Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of ’s Birdlife • Vol. 38, No. 3, Spring 2015 Caley Reservation, Lorain, hosted this Northern Saw-whet Owl, beautifully recorded by Dane Adams on 02 Mar.

On the cover: This female Kirtland’s Warbler was a rare treat for observers at Highbanks MP, Delaware, as illustrated in this image by photographer Bruce Miller on 17 May. Vol. 38 No. 3

Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of Ohio’s Birdlife

EDITOR OHIO BIRD RECORDS Craig Caldwel COMMITTEE 1270 W. Melrose Dr. Westlake, OH 44145 Paul Gardner 440-356-0494 Secretary [email protected] 295 Acton Road Columbus, OH 43214-3305 [email protected] PHOTO EDITOR Laura Keene PAST PUBLISHERS [email protected] John Herman (1978-1980 Edwin C. Pierce (1980-2008) LAYOUT Roger Lau PAST EDITORS [email protected] John Herman (1978-1980 Edwin C. Pierce (1980-1991) Thomas Kemp (1987-1991) CONSULTANTS Robert Harlan (1991-1996) Tim Colborn Victor W. Fazio III (1996-1997) Mike Egar Bill Whan (1997-2008) Victor Fazio III Andy Jones (2008-2010 Rob Harlan Jill M. Russell (2010-2012) Andy Jones Laura Peskin Bill Whan

ISSN 1534-1666 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015

COMMENTS ON THE SEASON

By Craig Caldwell contribute to the apparent range expansion. Temperatures in Mar were below average, Andy also pointed out the dearth of good with the statewide mean, high, and low ranging shorebird habitat in the northwest this spring. between the 25th and 35th percentiles. State- A field on Corduroy Road across from Meinke wide, precipitation was a bit above average but Marina in Lucas might have been the best for varied considerably. The southern quarter of the the few days in May it held water; several rari- state received 150 to 200% of its usual amount ties spent time there. Away from the northwest, and the middle half between 90 and 200%, but Conneaut and Lost Bridge continue to provide the northwest and lakeshore received from less shorebird sightings. Their being on a lake and a than half to about 90% of their norms. river, respectively, means they’re far less depen- In Apr, the average, high, and low tempera- dent on our increasingly erratic rain events to tures statewide were all in the upper third of provide stopover habitat. Indian Lake, too, was the 121 years with data but did not break into hospitable. the highest 20%. Precipitation was above aver- The first sightings of several warblers, and of age everywhere but the northwest corner, which a few other species, were up to a month earlier received less than 90% of its norm. Rainfall in than their historical norms. Here’s an opportu- the rest of the state was up to double its usual nity for an aspiring researcher: Graph the arrival amount except for the Portsmouth area, which dates of our warblers over the last 30 years. Do was soaked with three to four times its average. Ohio data agree with that of many other areas May was among our hottest ever. The average in showing a trend to earlier arrivals? Anecdotal temperature was our 11th highest, part of a heat evidence says yes, but I’d like to see a rigorous wave which affected the entire northeast quad- analysis. rant of the country and set many records in New And speaking of research opportunities… England. The statewide average minimum and Trumpeter Swans have been breeding in Ohio maximum followed suit; they were our 14th and now since 1997, the year after the Division of ninth highest, respectively. Cleveland and Akron Wildlife began releasing them in several wildlife tied or set several record high temperatures be- areas. DOW data through 2012 show an al- tween 07 and 09 May. The lower than average most steady increase in the number of nests and rainfall overall brought no relief. The southern young since then (http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/ half of the state received from less than 25% of portals/wildlife/pdfs/research/population%20 its norm to only about 90%. Paradoxically, most status%20report/trumpeterswannestingtable. of the northern half received between 90 and pdf). By now, some of the birds we see must be at 150% of its average rainfall and small areas in least second-generation, and possibly third. Are the northeast and northwest were drenched with they here to stay? They appear to be, but do the up to triple their usual amount. data support that assertion? Records committees Weather data are from the National Weather in California and Florida, states which host many Service (http://water.weather.gov/precip/), the introduced and escaped exotics, have criteria for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- deciding if a species is established. Do Trumpet- tion (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-pre- er Swans in Ohio meet those standards? cip/maps.php and http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ Every county produced reports for the second extremes/records/), and the Plain Dealer. season in a row. Nine species (Turkey Vulture, Andy Jones posed an interesting question: Are Downy Woodpecker, American Robin, Europe- we seeing more American White Pelicans be- an Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, cause they are more common than 20 years ago, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and or because there are more observers? He sus- House Sparrow) were found in all 88. Another pected the latter, which I agree is likely a part of nine species (Canada Goose, Red-tailed Hawk, the answer. However, we found that eBird data Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue show larger numbers are wintering further north Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swal- along the Atlantic coast than before, which could low, and Gray Catbird) came up one short. Thir- contribute to more pelicans crossing Ohio on the ty-seven species were seen in 80 to 86 counties. way to their nesting areas in the middle of the This issue of the Cardinal includes accounts of continent. Granted, eBird usage is also growing, 304 species, a bit lower number than is typical so the “more observers” phenomenon may also for the season. There are also 12 accounts at the

110 Vol. 38 No. 3 family or genus level, 12 of hybrids, and four of cluded as an addendum in a future issue. subspecies and color morphs. The hybrid count Taxonomic order and nomenclature follow was the highest of the last several years and I at- the Check-List of North American Birds, 7th Edition tribute that number to the continually increasing (1998) as updated through the 55th Supple- skills of Ohio’s birders. Seven of the hybrids ment (2014). This document is published by the were waterfowl, a family whose propensity for North American Classification Committee of the inter-species coupling is well known. The rest of American Ornithologists’ Union and is available the pairings were two of gulls, two of warblers, at http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/print. and one of sparrows. php. County names are in bold italics. Loca- Eighteen of the entries are Review Species, tions whose counties are of the same name, for birds whose occurrences (generally speaking) are example Ashtabula (city) and Delaware Wildlife rare and unpredictable. One of them is Kirt- Area, usually do not have the counties repeated. land’s Warbler, which for many years has been County names for sites described in Cincinnati, an annual visitor to the Lake Erie shore while Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton are also omit- returning to its Michigan breeding grounds from ted. Shortened names and a few sets of initials the Bahamas. It remains on the Review List be- are used for locations and organizations which cause it is a species of special conservation con- occur repeatedly; these abbreviations are listed cern though it otherwise meets the criteria for a here. The term “fide” is used in some citations; it move to the Core List. Five individuals were re- means “in trust of ” and is used where the report- ported, but only two were formally documented er was not the observer. for the Ohio Bird Records Committee (OBRC). A third was informally documented through Abbreviations: postings to various internet venues, but the other Alum Creek = Alum Creek Reservoir, Dela- two were merely announced and therefore will ware, unless otherwise noted not enter the official record. Armleder Park = a Cincinnati city park on the In addition to Kirtland’s Warbler, five other , Hamilton Review List species had both documented and Bayshore = a fishing-access point by the epony- undocumented reports. The Editors and the mous power plant, Lucas OBRC commend the birders who formally doc- BBS = the North American Breeding Bird Sur- umented their sightings of those five and of the vey, a joint project of the United States Geo- three species all of whose sightings were formally logical Survey (USGS) and the Canadian reported. The OBRC received nothing directly Wildlife Service about sightings of nine species; internet postings Berlin Lake = Berlin Lake (or Reservoir), Ma- about some of them have enough information for honing and Portage evaluation but a few will remain in “reported but Big Island = Big Island Wildlife Area, Marion undocumented” limbo. Blendon Woods = Blendon Woods Metro Park, The headers of Review Species accounts are Franklin underlined. No observers’ names are mentioned The Bowl = a limited-access area near the Har- unless the OBRC has voted on the documenta- rison airport tion, and only accepted records are attributed. BRAS = Black River Audubon Society The Records Committee and this editor urge BSBO = Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Otta- birders to formally report all sightings of Review wa (http://www.bsbo.org) List species, of Core List species found at unusual Buck Creek = , Clark times, of nesting by birds previously not known to Burke Airport = Cleveland Burke Lakefront Air- nest in the state, and of course sightings of birds port, Cuyahoga never before found in Ohio. Information on how Caesar Creek = , to document rarities is available at http://www. Warren ohiobirds.org/records/documentation.php. CCE = Crane Creek Estuary, Lucas and Otta- Data for the following Species Accounts come wa, viewable from both ONWR and the CCE from reports submitted directly to the Cardi- Trail which originates at Magee nal, eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird), the Chapel Drive = a road off Ohio 83 south of Cum- Ohio-birds listserv (http://birding.aba.org/mail- berland in Noble which traverses grasslands list/OH), rarebird.org (http://rarebird.org/fo- Clear Fork = Clear Fork Reservoir (or Lake), rum/default.asp), and the Cincinnati Bird Sight- partly in Morrow but most of the birding is ings Log (http://cincinnatibirds.com/goodbird/ done in the larger Richland Section. sighting.php). Data from The Bobolink were not CLNP = Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve available at press time and if possible will be in- (the former Dike 14), Cuyahoga

111 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 CNC = Cincinnati Nature Center, a non-govern- m. obs. = multiple observers mental entity whose Long Branch Farm and Magee = the boardwalk and immediate vicinity Rowe Woods units are in Clermont in Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, unless Conneaut = the mudflats to the west of Con- otherwise noted. The northern third of the neaut Harbor, Ashtabula causeway is also in Lucas, the rest in Ottawa. CP = County Park Maumee Bay = , Lucas, CPNWR = Cedar Point National Wildlife Ref- unless otherwise noted uge, Lucas Medusa = Medusa Marsh, Erie, an informally CVNP = Cuyahoga Valley National Park, named and privately owned area between Cuyahoga and (mostly) Summit Sandusky and Bay View Darby Creek = Battelle Darby Creek Metro Metzger = Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas Park, Franklin Mill Creek = Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, a Deer Creek = the State Park is in Pickaway, the limited-access area in Mahoning Wildlife Area is in Fayette, and Deer Creek Mohican = Mohican State Forest and State Park. Lake is in both but mostly Pickaway Many trails cross the boundaries so some re- East Fork = , Clermont ports include sightings from both without East Harbor = , Ottawa distinction. Eastlake Power = the Lake Erie viewpoint east of Mohican SF = Mohican State Forest, Ashland the First Energy plant in Eastlake, Lake Mohican SP = , (mostly) Edgewater = the Edgewater unit of Cleveland Ashland and (slightly) Richland Lakefront Metroparks, Cuyahoga Mosquito Lake = Mosquito Creek Lake, also Fernald = Fernald Preserve, Butler and called Mosquito Creek Reservoir, Trumbull. Hamilton Mosquito (Creek) Wildlife Area adjoins it. Findlay Reservoirs = several contiguous water MP = Metro Park, MetroPark, or Metropark de- bodies east of town in Hancock pending on the system Funk = Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area, Ashland NC = Nature Center and (mostly) Wayne NF = National Forest Headlands = Headlands Dunes State Nature NP = Nature Preserve, except as part of CVNP Preserve, Headlands Beach State Park, and OBRC = Ohio Bird Records Committee adjoining waters, Lake Old Highland Stone = that company’s wa- Holden = Holden Arboretum, Lake, except for ter-filled gravel pits,Highland its Stebbins Gulch unit in Geauga OOPMP = Oak Openings Preserve MetroPark, Hoover NP = Hoover Nature Preserve, Lucas Delaware ONWR = Ottawa , Lu- Hoover Reservoir = the northern 80% is in Del- cas and Ottawa aware, but the dam is in Franklin ONWR Navarre = A non-public separate unit in Indian Lake = Indian Lake State Park, Logan Ottawa east of the main ONWR Jones Preserve = Jones Preserve at Long Point, on Pickerel Creek = Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, Kelleys Island, Erie Sandusky Kelleys Island = the island and adjoining waters, Pickerington Ponds = Pickerington Ponds Metro Erie Park, Fairfield and Franklin Killbuck = Killbuck State Wildlife Area, Holmes Pipe Creek = Pipe Creek Wildlife Area, in the and Wayne city of Sandusky, Erie Killdeer = Killdeer Plains State Wildlife Area; a Rocky Fork = Rocky Fork State Park, Highland bit is in Marion but it’s mostly in Wyandot Sandy Ridge = Sandy Ridge Reservation, LaDue = LaDue Reservoir, Geauga Lorain Lake Erie Bluffs = a Lake Metroparks parcel Scranton Flats = a section of the Towpath Trail whose popularity among birders is blooming. in Cleveland on the left bank of the Cuyahoga Lake Hope/Zaleski = and River surrounding , Vinton Seneca Lake = most of the lake and the (non- Lorain = the dredge spoil impoundment east of state) Park are in Noble, while the dam is in downtown in the city and county of the same Guernsey name, unless otherwise noted SF = State Forest Lost Bridge = a Great Miami River crossing Shawnee = , Scioto, unless on Lawrenceburg Road near Elizabethtown, otherwise noted Hamilton, where a covered bridge was lost Shawnee Lookout = Shawnee Lookout County to fire in 1903 Park, Hamilton

112 Vol. 38 No. 3 Sheldon Marsh = Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve, Erie SNP = State Nature Preserve SP = State Park SWA = State Wildlife Area Tar Hollow = Tar Hollow State Park and sur- rounding State Forest, mostly in Ross but with small portions in each of Hocking and Vinton TNC = The Nature Conservancy (http://www. nature.org) WA = Wildlife Area Wendy Park = a lakeshore Cleveland park, Cuyahoga Wilderness Road = a road which traverses Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area, Wayne, and adjoining farmland The Wilds = a limited-access big-mammal breed- ing and research facility in Muskingum, also used generically to include the surrounding reclaimed Ohio Power strip mines Winous Point = Winous Point Shooting Club, Ottawa Zaleski = Zaleski State Forest, Vinton

113 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Snow/Ross’s Goose The OBRC has formal documentation from Indeterminate birds were in Greene, Logan, Franklin. Medina, Montgomery, and Summit. Cackling Goose A trio flew over the Bowling Green State Uni- versity campus, Wood, on 17 Mar (Mark Rozmarynowycz). Another three were at San- dy Ridge on 26 Mar (Gustino Lanese). Junior Barnes saw two at Rocky Fork on 31 Mar, and said they had been there for three days. They were the last but for two which Victor Fazio III picked out of a flock of Canada Geese at Schek- elhoff Park,Seneca , on 02 May. (13 counties) Canada Goose Ron Sempier estimated 3000 were in Killdeer’s Pond 27 on 02 Mar. Mark Shieldcastle found about 2200 at ONWR on 15 Mar. Every county but Pike had at least one sighting. Lael Weyenberg welcomed birders to view this pair of Black-bel- [Snow x Canada Goose] lied Whistling-Ducks which spent 18 May at her backyard pond in Worthington, Franklin, and were photographed by Kathi John Habig identified two on the Great Miami Hutton. River in Butler on 22 Apr. Cackling/Canada Goose Greater White-fronted Goose Viewers were undecided about birds in Athens A flock of 11 spent 13 to 15 Mar along Grant (one), Erie (one), Franklin (four to seven), and Moore Road, Seneca (m. obs.) The last was a Hocking (six). single bird at Hamlet Protein, Hancock, on 09 Mute Swan May (fide Robert Sams). (16 counties) The high count was 17; Victor Fazio III found Snow Goose them at Great Egret Marsh, Ottawa, on 03 May. The high count was 84; Rick Asamoto found Counts elsewhere ranged up to 16. (50 counties) them at Old Highland Stone on 07 Mar. Sixteen Trumpeter Swan were the blue morph and the rest white. Scott A quartet of birders saw the largest concentra- Huge made the second-highest count of 38, in tion, 35, at the Turtle Creek fishing access,Otta - Swine Creek Reservation, Geauga, on 15 Mar. wa, on 21 May. (33 counties) Singles on 14 Apr at the Findlay Reservoirs (Christopher Collins) and the Mercer end of Tundra Swan Grand Lake St. Marys (Carlton Schooley) were Mark Shieldcastle found 1200 at ONWR on 15 the last. (25 counties) Mar; he saw 840 there the next day. The high- est count away from Lake Erie was Ron Sem- Ross’s Goose pier’s 500 or more at Killdeer on 23 Mar; they All which were positively identified were single were spread among several of the ponds. John birds. Old Reid Park, Clark, hosted one from Faneuff’s four at Magee and one at Metzger on 11 to 17 Apr (m. obs.). It was the last but for one 24 Apr were the last. (51 counties) at the Hueston Woods SP marina, Preble, on 06 May (Kaitlyn Gerken). Butler and Ottawa also Wood Duck contributed sightings; Logan might also have Mill Creek Sanctuary, Mahoning, hosted 165 done so, but see below. for Jeff Harvey on 20 Mar. Neil Gilbert noted 80 in the camping area of East Fork on 20 Mar and [Snow x Ross’s Goose] wrote, “Incredible numbers—I’ve never seen so Stephan Minnig and Troy Shively decided that many in one place (scattered along a perhaps at least one of the two smallish birds they saw at half-mile stretch of river edge)”. Only Meigs, The Slough, Logan, on 29 Mar and again on 01 Pike, and Putnam did not yield reports. Apr was a hybrid.

114 Vol. 38 No. 3 Gadwall Mar. One spent from 08 to 12 May at Metzger Helen and Ken Ostermiller found about 1000 at (m. obs.). Metzger on 21 Mar. Ed Pierce’s ONWR cen- [American Black Duck x Mallard] sus team counted 520 on 05 Apr (fide Douglas At least 19 counties hosted these, and surely oth- Vogus). The last of the season was a single at ers were overlooked. Marjorie Miller counted Metzger on 30 May (Matt Kemp). (74 counties) eight at ONWR on 09 May. Eurasian Wigeon American Black Duck/Mallard All reports were of single birds, with a possible Several Franklin sites hosted indeterminate total of 13 seen. The first showed up by Prairie birds. Lane, Wayne, on 14 Mar (Cynthia Norris); Jeff Harvey saw the last at Mill Creek on 24 Apr. One Blue-winged Teal spent 27 Mar to 01 Apr at Killdeer. Lucas, Lo- Killdeer’s Pond 27 again fielded the high count, rain, Medina, Ottawa, Portage, Trumbull, 675 on 05 Apr by Shane Myers and Robert and two other Wayne sites also hosted birds. Sams. Ron Sempier found the second-highest number, 140 at nearby Big Island on 11 Apr. (74 counties) Northern Shoveler Matt Kemp counted 230 at Metzger on 01 Apr. The second-highest number was 85, shared by Ben Warner and Anna Wittmer at Killdeer on 31 Mar and Mark Shieldcastle at Magee on 01 Apr. (66 counties) [Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler] One spent 19 and 20 Mar at Newtown Bottoms, Su Snyder recorded this image of a Eurasian Wigeon at the Hamilton (m. obs.) Overton Road Ponds, Wayne, on 25 Mar Northern Pintail Donna Kuhn and Andy Sewell estimated 1500 American Wigeon were at Funk on 28 Mar, and about 750 re- The Ostermillers saw about 1000 at Metzger mained in view for the Ostermillers the next day. on 21 Mar; Matt Kemp estimated about 1100 Ron Sempier found the most elsewhere, 425 at were there on 01 Apr. Ron Sempier’s 450 at Kill- Big Island on 13 Mar. Peter Keefe saw the sec- deer on 28 Mar were the most elsewhere. Paul ond last, a duo at Pipe Creek on 14 May. Sarel Sherwood saw the last of the season, four at Pipe Cousins saw them or another two at Metzger Creek on 30 May; there were also a couple of Jun on 21 May, the last but for a single bird seen a sightings. (70 counties) month later. (52 counties) [Eurasian x American Wigeon] Green-winged Teal Troy Shively decided that one at The Slough, Mark Shieldcastle noted 400 at ONWR on 26 , was this hybrid; he studied it on several Logan Mar. Matt Kemp saw the most elsewhere, 180 dates between 01 and 15 Apr. at Metzger on 01 Apr. Jeff Harvey’s 120 at Mill American Black Duck Creek on 21 Mar was the highest inland count. Nicole Freshour found about 150 at Blendon Singles at Big Island on 22 May (Donna Kuhn) Woods, a reliable spot for large counts, on 04 and Pickerel Creek on 28 May (Sally Isacco) Mar. Paul Berrigan and Karl Overman noted were the last of the season though one location the second-highest number, 60, at Bayshore on hosted six in early Jun. (65 counties) 11 Mar. (55 counties) Canvasback Mallard Ryan Jacob found 320 off Cullen Park, Lucas, Ron Sempier found about 625 in Killdeer’s Pond on 15 Mar. Chris Pierce’s 250 at Funk on 29 27 on 20 Mar. Ed Pierce et al. counted 489 at Mar was the highest inland count. The last of ONWR on 05 Apr (fide Douglas Vogus). Every the season were Hope Orr’s single in CVNP on county except Jackson, Meigs, and Pike gen- 16 May and Sarah Lawrence’s single at Dela- erated reports. ware WA on 26 May. The latter bird was seen [Gadwall x Mallard] again in Jun. (65 counties) One spent most of the winter with the Cleveland Redhead Museum of Natural History’s captive waterfowl Mark Shieldcastle estimated 7000 were off Ma- and wild Mallards; Andy Jones last saw it on 23 gee on 01 Apr and wrote, “Large number of

