Avocet Rufous Hummingbird The reports are: For the first time, a hummingbird has overwin- One near Oak Harbor, Ottawa, on 03 May tered in Ohio: The Warren bird, first seen in (Ashli Gorbet) mid-Oct, stayed into mid-April, but exact last One at Maumee Bay on 07 May (Kathy Hanson, date is unknown (fide Allen Chartier). Spencer Vanderhoof) King Rail One at three locations (probably the same bird) The first showed up on 07 May, one at Magee in Magee/ONWR on 22 May (m. obs.) (Ed Rumberger) and two at Pearson MP, Lucas Black-bellied Plover (Nate Koszycki). Karen Markey and Amy Worell Irina Shulgina found six at Killdeer on 13 Apr, a found three at Magee on 20 May. Reports also week or two earlier than usual. Next were four at came from Erie, Pickaway, and Wyandot. Metzger on 23 Apr (David Myles), still an early Virginia Rail date for the latitude. Paul Sherwood saw the last, Stefan Minnig’s was the first of the season; he three by Schwartzwalder Road, Wayne, on 31 found it on 06 Mar at Spring Valley where it May. Kent Miller provided the high count of 45, might have spent the winter. Erik Bruder noted from Wilderness Road on 17 May. (15 counties)

117 Vol. 40 No. 3

American Golden-Plover Whimbrel Several birders saw two or three at Funk on 27 Several birders saw the first, at Lost Bridge on Mar, the first date. The last was also at Funk; Eliz- 16 Apr, a month before they usually arrive. The abeth McQuaid found it on 20 May. Cam Lee saw next, which Greg Cornett found at Wilderness an amazing 700 at Killdeer on 21 Apr and similar Road on 13 May, was about on time. Funk host- numbers were there and nearby on other dates. ed at least 30 on 18 May and 70 the next day The most elsewhere were the 220 which Amy (m. obs.); a few remained until 22 May. The most Downing and Jeff Loughman found along State elsewhere were Margaret Bowman’s 29 at Dillon Route 330 in Hancock on 11 Apr. (19 counties) SP, Muskingum, on 22 May. The last were a Semipalmated Plover flock of 26 over Strongsville, Cuyahoga, on 27 Jonathan Frodge saw one at Armleder Park on May (Bill Ohlsen). Clark, Guernsey, and Lo- 20 April and sightings continued from then well gan also had sightings. into Jun. Matt and Tom Kemp found 125 along Hudsonian Godwit Elliston Road, Lucas, on 20 May. (38 counties) These are quite rare here in spring, but three Piping Plover birders separately reported one at the Lucas end Five were reported and photographed, but none of the Magee causeway on 27 May; two of them were formally reported to the OBRC. Bands got diagnostic photos. were visible on four of them. The locations were: Marbled Godwit At Wilderness Road on 21 and 23 Apr The first and most were 14 which flew past Edge- At Burke on 30 Apr, too distant to see bands water on 16 Apr (Jen Brumfield and Philip Cha- At Indian Lake SP, Logan, from 04 to 06 May on). Next in time and number were two at Indian At Conneaut on 24 May; per Lori Brumbaugh, Lake SP, Logan, on 04 May (Troy Shively, Leslie it was a male hatched in 2016 at Darlington Sours). Jen Brumfield also saw the last, at Burke Provincial Park, Ontario Airport on 29 May. There were also a few reports At Maumee Bay on 28 May from Lucas and Ottawa. Killdeer Ruddy Turnstone The 05 Mar ONWR census tallied 121 (Ed The two which Julie Heitz saw at Magee on 28 Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus) but a trio of bird- Apr were a couple of weeks early for so far north. ers more than doubled their number with 311 Even one in ONWR on 07 May was something at Sherod Park on 24 Mar. Only Jackson didn’t of a pioneer (Pamela Graber and Linda Housh- have a sighting. ower). The last of the season was in a skypond by Upland Sandpiper Solon Road, Greene, on 29 May (m. obs.) but Scott Pendleton said that his find by Slater Road, there were also two early Jun records. The only Harrison, on 08 Apr “Beats previous earliest ar- counts exceeding six were 11 at Indian Lake SP, rival by seven days. Also an area where I have not Logan, on 18 May (Troy Shively) and 12 on the found them before.” Leslie Sours saw the next, Maumee Bay beach on 17 May (Marie Dalliere two at the OSU airport, Franklin, on 14 Apr. and Maurice Raymond). (10 counties) Hallie Mason and Scott Pendleton found four pairs at The Bowl on 29 Apr and there were sev- eral counts of four elsewhere. (10 counties)

Scott Zimmermann got low to photograph this foraging Ruddy Turnstone while birding at Maumee Bay on 28 May.

Red Knot The reports are: Three passing Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May (John Kevin McKelvey captured this Upland Sandpiper on 27 May Pogacnik) as it stood watch on territory along Route 193 in Jefferson, Ashtabula. 118 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

One at Conneaut on 19 May (Marc Hanneman) Vogus). The next were Ronnie Clark’s four along One at Funk on 20 May (Elizabeth McQuaid) Kuhlwein Road, Franklin, on 15 Mar. The Ruff last were solos on 29 May, in the Solon Road, An eBird post from Erie had no details. Greene, skypond (m. obs.) and at Conneaut (Marc Hanneman). Atlee A. Yoder estimated Stilt Sandpiper that 1500 passed him during his time at Wilder- Ryan Lesniewicz saw the first, near Oak Harbor, ness Road on 03 Apr. Cam Lee estimated that Ottawa, on the very early date of 23 Apr. How- 1200 were “spread over 100 yards of field” at ever, sightings near there and elsewhere contin- Killdeer on 07 Apr. (46 counties) ued almost daily from 25 Apr to 17 May. The last was a single bird which Jacob Raber saw at Semipalmated Sandpiper Funk on 23 May. Simon Thompson contribut- Ryan Lesniewicz found eight near Oak Harbor, ed the high count of four, from Decoy Marsh, Ottawa, on 23 Apr, about two weeks early for a Sandusky, on 10 May. Other reports came from north coast county. As was the case with several Butler, Delaware, and Lucas. of its congeners, sightings continued into Jun. Ben Warner and Anna Wittmer saw 225 at Funk Sanderling on 22 May; the next-most were William Hull’s Jacob Raber well described his early find at Funk 75 in the Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, the day on 28 Apr. The next date was 06 May, when before. (29 counties) three locations hosted birds. One of them, the Maumee Bay beach, provided the season’s high American Woodcock count of six that day (m. obs.) The last date, 30 Cleveland’s Erie Street Cemetery hosted 23 on May, was also shared, by Irina Shulgina at Alum 31 Mar (Lori Brumbaugh). Next most were 14 in Creek and Paul Jacyk at Maumee Bay. (Nine the Ottawa section of Magee on 21 Mar (David counties) Myles) and the Burton Wetlands, Geauga, on 23 Apr (Kelly Kozlowski). (61 counties) Dunlin Dan Gesualdo counted 55 at ONWR Boss on 25 Mar, the first date (about when we expect them to be crossing the Ohio River). The last of the season were four near the ONWR Visitor Center on 31 May (Brynne Bryan); they were followed by two Jun sightings. The many triple-digit counts topped out with Rob and Sandy Harlan’s 600 along the Magee causeway on 15 May. (32 counties) Least Sandpiper Jeff Peters photographed two early arrivals at Deer Creek SP on 31 Mar. The next were three at Killdeer on 03 Apr (Ron Sempier) and sight- ings were steady to the season’s last, two at Wil- A favorite sight at the Magee, this American Woodcock put on a derness Road on 31 May (Paul Sherwood). Sev- show for photographer Tom Fishburn on 17 May. eral remained in the state into Jun, however. Ben Warner and Anna Wittmer produced the high Short-billed Dowitcher count of 150, in four large groups at Funk on Michael Crouse’s two at Big Island on 16 Apr 22 May. The most elsewhere were Andrea and were a bit early. The next one, which Mark Shav- Brad Imhoff’s 41 in southern Knox on 18 May. er found at a skypond in Geauga on 21 Apr, was (47 counties) also a pioneer. The Solon Road, Greene, sky- White-rumped Sandpiper pond hosted the last, one or two seen by many A few birders reported the first, at a skypond on birders on 26 May. Gary Cowell contributed the Reiser Avenue, Tuscarawas, on 04 May. Sight- high count of 68, from Wilderness Road on 13 ings continued well into Jun. Rick Luers found May. (21 counties) 22 in another skypond, this one by Solon Road, Long-billed Dowitcher Greene, on 29 May. (18 counties) Another early arrival was photographed at Kill- Pectoral Sandpiper deer on 05 Mar (Irina Shulgina, Josh Muchow). The first was early for the latitude; Jim Koppen Ronnie Clark found the next, one at Bolton saw it at ONWR Boss on 05 Mar (fide Douglas Field, Franklin, on 18 Mar. Ed Foley saw the

119 Vol. 40 No. 3 last, on 14 May from the Stange/Krause obser- wastewater treatment plant on 23 Apr, yet an- vation tower, Ottawa, where it had been for at other early arrival date. Several folks saw the last least two days. The most were Brian Wulker’s one, along the ONWR WD on 13 May. Matthew seven at Lost Bridge on 29 Apr. (10 counties) Bell and Tyler Ficker saw two flocks totaling Wilson’s Snipe about 150 fly westbound over ONWR’s Adam Paul Jacyk counted 122 at ONWR Boss on 04 Grimm Prairie on 08 May, and 75 dropped in Apr and Came Lee 105 in the Marion section at Headlands on 28 Apr (fide Jerry Talkington). of Killdeer on 31 Mar. (53 counties) (20 counties) Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Ron Sempier’s find, one at Upper Sandusky Res- The Ostermillers and Lisa Phelps saw an ear- ervoir #1, Wyandot, on 31 Mar, was at least two ly arrival, at Funk on 05 Mar. Next was one at weeks earlier than expected. Julie Karlson and ONWR Boss on 11 Mar (Ryan Lesniewicz). The Doug Overacker wrote, “There must have been last but for a couple in Jun was one by Wilderness a fallout at the [Buck Creek] beach this morn- Road on 29 May (Daniel Beechy). Andy Sewell ing” when they counted 30 there on 06 May. (74 counted 413 in the fields along Krause Road,Ot - counties) tawa, on 07 May. The second-highest number was 250, shared by m. obs. at Funk on 24 Apr Solitary Sandpiper and Don and Robyn Henise by Krause Road on Jon Cefus saw another pioneer, one along Mark 02 May. (56 counties) Road, Carroll, on 02 Apr. William Varney saw the last of the season, at the Ellis Lake wetlands, Wilson’s Phalarope Butler, on 29 May, but there were a couple of Jacob Roalef saw the first, at Funk on 04 May. Jun reports as well. A quartet of birders counted The last was one apparently seen from both 42 along five miles of the Holmes County Trail Schwartzwalder and Wilderness Roads on near Millersburg on 06 May. The next most were 20 May (m. obs.). Francie Flower saw two by 17, found by Kent Miller and Ben Morrison Stange/Krause Road, Ottawa, on 11 May. along Winkleplek Road, Tuscarawas, on 27 Lucas, Marion, and Sandusky also produced Apr, and also by Alex Eberts at Mallard Club on reports. 30 Apr. (70 counties) Red-necked Phalarope Kent Miller found two by Wilderness Road on 17 May and one remained there the next day for Dan Gesualdo. Two spent from 24 May into June at the Solon Road skypond, Greene (m. obs.) Bonaparte’s Gull Ryan Jacob and Warren Leow found 800 to 1000 at ONWR Boss on 08 Apr. Ken Andrews esti- mated 750 from Wendy Park on 15 Apr. A few lingered into Jun at other locations. (63 counties) Black-headed Gull An unusually late bird was photographed in Hu- ron harbor, Erie, between 10 and 13 May. Little Gull One spent 23 and 24 Mar at Nimisila Reservoir, This Solitary Sandpiper was photographed by Leslie Sours while Summit (m. obs.). looking for a snack on 24 May at Griggs Reservoir, Franklin. Laughing Gull Greater Yellowlegs One arrived very early, 02 Mar, at Lorain, and Chris Pierce’s find, one at Funk on 02 Mar, was hung around the area until 15 Apr (m. obs.). about a week early for Wayne. The season’s last The last spent 30 May into Jun at Maumee Bay were seen on 25 May, up to five birds at sites in (m. obs.). Debbie Parker saw two at Lorain on Erie, Greene, and Ottawa, and some were still 14 Mar as did Dan Gesualdo in Huron harbor, here in Jun. The most were the 63 which Susan Erie, on 01 May. Other singles were in Clark, Evanoff and Su Snyder counted at Funk on 18 Cuyahoga, Delaware, Hocking, Lucas, and Apr. (53 counties) Warren. Willet Franklin’s Gull Regina Schieltz counted 11 at the Mercer The reports are:

120 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

One at Wendy Park on 30 Apr (Jen Brumfield) and (the same four?) at the Findlay airport on Up to three at Indian Lake SP, Logan, from 01 04 Apr (Amy Downing and Jeff Loughman). (15 to 13 May (m. obs.) counties) One at Howard Marsh MP, Lucas, on 11 May Glaucous Gull (Jim Florentino) Dan Gesualdo saw the last, at Wendy Park on One passing Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May (John 05 Apr. Other singles were seen in Ashtabula, Pogacnik) Erie, and Lorain. Ring-billed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Kent Miller and Ben Morrison found about Jen Brumfield provided the high count of 90, 15,000 at Atwood Lake, Tuscarawas, on 16 from Cleveland locations on 09, 10, and 14 Mar. Mar. Jennifer Kuehn and Sharon Newell saw The most away from there were 51 which Holly about 10,000 off Wendy Park on 08 Apr. (75 Lynn counted at Vermilion’s Main Street Beach, counties) Lorain, on 19 Mar. The only sightings away [Laughing x Ring-billed Gull] from Lake Erie were of one bird at the Grand Many folks photographed this probable hybrid Lake hatchery on 08 Apr (Josh King) and 10 Apr at Lorain on 06 Mar; it was easily told from the (Troy Shively). The rest of the Lake Erie shore Laughing Gull which was there at the same time. counties (Ashtabula, Erie, Lake, Lucas, Otta- Herring Gull wa, and Sandusky) also hosted this species. The most were about 1400 at Wendy Park on 07 Caspian Tern Apr (Jen Brumfield), and up to 1000 were there The first, Jane Riker’s solo at Lake Mosier,Han - on other dates. The most away from Cleveland cock, on 19 Mar was at least a week earlier than were 800 near the mouth of the Ottawa River, expected. Next were one or two at Lorain on Lucas, on 15 Mar (Paul Jacyk), and the most 24 Mar (m. obs.). Bob Lane counted 156 at the away from Lake Erie were 300 at the Find- Conneaut sandspit and nearby on 01 May. The lay Reservoirs on 14 Mar (Shane Myers). (58 most elsewhere were Nathan Martineau’s 83 at counties) Maumee Bay on 04 May, and the inland high Thayer’s Gull was Josh King’s 14 at the Grand Lake hatchery The reports, all of solo birds, are: on 18 Apr. (36 counties) At the Bayshore fishing access, Lucas, on 02 Black Tern Mar (Kim Warner) The first, which showed up at Magee on 27 Apr, At Wendy Park on 04 Mar (Tom Frankel and was a couple of weeks early for Lake Erie-side Debbie Parker) (Kathy Telfer). Robert Royse found 22 at Deer Along the Lorain (city) waterfront on 06, 12, and Creek on 13 May. The second-most were six 18 Mar (m. obs.) early arrivals at Metzger on 28 Apr (William At the Euclid Creek Reservation, Cuyahoga, on Hutchinson). (18 counties) 09 Mar (Jen Brumfield) Common Tern Iceland Gull Ryan Jacob and Paul Jacyk saw the first, one at Jen Brumfield saw the last, at Wendy Park on 30 Maumee Bay on 04 Apr, early for so far north. Apr. Two other Cuyahoga locations, two loca- The most were the 130 which Nathan Martineau tions in Lake, and one in each of Erie, Lorain, found at Metzger on 05 May. The next most were Lucas, and Portage also hosted a bird. 90 passing Huntington Reservation, Cuyahoga, Thayer’s/Iceland Gull on 01 May (Jen Brumfield). The most inland Solos were reported in Cuyahoga, Hancock, were 60 which flew over Jeff Loughman in Mar- Lake, and Lucas. But we won’t have to worry ion Township, Hancock, on 09 Apr. Jeff wrote, about trying to tell them apart next winter… “If it wasn’t for a few of them calling while flying overhead [I] never would have got these birds.) Lesser Black-backed Gull (27 counties as far south as Montgomery) These are usually gone by mid-Apr, but two or three were still at the Findlay Reservoirs into Jun Forster’s Tern (m. obs.). The last otherwise was still a straggler; Robert Sams find at Lake Mosier, Hancock, on three birders saw it on the Magee East Beach on 01 Apr, was for a change “on time”. Troy Shively 27 May. Leslie Sours and Carl Winstead found saw the last of the season, at Indian Lake SP, Lo- a “surprisingly numerous” 15 at Bayshore, Lu- gan, three birds on 23 May, but several were seen cas, on 03 Mar. The most inland were four at in Jun. Carole Babyak provided the high count of the Findlay Reservoirs on 29 Mar (Robert Sams) 107, at the Mogadore Reservoir dam, Portage,

