Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of ’s Birdlife • Vol. 41, No. 1, Fall 2017 Over the course of the fall, Adam Brandemihl seemed to have made good friends with this very photogenic Eastern Screech-Owl, capturing this shot on 14 Oct at Kiwanis Riverway Park, Franklin.

On the cover: A text message from a stranger on 06 Aug led to Christopher Collins having the chance to see this nesting Common Nighthawk on the roof of a warehouse in Montgomery.. Vol. 40 No. 4

Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of Ohio’s Birdlife

EDITOR OHIO BIRD RECORDS Craig Caldwell COMMITTEE 1270 W. Dr. Westlake, OH 44145 Jay G. Lehman 440-356-0494 Secretary [email protected] 7064 Shawnee Run Rd. , OH 45243 [email protected] PHOTO EDITOR Christopher Collins PAST PUBLISHERS 3560 Alvera Ct. Beavercreek, OH 45432 John Herman (1978–1980) [email protected] Edwin C. Pierce (1980–2008)

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

ISSN 1534-1666 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

COMMENTS ON THE SEASON

By Craig Caldwell throughout the northern hemisphere. The three hurricanes which wreaked havoc in Aug temperatures were below normal, ranking the Caribbean, Florida, and Texas pushed oce- among the coolest 25% on record. Sep and Nov anic and coastal birds far inland. Ohio’s second temperatures were somewhat above normal, with Sooty Tern was among them. And in addition to both ranking at about the 65th percentile. Oct, the lives lost and livelihoods jeopardized, much however, was a scorcher: It was the ninth hottest habitat was destroyed in the islands, putting their of the 123 years of data. The entire northeastern endemic species at risk. quadrant of the country shared our discomfort. The Ohio Bird Records Committee has been Aug and Sep were very dry, with rainfalls rank- reconstituted following a dormant period and a ing among the lowest 20% since data collection report of their actions last fall is published here. began in 1895. In Aug, most of the state received The new Secretary, Jay Lehman, is confident that 75 to 110% of its usual rain, though widespread a much larger slate of decisions will be available pockets got less than 50% and a few tiny areas got for the next issue of the Cardinal. up to 150% of their normal amounts. The Sep This issue of the Cardinal contains reports of pattern was similar though the highs and lows 313 species, the most since 2012’s 317 (though were in different areas than in Aug. By contrast, fall 2014 also generated 313 reports). The spe- the Oct rainfall ranked number 96 and Nov’s was cies accounts also include two hybrids and six re- number 115, with number 123 being the wettest. ports at the genus or family level. This issue again In Oct, only the northwest was significantly dryer includes data from every county, though reports than usual and the far northeast’s rainfall was a were scarce from Pike, Putnam, and Van Wert. little below normal. Most of the rest of the state Seven species were reported in all 88 counties, had up to double the usual amount of rain with seven were seen in 87 counties, and 20 more were some parts of the southwest receiving triple their seen in at least 80. normal amount. In Nov, the Ohio Valley’s pre- This season produced reports of 21 review cipitation was less than ¾ of normal; most of the species; their names are underlined. Sightings rest of the state received up to double its usual of eight species generated formal reports to the amount and several areas received three times OBRC and at least some reports of the rest were their average. posted to eBird or other media with photos or Of course not all of the precipitation was rain: descriptions which will allow review. Two of the It snowed in Richland and areas to its southeast eight species with formal submissions also had re- during the night of 31 Oct to 01 Nov. And of ports from other locations without any support- course snow fell in the northeast snow belt and ing information, as did four of the “posted-only” elsewhere on several Nov dates. species. The OBRC and this editor continue to Weather data are from the National Weather urge birders to formally report all sightings of Service (http://water.weather.gov/precip/), the Review List species, of Core List species found at NOAA (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and- unusual times, of nesting by birds previously not precip/maps.php and http://www.ncdc.noaa. known to nest in the state, and of course sightings gov/extremes/records/), and the Plain Dealer. of birds never before found in Ohio. An easy-to- This year’s migration was overall unremark- use on-line form is available at http://ohiobirds. able save for its continuing the trend towards lat- org/rare-birds/report-a-rare-bird-sighting/. er southbound departure times. The last sightings Data for the following Species Accounts come of many warblers were days or weeks later than from reports submitted directly to The Cardinal their historical departures; a few species had indi- and The Bobolink (the latter courtesy of its pub- viduals linger far into Dec. Ruby-throated hum- lisher, Robert Hershberger), eBird (http://ebird. mingbirds set a record: One was here into late org/content/ebird), and the Ohio-birds listserv Nov and two others stayed into Dec. Only in the (http://birding.aba.org/maillist/OH). In the last five years have any been seen in Nov. Only species accounts, “normal” departure and arrival once before have two stayed into that month, dates are from Harlan et al., Ohio Bird Records Com- and twice before a single bird was seen in Dec. mittee Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Ohio, 2008. The warm, even hot, Sep through Nov no doubt Mentions of breeding locations are from Rode- contributed to the many late departures, but the wald et al., The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio trend mirrors that which has been documented (“OBBA II”, 2016).

1 Vol. 41 No. 1

Taxonomic order and nomenclature follow Clear Creek = ; the east- the Check-List of North American Birds, 7th Edition ern 2/3 is in Hocking, the rest in Fairfield (1998) as updated through the 58th Supplement Clear Fork = Clear Fork Reservoir (or Lake), (2017). These documents are produced by the partly in Morrow but most of the birding is North American Classification Committee of the done in the larger Richland Section. American Ornithological Society and are avail- CLNP = Lakefront Nature Preserve able at http://www.checklist.aou.org/. (the former Dike 14), Cuyahoga County names are in bold italics. Locations CMM = the trio of Jon Cefus, Kent Miller, and whose counties are of the same name, for ex- Ben Morrison ample Ashtabula (city) and Delaware Wildlife CNC = Cincinnati Nature Center, a non-govern- Area, usually do not have the counties repeated. mental entity whose Long Branch Farm and County names for sites described in Cincinnati Rowe Woods units are in Clermont (Hamilton), Cleveland (Cuyahoga), Columbus Conneaut = the mudflats to the west of Con- (Franklin), Dayton (Montgomery), and Tole- neaut Harbor, Ashtabula do (Lucas) are also omitted. Shortened names CP = County Park and a few sets of initials are used for locations CPNWR = Cedar Point National Wildlife Ref- and organizations which occur repeatedly; these uge, Lucas abbreviations are listed here. The term “fide” is CVNP = Cuyahoga Valley National Park, used in some citations; it means “in trust of ” and Cuyahoga and (mostly) Summit is used where the reporter was not the observer. Darby Creek = Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, almost entirely in Franklin but with bits in other counties as well Abbreviations: Deer Creek = the State Park is in Pickaway, the Alum Creek = Alum Creek Reservoir, Dela- Wildlife Area is in Fayette, and Deer Creek ware, unless otherwise noted Lake is in both but mostly Pickaway Armleder Park = a Cincinnati city park on the East Fork = , Clermont , Hamilton East Harbor = , Ottawa Audubon = the National Audubon Society Edge Preserve = The Nature Conservancy’s (http://www.audubon.org) Edge of Appalachia Preserve, multiple par- Bayshore = a fishing access site near a power cels mostly in Adams and extending a bit into plant a bit east of Toledo Scioto. BBS = the North American Breeding Bird Sur- Edgewater = the Edgewater unit of Cleveland vey, a joint project of the United States Geo- Lakefront Metroparks, Cuyahoga logical Survey (USGS) and the Canadian Englewood = Englewood MetroPark, Wildlife Service Montgomery Berlin Lake = Berlin Lake (or Reservoir), Ma- Fernald = Fernald Preserve, Butler and honing and Portage Hamilton Big Island = Big Island Wildlife Area, Marion Findlay Reservoirs = several contiguous water Blendon Woods = Blendon Woods Metro Park, bodies east of town in Hancock Franklin Funk = Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area, Ashland The Bowl = a limited-access area near the Har- and (mostly) Wayne rison airport Grand Lake = Grand Lake St. Marys. The State BRAS = Black River Audubon Society Park, the state fish hatchery, and the eastern BSBO = Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Otta- 20% of the lake itself are in Auglaize. The wa (http://www.bsbo.org) rest of the lake is in Mercer. Buck Creek = , Clark Great Miami WMB = Great Miami Wetlands Burke Airport = Cleveland Burke Lakefront Air- Mitigation Bank, Montgomery port, Cuyahoga Headlands = Headlands Dunes State Nature Caesar Creek = , War- Preserve, Headlands Beach State Park, and ren, unless the lake is specified; a bit of the adjoining waters, Lake lake is also in Clinton Holden = Holden Arboretum, Lake, except for CBC = Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count its Stebbins Gulch unit in Geauga CCE = Crane Creek Estuary, Lucas and Otta- Hoover NP = Hoover Nature Preserve, wa, viewable from both ONWR and the CCE Delaware Trail which originates at Magee Hoover Reservoir = the northern 80% is in Del- Chapel Drive = a road off Ohio 83 south of Cum- aware, the rest and the dam in Franklin berland in Noble which traverses grasslands