115 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 divers staged about 300 yards off shore as far as on 16 May (m. obs.). Suzanne Clingman noted could be seen both west and east”. Brian Wulk- 34 along the Ohio River shore in Brown on 17 er was also moved to extol the 1500 he saw at Mar. They might have wandered; Frank Ren- the Great Miami River bottoms, Hamilton, on frow had seen 26 at the mouth of the Little Mi- 19 Mar. He wrote, “This flock has to be one of ami River, Hamilton, on 12 Mar. (28 counties) the top 10 experiences in my 12+ year birding Black Scoter career.” Mark Shieldcastle tied that count at Four locations hosted singles: ONWR Navarre on 27 Mar. Anthony Popiel Eastlake Power on 02 Mar (Jonathan Oliveras) saw the last of the season, a quartet at Lorain on and 03 Mar (Christopher Collins) 22 May, though a few more were scattered about Maumee Bay on 10 Apr (Adam Zorn) in early Jun. (75 counties) The Stark end of Deer Creek Reservoir on 23 Ring-necked Duck Apr (m. obs.) (This site is part of Berlin Lake Sarah Lawrence saw a trio at Delaware WA on and shares only its name with Deer Creek 26 May, the latest spring date; one lingered there Lake in Fayette and Pickaway.) into Jun. The high estimate was in the 1000 to Seneca Lake on 30 Apr (m. obs.) 1200 range at Funk on 27 Mar (the Ostermill- Scoter sp. ers, Su Snyder). The second-highest number One or two not identified to species were report- was Cynthia Norris’ 563 at a large farm pond in ed from Allen, Hamilton, Lucas, and Portage. Stark. (81 counties) Long-tailed Duck Greater Scaup One spent 16 to 18 Apr at the Findlay Reser- Victor Fazio III saw the last off Lakeshore Drive, voirs; Shane Myers saw it last. Another was at Port Clinton, Ottawa, on 18 May. The high Big Island from 15 to 18 Apr; Benjamin Miller count was Tom Bartlett’s 550 at Kelleys Island saw it last. Kent Miller found 48 at Berlin Lake on 10 Mar; he saw 200 to 450 there on other on 07 Apr and others saw between five and 20 dates. The most inland were 70 at Lost Bridge on later dates. The most elsewhere were three on 19 Mar (Brian Wulker). (58 counties) which Mark Shaver saw at LaDue on 17 Apr. (16 Lesser Scaup counties) Gene Stauffer found the last of the season, a sin- gle on Howe Pond, Fairfield, on 31 May. (there were a few Jun sightings there and elsewhere.) Mark Shieldcastle estimated 28,000 were off the Magee beach on 01 Apr. They might have in- cluded the 7000 he saw at ONWR Navarre on 27 Mar, which was the second-highest count. The inland high count was 930 by Brian Wulker at Lost Bridge on 19 Mar. (75 counties) Scaup sp. Matt and Tom Kemp’s 12 Apr census at CPNWR tallied 91,000 scaup; about a third of them were This Long-tailed Duck was beautifully documented by Ron in the refuge itself and the rest offshore. Sempier on 15 Apr at Big Island. Harlequin Duck Eastlake Power hosted one; it was seen on 01, 02, Bufflehead 03, and 13 Mar and 01 Apr (m. obs.). Patty McKelvey saw the last, at Lorain on 16 May. The high count was 200, at Big Island on Surf Scoter 28 Mar. Charles Bombaci said they were “as Jessica Lowery saw the first of the season, at thick as a carpet on ponds along LaRue-Prospect Killbuck on 17 Mar. The second sighting was Road.” Aaron Bartley provided the second-high- of two at Pickerington Ponds on 12 Mar (m. est count, 135 at Berlin Lake on 08 Apr. (76 obs.). The last one spent from 16 to 19 May off counties) Port Clinton’s Lakeshore Drive, Ottawa (Andy Jones, then m. obs.). John Herman made the Common Goldeneye high count of six, at Clear Fork on 06 Apr. (18 Singles at Blendon Woods and Metzger shared counties) the last date of 01 May. An Old Dominion Uni- versity ornithology class saw the former bird and White-winged Scoter several individual birders the latter. Tom Bartlett The Findlay Reservoirs held the last, a single bird counted 2164 in the waters around Kelleys Is-

116 Vol. 38 No. 3 land on 20 Mar. The second-highest count, 750 Greene, on 20 Mar. The second-highest count on 10 Mar, was also by Tom at Kelleys Island. was 12, by Robb Clifford near Darby Creek on The most elsewhere were 300 at Bayshore, also 05 Mar. (33 counties) on 10 Mar (Karl Overman). Lisa Miller and Jor- Ruffed Grouse dan Satler noted the inland high number of 200 Kent Miller heard the first, along Chapel Drive at Alum Creek on 07 Mar. (56 counties) on 02 Apr. He, Jon Cefus, and Ben Morrison Hooded Merganser heard two in the Gildow Hill area, Noble, on 30 Gary Cowell found 85 at Charles Mill Lake Park, Apr. Scott Pendleton tied that high count with Ashland, on 29 Mar, and the rest of the counts two dueling drummers along the Buckeye Trail, ranged from 80 down to one. (73 counties) Harrison, on 13 May. Adams, Athens, Gallia, [Common Goldeneye x Hooded Hocking, Perry, Portage, Scioto, and Vinton Merganser] also produced reports. Ben Warner and Anna Wittmer identified this Wild Turkey hybrid at Alum Creek on 11 Mar. The high count was 65; Sean Artman found Common Merganser them a communications tower field in Ashtabu- Rick Wright noted the last migrant, at ONWR la on 14 Mar. The second-highest number was on 14 May. A few pairs linger to nest. Nic and 40, shared by Gary Cowell near the Rocky Fork Lynne Shayko saw a female with nine infants at River, Richland, on 04 Mar, Anna Rose at Blen- Conneaut on 30 May; that location has hosted don Woods on 08 Mar, and Thomas Czubek a pair for several years now. Peg Bobel saw a along two miles of Clermont roads on 29 Mar. female with six young at the Little Cuyahoga/ (76 counties) Cuyahoga Rivers confluence, Summit, on 21 May, a first for that river system. Karl Overman noted about 1000 at Bayshore on 07 Mar. Mark and Sherry Plessner found 500 at the Bay View, Lucas, wastewater treatment plant on 05 Mar. An Old Dominion University ornithology class found the highest number away from Lake Erie, 200 at Alum Creek, also on 05 Mar. (69 counties) Red-breasted Merganser Four flew past John Pogacnik at Lake Erie Bluffs on 26 May; they were the last but for a single Kel- leys Island sighting in early Jun. The Cuyahoga Leslie Sours recorded this entertaining display by a pair of Wild River at Scranton Flats hosted 5000 on 01 Mar Turkeys at Blendon Woods on 01 May. (Sameer Apte) and 08 Mar (Jacob Roalef). The most inland were 250 at Buck Creek on 28 Mar (m. obs.). (68 counties) Red-throated Loon Alex Champagne discovered five at the Frank- Ruddy Duck lin end of Hoover Reservoir on 24 Mar and lots Paul Sherwood saw the last of the season, four of folks got to see one or more of them until 27 at Pipe Creek on 30 May. Debi Schuster’s 1200 Mar. They were the first and most of the sea- at Mosquito Lake on 17 Apr was the high num- son. Three at Caesar Creek on 31 Mar (Rick ber. The next highest were 665 at LaDue on 25 Asamoto) provided the only other count greater Apr (Matthew Valencic) and “at least 600” at than one. Gary Cowell saw the last, in a pond Deer Creek Lake on 28 Mar (Robert Royse). (71 in Loudonville Park, Holmes, on 09 May. (13 counties) counties) Northern Bobwhite Pacific Loon The first, and most, were 12 which Kathi Hut- The OBRC has only internet gleanings from a ton found in Clermont on 07 Mar. The sec- bird reported in Hancock. ond-most were five which Katrina Schultes saw in the Anderson Meadows section of Wayne NF, Common Loon Lawrence, on 29 May. A very lost female in the The first since 08 Jan, five birds, showed up at Magee parking lot on 13 May most likely wan- Lake Loramie SP, Shelby, on 10 Mar (Lou- dered from a release point (m. obs.). (20 counties) is Hoying). The last of the season were three which Allan Claybon saw at Cowan Lake, Clin- Ring-necked Pheasant ton, on 27 May, though there were several sum- Robby Bradley noted 35 near Jamestown,

117 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 mer sightings. Jay McGowan and Livia Santana Double-crested Cormorant gave us the two highest numbers; they estimated The high count was 1200, off Wendy Park on 12 120 were at Clear Fork on 01 Apr and 90 at Buck Apr (Elizabeth McQuaid). The inland high was Creek the next day. (67 counties) 660, at the Berlin Lake dam on 08 Apr (Matthew Pied-billed Grebe Valencic). (75 counties) Big Island produced many double-digit counts of American White Pelican which the largest was Charles Bombaci’s 45 on 28 Buck Creek hosted the first of the year, three Mar. The most elsewhere were 25 at Springfield which Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker found Lake, Summit, on 05 Apr (Jon Cefus). (78 counties) on 22 Mar. Numerous sightings continued into summer. A Biggest Week in American Birding group found the high count of 36 in the Metzger Unit of Winous Point on 13 May. The inland high was the 33 which several observers noted over U.S. 33 on the Auglaize/Noble line on 18 Apr. See the “Comments” section for some spec- ulation about this species. (16 counties) American Bittern Tj Todd saw the first, in a Grand Lake St. Marys feeder canal, Auglaize, on 03 Apr. Benjamin Miller saw seven of the nine he counted at Darby Creek on 02 May; he said they were “Heard ev- erywhere!” Other birders found up to eight there Leslie Sours photographed this sweet image of a Pied-billed Grebe with chicks on 16 May during the ONWR auto tour. on other dates. The most elsewhere were five along the length of Cedar Point Road, Lucas, on Horned Grebe 15 May. David and Tammy McQuaid saw one The season’s second-last sighting was by Alex of them and heard the other four. (28 counties) Champagne, of one bird at the north end of Least Bittern Hoover Reservoir on 20 May. Seven days later Wendy Becker heard the first, at Darby Creek on John Pogacnik saw one at Lake Erie Bluffs, which 17 Apr. Triples were encountered at the Miami was the last but for one off Kelleys Island on 01 Whitewater Forest wetlands, Hamilton, on 13 Jun. The several earlier May sightings came May (Brian Wulker) and 22 May (Joshua East- from Erie, Geauga, Lucas, Ottawa, and Sum- lake), and also at Maumee Bay on 15 May (Drew mit. Tom Bartlett contributed the two highest Weber). Clermont, Cuyahoga, Delaware, counts, both from Kelleys Island; they were of 87 Erie, Hancock, Lake, Marion, and Ottawa on 19 Apr and 129 on 09 Apr. The most else- also contributed reports. where were 75 at Buck Creek on 25 Mar (Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker). (68 counties) Red-necked Grebe Jon Cefus saw the first of the season along the Ohio & Erie Canal Trail, Summit, on 04 Mar. Shane Myers saw the last at the Findlay Reservoirs on 15 Apr. Three sites each hosted two: Rocky River Park, Cuyahoga, on 18 Mar (Bev Walborn), Clear Fork Reservoir on 20 Mar (Anna Wittmer), and Sippo Lake, Stark, on 07 Apr (Cynthia Norris). (13 counties) Eared Grebe All of the reports were of solo birds. Robert Royse found the first of the year in the Deer Creek Lake wetlands, Pickaway, on 22 Mar. The next spent from 28 Mar to 06 Apr at Beaver Creek Reservoir, Seneca; Tom Bartlett discov- ered it. Sally Isacco and Ian Lynch separately re- Photographer Darlene Friedman sharply focused on this Eared ported the last, from Headlands on 25 Apr. Erie Grebe as the high winds on 02 Apr curled the feathers over his back at Beaver Creek Reservation, Seneca. and Lake locations also contributed sightings.

118 Vol. 38 No. 3 Great Blue Heron The rest of the reports came from other Erie and Ron Sempier and John Games found about 100 Lucas sites plus Cuyahoga and Ottawa. scattered throughout Big Island on 29 Apr. Ma- Green Heron gee hosted 74 on 09 May (David Yeamans). Only Andrew Cannizzaro noted “A really early ar- Jackson and Meigs did not produce reports. rival!” at Gilmore Ponds, Butler, on 29 Mar. Great Egret One made it to Darby Creek by 06 Apr (Ronnie Jon Cefus and the Ostermillers separately report- Clark). Karen Zeleznik counted 10 while walk- ed the first of the year, at Killbuck on 11 Mar. Joe ing the railroad tracks north of CVNP’s Station Brehm saw the next, at Lake Logan SP, Hocking, Road entrance on 08 May. (60 counties) on 17 Mar. The high count was 150, by Bob Coo- Black-crowned Night-Heron per at Magee on 12 May. James Muller saw at Paula Lozano counted 57 on the Cuyahoga Riv- least six active nests at Campbell Memorial Park, er shore opposite Cleveland’s Merwin Street on Franklin, on 24 Apr; he counted 22 birds in the 09 Apr. (28 counties) area for the inland high number. (62 counties) Yellow-crowned Night-Heron One visited the Preston Road colony site and near- by Wolfe Park on 29, 30, and 31 May, and again once in Jun (m. obs.), but did not nest. Not that it matters much at this point, but Preston Road is in Columbus, not Bexley as is often reported.

Leslie Sours captured this Great Egret feeding on a frog at ONWR on 14 May.

Snowy Egret Multiple birders saw one or two in ONWR on 18 Apr, the earliest date. The high count of seven was shared by Randy Kreager near Magee on Leslie Sours obtained this image of an adult Yellow-crowned 22 Apr and Karen Beaty at ONWR on 10 May. Night-Heron on 29 May at the defunct nesting site on Preston The only sighting away from the Lake Erie coun- Road. ties was a single which Charles Thompson found at Ice Creek, Lawrence, on 07 May. Erie, Lo- Glossy Ibis rain, and Sandusky also hosted Snowys. Up to four were reported in Lucas, Sandusky, and Wyandot, but the OBRC has only what it Little Blue Heron could collect from the internet for any of them. The four locations with sightings are: Twin Churches Lake, Perry, one on 19 and 20 Apr (m. obs.) A pond by Jackson Street, Lake, one on 27 May (Andy Avram, Dave Chase) Magee, one or two between 12 and 23 May (m. obs.) Tricolored Heron One was reported in Lucas; the OBRC has only an internet report with no details. Cattle Egret Paul Sherwood saw the first, two by Bogart Road, Erie, on 19 Apr. He saw three and six there on 20 This Cattle Egret posed in front of a perfectly appropriate bovine and 21 Apr, respectively. Keith Laakkonen made background for Su Snyder on 12 May in Erie. the high count of nine, at Metzger on 13 May.

119 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 White-faced Ibis Northern Harrier The OBRC has documentation from Lucas but The high count of five was shared by three par- nothing about one bird reported in Cuyahoga. ties. Daniel DeLapp saw that many at Fernald Plegadis sp. Ibis on 05 Mar, Scott Pendleton’s were by Industrial Unspeciated reports came from Cuyahoga, Parkway, Harrison, on 15 Mar, and Ben Warner Franklin, Lucas, Sandusky, and Wyandot and Anna Wittmer tied them at Killdeer on 31 but none were documented for the OBRC. Mar. (57 counties) Black Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk The highest count was 60, by Thomas Czubek A group of observers counted up to 28 passing along a short stretch of U.S. 50 in Clermont on Huntington Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 03 May. 29 Mar. Matt Anderson saw one in Maumee, Lu- The most elsewhere were eight, seen at Volunteer cas, on 11 Mar, a very early date for one to roam Bay, Erie, on 02 Apr and Edgewater on 12 Apr that far north. That bird and one at Huntington (both Jen Brumfield). A Kent State University Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 03 May (m. obs.) Bird Club outing tallied three at Lake Rockwell, were the only ones north of U.S. 30. (44 counties) Portage, on 13 Mar, for the highest number away from the Lake Erie shore. (51 counties) Turkey Vulture Chris Swan noted about 300 at an Ashtabula River Cooper’s Hawk overlook in that county on 04 May. Jen Brumfield The high count was four. Kim Warner saw that contributed the second-highest count, 176 passing many at Maumee Bay on 01 Apr. So did Tom over Wendy Park on 29 Mar. (all 88 counties) Bartlett at Kelleys Island on 19 Apr. and Bob and Freda Walker at Irwin Prairie SNP, Lucas, on 09 Osprey May. (76 counties) The first date was 11 Mar. That day Ron Fur- nish and Marie Mullins saw one above I-275 in Northern Goshawk Clermont and Phil Swan saw another on the ice An internet report from Cuyahoga has a de- of Buckeye Lake, Perry. Charles Bombaci saw scription. One from Trumbull has no details. two males, two females, and four whose sex he Red-shouldered Hawk couldn’t determine at the north end of Hoover The high count was nine; Benjamin Miller saw Reservoir on 23 May. The second-highest count them pass over his home in Knox on 08 Apr. was five, at that site and another also in Dela- The second-highest count was six, by Jen Brum- ware on four dates. (70 counties) field at the Fitzwater access to the Towpath Trail, Mississippi Kite Cuyahoga, on 11 Apr, and by Bruce Simpson The OBRC has documentation from Lucas. An at Lake Hope/Zaleski on 04 May. (69 counties) internet report of one in Portage might have Broad-winged Hawk enough of a description to enable a vote. The first was about two weeks early; Eric Elvert Bald Eagle well described it at Spring Valley WA, Warren, A Biggest Week trip to Winous Point on 10 May on 18 Mar. The next were one or two at four yielded 50. Kent Miller saw the most away from locations on 09 Apr. Rob Ripma contributed the Lake Erie, 21 on the ice of Berlin Lake on 25 high count of 26, at ONWR on 12 Apr. Tim Mar. (78 counties) Houghton’s 19 at Aullwood Audubon Center, Montgomery, was the second-highest number. (55 counties) Red-tailed Hawk Jen Brumfield counted the high of 21 passing Edgewater on 12 Apr. Every county but Meigs produced at least one sighting. Rough-legged Hawk Allison Oborn saw the last, at Magee on 24 Apr. Scott Pendleton found 12 at Industrial Parkway, Harrison, on 15 Mar. Scott also found nine that day in the New Reclaim Area, Harrison, and Fred Losi had also seen nine at Killdeer on 08 Mar. (30 counties) Tom Fishburn chronicled activity at this Bald Eagle nest in the Rocky River Reservation, Cuyahoga, with this view of the Golden Eagle nestlings calling hungrily for a meal on 03 May. All of the sightings were of birds in flight. Brian