121 Vol. 40 No. 3 on 09 May. The second-most were 27 at Mau- Grand Rapids, Lucas, on 05 Mar. The season’s mee Bay on 05 May (m. obs.). (40 counties) last sightings were on 29 May, two over Magee Red-throated Loon (Sharon Newell) and 20 at Winous Point (Joel Robert Royse found one at Deer Creek on 21 Such), and there were more in Jun. Big Island Mar and many more birders got to see it until hosted 87 on 15 Apr (Ron Sempier and Leslie 27 Mar. Sours) and Huron harbor, Erie, held 83 (the same flock?) on 20 Apr (Paul Sherwood). (19 Pacific Loon counties) One was photographed and otherwise docu- mented at Alum Creek from 30 May into Jun American Bittern (m. obs.). Lori Brumbaugh and Patty McKelvey saw the first, at Lorain on 26 Mar. Wetlands along the Common Loon Teal-Harrier Trails at Darby Creek held 12 on The season’s first date of 08 Mar was shared. 24 Apr for Michael Lamont. The most elsewhere Gary Cowell saw one at Shelby Reservoir #3, were quartets at Wake Robin on 07 May (Doug Richland, while Judy Strong found two and Marcum) and along the ONWR WD on 13 May Rick Asamoto three at Caesar Creek. The last (Benjamin Miller). (22 counties) sightings, at Alum Creek, continued into Jun (m. obs.). Gary Cowell contributed the two highest Least Bittern counts, 79 on 23 Mar and 71 two days later, both Kim Warner found the first, at Mallard Club on at Clear Fork. The next-highest number was 30 Apr. Rose White noted four at Magee on 07 Steve Jones’ 47 at Guilford Lake SP, Columbi- May as did Dave Chase in Mentor Marsh SNP, ana, on 31 Mar. (70 counties) Lake, on 23 May. (14 counties) Great Blue Heron The CVNP Bath Road rookery held about 100 when Jamie Sutherland was there on 27 Mar. Bryan Sharp and Rob Thorn each saw about 80 in a rookery at Campbell Memorial Park, Franklin, on 31 Mar and 02 Apr respectively. Only Pike and Putnam didn’t have sightings. Great Egret Paul Sherwood provided the high count, 132 in the borrow pits near Bay View, Erie, on 18 Apr. This gorgeous Common Loon was photographed on 07 April Sarah Lawrence’s 33 at Sandy Ridge on 12 May by Christopher Collins before its rescue from the Clague Park were the most away from Lake Erie. (62 counties) spillway (Thanks Janice!), Cuyahoga. Snowy Egret Dan Gesualdo saw the first, at Pickerel Creek Great Cormorant on 11 Apr. Megan Kramer found 10 during the Jen Brumfield discovered one on the Cleveland ONWR WD on 15 May. Erie, Lucas, Ottawa, harbor breakwall on 01 Apr; it stayed until 08 and Sandusky all had sightings of multiple April for many viewers and photographers. This birds; Fairfield, Hamilton, Lake, Lorain, and visit came just short of a year after the state’s first Wood each had singles. record was last seen. Neotropic Cormorant Photographs were posted of birds at Wilderness Road (01 Apr), Wendy Park (03-04 Apr), Magee (15 May), and Headlands (23 May), but no one made a formal report to the OBRC. No photos accompanied a post from Edgewater. Double-crested Cormorant James Muller and Jeff Peters reported that 1000 to 1200 were visible from Wendy Park on 08 Apr. Joette and Rosalie Borzik saw about 1000 at ONWR Navarre on 04 May, as did Scott Watkins at inland Deer Creek on 08 Apr. (78 counties) American White Pelican Darlene Friedman captured this pair of Snowy Egrets along the The first of the season flew over Steve Landes in Magee causeway on 14 May. 122 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Little Blue Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Alex Eberts, Tyler Ficker, and Matthew Bell dis- The high count was Karen Bonnell’s 50 at Me- covered the first, at Lake Rupert, Vinton, on 22 dusa on 13 Apr. The most away from there were Apr. Another showed up at ONWR on 28 Apr Benjamin Miller’s 22 at Magee (in the marsh and for Patricia Rodrigues. Amy Downing and Jeff overhead) on 11 May. Steve Jones provided the Loughman photographed one in Hancock on inland high count of six from Big Island on 08 17 May. One was seen at the Ellis Lake wetlands, May. (19 counties) Butler, on 27 May, two on 28 May, and again one on 29 May. (m. obs.). Sketchy reports also came from other Lucas and Ottawa sites. Tricolored Heron Posts state that Ed Wransky found one in the Crook Street wetlands near Grafton, Lorain, on 20 Apr; lots of folks posted photos of the bird that day and the next. A report from Sandusky had no details.

A Black-crowned Night-heron was found hunting along the edge of the Magee boardwalk by Craig Caldwell on 18 May.

Christopher Collins provided this 21 Apr photo of the Crook Glossy Ibis Street Wetlands Tricolored Heron. The OBRC has a report from Wyandot. Posts from Columbiana, Erie, and Lucas have Cattle Egret photos. The first was along the Cedar Point Chausee, White-faced Ibis Erie, on 04 Apr (Dan Gesualdo). The highest The OBRC has at least one formal report from number was five, found along Bogart Road, Erie and many posts with photos. Erie, on 07 May (Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison) Plegadis sp. Ibis and at Magee on 09 May (Patricia Dwight) and The OBRC has at least one formal report from on 15 May (Mark Rudd). (12 counties) Erie. Posts from there and Lucas have photos; Green Heron one from Ottawa has a description. Brad Goodner saw the first, along State Route Black Vulture 305 in Portage on 03 Mar. Bob Lane contribut- Two miles of travel in the Caesar Creek area ed the high count, nine in Firestone-Yeagley WA, yielded 90 for Eric Elvert. Counts of 50 came Columbiana, on 05 May. (75 counties) from at and near Denison University, Licking, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron on 27 Mar (Susan Woolard) and 03 May (An- The reports, more numerous than usual though drea Imhoff). (64 counties all the way north to still of single birds, are: Lake Erie) Variously noted in and near ONWR on 14 Apr Turkey Vulture (m. obs.) Bruce Glick spent five hours observing from At Bellevue Reservoir #1, Huron, on 28 Apr Maumee Bay’s hawkwatch hill on 27 Mar and (Scott Famulare) counted 757 passing by. Brendan Klick was there At Hoover NP from 22 to 30 May (m. obs.) for three hours on 02 Apr and saw 370. (All 88 At Glacier Ridge MP, Union, on 22 May (Ron- counties) ald Grafe, Bryan Sharp) At Maumee Bay, also on 22 May (Sue Tackett) Osprey Heather Luedecke was “Surprised it is back so

123 Vol. 40 No. 3 soon” when one flew overhead at Scioto Audu- Cooper’s Hawk bon MP, Franklin, on 05 Mar. Craig Moore Thirteen migrants passed Jen Brumfield at Edge- saw the next, a duo also in Franklin at the Haul water on 27 Apr. (76 counties) Road quarries on 11 Mar. Robert Hershberger et Northern Goshawk al. counted 37 passing Malek Park, Ashtabula, The OBRC has a report from Holmes. on 27 Apr. The next-highest number was seven, shared by Robert Batterson at Alum Creek on Red-shouldered Hawk 11 Apr and Don Morgan at Magee on 11 May. Brendan Klick saw 24 pass Maumee Bay on 02 (75 counties) Apr. (77 counties) Swallow-tailed Kite Broad-winged Hawk A second-hand report from Athens had no William Hull heard a slightly early bird over his details. Hamilton home on 31 Mar. The next flew over Oscar Wilhelmy in Vineyard Hills, Hamilton, Mississippi Kite on 05 Apr. A few made it to Cuyahoga and Lu- A family of three was photographed at the Junc- cas on 08 Apr. Robert Hershberger et al. counted tion Earthworks, Ross, in late May. A report 2386 during their Malek Park, Ashtabula, stay from Hamilton has some detail. on 27 Apr. Dan Gesualdo’s 846 at East Sandusky Bay MP, Erie, on 11 Apr was the second-highest number. (64 counties) Swainson’s Hawk A post from Hancock had no details. Red-tailed Hawk Bruce Glick counted 36 passing Maumee Bay on 27 Mar. Every county but Van Wert produced a sighting. Rough-legged Hawk On a typical last date of 16 Apr, Philip Chaon saw one at Edgewater, Ned DeLamatre one at Sheldon Marsh, and Kari Warner Matsko one at Concord Ravines, Lake. Four locations pro- duced sightings of two birds. (21 counties) Golden Eagle The reports are: One at Killdeer on 18 Mar (Cam Lee) One over West Bloom Road, Ottawa, on 15 Apr (Margaret Weisz) One passing Madison, Lake, on 15 Apr (John Pogacnik) Christopher Collins captured this photograph on 19 May of one One over Stillfork Swamp, Carroll, on 30 Apr of the Mississippi Kites which nested at Junction Earthworks. (fide Jon Cefus) Near Millersburg, Holmes, on 02 Apr (David Bald Eagle L. Erb) Michelle Crandall found 30 at ONWR on 02 Near Mt. Eaton, Wayne, on 20 Apr (Atlee A. Apr. The most not in the northwest marshes Yoder) were Gale VerHague’s 23 at Conneaut on 08 May. The most inland were an adult and 12 Barn Owl immatures at Funk on 26 Apr (Nate Mast). (81 The Yellowlegs Trail in Pickerington Ponds MP, counties) Fairfield, is a reliable spot because of a nest box in a maintenance building nearby. James Muller Northern Harrier saw the season’s first there on 05 Mar, and Ian The Malek Park watchers counted 14 on 27 Apr Lynch saw two there on 09 May. Michael Her- (Robert Hershberger et al.). (68 counties) shberger wrote that “A few local pairs were incu- Sharp-shinned Hawk bating eggs by 3–19” in Holmes. Singles were And again from Robert’s crew at Malek Park on also found in Adams, Delaware, Franklin, 27 Apr, a count of 404. Dan Gesualdo needed Marion, Tuscarawas, and Wayne. two hours at East Sandusky Bay MP, Erie, on 11 Apr to tally 59. (59 counties) 124 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Eastern Screech-Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Many birders saw an adult and four youngsters Jen Brumfield saw the last migrant, in Lake View during the ONWR WD on 11 and 13 May. (31 Cemetery, Cuyahoga, on 20 May, but others counties) were seen in known nesting areas in Ashtabu- Great Horned Owl la and Geauga after that. Glen Echo Park, Jen Brumfield saw five in the Rocky River Reser- Franklin, hosted 10 on 09 Apr for John Finn. vation, Cuyahoga, on 02 Mar. (51 counties) (65 counties) Snowy Owl Downy Woodpecker Three viewers independently posted photos of Joshua Vardous found 25 in Schoepfle Gardens, one by Skadden Road, Monroeville, Erie, on 06 Erie, on 11 Mar. Only Jackson and Pike didn’t Mar. Wendy Vaughn well described one she saw produce reports. between Pemberville and Bowling Green, Wood, Hairy Woodpecker on 27 Mar. Ed Pierce’s ONWR census teams counted eight Barred Owl on both 03 Mar and 01 Apr (fide Douglas Vogus). Mark Shaver found three youngsters and three (81 counties) adults in Eldon Russell Park, Geauga, on 07 Northern Flicker May and there were many counts of four else- Jen Brumfield saw 42 passing Edgewater on 09 where. (57 counties) Apr; Tim Haney had counted 30 in Toledo’s Long-eared Owl Woodlawn Cemetery on 07 Apr. David A. Brink- Matt Anderson wrote on 13 May, “A surprise man saw an apparent red-shafted/yellow-shafted Long-eared owl was calling at the dunes (Gird- intergrade with pinkish underwings at the Kilby ham Rd) in [OOPMP] at about 5:00 this morn- Road gravel pits, Hamilton, on 09 May. Only ing.” They’re usually gone before the end of Apr. Putnam didn’t produce a sighting. The second-last fit that pattern; Chris Byers saw Pileated Woodpecker it in Cricket Frog Cove, Wood, on 15 Apr. Dan Adriana Losey found seven in Scioto Trail SP, Gesualdo found seven “migrant birds resting in Ross, on 30 Apr. (83 counties) pines” at East Sandusky Bay MP, Erie, on 11 American Kestrel Apr. Ottawa, Seneca, Union, and Wyandot Twelve were distributed around Killbuck on 01 also contributed sightings. Apr for Lisa Cellura. (84 counties) Short-eared Owl Peregrine Falcon Karly Folger saw two perched in different trees Kathy Telfer saw six passing the ONWR Visitor by Epworth United Methodist Church, Lucas, Center on 27 Apr. There were many duos sight- on 30 Apr. Ed and Sheila Bremer counted six at ed in the 28 reporting counties. Darby Creek on 05 Mar. (16 counties) Northern Saw-whet Owl Nathan Martineau and Karen Zeleznik sepa- rately reported the last, at the Magee Migratory Bird Center on 23 Apr. It had been seen there on and off for at least six weeks. Other singles were in Cuyahoga, Holmes, and Ottawa. Belted Kingfisher Mary Ann Romito et al. counted seven in the Ira Road area of CVNP on 03 Apr. (81 counties) Red-headed Woodpecker Brandon Brywczynski found 24 in OOPMP on 06 May but he had already topped that number by one there on 17 Apr. The most elsewhere were Kyle Filicky’s 20 at the Mill Creek golf course, Mahoning, on 19 Mar. (77 counties) Ethan Rising photographed this Peregrine Falcone as it swooped Red-bellied Woodpecker in Celina, Mercer, on 23 March. John Pogacnik counted 21 migrants at Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May. Only Van Wert didn’t have a Merlin sighting. Robert Hershberger et al. counted nine during