2 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 Huron = the harbor, breakwalls, and old dredge NP = Nature Preserve, except as part of CVNP spoil impoundment in that Erie city, unless OBBA II = the second Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas noted otherwise OBRC = Ohio Bird Records Committee Indian Lake = Indian Lake State Park, Logan Old Highland Stone = that company’s wa- Jones Preserve = Jones Preserve at Long Point, on ter-filled gravel pits, Highland Kelleys Island, Erie Old Woman Creek = Old Woman Creek Nation- Kelleys Island = the island and adjoining waters, al Estuarine Research Reserve, Erie Erie OOPMP = Oak Openings Preserve MetroPark, Killbuck = Killbuck State Wildlife Area, Holmes Lucas and Wayne ONWR = Ottawa , Lu- Killdeer = Killdeer Plains State Wildlife Area; a cas and Ottawa bit is in Marion but it’s mostly in Wyandot ONWR Blausey, Boss, and Navarre = units of Kiwanis Park = Kiwanis Riverway Park, on the ONWR separate from the main area, all in Scioto River in Dublin, Franklin Ottawa; of them only Boss is open to the LaDue = LaDue Reservoir, Geauga public Lake Erie Bluffs = a Lake Metroparks parcel ONWR WD = Ottawa National Wildlife Ref- overlooking the eponymous water body uge Wildlife Drive, the monthly opening of Lake Hope/Zaleski = and areas otherwise closed to vehicles, Lucas and surrounding , Vinton Ottawa Lake Loramie = Lake Loramie SP, Shelby Painesville TP = Painesville Township Park, over- Lorain = the dredge spoil impoundment east of looking Lake Erie in Lake downtown in the city and county of the same Pearson MP = Pearson Metro Park, Lucas name, unless otherwise noted Pickerel Creek = Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, Lost Bridge = a Great Miami River crossing Sandusky on Lawrenceburg Road near Elizabethtown, Pickerington Ponds = Pickerington Ponds Metro Hamilton, where a covered bridge was lost Park, Fairfield and Franklin to fire in 1903 Pipe Creek = Pipe Creek Wildlife Area, in the m. obs. = multiple observers city of Sandusky, Erie Magee = the boardwalk and immediate vicinity Pleasant Hill Lake = an impoundment straddling in Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, unless the Ashland/Richland line; most viewing is otherwise noted. The northern third of the on the eastern, Ashland, end. causeway is also in Lucas, the rest in Ottawa. Rocky Fork = Rocky Fork State Park, Highland Mallard Club = Mallard Club Marsh WA, Lucas Salt Fork = Salt Fork SP, Guernsey Maumee Bay = , Lucas, Sandy Ridge = Sandy Ridge Reservation, unless otherwise noted Lorain Medusa = Medusa Marsh, Erie, an informally Seneca Lake = most of the lake and the (non- named and privately owned area between state) Park are in Noble, while the dam is in Sandusky and Bay View Guernsey Metzger = Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, SF = State Forest not to be confused with Metzger Reservoir, Shawnee = , Scioto, unless Allen otherwise noted Mill Creek = Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, a Shawnee Lookout = Shawnee Lookout County limited-access area in Mahoning Park, Hamilton Mohican = Mohican State Forest and State Park. Sheldon Marsh = Sheldon Marsh State Nature Many trails cross the boundaries so some re- Preserve, Erie ports include sightings from both without Sherod Park = a city park overlooking Lake Erie distinction. in Vermilion, Erie Mohican SF = Mohican State Forest, Ashland SNP = State Nature Preserve Mohican SP = , (mostly) SP = State Park Ashland and (slightly) Richland Springfield Lake = in Greater Akron, Summit Mosquito Lake = Mosquito Creek Lake, also Springville Marsh = Springville Marsh State Na- called Mosquito Creek Reservoir, Trumbull. ture Preserve, Seneca Mosquito (Creek) Wildlife Area adjoins it. Spring Valley = Spring Valley Wildlife Area, al- MP = Metro Park, MetroPark, or Metropark de- most entirely in Greene but extending into pending on the system Warren NC = Nature Center Stillfork = The Nature Conservancy’s Stillfork NF = National Forest Swamp Preserve, Carroll

3 Vol. 41 No. 1 Sunset Park = a city park overlooking Lake Erie in Willoughby, Lake SWA = State Wildlife Area TNC = The Nature Conservancy (http://www. nature.org) TP = Township Park Villa Angela = the Villa Angela unit of Cleve- land’s Lakefront Reservation WA = Wildlife Area Wake Robin = a trail and boardwalk in Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, Lake 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 strip mines Willow Point = Willow Point Wildlife Area, Erie Winous Horseshoe = a limited-access part of Winous Point Shooting Club, Ottawa Winous Point = Winous Point Shooting Club, Ottawa Wintergarden Woods = Wintergarden Woods and Saint Johns Nature Preserve, Wood Woodman Fen = a natural area, part of Dayton’s Five Rivers MetroParks system, Montgomery Zaleski = Zaleski State Forest, Vinton

4 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

By Craig Caldwell Canada Goose Port Clinton Lakefront Preserve, Ottawa, held about 900 for Nancy Anderson on 16 Nov, and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck two concentrations of 800 were reported else- The OBRC has a report from Warren. where on other dates. Only Brown didn’t have Snow Goose a sighting. R. Lee Reed saw the first, five in Ottawa on 13 Mute Swan Oct. Next were a duo in a pond by the Bass Pro Two Hocking and one Summit locations each Shop in Wood on 20 Oct (Philip Chaon and Hei- hosted eight. (33 counties) di Trudell). Melanie Shuter saw 200, “a tight raft on the water” in Deer Creek SP on 21 Nov. The Trumpeter Swan next-highest number was Gary Bush’s 100 in Ed Pierce’s ONWR census team counted 93 on Wintersville, Jefferson, on 08 Nov. (31 counties) 06 Aug (fide Douglas Vogus); Mark Shieldcastle had found 92 there on 02 Aug. The most not in Ross’s Goose Lucas or Ottawa were Morgan Pfeiffer’s 44 at Teri and Tim Drewyer saw one on the Bowling Pipe Creek on 19 Nov and the most away from Green State University golf course, Wood, on 29 Lake Erie were 25 which Ron Sempier found at Oct. The next was a single bird seen by many Killdeer on 11 Nov. (24 counties) at LaDue on 06 Nov. Kent Miller and Angelika Nelson counted 16 at Killbuck on 24 Nov; Rob- Tundra Swan ert Royse matched them at Deer Creek Lake on John Petruzzi saw the first, four at Mill Creek both 23 and 27 Nov. (17 counties) on 26 Oct. Mark Shieldcastle provided the high count, 3000 at ONWR on 14 Nov. The [Snow x Ross’s Goose] second-most were the 1282 total in more than Singles identified as this hybrid were reported in 20 flocks which Kent Miller and Ed Schlabach Franklin, Geauga, Medina, and Richland. counted passing Ragersville, Tuscarawas, Greater White-fronted Goose during a sky watch on 08 Nov. (37 counties) A trio of birders saw a trio of birds from Wil- Wood Duck derness Road on 07 Oct. Tim Kleman found the The two highest counts came during ONWR next, one bird along the ONWR WD on 17 Oct. censuses, 137 on 06 Aug and 176 on 01 Oct (Ed Marilyn and Michael Shade provided a count Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). The third most of 34 in Tipp City, Montgomery, on 29 Nov. were Charles Bombaci’s 127 at Char-Mar Ridge Amy Downing counted 30 in the CSX wetlands, Preserve, Delaware, on 31 Aug. He wrote, “Ev- Wood, on 21 Nov. (14 counties) ery log and rock along the pond shore was occu- Brant pied by Wood Ducks”. (82 counties) The first passed Lake Erie Bluffs for JohnPo- gacnik on 30 Oct. The second spent from 02 to 05 at Killbuck; see Field Notes for more (m. obs.). The last of the season was off Sherod Park on 19 Nov (Dan Gesualdo) but there was also a Dec sighting. Dan and Carl Winstead saw two from Sherod Park on 10 Nov. Lori McCollister pho- tographed a rare far-inland sighting near Nash- port, Muskingum, on 06 Nov. Ashtabula and Su Snyder photographed this Brant, a rare visitor to inland Ohio, Cuyahoga also hosted single birds. at Killbuck on 02 Nov. Cackling Goose The first date was 11 Oct; on that day Jen Brum- Blue-winged Teal field saw one at CLNP while Chris Pierce noted Pickerington Ponds hosted the last of the season, two in a flyover flock of Canada Geese at Marga- four on 26 Nov (Mary Lou Dickson), though ret Peak NP, Lorain. The high count of 10 was there were at least three Dec sightings. Dawn by Brandon Brywcznski at Delta Reservoir #1, Hanna saw the most, about 60 at Mosquito WA Fulton, on 01 Nov. (14 counties) on 29 Sep. (50 counties)