120 Vol. 38 No. 3 McCaskey noted the first of the season, and first where one to two were seen from 30 Apr through of the year away from The Wilds, at Lake La Su May (m. obs.); Killdeer, where Irina Shulgina saw An WA, Williams, on 02 Mar. Kim Warner two on 06 May; Pickerel Creek, which hosted one saw the last at a private property in Lucas on 13 or two between 11 and 23 May (m. obs.), and Apr. Two at Edgewater on 05 Apr were the only Winous Point, where at least three arrived in mid- multiple count (Jen Brumfield and Tim Jasinski). May and remained into Jun (John Simpson). Muskingum, Ottawa, Stark, Vinton, and two additional Lucas sites also contributed sightings. King Rail The first was seen at ONWR on 10 May (Phil Doerr). BSBO banders attached a transmitter to one they captured at Winous Point on 15 May. Other sightings came from Pipe Creek, Mallard Club Marsh WA (Lucas), and Maumee Bay. Virginia Rail Vic Fazio nicely documented this elegant Black-necked Stilt on The first was a bit early; Ronnie Clark saw it at 16 May at Pickerel Creek. Darby Creek on 19 Mar. Sightings were nearly continuous, there and elsewhere, from that date American Avocet on. The high count was nine. Bryant Atanasio On the first date of 24 Apr, one or two were at found that many along the ONWR auto tour Conneaut (Daisy Asmus, Chris Swan), Magee (Alli- route on both 15 and 16 May. (34 counties) son Oborn), and Maumee Bay (m. obs.). A BSBO field trip saw the last of the season, at Pipe Creek Sora on 13 May. Matt Kemp and Charles Owens inde- Carol Holdcroft noted the first, in the Warren pendently counted 102 at Metzger on 01 May, but section of Spring Valley WA on 31 Mar. Rob only 40 remained on 05 May (Lisa Romaniuk) and Ripma reported 30 from Mallard Club Marsh none thereafter. Ed Wransky’s 52 at Sandy Ridge WA, Lucas, on 06 May and wrote that they on 30 Apr was the highest number elsewhere. Re- were “… calling from everywhere…Likely un- ports also came from Hocking, Lake, and Stark. dercounted.” Benjamin Miller found the sec- ond-highest number, a vocal 15 in one part of Darby Creek on 02 May. (40 counties) Common Gallinule Josh Stapleton saw the first, at East Sandusky Bay MP, Erie, on 05 Apr. That’s early for the state, let alone the north coast. The second, at This lovely composition of 40 American Avocets landing at San- Magee on 15 Apr, was more timely (Kim War- dy Ridge was caught by Tom Fishburn on 30 Apr. ner). Steve Jones found 20 at Big Island on 17 May as did Ron Sempier on 23 May. Audrey Black-bellied Plover Whitlock counted 12 during the ONWR auto Heather Slayton saw the first, at Maumee Bay tour on 09 May. (18 counties) on 30 Apr. Sightings were steady from 02 May American Coot to 25 May and then skipped to the last, two birds Many reports of 500 or more came from Big Is- on 31 May at Headlands (Dave Chase). The land; Ron Sempier’s 1280 on 11 Apr was the larg- highest count was 50, shared by Denise DuPon est number. The most elsewhere were 800 at Kill- on 12 May and Andy Jones on 15 May, both at deer on 28 Mar (Charles Bombaci). (79 counties) Sandhill Crane Karl Overman noted the first of the season; he heard one on 10 Mar while he was at Magee. Clet Herman counted 60 along Hicks-Edge Road, Defiance, on 15 Mar. David A. Brink- man’s 50 near Dayton on 09 Apr was the sec- ond-highest number, and the remaining reports topped out at 25. (43 counties) Black-necked Stilt These unmistakable birds, newly released from Photographer Debbie Parker obtained stunning detail of this the Review List, were found at four sites: Metzger, Sandhill Crane at Sandy Ridge on 31 Mar.

121 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Metzger. The most at a site away from Lake Erie folks saw the last, at Deer Creek SP on 21 May. were 30 at Lost Bridge on 17 and 18 May (m. Jeff Harvey’s 104 at Walborn Reservoir, Stark, obs.). (14 counties) on 03 May prompted him to write, “Counted American Golden-Plover with scope twice. Most I have ever seen.” Greg- A Lucas private property hosted the first, on ory Bennet had estimated about 100 at nearby 04 Apr (Kim Warner), and Metzger the last, on Nimisila Reservoir earlier that day; they were al- 25 May (Carlton Schooley, Kevin Lee). Victor most surely the same flock. The most elsewhere Fazio III counted (not estimated) 1170 at a pri- were a more typical 22 at the Paulding Reser- vate wetland in Wyandot on 07 May, and noted voir on 30 Apr (Scott Myers). Three locations that most were in breeding plumage. The sec- each hosted seven, the next highest number. (14 ond-highest number was an estimated 500 at counties) Metzger on 11 May (Jeff Harvey, Ethan Kistler). Lesser Yellowlegs (17 counties) The first and last were at the same privateLucas Semipalmated Plover property, on 12 Mar and 31 May respectively The first was a little early when a BRAS field trip (Kim Warner). In between, the high count was saw it at Sandy Ridge on 22 Apr. Brian Wulk- 81, by Joshua Eastlake at Newtown Bottoms, er counted 75 at Lost Bridge on 15 May. (40 Hamilton, on 26 Apr. (50 counties) counties) Upland Sandpiper Piping Plover The first was passing through Wendy Park when Internet reports from Hancock and Lake in- Jen Brumfield saw it on 18 Apr. Scott Pendleton cluded photographs, so they can probably saw the next, two on 26 Apr at The Bowl, where be evaluated by the OBRC. A report from they likely stayed to nest. The last (probable) mi- Ashtabula had no details. grant was at Fairport Nursery Road, Lake, on 29 May (Cory Chiappone). Many birders enjoyed Killdeer the four by Stange Road, Ottawa, on 13 May. The high count was 40. Ben Morrison saw his Clark, Franklin, Greene, and Harrison also at Wills Creek, Noble, on 13 Mar. Ben Warner had sightings. and Anna Wittmer equaled that number at Kill- deer’s Pond 27 on 31 Mar. Every county except Whimbrel Jackson, Meigs, and Pike produced sightings. The reports are: One at Lost Bridge on 17 May (m. obs.) and two Spotted Sandpiper there the next day (Brian Wulker) Ronnie Clark saw the first, along Murnan Road Sixteen at Indian Lake on 18 May (Troy Shively) (near Darby Creek) on 03 Apr. The next were Fourteen at Conneaut on 23 May (John Pogacnik) singles on 11 Apr at Old Reid Park, Clark (Brian Forty-seven flying over Killdeer on 25 May (Irina Menker), and in Grove City, Franklin (Gayle Pe- Shulgina) nix). Shane Myers and Robert Sams found 25 at One at Fairport Harbor, Lake, on 31 May (fide the Findlay Reservoirs on 16 May. Tom Frankel Jen Brumfield) saw 23 at Headlands on 15 May. (68 counties) Hudsonian Godwit Solitary Sandpiper Bev Walborn found one along Corduroy Road, Ryan Jacob saw one at Metzger on 06 Apr, the Lucas, on 12 May; dozens of birders saw the earliest date. The last bird but for one in mid-Jun bird later that day and the next. was at Conneaut on 30 May (the Shaykos). The high count was 20 by Ed Neu at Spring Valley Marbled Godwit WA, Greene, on 04 May. (54 counties) The reports are: Two at Metzger on 21 Apr (Tim Drewyur and Greater Yellowlegs Tim Haney) The first was later than usual; Ronnie Clark One at the Paulding sewage lagoons on 23 Apr found it at Darby Creek on 20 Mar. The last (Carrie and Scott Myers) two just missed our summer; Kim Warner saw One at Caesar Creek on 07 May (Eric Elvert) them in Lucas on 31 May. Ron Sempier count- One at Metzger from 07 to 16 May (m. obs.) ed 92 at Big Island on 11 Apr. Regina Schieltz saw about 50 in Elroy, Darke, on 16 Apr. (54 Ruddy Turnstone counties) Many birders saw the first, an early arrival at Metzger on 26 Apr. The high count was 30; the Willet Ostermillers saw them along the Metzger outer Ryan Jacob and Kim Warner separately report- dike on 25 May. Tom Kemp provided the sec- ed the first, three at Metzger on 25 Apr. Lots of ond-highest number, 16 at CPNWR on 24 May.

122 Vol. 38 No. 3 The inland maximum was five, shared by Alex- Creek, Franklin (but not in the MP), on 11 Apr ander Clark at Lost Bridge on 17 May and Troy was a pioneer. One at Headlands on 31 May was Shively at Indian Lake on 14 May. Ashtabula, the last of the season (Tom Frankel) though a few Cuyahoga, Fulton, Lake, Ottawa, Pickaway, stragglers were seen in early Jun. Kent Miller and Sandusky also contributed sightings. counted 80 at Shreve Lake WA, Wayne, on 16 Ruff May. A group from Earlham College and Brian The OBRC has formal documentation from Wulker reported the second-highest number, 50, Trumbull and some information and photos of at Lost Bridge on 10 and 15 May respectively. one in Erie. (48 counties) White-rumped Sandpiper Ronnie Clark discovered the first, in a flooded field west of Columbus on 05 May. Lots of folks saw the next one, at Metzger on 08 May. Jeff Harvey waved goodbye to the last of the season at Conneaut on 24 May though there were a few stragglers until mid-Jun. Brian Wulker’s six at Lost Bridge on 15 May was the high count. Oth- er Lucas sites and Hancock, Licking, Mercer, Ottawa, Sandusky, Wayne, and Wyandot also contributed sightings of up to four birds. Pectoral Sandpiper Jeanne Hrenko well described a slightly early This female Ruff, a rare visitor, was well photographed on 19 Apr by Amy Didion during a Firelands Audubon tour of bird hanging out with Killdeer at a Cuyahoga Medusa Marsh. business park on 10 Mar. One at Camp Berry, Hancock (Jeff Loughman and Robert Sams), Stilt Sandpiper and two at Springfield Marsh SNP, Seneca The reports are: (Tom Bartlett), on 15 Mar were the next. Amy One at ONWR on 09 May (Chris Peet) and Kevin O’Neil saw the last, five in Delaware One at Killdeer on 10 May (Irina Shulgina) and WA on 25 May. Brian Ortman counted 225 13 May (Ron Sempier) in a Madison stubble field on 15 Apr; Regina One at Metzger on 12 May (R. Lee Reed) and Schieltz topped him with about 300 in Elroy, 17 May (Mike Wielgopolski, Rob and Sandy Darke, on 16 Apr. (42 counties) Harlan) Semipalmated Sandpiper One (the Metzger bird?) along Corduroy Road, Charles Bombaci’s four at Killdeer on 24 Apr Lucas, on 13 May (m. obs.) were early birds. Sightings continued into Jun. One at Lost Bridge on 17 May (Paul Krusling) Brian Wulker provided the high count of 100, Sanderling at Lost Bridge on 18 May. The most elsewhere Matt Orebaugh saw the first, at ONWR on 09 were 45 which Regina Schieltz found in the May. Ed Wransky saw three at Bay Point, Otta- Woods Road wetlands, Darke, on 25 May. (36 wa, on 23 May; they were the last but for a single counties) early Jun sighting. ONWR hosted 10 on 13 May Western Sandpiper (Gloria Nikolai). The inland high was Anthony Donald Morse, Jr., got a diagnostic photo of this Popiel’s duo at Sandy Ridge on 21 May. Reports rare spring migrant at East Fork on 27 Apr. also came from Ashtabula, Clark, Erie, and Lake. Short-billed Dowitcher Metzger hosted the first, three on 26 Apr (Katie Dunlin Anderson). Jen Brumfield saw the last, another Louis Hoying saw the first, at Lake Loramie SP, three at Burke Airport on 26 May. Steve Jones Shelby, on 23 Mar. Sightings continued, though noted 130 at Big Island on 15 May and multiple thinly, into Jun. Wes Hatch found almost 2000 observers reported about 100 at Metzger on 15 at Pickerel Creek on 14 May. The next-highest and 16 May. (17 counties) number was 900, at Metzger on 16 May (m. obs.). Charles Bombaci tallied the inland high Long-billed Dowitcher count of 113 at Killdeer on 24 Apr. (33 counties) These are less commonly seen in spring than fall, and in spring usually arrive earlier than their Least Sandpiper Short-billed cousins. The reports are of one at The one which Ronnie Clark found along Darby Charles Mill Lake, Ashland, on 29 and 31 Mar

123 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 (Gary Cowell), and one at Darby Creek on 11 One at Lost Bridge on 24 Apr (Brian Wulker) Apr (Ronnie Clark) and 12 Apr (Leslie Sours). Two at Mosquito Lake SP on 08 May (Don Wilson’s Snipe Keffer) James Gore counted a total of 102 spread out One to two at Alum Creek SP between 17 and among several parts of Darby Creek on 02 Apr. 21 May (m. obs.) Brian Wulker found the second-highest number, One at Hoover Reservoir on 23 May (Charles 60, at Fernald on 06 Apr. (46 counties) Bombaci) Four at Indian Lake on 24 May (Troy Shively) American Woodcock Three at Burke Airport on 30 May (m. obs.) Though there were several Feb reports, the first of this season wasn’t until 08 Mar, when Chris Ring-billed Gull Zacharias found seven at Possum Creek MP, Sameer Apte provided the high count of 5000, from Montgomery. Andy Avram spent 90 minutes the Scranton Flats vantage point on 01 Mar. Jeff at Lake Erie Bluffs on 19 Mar and wrote, “Wood- Loughman contributed the second-highest number, cock were in every field in the area, both Lane 4100 at the Seneca landfill on 06 Mar. (80 counties) and Clark Road entrances. 15-20 were actually Herring Gull seen flying around and 20-30 were heard only. The waters off Wendy Park hosted about 3500 All total 40-50 were encountered. This was the on 29 Mar (Jen Brumfield). The most elsewhere most Woodcock I have ever witnessed.” The were 1500 at a landfill in Tuscarawas on 06 most elsewhere were Eli M. Miller’s 15 in Wood- Mar (Jon Cefus). (64 counties) bury WA, Coshocton, on 18 Mar. (59 counties) Thayer’s Gull Wilson’s Phalarope The reports are: Margy Trumbull saw the first, by Olde Brookside One to two at various locations along the Road, Lucas, on 07 May. The last were singles in Cleveland between 01 and on 22 May at Burke Airport (Jen Brumfield) and 18 Mar (m. obs.) along Sebring-Warner Road, Darke (Regina One unusually far inland at the Findlay Reser- Schieltz). Matt and Rachelle Kappler saw two voirs on 14 Mar (Shane Myers) at Pickerel Creek on 17 May, the only report One at Kelleys Island on 20 Mar (Tom Bartlett) exceeding one. Erie, Wyandot, and a second One (a holdover or returnee?) at Wendy Park on Cuyahoga site also produced sightings. 16 Apr (Jen Brumfield) Red-necked Phalarope Iceland Gull Greg Pasek saw the season’s only one, at Pickerel Jen Brumfield saw the last, at Wendy Park on 16 Creek on 20 May. Apr. Jon Cefus and Kent Miller saw five at the Bonaparte’s Gull Shroyer ball fields, Stark, on 05 and 06 Mar. Wendy Becker found the first since 09 Feb, three Erie, Lucas, Mahoning, Montgomery, Sum- birds at Alum Creek on 07 Mar. Jen Brumfield mit, and Tuscarawas also had sightings. estimated 2800 were at Wendy Park on 05 Apr Thayer’s/Iceland Gull and 600 to 1400 there on other dates. The most Robert Sams wasn’t sure which species was the elsewhere were about 800 at Deer Creek Lake on one at the Hancock landfill on 06 Mar. 28 Mar (Robert Royse). (63 counties) Glaucous Gull Little Gull John Pogacnik saw the latest, at Lake Erie Bluffs John Pogacnik saw one on each of 05 Apr and on 19 May. Kent Miller tallied the high count 03 May during his lakeshore surveys in North of eight, again at the Shroyer ball fields, Stark. Perry, Lake. (16 counties, again as far south as Montgomery) Laughing Gull The reports, all of single birds, are: In a field by U.S. 42 in Greene between 18 and 20 Mar (m. obs.) At Wendy Park on 11 Apr (Chuck Slusarczyk, Jr.) and 14 Apr (Jen Brumfield) Off North Perry, Lake, on 03 May (John Pogacnik) Franklin’s Gull The reports are: One at Rocky Fork on 28 Mar (Bill Stanley) Photographer Ron Sempier captured this Glaucous Gull in flight at Indian Lake, Logan, on 09 Apr.

124 Vol. 38 No. 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull Shively’s 17 at Indian Lake on 14 May was the The last but for a late Jun sighting was by Tom inland high count. (19 counties south to Clark) Frankel at Headlands on 31 May. The sec- Forster’s Tern ond-last were singles at one Ottawa and three Chuck Slusarczyk, Jr. saw the earliest, at Ivancic Lucas locations on 16 May. Interestingly, the Marina, Cuyahoga, on 28 Mar. A week passed high count of 11 was somewhat inland at the until the next singles were seen, on 04 Apr at Salt Seneca landfill on 06 Mar (Jeff Loughman). So Fork Reservoir, Guernsey (Eli M. Miller), and was the second-highest count, Kent Miller’s six Mentor Lagoons NP, Lake (Ian Lynch). William at the Shroyer ball fields, Stark, on 05 Mar. (27 Zwartjes counted 68 at Magee on 22 May, and counties as far south as Montgomery) Edward Ingold’s 10 at the Findlay Reservoirs on [Herring x Glaucous (“Nelson’s”) Gull] 16 May was the inland high number. (26 coun- Sameer Apte saw one at Scranton Flats on 01 ties; of them only Butler, Clermont, Hamil- Mar; it was probably the same bird seen near ton, and Noble are south of I-70) there on 26 Feb. Jon Cefus reported another Rock Pigeon among the many hundreds of gulls at the Shroy- The high count of 200 was shared. Miranda er ball fields, also on 01 Mar. DeBoard saw that many at Veterans Park, Mont- Great Black-backed Gull gomery, on both 10 and 25 Mar, and Eric Liebold Tom Bartlett counted 155 off Kelleys Island on found his at Walsh Park, Sandusky. (80 counties) 20 Mar and noted that “probably more especial- Eurasian Collared-Dove ly younger birds [were] on ice flows to the south; The high count of these now fairly widespread most [of the 155] were adult birds which were birds was four. Gary Cowell found that many easier to see”. The second-highest concentration at Perrysville Union Cemetery, Ashland, on 06 was Cory Chiappone’s 120 at Eastlake Power. Mar. On 02 May, Bill and René McGill tied him Kent Miller found the inland high of 88 at the in Celina, Mercer, as did Robby Bradley at the Shroyer fields on 03 Mar. (28 counties as far hatchery at the other, Auglaize, end of Grand south as Warren) Lake St. Marys the same day. (14 counties) [Herring x Great Black-backed Gull] White-winged Dove Jon Cefus also reported this hybrid at the Shroyer The OBRC has documentation from Hancock ball fields on 01 Mar. Alex Eberts got a diagnos- but nothing regarding a Cuyahoga report. tic photo of one at the Scranton Flats on 05 Mar. Mourning Dove Caspian Tern Heather Luedecke and Angelika Nelson count- Three locations shared the first sightings, all of ed 63 during their BBS rounds in Union on 30 single birds, on 02 Apr. They were Huron Har- May; all other counts were smaller. Only Pike bor, Erie (Jen Brumfield and Dan Gesualdo), did not produce a sighting. Eastlake Power (Cory Chiappone), and Maumee Bay (Ryan Jacob). The Ostermillers noted about Dove sp. 350 at Pickerel Creek on 18 May. The most Kirby Adams photographed one of two seen by elsewhere were 200 at Wendy Park on 19 Apr many at Metzger on 09 May which was none of (Dennis Mersky) and the inland high was Frank the three species above; he said it was “likely a do- Frick’s 11 at Lost Bridge on 25 Apr. (34 counties) mestic escapee”. Rob Harlan agreed and suggest- ed that they were “fresh from a nearby wedding”. Black Tern Findlay Reservoirs hosted the first one, on 26 Apr (Robert Sams). The high count was 15, by R. Lee Reed at Metzger on 16 May, and the inland maxi- mum number was six, by Troy Shively at Indian Lake on 18 May. Reports also came from Erie, Marion, Ottawa, Paulding, Wood, and Wyandot. Common Tern Tom Frankel saw the first, at Fairport Harbor, Lake, on 05 Apr. Victor Fazio III saw about 550 off Lakeshore Drive, Port Clinton, Ottawa, and noted that “the group was a contiguous mass in a feeding frenzy.” He saw more than 350 there the next day. Andy Stepniewski found 200 at Breeding activity was in full swing for Common Terns at Con- Metzger on 11 May, the most elsewhere. Troy neaut on 27 May; this image is by Bob Lane.