125 Vol. 40 No. 3 their hawk watch at Malek Park, Ashtabula, Panhandle Road in Delaware WA on 24 May, on 27 Apr. The second-most were Lori Brum- and three other locations each hosted 20. (73 baugh’s three in Cleveland’s Calvary Cemetery counties) on both 08 and 09 Mar. Karl Bardon and Stan Plante weren’t together, but they both saw one at Lake Erie Bluffs on 13 May, the last date. (32 counties) Olive-sided Flycatcher The first was at Chris Cook’s apartment complex in Zanesville, Muskingum, on 04 May. Marty Reynard saw the far north’s first, in the Bedford Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 09 May. Sightings continued into Jun. The high count was three, at Magee on 16 May (Lauren Shaffer) and there were many duos. (28 counties) Eastern Wood-Pewee The first well-documented birds were in -Zale ski (m. obs.) and the Rocky River Reservation, Cuyahoga (Mary Ann Romito) on 27 Apr. There were heard-only reports, which were Adam Brandemihl captured this stunning photo of a Willow probably actually of phoebes or starlings, in Mar Flycatcher singing in a flowering tree at Glacier Ridge MP, and Apr from several counties. Bridget Brown’s Union, on 23 May. four miles of hiking in Hocking Hills SP pro- duced 17 on 13 May. (82 counties) Alder/Willow “Traill’s” Flycatcher Phil Chaon noted 17 indeterminate birds at Yellow-bellied Flycatcher ONWR Navarre on 18 May. (25 counties) Gary Cowell’s bird in Honey Run Highlands Park, Knox, on 06 May was the first. Lisa Least Flycatcher Kaufman and Eileen Luba saw one at Magee Tyler Ficker and Melanie McFadin saw the first, on 11 May, the first near Lake Erie. Ryan Jacob two in the OSU wetlands on 20 Apr, an early found eight at Magee on 18 May. (32 counties) date for mid-state. Magee hosted 18 on 13 May for Bryan and Tyler McClain. Wendy Park held Acadian Flycatcher 10 on 11 May (Will Knowlton). (59 counties) Ron Sempier found the first one, in Zaleski on 27 Apr. The first for the far north was in the Eastern Phoebe Brecksville Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 07 May These were here all winter, so the 01 Mar sight- (m. obs.). About a mile and a half of travel near ings at four locations were merely the first of the the intersection of Township Roads 116 and 117 season. Peter Keefe found 15 at Headlands on in Baltic, Holmes, produced 19 on 25 May for 09 Apr. Only Pike and Putnam didn’t provide Aaron Nisley. The second-most were Sean Hol- reports. lowell’s 12 in the Narrows Reserve, Greene, on Say’s Phoebe 15 May. (74 counties) Jen Brumfield is credited by other observers with Alder Flycatcher finding one at the Rocky River Reservation’s Several folks heard one in Germantown MP, Lewis Road riding ring, Cuyahoga. It was pho- Montgomery, on 06 May. Scott Whittle not- tographed many times during its 06 to 11 Apr ed the first for the north coast near the BSBO stay. offices, Ottawa, on 09 May. Aaron and Ethan Great Crested Flycatcher Gyllenhaal found 11 at Magee on 24 May and Brian Good saw the first, near Perrysville, Ash- up to eight were reported there on other dates. land, on 16 Apr, a little early for the latitude. The most elsewhere were quartets at the Novak Counts of 12 came from Glacier Ridge MP, Audubon Sanctuary, Portage, on 19 May (m. Union, on 18 May (Irina Shulgina) and The obs.) and in the Beartown Lakes Reservation, Bowl on 24 May (m. obs.). (77 counties) Geauga, on 30 May (Aaron Self). (37 counties) Eastern Kingbird Willow Flycatcher Robert Sams found the first, in Oakwoods MP, The first, one in Wintergarden Woods on 02 Hancock, on 08 Apr. Mark and Sherry Plessner May, was something of a pioneer (Tim Kleman). saw the north coast’s first, in Toledo’s Resurrec- Logan Kahle counted 27 along two miles of tion Cemetery on 17 Apr. John Pogacnik wrote,

126 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

“There was a continuous movement to the west couple of weeks later than in many years. Several of groups up to 11 birds” totaling 371 during his folks saw it at the Kilby Road gravel pits, Ham- 5½ hours at Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May. Andy ilton, on 13 May. Irina Shulgina saw the furthest Avram counted 82 passing Maumee Bay on 14 north bird, in Glacier Ridge MP, Union, on 26 May. Every county but Coshocton, Fayette, and May. Robert Royse found four in Deer Creek WA Van Wert had sightings. on 13 May and several locations hosted two. (12 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher counties) One which visited an Oxford, Butler, property between 04 and 07 May allowed many photo- graphic opportunities. Loggerhead Shrike Sightings in Wayne in early Apr and again from mid-May into Jun included photos. So did sight- ings in Cuyahoga and Franklin, both sets in early Apr. The Franklin bird prompted the only formal report to the OBRC.

The unique song of this Bell’s Vireo caught Alex Eberts’ atten- tion while birding at Darby Bend MP, Franklin, on 20 May. John Cefus captured this Loggerhead Shrike on the hunt along Geyers Chapel Road, Wayne, on 14 April. Red-eyed Vireo Dave Barnett found two in Shawnee on 16 Apr, Northern Shrike the earliest (and expected) date. One made it The last spent from early Mar to 08 Apr at to the Rocky River Reservation, Cuyahoga, Frohring Meadows, Geauga (m. obs.). Ten coun- on 18 Apr (Kaity Ross). Lake View Cemetery, ties produced sightings of single birds. Cuyahoga, held 43 on 20 May (Jen Brumfield), White-eyed Vireo and Andy Sewell found 33 along 35 miles of Stefan Gleissberg saw the first, at his Athens Shawnee roads. (84 counties) home on 10 Apr. One made it to Magee on 18 Philadelphia Vireo Apr for Kathy Telfer. Charles Bombaci found Ned Keller saw the first, along Hamilton Road, 17 along 4½ miles of trails in Blackhand Gorge Adams, on 30 Apr. The far north’s first was in SNP, Licking, on 03 May. (71 counties) Farnsworth MP, Lucas, on 03 May (Michael Warbling Vireo Monarch). Four sites hosted at least one on 29 Patrick Coy accurately noted that his find in the May, the season’s last date, but one lingered at Virginia Kendall unit of CVNP on 13 Apr was another site into Jun. Many birders found six at early for the latitude. Four far-south locations Magee on both 14 and 15 May. (44 counties) hosted birds the next day and sightings were Yellow-throated Vireo continuous from then. Annie Aguirre noted 42 Katrina Moilanen compared recordings and ac- at Magee on 09 May, and several birders found curately described the one she heard in Conkles the most elsewhere, 25, at Headlands on 15 May. Hollow SNP, Hocking, on 30 Mar, about two (76 counties) weeks earlier than expected. Steve Landes found Bell’s Vireo the next, also in Hocking at Cantwell Cliffs on For a change, this species’ first sighting was a 09 Apr. Ken Andrews saw the first for the north

127 Vol. 40 No. 3 coast in the Bedford Reservation, Cuyahoga, in flock numbering in the hundreds” in 5½ hours on 19 Apr. The 12 May CVNP Towpath Trail at Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May. Four days earlier, census produced nine (Douglas Vogus et al.). (75 Karl Bardon had tallied about 12,000 there in counties) five hours. (All 88 counties) American Crow John Pogacnik counted 380 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 24 Mar and 294 there three days later. The third-highest number was Susan Carpenter’s 162 at Bow Wow Beach Park, Summit, on 03 Mar. Only Putnam and Van Wert didn’t have sightings. Fish Crow Viewers at one Cuyahoga site posted photos, but reports from other Cuyahoga sites, Lake, and Lucas had only descriptions or no details at all. Common Raven Tyler Ficker saw two at the Lake Hope SP Nature Center, Vinton, on 23 Apr. Three Harrison lo- cations, another Vinton site, Hocking, and No- ble each provided single sightings. Horned Lark Inga Schmidt found a flock of 80 by Soltis Road, Geauga, on 18 Mar. (71 counties) Purple Martin A lovely Yellow-throated Vireo sings for Jacob Roalef at Shaw- The two which John Pogacnik saw at Lake Erie nee on 28 April during the Ohio Ornithological Society’s “War- blers and Wildflowers Festival”. Bluffs on 23 Mar were early for so far north. Gary Cowell found 145 at Clear Fork on 29 Apr and about 100 were at several locations in mid-May. Blue-headed Vireo (72 counties) Jeffrey and Sarah Rose saw and heard the first, at Conkles Hollow SNP, Hocking, on 29 Mar. The Tree Swallow next was at Ash Cave, Hocking, on 08 Apr (Steve A Feb sighting preceded this season’s first, which Landes) and one was in the Bedford Reservation, was at Metzger on 02 Mar (Kim Warner). About Cuyahoga, the next day (Fred Losi). David and 1000 were working Mallard Club on 30 Apr (Alex Mariah Fehringer counted 12 along the Maumee Eberts) and 07 May (m. obs.). The next-highest Bay boardwalk on 14 May. (65 counties) number was 700, at the Findlay Reservoirs on 29 Apr (Robert Sams). (All 88 counties) Northern Rough-winged Swallow The first date was 25 Mar; that day Lori McCo- llister saw one at Deer Creek and several birders another at Pleasant Hill Lake. Jon Cefus estimat- ed 400 were at Guilford Lake SP, Columbiana, on the morning of 06 May, but Bob Lane could only find 175 there that afternoon. Killdeer hosted about 150, also on 06 May (m. obs.). (83 counties) Bank Swallow April Howell saw three over Huffman MP, Greene, on 07 Apr. A week went by before Dan Gesualdo saw the first near Lake Erie, two at Pipe The striking white spectacles of the Blue-headed Vireo stand out Creek on 15 Apr. Andy Avram noted 400 at Lake perfectly in this gorgeous capture, taken by Bruce Miller at Magee Erie Bluffs on 18 May and others saw up to 350 on 07 May. there on other dates. The most elsewhere were Marc Hanneman’s 95 at Conneaut on 17 May. Blue Jay (64 counties) John Pogacnik estimated 18,650 were in a “Near- ly constant movement of jays heading east, often 128 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Cliff Swallow than expected for the location. The high count The first were two at the Hebron hatchery,Lick - was 25, shared by members of a BSBO field trip ing, on 07 Apr (Mike Smith). Two days later, to Winous Point on 12 May and Shannon Fitch Dan Gesualdo found two at Sherod Park. Jeff at Magee on 15 May. (82 counties) Harvey noted 150 along the Berlin Lake bike trail, Portage, on 08 May. (64 counties) Barn Swallow Ryan Tomazin well described a very early bird at Newport, Washington, on 04 Mar. The next was a more timely find by Stefan Gleissberg, at Lake Snowden, Athens, on 22 Mar. Jon Cefus saw about 900 at Guilford Lake SP, Columbi- ana, on 06 May. Fayette, Pike, and Van Wert didn’t have sightings. Carolina Chickadee Charles Bombaci counted 33 in Blackhand Gorge SNP, Licking, on 03 May. (65 counties) Black-capped Chickadee Firestone MP, Summit, hosted at least 45 for Cynthia Norris on 14 Apr. (33 counties) Chickadee sp. Reports at the genus level came from 19 counties. Craig Caldwell captured this House Wren investigating a pos- Tufted Titmouse sible new home on 24 May at his own Cuyahoga residence. Orchard Hill Park, Geauga, held about 40 on Marsh Wren 23 Apr (m. obs.). Carol Lillich counted 28 in the Scattered sightings since 02 Jan preceded the Sunnybrook Preserve, also Geauga, on 16 Apr. first of this season, which Nat Mast made at Kill- Only Jackson and Van Wert had no reports. buck’s Wright Marsh on 09 Mar. Dan Gesualdo Red-breasted Nuthatch saw the first of the far north, at Pipe Creek on Ben Warner and Anna Wittmer found nine in 19 Mar. Gautam Apte’s 40 on 14 May was the Green Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, on 15 Apr. highest of many double-digit counts along the Tim Haney counted six at Magee on 03 May. (59 ONWR WD. The most elsewhere were Josh counties) King’s 20 at Pearson MP, Lucas, on 12 May, and White-breasted Nuthatch the most far inland were Logan Kahle’s 13 at Big Joe Faulkner counted 43 at Beechhaven, Perry, Island on 24 May. (36 counties) on 30 Mar; the next-highest number was Craig Moore’s 22 in Blacklick Woods MP, Fairfield, on 23 Mar. Fayette, Pike, and Van Wert didn’t produce sightings. Brown Creeper Ryan Lesniewicz found 17 at Magee on 11 Apr, quite a lot for that little woodlot. (69 counties) Winter Wren The last definite migrants were one or two at Ma- gee on 17 May (m. obs.); sightings continued past then at and near their known nesting locations. Aaron Miller said “lots were singing” along Mt. Hope Road, Wayne, on 01 Apr; he counted 11. Fred Losi found seven in the Bedford Reserva- tion, Cuyahoga, on 08 Apr. (53 counties) House Wren Fred Dinkelbach audio-recorded one singing near his home in Sagamore Hills, Summit, on 29 Mar; that date is about three weeks earlier Adam Brandemihl managed to capture this Marsh Wren in mid- song at Darby Creek on 29 May. 129 Vol. 40 No. 3

Sedge Wren was two weeks ahead of schedule for so far north. Eddie Hicks saw the first, a bit early in Hocking Maumee Bay’s boardwalk area hosted about 20 Hills SP on 23 Apr. But it only took two more on 12 May (Charonya Ganesh). (57 counties) days for one to show up at Maumee Bay for Con- nor Fox. Triples were along the ONWR WD on 07 May (Sue Griffen and Marcie Ronken), at Pickerel Creek on 11 May (m. obs.), and Magee on 14 May (Sam Woods). (12 counties) Carolina Wren Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker counted 19 in Old Reid Park, Clark, on 30 Mar. Only Jack- son, Pike, and Van Wert didn’t have sightings. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Lester Peyton saw the first, just about when ex- pected at CNC Rowe Woods on 23 Mar. Pipe Creek again hosted the first of the north coast; Dan Gesualdo saw it on 02 Apr. A trio of birders A Veery sneaked up on Rachel Shamy while she was birding traveled 14 miles of Shawnee roads on 26 Apr OOPMP on 16 May. and encountered 40. Fayette, Pike, and Van Wert produced no sightings. Wood Thrush John Moore saw the first, at Englewood on 11 Apr. It only took another day for one to appear in Elmwood Park, Cuyahoga (George Coleman). A mile and a half of Baptist Church Road in Zale- ski produced 35 on 27 Apr (m. obs.). Eli Miller found 25 in the same distance along Township Road 122, Holmes, on 17 May. (83 counties)

Matt Bell photographed this inquisitive Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on 07 May at Magee.