5 Vol. 41 No. 1

Northern Shoveler Loughman found 120 at the Findlay Reservoirs Matthew Webb saw the first one, at Mill Creek on 06 Nov; Jen Brumfield came in second with 80 on 06 Aug. Bob Lane counted 146 at Pine Lake, at Edgewater on 25 Nov. (39 counties) Mahoning, on 13 Nov and 130 there three days Ring-necked Duck later. The most elsewhere were Paul Sherwood’s Linda Gilbert saw the first; it visited herGeauga 98 at Medusa on 18 Nov. (46 counties) property on 16 Sep. Gary Cowell provided the Gadwall high count; 455 at Garber’s Lake, Richland, on The first were duos at Lorain and Sandy Ridge 11 Nov. Susan Carpenter’s 150 at Summit Lake on 08 Aug; Martha Burrows saw all four. Mosqui- on 14 Nov was the second-highest count. (55 to WA hosted about 900 on 01 Nov (Cam Lee). counties) The second-most were 460 at ONWR during the Greater Scaup 05 Nov census (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vo- The first sightings were on 25 Oct, one bird at gus). (57 counties) Lorain (Debbie and Mark Raven) and two at Eurasian Wigeon Grand Rapids, Lucas (Tom Kemp). Jacob Raber One spent from 05 to 31 Oct at Mosquito WA; saw the most, about 125 off Sherod Park on 19 George Novosel saw it first and Mark Shaver last. Nov. Dave Chase’s 55 off Painesville Township American Wigeon Park, Lake, that same day was the second-high- Matt Kemp found the first, two at Medusa on 26 est count. The most inland were the 20 which Aug. Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison saw about 700 Amy Downing and Jeff Loughman saw at the at Mosquito WA on 06 Oct. Sue Johnson’s 350 Findlay Reservoirs on 17 Nov. (17 counties) along the ONWR WD on 01 Oct were the sec- Lesser Scaup ond-most. (39 counties) Kent Miller and Ben Morrison noted the first, a Mallard flyby at Huron harbor, Erie, on 31 Aug. Mike Paul Jacyk contributed the highest count, 720 off Smith found the next, at Put-In-Bay, Ottawa, Cullen Park, Lucas, on 01 Nov. ONWR hosted on 10 Sep. Paul Jacyk saw about 1600 off Cullen 564 during the 05 Nov census (Ed Pierce et al., fide Park, Lucas, on 01 Nov, and other Lucas and Douglas Vogus). (80 counties) Ottawa sites had up to 800 on other dates. The highest inland count was Eric Juterbock’s 200 at American Black Duck Upper Sandusky Reservoir #2, Wyandot, on 06 Blendon Woods always seems to provide the high Nov. (43 counties) count; Takayuki Uchida found 37 there on 24 Nov. (44 counties) Scaup sp. Paul Jacyk estimated that at least 3700 were in a [Mallard x American Black Duck] mixed flock off Cullen Park, Lucas, on 09 Nov. Bob and Sara Crist identified six at Dillon SP, Muskingum, on 20 Oct. (10 counties) White-winged Scoter Bev Walborn saw the first, a dozen off Cahoon Northern Pintail Park, Cuyahoga, on 31 Oct. Karen Zeleznik’s Bob and Denise Lane and Craig Holt saw the 15 at Sims Park, Cuyahoga, on 25 Nov was the first, three at Mill Creek on 25 Aug. Dan Gesual- high count. Gary Cowell and John Herman sep- do counted 225 off Sherod Park on 19 Nov. John arately noted eight at Clear Fork on 08 Nov for Petruzzi’s 65 at Mill Creek on 25 Nov was the the inland maximum. (19 counties) next-highest count. (35 counties) Green-winged Teal These started arriving in late Jul. Mark Shield- castle saw the most, about 1500 at ONWR on 06 Nov. Next was John Petruzzi, with 300 at Mill Creek on 19 Nov. (51 counties) Canvasback Duos on 16 Oct were the first; Bill Ohlsen saw them from the Cedar Point Chausee, Erie, and Dick Hoopes’ were at LaDue. Susan Carpenter Jeff Peters captured this image of a White-winged Scoter at found 25 at Nimisila Reservoir, Summit, on 22 Eastwood MP, Montgomery, on 14 Nov. Nov. (27 counties) Surf Scoter Redhead The first were eight which Debbie Parker saw Members of a BRAS field trip to Sandy Ridge circling the Lorain harbor on 16 Oct. The saw the first, on 06 Sep. Amy Downing and Jeff 6 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 high count of 18 was achieved at Sims Park, Conneaut on 04 Aug (Patrick Doran). Jeff Har- Cuyahoga, by Dennis Mersky on 11 Nov and vey counted 362 on Pine Lake, Mahoning, on 18 Chris Pierce on 18 Nov. The most elsewhere were Nov, and wrote, “Large numbers stage on Pine 11 off Sherod Park on 07 Nov (m. obs.). The in- each fall…They were late arriving this fall.”. (29 land high count was five, well described by Tyler counties) Ficker and Maddie Varias unusually far south at Red-breasted Merganser East Fork on 04 Nov. (13 counties) The first (after two soloists which apparently Black Scoter summered in the state) were two off Lakeview Brian and Tyler McClain counted the first, six off Park, Lorain, on 03 Aug (Ed Wransky). Numbers Kelleys Island on 15 Oct. The next date was 29 peaked on 17 Nov, when Bill Ohlsen saw 12,000 Oct, shared by eight birds at Rocky River Park, pass Huntington Reservation, Cuyahoga, and Cuyahoga (Jen Brumfield) and two at Sherod 18 Nov, when participants on a Lake Erie pelag- Park (Dan Gesualdo). The waters off Sims Park, ic cruise saw 13,000 off the same county. Gary Cuyahoga, hosted 30 on 23 Nov (Gautam and Cowell contributed the inland high count of 174 Sameer Apte) and up to 20 on other dates. Bret from Clear Fork on 22 Nov. (35 counties) McCarty saw the next-highest number, 13 by the Ruddy Duck Lakewood, Cuyahoga, shore on 24 Nov. Apple The season’s first showed up for Sandra La Faut Valley Lake, Knox, hosted the inland high count during the ONWR WD on 05 Aug. Helen and of five on 17 Nov (m. obs.). (15 counties) Ken Ostermiller found 1500 at Wellington Up- Scoter sp. ground Reservoir, Lorain, on 20 Nov. A Cincin- About 50 were too far out on Lake Erie at Sims nati Bird Club trip to Bresler Reservoir, Allen, Park, Cuyahoga, on 23 Nov for Gautam and Sa- had tallied 1000 on 11 Nov. (54 counties) meer Apte to identify to species. Northern Bobwhite Long-tailed Duck One spent from 13 Aug to 01 Oct at the BSBO Several birders saw the first, at Headlands on 26 feeders and nearby; Elliot Tramer wrote “Con- Oct. The high count of 10 was shared by Per- fiding behavior suggests the bird may have been ry Township Park, Lake (Eli Miller and Dennis a recent captive release.” Bill Stanley saw the last Troyer) and Lake Milton, Mahoning (Gregory of the season, at Old Highland Stone on 01 Nov, Bennett); both sightings were on 11 Nov. (17 though there were a few Dec reports. The high counties) count of 16 came from the Great Miami WMB Bufflehead on 14 Aug (Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker). Bob Lane saw a lone female at Conneaut on the (13 counties) very early date of 23 Aug. George Novosel saw Ring-necked Pheasant the next, still a couple of weeks earlier than usu- Melanie Shuter saw 10 in a Pickaway corn field al, on 05 Oct at Mosquito WA. Steady sightings on 18 Sep. (27 counties) began with Bill Grant’s find of three at Shaker Ruffed Grouse Lakes, Cuyahoga, on 18 Oct. Paul Jacyk noted The reports, all of single birds, are: 165 off Sherod Park on 22 Nov and the inland At Midway Lake, Columbiana, on 22 Sep (Wil- high count was close at 150, seen by David Factor liam Addis) at LaDue on 07 Nov. (53 counties) In Washington Township, Guernsey, on 30 Sep Common Goldeneye (Leslie Sours and Carl Winstead) Wellington Upground Reservoir, Lorain, hosted In Wills Creek WA, Coshocton/Muskingum, the first, two on 14 Oct for Debbie and Mark on 27 Oct (Benjamin H. Yoder) Raven. Sherod Park and Dan Gesualdo provided Heard in the distance from Gillette Ridge, Ath- another high count, 150 on 19 Nov. Cynthia Nor- ens, on 12 Nov (Phil Cantino) ris and Elizabeth Snedecker saw the next-highest Wild Turkey number, about 100 at Edgewater on 26 Nov. Ben Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison were wowed by the Morrison’s 11 at West Branch SP, Portage, on 110 they counted at Apple Valley Lake, Knox, 12 Nov was the inland maximum. (25 counties) on 24 Nov. The next-largest flock, 35, was at Carl Hooded Merganser and Karen Winstead’s Westerville, Franklin, Josh Hargrave found 300 at LaDue on 14 Nov; home on 07 Nov. (61 counties) up to 270 were there and elsewhere on other Pied-billed Grebe dates. (57 counties) Dan Gesualdo posted 121 from East Sandusky Common Merganser Bay MP, Erie, on 05 Nov and wrote, “Bay full of The first migrants seen were a flock of 51 passing 7 Vol. 41 No. 1 them. This is an exact count from the deck.” Jon Black-billed Cuckoo Cefus and Ben Morrison saw about 75 at Mos- Michelle Ward saw the last, at her Athens home quito WA on 06 Oct for the inland high number. on 11 Oct. It trailed a bit behind the second-last, (75 counties) which Richard Payne found in Mariemont, Horned Grebe Hamilton, on 03 Oct. Four locations each host- Three at Alum Creek on 06 Sep (Robert Bat- ed two. (26 counties) terson), one at the Findlay Reservoirs on 17 Sep Common Nighthawk (Amy Downing), and one at Clear Fork on 30 These cleared out a little earlier than usual; Kirk Sep (Gary Cowell) were the only sightings that Westendorf saw the last, at Armleder Park on 13 month. Scott Myers and Kim Warner saw about Oct. James Muller contributed the high count of 120 off Sherod Park on 12 Nov, and the inland 175, from the Franklin section of Highbanks high count was 20, by Kelly Kozlowski and Mat- MP on 30 Aug. (64 counties) thew Valencic at LaDue on 08 Nov. (40 counties) Eastern Whip-poor-will Red-necked Grebe The four single sightings were: Many birders saw the first, which spent from 30 In Knox Township, Holmes, on 13 Aug (Mi- Oct into Dec at LaDue. Ben Morrison’s three at chelle Skolmutch) Seneca Lake, Noble, on 11 Nov was the high At Lake Laramie SP, Shelby, on 25 Sep (Louis count. (11 counties) Hoying) Eared Grebe In ONWR on 28 Sep (Warren Leow) The first was at Maumee Bay on 06 Sep (m. On Main Avenue, Cleveland, rescued predawn obs.). They’re unusual inland, but a trio of bird- by Tim Jasinski on 01 Oct (fide Jen Brumfield) ers found one at Apple Valley Lake, Knox, on Chimney Swift 19 Nov while Kent Miller and Ben Morrison Mary Ann Wagner saw the last, on 31 Oct at saw another at private Congress Lake, Stark, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Lake. Rich Kassouf saw on 24 and 26 Nov. Other single birds were in the next to last exactly a week earlier, at CVNP. Cuyahoga and Erie. Jennifer Niederlander provided the high count of Rock Pigeon 1900, from the Galena Village Hall, Delaware, OSU’s Waterman Farm hosted about 500 for Iri- on 04 Sep. (76 counties) na Shulgina on 02 Oct. (82 counties) Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eurasian Collared-Dove Two different hatch-year males frequented feed- Members of a Cincinnati Bird Club outing ers in Lorain into Dec, one at Larry and Patty counted 10 at the Celina grain silos, Mercer, McKelvey’s home and the other at Jean Lau- on 11 Nov. Josh King saw three elsewhere in ro’s. (Their identities were confirmed by Allen town on 12 Aug and many reports of two came Chartier.) Another spent about a month until 22 from there and other sites. Clark, Erie, Knox, Nov visiting Carl Winsted’s feeder at his Frank- Montgomery, Sandusky, and Van Wert also lin home. These late dates can be attributed to produced reports in addition to the many from this year’s mild early winter, but will probably Mercer. become more frequent as overall warming con- tinues. The last sighting but for these three birds White-winged Dove was by Doug Overacker, in Clark on 26 Oct, a Lots of photos accompanied posts from Lake, typical date. The McGill family (René, Bill, and but no formal report was forthcoming. Andy) counted 14 at CNC Rowe Woods on 09 Mourning Dove Sep. (71 counties) Several folks reported about 300 from Wilderness Rufous Hummingbird Road on 26 and 27 Aug. Louis Hoying had more Allen Chartier provided the details for these than 200 at his Auglaize home on 19 Aug. Only reports: First Last Van Wert didn’t have a sighting. Location and County Age Sex Observed Banded Observed Near Cable, Champaign Ad M 27 Sep 14 Oct 14 Oct Yellow-billed Cuckoo Near Danville, Knox Ad F 01 Oct 14 Oct 02 Dec Sightings were fairly steady to the second-last, Ad = Adult, Imm = Immature which was in the South Chagrin Reservation, Calliope Hummingbird Cuyahoga, on 20 Oct (Dick Hoopes). The last One spent from late Oct to early Dec visiting a was Robert Royse’s discovery at Deer Creek WA home feeder in Delaware. Though the OBRC on 26 Oct. The 06 Aug ONWR census team tal- didn’t get any formal reports, the countless pho- lied six (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). (61 tos which were posted leave no doubt about its counties)