125 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Snowy Owl The first one, in Cooper Hollow WA, Jackson, The reports, all of single birds, are: on 21 Apr was a bit early (Margaret Bowman). At Cleveland Hopkins Airport, seen from the Katrina Schultes found seven along an expanded 100th Bomb Group restaurant on 03 Mar BBS route in the Anderson Meadows section of (Christopher Collins) Wayne NF, Lawrence, on 29 May. (64 counties) In Willoughby Hills, Lake, on 06 Mar (Mary Black-billed Cuckoo Beth Gersten) Kyle Brooks found the first, at The Ridges, an In Caley Reservation, Lorain, being harassed by Ohio University property in Athens, on 01 May. four crows on 13 Mar (Ed Wransky) The high count was four, shared by Charles Barred Owl Gates at OOPMP on 10 May and Tom Bartlett et David A. Brinkman counted six at East Fork on al. in the Jones Preserve on 18 May. (42 counties) 02 May. (55 counties) Long-eared Owl The last (and most) were three at ONWR on 25 Mar (Kim Warner). On 16 Mar, Ron Sempier saw one at Killdeer, and that same day Carl- ton Schooley found two near Dalton, Wayne. There were duos at other sites as well. Frank- lin, Holmes, and Lake also produced sightings.

Jenny Bowman snapped this portrait of a Black-billed Cuckoo at Blackhand Gorge SNP, Licking, on 05 May.

Barn Owl The reports are: One in Holmes while he (birder Eli M. Miller, not the owl) was biking to work on 10 Mar One northbound over Columbia Woods Park, Summit, in the late evening of 10 Apr (Rob This Long-eared Owl peered down at photographer Ron Sempier at Killdeer Plains on 16 Mar. Harlan) Two in an old barn at a Big Island inholding on Short-eared Owl 24 Apr (Charles Bombaci) and one there on The last flew past Katie Anderson in theOttawa 20 May (Ron Sempier) section of Magee on 26 Apr. Two at Big Island One at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve, Adams, on 17 Apr were the second-last (Luke Schrader). on 15 May (Donna Kuhn and Lisa Phelps) The high count was nine; Scott Pendleton saw Two at a different Big Island site on 17 May (Jacob Roalef) Eastern Screech-Owl The high count was five. Many observers noted that many at and near the nest boxes at Maumee Bay on dates between 15 and 24 May. Maggie Peretto also saw five, at Magee on 16 May. (37 counties) Great Horned Owl The high count was four, achieved at six loca- tions in four of the 50 counties which produced Kevin McKelvey found one of the Maumee Bay SP boardwalk’s sightings. resident Eastern Screech-Owls on 12 May.

126 Vol. 38 No. 3 them along Industrial Parkway, Harrison, on 15 Chimney Swift Mar. The day before, he had seen six in the New Allyson Arulanantham found two in Whetstone Reclaim Area, Harrison. The most in another Park, Franklin, on 02 Apr to start their season. county were five along Wilderness Road on 05 Nathan Goldberg estimated about 500 (“A huge Mar (Dana and Sean Ricker). Reports also came swarm on both sides of the highway”) were from Franklin, Geauga, Hamilton, Hancock, swirling above I-90 east of Cleveland on 20 May. Holmes, Lorain, Marion, and Wyandot. Every county but Fayette, Jackson, Meigs, and Northern Saw-whet Owl Monroe produced sightings. The reports, all of single birds, are: Ruby-throated Hummingbird From winter to 13 Mar at Caley Reservation, Lo- The first date was 18 Apr, when Sam Romeo saw rain (m. obs.) one at his Athens home and Troy Shively anoth- On Cable Lane, Athens, on 04 Mar (Phil er in Wapakoneta, Auglaize. The high count Cantino) of eight was also shared, by Charles Bombaci at At Kelleys Island on 09 Mar (Tom Bartlett) Blackhand Gorge SNP, Licking, on 05 May and At Killdeer on 08, 12, and 22 Mar (m. obs.) John Pogacnik at Lake Erie Bluffs on 18 May. (79 Common Nighthawk counties) Amanda Soto well described one overhead in Belted Kingfisher Delaware on 12 Apr, a week or so ahead of The highest count was eight. Benjamin Miller schedule for the middle of the state. One in Cin- found them while canoeing eight miles of the cinnati’s Clifton neighborhood on 29 Apr was , Knox, on 17 Apr. John Po- the next (m. obs.). The highest count was 16 by gacnik tied him on 19 Apr at Lake Erie Bluffs. Ann and Dwight Chasar in CVNP on 16 May. (79 counties) (46 counties) Red-headed Woodpecker Daniel DeLapp found 18 in OOPMP on 13 May. (73 counties) Red-bellied Woodpecker Tim Jasinski et al. counted 20 in Huntington Res- ervation, Cuyahoga, on 19 Apr. Only Pike did not yield a sighting. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Jackie Augustine saw what was probably the last migrant in Lima, Allen, on 27 May. Lat- The ONWR auto tour featured a grand view of this roosting er sightings were at known nesting areas in the Common Nighthawk for Su Snyder on 12 May. northeast. A Woodlawn Cemetery, Lucas, walk produced nine on 03 Apr (m. obs.). (63 counties) Chuck-will’s-widow Downy Woodpecker The reports are: CNC Rowe Woods hosted 45 on 13 May (Peggy Two along Route 278 in Zaleski SF on 07 May Page), and Tom Bartlett found 36 on Kelleys Is- (Bruce Simpson) land on 20 Mar. (all 88 counties) Up to five at and near the Eulett Center on Hairy Woodpecker Waggoner Riffle Road, , beginning 08 Adams CNC Rowe Woods again produced the high May (m. obs.) count, 15 on 01 Mar (Tracy Cambron). The One in on 09 May (Karen Neal) Gallia second-highest was seven, in Hills and Dales MP, One heard calling near the Maumee Bay camp- Montgomery, on 04 Apr (Brian Menker). (81 ground on 09 May (m. obs.) counties) Eastern Whip-poor-will Northern Flicker Zachary Allen heard the first, two at his Scioto A three hour Metroparks outing at Lake Erie farm on 07 Apr. He heard one there on 18 and 19 Bluffs on 12 Apr produced 325, most of them Apr as well. The next were three which Howard passing by overhead (m. obs.) Jen Brumfield Gratz found in Wayne NF, Perry, on 20 Apr. One counted 35 in an hour at Volunteer Bay, Erie, was seen or heard at Magee almost daily between on 02 Apr. Lawrence and Pike did not provide 26 Apr and 13 May. Kevin Ginn and Ryan Pereus sightings. heard nine along Girdham Road in OOPMP be- ginning about 9:00 pm on 18 May. (19 counties) Pileated Woodpecker The high count of six was shared by four par-

127 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 ties. Fred Dinkelbach et al. found that many on for Jeffrey Pontius on 04 May. Tom Bartlett et both 12 and 26 Apr during Spring Bird Walks in al. banded two and saw or heard five more in the CVNP. Gregory Wheeler had already seen six Jones Preserve on 18 May. That same day, Jen at Highbanks MP, Delaware, on 15 Mar, and Brumfield et al. noted four at Wendy Park. (24 Bruce Simpson later found his in Lake Hope/ counties) Zaleski on 04 May. (80 counties) Acadian Flycatcher American Kestrel Mark Willis reported the first, in Glen Helen NP, Charles Bombaci achieved the high count of sev- Greene, on 01 May. The Ostermillers encoun- en at Big Island on 28 Mar. (81 counties) tered 30 along the Lyons Falls Trail in Mohican Merlin SP on 29 May. (71 counties) Brian McKaskey found the last, at Lake La Su Alder Flycatcher An WA, Williams, on 22 May. Four locations One showed up a bit early, 04 May, at Headlands hosted two on seven dates among them. (27 (Corey Chiappone and Ray Hannikman). Tom counties) Bartlett et al. banded one of the nine they en- Peregrine Falcon countered in the Jones Preserve on 18 May. Vic- The McGills saw five at the nest on the PNC tor Fazio III noted that the six he found at Magee Building in Cincinnati on 09 May. (29 counties) on 17 May were “all in song”. (34 counties) Prairie Falcon Willow Flycatcher The OBRC has a report from Lucas. One Cuyahoga, one Vinton, and two Franklin sites hosted one or two on 04 May (m. obs.). Bill Olive-sided Flycatcher Deininger’s group found 30 at Lake Erie Bluffs Tim Haney and Tim Thompson saw the first, on 24 May. (65 counties) at Magee on 04 May. The high count of three was also at Magee, on 24 May (Donna Kuhn and Alder/Willow (“Traill’s”) Flycatcher Lisa Phelps). The last of the season were singles Unless you hear them or hold them, these two on 29 May at Lake Erie Bluffs (John Pogacnik) species are nearly impossible to tell apart. Ange- and Myeerah NP, Logan (John Games and Ron lika Nelson saw one “Traill’s” at Camp Oty’ok- Sempier), but there were also two sightings on 01 wa, Hocking, on 03 May, which is a day before Jun. (17 counties) either species was positively identified elsewhere. Tom Bartlett and crew saw 12 in the Jones Pre- serve on 18 May. Least Flycatcher Jessica Lowery and Jason Sullivan shared first-sighting honors on 18 Apr at Sheldon Marsh and Twin Creek MP, Montgomery, respectively. The high count of nine was also shared, by Katie Anderson at Magee on 15 May and Victor Fazio III at Wendy Park on 16 May. (46 counties) Empidonax sp. Flycatcher Margaret Bowman saw one at Lake Vesuvius, Lawrence, on 21 Apr and Eric Elvert another in Woodman Fen, Montgomery, on 26 Apr. These dates are early for any empid other than Leslie Sours shot a cameo of this Olive-sided Flycatcher as it Least Flycatcher, the birds’ probable identity. perched at Magee’s East Beach on 15 May. Eastern Phoebe Louis Hoying noted the first of the season, at Eastern Wood-Pewee Lake Loramie SP, Shelby, on 10 Mar. A quartet The first date was 24 Apr. On that day Andrea of birders found 11 at Camp Berry, Hancock, on Anderson saw two in Shawnee and Bettyann 12 Apr. All counties but Crawford and Fayette Nagy saw one in Mill Creek Park, Mahoning. produced sightings. Dave Chase counted 23 at Headlands on 25 May; the second-highest number was Cole Di- Great Crested Flycatcher Fabio’s 15 at Holden on 28 May. (79 counties) William Hull’s Cincinnati yard hosted the first, on 17 Apr. Four birders canoed seven miles of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher the upper Cuyahoga River in Geauga on 19 Heritage Preserve, Franklin, hosted the first, May and counted 15 along the way. Coshocton,

128 Vol. 38 No. 3 Jackson, Lawrence, Morrow, Muskingum, Bell’s Vireo and Pike did not provide reports. Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker saw the first, Eastern Kingbird at Buck Creek on 06 May. One returned to Nee- The first, at Monday Creek, Perry, on 12 Apr, dles Road, Wood, for the third year in a row, on was an early arrival (Phil Swan). The high count 16 May (Matt Kemp). Four locations on eight was Jen Brumfield’s 84 at Burke Airport on 16 dates each hosted duos. Delaware, Franklin, May. Two Lucas sites each hosted 45 on differ- Hamilton, Marion, Montgomery, and Pick- ent May dates. (81 counties) away also produced sightings. Yellow-throated Vireo The first sightings were on 13 Apr, in CNC Rowe Woods (the McGills) and Willow Wood, Law- rence (Hayward Chappell). A regrettably anon- ymous eBirder reported the first near Lake Erie at Shaker Lakes, Cuyahoga, on 29 Apr. Bob Curry counted 10 along 15 miles of Shawnee roads on 09 May. (73 counties) Blue-headed Vireo Gabriel Amrhein saw the first, in SP on 04 Apr. Dick Hoopes and Kelly Koslowski found the earliest in the north at LaDue on 12 Apr. The high count was 11, shared by Nicole Kevin McKelvey found this Eastern Kingbird in a nice pose on Freshour in Hocking on 18 Apr and Leslie Sours 11 May during the ONWR auto tour. at Magee on 15 May. (56 counties) Warbling Vireo Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Neil Gilbert found one at CNC Rowe Woods on One was reported in Ottawa but the OBRC has 17 Apr, as did Betty Carty along the Hoover Park no details. Connector Trail, Stark. One got to Lake Erie at Loggerhead Shrike Wendy Park on 18 Apr (Jen Brumfield). Magee Internet reports of one in Lake include hosted 60 on 17 May (Quentin Schultze). The photographs. most elsewhere were 25 at Wendy Park on both Northern Shrike 04 and 10 May (Jen Brumfield). (80 counties) Irina Shulgina saw the last of these winter visi- Philadelphia Vireo tors, at Killdeer on 01 Apr. All of the sightings, Margaret Bowman noted an early bird at Law- in 13 counties, were of single birds. rence Woods SNP, Hardin, on 27 Apr. One made it all the way to Magee on 02 May for Kim Warner to find. Chapel Drive hosted eight on 05 May for Jon Cefus, Kent Miller, and Ben Morri- son; Jon wrote it was a “Remarkable number of birds considering date.” Several dates produced four at Magee. Susie Short found the last of the season at Gorman NC, Richland, on 31 May, but there was one sighting on 01 Jun as well. (28 counties) Red-eyed Vireo Tar Hollow produced the first, for Christine Bar- Photographer Ron Sempier focused on this cooperative Northern nett on 18 Apr. Several birders saw the earliest Shrike on 24 Mar at Big Island. for the north coast on 03 May at Huntington Reservation, Cuyahoga. Counts of 50 came White-eyed Vireo from the covered bridge area of Mohican SP on Kurt Gaetner saw the earliest, at CNC Long 09 May and the park’s Lyons Falls Trail on 29 Branch Farm on 09 Apr. Five locations hosted May (both by the Ostermillers); John Shrader singles on 11 Apr. A BRAS field trip to Sheldon tied that number in Tar Hollow on 09 May. Ev- Marsh on 14 Apr noted the first in the far north. ery county except Auglaize, Fayette, Pike, and Kent Miller found 20 along Chapel Drive on 14 Putnam had sightings. May. (73 counties)

129 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Blue Jay Bank Swallow Mark Shieldcastle was impressed by an estimated One to three in Hancock, Licking, Portage, 13,000 which passed over his ONWR Navarre and Richland on 10 Apr were the first. The banding station in eight hours on 03 May. Victor 30 Apr Seneca Lake mixed flock included about Fazio III counted almost 3400 over Magee the 500 of these (Kent Miller) and observers saw up next day. Only Fayette did not have a sighting. to 450 at Lake Erie Bluffs on several dates. (54 American Crow counties) Jon Cefus saw a flock of about 300 along Town- Cliff Swallow ship Highway 384, Tuscarawas, on 06 Mar. Aaron Bartley’s six at West Branch SP, Portage, Only Van Wert yielded no report. on 03 Apr were the first, but it took until 22 Apr Fish Crow for three to get to Lake Erie, to wit the Jones The OBRC has submissions from Cuyahoga. Preserve (Tom Bartlett). Victor Fazio III found The species was also reported in Lake but the a new colony of 140 under a bridge in Huron, Committee has only what it can glean from the Erie, on 11 May. (58 counties) internet. Barn Swallow Common Raven Ashley and Matt Collins discovered one in There are too many reports to detail – Yippee! Hoover Dam Park on 25 Mar. Dan Gesualdo Doubles were sighted in Harrison (three times) saw the first for the far north at Huron, Erie, on and Belmont, while singles were found in Har- 02 Apr. Kent Miller estimated that 3000 of the rison (three times), Jefferson (three times), and 5000 swallows at Seneca Lake on 30 Apr were Vinton. Barns. The next-highest number was 280, found by Matt Courtman at CLNP on 15 May. Every Horned Lark county but Pike had a sighting. Victor Fazio III found 330 along six miles of Route 101 in Seneca on 01 Mar. (70 counties) Carolina Chickadee The high count was 35; Daniel DeLapp made Purple Martin it in Glen Helen NP, Greene, on 08 Mar. (63 The first one, at Fernald on 22 Mar, pleased sev- counties) eral birders. One or two made it to one Lucas and two Erie sites on 02 Apr. Bob Cooper saw Black-capped Chickadee 80 at Magee on 12 May and there were several The highest of many double-digit counts on Kel- counts of 50 there on other days. Kent Miller leys Island was 87 by Tom Bartlett on 19 Apr. also found 50 at Seneca Lake on 30 Apr. (65 The most elsewhere were 35 at Beech Creek Gar- counties) dens, Stark, on 04 Apr (Allison Guggenheimer and Ben Stone). (30 counties) Tree Swallow Cindy Lincoln saw six at her Greene home on Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee 04 Mar, the earliest date. It took until 13 Mar As always, and rightly so, a considerable number for them to get to the north coast, when Kenn of reporters declined to identify to species the Kaufman saw one at Magee and Edward Ingold chickadees they saw along the U.S. 30 corridor found two by the in Lucas. Kent where the two overlap. Miller estimated that about 1000 of the 5000 swallows at Seneca Lake on 30 Apr were Trees. Drew Weber found about 1000 in ONWR during the 10 May auto tour. The second-high- est tally was Tom Bartlett’s 531 at Kelleys Island on 19 Apr. Only Pike did not have a sighting. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Thomas Czubek saw the first, at Armleder Park on 25 Mar. Elizabeth McQuaid and Tim Jasinski found one at Sandy Ridge on 01 Apr, the first near Lake Erie. Four hundred at Seneca Lake on 30 Apr (Kent Miller) and 200 at the Newtown gravel pits, Hamilton, on 21 Apr (William Hull) were the only triple-digit counts. Coshocton, Gallia, Pike, and Tuscarawas did not produce Tom Fishburn captured this Northern Rough-winged Swallow resting briefly in Rocky River Reservation, Cuyahoga, on reports. 17 Apr.

130 Vol. 38 No. 3 Tufted Titmouse Sedge Wren The high count of 30 came from the James H. Bar- William Hull discovered the first, at Voice of row Field Station, Portage, on 03 May (m. obs.). America Park, Butler, on 18 Apr. That’s about Only Pike and Putnam did not produce reports. 10 days ahead of schedule. The second over- Red-breasted Nuthatch all was also the first for the north coast; Chris Amy Downing counted four during a home feed- Swan saw it at an Ashtabula River overlook in er watch in Hancock on 09 Mar. There were a that county on 04 May. Rob and Sandy Har- few threes and many twos among the rest of the lan counted five along the Magee causeway on sightings. (36 counties) 16 May. Rob said they were probably migrants because he heard none either before or after that White-breasted Nuthatch day. No one else encountered more than one The high count was 24; Daniel DeLapp found there. Hamilton, Lake, Logan, and Marion them in Glen Helen NP, Greene, on 08 Mar. also contributed reports. The second-highest number, 12, was achieved in four locations. All counties but Pike and Put- Marsh Wren nam had sightings. Matt Kemp found the first of the year, on 03 Apr at Pearson MP, Lucas. The next were singles on Brown Creeper 11 Apr at Big Island (Ron Sempier) and Spring Magee hosted the top three counts, 15 on 11 Valley WA, Warren (Tyler Ficker). Victor Fazio Apr (Colleen Vogler), 13 also on 11 Apr (Debbi III counted 41 singing males along the ONWR Schuster), and 11 on 12 Apr (Rob Ripma). The auto tour route on 17 May, and other northwest- next most were eight at two other sites on three ern marshes harbored 20 to 30 around that date. dates. (54 counties) The most elsewhere were 18 which Steve Jones House Wren found at Big Island on 17 May. (26 counties) Six locations in Clermont, Franklin, and Carolina Wren Hamilton each hosted one on the first date of The high count of 12 was shared. J.W. Ret- 09 Apr. Peter Hellman saw the first of the far tig found them at French Park, Hamilton, on north along Road, Cuyahoga, on 27 Mar, as did Craig Moore in Scioto Trail MP, 11 Apr. The high count was the McGill’s 44 at Ross, on 24 Apr. (81 counties) Magee on 16 May. Six sites in Hancock, Lucas, Ottawa, and Wyandot each hosted 15, the sec- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ond-highest number. (81 counties) O’Shaughnessy Reservoir, Delaware, hosted the first; Bridget Gladden saw it there on 29 Mar. Winter Wren Chris Swan found the far north’s earliest, two at The last northbound birds were solos at Magee Headlands on 09 Apr. Kent Miller counted 55 (m. obs.) and in Mary Capucilli’s Lucas yard, along four miles of Cub Run Road, Noble, on both on 20 May. Sightings continued after that 30 Apr, and 40 along 12 miles of Chapel Drive date in their few breeding areas. The high count on 05 May. Only Defiance and Pike did not was seven, shared by Henry Hvizdos in the Rocky contribute sightings. River Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 10 Apr and Mark Shieldcastle at ONWR Navarre on 03 May. Golden-crowned Kinglet Mark’s team banded all of them and he remarked, The last migrant was seen at Magee on 16 May “Surprise last major push”. (37 counties) (m. obs.) though one bird was sighted in a known breeding area in Jun. On 29 Mar Daniel Mor- rill found seven small groups totaling about 100 birds in the Darby Bend section of Prairie Oaks MP, Franklin. The second-most were Tim Haney’s 40 in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lucas, on 11 Apr. (64 counties) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Bob Powell saw the earliest of the season at Con- gress Farm, Clinton, on 28 Mar. Paul Sherwood noted the north coast’s first in Sandusky,Erie , on 03 Apr. Ian Lynch saw the last, at Headlands on 25 May. Mark Shieldcastle counted 35 at ONWR Navarre during a “major migration” on This Winter Wren offered a perfect profile to Tom Fishburn in 03 May. (76 counties) Cleveland’s Erie Street Cemetery on 18 Apr.