Golden-crowned Kinglet Douglas Vogus saw the last, along the Tree Farm Trail in CVNP on 20 May. They’ve nested there but none were seen in Jun. Magee hosted 57 on 11 Apr (Ryan Lesniewicz) and Grand Lake SP held about 50 on 07 Apr (Josh King). (71 counties) Ruby-crowned Kinglet One Jun sighting followed this season’s last, which were on 29 May. Deb Eiger saw one at Magee and Mark Tomecko another at his Me- dina home that day. Tim Haney found about 60 The Wood Thrush is known for its beautiful and melodic song. in Toledo’s Woodlawn Cemetery on 16 Apr. (73 Bruce Miller was lucky enough to capture a photograph of this counties) bird with nesting material at Highbanks MP, Delaware. Eastern Bluebird Mark Maier found a concentration of 21 near Gray-cheeked Thrush Clarksburg, Ross, on 27 Apr. Only Van Wert One at Novak Audubon Sanctuary, Portage, on didn’t have a sighting. 23 Apr was early for so far north (m. obs.) David Rymal saw one in Shawnee SP on 26 Apr. Wen- Veery dy Park hosted one on 01 May (Rob Campbell, Heather Slayton’s find at Maumee Bay on 17 Apr

130 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Leslie Sours). One Jun sighting closed their mi- at Metzger (Francie Flower) on 18 May were the gration. Logan Kahle saw 10 in Delaware (city) second-last. Micki Dunakin found about 150 in the on 23 May and six there the next day; the most Thomas Wetlands, Paulding, on 20 Apr. The only elsewhere were five at each of three locations. (50 other triple-digit count was Brad Goodner’s 120 counties) along Soltis Road, Geauga, on 13 Apr. (47 counties) Swainson’s Thrush Bev Walborn saw the first, at Huntington -Res ervation, Cuyahoga, on 14 Apr, about a week early for the Lake Erie shore. Logan Kahle heard 210 pass overhead in Delaware (city) in two hours around midnight of 23 May, and 70 the next night. The next most were Kate Frost’s 26 at Magee on 15 May. (71 counties) Hermit Thrush Steve Meredyk saw the last sure migrant, on 29 May at Wendy Park; sightings continued at their nesting locations. Wendy Park also provided the high count, 23 on 16 Apr (Jen Brumfield). The second-most were 15 at Magee on both 11 and This proud American Pipit paused in its search for a meal so 17 Apr (Ryan Lesniewicz). (64 counties) that Su Snyder could capture this photo on 03 May at Wil- derness Road. American Robin Dan Gesualdo, Leslie Sours, and Kim Warner House Finch spent 4½ hours at Sherod Park on the morning About 60 were at Scioto Audubon MP’s feeders, of 24 Mar and counted 1150 robins pass by. John Franklin, on 23 Mar (m. obs.). Brown, Jack- Pogacnik tallied 318 in less than two hours at son, and Van Wert didn’t have sightings. Lake Erie Bluffs on 27 Mar. (All 88 counties) Purple Finch Gray Catbird Ed Schlabach saw several flocks totaling 55 birds Alex Eberts encountered 54 during a band- in Ragersville, Tuscarawas, on 15 Apr. Katrina ing session at ONWR Navarre on 13 May. (84 Schultes saw about 30 at her home in Logan, counties) Hocking, on 14 Apr. (62 counties) Brown Thrasher Pine Siskin Jack Leow counted 18 along the Slippery Elm Erik Bruhnke saw the last, at Magee on 18 May. Trail, Wood, on 17 Apr. (82 counties) Counts of six came from Chesapeake, Law- Northern Mockingbird rence, on 12 Mar (Philip Runyon), and the Bob Lane found eight in Elkton, Columbiana, Wright State University woods, Greene, on 03 on 27 May and counts of three came from at May (Volker Bahn). (22 counties) least six locations. (78 counties) American Goldfinch European Starling John Pogacnik provided the high count, 566 at Ryan Lesniewicz reported about 10,000 were Lake Erie Bluffs on 27 Apr. (All 88 counties) at Lorain on 07 Mar. Hana [sic] Gibson found Lapland Longspur about 3000 in old soybean fields in Clinton that Ashli Gorbet saw 15 near Oak Harbor on 27 Apr; same day. (All 88 counties) two lingered there until 06 May, the last date (Hal- Cedar Waxwing lie Mason). The 02 Apr ONWR census crew tallied John Pogacnik counted 3641 westbound past 396, mostly in the air along Krause and Stange Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May. Jen Brumfield found Roads (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). Kent 430 at Wendy the same day. (83 counties) Miller estimated 150 were in a field by French Ave- nue, Stark, on 01 Apr and wrote they were “Largely House Sparrow breeding plumage bird[s] in full song.’’ (15 counties) Joshua Vardous saw about 100 in Lakeview Park, Lorain, on 17 May. (All 88 counties) Snow Bunting Jennifer Gardner recorded the last, one in American Pipit Ashtabula (city) on 02 Apr. The second-last were Many Feb sightings preceded this seasons’. Paul seven at the Findlay Reservoirs on 27 Mar (Chad Sherwood saw the last, by Ransom Road, Erie, on Carroll), and the most, 22, were there on 24 Mar 29 May. One at Magee (Gene Campbell) and two (Robert Sams). Allen, Delaware, Guernsey, Paulding, and Van Wert also had sightings. 131 Vol. 40 No. 3

Ovenbird [Golden-winged x Blue-winged Katherine Blaylock saw the first, in Winton Woods “Brewster’s” Warbler] CP, Hamilton, on 14 Apr. Hollie Seals saw the Individuals of this hybrid were reported in Knox, north coast’s first, at Magee on 22 Apr. Fred Losi Lake, Lucas, and Summit. counted 32 along the King Hollow Road in Za- [Golden-winged x Blue-winged leski on 30 Apr, and Adriana Losey found 20 in “Lawrence’s” Warbler] Scioto Trail SP, Ross, the same day. (78 counties) Lucas, Medina, and Ottawa hosted singles of Golden-winged Warbler this less-common back-cross. Several birders saw one at Magee on 26 Apr, the Worm-eating Warbler first date; that’s about when they usually arrive The first date was 20 Apr; up to four were seen across the Ohio River. Doubles graced at least in one Lawrence, one Scioto, and three Athens three sites in mid-May. (22 counties) locations. One got to Magee on 06 May (Ann Al- varez). Sean Hollowell counted 12 along 15 miles of Shawnee roads on 28 Apr. Most of the reports came from Scioto and Vinton, but 25 other counties also contributed. Louisiana Waterthrush The first date was 25 Mar, when Ben Crow heard one along Siverly Creek, Vinton; Nikos Boutis saw another in Glen Helen Preserve, Greene; and Chris Zacharias found two in Miller Sanc- tuary SNP, Highland that day as well. Two days later, 27 Mar, Ken Andrews saw one in West Creek Reservation, Cuyahoga. Robert Royse counted 18 in Shawnee on 02 Apr and three locations each hosted 10 later in the season. (68 counties) Northern Waterthrush This stunning Golden-winged Warbler was photographed by Ashli Gorbet saw the first, one at ONWR- Na Jacob Roalef at Darby Creek on 03 May. varre on 11 Apr, an early date for the north coast. Blue-winged Warbler Sightings near Lake Erie and elsewhere came al- Kyle Brooks saw the first, two in Wayne NF,Ath - most daily until the season’s last date of 28 May, ens, on 15 Apr. Kristin Perkins saw one in Or- when three sites hosted individuals. (A single Jun egon, Lucas, three days later. The high counts record followed.) Wayne Wauligman counted 12 were Ed Schlabach’s 20 in Tuscarawas on 11 in Gilmore MP, Butler, on 06 May. (50 counties) May and David Ackerman’s 15 in Shawnee on Black-and-white Warbler 30 Apr. (66 counties) Josh King’s was the first; he found it at Grand Lake SP on 07 Apr. Sandra LaFaut saw the north coast’s first, at Magee on 10 Apr. Magee also provided the high count of 20, on 11 May (Don Morgan). The most elsewhere were 16 in Shaw- nee on 28 Apr (Sean Hollowell). (74 counties) Swainson’s Warbler The OBRC has a report from Holmes. A post from Lucas had no details. Tennessee Warbler The first was at Shawnee Prairie Preserve, Darke, on 18 Apr (m. obs.) The last lingered into Jun. Brian Menker counted 30 in Hills and Dales MP, Montgomery, on 16 May. (62 counties) Orange-crowned Warbler Mark Shaver saw the first, in Rogers, Columbi- ana, on 11 Apr. Rob Thorn’s at Alum Creek on This Blue-winged Warbler posed proudly for Janice Farral at 14 Apr was the next. The third was at Buzzard- Bacon Woods MP, Lorain, on 17 May. 132 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017 roost Rock, Adams, on 16 Apr (Jeremy Domin- ings continued into Jun. Alex Eberts banded five guez and Sarah Lucas). Ryan Lesniewicz saw one at ONWR Navarre on 27 May. Navarre and Ma- at Magee the next day. High counts of four came gee each hosted four on two dates. (34 counties) from Magee on 03 May (Ginger Bernadin) and Kentucky Warbler Arnold’s Marsh, Ottawa, on 10 May (BSBO). Jeremy Dominguez and Sarah Lucas found two One at Magee on 20 May was the last of the at Buzzardroost Rock, Adams, on 16 Apr. It season (m. obs.), though a Jun report followed. took a while for one to get north, but three bird- (32 counties) ers independently saw it (or them) at Maumee Prothonotary Warbler Bay on 27 Apr. Robert Royse noted at least 15 The first two were right on time, at- Armled in Scioto Trail SF, Ross, on 26 Apr, and m. obs. er Park on 08 Apr (John Neack). Philip Chaon saw nine in Shawnee the same day. (43 counties) found the far north’s first, at ONWR Navarre on 13 Apr. Elizabeth Ames provided two counts of 15 from Hoover NP, along Old Sunbury Road on 07 May and in Area N on 13 May. (48 counties)

Bruce Miller photographed this Kentucky Warbler on 30 April at Shawnee, a well-known breeding location for this beautiful bird. The sweet song of the Prothonotary Warbler is a favorite of many birders. Kiwanis Riverway Park, Franklin, hosted this beautiful bird on 28 April for this photo by Adam Brandemihl. Common Yellowthroat A very early bird was at the Big Creek Reserva- Nashville Warbler tion’s Lake Abram, Cuyahoga, on 26 Mar (Ken Louis Hoying’s duo at Lake Loramie SP, Shelby, Andrews); Bill Ohlsen saw it again on 31 Mar. on 17 Apr were the first. They reached Lake Erie One had been there in late Dec – did it overwin- at two sites on 19 Apr (m. obs.). The last date of ter? Tyler Ficker saw the next, at Fernald on 05 29 May was shared by Craig Moore at Prairie Apr, still an early date. The high count was 45, at Oaks MP, Franklin, and Theodore Emery at Maumee Bay on 17 May (m. obs.). (82 counties) Magee. Magee also provided the high count, 30 Hooded Warbler on 12 May (Jim Danzenbaker), and several folks Patrick Coy and Karin Tanquist watched one saw the most elsewhere, 15 at singing an alternate song at Haskell Run, Sum- Park, Lake, on 11 May. (63 counties) mit, on both 12 and 13 Apr, about when they Connecticut Warbler usually enter the state. Jacob Raber counted 30 Robert Batterson saw one at Alum Creek on when he traveled 10 miles in Shawnee on 27 Apr. 06 May as did Jonathan Frodge and Oscar Wil- (65 counties) helmy at Avoca Park, Hamilton. Kathy Telfer’s American Redstart at Magee on 12 May was the first sighting in the The first sightings were on 14 Apr, four by Kate- far north. Magee also held the last, for Peggy lyn Shelton along the Wildcat Hollow Trail, Ath- Wang on 30 May. The most were duos at two ens, and one by Raymond Heithaus in Shawnee Cuyahoga locations and a duo in each of Lucas SP. Laura Kammermeier saw the north coast’s and Summit. (14 counties) first, in Chagrin River Park, Lake, on 22 Apr. Mourning Warbler Tom Kemp’s 68 in CPNWR on 17 May were the Gabriel Amrhein saw the first, at Glass Farm, most. (80 counties) Greene, on 03 May. Pearson MP, Lucas, hosted Kirtland’s Warbler the first in the north, on 08 May (m. obs.). Sight- Birders credit Michael Hochstetler with finding 133 Vol. 40 No. 3 one in Ashland on 14 May; many photos and at acker), and one was a “tad early” at Magee the least one video were posted that day and the next. next day (Victor Fazio III). Magee hosted, and A photo and thorough description accompanied Todd Russo posted, the two highest numbers, 15 a report from Franklin, but a report from Otta- on 13 May and 20 the next day. Charles Bom- wa had only a brief description. baci found the most elsewhere, 12 at Blackhand Gorge SNP, Licking, on 03 May. (78 counties)