8 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 identity. This is the second Ohio record of the American Avocet species; the first was in 2002. The first showed up on 23 Jul; the first of the -sea Yellow Rail son were counts of one, six, and eight at different The OBRC has a formal report from Hancock. locations on 02 Aug. The last three spent 24 to 27 Sep at Kokosing Lake WA, Knox (m. obs.). Lots King Rail of folks also saw the high count of 13, at Deer One hung around at Conneaut; Bob Lane saw Creek SP on 03 Aug. (16 counties) it on 02 Sep and Marc Hanneman heard it on 22 Sep. Virginia Rail Carl Winstead found six at Darby Creek on 06 Oct and up to four were reported there on oth- er dates. The most elsewhere were trios at the CVNP Ira Road marsh on 18 Aug (Joe Wojn- arowski) and Springville Marsh on 04 Sep (Steve Jones). (18 counties) Sora One remained at Darby Creek until 18 Nov, when Susan Brauning described it. Irina Shulgi- Adam Brandemihl photographed these striking American Avocets on the beach at Alum Creek on 02 Aug. na had seen it or another there on 06 Nov. Ben Meredyk counted eight at Lorain on 06 Oct as did Robert Royse in the Deer Creek wetlands on Black-bellied Plover 10 Oct. (26 counties) Cam Lee and Jim Martin separately reported the first, from Big Island on 02 Aug. Dave Chase and Common Gallinule Sally Isacco together saw the last, at Headlands Paul Jacyk saw the last, along the ONWR WD on 13 Nov. Craig Holt provided the high count on 05 Nov. and Jon Cefus saw two at Killbuck on of 18, from Conneaut on 07 Sep. (19 counties) 03 Nov. The last but for them were two at Dar- by Creek on 21 Oct (George Billman and Tracy American Golden-Plover Hammer). ONWR also hosted the most, 23 on Wilderness Road provided the first two sightings, 10 Sep (Cory Chiappone). Susan Evanoff and Su on 06 Aug (Jamie Cunningham) and 23 Aug (m. Snyder saw the next-most, 16 at Killbuck on 09 obs.), after which reports were fairly regular. Zeb Aug. (16 counties) Acuff’s find at the Ellis Lake wetlands,Butler , on 10 Nov was the last. Jon Cefus counted 48 from American Coot Wilderness Road on 22 Sep. Susan Evanoff and Paul Sherwood found about 3000 along the Ce- Su Snyder matched him the next day, and up to dar Point Chausee, Erie, on 22 Oct. The next- 47 were there on other dates. The most elsewhere most were George Novosel’s 1200 at Mosquito were 32 at Indian Lake SP, Logan, on 14 Sep Lake on both 14 and 17 Nov. (52 counties) (Eric Juterbock). (27 counties) Sandhill Crane Jim Martin saw the first flock staging for- de parture, 48 birds along Wilderness Road on 04 Aug. (Families had been seen there and in other nesting locations before then.) Wilderness Road also provided the high count, 202 on 22 Nov (the Ostermillers) and up to 187 on other dates. The most away from the Funk/Wilderness Road area were flocks of 51 at Mosquito WA on 31 Oct (m. obs.) and the Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, on 26 Nov (Richard Payne). (34 counties) Black-necked Stilt What were apparently two families of up to 14 Darlene Friedman found this adorable American Golden-Plover birds at Mercer WA in Jun and Jul dwindled to foraging on the beach at Maumee Bay on 28 Sep. 10 birds on 02 Aug, nine on 04 and 05 Aug, and six on 12 Aug (m. obs.), after which none were Semipalmated Plover recorded. The season’s last reports came from Conneaut on 18 Nov (Aaron Nisley) and 29 Nov (Lori Brum-

9 Vol. 41 No. 1 baugh); the latter bird was seen again on 01 Dec. Marbled Godwit Medusa hosted 70 on 11 Aug for Jen Brumfield Lots of folks saw the first, at Pickerel Creek and the inland high count of 40, from Wilderness on 15 Aug. Only Paul Jacyk saw the last, in Road on 19 Aug, came from several birders. (38 ONWR on 05 Nov, a month after they’re usu- counties) ally gone. The second-last was seen almost Piping Plover daily at Conneaut from 25 Aug to 09 Sep A post from Ashtabula had a photo. (m. obs.). The only inland report came from Buck Creek on 24 Aug (m. obs.). Killdeer Several birders saw about 750 at Big Island on 01 Aug. Kent Miller and Ben Morrison made an “exact count of birds in view”, 538 at Wilder- ness Road on 17 Aug. Brown, Defiance, Gallia, Lawrence, and Meigs didn’t provide sightings. Upland Sandpiper Jen Brumfield saw the first migrants, two at Burke Airport on 06 Aug, and the last, in Brecksville, also Cuyahoga, on 19 Sep. The only other duo These two Marbled Godwits were photographed by Jon Cefus on was in Holmes on 31 Aug (Eli Miller et al.). Han- 08 Aug at Conneaut. cock, Lucas, Paulding, and Sandusky also Ruddy Turnstone had sightings. Their migration was well underway in Jul. It last- Whimbrel ed until 28 Oct, when Bob Krajeski saw one bird Dan Gesualdo and Paul Jacyk saw one at Medusa a Conneaut. The only other sighting that month on 12 Aug. Burke Airport hosted the last, two on was by Warren Leow at Maumee Bay on 22 Oct. 24 Sep (m. obs.). Bob Krajeski also saw two, one Conneaut hosted 12 on 23 Aug (Bob Lane), Pick- on the ground and the other a flyover, at Con- erel Creek had 10 on 17 Aug (Ryan Lesniewicz), neaut on 13 Aug. Other Erie sites and Lorain and two sites each had five. (12 counties) had singles. Red Knot Hudsonian Godwit Dan Gesualdo found the first, at Pickerel Creek The first, and most, were 63 in a flock passing on 09 Aug. Triples at Sherod Park on 26 Aug Sherod Park on the early date of 20 Aug; Dan (Dan Gesualdo) and Cedar Point, Erie, on 03 Gesualdo counted them from his photo. The Sep (Robert Batterson) were the most. One at second-most were five which Ed Pierce’s census Maumee Bay on 09 Sep was the second-last and team found in ONWR on 05 Nov (fide Douglas two there on 20 Sep were the second-most (both Vogus). Josh King saw the last, one bird at Mer- m. obs.). Sightings also came from Ashtabula, cer WA on 10 Nov. Other reports came from Cuyahoga, Lorain, Ottawa, and Wayne. Hancock, Stark, and Wayne. Ruff Posts from Hancock had descriptions and pictures.

Amy Downing was lucky enough for find this rare Ruff feeding in a Findlay, Hancock, flooded field on 07 Aug.

Dunlin Jamie Cunningham had a close up view of this curious Hudso- One Jul sighting preceded this season’s first, nian Godwit by Wilderness Road on 11 Nov. 10 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 which was by Jen Brumfield at Wendy Park on Cuyahoga, on 29 Oct, and Mary Anne Romito 19 Aug. The next didn’t show up until 17 Sep, saw it or another at Edgewater on 12 Nov. at ONWR (David English and Matthew Va- Baird’s Sandpiper lencic). A few Dec sightings followed this season’s These came through fairly steadily from late Jul last, which was of four at the Shreve Fish Pond, to the end of Sep. Inga Schmidt saw the last, at Wayne, on 28 Nov (Susan Evanoff and Su Sny- LaDue on both 01 and 04 Nov, and only two der). The most were 512, counted by Tom Kemp reports came in Oct. Amy Downing and Jeff in several flocks passing Grand Rapids, Lucas, Loughman found eight at the Findlay Reservoirs on 02 Nov. (42 counties) on 27 Aug and four other sites each hosted four. Stilt Sandpiper (24 counties) Multiple birders saw the last, which spent from 20 to 27 Oct at the Zoar Wetland Arboretum, Tuscarawas. Big Island hosted 79 on 03 Sep for Eric Elvert, and up to 56 on other dates. The most elsewhere were Benjamin Miller’s 32 at Wil- derness Road on 06 Sep. (32 counties)

On 02 Sep Charanya Ganesh photographed a Baird’s Sandpiper showing off this species’ best field mark at the Findlay Reservoirs. Just look at those long overlapping wingtips! Kurt Wray photographed this Stilt Sandpiper, which appears to be staring at its reflection while foraging for food on 15 Aug at Least Sandpiper Bay Point, Ottawa. Cincinnati Bird Club trippers counted 10 at the Grand Lake hatchery on 11 Nov, the latest date. Sanderling Brian Wulker saw about 200 at Big Island on 04 The last spent from 19 to 23 Nov at LaDue (m. Aug as did Jen Brumfield and Dan Gesualdo at obs.). Dave Chase saw the most, 85 at Headlands Medusa on 11 Aug. (46 counties) on 08 Sep. The most elsewhere were Robert Bat- terson’s 56 at Cedar Point, Erie, on 03 Sep, and the inland high count was Mark Shaver’s nine at LaDue on 15 Oct. (23 counties)

A Least Sandpiper stretches out on the beach at Buck Creek on 23 Aug for Jeff Peters.

White-rumped Sandpiper Though there were Jul sightings, the first of fall Kurt Wray photographed this Stilt Sandpiper, which appears to wasn’t seen until 03 Aug, at Big Island (Cam Lee). be staring at its reflection while foraging for food on 15 Aug at Cynthia Norris and Bennie Saylor saw the last, Bay Point, Ottawa. four at West Branch SP, Portage, on 31 Oct. Purple Sandpiper Craig Holt’s five at Conneaut on 07 Sep were the Jen Brumfield saw one at Rocky River Park, most. (20 counties)

11 Vol. 41 No. 1

Buff-breasted Sandpiper ed the most, 20 on 19 Oct (Mary Anne Romito) One Jul report preceded this season’s first, two and the last, six on 05 Nov (Paul Jacyk). Up to which Jen Brumfield found at Medusa on 11 eighteen were there on other dates. Several ob- Aug. Several birders saw the last, which spent 14 servers saw the most elsewhere, five at Wilderness to 23 Sep at Wilderness Road. Triples at Pick- Road on 05 and 08 Oct. (20 counties) erel Creek on 17 Aug (Dan Gesualdo) and Lost American Woodcock Bridge on 04 Sep (Debbie Riggs and Oscar Wil- The last date was 13 Nov, when Joe Brehm saw helmy) were the most. (10 counties) one at the Bernard Preserve, Athens, and Micki Dunakin another near her home in Paulding. The most were triples in Cleveland’s Erie Street Cemetery on 26 Oct (m. obs.) and Armleder Park on 03 Nov (Kirk Westendorf). (29 counties) Wilson’s Snipe Josh King found 20 at Mercer WA on 21 Oct. (36 counties)