131 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Eastern Bluebird at Burnett Woods, Hamilton; and Scott My- Cole DiFabio counted 35 at Holden on 29 May. ers, two at Black Swamp NC, Paulding. John Jim McConnor found the second-most, 24, in Shrader found 30 at Tar Hollow on 09 May, Orchard Hills Park, Geauga, on 24 May. All and Joshua Eastlake wasn’t far behind with 25 counties except Clinton, Fayette, Putnam, and at Cave Hill, Adams, on 16 May. (81 counties) Shelby had sightings. American Robin Veery Every county produced reports. The high count One at Headlands on 15 Apr (Tom Frankel) was the 1680 which passed over Jen Brumfield started a somewhat early push. Diane Wotenay at Edgewater in two hours on 31 Mar. Also that found 14 at Magee on 13 May, and 12 were at day, Dan Gesualdo saw about 1200 at Volunteer Maumee Bay on 15 May (m. obs.). (49 counties) Bay, Erie; indeed they might have been many of the same birds. Gray-cheeked Thrush The earliest were two at CVNP Station Road on Gray Catbird 26 Apr (Fred Dinkelbach et al.) John Pogacnik Anna Rose’s find in Scioto Audubon MP,Frank - saw the last of the season at Lake Erie Bluffs on lin, on 29 Mar was a couple of weeks early. The 27 May, though there was a single early Jun bird first in the far north were two at Mentor Lagoons reported as well. Diane Wotenay saw 18 at Ma- NP, Lake, on 11 Apr (Dave Chase). The high- gee on 13 May. The most elsewhere were four at est number was 110 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 07 Maumee Bay on 14 May (Ed Harper and Lisa May; John Pogacnik commented that “close to Owens). (40 counties) 30 [were] in one area feeding on sumac.” Only The BSBO newsletter of 08 Jul reported a sig- Pike did not have a sighting. nificant catch. On 18 May, Mark Shieldcastle’s Brown Thrasher team mist-netted a Gray-cheeked Thrush which The first of the season showed up in Andrea Van had been banded in the Sierra Nevada de San- Velzel’s Clermont yard on 05 Mar; could it have ta Marta of northeastern Colombia on 21 Apr been the one which had spent the last week of 2014. The banding organization, SELVA, noted Feb about 10 miles away near East Fork? Brian that it was the first recapture in North America DeNunzio saw the next, at Pickerington Ponds of one of “their” birds. See http://selva.org. on 14 Mar, and another two weeks passed before co/2015/05/gcth-recaptured-in-north-ameri- Matt Kemp found the north coast’s first, at Wal- ca/?lang=en for more information. bridge Park, Lucas, on 31 Mar. Mentor Marsh Swainson’s Thrush SNP, Lake, hosted 20 on 05 May (Peter Keefe). The first were seen on 13 Apr, one at Ellis Lake, Every county except Crawford, Defiance, Butler, by Andrew Cannizzaro, and three at Meigs, and Pike produced reports. Magee by Steve Jones. John Pogacnik’s 23 at Northern Mockingbird Lake Erie Bluffs on 18 May was the high count. Eric Elvert counted 15 along Little Richmond Sightings were steady through the end of May Road, Montgomery, on 12 Apr, and Maggie with a trickle of them in early Jun. (61 counties) Fusco noted 10 at Funk on 14 Mar. (75 counties) Hermit Thrush European Starling The first of the season were two at the Meldahl Robert Sams counted by 100s at the Seneca Dam, Clermont, on 07 Mar (Thomas Czubek), landfill on 07 Mar and came up with 3250. The though of course there had been sightings previous day, Jeff Loughman had estimated 2540 throughout the winter. The last of the season were there. The Sunniland landfill, Hancock, was one at the Gorman Nature Center, Rich- held about 2000 when Edward Ingold visited on land, on 31 May (Susie Short), though it might 06 Mar. (all 88 counties) have been setting up housekeeping nearby. The last sure migrants were straggling singles on 24 American Pipit May at Magee (Todd Hooe) and Headlands Andrew Cannizzaro saw the first since 10 Jan, (Dave Chase). Jacob Barkett and Molly Smith by the Great Miami River in Butler on 07 Mar. saw about 50 at Magee on 06 Apr; Mark Shield- They reached the far north by 13 Mar, when castle’s 30 at ONWR Navarre on 03 May was the Cory Chiappone saw one at Eastlake Power and second-highest count. (63 counties) Inga Schmidt counted 18 at Frohring Meadows, Geauga. On 05 Apr, Shane Myers and Robert Wood Thrush Sams wrote from Killdeer that a “Large flock The first sightings, on 11 Apr, were shared by flew in from SE and flew over pond. Many were three birders, Ashley Fields with one at Blacklick calling.” and estimated it contained 110 birds. Woods MP, Fairfield; Brian Wulker with one Elliot Tramer counted 107 passing overhead at

132 Vol. 38 No. 3 CPNWR on 03 May. John Pogacnik saw the last, Northern Waterthrush six at Conneaut on 23 May. (46 counties) Tim Houghton saw the first, at Aullwood Audu- Bohemian Waxwing bon Center, Montgomery, on 18 Apr. One got The OBRC has formal reports from Lake, and to ONWR Navarre two days later (Mark Shield- has also gleaned additional information from on- castle). The last of the season was at Lake Erie line sources. Bluffs on 25 May (John Pogacnik). Don and Rob- in Henise counted 10 at Magee on 06 May; the Cedar Waxwing next highest number was five, at Shaker Lakes The high count was John Pogacnik’s 875 at Lake NC, Cuyahoga, on 04 May (Gary Neuman and Erie Bluffs on 27 May. Others tallied up to 760 Julie West). (44 counties) there around that date. The most elsewhere were 300 at Armleder Park on 09 May (Tyler Ficker). Golden-winged Warbler (73 counties) William Hull saw the first, at Shawnee Lookout on 01 May. Mark Shieldcastle banded two at Lapland Longspur ONWR Navarre on 03 May. OOPMP hosted Phil Swan saw the latest, one by Stange Road, the last sighting, on 19 May (Scott Watkins). Sev- Ottawa, on 13 May. The second-last were three eral duos were seen, but Susan Jones and Clyde at Maumee Bay on 05 May (Dave Chase). James Witt found the only triple, at Magee on 06 May. Mueller estimated 350 were along Manley Road, (13 counties) Mercer, on 18 Apr. (23 counties) Blue-winged Warbler Smith’s Longspur Neil Gilbert found the earliest, at CNC Rowe The OBRC has formal and informal documenta- Woods on 16 Apr. Ten days later, Fred Din- tion from Mercer. kelbach et al. saw one in CVNP. Kent Miller Snow Bunting counted 25 along Chapel Drive on 01 May. (58 Robert Sams saw the last until fall, at Lee Ceme- counties) tery, Hancock, on 31 Mar. The second-last were seen 15 Mar, four at ONWR (Mark Shieldcas- tle) and three at Lake Erie Bluffs (Chris Pierce). Eli M. Miller had about 75 at his Millersburg, Holmes, home on 01 Mar. The second-highest count was Corinna Honscheid’s 30 along Malo- ney Road, Delaware, on 04 Mar. (21 counties) Ovenbird The one which Neil Gilbert saw at CNC Rowe Woods on 11 Apr was about on time, but one the same day at Magee was early for that far north (Rob Ripma, Debbie Schuster). Phil Swan This Blue-winged Warbler struck a pretty pose for photographer counted 55 (mostly by ear, I assume) along 10 Tom Fishburn on 26 Apr in Vinton Furnace SF. miles of Dutch Ridge Road in Wayne NF, Perry, on 29 Apr. (67 counties) [Golden-winged x Blue-winged Worm-eating Warbler “Brewster’s” Warbler] Three locations shared the first sighting date of John Pogacnik discovered one at Lake Erie Bluffs 18 Apr: a Greene home (Conan Crocker), the on 15 May. Buckeye Trail Barn, Harrison (Scott Pendleton), [Golden-winged x Blue-winged and Zaleski (Jennifer Kuehn and Bruce Simpson). “Lawrence’s” Warbler] Matthew Valencic saw one in Geauga on 05 May, These are usually scarcer than “Brewster’s”, but the first for the far north. Chris Pierce came up two were reported, at Glen Echo Park, Franklin, with six in Zaleski on 24 May. (34 counties) on 05 May (Jim Fulford and Jeff Yunce) and The Louisiana Waterthrush Rookery, Geauga, on 06 May (Dan Best, Kelly Richard McCarty heard one singing at TNC’s Kozlowski) Creek Bend Overlook, Adams, on 26 Mar. A Black-and-white Warbler quartet of birders found the earliest for the far McKenna Cimperman saw the earliest, at north in Holden’s Stebbins Gulch on 04 Apr. Hoover Dam Park on 08 Apr. It only took two Three and a half miles of Cat Run Road, Mon- more days until Adam Zorn found one at Mau- roe, produced 11 for Scott Pendleton on 27 May. mee Bay. The Shaker Lakes area, Cuyahoga, (61 counties) hosted 18 on 04 May for Sameer Apte. At the

133 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 other end of the state, Robert Foppe and Jennifer Gale Wulker found it on 19 Apr. Henry Hvizdos Smolenski found 14 in Shawnee on 24 Apr. (57 saw the next all the way up at the Rocky River counties) Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 21 Apr. The last Prothonotary Warbler were on 26 May, a single by Jen Brumfield in the Bill Stanley found the first, at East Fork on 10 Rocky River Reservation and two by Mark Willis Apr. Andy Jones found the north coast’s first, in at Magee. ONWR Navarre provided the high CVNP on 25 Apr. Charles Bombaci and Chris count of 32 on 03 May (Mark Shieldcastle) and Tonra counted 40 on 23 May along the north Magee was runner-up the same day with 20 (Julie shore of Hoover, where nest boxes are provided. Karlson and Doug Overacker). (56 counties) (46 counties) Connecticut Warbler The first, which B.J. Homan found at Magee on 07 May, was early for that far north. The last, which Tom Bartlett and Victor Fazio III saw at Springville Marsh SNP, Seneca, on 30 May, was well within their usual migration window. Matt Anderson found two along Girdham Road in OOPMP on 16 May. That same day, the McGills heard one at Magee and both saw and heard an- other along the CCE Trail. (17 counties) Mourning Warbler Dave Chase saw the earliest, at Magee on 03 May. Magee also held the most, five on both 09 May (Fran Holmes) and 15 May (m. obs.). ONWR and Wendy Park shared the last date of Photographer Darrel Gagne captured this Prothonotary Warbler the season, 28 May (Matt Fisher and Jen Brum- carrying nesting material on 02 May. Charles Bombaci had installed the nest box on her property bordering Little Walnut field, respectively), though Jun had one straggler Creek, Delaware. migrant. (16 counties) Kentucky Warbler Tennessee Warbler Shawnee Lookout provided another season’s The earliest sighting was in Darke, at Shawnee first sighting for Brian Wulker on 17 Apr. One Prairie Preserve on 21 Apr (Regina Schieltz). reached Magee by 04 May (m. obs.) Bob Curry Chris Pierce saw the first near Lake Erie at his drove about 15 miles in Shawnee on 09 May and Cuyahoga home on 02 May. The last (but for heard 20. Scot Pendleton found eight along four a duo in Erie on 02 Jun) were at opposite cor- miles of Cat Run Road, Monroe, on 27 May. ners of the state on 29 May, at Fernald (Craig (34 counties) Caldwell) and Headlands (Tom Frankel). The Fernald bird was only heard, singing an alternate Common Yellowthroat song, for which I’m indebted to Andy Jones for One was already singing at Sippo Lake, Stark, the identification. Matt Anderson saw and heard on the very early date of 13 Mar (Jason Coulter). “only” 127 during his 16 May travels through Bridget Gladden noted the “Zorro” mask on an- OOPMP; last year’s trek garnered 229. The other pioneer, at O’Shaughnessy Reservoir, Del- second-most were 26 at Hocking Woods NC, aware, on 29 Mar. Did these two winter nearby, Athens, on 14 May, which Phil Cantino rightly unseen? The next, at two locations on 10 Apr, said were “An amazing number banded in two were about on time. Dick Lee saw one in CVNP hours!” (55 counties) on 19 Apr, the first near Lake Erie. Tony DeFal- co encountered about 80 during his ONWR auto Orange-crowned Warbler tour on 10 May. Hope Orr found 45 in three Their migration this year was more drawn out miles of travel in CVNP on 07 May. Every coun- than usual. The first bird, at Magee on 19 Apr ty except Auglaize, Fayette, Pike, Shelby, and (Lauren MacDade), was ahead of schedule for Van Wert had sightings. the latitude. The last, a single at Headlands on 23 May (Tom Frankel) was a straggler. The high Hooded Warbler count was Mark Shieldcastle’s five at ONWR The first sightings were on 12 Apr, when Eliza- Navarre on 03 May, and there were two triples beth Postema found one in the Denison Univer- reported. (25 counties) sity Biological Reserve, Licking, and Fred Din- kelbach et al. another in CVNP. Andy Sewell’s Nashville Warbler 10 miles of travel in Shawnee produced 40 on Shawnee Lookout hosted the first; Brian and

134 Vol. 38 No. 3 01 May, and it took John Shrader 15 miles in Richland. John Shrader found 30 at Tar Hol- Tar Hollow to tally 30. Tom Bartlett captured low on 09 May. Charles Bombaci provided the the odd individual pictured here at his Jones Pre- second-highest count of 21, at Blackhand Gorge serve banding station on 06 May. It was “a male SNP, Licking, on 05 May. (54 counties) Hooded Warbler based on DNA but lacks some Northern Parula genes for color”; it was two-toned gray instead of The first of these were also a bit late; Gabriel black and yellow. (65 counties) Amrhein saw two at Glen Helen NP, Greene, on 07 Apr. Singles on 13 Apr at Magee (m. obs.) and Wildwood Preserve MP, Lucas (Charles Owens) were the first in the far north. Joshua Eastlake and Charles Bombaci each tallied 14, at Shawnee Lookout on 24 Apr and Blackhand Gorge SNP, Licking, on 05 May respectively. (68 counties) Magnolia Warbler One which the McGills found in CNC Rowe Woods on 20 Apr was a bit early, but Colleen Vogler saw two at Magee the next day. One mid- Jun straggler followed the last two of this season, which were singles near Winchester, Brown (Lisa Tom Bartlett closely studied the interesting plumage of this Miller and Jordan Satler), and at Lake Erie Bluffs Hooded Warbler after its capture in the Jones Preserve on 06 May. (John Pogacnik), both on 29 May. The highest count at Magee was Tom Somerville’s 35 on 09 May and the most elsewhere were John Po- American Redstart gacnik’s 23 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 15 May. (59 Singles in Franklin, Ross, and Scioto and a counties) duo in Vinton were seen on the first date of 18 Apr. The next day Fred Dinkelbach et al. saw Bay-breasted Warbler one in CVNP. Roger LeMaster found “100+” Amy Downing and Jeff Loughman saw the first, at Magee on 16 May. The most elsewhere were in Findlay, Hancock, on 01 May. Two days later, Scott Pendleton’s 52 along Cat Run Road, Mon- Jorg Freiberg saw one at Magee and Ryan Jacob roe, on 27 May. (73 counties) another at Maumee Bay. Mark Willis and Mar- shall Weber separately reported what was pre- Kirtland’s Warbler sumably the same last individual, at Magee on The OBRC has formal documentation from 26 May. Magee also hosted the high count of 30, Delaware and Holmes and has gleaned enough on 12 May (Carlos Bethancourt). The most else- information from a Lucas internet report to en- where were Kent Miller’s 10 along Chapel Drive able a vote. However, internet reports from a on 05 May. (43 counties) second Lucas site and Wood have only limited information. Please, include details in your rare Blackburnian Warbler bird reports to increase their value! Joshua Eastlake saw the earliest, at Avoca Park, Hamilton, on 14 Apr. It took them more than Cape May Warbler two more weeks to reach the north coast; on 02 William Hull’s Clifton neighborhood home, May Ryan Lesniewicz saw one at Magee and Hel- Hamilton, hosted the first, on 30 Apr. Birders en Wright-North another at Maumee Bay. The reported up to five at Magee on 03 May, the ear- last migrants but for a single stray in early Jun liest north coast date. Tom Kemp saw the last, were seen on 26 May at Lake Erie Bluffs (John at CPNWR on 24 May. Bob MacMillan count- Pogacnik) and Magee (Allison Oborn, Marshall ed 20 at Magee on 07 May; the most elsewhere Weber). Kent Miller’s group counted 35 along were seven at Maumee Bay on 16 May (Michael Chapel Drive on 05 May. The second-most were O’Brien). (42 counties) Michael Gauthier’s 15 at Magee on 15 May. (52 Cerulean Warbler counties) Margaret Bowman saw the first of OOS’s logo Yellow Warbler birds, at Grant Lake WA, Brown, on 17 Apr, The first was early, especially so for mid-state: a bit later than their usual arrival. It took until Leslie Sours found it in Highbanks MP, Dela- 03 May for them to reach the north, but on that ware, on 08 Apr. Lauren MacDade and Mary day they were at four locations in Cuyahoga, Anne Romito separately reported the first far four in Lorain, and one in each of Geauga and north birds, at Metzger on 18 Apr. Ian Lynch es-