It is always a treat to see a Kirkland’s Warbler in Ohio. I’m sure that Su Snyder was thrilled on 15 May as she shot this image of the Ashland bird. Finding a Northern Parula posing upright is tough. Adam Bran- Cape May Warbler demihl was the lucky birder to photograph this bird on 16 April These usually get across the Ohio River during at Highbanks MP, Delaware. the last week of Apr, so two on the Lake Erie shore on 26 Apr were definitely pioneers. Kim Yellow Warbler McKenzie saw one along the Maumee Bay The first, two at the OSU prairie, Franklin, boardwalk and Annie Crary and Ryan Jacob were a week or more early on 10 Apr for their the other at ONWR Navarre. Perversely, the last latitude (Raj Nanavaty). Several birders saw one was all the way south at Glen Helen Preserve, at CVNP’s Station Road on 16 Apr. Sameer Greene, on 27 May (Gabriel Amrhein). Magee Apte estimated 150 were at Lake Erie Bluffs on hosted 17 on 14 May (Eddie Kasper) and Men- 20 May. (83 counties) tor Marsh SNP , Lake, had 10 the same day (m. obs.). (52 counties) Cerulean Warbler Louis Hoying saw the first, at Lake Loramie SP, Shelby, on 16 Apr. Dan Gesualdo saw the first of the far north, at a rest stop on State Route 2 in Lorain on 25 Apr. Dan, with Leslie Sours, count- ed 20 along Pond Lick Road in Shawnee on 28 Apr. The most not in the Scioto Shawnee were nine in Shawnee Lookout CP, Hamilton, on 12 and 15 May (m. obs.). (53 counties) Magnolia Warbler Janice Emrick found another early arrival, at Beallsville, Monroe, on 20 Apr, but it took only two more days for Hollie Seals to see one at Ma- gee. Almost-daily sightings continued through 31 May, which date was followed by one in Jun. Philip Chaon and Will Knowlton counted 35 at Tyler Ficker was drawn to this Yellow Warbler by its familiar song. He managed to capture the bird perfectly on 08 May at ONWR Navarre on 16 May. (67 counties) Magee. Northern Parula The first two were actually lagging a bit; Rich- Bay-breasted Warbler ard Payne found them in California Woods NP, The first date of 28 Apr was shared. Julie Karl- Hamilton, on 05 Apr. The next were two more son and Doug Overacker saw one at Gallagher at Buck Creek (Julie Karlson and Doug Over- 134 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Fen NP, Clark, Jazmine Mack one at Blendon and Sandy Ridge (BRAS). As usual, Magee pro- Woods, and Fred Losi two in Zaleski. Patricia vided the high count, 20 on 20 May (Mary Mul- Rodrigues found one at ONWR two days later. laney). (59 counties) The last date was 29 May, when observers saw Black-throated Blue Warbler up to three at locations on the Lake Erie shore. Ron Sempier saw an early “Stunning male in (One Jun report followed.) Magee hosted 32 for fresh plumage” at Killdeer on 21 Apr. Lakeshore Benjamin Miller on 20 May. (51 counties) Reservation, Lake, hosted the first of the north Blackburnian Warbler coast on 27 Apr (m. obs.). Dennis Cooke count- John Landon’s find at Stonelick SP, Clermont, ed 21 at Magee on 21 May. Jen Brumfield’s 10 on 15 Apr was the first. One got to ONWR Na- in Lake View Cemetery, Cuyahoga, on 20 May varre on 26 Apr (m. obs.). Dave Chase saw what were the most elsewhere. The last of the season, were probably the last migrants, two at Magee on one at Wake Robin on 30 May (Jennifer Dixon) 29 May; the Jun sightings were in known nesting was followed by two Jun sightings. (61 counties) areas. Gisele Russano counted 18 at Magee on Canada Warbler 17 May; the most elsewhere were Taben Roye’s Volker Bahn and Jeff Peters saw the first, in the 12 at Firestone MP, Summit, on 12 May. (61 Wright State University woods, Greene, on 26 counties) Apr. Several birders saw one or two at Magee on Chestnut-sided Warbler 02 May, and Laurens Halsey counted nine there On 22 Apr Bruce Simpson saw one at Lake on 26 May. A couple of migrants didn’t leave un- Hope SP, Vinton, and Heather Luedecke anoth- til Jun. (36 counties) er in Duranceau Park, Franklin. Laurens Halsey provided the high count, 28, from Magee on 26 May. The most away from Lucas and Ottawa were 15 seen by Courtney Brennan in Lake View Cemetery, Cuyahoga, on 19 May. (63 counties) Palm Warbler These spanned the season, but only just. Kim Warner photographed the first, an extremely ear- ly arrival at Metzger on 02 Mar. The next, single birds in Greene, Lake, and Summit on 27 Mar were also earlier than usual. Ed Foley saw the last one, at Alum Creek on 31 May. Sam Woods’ 45 at Magee on 02 May were the most. (70 counties) This Canada Warbler investigated Darlene Friedman at Magee on 18 May.

Pine Warbler A late-Feb sighting preceded this season’s first, which was by Oscar Wilhelmy in Vineyard Hills, Hamilton, on 05 Mar. Dan Gesualdo had to wait until 27 Mar to see one in Findlay SP, Lo- rain. Green Lawn Cemetery, Lucas, hosted 10 on 15 Apr (m. obs.). (63 counties) Yellow-rumped Warbler Three locations each hosted one on 27 May, and one lingered into Jun. Eddie Kasper estimated Jamie Cunningham was thrilled to photograph this Palm War- 150 were at Magee on 14 May; the next most bler at Magee on 08 May. were 131 at Winous Point on 22 Apr (Philip Cha- on). (82 counties) Blackpoll Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler David A. Brinkman saw the first, at Far- Thomas Arbour saw two in Greene on 31 Mar, bach-Warner NP, Hamilton, on 23 Apr. John about when they’re expected. Ned DeLamatre’s Mayer saw the north coast’s first, at Magee on in CVNP on 09 Apr was the first in the far north. 27 Apr. Three Jun sightings followed this season’s Dave Sherman counted 20 in Duranceau Park, last, which were of single birds on 31 May in the Franklin, on 03 May. (62 counties) Black River Reservation, Lorain (Chris Pierce)

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Prairie Warbler were Brent Nelson’s 31 at Shawnee Lookout CP, The first was a little early when Leslie Sours Hamilton, on 15 Apr. Only Fayette, Pike, Put- found it in Blacklick Woods MP, Fairfield, on nam, and Van Wert didn’t produce reports. 09 Apr. Quite a while passed before Chuck Slu- American Tree Sparrow sarczyk Jr. saw the north coast’s first, in Cleve- Annie Crary caught and banded one at ONWR land’s Riverside Cemetery on 23 Apr. Dan Gesu- Navarre on 23 May; they’re usually gone during aldo and Leslie Sours contributed the high count the first week of the month. Kate St. John found of 17, from TNC’s Edge Preserve, Adams, on 29 the second-last, one at ONWR on 10 May. Ed Apr. (46 counties) Pierce’s census team tallied 193 in ONWR on Black-throated Green Warbler 05 Mar (fide Douglas Vogus). Second-most were Leigh Casal saw the first, a slight laggard at Can- Cam Lee’s 85 at Killdeer the same day. (67 twell Cliffs, Hocking, on 06 Apr. Magee (Erik counties) Bruder) and Metzger (m. obs.) each hosted one Chipping Sparrow on 15 Apr. Magee also provided the high count, Anthony Barabani and Stan Plante found about 30 on 11 May (George Billman). A few migrants 50 at Holden Arboretum on 30 Apr. Only Van hung on along the Lake Erie shore into Jun. (73 Wert didn’t have a sighting. counties) Clay-colored Sparrow Wilson’s Warbler Patty McKelvey found one in Cleveland’s Erie Singles at Sheldon Marsh (Monte VanDeusen) Street Cemetery on 25 Apr; it hung around until and Huron (city), Erie, (Judi Williamson) on 02 01 May. At the other end of migration, Gautam May were first. Jen Brumfield et al. counted 17 at Apte found one and Bill Ohlsen two in CLNP on Magee on 16 May and Alex Eberts found 12 at 20 May. Bill’s duo was matched by Dick Hoopes ONWR Navarre on 27 May. Three locations still and Kelly Kozlowski at Frohring Meadows, hosted them on 31 May and a few as usual stayed Geauga, on 11 May. Erie, Lake, Lucas, Otta- into Jun. (49 counties) wa, and Sandusky also produced reports. Yellow-breasted Chat Field Sparrow David Rudemiller and Brandt Schurenberg saw Irina Shulgina found about 45 in Walnut Woods the first, at Shawnee Lookout CP,Hamilton , on MP, Franklin, on 08 Apr. Every county but 17 Apr. Paul Jacyk found the north coast’s first, at Henry, Pike, Putnam, and Van Wert had Magee on 27 Apr. Highlands Nature Sanctuary, sightings. Highland, hosted nine on 01 May (Karen Mar- key). (61 counties) Vesper Sparrow Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison found the first, at Lexington Ridge, Noble, on 24 Mar. Two days later Dan Gesualdo saw two in Erie Sand Bar- rens NP, Erie. Counts of six came from Armled- er Park on 26 Mar (Jonathan Frodge) and Cricket Frog Cove, Wood, on 04 May (Annie Crary). (45 counties) Lark Sparrow Paul Jacyk saw the first, two early arrivals in their traditional OOPMP nesting area on 16 Apr. Vis- its on several dates produced 10 there (m. obs.). The most not in Lucas were Lori Brumbaugh’s six along the Steelmill Trail, Lorain, on 30 May, where they’ve been nesting for a few years now. A Yellow-breasted Chat popped up to greet John Cefus along Greene, Hamilton, Marion, Montgomery, Fargo Road, Carroll, on 21 May. Ottawa, and Wyandot also hosted them. Savannah Sparrow Spotted Towhee Scott Pendleton counted 33 in the Cadiz, Harri- The OBRC has a report from Union. son, area on 22 Apr. Dick Hoopes and Kelly Ko- Eastern Towhee zlowski found 26 at Frohring Meadows, Geauga, Susan Evanoff and Su Snyder counted 43 at Salt on 11 May. (67 counties) Fork SP, Guernsey, on 22 Apr. Tom Frankel had Grasshopper Sparrow found 32 there on 19 Apr. The most elsewhere Scott Pendleton saw the first, by Slater Road,

136 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Harrison, a little early on 08 Apr. The second in his Wood yard on 26 Apr and from Kathy date was 14 Apr, shared by Phil Swan in the Telfer at Magee the next day. (77 counties) Rehoboth Reclaim Area, Perry, and Brian and Harris’s Sparrow Tyler McClain along the Upper Sandusky Bike A Wayne homeowner provided a report with Trail, Wyandot. One day later, several folks saw a photo to the OBRC. Another was well pho- one in CLNP. About three miles of wandering in tographed and described, but not formally re- the Cadiz, Harrison, area produced 47 for Scott ported to the OBRC, at a home in Millersburg, Pendleton, and other locations in the county held Holmes, on 12 and 13 May. up to 30. The most elsewhere were Phil Swan’s 10 at Rehoboth on 23 Apr. (51 counties) Henslow’s Sparrow Lee Funderburg saw one at Darby Creek on 08 Apr as did Phil Swan at his Perry home; that’s a bit early for those latitudes. Brandon Brywczyns- ki and Paul Jacyk saw the first up north, two at OOPMP on 16 Apr. Scott Pendleton found 17 in the Cadiz, Harrison, area on 29 May. The most elsewhere were 10s in Bath NP, Summit, on 27 Apr (Linda Stroud) and along Fargo Road, Car- roll, on 08 May (Jeffrey Lauffer). (39 counties) Le Conte’s Sparrow Sarah Lucas found one on the Metzger dike on 07 May and put out the word; many folks saw this spring rarity that day and the next. In addition, A Harris’s Sparrow delighted birders while visiting a private res- the OBRC has a report of one in Cuyahoga. idence in Millersburg, Holmes. Leslie Sours was captured this Fox Sparrow amazing photo on 13 May. The last was one which Steve Brown saw at Ma- gee on 11 May, a few days after they’re usually White-crowned Sparrow gone. The most were at least 50 at Erie Sand Bar- The last date was 29 May; birds were seen then rens NP, Erie, on 26 Mar; Dan Gesualdo gave up in Lake, Lorain, and Stark. Wendy Park hosted counting at 45. The next most were Joseph Ford’s 90 on 10 May for Jen Brumfield, and Metzger 14 at Mogadore Reservoir, Portage, on 25 Mar. held 54 on 05 May for Nathan Martineau. (79 (58 counties) counties) Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco John Pogacnik saw flocks of 20 to 30 at Lake Erie The apparent last migrant was at Magee on 15 Bluffs on 24 Mar; they totaled 156 birds. The 02 May (m. obs.); sightings continued into summer Apr ONWR census produced 125 (Ed Pierce et in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Summit. al., fide Douglas Vogus). (All 88 counties) Karen and Rich Kassouf counted 119 in West Park Cemetery, Cuyahoga, on 06 Apr. (83 Lincoln’s Sparrow counties) The first was about two weeks early at Wendy An “Oregon” Junco continued from winter at Park on 08 Apr (Cam Lee and Ron Sempier). Paul Jacyk’s Lucas feeders, and Roger Troutman The last was at ONWR Navarre on 29 May, photographed another at his home in Richland closing their migration earlier than usual (Brad on 07 Apr. Jennifer Allison photographed birds Feasel). Navarre also hosted the most, 17 on 13 which appear to be of the cismontanus subspecies May (Alex Eberts). Magee held the most not at a in CVNP on 05 Mar and in Firestone MP, Sum- banding station, 12 on 12 May (Alan Knowles). mit, on 12 Mar. These were also reported from (40 counties) Hancock, Harrison, Summit, and Wayne Swamp Sparrow with no descriptions or photos. Brian and Tyler McClain found about 25 in Summer Tanager Springville Marsh on 09 Apr. (69 counties) Bruce Simpson saw the first, at Zaleski on 18 White-throated Sparrow Apr. It took one until 30 Apr to get to OOPMP Dick Lee saw the last of the season, in Rowland for Kim Smith. Megan Mahon counted six at NP, Lorain, on 28 May; it was followed by one Shawnee Lookout CP, Hamilton, on 21 May. Jun report. Counts of 100 came from Jack Leow (43 counties)

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Scarlet Tanager Apr at the Findlay airport, Hancock. Janice Far- The first was a little later than usual; Robert Fick- ral saw the first of the far north, at the Marga- er saw it in Indian Hill, Hamilton, on 13 Apr. ret Peak Preserve, Lorain, on 27 Apr. Jon Cefus The next sighting was at The Ridges, Athens, and Ben Morrison estimated 150 were along five on 17 Apr (Phil Cantino), and the first near Lake miles of Chapel Drive, Noble, on 20 May. (56 Erie were two at ONWR Navarre on 26 Apr (An- counties) nie Crary). The trio of Jon Cefus, Kent Miller, Red-winged Blackbird and Ben Morrison counted 37 along six miles of Birders found up to 6000 at Lorain on several Winding Stairs Drive, Tuscarawas, on 11 May. dates. The most elsewhere were about 3000 in (79 counties) the Shipman Pond area, Lake, on 05 Mar (Jamie Northern Cardinal Kuller). (All 88 counties) Shari Jackson reported a count, not an estimate, Eastern Meadowlark of 115 at her Stark home on 14 Mar; Ginny Scott Pendleton found 82 in the Cadiz area, Har- Fantetti had a mere 75 at hers in Clermont on rison, on 22 Apr. Only Coshocton and Jack- 04 and 14 Mar. Distressingly, no one reported son didn’t have sightings. cardinals in Fayette, Pike, Putnam, or Van Wert. Western Meadowlark One spent from 20 May to 04 Jun along South Rose-breasted Grosbeak Kansas Road, Fredericksburg, Wayne (m. obs.) Katherine Schultes saw the first, in Nelsonville, Hocking, on 13 Apr. Jen Brumfield saw one in Cleveland on 16 Apr. Jeff Bouton saw 50 at and passing over Magee on 10 May and Eddie Kasper noted about 150 there, mostly in flight, on 14 May. Martha Burrows reported 48 at Hun- tington Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 11 May. (78 counties) Blue Grosbeak Philip Runyon saw the first, in Chesapeake, Lawrence, on 22 Apr. The first at their northern outpost, OOPMP, was seen on 24 May (m. obs.). Kyle Brooks and Jeremy Dominguez counted four at the Edge Preserve, Adams, on 30 Apr. (20 counties) Indigo Bunting Though Western Meadowlarks tend to be secretive and hard to Susie Shetterly found one in Zaleski on 15 Apr, find in Ohio, Su Snyder made it look easy with this beautiful photo taken in Wayne on 20 May. as did David Beach at Killbuck. The latter was a little early for that far north, but one got to OOPMP on 17 Apr (Ryan Jacob). John Pogacnik Yellow-headed Blackbird counted 54 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May. All The first spent 05 to 20 Mar at Lorain. Gene counties but Crawford, Pike, Putnam, and Dennis discovered two along the ONWR WD Van Wert had sightings. on 14 May. At least five other locations in Lu- Painted Bunting cas and Ottawa, two in Cuyahoga, and one in Patricia Ritchie posted a photo of one which vis- Lake also hosted singles. ited her feeder in Ross on 13 May. Brewer’s Blackbird Dickcissel Shane Myers well described one he found at the Shane Myers saw an early arrival by County Rieck Center for Habitat Studies, Hancock, on Road 193, Hancock, on 23 Apr. Jon Cefus found 19 Mar. Others were reported in Lucas, Medi- one along Fargo Road, Carroll, on 04 May, as na, and Wyandot without details. did Aaron Nisley in Holmes. Richard Counts Common Grackle found 12 in the Hardin Wetlands on 13 May but Ryan Lesniewicz and Chris Pierce each reported only eight were apparent there on 24 May for about 10,000 at Lorain, on 07 and 24 Mar re- Charles Bombaci. Four other sites each held six. spectively. Dennis Mersky estimated 3500 were (31 counties) there on 08 Mar. Sherod Park hosted about 1500 Bobolink on 24 Mar (m. obs.). (All 88 counties) Shane Myers found the first, a bit early on 11 138 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