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, one of the most beautiful species of the shorebird family, was photographed by Scott Zimmermann at Caesar Creek on 09 Sep. Pectoral Sandpiper The last two were singles at Alum Creek on 06 Nov (James Muller) and near Mineral City, Tus- carawas, on 15 Nov (Dan Kramer). Big Island held about 600 on 04 Aug (Brian Wulker) and up A pair of Wilson’s Snipe posed for Debbie Parker while they were to 500 on other dates. The most elsewhere were foraging in a field inMedina on 13 Sep. Eric Elvert’s 81 at the Woods Road wetlands, Darke, on 19 Aug. (47 counties) Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Amy Downing saw the last, three stragglers at Michael Monarch saw the last, at Maumee Bay Eastwood MP, Montgomery, on 22 Nov; they on 09 Oct. Dan Gesualdo saw 140 at Medusa on had been there since at least 19 Nov. Rick Luehrs 01 Aug and 250 there on 12 Aug. Brian Wulker’s saw the second-last, at Buck Creek on 08 Nov. Jen 120 at Big Island on 04 Aug were the most else- Brumfield provided the high count, 21 at Wendy where. (44 counties) Park on 01 Aug. The inland high count wasn’t Western Sandpiper far behind: Robert Sams found 19 at the Findlay Late Jul sightings rolled smoothly into Aug. The Reservoirs on 04 Aug. (65 counties) last was one at Wilderness Road on 22 to 25 Sep Solitary Sandpiper (m. obs.). All of the sightings, from eight counties, Jeffrey Roth photographed one at Pickerington were of single birds. Ponds on 05 Nov, about a month after they’ve Short-billed Dowitcher usually left the state. Joseph Keating’s four at the Greg Pasek saw the last, one at Sandy Ridge Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, on 16 Oct were also on 30 Sep. Jim Martin found 45 along the tardy. Berlin Lake hosted the high count of 24, ONWR WD on 10 Sep. The most elsewhere on 30 Aug (Kent Miller). (56 counties) were Paul Sherwood’s 30 at Pickerel Creek on Willet 29 Aug, and the inland high counts were Cam Cam Lee saw the last, at Delaware SP on 08 Oct; Lee’s 13 at Big Island on both 13 and 19 Aug. usually some remain for another two weeks or so. (24 counties) The only other sighting that month was of three Long-billed Dowitcher at Big Island on 04 Oct (Joe Baldwin), a count Sightings were steady from the first, which was at matched by two sites in Sep. (nine counties) Mill Creek on 14 Aug (Bob Lane). ONWR host-

12 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Lesser Yellowlegs Red Phalarope The last were one at Mill Creek (John Petruzzi) The first showed up on 08 Oct, at East Fork fide( and seven at a Lucas property (Kim Warner) on Brian Wulker). The next was Dave Smith’s find at 09 Nov. Big Island hosted 225 for Brian Wulker Nickel Plate Beach, Erie, on 15 Oct. Three were on 04 Aug and Kent Miller counted 142 at Berlin at Lorain from 20 to 22 Nov, and one remained Lake on 30 Aug. (53 counties) until the season’s last date of 24 Nov (m. obs.). Singles were also observed in Cuyahoga, Geau- ga, and Hancock. Pomarine Jaeger Dave Smith saw the first, off Nickel Plate Beach, Erie, on 15 Oct. The next was off Sherod Park on 30 Oct (Dan Gesualdo). Sightings continued into Dec. Dan Gesualdo and Jacob Raber saw three at Sherod Park on 06 Nov; the birds weren’t together. Four Cuyahoga locations and one in each of Lake and Lorain also produced single sightings. Parasitic Jaeger Postings from two Erie locations had photos, those from Franklin had some description, and several from Cuyahoga had neither. Long-tailed Jaeger A Hancock sighting generated many photos and a formal report to the OBRC. Posts from two Erie locations had either photos or descriptions. Cuyahoga reports had neither.

Tyler Ficker managed to get this beautiful eye-level photo of a Lesser Yellowlegs on 10 Aug at East Fork.

Greater Yellowlegs Susan Evanoff and Su Snyder noted the last of the season, at the Shreve fish pond, Wayne, on 28 Nov, though a single bird showed up at Metzger in early Dec. Craig Holt saw the sec- ond-last of the season, at Evans Lake, Mahon- ing, on 22 Nov. Several folks counted 44 along Ron Sempier captured an incredible image of this surprise visitor, the ONWR WD on 29 Oct and Kenny Brown a Long-tailed Jaeger, at the Findlay Reservoirs on 02 Sep. saw 35 at Big Island on 12 Aug. (51 counties) Wilson’s Phalarope Black-legged Kittiwake One which arrived at Big Island on 29 Jul stayed Henry Hvizdos saw one from CLNP on 10 Nov into Aug (m. obs.). Big Island also hosted the and Jen Brumfield another off Huntington Reser- most, nine in two groups on 09 Aug (Kent Miller vation, Cuyahoga, on 19 Nov. and Ben Morrison) and eight on other dates. The Sabine’s Gull most elsewhere were four at Pickerel Creek on 12 Dan Gesualdo well described an early arrival off Aug (m. obs.). The last was at Wilderness Road Sherod Park on 01 Sep. Gary Cowell made a rare on 17 Sep (Jamie Cunningham). (12 counties) inland find at the Richland end of Clear Fork Red-necked Phalarope on 16 Oct; John Herman added that it’s the first Singles on 31 Aug at Wendy Park (Jen Brumfield), record for the county. Big Island (Cam Lee) and Funk (Su Snyder) were Bonaparte’s Gull the first. Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. saw the last, at the Jen Brumfield noted about 4200 from Wendy Edgewater boat ramp on 02 Nov. It was much Park on 16 Nov. Dan Gesualdo’s 2500 at Lorain later than the second-last, which was at Wilder- (city) harbor on 19 Nov were the most elsewhere. ness Road on 16 Sep (m. obs.). Cam Lee saw two Robert Royse contributed the inland high count at Big Island on both 01 and 02 Sep. (12 counties) from Deer Creek Reservoir; at least 1000 were there from 20 Nov into Dec. (58 counties) 13 Vol. 41 No. 1

Black-headed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Posts from Lucas had photos and descriptions. Jen Brumfield provided the high count, 13 at Little Gull Wendy Park on 16 Nov. The most away from Christopher Collins and Jacob Raber saw the Lake Erie were two at the Seneca Landfill on 26 only one, a very early bird off Bay Point, Otta- Oct (Amy Downing). Every other county adjoin- wa, on 25 Aug. ing Lake Erie plus Geauga and Hancock had sightings. Laughing Gull The reports are: Sooty Tern One at LaDue on 05 Aug (m. obs.) There’s no doubting the identity of this hurri- Five at East Fork from 07 to 10 Aug and three for cane-driven bird (Ohio’s second) which spent another two days (m. obs.) several days near Dover, Tuscarawas. Kent One at Buck Creek from 14 to 16 Sep (m. obs.) Miller saw it first, on 16 Sep, and put the word One at Indian Lake SP, Logan, on 04 Nov (Ste- out; it stayed until 25 Sep. Two formal reports fan Minnig) and 05 Nov (Troy Shively) went to the OBRC and dozens, if not hundreds, of photos were posted. Franklin’s Gull The first, at East Fork on 07 Aug, was originally Caspian Tern thought to be a Laughing Gull; it was seen inter- Daniel Kempf saw the last, at Buck Creek on 06 mittently until 04 Nov (m. obs.). The long-staying Nov. LaDue hosted 62 on 30 Aug (Kelly Kozlo- East Fork bird was joined by two others on 28 wski) and nearly that many on other dates. The Oct (Mark Kraus; Bill Stanley). Melanie Shuter most elsewhere were Warren Leow’s 55 at Medu- well described the six that she saw at Deer Creek sa on 26 Aug. (42 counties) SP on 19 Oct. (10 counties) Black Tern Ring-billed Gull The last date was 18 Sep, when Jeff Peters saw Paul Sherwood estimated that 8000 were in Hu- two at a gravel pit in Clark and Amy Downing ron harbor, Erie, on 14 Aug. Three reports num- and Jeff Loughman another at the Findlay Reser- bered 5000: at Maumee Bay on 24 Sep (David voirs. The McGill family counted 15 at East Fork Svetich), at Atwood Lake, Tuscarawas on 10 on 17 Aug; René wrote, “A “U” of terns flying Nov (Jon Cefus and Kent Miller), and at Edgewa- over the water. Never landing just flitting up and ter on 26 Nov (Ken Andrews). (69 counties) down the beach area. Most Black Terns I have seen at one time.” (15 counties) Herring Gull About 800 were visible from Wendy Park when Forster’s Tern Jen Brumfield was there on 16 Nov. The inland Nancy Anderson saw the last, at Lakeside, Otta- high count was 500, which Kent Miller found wa, on 17 Nov. James Muller saw the most, 350 at the Bolivar Landfill, Stark, on 14 Nov. (51 at Maumee Bay on 24 Sep. Nancy also counted counties) 118, the most elsewhere, at East Harbor on 19 Oct. Gary Cowell’s 10 at Clear Fork on 01 Aug Lesser Black-backed Gull was the inland high count. (24 counties) A couple of Aug sightings preceded this season’s first, which came 01 Aug at Conneaut (Marc Hanneman). Hancock hosted the three highest counts, 48 at the Findlay Reservoirs on 12 Nov (Dave Smith), 15 there on 02 Nov (Paul Jacyk and Kim Warner), and nine in a field over four miles away on 21 Nov (Amy Downing and Jeff Loughman). The most in any other county was Paul Jacyk’s seven at the Ottawa River Interpre- tive Trail, Lucas, on 25 Nov. (18 counties)

Glaucous Gull Jenny Bowman found this Foster’s Tern resting on the beach at The reports, all of single birds, are: Alum Creek on 02 Aug. At Clear Fork on 23 Nov (Albert Troyer, fide John Herman) Common Tern Near the Kimble Landfill, Tuscarawas, on 25 The last report of the season was of a single bird Nov (Ed Schlabach and Dennis Troyer) at Lorain on 27 Nov (Debbie and Mark Raven), At the Crawford Landfill on 25 Nov (Cam Lee) down from 12 there in mid-month; it stayed and near there the next day (John Herman) slightly into Dec. Warren Leow saw about 1500

14 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 at Maumee Bay on 23 Sep and up to 1300 were 34 passing over ONWR on 03 Sep, but Elliot reported there on other dates. The most else- Tramer beat him with 71 at Cedar Point NWR where were 250 at Huron harbor, Erie, on 31 on 04 Nov. Elliot wrote, “The last few years the Aug (Kent Miller and Ben Morrison) and at East [AWPE] has become a regular fall visitor to the Harbor on 14 Sep (Jen Brumfield). The inland Lake Erie marshes. Are they increasing, or is high count was Eric Juterbock’s 22 at Indian drought in the west forcing them eastward?” (10 Lake SP, Logan, on 14 Sep. (24 counties) counties as far south as Muskingum) Red-throated Loon American Bittern Dan Gesualdo saw the first, off Sherod Park on These were seen or heard throughout the peri- 29 Oct. Lake Erie off Cahoon Park, Cuyahoga, od, though all of the Nov reports were of a sin- held seven on 14 Nov for Bill Ohlsen. Benjamin gle bird staying late at Darby Creek (m. obs.). H. Yoder saw four passing over Fresno, Coshoc- Carl Winstead found two at Darby Creek on 12 ton, on 10 Nov for the inland high count. (16 Oct and singles came from there and 17 other counties) counties. Pacific Loon The OBRC has gleaned reports with descriptions from Cuyahoga and Geauga and another from Cuyahoga with no supporting information. Common Loon The first sighting since early Jul was of two birds by Susan Carpenter at Nimisila Reservoir, Sum- mit, on 01 Aug. Benjamin H. Yoder counted 569 passing Fresno, Coshocton, on 10 Nov. That same day, Reuben S. Erb counted 506 over Mill- ersburg, Holmes. (45 counties)

This American Bittern was photographed by Leslie Sours while the bird was hunting at Darby Creek on 19 Oct.