135 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 timated 180 were at Lake Erie Bluffs on 11 May Fred Dinkelbach et al. Fran Rodstrom saw the and Magee hosted about 100 on several dates. last, at East Harbor on 25 May. Elliot Tramer Only Fayette and Pike did not have sightings. counted 109 in CPNWR on 03 May. Both Men- tor Marsh SNP, Lake, on 03 May and Magee on 06 May hosted about 100 (Peter Keefe and Carol Goodman, respectively). (70 counties) “Yellow” (Eastern) Palm Warbler This form usually stays east of the Appalachians, but singles were reliably reported three times in Lucas and once in Summit. Pine Warbler These don’t have far to travel because they win- ter in the southern states. Often they arrive in early Mar, but this year the first sighting was on 22 Mar, in Mitchell Memorial Forest, Hamil- This female Yellow Warbler at her nest was a lovely vision ob- ton (Linda Osterhage). Alex Eberts and Leslie tained by Kevin McKelvey along the CCE Trail on 11 May. Sours found the next, in Mohican SP on 28 Mar, and Paul Sherwood the first near Lake Erie in Chestnut-sided Warbler Sandusky, Erie, on 03 Apr. Jennifer Kuehn and Regina Schieltz saw the first, along the Alice Bish Bruce Simpson saw eight at Lake Hope/Zaleski Walkway, Darke, on 20 Apr, which is early for on 18 Apr. Patience Hoskins tied them at Shaker the latitude. Tim Kleman noted the first in a far Lakes, Cuyahoga, on 25 Apr. (54 counties) northern county at Camp Miakonda, Lucas, on Yellow-rumped Warbler 02 May. Migration continued into Jun and of Several birders reported the last, at Swan Creek course many stayed to nest as well. The high Preserve MP, Lucas, on 27 May. Elliot Tram- count was 40, on 09 May at Magee (Tom Somer- er wrote, “We counted 386 on our CPNWR ville), and the most elsewhere were 17 along the count May 3. The real number must have been ONWR auto tour route on 08 May (Jason Kit- MUCH higher, since birds were moving contin- ting). (56 counties) uously westward along the dikes and thousands Blackpoll Warbler more birds were passing overhead, many of them Kirk Westendorf found the earliest, at Magrish warblers.” Counts in the 200 to 300 range came Riverlands Preserve, Hamilton, on 25 Apr. from other sites along the northwest shore be- Charles Owens saw the next, in Wildwood Pre- tween 03 and 06 May. (79 counties) serve MP, Lucas, on 30 Apr. These dates indi- Yellow-throated Warbler cate a somewhat earlier than usual movement. Gabriel Amrhein saw the first, in John Bryan Migration continued into Jun as usual. Drew SP, Greene, on 30 Mar. It took a while, but Weber’s 20 at Magee on 16 May was the high one finally reached CVNP on 10 Apr (Ann and count; the second-highest was 15, in the little Dwight Chasar). Tar Hollow hosted 20 on 09 Metzger woodlot (m. obs.). (54 counties) May (John Shrader), and Lisa Miller and Jordan Black-throated Blue Warbler Satler counted 10 in Clear Creek MP, Fairfield/ Three sites hosted birds on the first date of 30 Hocking, on 12 Apr. (60 counties) Apr: Wildwood Preserve MP, Lucas (Charles Prairie Warbler Owens), Mantua, Portage (Diane and William August Froelich heard one singing at TNC’s Strait Noice), and Wintergarden Woods/Saint Johns Creek Prairie Bluffs Preserve, Pike, on the early Nature Preserve, Wood (Chris Byers). John Po- date of 01 Apr and wrote, “One of the surest gacnik saw the season’s last, at Lake Erie Bluffs signs that we really are going to have spring....”. on 27 May, but a single Jun sighting followed it. Brian Wulker’s sighting at Shawnee Lookout on As is typical, Magee provided the high count, 20 09 Apr was on a typical first date. Kim Warner by Tommie Rogers on 06 May. The most else- saw the first of the far north, at Magee on 21 Apr. where were Jim McConnor’s nine at Headlands Robert Foppe and Jennifer Smolenski counted 35 on 15 May. (38 counties) along seven miles of Shawnee roads on 24 Apr. Palm Warbler Kent Miller et al. found 25 along Chapel Drive on The first date was 11 Apr, when Palms were re- 05 May. (39 counties) ported in Franklin, Harrison, Mahoning, and Black-throated Green Warbler Warren. One reached CVNP the next day for Margaret Bowman saw the earliest, at Lake

136 Vol. 38 No. 3 Katherine SNP, Jackson, on 06 Apr. One got Eastern Towhee as far north as Chagrin River Park, Lake, on 13 Kent Miller’s group found 60 along Chapel Drive Apr (Tom Kaczynski). Migrants were still mov- on 11 Apr. Joshua Eastlake counted 40 in Wi- ing north in Jun. Counts of 30 came from Magee throw NP, Hamilton, on 08 Apr. All counties on 03 May (Jon Cefus), Chapel Drive on 05 May except Fayette, Pike, and Van Wert produced (Kent Miller et al.), and Magee again on 06 May reports. (Carol Goodman). (73 counties) American Tree Sparrow Canada Warbler C.K. Walls saw the last, at Whetstone Creek, Usually these show up in late Apr, but this year’s Morrow, on 20 May, rather far south for this first date was 04 May. That day Linda Corriveau date. Fifteen miles of driving in Big Island yield- saw two at Sheldon Marsh, Linda Houshower ed 175 for Ron Sempier on 05 Mar, and he found saw one at Magee, and Jeffrey Pontius saw one in 95 along eight miles of Killdeer’s roads on 24 the Heritage Preserve, Franklin. John Pogacnik Mar. (67 counties) found the last migrant, at Lake Erie Bluffs on 29 Chipping Sparrow May. Kenn Kaufman’s nine at Magee on 16 May Sandie Myers saw the first, at herBelmont home was the high count. Tom Bartlett et al. recorded on 08 Mar, and two reached Eastlake, Lake, on five at the Jones Preserve on 08 May as did the 12 Mar (Dave Chase). The high count of 50 was Ostermillers along the Lyons Falls Trail in Mohi- shared by Stan Plante at Holden on 19 Apr and can SP on 29 May. (31 counties) Craig Moore in Scioto Trail SP, Ross, on 24 Apr. Wilson’s Warbler Only Meigs and Pike did not have sightings. The first were singles in Franklin, Hamil- Clay-colored Sparrow ton, Medina, and Summit on 03 May. Tom John Pogacnik saw two in Townline Park, Lake, Kemp saw the last, one at each of Magee and on 25 Apr, an early date for so far north. The Metzger on 30 May. Magee also provided the next sighting was at Wendy Park on 03 May (m. high count, 15 by Mike Wielgopolski on 20 May. obs.). The last of the season spent 19 to 23 May (40 counties) at Huston Brumbaugh NC, Stark (m. obs.), Yellow-breasted Chat though one more was seen elsewhere on 01 Jun. Jennifer Kuehn and Bruce Simpson saw the first All of the remaining reports were of single birds; one, at Zaleski on 18 Apr. Tom Kemp found the they came from four Lucas sites and one in each first near Lake Erie, at CPNWR on 03 May. Ka- of Franklin, Logan, and Ottawa. trina Schultes counted 14 along her BBS route in Field Sparrow Wayne NF, Lawrence. (58 counties) Kent Miller et al. tallied 50 along Chapel Drive on 11 Apr, a number equaled by participants in a spring walk at the James H. Barrow Field Station, Stark, on 03 May. Every county except Colum- biana, Defiance, and Pike produced sightings. Vesper Sparrow Edward Ingold found two at Oakwoods NP, Hancock, on 17 Mar, a week or so early for that latitude. The next were four in Newtown, Ham- ilton, on 25 Mar (Brian Wulker). Karl Over- man saw the first of the far north, three in John T. Kennedy Memorial Park, Lucas, on 02 Apr. Tom Bartlett counted 35 throughout Kelleys Is- land on 09 May. Scott Pendleton’s seven in the New Reclaim Area, Harrison, on 04 Apr was the second-highest number. (42 counties) Lark Sparrow Elliot Tramer found one, and Lauren McCafferty two, in OOPMP on 13 Apr, which Elliot noted “might be a new earliest arrival date for the To- ledo area.” It’s definitely ahead of schedule for anywhere in the state. The first elsewhere were Alex Clark timed perfectly this shot of a Prairie Warbler during its uplifting song, taken near Shawnee Lookout on 27 Apr. two at Oakes Quarry Park, Greene, on 28 Apr (Jeremy Dominguez and Sarah Lucas). As usual,

137 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 OOPMP provided the high count, seven along Bartlett at Springville Marsh SNP, Seneca, on 02 Girdham Road on 08 May (Alex Eberts and May. (60 counties) Lisa Miller). The most elsewhere were David A. White-throated Sparrow Brinkman’s four in Moraine, Montgomery, on The last but for two Jun stragglers were at Lake 05 May. Andy Jones saw one which briefly visit- Erie Bluffs on 30 May (the Shaykos). Mark ed the South Bass Island lighthouse, Ottawa, on Shieldcastle wrote from ONWR Navarre on 03 05 May; it might be a first record for the island. May about a “Major movement 300 [recorded] Other sightings were in Hamilton and Lorain. in 30 minutes of point count, [and another] 228 Savannah Sparrow banded”. The second-most were 169 counted by Scott Pendleton counted 40 in only 2½ miles of trav- Ed Pierce’s ONWR census team that same day el near Cadiz, Harrison, on 23 May. Matt Kappler (fide Douglas Vogus). (81 counties) found 21 at Wendy Park on 03 May. (65 counties) White-crowned Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow The last of the season were singles at Lake Erie The first date was 11 Apr, when Scott Pendleton Bluffs (Gustino Lanese) and Magee (Matt Kemp) on saw one in Jockey Hollow WA, Harrison, and 30 May, though again there were two Jun sightings. Phil Swan another in the Rehoboth Reclaim Area, Jen Brumfield noted about 120 at Wendy Park on Perry. The Chasars saw the far north’s first at 04 May and Mark Shieldcastle came in second with the CVNP Coliseum Grasslands on 18 Apr. Scott 55 at ONWR Navarre on 03 May. (76 counties) Pendleton counted 35 near Cadiz, Harrison, on “Gambel’s” White-crowned Sparrow 23 May and 20 or more at three other sites in that Michael O’Brien well described the one he found county on other dates. The most elsewhere were in ONWR on 15 May. 13 at the Hancock sanitary landfill on 04 May (Shane Myers and Robert Sams). (47 counties) Golden-crowned Sparrow The Hancock homeowner who has hosted this Henslow’s Sparrow visitor annually starting in 2009 last saw it on 24 Leslie Sours noted the first, six at Darby Creek Apr (fide Robert Sams). on 09 Apr. Multiple birders saw the north coast’s first along the CCE Trail on 11 Apr. Kent Miller Dark-eyed Junco counted 25 along Chapel Drive on 01 May and Tom Bartlett counted 105 at Kelleys Island on Scott Pendleton tied him near Cadiz, Harrison, 09 Apr. The second-most were Tim Haney’s 80 on 23 May. (31 counties) in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lucas, on 11 Apr. On 24 May, Pat Coy and Karin Tanquist saw two Fox Sparrow adults taking food to a nest at the Kendall Ledges The last of these handsome birds was lagging when in CVNP; quite rightly they didn’t approach to Mickie Getz saw it at the Wolf Creek Environmen- count the youngster(s). (80 counties) tal Center, Medina, on 12 May. The second-last, Phil Doerr’s at Magee on 10 May, was also a bit tar- “Cassiar” Dark-eyed Junco dy in its departure. Jacob Barkett and Molly Smith These were reported in Geauga, Hancock, Lake, estimated 30 were at Magee on 06 Apr. The next and Seneca without descriptions or photographs. highest number was 12, shared by Tom Bartlett et “Oregon” Dark-eyed Junco al. at Springville Marsh SNP, Seneca, on 11 Apr, The one which Mark and Sherry Plessner doc- and Steve Jones at Magee on 14 Apr. (52 counties) umented during winter continued to visit their Song Sparrow feeder until 06 Apr. Anna Wittmer well de- John Pogacnik counted 56 at Lake Erie Bluffs on scribed another at the Gorman NC, Richland, 11 May. Every county hosted these. on 11 Apr. A possible third was reported with no details in Ashtabula. Lincoln’s Sparrow J.W. Rettig well described the first, at East Fork on 18 [White-throated Sparrow x Dark-eyed Junco] Mar, a good month before they’re expected to arrive. One was reported at Magee on 17 May. I could Brad Goodner saw one at Great Egret Marsh, Ot- find no photographs in any on-line venue. Never- tawa, on 12 Apr, early for the north coast. Charles theless, Greg Miller (fide Victor Fazio III) provided Bombaci counted 19 in Sharon Woods MP, Frank- a physical description that fits this hybrid. This is lin, on 15 May. Victor Fazio III saw the last, in Mary the first sighting for Ohio that I’m aware of; oth- Jane Thurston SP, Henry, on 28 May. (32 counties) ers have been seen mostly in the northeastern U.S. and along the Appalachian chain (eBird). Swamp Sparrow The first of the season showed up at three sites Summer Tanager on 02 Mar, but of course some had been in the Brian Wulker found the earliest, at Shawnee state all winter. The high count was 30 by Tom Lookout on 17 Apr. It took a couple of weeks

138 Vol. 38 No. 3 before Helen Wright-North saw the first in the were the first. The first (almost) to Lake Erie was far north, at Magee on 02 May. Charles Bomba- at Springfield Bog, Summit, on 18 Apr (Dennis ci and Jennifer Kuehn counted six in Highbanks Mersky). Reg Reisenbichler counted 33 in French MP, Delaware, on 10 May and there were many Creek Reservation, Lorain, on 03 May, and there reports of four birds. (29 counties) were at least five reports of 30 elsewhere on other Scarlet Tanager dates. Every county except Auglaize, Pike, Shel- William Hull saw the first, at his Cincinnati home by, and Van Wert had sightings. on 17 Apr. Ian Gerken made the earliest report Dickcissel from near Lake Erie, two birds at Wildwood Pre- Tommie Rogers found one and Brian Wulker two at serve MP, Lucas, on 26 Apr. The high count Fer­nald on 05 May. BSBO staffers reported the earliest was an astounding 30 along Chapel Drive on 05 of the far north in the Harder Grasslands, Ottawa, on May (Kent Miller et al.). The second-highest was 08 May. The most were Troy Shively’s 12 near Lew- 12, shared by Paul Dresser in the Five Forks area istown, Logan, on 30 May. Tyler Ficker’s five at Fer- of Wayne NF, Lawrence, on 04 May, and Bob nald on 09 May were the second-most. (19 counties) Curry in Shawnee on 09 May. (76 counties) Bobolink Western Tanager The first date was 01 May, rather later than usual. The OBRC has only internet reports from On that date up to 50 were seen at sites in Lake, Cuyahoga with no photographs or description. Noble, and Perry. Geauga, Hardin, Harrison, Northern Cardinal and Lorain hosted them the next day. The high The Ostermillers counted 88 along the ONWR number was 120 (“very likely an underestimate”), auto tour route on 21 Mar; most of them were in by Scott Pendleton near Cadiz, Harrison on 23 the Ottawa section. (all 88 counties) May. The next-highest was 92, at Maumee Bay on 16 May (Michael O’Brien). (49 counties) Rose-breasted Grosbeak The first, a female, visited Dennis Mersky’s feed- Red-winged Blackbird er in Talmadge, Summit, on 01 and 03 Apr. Mark Shieldcastle estimated 12,000 were along That’s early for the state, let alone for that far rather short Bodi Road, Ottawa, on 01 Apr. north. The second was another (or the same?) Sarah Lawrence found about 6500 at the Mau- female at George Novosel’s feeder in Hudson, mee Bay beach on 16 Mar. (all 88 counties) Summit, on 14 Apr. John Pogacnik counted 46 Eastern Meadowlark at Lake Erie Bluffs on 07 May and Karen Bonnell Jon Cefus and Kent Miller found about 100 found 25 at Magee that same day. (73 counties) along Chapel Drive on 01 May and up to 70 Blue Grosbeak there on two other dates. The most elsewhere Greg Cornett saw the earliest, along Weaver were 50 at The Wilds on 02 May (James Gore) Road, Adams, on 24 Apr. The second date of and The Bowl on 24 May (Scott Pendleton). Ful- 01 May was shared by sites in Hamilton, Mont- ton, Jackson, Meigs, Pike, Putnam, and Shel- gomery, and Scioto. The first way up north was by did not produce reports. at Julie Heitz’s Lucas home on 12 May. Jen Sau- Western Meadowlark ter contributed what appears to be the firstHock - Victor Fazio III found one singing by Williams- ing record; a male visited her feeder from 05 to 07 field Kingsman Road, Trumbull, on 22 May, May. Katrina Schultes provided the high count and dozens of birders enjoyed it until 26 May. of seven from her BBS route in Lawrence on 29 May. Three sites hosted triples. (22 counties)

Jen Sauter photographed this Blue Grosbeak near Rock Bridge, Hocking, on 05 May.

Indigo Bunting Singles on 15 Apr at CNC Rowe Woods (the Mc- Vic Fazio discovered and well documented this Western Mead- Gills) and Shawnee Lookout (Linda Osterhage) owlark, a new Trumbull record, on 22 May.

139 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Yellow-headed Blackbird One at his Stark home on 07 Apr (Ben Morrison) Kim Warner found the first, on private land in Three near Lake Erie Bluffs on 17 May and one Lucas on 11 Mar. Bob Cooper reported two in in the park on 18 May (John Pogacnik) the Ottawa section of Magee on 12 May. Sev- Common Grackle eral other Lucas and Ottawa locations hosted Mark Shieldcastle found about 1500 at ONWR one at various times; it’s impossible to know on 16 Mar and also along Bodi Road, Ottawa, how many individuals were actually in those on 01 Apr. Matt and Rochelle Kappler saw two counties. Single reports also came from about 1000 pass overhead at Silver Creek MP, Ashtabula and Cuyahoga. Summit, also on 01 Apr. (all 88 counties) Brown-headed Cowbird Bodi Road, Ottawa, provided another high count, 350 on 01 Apr (Mark Shieldcastle). Fields along Stange Road, Ottawa, hosted 300 on 10 Mar (Karl Overman). Only Meigs and Pike did not produce sightings. Orchard Oriole Dee Long saw the first a bit early, on 11 Apr at Shawnee Lookout. Inga Schmitt saw the first of the far north along Chagrin River Road, Cuyahoga, on 01 May. John Pogacnik found 14 The auto tour route in ONWR provided views of this Yel- at Lake Erie Bluffs on both 07 and 11 May. (72 low-headed Blackbird for Leslie Sours on 09 May. counties) Baltimore Oriole Rusty Blackbird John Hull saw the first, in Miami Whitewater A quartet of birders saw a quartet of Rustys at Forest, Hamilton, on 18 Apr. John Pogacnik Catawba Island, Ottawa, on 20 May, the latest counted 92 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 07 May and date. The high count of 1200 was shared by wrote, “Most were overhead migrating east”. Sarah Lawrence at Darby Creek on 21 Mar and His 57 there on 11 May were also mostly passing Mark Shieldcastle along Bodi Road, Ottawa, on through. Brown, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, 01 Apr. Mark also provided the second-high- Meigs, and Pike did not have sightings. est number, 600, from ONWR on 16 Mar. (60 Blackbird sp. counties) Eric Elvert estimated that he saw about 10,000 blackbirds along the Great Miami River Trail in Montgomery on 02 Mar. House Finch Tom Bartlett found 75 throughout Kelleys Island on 19 Mar. Jim Wentz’s Fairfield yard hosted about 40 on 01 Mar. (80 counties) Purple Finch Paige Nugent counted 12 at her Hamilton feed- ers on 01 Apr. Mark Shieldcastle found the same number at ONWR Navarre on 03 May. (55 counties) White-winged Crossbill The reports, all of single birds, are: Leslie Sours snapped this Rusty Blackbird at Blacklick Woods MP, Franklin, on 27 Apr. At the Garfield NC, Cuyahoga, on 03 Mar (Jen Brumfield) and 04 Mar (m. obs.) Brewer’s Blackbird At Lake Erie Bluffs on 16 Mar (Chuck- Slu The reports are: sarczyk, Jr.) One along Township Road 244, Hancock, on At North Perry, Lake, on 26 Mar (John Pogacnik) 20 Mar (Edward Ingold, Jeff Loughman, and Heard but not seen at Holden on 04 Apr (m. obs.) Shane Myers) Common Redpoll One at Killbuck, also on 20 Mar (Angelika Chris Swan at Conneaut and Tom Denbow at his Nelson)

140 Vol. 38 No. 3 Cuyahoga home each saw one on the last date Erratum of 11 Apr. Dan Gesualdo found five at Volunteer In the last issue, the map of Iceland Gull distri- Bay, Erie, on 31 Mar, and there were two reports bution should have included Ashtabula and not of two. (11 counties) Ashland ­—I misread my own abbreviation. Pine Siskin These were still being seen into Jun, hinting at the possibility of nesting. The high count was Jen Brumfield’s 86 in the Huntington Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 03 May. (53 counties)

This irruption year for Pine Siskins provided sightings through the spring season, including this individual attracted to Wayne Wauligman’s sunflower feeder inHamilton on 20 May.