Rusty Blackbird Errata Doug Henderson saw the last, at Geneva-on-the- Fish Crow Lake, Ashtabula, on 24 May. Dan Gesualdo saw The winter 2016-17 Cardinal did not mention about 350 at Sherod Park on 09 Apr, and about the several reports of this species in Cuyahoga, 300 were at Lorain on 06 Mar (Paul Jacyk). (56 none of which had sufficient documentation for counties) OBRC review. John Herman pointed me to some finch sight- ings which were entered into eBird after I down- loaded the winter data on 16 Mar. They appear to be on Great Backyard Bird Count checklists: White-winged Crossbill In Kettering, Montgomery, two on 18 Feb (Steve Eikenbery) Outside Sunbury, Delaware, five on 19 Feb (Deb Rumsey) In Bay Village, Cuyahoga, four on 20 Feb (Geoff O’Brien) Common Redpoll In Wintersville, Jefferson, three on 17 Feb and six on 19 Feb (Harry Yeager) In Vernon Township, Trumbull, on 17 Feb (Jan Smith)

Kathy Mock photographed this handsome Rusty Blackbird on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath in Summit on 23 April.

Brown-headed Cowbird The mixed blackbird flock at Lorain on 06 Mar included about 4000 cowbirds (m. obs.). Pike and Van Wert didn’t produce sightings. Blackbird sp. As many as 30,000 were at Lorain on 06 Mar (Chris Pierce). Orchard Oriole J.W. Rettig saw the first, in the Kroger Hills State Reserve, Hamilton, on 17 Apr. John Pogacnik saw the first for the north coast, at Lake Erie Bluffs on 19 Apr. That park also hosted the most, 25 on 20 May (Sameer Apte). Counts of 15 came from East Harbor on 10 May (Greg Shrader) and Magee on 12 May (Christopher Warneke). (76 counties) Baltimore Oriole One overwintered at Andrea Anderson’s home in Jefferson; she last saw it on 25 Mar. The first otherwise was at Huntington Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 17 Apr (Martha Burrows). Karl Bardon counted 314 in a “morning flight head- ing west” at Maumee Bay on 14 May. John Po- gacnik counted 196 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May. All counties except Fayette, Lawrence, This Orchard Oriole struck a pose for Alex Eberts on 20 May at Putnam, and Van Wert had sightings. Darby Bend MP, Franklin.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Here we list all the birders who sent reports directly to the Cardinal or the Bobolink, and those whose posts to eBird or the Ohio-birds listserv we specifically cited. We also list everyone who contributed photographs, even if we weren’t able to publish them. We regret that the available space doesn’t allow us to list everyone who contributed to one of the e-venues, though those sightings provide the bulk of the county counts. The editors thank all of you.

David Ackerman Joette Borzik Allen Chartier Lee Adams Rosalie Borzik Dave Chase Annie Aguirre Jeff Bouton Cory Chiappone Jennifer Allison Nikos Boutis Ronnie Clark Ann Alvarez Margaret Bowman George Coleman Elizabeth Ames Adam Branemihl Christopher Collins Gabriel Amrhein Ed Bremer Chris Cook Andrea Anderson Sheila Bremer Dennis Cooke Matt Anderson Courtney Brennan Christine Cooper Nancy Anderson David A. Brinkman Ken Cooper Ken Andrews Kyle Brooks Greg Cornett Gautam Apte Bridget Brown Richard Counts Thomas Arbour Steve Brown Gary Cowell Rick Asamoto Erik Bruder Patrick Coy Andy Avram Erik Bruhnke Michelle Crandall Carole Babyak Lori Brumbaugh Annie Crary Volker Bahn Jen Brumfield Michael Crouse Anthony Barabani Brynne Bryan Ben Crow Brian Barchus Brandon Brywczynski Jamie Cunningham Karl Bardon Junior Burkholder Marie Dalliere Dave Barnett Martha Burrows Jim Danzenbaker Aaron Bartley Chris Byers Gene Dennis Robert Batterson Craig Caldwell Ned DeLamatre David Beach Gene Campbell Michael DeLong Daniel Beechy Rob Campbell Fred Dinkelbach Matthew Bell Phil Cantino Jennifer Dixon Ginger Bernadin Susan Carpenter Jeremy Dominguez George Billman Chad Carroll Amy Downing Katherine Blaylock Leigh Casal Micki Dunakin Charles Bombaci Jon Cefus Patricia Dwight Karen Bonnell Philip Chaon Alex Eberts

140 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017 Todd Eiben Jennifer Gardner Jesse Huth Deb Eiger Dan Gesualdo Andrea Imhoff Eric Elvert Hana Gibson Brad Imhoff Theordore Emery Stefan Gleisberg Rebecca Irwin Janice Emrick Bruce Glick Michelle Jackson David L. Erb Brian Good Shari Jackson Norman L. Erb Brad Goodner Ryan Jacob Reuben S. Erb Ashli Gorbet Paul Jayck Richard Ernst Pamela Graber Sue Johnson Peggy Eubank Ronald Grafe Andy Jones Susan Evanoff Bethany Gray Steve Jones Scott Famulare Sue Griffen Logan Kahle Ginny Fantetti Aaron Gyllenhaal Laura Kammermeier Janice Farral Ethan Gyllenhaal Karen Kassouf Joe Faulkner Laurens Halsey Rich Kassouf Victor Fazio III Tim Haney Julie Karlson Brad Feasel Marc Hanneman Eddie Kasper David Fehringer Kathy Hanson Lisa Kaufman Mariah Fehringer Rob Harlan Peter Keefe Robert Ficker Sandy Harlan Ned Keller Tyler Ficker Jeff Harvey Thomas Kellerman Kyle Filicky Raymond Heithaus Matt Kemp John Finn Julie Heitz Tom Kemp Colette Fischer Doug Henderson Josh King Tom Fishburn Don Henise Tim Kleman Shannon Fitch Robyn Henise Brendan Klick Jim Florentino John Herman Alan Knowles Franacie Flower Michael Hershberger Will Knowlton Ed Foley Robert Hershberger Jamie Koller Carly Folger Eddie Hicks Jim Koppen Joseph Ford Jacob Hochstetler Nate Koszycki Connor Fox Michael Hochstetler Kelly Kozlowski Tom Frankel Sean Hollowell Megan Kramer Nicole Freshour Dick Hoopes Jeffrey Kraus Darlene Friedman Linda Houshower Jennifer Kuehn Jonathan Frodge April Howell Jamie Kuller Kate Frost Louis Hoying Sandra LaFaut Lee Funderburg William Hull Michael Lamont Charonya Ganesh William Hutchinson Steve Landes

141 Vol. 40 No. 3 John Landon Bill McGill Cynthia Norris Bob Lane René McGill Arlene Nussbaum Jeffrey Lauffer Kevin McKelvey Dale Nussbaum Sarah Lawrence Patty McKelvey Bill Ohlsen Cam Lee Kim McKenzie Helen Ostermiller Dick Lee Elizabeth McQuaid Ken Ostermiller Jack Leow Erin Mellott Doug Overacker Warren Leow Brian Menker Debbie Parker Ryan Lesniewicz Steve Meredyk Richard Payne Pat Leuders Gene Metz Scott Pendleton Michelle Liebold Aaron Miller Kristin Perkins Carol Lillich Alvin E. Miller Jeff Peters Kyle Logan Benjamin Miller Lester Peyton Adriana Losey Bruce Miller Lisa Phelps Fred Losi Cristy H. Miller Chris Pierce Jeff Loughman Cristy J. Miller Ed Pierce Emily Lourwood David Miller Stan Plante Eileen Luba Eli M. Miller Sherry Plessner Sarah Lucas Kent Miller John Pogacnik Heather Luedeke Stefan Minnig Helen Postlewait Rick Luers Kathy Mock Elias A. Raber Ian Lynch Katrina Moilanen Jacob Raber Holly Lynn Michael Monarch Maurice Raymond Jasmine Mack Don Morgan J.W. Rettig Megan Mahon Craig Moore Marty Reynard Mark Maier John Moore Ethan Rising Doug Marcum Ben Morrison Jane Riker Karen Markey Josh Muchow Patricia Ritchie Nathan Martineau Mary Mullaney Jacob Roalef Hallie Mason James Muller Patricia Rodrigues Nat Mast Jacob Myers Mary Ann Romito Kari Warner Matsko Shane Myers Nancy Ronken John Mayer David Myles Jeffrey Rose Brian McClain Raj Nanavaty Sarah Rose Tyler McClain John Neack Kaity Ross Lori McCollister Brent Nelson Jeffrey Roth Jim McConnor Sharon Newell Taben Roye Barry McEwen Rick Nirschl Robert Royse Melanie McFadin Aaron Nisley Mark Rudd

142 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

David Rudemiller Su Snyder Peggy Wang Philip Runyon Leslie Sours Christopher Warneke Gisele Russano Kate St. John Ben Warner Todd Russo Bill Stanley Kim Warner David Rymal Jack Stenger Scott Watkins Ed Rumberger Judy Strong Wayne Wauligman Robert Sams Linda Stroud David Weaver Regina Schieltz Allen Stutzman Margaret Weisz Ed Schlabach David Stutzman Bill Whan Todd Schmelzenbach Wayne Stutzman Rose White Inga Schmidt Joel Such Scott Whittle Katrina Schultes Jamie Sutherland Oscar Wilhelmy Brandt Schurenberg Phil Swan Judi Williamson Hollie Seals Sue Tackett Carl Winstead Aaron Self Karin Tanquist Anna Wittmer Ron Sempier Kathy Telfer Sam Woods Andy Sewell Yvonne Thoma-Patton Susan Woolard Lauren Shaffer Simon Thompson Amy Worell Rachel Shamy Rob Thorn Ed Wransky John Sharits Carey Titus Brian Wulker Bryan Sharp Ryan Tomazin Abner Yoder Mark Shaver Mark Tomecko Adam Yoder Katelyn Shelton Henry Trimpe Aden M. Yoder Dave Sherman Roger Troutman Andy Yoder Paul Sherwood Adam Troyer Atlee Yoder Susie Shetterly Allen W. Troyer Atlee A. Yoder Troy Shively Andy R. Troyer Benjamin H. Yoder Greg Shrader Isaac Troyer Levi Yoder Irina Shulgina Spencer Vanderhoof Mahlon Yoder Matthew Shumar Monte VanDeusen Marcus Yoder Shirah Siladie Joshua Vardous Marvin Yoder Bruce Simpson William Varney Chris Zacharias Heather Slayton Wendy Vaughn Karen Zeleznik Chuck Slusarczyk, Jr. Gale VerHague Scott Zimmermann Adrian Smith Douglas Vogus Dave Smith Jessica Waddell Kim Smith Bev Walborn Mike Smith Art Wang

143 Vol. 40 No. 3 WINDFALL: A ROAD-KILLED COMMON NIGHTHAWK DISGORGES A MASS OF DATA

By Andrew W. Jones1, Hans Clebsch1, Zickefoose salvaged a Common Nighthawk Julie Zickefoose2, Courtney L. Brennan1 from a roadside on 03 Sep 2012, near her home in Washington. She noted that the bird was still 1 Cleveland Museum of Natural History warm and in very good shape for a pre-dawn 1 Wade Oval Drive–University Circle, roadkill, but had an unusual swelling in the abdo- Cleveland, OH 44106 men. She documented the encounter on her blog (http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2012/09/ 2 330 Scotts Ridge Road, Whipple, OH 45788 looking-at-nighthawk.html). The carcass was frozen and transferred to the Cleveland Muse- Natural history information on Common um of Natural History, and in Feb 2016 it was Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor) is quite scarce thanks prepared by Brennan as a complete skeleton to their aerial, nocturnal habits (Brigham et al. with a frozen tissue sample and preserved stom- 2011). They are perhaps the best studied goat- ach contents (specimen number CMNH 73977, sucker (Family Caprimulgidae) in the Americas, preparation number CLB 924). The bird was an but major aspects of their life history are lacking. adult female, based on a developed ovary and the They feed primarily at dawn and dusk while on ossification of the skull. The bird had aheavy the wing, eating a wide array of flying insects. layer of subcutaenous fat, as expected in fall mi- Their diet has been studied by combing through gration. When any specimen is prepared for a stomach contents or regurgitated pellets. Their natural history museum’s research collection, the varied diet includes most types of flying insects, stomach contents are examined to document the though many stomachs have been dominated by bird’s diet. In this case, we were surprised to find remains of ants (Order Hymenoptera) (Brigham an impressively enlarged gizzard. Most birds’ et al. 2011). Such studies have taken place pri- stomachs are comprised of two chambers with marily in North America and therefore represent different functions; the proventriculus is the en- only summer and early fall diets. zymatic part, followed by the muscular gizzard.