Least Bittern Volker Bahn and Jeff Peters saw the last, at the Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, on 15 Oct, a good month after they usually depart. The second-last was probably getting ready to leave when Craig A Common Loon gave Debbie Parker a close encounter at Kelleys Holt saw it at Conneaut on 14 Sep. Conneaut Island on 11 Nov. held four on 07 Aug (Bob and Denise Lane) as did the CVNP Ira Road marsh on 12 Aug (m. Wood Stork obs.) (10 counties) The OBRC has a report of one soaring over Franklin. Neotropic Cormorant The OBRC has a formal report from Clermont and a host of posts with descriptions and photos from there and Cuyahoga. Double-crested Cormorant Brian and Tyler McClain saw about 16,000 from Kellys Island on 15 Oct. Counts of 2000 came from the Sandusky waterfront, Erie, on 15 Oct (James Tomko) and East Harbor on 30 Oct (Sue Johnson). The inland count wasn’t far behind; Eli Miller saw several flocks totaling 1700 passing Sugarcreek, Holmes, on 19 Nov. (77 counties)

American White Pelican Janice Farral managed to capture a beautiful photo of this secre- Paul Jacyk counted “squadrons” of 17 and tive Least Bittern in CVNP on 10 Aug. 15 Vol. 41 No. 1

Great Blue Heron saw the last, in a closed section of the refuge on Ron Sempier found 190 at Big Island on 03 Aug 03 Oct. The second-last had spent from 02 to 06 and others saw almost that many on several other Sep at East Fork for multiple observers. Mahon- dates. The most elsewhere were the 126 which ing and Sandusky also had visitors. Ed Pierce et al. counted in ONWR on 06 Aug (fide Green Heron Douglas Vogus). Only Adams, Meigs, Putnam, Tim Haney’s in Woodlawn Cemetery, Lucas, on Scioto, and Van Wert didn’t produce reports. 30 Oct was the last. It was there for more than Great Egret a week later than the second-last, which Jacob Ed Pierce’s ONWR census teams produced the Raber saw at Shreve Lake, Wayne, on 22 Oct. two highest counts, 235 on 06 Aug and 281 on Mill Creek hosted 31 on 16 Aug (Jeff Harvey) and 03 Sep (fide Douglas Vogus). The most elsewhere up to 26 on other dates. Ed Pierce et al. counted were Cam Lee’s 132 at Big Island on 08 Aug. (63 the most elsewhere, 25 in ONWR on 06 Aug (fide counties) Douglas Vogus). (69 counties) Snowy Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron The ONWR WD produced both the second-last Participants on a BSBO pelagic saw the most, sighting (up to three on 01 Oct, m. obs.) and eight along the lower in Cleve- last (one on 17 Oct, Tim Kleman). ONWR also land on 18 Nov. (22 counties) provided the high count of 17, on 20 Aug (Alex Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Eberts) and 28 Aug (Ben Morrison). The most The reports, all of singles, are: elsewhere were five at Pipe Creek on 20 Aug (Bill At Island MP, Montgomery, on 03 Aug (Mar- Ohlsen). Singles at Alum Creek between 14 and ilyn Shade) 17 Aug (m. obs.) and near Walnut Woods MP, In Huber Heights, Montgomery, also on 03 Franklin, on 08 Sep (Irina Shulgina) were the Aug (m. obs.) only birds seen away from Lake Erie. Sandusky At Englewood MP, Montgomery, on 09 Aug is the only county not yet mentioned which had (John Moore) and 10 Aug (Sam Romeo) a sighting. At Concord Woods Nature Park, Lake, from 23 Cattle Egret Aug to 02 Sep (m. obs.) Sam Saunders found the first of the season, at At the Peninsula area of CVNP between 09 and Pipe Creek on 29 Sep. Martin Powney found 24 Sep (m. obs.) the last, in the far south Newell Run section of White Ibis Wayne NF, Washington, on 27 Nov. Lorain The OBRC gleaned many posts with photos and hosted five on 03 Nov (m. obs.) and all the oth- descriptions from Pickaway, but didn’t get a for- er sightings were of single birds. Other reports mal report. came from Harrison, Ottawa, and Wayne. Glossy Ibis A formal report and many informal ones came from Fairfield. Posts from Allen had photo- graphs; posts from Franklin, Lorain, and Pick- away had at best minimal descriptions.

This Glossy Ibis spent a couple of weeks feeding in a flooded field This Cattle Egret was photographed hunting for a meal near in Lima, Allen. Jamie Cunningham was lucky enough to take Apple Creek, Wayne, by Su Snyder on 05 Nov. the fly-by photo of the bird on 17 Sep. Little Blue Heron Lots of folks saw the first, at Big Island on 05 Plegadis sp. Ibis Aug. Rebecca Lewis and fellow ONWR staffers The OBRC has a formal report from Holmes; posts from Franklin and Stark had photos. 16 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Black Vulture Noble, on 21 Oct. Second-last were singles on Andy Jones found about 200 on the Denison 14 Oct at the Hoover Park Connector Trail, University campus, Licking, on 14 Oct. Daniel Stark (Matt Courtman) and Fort Laurens State Kempf ’s 71 at Buck Creek on 06 Oct was the Memorial, Tuscarawas (Mark Kershner). The second-highest count. (52 counties including two highest counts were 75 over Vineyard Hills, Cuyahoga, Erie, and Lorain) Hamilton, on 14 Sep (Oscar Wilhelmy) and 70 Turkey Vulture over Whitehouse, Lucas, on 21 Sep (Elliot Tram- Jack Leow counted 428 southbound past Bowling er). After them was a big drop to several counts of Green, Wood, in two hours on 27 Oct. Robert four. (37 counties) Royse saw at least 400 around Deer Creek Lake Red-tailed Hawk on 02 Oct. (all 88 counties) Kent Miller’s Ragersville, Tuscarawas, sky Osprey watch on 08 Nov produced 30. He was edged by Doug Marcum saw the last, eastbound along the Reuben S. Erb, who saw 31 passing Millersburg, Lake shore on 23 Nov. The high count of eight Holmes, on 10 Nov. Nancy O’Bryan saw 12 at came from the north end of Alum Creek on 07 North Chagrin Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 23 Aug (Carl Winstead). (70 counties) Sep. Only Lawrence didn’t have a sighting. Mississippi Kite Rough-legged Hawk The well-documented Ross bird from summer Lee Funderburg saw the first, along Osborn was last reported on 20 Aug. A report gleaned Road, Clark, on 29 Oct. The ever-popular fields from Clermont had a description and one from along Hayes Road, Geauga, hosted five on 26 Pickaway had a photo. Nov for Dick Hoopes. (20 counties) Bald Eagle Golden Eagle Bob and Denise Lane’s 81 at Conneaut on 07 All of the reports were of single birds: Aug were “31 on the east breakwall, 12 on the Near Fostoria, Seneca, on 11 Nov (Dave Smith) lighthouse (north) breakwall, 22 on the aggregate Over the James H. Barrow Field Station, Portage, piles, and 16 at The ship chan- on 14 Oct (David Factor) nel and conveyor area”. The next most were 20 Near Buck Creek on 12 Nov (R. Lee Reed) along the ONWR WD on 29 Oct (m. obs.) and Passing Grand Rapids, Lucas, on 13 Nov (Tom 19 along Wilderness Road on 18 Sep (Benjamin Kemp) Miller). (75 counties) At The Wilds on 27 Nov (Robert Hershberger) On the outskirts of Defiance in the eponymous Northern Harrier county on 28 Nov (Nick Yarde) The Hardin wetlands hosted 23 for Richard Counts in the late afternoon of 22 Nov – were Barn Owl they headed for a roost? The second-most were Ben Warner and Anna Wittmer saw one of the nine at Martig Farms, Mahoning, on 15 Nov. Pickerington Ponds birds on 24 Oct as did Ga- About them, viewer Bob Lane wrote, “Seven giv- briel Amrhein on 06 Nov. Andy A. Yoder heard ing an aerial show. Two on the ground. Three of one calling as he walked to work in Apple Creek, the “Gray Ghost” variety.” (63 counties) Wayne, on 24 Oct. Sharp-shinned Hawk Eastern Screech-Owl Tom Kemp saw four pass Grand Rapids, Lucas, Birders found three in each of ONWR Navarre on 16 Oct. (47 counties) on 21 Sep (Michael Hilchey), the Gallant Woods Preserve, Delaware, on 24 Sep (Nicol Freshour), Cooper’s Hawk and at Lake Hope SP, Vinton, on 22 Oct (Mi- Quartets were at CLNP on 23 Sep (Bill Grant) chael Crouse). (41 counties) and ONWR on 08 Oct (Jamie Cunningham). (70 counties) Great Horned Owl Bill Stanley saw a quartet at East Fork on 09 Aug. Northern Goshawk (39 counties) A report from Ashland had a good description. One from Geauga had a minimal one. Northern Saw-whet Owl The first, regrettably, was a very young bird Red-shouldered Hawk found dead in Reno Beach, Lucas on 14 Aug Counts of four came from five locations in the 75 (fide Rebecca Lewis). The first live one dropped counties with sightings. in at Headlands on 26 Oct (m. obs.) See the table Broad-winged Hawk following the Species Accounts for banding sta- A trio of birders saw the last, at Gildow Hill, tion results. (And Tom Bartlett reports that a bird