American Goldfinch Victor Fazio III made an “overhead migration count from [Magee] Tower” on 04 May and came up with 852 between 7:15 and 9:30 am. John Pogacnik’s 175 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 07 May was the next-highest number. Only Fayette did not produce a report. European Goldfinch Someone lost or released three of these cage birds, and they showed up at Debra Payne’s feed- er in North Royalton, Cuyahoga, on 15 and 26 Apr and again on 21 Jun. I know, I know, they’re not countable birds, but they would have been fun to see! Evening Grosbeak One female was seen at the private home on the edge of Mohican SF on 26 Mar (Jay Lehman) and 28 Mar (Leslie Sours). Odds are it was the same bird seen there in Jan, but where did it spend the seven weeks between sightings? House Sparrow Heather Luedecke and Angelika Nelson counted 195 along their New Dover, Union, BBS route on 30 May. Tom Bartlett saw about 150 at Kel- leys Island on 06 Mar. (all 88 counties)

141 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015

CONTRIBUTORS

The Species Accounts could not be written without the data provided by these contributors either directly to the Editor or by posting to an on-line venue. We thank you. Dane Adams Jenny Bowman Bob Cooper Eric Elvert Kirby Adams Margaret Bowman Greg Cornett John Faneuff Zachary Allen Robby Bradley Linda Corriveau Victor Fazio III Richard Amable Joe Brehm Jason Coulter Tyler Ficker Gabriel Amrhein David A. Brinkman Matt Courtman Ashley Fields Andrea Anderson Kyle Brooks Sarel Cousins Bob Finkelstein Katie Anderson Jen Brumfield Gary Cowell Tom Fishburn Matt Anderson Chris Byers Pat Coy Matt Fisher Sameer Apte Craig Caldwell Conan Crocker Robert Foppe Sean Artman Tracy Cambron Bob Curry Tom Frankel Allyson Andrew Cannizzaro Thomas Czubek Jorg Freiberg Arulanantham Phil Cantino Todd Deal Nicole Freshour Rick Asamoto Mary Capucilli Miranda DeBoard Darlene Friedman Daisy Asmus Betty Carty Tony DeFalco August Froelich Bryant Atanasio Jon Cefus Bill Deininger Jim Fulford Jackie Agustine Alex Champagne Daniel DeLapp Ron Furnish Andy Avram Hayward Chappell Tom Denbow Maggie Fusco Jacob Barkett Ann Chasar Brian DeNunzio Kurt Gaetner Junior Barnes Dwight Chasar Amy Didion Darrel Gagne Christine Barnett Dave Chase Cole DiFabio John Games Tom Bartlett Cory Chiappone Fred Dinkelbach Paul Gardner Aaron Bartley McKenna Phil Doerr Charles Gates Karen Beaty Cimperman Jeremy Dominguez Michael Gauthier Wendy Becker Allan Clabon Amy Downing Ian Gerken Gregory Bennett Alexander Clark Paul Dresser Kaitlyn Gerken Paul Berrigan Ronnie Clark Doug Dunakin Mary Beth Gersten Dan Best Robb Clifford Micki Dunakin Dan Gesualdo Carlos Bethancourt Suzanne Clingman Denise DuPon Mickie Getz Peg Bobel Ashley Collins Joshua Eastlake Neil Gilbert Charles Bombaci Christopher Collins Alex Eberts Kevin Gill Karen Bonnell Matt Collins

142 Vol. 38 No. 3 Bridget Gladden Jeanne Hrenko Sarah Lawrence Bruce Miller Nathan Goldberg Scott Huge Dick Lee Eli M. Miller Carol Goodman John Hull Kevin Lee Greg Miller Brad Goodner William Hull Jay Lehman Kent Miller James Gore Kathi Hutton Ryan Lesniewicz Lisa Miller Jeff Grabmeier Henry Hvizdos Eric Liebold Marjorie Miller Howard Gratz Edward Ingold Cindy Lincoln Stefan Minnig Allison Guggenheimer Sally Isacco Dee Long Craig Moore John Habig Ryan Jacob Fred Losi Daniel Morrill Tim Haney Tim Jasinski Jeff Loughman Ben Morrison Ray Hannikman Andy Jones Jessica Lowery Donald Morse, Jr. Rob Harlan Steve Jones Paula Lozano James Mueller Sandy Harlan Susan Jones Sarah Lucas Marie Mullins Ed Harper Tom Kaczynski Heather Luedecke Sandie Myers Jeff Harvey Matt Kappler Ian Lynch Carrie Myers Wes Hatch Rachelle Kappler Lauren MacDade Scott Myers Julie Heitz Julie Karlson Bob MacMillan Shane Myers Peter Hellman Kenn Kaufman Bernie Master Bettyann Nagy Don Henise Peter Keefe Lauren McCafferty Karen Neal Robin Henise Don Keffer Richard McCarty Angelika Nelson Clet Herman Ned Keller Brian McCaskey Ed Neu John Herman Matt Kemp Jim McConnor Gary Neuman Dick Hoffman Tom Kemp Bill McGill Gloria Nikolai Jean Hoffman Ethan Kistler René McGill Diane Noice Carol Holdcraft Jason Kitting Jay McGowan William Noice Fran Holmes Tim Kleman Brian McKaskey Cynthia Norris B.J. Homan Kelly Koslowski Kevin McKelvey George Novosel Corinna Honscheid Randy Kreager Patty McKelvey Paige Nugent Todd Hooe Paul Krusling Dave McQuaid Allison Oborn Dick Hoopes Jennifer Kuehn Elizabeth McQuaid Michael O’Brien Patience Hoskins Donna Kuhn Tammy McQuaid Jonathan Oliveras Tim Houghton Keith Laakkonen Brian Menker Amy O’Neil

Linda Houshower Bob Lane Dennis Mersky Kevin O’Neil Louis Hoying Gustino Lanese Benjamin Miller Matt Orebaugh

143 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Hope Orr Sean Ricker Susie Short Bev Walborn Brian Ortman Rob Ripma John Shrader Bob Walker Linda Osterhage Jacob Roalef Irina Shulgina Freda Walker Helen Ostermiller Fran Rodstrom Bruce Simpson C.K. Walls Ken Ostermiller Tommie Rogers John Simpson Mark Warman Charles Owens Lisa Romaniuk Heather Slayton Ben Warner Lisa Owens Sam Romeo Chuck Slusarczyk, Jr. Kim Warner Doug Overacker Mary Anne Romito Molly Smith Scott Watkins Karl Overman Tom Romito Jennifer Smolenski Wayne Wauligman Peggy Page Anna Rose Su Snyder Drew Weber Debbie Parker Robert Royse Tom Somerville Marshall Weber Greg Pasek Mark Amanda Soto Julie West Rozmarynowycz Debra Payne Leslie Sours Kirk Westendorf Dale Rubach Chris Peet Bill Stanley Gregory Wheeler Robert Sams Scott Pendleton Josh Stapleton Audrey Whitlock Dan Sanders Gayle Penix Gene Stauffer Mike Wielgopolski Livia Santana Maggie Peretto Andy Stepniewski Mark Willis Jordan Satler Ryan Pereus Ben Stone Clyde Witt Jen Sauter Lisa Phelps Jeff Stone Anna Wittmer Regina Schieltz Chris Pierce Jason Sullivan Diane Wotenay Inga Schmidt Ed Pierce Chris Swan Ed Wransky Carleton Schooley Stan Plante Phil Swan Rick Wright Katrina Schultes Mark Plessner Karin Tanquist Helen Wright-North Quentin Schultze Sherry Plessner Charles Thompson Brian Wulker Debi Schuster John Pogacnik Tim Thompson Gale Wulker Ron Sempier Anthony Popiel “Tj” Todd David Yeamans Andy Sewell Jeffrey Pontius Chris Tonra Jeff Yunce Mark Shaver Elizabeth Postema Elliot Tramer Chris Zacharias Troy Shively Bob Powell Roger Troutman Karen Zeleznik Lynne Shayko R. Lee Reed Margy Trumbull Adam Zorn Nic Shayko Reg Reisenbichler Matthew Valencic William Zwartjes Paul Sherwood Frank Renfrow Andrea Van Velzel Mark Shieldcastle J.W. Rettig Colleen Vogler Troy Shively Dana Ricker Douglas Vogus

144 Vol. 38 No. 3 LEGACY SPECIMENS IN THE OHIO STATE COLLECTION

By James Hine with an introduction by Bill mens from the collection which he thought were Whan worth mention. Interestingly, all but five of these species are shorebirds or others devoted to wa- Editor’s note: Bill Whan discovered this draft monograph tery habitats, selected perhaps because they were during his ongoing research into Ohio’s avian history. I more difficult to collect or identify in the field. have corrected obvious typographical errors without noting Of the rest, one was extinct, one was extirpated them, made the formatting uniform, and italicized scientif- from the state, and three were exceedingly rare. ic names (which of course Hine couldn’t do on a typewrit- The Hine Monograph er). I have otherwise copied the original, punctuation (or This paper is compiled in order to associate lack thereof) and all. We don’t know when Hine wrote it some published records and add others that have other than it had to have been in the late 1920s. not been published formally. The Museum con- Introduction tains a number of species which are very rarely The Ohio State University zoological collec- taken in Ohio and in some cases the single rep- tions began with specimens that accumulated in resentative of a species is the only one known Columbus in the back rooms of the State House to have been taken in the state. A number of after the Civil War. Eventually many of these these specimens are now in the Museum because items went to what was to become the Ohio His- of the active work done many years ago by Dr. torical Society, which curated them, along with Theodore Jasper, Dr. J. M. Wheaton and Mr. Ol- innumerable donations from the public – old Bi- iver Davie, all well known citizens of Columbus bles, battle flags, fragments of the “True Cross”, at a time when some species, at least, were more diaries, libraries, relics, and the like. James Hine easily procured in this latitude and longitude was the first scientist to organize the animal spec- than they are today. One or two of these species, imens among them for the Society. They includ- at least, are supposed to be extirpated so far as ed the bird collection, which contained the 600 Ohio is concerned and one the passenger pigeon or more specimens accumulated by John Whea- is considered to be exterminated over all of its ton, a similar number from Theodore Jasper, and former range. Recently various members of the smaller collections from other early ornitholo- Wheaton Club have been much interested in an gists. Nearly all of Oliver Davie’s collection of intensive study of the movements of birds in their more than 500 specimens had unfortunately end- migrations through Ohio and some splendid re- ed up in the hands of less professional curators cords of specimens taken while engaged in this some years previously. Hine was a professor of study should not be held in abeyance. Among biology at OSU and his specialty was insects, but the members of the Club the work of Mr. Ed- he had an intense interest in birds as well. The ward Sinclair Thomas holds a very prominent Historical Society’s zoological collections grew place in our minds for it has been largely to his quickly, and included ornithological specimens efforts that men for this work have been trained, gathered by important collectors in the last quar- and besides he has furnished the major part of ter of the 19th century following the formation the inspiration which has been necessary to ad- of the American Ornithologists’ Union. The vance the work to its present state. Other names collections came to be shared by the Society and are prominently connected with the work and Ohio State University, with the larger part locat- much credit is due them, for weeks of field ob- ed at the latter’s first museum on High Street on servation has been required to get the data now the OSU campus. in the hands of the Wheaton Club. In arranging Professor Hine was curator of these collec- the specimens now deposited with the Wheaton tions until his death in 1930. He made a number Club collection in the Museum Charles Walker of efforts to introduce and explain the - collec and Milton M. Trautman have taken an active tions to the citizens of Ohio, including displays interest and these birds are now carefully labeled at the High Street location. For a more learned and arranged in such a way as to be available for audience, he prepared the paper presented here, study by students of Ohio or anyone interested. announcing for students of ornithology the avail- It is my purpose in the remainder of this pa- ability of the new museum’s collection. Proba- per to give records of the unusual Ohio speci- bly it was never published, but this draft, found mens now in the Museum. There are others among his papers after his death, is reproduced not included, that are eligible to a place in such here. It gives some details on 29 unusual speci- a list and are just as available for study as those mentioned. 145 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 Colymbus holboelli (Reinh.) seldom is reported for Ohio and records of its Holboell’s Grebe capture in the state are unusually rare. Specimen collected at Danville, Knox County, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (Gmel.) February 15, 1899 by Dr. J. B. Parker. The American White Pelican species has been seen a few times at Licking Specimen taken at Mercer County Reser- Reservoir in more recent years by different ob- voir, Ohio, April 28, 1892 by H. A. Landis. servers. [It is now called Red-necked Grebe, Mounted by S. J. Harbaugh, Crosstown, Mi- Podiceps grisegena (Boddaert)] ami County, Ohio. Gavia lumme (Gunn.) Florida caerulea (Linn.) Red-throated Loon Little Blue Heron Female specimen shot near Columbus for a A male from Thomas M. Earl, taken at Buck- duck by a boy who took it to Thomas M. Earl, eye Lake, September 18, 1924. Several spec- December 12, 1923. [It is now Gavia stellata imens reported seen in the same locality in (Pontoppidan)] recent years. [It is now Egretta caerulea] Uria lomvia (Linn.) Ionornis martinica (Linn.) Brünnich’s Murre Purple Gallinule Specimen taken at Fair Haven, near Sandusky, A fine male specimen in the Museum was do- December 20, 1896, by Robert T. Stewart and nated by F. B. Shuler of Hamilton, Ohio. It mounted by W. A. Scott. Several specimens was collected at Old River, near Hamilton, in were taken by different persons near Sandusky the first part of April, 1897, and presented to near the same date, and according to Dr. Mr. W. B. Shuler, father of the donor, and was Lynds Jones other specimens were observed mounted by Mr. Geo. Sutler. For further state- in the same locality in December 1908. [It is ments regarding this specimen see Ohio Nat- now called Thick-billed Murre] uralist, VI, 553. [It is now Porphyrio martinicus] Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn.) Lobipes lobatus (Linn.) Parasitic Jaeger Northern Phalarope Specimen taken on Bay Point, Sandusky, A male taken along the Scioto River near Co- Ohio, September 19, 1925, by Harold F. Pe- lumbus, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1869. [It is now called ters. Another taken at Port Clinton, Ohio Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus] by Milton B. Trautman November 14, 1925. One was caught in a net by a fisherman and Steganopus tricolor (Vieill.) given to John Albert of Sandusky in October Wilson’s Phalarope 1924. Mr. Albert kept the specimen alive Female killed on the old canal just south of for several days when it died and he made a Columbus, Ohio, June 9, 1874. [It is now mount of it. The specimen was turned over Phalaropus tricolor] to the Museum in February 1926. Mr. Traut- Recurvirostra americana (Gmel.) man found forty-one minnows in the stomach American Avocet of the specimen he collected. A female specimen taken by Clemens Uller, Rissa tridactyla (Linn.) November 10, 1882 at St. Mary’s Reservoir, Kittiwake Ohio. To my knowledge the species has not Specimen killed on Buckeye Lake, Licking been reported for the state in recent years. County, Ohio, November 7, 1925, by Milton Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmel.) B. Trautman. This is believed to be the only Dowitcher Ohio specimen in any collection. The species Male taken at Bay Point, near Sandusky, Ohio, is mentioned as an Ohio bird, but definite data Aug. 30, 1924 by Milton B. Trautman. [It is regarding it was not available previous to the now called Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodro- capture of this specimen. [It is now called mus griseus] Black-legged Kittiwake] Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.) Larus marinus (Linn.) Stilt Sandpiper Great Black-backed Gull Male from Buckeye Lake, Ohio, September 6, A specimen was shot by a hunter near the Lane 1924, taken by Milton B. Trautman. A second Avenue bridge over the , No- male from Cranberry Lake, Licking Reservoir, vember, 1915, and brought to the Museum be- Ohio, September 26, 1925 by the same collec- fore it was cold. I took the specimen to Thom- tor. [It is now Calidris himantopus] as M. Earl and had it mounted. This species

146 Vol. 38 No. 3 Tringa canutus (Linn.) Ohio, July 2, 1903 and by a second taken by Knot Milton B. Trautman at Bay Point, September Male from Bay Point, near Sandusky, Ohio, 1, 1924. The species was observed nesting May 29, 1924. Specimen taken by Milton B. on Bay Point in 1925 by Edward S. Thomas, Trautman. [It is now called Red Knot, Calidris Charles Walker and others. [It is now Char- canutus] adrius melodus] Pisobia fuscicollis (Vieill.) Arenaria interpres morinella (Linn.) White rumped Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Milton B. Trautman procured a male, May 17, A female taken by Milton B. Trautman, May 1924 at Luray, Ohio. Specimen was mounted 21, 1924 at Luray, Ohio. by Thomas M. Earl. [It is now called White- Tympanuchus americanus (Reich.) rumped Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis] Prairie Chicken Ereunetes mauri (Cab.) As late as 1874 this species was to be found Western Sandpiper near Monroeville, Ohio, but now is extirpated. A male from Cranberry Marsh, Buckeye A male taken at Monroeville, Ohio, December Lake, Ohio, September 12, 1925, Milton B. 12, 1874 is in the collection. [It is now called Trautman, collector. [It is now Calidris mauri] Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Linnaeus, 1758), and the nearest current popu- Limosa fedoa (Linn.) lation is in southeastern Illinois.] Marbled Godwit A male specimen in the collection was taken at Ectopistes migratorius (Linn.) Buckeye Lake, Licking Co., Ohio, October 8, Passenger Pigeon 1881. Collector’s name is not given. Wilson writing in 1808 or near that time gave the impression that this species had the most Cataptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus (Brewst.) individual representatives of any species of Western Willet bird in the world. One hundred years later it A male from Bay Point, near Sandusky, Ohio, was considered to be extinct. The collection taken May 29, 1924; and another from Bay contains a male specimen, taken at Columbus, Bridge, Erie County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1925. Ohio, March 1, 1875. Both specimens taken by Milton B. Trautman. [It is now called (Western) Willet, Tringa semi- Buteo borealis calurus (Cass.) palmata inornata] The Western Red-tail Female collected in Franklin County, Ohio, Machetes pugnax (Linn.) November 20, 1895, by Theodore Jasper. Ruff This appears to be the most easterly record A male in juvenile plumage taken at Buck- for this hawk. [Red-tailed Hawk is now Buteo eye Lake, Ohio, Nov. 10, 1872 by Theodore jamaicensis (Gmelin). Bill Whan noted that this Jasper. A second male taken by Jasper April specimen was later studied by Oberholser and 28, 1878 along the Scioto River, just south of found to be a melanistic local individual, B. j. Columbus, Ohio, shows an approach to adult borealis, rather than an example of the western plumage. [It is now Calidris pugnax] subspecies, B. j. calurus.] Tryngites subruficollis (Vieill.) Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (Linn.) Buff-breasted Sandpiper Gyrfalcon A male collected by Milton B. Trautman, at A specimen was trapped Jan. 30, 1907 two Bay Point, near Sandusky, Ohio, September 1, miles west of Washington Courthouse by Mr. 1924. [It is now Calidris subruficollis] Jacob Carr, on his farm, and given to Mr. Al- Numenius hudsonius (Lath.) mer Hegler who sent it to the Museum. See Hudsonian Curlew Ohio Naturalist VII-113. Two female specimens taken at Bay Point, Dryobates borealis (Vieill.) near Sandusky by Milton B. Trautman, May Red-cockaded Woodpecker 30, 1925. [It is now called Whimbrel, Nume- A male was taken at Columbus, March 15, nius phaeopus (Linnaeus, 1758)] 1872, by Dr. Theodore Jasper. [It is now Pi- Aegiatis meloda (Ord) coides borealis] Piping Plover This species is represented by a specimen tak- en by myself on Cedar Point, near Sandusky,

147 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015 CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK SPRING CENSUS, 2015 By Dwight Chasar and Craig Caldwell

Bald Eagle 4 The 2015 edition of the annual Spring Census was held on 16 May. Fifty-four birders in 20 teams participated. The day was cloudy withRed-shouldered an early Hawk drizzle and2 little sun; temperatures ranged from 65 to