144 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

The proventriculus of this Common Nighthawk feeding bouts may increase their body weight to was empty. The gizzard contents were weighed, such a degree that it compromises their ability to and were found to be 19.0 grams (wet weight). fly. In the case of this road-killed bird, its extreme The contents were preserved in 95% ethanol and weight could make it more vulnerable to preda- are catalogued in the CMNH collection with the tion or car strikes. same numbers as the skeleton and frozen tissue. The carcass, including the stomach contents, Jones, Clebsch, and Brennan are affiliated with the Cleve- weighed 107.0 grams before dissection. The land Museum of Natural History: Jones is Director of stomach contents, therefore, accounts for an im- Science and William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Endowed pressive 21.5% of the body weight. Chair of Ornithology; Brennan is Collections Manager in Clebsch examined the stomach contents under Ornithology; Clebsch is a Research Associate in Inverte- a dissecting microscope to identify the inverte- brate Zoology. Zickefoose is a freelance writer/artist, au- brates within. Individual ants were then counted thor of Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest by Brennan. In total, the stomach included 1,502 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016). We thank Roger winged adult ants (Family Formicidae), heads Troutman and Craig Caldwell for constructive comments and elytra from 10 to 30 beetles (Order Coleop- on this paper. tera), and one true bug (Suborder Homoptera). The ants were all from a single (unidentified) spe- cies, and the majority were males. This is typical Literature Cited of a late summer mating aggregation. This impressive number of prey items is not Blem, C. R. 1972. “Stomach capacity in the unprecedented for Common Nighthawk in fall Common Nighthawk.” The Wilson Bulletin migration, but this represents one of the high- 84:492-493. est counts of individual prey items consumed by Brigham, R. M. 1990. “Prey selection by Big this species. Gross (1940) reviewed many reports Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and Common of nighthawk stomach analyses, and found that Nighthawks (Chordeiles minor).” American Mid- ants comprised a large proportion of the diet, land Naturalist 124:73-80. averaging around 25% of the total diet in North America. A Common Nighthawk that died on 20 Brigham, R. M., J. Ng, R. G. Poulin and S. Aug 1925 had 2,175 ants. Blem (1972) reported D. Grindal. 2011. “Common Nighthawk on two female Common Nighthawks from 04 (Chordeiles minor).” The Birds of North America Sep 1971 that had gorged on ants as much as the (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of individual in this study, 20.5 g (25.4% of the body Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North weight) and 19.7 g (24.6%). Brigham (1990) and America: https://birdsna-org.bnaproxy.birds. Todd et al. (2008) studied Common Nighthawk cornell.edu/Species-Account/bna/species/ diet in the summer in Canada, and compared it comnig DOI: 10.2173/bna.213 to the availability of flying insects, and found that Gross, A. O. 1940. “Eastern Nighthawk.” In: Life they focused on Trichoptera (caddisflies), Hy- histories of North American cuckoos, goatsuckers, hum- menoptera (ants), and Coleoptera, with mixed mingbirds, and their allies. (A. C. Bent, Ed.). pp. results for Lepidoptera (moths). 206-234. U.S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 176. Based on this specimen as well as prior studies, Common Nighthawks are opportunistic feeders Todd, L. D., R. G. Poulin, and R. M. Brigham. which take advantage of seasonal abundance of 1998. “Diet of Common Nighthawks flying insects. They avoid small and fast-flying (Chordeiles minor: Caprimulgidae) relative to insects like flies (Brigham 1990). Therefore their prey abundance.” American Midland Naturalist diet, and probably their foraging habits, varies 139:20-28. geographically as well as seasonally. Common Nighthawks in late Aug and Sep are southbound fall migrants, and mating swarms of flying ants represent an opportunity to feed upon a large number of insects which then can fuel their mi- gration to Central America. Nighthawks and other species in the Order Caprimulgiformes do not have a crop to store food, so they may use their stomach to store prey items when they find a large number. These large

145 Vol. 40 No. 3 CLEVELAND AREA SPRING BIRD WALKS A Little History of the Bedford Spring Bird Walk

By Liz McQuaid property along Button Rd. for part of the Bed- ford Reservation and closed the road to through 2017 marked the 84th Annual Series of Spring traffic, making it into a bridal path. Bird Walks in the Greater Cleveland area. These The Bedford Spring Bird Walks meet in the are co-sponsored by , The parking lot of Hemlock Creek Picnic area and Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland, The follow the old Button Rd. over Hemlock Creek, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Western along Tinkers Creek and up the hill to where the Cuyahoga Audubon Society, Geauga Park Dis- Circle Emerald Stables used to be. The route goes trict, Lake Metroparks, Lake Erie Nature and through riparian corridors, rich forests including Science Center, and the Nature Center at Shaker both uplands and floodplain, and up the hill into Lakes. the open field. There it goes along the edges and It also marks the 61st season of the walk at ravines, along the restored native prairie habitat Hemlock Creek Picnic area in Bedford Reser- and around the man-made ponds. Though some vation, Cuyahoga. One of the leaders of the are adventurous enough to climb down the hill Spring Bird Walks at Bedford, Ray Smiley, has at Indian Point, others either go back down the been there since 1956, or almost the entire 61 Button Road Hill or drive back down to Hemlock years. Ray first showed up in the Cleveland Area Creek Picnic Area. The overall distance can be Spring Bird Walks archives at the Cleveland Mu- close to five miles, with shorter options available. seum of Natural History (CMNH) in 1950 at Please feel free to join us on a Sunday in late Gordon Park as a co-leader with Jerry Piskac. April or early May. The Greater Cleveland Bird Each of the six weeks the walk met at the corner Walks are held in 18 locations: Nine of which of Bratenahl Road and Lakeshore Boulevard and are in the Cleveland Metroparks, plus Gates walked to Gordon Park, birding along the way. Mills, Shaker Lakes, Holden Arboretum, Mentor Ray and Jerry also helped Arthur B. Williams on Marsh, Lake Erie Bluffs, Geauga County Parks, the 1950 edition of Birds of the Cleveland Region: A and three Audubon locations in Aurora. See the Check List of Species Reported. Western Cuyahoga Audubon website (http:// By 1953 Ray and Jerry moved to Shaker Lakes www.wcaudubon.org/) as next spring approach- to co-lead there. Still, they felt there were other es for dates, times, and meeting places. areas of the Cleveland Metroparks that were not being covered, so in 1955 they started a spring bird walk at Egbert Road in Bedford Reserva- Liz McQuaid has been birding the greater Cleveland area tion. Even then, they felt meeting at Egbert was most of her life, but got serious about it in 1992. Liz is not giving the true scope of the birds that were in part of the survey team at Cleveland Lakefront Nature Bedford Reservation, so in 1956 Ray and Jerry Preserve. This is a 5 year project to prove the preserve an moved the starting point of the Bedford Spring Important Bird Area. She is also co-advisor for the North- Bird Walk to Hemlock Creek Picnic Area, where, east Chapter of the Ohio Young Birder’s Club, a volunteer with over 170 species of birds recorded, it re- field trip leader for Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, mains today. and had been on the Publicity Committee for the Kirtland The Hemlock Creek Picnic Area is off of Bird Club. Somehow she fits in these activities while work- Dunham Road and runs between Tinker’s Creek ing full time at the NASA Glenn Research Center. and the ridge to the north of Hemlock Creek, along what used to be called Button Road. Ac- cording to the Bedford Historical Society, Button Road was once a connecting road from Dunham Rd. up the hill to the town of Bedford. In the early 1920’s Cleveland Metroparks purchased

146 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017 SOME OBSERVATIONS ON OHIO BIRD RECORDS

By Bill Whan unreliable, as many immigrants gave local birds the names of analogous European species. Even- Bird records in Ohio begin with ancient trac- tually, enthusiasts with free time and learning be- es. This oldest evidence is not easy to interpret gan to record their observations for one another today. In archaeological studies of human hab- in a careful and systematic manner. The best of itations, we have found remains of birds our the observations were based on the work of early predecessors discarded in middens, or utilized in pioneers like Wilson (d. 1813), who made careful various ways. We have also developed interesting illustrations of birds shot in the field. It was no but less firm notions of prehistoric occurrences accident that many of these reporters were physi- of birds by studying the artistic or ritual use of cians. They were trained and inquisitive observ- bird images by elder human societies. These ers who were knowledgeable about anatomy, dis- prehistoric records are fascinating, but we have section, scientific methods, and precise technical little assurance that they reflect local presence language. In those early days they also passed a of specific bird species rather than trophies from lot of quiet time outdoors as they made rural vis- voyages or trade, or even if representations have its to see human patients and their animals. been born of hazy remembrances, or even en- The modern era of organized bird records tirely imagined. began with the mustering of careful enthusiasts Our prehistoric records, valuable and fasci- to establish the American Ornithologists’ Union nating as they are, understandably suffer from in 1883. The AOU acted quickly to standardize inadequacies. Most of the recovered data in- the nomenclature and recognize the validity of volve discarded skeletal remains of birds found in a large body of knowledge about the continent’s excavations; it is conceivable that these remains birds. Soon thereafter, in many detailed works represented birds collected far away, of course. its leaders offered guidance to lay bird observers Some pictorial and sculptural representations of that led to more stable and reliable observations birds in preserved artifacts are often suggestive and many verified specimens, which in turn en- of the local presences of certain species in life. abled the development of authoritative checklists It also seems likely, for example, that prehistoric of American birdlife. Ohioans used the feathers of a number of spe- Ohio’s founding member of the AOU was cies in many ways—fletching arrows, applying John Maynard Wheaton, a Columbus physi- colors, making fans and toys, decorating clothing, cian who during his short life of 46 years found etc.—but identifiable physical evidence of this time to study and collect birds, assemble records sort of material is usually missing, even though from Ohio, and to publish a list of Ohio’s birds artistic representations of feather ornaments ex- in 1860. He followed it in 1882 with a 441-page ist. Specimen evidence of some important rari- compendium of what was known about 320 bird ties on the Ohio list—Ivory-billed Woodpecker, species found in the state by that time. His Report Whooping Crane, even Common Raven (appar- on the Birds of Ohio greatly enlarged upon im- ently no Ohio specimen is known to remain of portant early lists from Dr. Jared Kirtland, whose this once-common bird)—consists entirely of 27-page work of 1838, naming 223 species, con- scattered prehistoric remains, though we have stituted the first realistic attempt at a complete more recent photographic evidence of the raven list of Ohio’s birds. Like Wheaton, Kirtland had at least. collected many bird specimens, establishing a We can more easily recognize and accept bird museum in Cleveland in 1858. But time and cir- reports from the modern era. In Ohio, we have cumstances exposed too many of them to insect a few offhand reports from early visitors such as infestations and other perils, and only a portion the French voyageurs, Daniel Boone and his ilk, remain. A half-century later, Wheaton’s collec- and later from settlers’ tales. Some reports seem tion of over a thousand round (i.e., “stuffed”)

147 Vol. 40 No. 3 skins had a luckier career, and may be found pret- well represented by specimens collected, except ty much intact—though lacking important dates in the case of those most often found over wide and places of collection—at the OSU Museum watery expanses of lakes and marshes. Kirtland and the Ohio Historical Society. preserved less-than-conclusive evidence for many From ornithology’s earliest days the recognied bird species of Lake Erie (not that he didn’t try; proof of a bird species has been the specimen in 1857 he wrote about an unfamiliar young jae- – the carefully preserved round skin of a bird ger said to have been captured while attacking (minus soft parts such as eyes, muscles, viscera, barnyard fowl, and his plan to confirm its specific etc.) – accompanied by precise details attached identity by feeding it in captivity until it molted by the preparator which included (at least) spe- juvenile plumage). Decades later Wheaton and cies, sex, date and location of collection, as well his contemporaries were not able to provide per- as the name of the collector. In the early days suasive specimen evidence of certain water-lov- such specimens were stored in the private cabi- ing species they felt certain were to be found on nets of enthusiasts. No enthusiast lives forever, the Lake and inland expanses of water. and their collections were too often discarded by Until well after the twentieth century began, their offspring. With the establishment of stable optical instruments like telescopes and binoculars institutions such as museums, displays in librar- were clumsy and usually inadequate to the task ies, and large private collections, they were curat- of accurately identifying distant birds in the field. ed with more care and became widely available Photography was even more delayed in its capac- to investigators, as well as recorded in print. In ity to clarify the identities of such subjects. Cer- the present day, five or six million bird specimens tain species were often seen in circumstances that are thus curated in North America, though inev- made them impossible to collect or identify with itably many others have been lost, and remain at confidence using the instruments available. From best only as written accounts. the Lake Erie shore, the identification of birds on The scope of these collections has critically or over the offshore waves was even more chal- depended on the ease with which bird specimens lenging, as birds hard enough to bring down were could be acquired. Many species were, during just as hard to retrieve later. the early days in which many specimens were Such conditions resulted in anomalous results. collected, easy to find, but others – often the rar- Certain species – some terns are good examples est or most interesting – were to be found only – were not well studied in Ohio during the early seldom, or in remote areas difficult to access. For days. They were most often seen at a distance some, only monetary value – such as prevailed over terrain challenging to traverse, often too far in the egg trade – could lead collectors to brave away to shoot even when stationary. Even when difficult or even dangerous conditions to secure killed they could often be retrieved only by luck them. Lethal collection was banned long ago ex- after an arduous search – by human or canine – cept among a few properly licensed scientists, as in vast muddy marshes, so identified specimens has the practice of selling bird remains or even for comparison were few. Hence, Ohio’s older possessing them. Yes, if you’re still sweeping your tern records are largely a mess, with numerous hearth with a hawk’s wing, you may be subject old sight reports, even from experts, of spe- to prosecution, as you are (technically) if your cies like Gull-billed and Roseate terns that lack daughter puts a blue jay feather in her headband, known Ohio specimens or even detailed descrip- or keeps a fragment of a robin’s egg. tions and cannot today be verified or duplicated. Some birds’ habitats presented special prob- These tern species remain missing from the of- lems for collectors of days gone by. Species of ficial state list today, despite nineteenth-century woodlands and fields were, once found, easy reports by respected authorities. enough to obtain. Birds seen far off in wide- Marshes were daunting, but the open waters open spaces, especially over water, could be far of Lake Erie posed more dangerous challenges. more challenging targets. Nineteenth-century Storms and icy conditions may have brought the Ohio records of most bird species are overall most interesting birds tantalizingly within sight,

148 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017 but shooting and retrieving them to make conclu- deposited in some accredited institution.” Else- sive identifications of specimens was far more dif- where in his introduction to his Annotated List of ficult than on a placid wetland or reservoir. Dis- the Birds of Ohio (1968, p. 238), he made these tant views in wind and tossing waves were often additional remarks: the rule, and real danger was often involved in Bird observation in the past has been largely getting close looks or retrieving specimens. Such a professional and/or intellectual pursuit. Today threats had the anomalous result that many Lake a competitive element is becoming increasingly Erie species – such as King and Common eiders, active, which entails considerable effort by indi- all three scoters, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sabine’s viduals, or by groups, to obtain records, by Gull, and Black-legged Kittiwake – were first col- sight only, of the most unusual species or the lected and recorded for Ohio in the comparative- greatest numbers of individuals. ly tranquil inland waters of Buckeye Lake, finds He went on to lament the development of which came from the likes of Milton Trautman rivalry among less-than-expert bird observers with shotgun and skiff. This happened despite to report large numbers or unusual species, es- the fact that in actuality they were far more like- pecially when their records might be “published ly present on the waters of Lake Erie, and local in semi-scientific or scientific journals,” thus -be citizens with shotguns and rowboats were hardly coming a permanent part of ornithological liter- in short supply. First records of oceanic rarities ature. He went on to say of accidental species ac- such as Leach’s Storm-Petrel and Atlantic Puffin tually collected here that “[t]he vast majority… have been secured only when grounded inland are juveniles less than one year old, and many are in Ohio, a Long-billed Murrelet on the placid in such obscure juvenile plumage that it would surface of a Seneca reservoir, and several Black- be most difficult or even impossible to identify capped Petrels on the Cincinnati waterfront. them in the field.” He concludes that “in order Ohio’s first five records of Magnificent Frigate- to avoid mistakes only museum specimens with bird, another salt-water species, came from lo- proper data would qualify a species for inclusion cations well inland, starting with Fairfield. Our in the list.” He admits only one exception, Bell’s only Sooty Tern record, a pelagic bird driven by Vireo, documentation of which at the time in- hurricane winds up the Mississippi valley, came cluded recordings made by a fellow professor of from far inland in Clermont. the songs of two individuals and deposited at the Authorities have even differed in their insis- OSU Museum (p. 316). tence on documented specimens. Peterjohn did Since his time, the composition of our state not accept the first Ohio specimen of the 1880 lists has ceased to be an activity conducted strictly Magnificent Frigatebird because it had not sur- by academic ornithologists. The rivalries, extrav- vived to modern days, even though its very con- agances, and wishful thinking which Trautman spicuous mounted specimen had been on public decries persist, but the editors of publications display for many years in a doctor’s office in and the acceptance of the deliberations of a Fairfield. And curator Milton Trautman ques- state and province records committee have pre- tioned the tag ID of a Florida specimen in the vailed. As for specimens, sight records, aided OSU Museum collection, altering it to status as by today’s sound recordings and photographs, a Greater Yellowlegs; it was later properly iden- have been greatly aided by new technologies that tified as a Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia. have made the killing of birds—especially rari- The initial name was recognized as an error, and ties—unnecessary. While Trautman’s misgivings Florida authorities recently examined it and ac- remain, these technologies have helped to make cepted it as Florida’s—and the lower 48’s—first lethal methods of verification, especially in a example of this species. well-studied area such as Ohio, extremely rare. Not so long ago, many experts, most promi- For some of us, it is intriguing to speculate nently Trautman, considered it permissible to in- which species might be added to the state list in clude a species in the official state list only if there times to come. Certainly a newly introduced ex- existed “at least one specimen (or parts thereof) otic species might join the European Starling and