17 Vol. 41 No. 1 which he banded on 25 Oct 2015 was recaptured Belted Kingfisher 16 Oct 2017 at Drumlin Farm Sanctuary, Lin- Ed Pierce et al. counted 18 in ONWR on 03 Sep coln, Massachusetts.) (15 counties) (fide Douglas Vogus). Three locations each pro- Snowy Owl duced reports of 12 (82 counties) The first showed up near Genoa,Ottawa , on 09 Red-headed Woodpecker Nov and stayed one more day (m. obs.). Harbor Lynne and Nic Shayko found 20 along the breakwalls each hosted three, Cleveland’s on 18 CVNP Towpath Trail in the Station Road area Nov for participants in a BSBO pelagic trip, and on 04 Sep. Henrey Deese saw 15 at Lake La Su Fairport’s, Lake, on 28 Nov for Tom Kaczynski. An WA, Williams, on 09 Sep. (73 counties) See Field Notes for one birder’s experience with a Red-bellied Woodpecker long-staying Holmes bird. (13 counties) Douglas Vogus et al. counted 26 along 14 miles of the CVNP Towpath Trail on 07 Oct. Seven miles of canoeing on the upper Cuyahoga River in Geauga yielded 25 for Andy Jones on 30 Sep. (All 88 counties) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker The first migrant showed up on 08 Aug, at Mar- garet Peak NP, Lorain (Debbie and Mark Ra- ven). Lots of people saw the next, at the CVNP Ira Road marsh on 11 Aug, though it might have only come from Geauga. Ben Morrison spent about two hours at Headlands on 12 Oct and found 11 there. Five sites each held five sapsuck- ers. (60 counties) Downy Woodpecker The ONWR censuses provided the three high- est counts, 21 on 06 Aug, 21 on 03 Sep, and 46 on 01 Oct (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). The most elsewhere were 15 found by Gregory Allen at Blendon Woods on 03 Aug and again at Hoover Dam Park on 26 Oct. Only Van Wert During the 2017 Snowy Owl invasion, Bruce Satta captured had none reported. this image of a majestic individual in Holmes on 08 Dec. Hairy Woodpecker Barred Owl Irina Shulgina saw 12 at Kiwanis Riverway Park, Just as he did with Great Horned Owls, Bill Stan- Franklin, on 09 Oct. Brandon Brywczynski ley found four of these at East Fork, but on 25 found seven in OOPMP on 01 Oct. (77 counties) Aug. (46 counties) Northern Flicker Long-eared Owl Ed Pierce’s ONWR crew gave us another high Dawes Arboretum staff, Licking, saw one there count, 38 on 06 Aug (fide Douglas Vogus). Jen on 31 Oct and again on 16 Nov. David Comes Brumfield saw 27 in CLNP on 11 Oct.Van Wert found one in an arborvitae near his home in again was the sole county without a sighting. Lucas on 28 Nov. Jen Brumfield wrote that one Pileated Woodpecker “flew from lakefront parking lot over BayArts Eagle Creek SNP, Portage, hosted seven for Da- field south towards LENSC” in Huntington Res- vid Factor on 12 Sep. (75 counties) ervation, Cuyahoga, on 30 Nov. American Kestrel Short-eared Owl Counts of nine came from Burke Airport on both Mentor Marsh SNP, Lake, hosted the first, for 06 and 10 Aug (Jen Brumfield) and Killdeer on Mia Yeager on 04 Oct. Richard Counts found 10 Nov (Tyler McClain). (82 counties) the most, 12 at the Hardin wetlands on 22 Nov. Quintets were at Huffman Prairie, Greene, on Merlin 28 Nov (Sean Hollowell, Rick Luehrs) and near Lori Brumbaugh saw the first apparent mi- Lewistown, Logan, on 29 Nov (Jamie Cunning- grant, at Conneaut on 04 Aug. Union Cemetery, ham). (24 counties) Franklin, hosted four on 08 Nov (Jason Parrish). (45 counties)

18 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Peregrine Falcon Alder Flycatcher Reuben S. Erb saw four pass Millersburg, The reports, all of singles, are: Holmes, on 30 Sep. Triples were in Darke on At Big Island on 02 Aug (Jamie Cunningham) 13 Aug (fide Regina Schieltz) and Sandy Ridge on At Jackson Bog SNP, Stark, on 06 Aug (Anne 05 Nov (Beki Poitras). (40 counties) Olsen) In Silver Springs Cemetery, Summit, on 11 Aug (Susan Carpenter) At Headlands on 28 Aug (Dick Beery and John Ballou) At Letha House Park, Medina, on 12 Sep (the Ostermillers) Willow Flycatcher Magee hosted the last, which had probably just arrived from Canada, on 22 Sep (Allison Kulka and Chandler Mancuso). Elizabeth McQuaid found 10 in CLNP on 06 Aug, while Julie Karl- son and Doug Overacker saw five at Buck Creek on 13 Aug. (45 counties) A Peregrine Falcon photographed by Leslie Sours surveys Findlay Reservoir from the rocks on 01 Sep. Alder/Willow (“Traill’s”) Flycatcher Brian Hicks saw an indeterminate bird at Magee Olive-sided Flycatcher on 27 Sep, later than either of the positively iden- Shari Jackson and Ben Morrison saw the first, tified individuals. along the Ottawa section of the Magee cause- Least Flycatcher way on 13 Aug. Eric Shlapack saw the last, in Brian O’Connor’s at Kiwanis Riverway Park, Glen Echo Park, Franklin, on 28 Sep. CLNP Franklin, on 16 Oct was the last. Tim Kleman hosted three on 09 Sep for Lori Brumbaugh. (28 saw the second-last exactly a week earlier, two in counties) the Black Swamp Preserve, Wood. Jen Brum- Eastern Wood-Pewee field and Michelle Pesho teamed to find eight in Cristy J. Miller saw one at close range in Mill- CLNP on 10 Sep, and three sites each produced ersburg, Holmes, on 29 Oct, a couple of weeks five sightings. (42 counties) later than usual for that far north. Singles in Co- Eastern Phoebe lumbiana, Cuyahoga, and Warren on 15 Oct Ed Pierce et al. provided the two highest counts, were the last otherwise. Dan Higby saw 35 (“The 26 on 06 Aug and 23 on 03 Sep at ONWR (fide largest count I have ever obtained for this spe- Douglas Vogus). (79 counties) cies.”) along the CCE Trail on 08 Aug and Scott Huge found 20 while canoeing in Geauga on 02 Vermilion Flycatcher Sep. (77 counties) A post from Ottawa included a description and photograph. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher The first date was 12 Aug. Josh Hargrave saw Great Crested Flycatcher one that day in Park, Lake, as Eric and Liz Shlapack saw one at Sandy Ridge did Mark Shaver by Hoagland Blackstub Road, on 07 Oct, as did Kathy Smith at Gilmore MP, Trumbull. The last were singles in Mariemont, Butler the same day. Doug Bryant found five Hamilton, on 03 Oct (Richard Payne) and at at the CVNP Ira Road marsh on 07 Aug. (52 ONWR Navarre (banded by Alex Eberts). Tri- counties) ples were the most, at Headlands on 13 Sep Eastern Kingbird (Ned DeLamatre), CLNP on 14 Sep (Doug Bry- The 01 Oct ONWR census turned up the last. ant) and ONWR Navarre on 20 Sep (Michael The 06 Aug census there produced the high Hilchey). (38 counties) count, 33 (both Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vo- Acadian Flycatcher gus). Cam Lee almost tied them with 32 at Kill- Richard Payne’s was the last, in Mariemont, deer on 29 Aug. (76 counties) Hamilton, on 03 Oct. Paul Sherwood counted Northern Shrike 13 in Pine Hill Park, Ashland, on 01 Aug, while Sam Saunders discovered the first, at the Magee David Factor saw nine at the J.H. Barrow Field East Beach on 22 Oct. One spent from 27 Oct Station, Portage (hereafter Barrow FS) four days to at least 27 Nov along Chagrin River Road, later. (54 counties) Geauga (Inga Schmidt). Ashtabula, Hancock,

19 Vol. 41 No. 1

Medina, Muskingum, and Stark also hosted Beach City WA, Tuscarawas, on 26 Aug and single birds. 18 there on 07 Sep. The most elsewhere were Ol- White-eyed Vireo iver Griffin’s 15 at Chance Creek,Lorain , on 19 Joe Brehm provided an excellent description of Sep. (78 counties) the one he saw at Highbanks MP, Delaware, on Blue Jay 24 Nov, at least three weeks later than expect- Bill Grant counted 91 in Acacia Reservation, ed for central Ohio. Gary Cowell also properly Cuyahoga, on 08 Oct. Killdeer hosted about described the second-last, which he saw at the 75 on 22 Nov for Tyler McClain; no doubt most Home Road marsh, Richland, on 03 Nov, still were pausing there before continuing southward. a late date. Counts of 10 came from Shawnee (All 88 counties) Lookout on 10 Sep (Jonathan Frodge and Leslie American Crow Houser) and 16 Sep (Cincinnati Bird Club). (48 Ryan Tomazin made a “Rough, conservative counties) estimate” of 30,000 entering a roost at Bridge- Bell’s Vireo port, Belmont, on 21 Nov, and added, “ This is See Field Notes for details of Robert Royse’s six the traditional roost that yearly has between 38- in the Deer Creek area on 14 Aug. Gravel pits 50K birds.” Gary Cowell was at Clear Fork on by Osborn Road, Clermont, hosted up to three 22 Nov: he counted by 100s and saw about 4500 between 31 Aug and 08 Sep (m. obs.). “flyovers (SW to NE) heading to the Mansfield Yellow-throated Vireo night roost”. Every county but Putnam and Van Several birders saw one at Sippo Lake, Stark, on Wert produced sightings. 07 Oct, the latest date. Four locations each pro- Fish Crow duced counts of five. (50 counties) A flock of about 80 crows deemed to be these Blue-headed Vireo was photographed in Cuyahoga. A formal re- A few summered (and presumably nested) in port, photos, video, and audio all resulted from a several counties. Bob Boekelheide saw the first flock in Summit. migrant, at Magee on 03 Sep. The last lingered; Common Raven Rick Luehrs photographed it in Dayton’s Wood- Scott Pendleton counted 16 at The Bowl on 16 land Cemetery on 30 Nov. Irina Shulgina saw the Nov, probably a modern (and possibly all-time) second-last, at OSU’s , Franklin, on record number. Christopher Collins and Jacob 10 Nov, still late for the state. Ben Morrison found Roalef found 10 near Bloomingdale, Jefferson, eight at Headlands on 12 Oct. (46 counties) on 11 Aug. Athens and Belmont also produced Philadelphia Vireo sightings. Who will find the next nest, and where? Rick Luehrs photographed one in Deer Creek Horned Lark WA on 03 Aug, a couple of weeks before they Mark Shieldcastle saw about 125 at ONWR on usually arrive at the north shore. The next was 14 Nov. Dan Kramer’s 80 near Monroeville, Hu- only a bit later than usual; Bill Ohlsen saw it at ron, on 28 Nov was the second-highest number. Sandy Ridge on 30 Aug. To confound migra- (60 counties) tion-watchers, the last was a good three weeks Purple Martin late to leave; Adam and Isaac Troyer saw it in These, like many other species, were late to de- Holmesville, Holmes, on 02 Nov. Several folks part. The last date was 16 Oct; Ashli Gorbet saw the last but for it, at Blendon Woods on 13 saw four near Oak Harbor, Ottawa, that day. Oct. (39 counties) She thinks the strong winds from the south the Warbling Vireo previous day pushed them back north. The last Rob Campbell found one and Dick Hoffman two otherwise were two seen by Cincinnati Bird Club in CLNP on 13 Oct. That’s a typical last date for field trippers at Fernald on 14 Oct. Ben Morrison the state, but late to still be on the north coast. and Kent Miller saw the most, 160 at Walborn Bob Boekelheide found 22 at Magee on 03 Sep; Reservoir, Stark, on 17 Aug. (58 counties) next-most were 15 at ONWR on 03 Sep (Ed Tree Swallow Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). (61 counties) Gabriel Amrhein saw the last, at Caesar Creek Red-eyed Vireo on 18 Nov, slightly later than usual. The 03 Sep Nancy Anderson’s find at East Harbor on 26 ONWR census tallied 1388 (Ed Pierce et al., fide Oct was another late-for-the-north bird. Stefan Douglas Vogus). Up to 800 were seen there and Gleissberg saw the second-last, at his Athens nearby on other dates. The most at an inland site home on 18 Oct. Kent Miller counted 20 at