79 degrees. We found over 5900 individuals,Broad-winged Hawk and the species2 count of 138 tied with that of 2006 for the third highest since the Census began in 1982. (In 2010 and 2011 we had 145 and 144, respectively). Highlights include the numbers ofRed-tailed both Hawk cuckoos, which7 were the highest since the gypsy moth infes- tation of 2000, and the spring census’sVirginia first Rail Trumpeter Swan,2 Canvasback,Pileated Woodpecker and Semipalmated25 Plover. We didn’t find a few expected species as well, such as Sora, Red-breasted Nuthatch (last missed in 2002), and Hermit Thrush. As always,Semipalmated a few Plover species’ counts1 were4 higherPeregrine or Falcon lower than usual;2 all hawk counts were low, probably due to theKilldeer weather. Other highs25 and lows Olive-sidedare noted Flycatcher in the table. 3 10

Spotted Sandpiper 9 Eastern Wood-Pewee 74

2015 CVNP SolitarySPRING Sandpiper CENSUS4 Acadian Flycatcher TABLE58 11

NAME Number Notes NAMELeast Sandpiper Number12 Notes5 AlderNAME Flycatcher Number4 Notes

Canada Goose 206 American Woodcock 2 Willow Flycatcher 29

Trumpeter Swan 4 1 Ring-billed Gull 28 Least Flycatcher 1

Wood Duck 46 Herring Gull 5 Eastern Phoebe 34

Mallard 63 Rock Pigeon 11 Great Crested Flycatcher 42

Canvasback 1 2 Mourning Dove 81 Eastern Kingbird 30

Hooded Merganser 6 3 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 12 6 White-eyed Vireo 5

Wild Turkey 3 Black-billed Cuckoo 10 7 Yellow-throated Vireo 24

Pied-billed Grebe 1 Eastern Screech-Owl 1 Blue-headed Vireo 10

Double-crested Cormorant 6 Barred Owl 1 Warbling Vireo 63

Great Blue Heron 96 Common Nighthawk 16 8 Philadelphia Vireo 2

Green Heron 9 Chimney Swift 86 Red-eyed Vireo 178

Turkey Vulture 39 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 28 Blue Jay 110

Osprey 2 Belted Kingfisher 9 9 American Crow 111

Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 18 Tree Swallow 152

Bald Eagle 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker 79 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 97

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Downy Woodpecker 44 Bank Swallow 17

Broad-winged Hawk 2 Hairy Woodpecker 11 Barn Swallow 55

Red-tailed Hawk 7 Northern Flicker 32 Black-capped Chickadee 107

Virginia Rail 2 Pileated Woodpecker 25 Tufted Titmouse 110

Semipalmated Plover 1 4 Peregrine Falcon 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 35

Killdeer 25 Olive-sided Flycatcher 3 10 Brown Creeper 2

Spotted Sandpiper 9 Eastern Wood-Pewee 74 House Wren 30

Solitary Sandpiper 4 Acadian Flycatcher 58 11 Winter Wren 1 12

Least Sandpiper 12 5 Alder Flycatcher 4 Marsh Wren 3 13

American Woodcock 2 Willow Flycatcher 29 Carolina Wren 2 14

Ring-billed Gull 28 Least Flycatcher 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 119

Herring Gull 5 Eastern Phoebe 34 Eastern Bluebird 32 148 Rock Pigeon 11 Great Crested Flycatcher 42 Veery 20

Eastern Kingbird 30 Gray-cheeked Thrush 4 15

White-eyed Vireo 5 Swainson's Thrush 28

Yellow-throated Vireo 24 Wood Thrush 42

Blue-headed Vireo 10 American Robin 201

Gray Catbird 180

Brown Thrasher 3

Northern Mockingbird 1

European Starling 71 Wilson's Warbler 8

Yellow-breasted Chat 1

Magnolia Warbler 23 Eastern Towhee 48

Bay-breasted Warbler 2 Chipping Sparrow 58

Blackburnian Warbler 3 Field Sparrow 44

Yellow Warbler 189 Henslow's Sparrow 1 19

Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 Song Sparrow Vol. 38108 No.9 3

Blackpoll Warbler 6 Lincoln's Sparrow 4

Winter Wren 2015 CVNP1 12 Black-throatedSPRING Blue Warbler CENSUS4 Swamp Sparrow TABLE19

MarshNAME Wren Number3 Notes13 NAMEPalm Warbler Number1 Notes White-throatedNAME Sparrow Number2 Notes

Carolina Wren 2 14 Pine Warbler 7 11 White-crowned Sparrow 12

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 119 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 Dark-eyed Junco 1

Eastern Bluebird 32 Yellow-throated Warbler 6 Scarlet Tanager 56

Veery 20 Prairie Warbler 3 18 Northern Cardinal 219

Gray-cheeked Thrush 4 15 Black-throated Green Warbler 19 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 39

Swainson's Thrush 28 Canada Warbler 11 Indigo Bunting 116

Wood Thrush 42 Wilson's Warbler 8 Bobolink 10

American Robin 201 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Red-winged Blackbird 499

Gray Catbird 180 Eastern Towhee 48 Eastern Meadowlark 6

Brown Thrasher 3 Chipping Sparrow 58 Common Grackle 117

Northern Mockingbird 1 Field Sparrow 44 Brown-headed Cowbird 97

European Starling 71 Henslow's Sparrow 1 19 Orchard Oriole 14

Cedar Waxwing 112 Song Sparrow 108 9 Baltimore Oriole 119

Ovenbird 21 16 Lincoln's Sparrow 4 House Finch 25

Louisiana Waterthrush 1 17 Swamp Sparrow 19 American Goldfinch 246

Blue-winged Warbler 60 White-throated Sparrow 2 House Sparrow 53

Black-and-white Warbler 2 White-crowned Sparrow 12 TOTALTOTAL INDIVIDUALS INDIVIDUALS 5925

Prothonotary Warbler 8 Dark-eyed Junco 1

Tennessee Warbler 37 Scarlet Tanager 56

Nashville Warbler 3 Northern Cardinal 219

Mourning Warbler 1

Common Yellowthroat 183

Hooded Warbler 80

American Redstart 43

Cerulean Warbler 16 NOTES 1. First ever; Kendall Lake; up to five have been there almost a month Northern Parula 9 2. First ever on spring census 3. One female and five young Magnolia Warbler 23 4. First ever on spring census; Brookside marsh 5. Very irregularly found on spring census Bay-breasted Warbler 2 6. 32 in 2000 7. 16 in 2000 Blackburnian Warbler 3 8. Jaite; hasn't been easy to get on spring census, often missed 9. On the low side Yellow Warbler 189 10. Sanitation pond, Station Road, Terra Vista; often missed 11. High number Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 12. Ledges area 13. Brookside Marsh Blackpoll Warbler 6 14. Lowest since 1995 when we started counting individuals; 2014-15 was a hard winter 15. High number, irregularly found Black-throated Blue Warbler 4 16. On the low side for recent years 17. Low number, usually four to six Palm Warbler 1 18. Armington Pond area; high number, very irregularly found 19. Coliseum grassland Pine Warbler 7 11

Yellow-rumped Warbler 5

Yellow-throated Warbler 6

Prairie Warbler 3 18 149

Black-throated Green Warbler 19

Canada Warbler 11 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015

BIRDS FOR THE CURE JUVENILE DIABETES HIKE

By Douglas Vogus

Editor’s Note: For five days beginning 06 May, Douglas Vogus walked the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He started at Whitebridge Road near Dover and trekked almost 100 miles north to Wendy Park on Lake Erie. His efforts garnered 131 species, almost 6200 individual birds, and more than $3900 in contributions. You can learn more about JDRF and his walk at https://birds4cure.wordpress.com/. Doug is a regular contributor to the Cardinal. He says he’d do this trek again, but take 10 days next time.

Date 06 May 07 May 08 May 09 May 10 May TOTALS Hours 14.5 8.5 12.5 12.0 9.5 57.0 Miles on foot 20.5 16.4 24.9 23.0 14.0 98.9

Canada Goose 22 68 367 84 69 610

Wood Duck 17 20 3 8 2 50

Mallard 6 27 49 22 22 126

Ring-necked Duck 1 1

Lesser Scaup 1 1

Common Merganser 1 1

Double-crested Cormorant 21 53 74

Great Blue Heron 3 4 9 19 1 36

Green Heron 2 2 4 2 3 13

Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 1

Turkey Vulture 5 9 7 17 6 44

Osprey 1 1

Bald Eagle 1 1 2

Cooper's Hawk 1 1 1 3

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 1

Red-tailed Hawk 4 3 10 2 19

American Coot 1 1 2

Killdeer 2 3 4 4 13 26

Spotted Sandpiper 4 2 5 4 3 18

Solitary Sandpiper 4 2 1 1 8

Ring-billed Gull 1 3 72 76

Herring Gull 1 26 27

Great Black-backed Gull 1 1

Caspian Tern 14 14

Common Tern 5 5

Rock Pigeon 7 8 6 41 62

Mourning Dove 16 13 29 12 9 79

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 1 2

150 Eastern Screech-Owl 1 1

Common Nighthawk 2 1 1 4

Chimney Swift 19 22 24 8 36 109

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 1 3

Belted Kingfisher 1 2 1 2 1 7

Red-headed Woodpecker 1 4 5

Red-bellied Woodpecker 19 16 18 19 5 77

Downy Woodpecker 9 10 7 10 6 42

Hairy Woodpecker 5 2 5 3 15

Northern Flicker 11 4 2 5 4 26 Solitary Sandpiper 4 2 1 1 8

Ring-billed Gull 1 3 72 76

Herring Gull 1 26 27

Great Black-backed Gull 1 1

Caspian Tern 14 Vol.14 38 No. 3 Common Tern 5 5 Date 06 May 07 May 08 May 09 May 10 May TOTALS HoursRock Pigeon 14.5 8.57 12.58 12.06 419.5 57.062 Miles on foot 20.5 16.4 24.9 23.0 14.0 98.9

Mourning Dove 16 13 29 12 9 79

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 1 2

Eastern Screech-Owl 1 1

Common Nighthawk 2 1 1 4

Chimney Swift 19 22 24 8 36 109

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 1 3

Belted Kingfisher 1 2 1 2 1 7

Red-headed Woodpecker 1 4 5

Red-bellied Woodpecker 19 16 18 19 5 77

Downy Woodpecker 9 10 7 10 6 42

Hairy Woodpecker 5 2 5 3 15

Northern Flicker 11 4 2 5 4 26

Pileated Woodpecker 3 1 2 6

American Kestrel 2 2

Peregrine Falcon 1 1 2 4

Eastern Wood-Pewee 4 3 7 1 15

Acadian Flycatcher 8 2 3 1 14

Willow Flycatcher 1 3 1 6 11

Least Flycatcher 2 2

Eastern Phoebe 6 5 6 2 19

Great Crested Flycatcher 14 4 7 7 1 33

Eastern Kingbird 10 3 6 8 2 29

White-eyed Vireo 6 1 6 3 16

Yellow-throated Vireo 10 4 2 8 24

Blue-headed Vireo 1 1

Warbling Vireo 16 13 15 28 18 90

Red-eyed Vireo 42 21 35 26 4 128

Blue Jay 23 14 28 14 6 85

American Crow 15 5 11 13 2 46

Purple Martin 1 1

Tree Swallow 12 7 5 24

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 22 29 30 12 98

Bank Swallow 8 2 10

Barn Swallow 2 3 37 6 14 62

Carolina Chickadee 10 10 20

Black-capped Chickadee 2 6 23 21 3 55

Tufted Titmouse 18 17 21 26 82

White-breasted Nuthatch 8 9 9 8 1 35 151

House Wren 11 19 14 4 3 51

Carolina Wren 6 8 2 1 17

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 27 25 18 30 6 106

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 1

Eastern Bluebird 11 1 2 2 16

Veery 1 2 1 4

Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 1

Swainson's Thrush 5 2 7

Wood Thrush 27 14 14 1 1 57

American Robin 70 76 122 49 41 358

Gray Catbird 58 65 79 45 25 272

Brown Thrasher 2 1 3 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5 22 29 30 12 98

The Ohio Cardinal,Bank Swallow Spring 2015 8 2 10 Barn Swallow 2 3 37 6 14 62 Date 06 May 07 May 08 May 09 May 10 May TOTALS HoursCarolina Chickadee 14.510 108.5 12.5 12.0 9.5 57.020 Miles on foot 20.5 16.4 24.9 23.0 14.0 98.9

Black-capped Chickadee 2 6 23 21 3 55

Tufted Titmouse 18 17 21 26 82

White-breasted Nuthatch 8 9 9 8 1 35

House Wren 11 19 14 4 3 51

Carolina Wren 6 8 2 1 17

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 27 25 18 30 6 106

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 1

Eastern Bluebird 11 1 2 2 16

Veery 1 2 1 4

Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 1

Swainson's Thrush 5 2 7

Wood Thrush 27 14 14 1 1 57

American Robin 70 76 122 49 41 358

Gray Catbird 58 65 79 45 25 272

Brown Thrasher 2 1 3

Northern Mockingbird 1 5 6

European Starling 27 36 36 10 49 158

Cedar Waxwing 3 1 2 6

Ovenbird 2 1 1 4

Louisiana Waterthrush 3 2 5

Northern Waterthrush 4 6 1 2 13

Blue-winged Warbler 1 4 5

Black-and-white Warbler 4 4

Prothonotary Warbler 15 15

Tennessee Warbler 5 2 4 10 3 24

Nashville Warbler 1 1

Kentucky Warbler 1 1

Common Yellowthroat 24 16 26 49 8 123

Hooded Warbler 1 4 13 18

American Redstart 3 2 6 8 19

Cape May Warbler 2 2

Cerulean Warbler 10 5 15

Northern Parula 3 1 1 2 1 8

Magnolia Warbler 6 1 1 1 9

Blackburnian Warbler 2 1 3

Yellow Warbler 22 57 94 65 35 273

Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 3 1 10

152 Blackpoll Warbler 1 1 1 3

Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 1

Palm Warbler 2 2 1 5

Yellow-rumped Warbler 11 11 8 1 1 32

Yellow-throated Warbler 7 2 8 17

Black-throated Green Warbler 8 1 1 10

Wilson's Warbler 2 1 3

Yellow-breasted Chat 1 1

Eastern Towhee 15 9 6 3 33

Chipping Sparrow 16 18 16 3 2 55

Field Sparrow 3 7 4 1 15

Savannah Sparrow 1 1

Song Sparrow 72 63 92 65 21 313

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 2

Swamp Sparrow 9 9 10 1 29

White-throated Sparrow 4 6 6 2 18 Vol. 38 No. 3

Date 06 May 07 May 08 May 09 May 10 May TOTALS HoursBlackburnian Warbler 14.52 8.51 12.5 12.0 9.5 57.03 Miles on foot 20.5 16.4 24.9 23.0 14.0 98.9

Yellow Warbler 22 57 94 65 35 273

Chestnut-sided Warbler 6 3 1 10

Blackpoll Warbler 1 1 1 3

Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 1

Palm Warbler 2 2 1 5

Yellow-rumped Warbler 11 11 8 1 1 32

Yellow-throated Warbler 7 2 8 17

Black-throated Green Warbler 8 1 1 10

Wilson's Warbler 2 1 3

Yellow-breasted Chat 1 1

Eastern Towhee 15 9 6 3 33

Chipping Sparrow 16 18 16 3 2 55

Field Sparrow 3 7 4 1 15

Savannah Sparrow 1 1

Song Sparrow 72 63 92 65 21 313

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 2

Swamp Sparrow 9 9 10 1 29

White-throated Sparrow 4 6 6 2 18

White-crowned Sparrow 2 1 2 5

Scarlet Tanager 12 3 10 10 1 36

Northern Cardinal 53 76 90 71 1 291

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 17 11 21 7 1 57

Indigo Bunting 22 5 6 25 6 64

Red-winged Blackbird 23 28 69 77 32 229

Eastern Meadowlark 1 2 3

Rusty Blackbird 1 2 3

Common Grackle 60 13 21 28 11 133

Brown-headed Cowbird 16 18 32 17 9 92

Orchard Oriole 7 2 5 4 6 24

Baltimore Oriole 16 24 25 37 13 115

House Finch 4 6 11 5 8 34

Purple Finch 1 1

Pine Siskin 2 2

American Goldfinch 33 35 44 36 22 170

House Sparrow 20 47 86 22 73 248

TOTALTOTAL INDIVIDUALS 6164

153 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015

YEARS AGO

By Craig Caldwell

10 years ago, the Spring 2005 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 28 No. 3 (Bill Whan, Editor) contained these items: The cover photo was of a Purple Sandpiper at the Magee beach on 12 May. A total of 12 Long-tailed Ducks visited six locations. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron nest building was underway at the Preston Avenue, Columbus, site by 09 Apr. Three Whooping Cranes from the managed Wisconsin flock stopped by. The OBRC accepted records of a Red-naped Sapsucker, three Kirtland’s Warblers, and a Swainson’s Warbler. A Yellow-headed Blackbird showed up in Brown.

25 years ago, the Spring 1990 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 13 No. 3 (Ed Pierce and Tom Kemp, Co-Editors), con- tained these items: Ohio’s first Violet-green Swallow visited a home in Shreve, Holmes, on 16 May. Ohio’s first Brown Pelican was sighted at Huntington Reservation,Cuyahoga , on 29 Apr. Fifty-two counties generated reports of 280 species.

35 years ago, the Spring 1980 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Ed Pierce and Tom Bartlett, Co-Editors) included these items: An article summarizing Bald Eagle breeding records noted that five nests produced four young in 1980. Ohio’s first Tufted Duck visited what was then the Lorain Hot Waters site on 03 Mar. A total of seven Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were seen in Butler, Cuyahoga, Greene, and Franklin. Yellow Rails were noted at Spring Valley WA, Greene, and Irwin Prairie SNP, Lucas. Mark Shieldcastle banded a Kirtland’s Warbler at Magee. House finches warranted this mention: “…breeding and resident birds can now be found regularly in Cleveland, Akron, Lorain, and Marietta”

50 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar of Spring 1965, Vol. 61, No. 2 (Donald Newman, Editor) included these items: Lake Erie remained ice-covered in the Cleveland area until 14 Apr. Six of winter’s 30 Rough-legged Hawks remained in Lorain on 03 Apr. Ospreys were reported on 18 dates at 11 locations. One Double-crested Cormorant was seen off Bay Village and another at Perkins Beach (bothCuyahoga ). One or two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons were seen along the Chagrin River. Six Peregrine Falcons were seen migrating, apparently together. Two House Finches were noted at Holden Arboretum.

100 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar No. 1 (Jan-Mar 1915) and Bulletin No. 2 (Apr-May 1915), Francis H. Herrick, Editor, contained these items: Juncos were “very abundant in April”. The first Common Nighthawk was noted on 24 Apr, the first Chimney Swift on 26 Apr, the first House Wren on 30 Mar, and the first Fox Sparrow on 02 Apr. The first Eastern Phoebe was noted on 04 Apr and a nest with young was discovered on 19 Apr.

154 Vol. 38 No. 3

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155 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2015

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

156 This Bohemian Waxwing was photographed in stunning detail by Christopher Collins at Lake Erie Bluffs on 23 Mar.

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, book reviews, essays, artwork, and photographs related to Ohio and its birdlife. Please refer to our website (www.ohiobirds.org/publications/cardinal/aboutcardinal.php) for general guidelines on style and formatting. 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 Laura Keene: [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: Donald Morse, Jr. captured this image of an adult Western Sandpiper in near-breeding plumage which he discovered at East Fork on 27 Apr. The Ohio Ornithological Society PO Box 2432 Westerville, OH 43086

Contents

Comments on the Season By Craig Caldwell...... 110 Species Accounts By Craig Caldwell...... 114 Contributors ...... 142 Legacy Specimens in the Ohio State Collection By James Hine...... 145 Cuyahoga Valley National Park Spring Census, 2015 By Dwight Chasar and Craig Caldwell...... 148 Birds for the Cure Juvenile Diabetes Hike By Douglas Vogus...... 150 Years Ago By Craig Caldwell...... 154