149 Vol. 40 No. 3 the House Sparrow in our avifauna; the Monk collected seemingly valuable specimens. Some Parakeet once seemed to pose enough of a threat of his friends, before returning from a bird- that Ohio state law was written to forbid the pos- ing trip out west, apparently picked up a dead session of free-flying birds (Ohio Revised Code Black-billed Magpie and tossed it on his drive- 901:5-42-01[A-2]). Warming temperatures may way by night upon returning in 1964; he duly bring new southern species here accidentally via repaired the battered corpse and deposited it in violent storms, as they have formerly Large-billed the OSU Museum, where it remains to this day. and Royal terns, Purple Gallinules (breeding), Stories were told of his standing daylong at the Anhingas, frigatebirds, Reddish Egrets, and Ro- Ohio-Michigan border for a chance to shoot a seate Spoonbills. Droughts in the west may drive reported rarity that could qualify as a species first new species east, as happened with a recent Cas- seen in this state. When in 1974 Ohio’s second sin’s Sparrow, or long ago a Harris’s Hawk. Oth- known Red-cockaded Woodpecker was found in er factors may have played a part for Long-billed a state park, members of the Columbus Audu- Murrelet and Heermann’s Gull, Brambling, bon Society mustered an informal on-site surveil- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Townsend’s War- lance by volunteer observers lest Trautman try to bler, Mountain Bluebird, Violet-green Swallow, shoot it for the Museum collection. As it was, Painted Redstart, Western Kingbirds (breeding!) Ohio’s first record of this species was already and various odd hummingbirds. It was likely sleeping in a drawer at the Museum, having been that fierce Atlantic storms brought us oddities collected in Columbus, on the site now occupied like Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Black-capped Petrel, by Scioto Audubon MP, in 1872. Trautman too Northern Lapwing, Thick-billed Murre, Black has passed away, along with his compelling ne- Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Ivory Gull, Eur- cessity to verify a rare species for Ohio only by asian Woodcock, and Atlantic Puffin. Less fore- collecting it. The task of adding to that list now seeable winter conditions may bring northern falls on observers who benefit from advanced species occasionally to show up in Ohio, as have technologies to thoroughly verify rarities without Boreal, Northern Hawk, and Great Gray owls, removing them. Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Northern Wheatear, Bohemian Waxwing, and Pine Grosbeak. Perhaps only dramatic weather Bill Whan was a long-time editor of this journal. Since events like hurricanes are forecastable enough to then he continues to provide us with insights into Ohio’s alert observers to some of these possibilities, but ornithological and birding history. His home patch is the far slower persistent climatic patterns that Franklin. might govern the arrival of new breeding species are becoming apparent. New Ohio species re- sulting from taxonomic splits seem quite unlikely, as contrasting conditions usually characterize the habitats populated by such new species that may result, and Ohio probably does not possess suffi- ciently variations in these factors. With new technologies, it seems the time has passed when rarities are routinely collected for the archives. Dr. Trautman and colleagues care- fully collected two adult Western Kingbirds and all three nestlings from a nest in Lucas in 1933, a site that apparently still represents their east- ernmost nest ever in the US. It is likely that a similar collection will seem less acceptable in the future. Trautman eventually came to be widely criticized for the practice in his day, even as he

150 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

FIELD NOTES

I hope this new section becomes a regular fea- pect, a Rufous Hummingbird overwintering at ture, but it depends on you, our readers, to send one site is quite rare, even in the deep south in your observations. These contributions are ed- where winter weather is not an issue. They ited to conform to the Cardinal’s style sheet and seem to have a two-stage wintering strategy, for clarity as needed. with the vast majority of birds moving on to a second site sometime around the winter solstice (shortest day of the year surely has an From Matt Anderson: effect on migratory species, many of which have hormones triggered by photoperiodism). Lawrence’s warbler. Here’s my posting from that 20 May bird at Rarebird.org: I’ve been Banding recoveries in the south show that they a very active birder for well over four decades, move west, northwest, or southwest from 50 to and, until today, had encountered exactly zero 300 miles to a second site where they remain Lawrence’s Warblers. Based on some infor- until Mar or early Apr before heading back to mation I got from Peter Kaestner, I was able the northwest to breed. The Warren bird was to find the same bird today that he saw last below average in weight, but not alarmingly weekend. What a beauty! so. But I suspect that had this been a more It’s pretty clear that this extremely rare hy- normal winter, this bird might have been a brid is on territory as it’s been around for at casualty. least a week now. This morning, it was singing Editor’s note—We can look forward to an article by the traditional Blue-winged song. Allen on overwintering hummingbirds in a future issue of the Cardinal.

From David A. Brinkman: I’ve been going through historical nesting re- From Robert Royse: cords to enter into eBird and I have a record Bell’s Vireo—first noted at Deer Creek WA of a nesting attempt by a Blue-headed Vir- on 13 May when one was found. By 15 May eo in Hamilton. This species is not known to there were four singing males. So how many nest here. I had posted this to the Ohio list- Bell’s Vireos are actually in Ohio? Probably a serve at the time, but I have never published lot more than are ever found. Even at public the account. It occurred on 08 May 2000. land like Deer Creek most of their habitat is Here is the eBird checklist comment “Silent. inaccessible and would require lengthy walks Had grapevine strip in bill, then dropped it. through tall dense grasses and weedy vegeta- Then pulled on some plant fibers, but began tion that is loaded with ticks and chiggers by to search quietly up the grapevine and trunk the time they arrive. In surrounding areas in of the red oak. Habitat: Deciduous wooded Fayette and Madison where prairies once hillside of primarily Oak-Maple with a ravine existed there is a lot of potential habitat for running through the area.” them on private land in hedgerows, railroad rights of way, clumps of fallow areas, stream- Editor’s note —The nearest nesting to Hamilton by side thickets, etc. Their songs don’t project this species during OBB A II was in Adams. well at all. They stay low and hidden and don’t sing from the treetops like Warbling Vireos and lack the chips of the White-eyed. They From Allen Chartier: are also are usually surrounded by louder and As of 08 Mar, the Rufous Hummingbird very vocal birds like House Wrens, Willow in Warren remains on site. As you might sus- Flycatchers, catbirds, thrashers, chats, orioles,

151 Vol. 40 No. 3

Indigo Buntings, and the two vireos already From Douglas Vogus: mentioned. The open areas where they are (In CVNP on 28 Apr) Orange-crowned War- found are also usually very windy. bler - one (probing hawthorn tree flowers Cerulean Warbler—first noted at Zaleski along Oak Hill Trail - this tree had the or- SF on 18 April. Their population has plum- ange-crowned, one Blue-winged Warbler, a meted dramatically at Shawnee Trail SF female Ruby-crowned Kinglet, one Black- (STSF) over the past 30 years. A day’s drive capped Chickadee, and two Tufted Titmouse along the ridges there in late Apr used to probing the flower heads and all eating small produce tallies numbering in the 50s or 60s. green caterpillars from the flowers and leaves) It used to be that you would come out with a (In CVNP on 06 May) Black-throated Green similar tally for Hoodeds and Ceruleans in all Warbler—one male—decent warblers con- the state forests including STSF. That is cer- sidering the weather, but one young oak had tainly not the case anymore. I did find Ceru- five Yellow-rumpeds, one Black-and-White leans at STSF this year, but none were on the Warbler, and the Black-throated Green—be- ridges consistently. I would usually come home hold the power of the oak! with tallies of between three and five birds, mostly found while hiking along the trails. A few more were also found in the bottom ar- eas by late May, but their population there has dropped off alarmingly. Northern Parula. One was back at Shawnee Trail SF by 10 Apr with more present by 12 Apr. This bird’s population has undergone the reverse of the Cerulean’s and it seems to be downright common along every wooded creek and stream in central and southern Ohio now- adays. Thirty years ago they were much more localized and restricted to a few places in small numbers and mostly where there were hem- locks. Even along the Deer Creek in Fayette their population has more than tripled since I did my atlas work there 10 years ago when I found maybe four nesting pairs. Twenty years ago the thought of them nesting there would have been absurd. They seem to be abundant along the Darby Creek these days and can be heard anywhere you stand near the creek. Prairie Warbler. Again a first trickle of three individuals was noted at Shawnee Trail SF on 10 Apr. Within a week they were at full capac- ity in all suitable habitat in regenerating clear cuts in all their usual places. This is a bird that was rarely found within any of the state forests 20 years ago. With all the clearcutting that has been going on in them now, they are one of the most abundant nesting warblers. In the 1990s they were real novelties at Shawnee and Shawnee Trail SF if even found at all.

152 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

YEARS AGO

By Craig Caldwell

10 years ago, the Spring 2007 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 15 No. 3 (Bill Whan, Editor) contained these items: Mid-Apr frosts statewide and snow in the north delayed migration. Lake Erie was at its highest level since 1995-96. The cover photo was the state’s fourth White-winged Dove Two Swainson’s Hawks were documented for the OBRC; one of the reports was accepted. Three Piping Plovers visited. Two Loggerhead Shrikes were documented.

25 years ago, the Spring 1992 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 15 No. 3 (Rob Harlan, Editor) contained these items: The cover and feature article displayed a Black-throated Gray Warbler which spent 26 Apr to 03 May at Baldwin Lake, Cuyahoga. Tom Kemp and four other hardy souls did a Big Day on 16 May and tallied 182 species. Cattle Egrets were reported in 11 counties. Six King Rails were spread among five counties. Larry Rosche saw 48 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Headlands on 19 Apr. Six Loggerhead Shrikes were reported. What was at the time our latest spring record Varied Thrush was in Lake for 21 and 22 Apr.

35 years ago, the Ohio Cardinal did not publish a Spring 1982 issue.

50 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar of Spring 1967, Vol. 62, No. 2 (Donald Newman, Editor), included these items: Spring was described as “Reluctant, scowling, miserly” A pair of Canada Geese nested in the North Chagrin Reservation, Cuyahoga. A Double-crested Cormorant seen on 22 Apr was among the “Noteworthy Records”. Cuyahoga and Lorain each hosted a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Four Loggerhead Shrikes and four Northern Mockingbirds were seen in the Cleveland area.

100 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar 1917 Bulletin No. 1 (March) and Bulletin No. 2 (April and May), Francis H. Herrick, Editor, contained these items: Flocks of Canada Geese were reported on 04 and 11 Mar. An Eastern Whip-poor-will was in Cleveland on 22 May. “White-headed Eagles” were seen twice in Cuyahoga. The area’s first Northern Mockingbird was seen in Cleveland Heights on 22 and 29 Apr.

153 Vol. 40 No. 3

OOS MEMBERSHIP

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154 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2017

LAKE LUCAS FULTON ASHTABULA OTTAWA WILLIAMS GEAUGA CUYAHOGA DEFIANCE ERIE WOOD SANDUSKY LORAIN TRUMBULL HENRY PORTAGE SENECA HURON PAULDING MEDINA HANCOCK PUTNAM S U M I T MAHONING

VAN WERT WYANDOT WAYNE STARK ALLEN COLUMBIANA CRAWFORD A S H L N D HARDIN

MARION R I C H L A N D S CARROLL AUGLAIZE HOLMES A

MERCER W A

MORROW R

LOGAN A KNOX C SHELBY COSHOCTON S UNION DELAWARE U T

HARRISON J E F R S O N DARKE MIAMI CHAMPAIGN LICKING GUERNSEY BELMONT FRANKLIN CLARK

Y MUSKINGUM R E M M A D I S O N O NOBLE G MONROE PREBLE T FAIRFIELD N O GREENE PERRY M FAYETTE MORGAN PICKAWAY BUTLER HOCKING WASHINGTON CLINTON WARREN ROSS ATHENS VINTON

HAMILTON HIGHLAND PIKE MEIGS JACKSON

C L E R M O N T BROWN ADAMS SCIOTO GALLIA

LAWRENCE

The Counties of Ohio

155 As the Ohio Ornithological Society’s “Warblers and Wildflowers Festival” wrapped up on 30 Apr, Laura Keene photographed this group of Willets on the beach at Shawnee SP.

Instructions for Contributors The Ohio Cardinal would not exist without contributions from Ohio birders. We solicit sightings, notes on unusual observations, in-depth scientific articles, historical accounts, essays, artwork, and photographs related to Ohio and its birdlife. Reports of bird sightings for each seasion are requested and should be submitted directly, by email or postal mail to: Craig Caldwell, 1270 W. Melrose Dr., Westlake, OH 44145 [email protected] Send digital photo files or links to Christopher Collins: [email protected]

Deadlines are as follows: Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) - 21 March Spring (Mar, Apr, May) - 21 June Summer (Jun, Jul) - 21 August Fall (Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov) - 21 December

Back cover: It’s not often that you get to see a breeding plumage Sanderling in Ohio. Alex Eberts was fortunate to get this amazing photo of one on the Maumee Bay beach on 29 May. The Ohio Ornithological Society PO Box 2432 Westerville, OH 43086

Contents

Comments on the Season By Craig Caldwell...... 109 Species Accounts By Craig Caldwell...... 113 Contributors...... 14 0 Windfall: A Road-Killed Common Nighthawk Disgorges a Mass of Data By Andy Jones, Hans Clebsch, Julie Zickafoose, Courtney Brennan...... 144 Cleveland Area Spring Walks By Liz McQuaid...... 146 Some Observations of Ohio Bird Records By Bill Whan...... 147 Field Notes By Matt Anderson, David Brinkman, Allen Chartier, Robert Royce, and Douglas Vogus...... 151 Years Ago By Craig Caldwell...... 153