20 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 were Andy R. Troyer’s 500 during a Big Sit at Jon Cefus thoroughly described one well south of Funk on 07 Oct. (73 counties) the normal overlap zone; it and he were in Beach Northern Rough-winged Swallow City WA, Tuscarawas, on 30 Sep. (35 counties) The last were a duo at A.W. Marion SP, Picka- Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee way, on 31 Oct, a little later than usual. (Tracy Eighteen counties along the overlap zone provid- Hammer). Matt Kemp saw about 600 massing ed reports. at Medusa on 26 Aug, and members of a BSBO Tufted Titmouse field trip saw about 450 the same day at an Erie The high count of 22 was shared by Joan Scharf private property. (60 counties) in North Chagrin Reservation, Cuyahoga, on Bank Swallow 23 Aug and Alan Green at Blacklick Woods MP, The last and the most were at Wilderness Road, Franklin, on 29 Nov. Only Putnam and San- two on 01 Oct (Jon Cefus) and 114 on 16 Aug dusky didn’t have sightings. (Susan Evanoff and Su Snyder) respectively. (43 Red-breasted Nuthatch counties) The Ostermillers saw the first probable migrant, Cliff Swallow in Westfield Center, Medina, on 03 Aug. Dick Several folks saw the last, at Lost Bridge on 14 Hoopes saw five at Punderson SP,Geauga , on 18 Oct, two weeks late for it to depart the state. Lar- Sep, as did Kelly Koslowski in the Swine Creek ry Scacchetti took his eyes off the Sooty Tern in Reservation, Geauga, on 25 Nov. (42 counties) Tuscarawas long enough to see the second-last, White-breasted Nuthatch on 23 Sep. Troy Herrel found 60 at Alum Creek Ed Pierce et al. counted 21 at ONWR on 01 Oct on 09 Sep and Rob Thorn 40 at the Franklin (fide Douglas Vogus). David Factor almost tied section of Hoover Reservoir on 21 Aug. (47 them with 19 at the Barrow FS on 16 Sep. Put- counties) nam alone didn’t produce a report. Brown Creeper The high count was twelve, and it was shared by three birders: Jen Brumfield at Wendy Park on 05 Oct, Mary Huey at Mentor Lagoons NP, Lake, on 26 Oct, and Jim Martin at Cleveland’s Erie Street Cemetery on 29 Oct. (58 counties) House Wren The last, pending confirmation of at least one Christmas Bird Count report, was Michael Linkster’s at OOPMP on 05 Nov. The 06 Aug ONWR census produced 29 (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). Second-most were Dan Higby’s Cliff Swallows have some of the most interesting nests. This bird 24 at the CCE Trail on 08 Aug; he said they were was photographed by Kathy Mock while feeding its young on 07 scolding all along the trail. The third-highest Aug near Sandusky, Erie. count was a comparatively meager nine, in the OSU wetlands, Franklin, on 28 Sep (Chris Ton- Cave Swallow ra). (68 counties) Posts from Erie and Ottawa have descriptions; Winter Wren one from Ashtabula had none. Jeanne Hrenko saw the first of the season, along Barn Swallow Chagrin River Road, Lake, on 13 Aug. It could Margaret Bowman’s find at Buckeye Lake SP, have nested nearby, as migration usually doesn’t Licking, on 30 Oct was the last. Lorain hosted really get underway until Sep. Singles on 05 Sep about 650 on 07 Sep (m. obs.). Shari Jackson and at Headlands (Shari Jackson and Ben Morrison) Ben Morrison saw about 450 at Berlin Lake that and near Delaware (Richard Bradley) were defi- same day. (80 counties) nitely on the move. Headlands also provided the high count, 18 by Sally Isacco on 26 Oct. (51 Carolina Chickadee counties) Bryan Sharp found 35 in Prairie Oaks MP, Franklin, on 19 Sep. (63 counties) Marsh Wren Not surprisingly, the extensive marshes of Black-capped Chickadee ONWR produced the high count, 29 on 06 Aug Killdeer hosted 40 for Karl Overman on 14 Oct. (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). Carl Win-

21 Vol. 41 No. 1 stead’s 10 at Darby Creek on 03 Oct was the sec- obs.). Mary Huey counted 86 at Mentor Lagoons ond-highest number. (29 counties) and wrote, “Not as numerous as golden but still Sedge Wren amazing numbers.” (70 counties) The OSU Ornithology Club saw the last, at Eastern Bluebird Darby Creek on 29 Oct, a week or more later Benjamin H. Yoder counted 78 passing over his than expected for mid-state. Irina Shulgina saw home in Fresno, Coshocton, during 04 Nov. the most, nine also at Darby Creek, on 20 Aug. About three miles of walking in CVNP on 09 (15 counties) Nov yielded 67 for Hope Orr. Every county but Defiance, Pike, and Van Wert had at least one sighting. Veery The last date of 10 Oct was later than usual. It was shared by Kirk Westendorf at the Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, and Alan Green at Pine Quar- ry Park, Franklin. The next-latest date was 28 Sep, when three sites each had up to three birds. The high count was three, and four locations hosted that many. (25 counties) Gray-cheeked Thrush Michelle Pesho saw three at Wendy Park on 27 Aug, for a change just about when expected. The last lingered well beyond the usual mid-Oct de- On 06 Aug, Adam Brandemihl photographed a Sedge Wren parture across the Ohio River. It spent from 31 showing off his intricately patterned back at Darby Creek. Oct to 05 Nov at the house of Adam and Isaac Troyer in Holmesville, Holmes. Law- Carolina Wren rence saw the second-last, at Blendon Woods Su Snyder and Emily Keeler shared the high on 22 Oct, still a bit late. Alex Eberts counted count of 14, Su’s at her Wooster, Wayne, home 13 at ONWR Navarre on 01 Oct; Annie Crary on 23 Oct and Emily’s around Yellow Springs, and Brad Feasel had seen nine there on 17 Sep. Greene, on 04 Nov. Henry and Van Wert didn’t The most elsewhere was a quintet along Lake have sightings. Road, Cuyahoga, on 12 Sep (Jen Brumfield). (28 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher counties) Nancy Anderson saw a straggler on 22 Nov, 27 Nov, and 02 Dec at East Harbor. Martha Bur- rows and Judy Semroc had seen one there on 06 Nov, the last report before Nancy’s. Buck Creek hosted 15 for Daniel Kempf on 05 Aug. Others found 10 there on several dates as did Rob Thorn at Alum Creek on 09 Aug. (66 counties) Golden-crowned Kinglet Donna King and Lisa Phelps saw the first, along the ONWR WD on 09 Sep. The next encoun- ter was not until 20 Sep, when Michael Hilchey saw one at ONWR Navarre. Mary Huey walked 1½ miles of trail at Mentor Lagoons NP, Lake, on 26 Oct and found about 300 there. Wendy This Gray-cheeked Thrush popped up to say “Hello!” while Rachel Shamy was birding at Magee on 02 Oct.v Park hosted about 100 on 16 Oct (m. obs.). (79 counties) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson’s Thrush The first was a couple of weeks earlier than ex- Chagrin River Park, Lake, hosted the first, on pected; Sally Isacco saw it at Wake Robin on 13 13 Aug for Josh Hargrave, and they came fairly Aug. The next got all the way to the Maple Ridge steadily after that. Josh also saw the last, at the Reserve, Miami, before Mary Caldwell saw same site on 06 Nov, about a week later than they it on 02 Sep. About 140 accompanied the 100 usually leave the state. Alvin E. Miller counted 125 Golden-crowneds at Wendy Park on 16 Oct (m. by their flight calls passing over his house near

22 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Walnut Creek, Holmes, in the predawn of 07 Gray Catbird Sep. Cristy J. Miller heard 90 to 100 in a half hour A group of birders counted 51 at CLNP on 06 before dawn of 14 Sep in Millersburg, Holmes. Sep. However, they were topped by Ed Pierce’s Elliot Tramer wrote that day from Whitehouse, census-takers, who tallied 62 at ONWR on 06 Lucas, “a big passage must have occurred on Aug (fide Douglas Vogus). (83 counties) September 14, judging from the call notes coming Northern Mockingbird down from overhead before dawn.” (56 counties) Daniel Kempf ’s 15 at Buck Creek on 04 Oct Hermit Thrush were the most. (70 counties) Robert Batterson saw the first migrant, at Shale European Starling Hollow Preserve, Delaware, on 06 Sep. (Of Gabriel Amrhein said that 600 was a “low esti- course, it could have started its journey int Mo- mate of the tail end of a flock” at Glen Helen hican.) Gautam Apte counted 45 in CLNP on 16 Preserve, Greene, on 10 Sep. (All 88 counties) Oct – they definitely came across Lake Erie. The next-most were Brian and Tyler McClain’s 28 at Cedar Waxwing Killdeer on 15 Oct. (45 counties) Dan Gesualdo found 225 at Sherod Park on 29 Aug. (83 counties) Wood Thrush John Wyatt well described a lingerer at Alum House Sparrow Creek on 27 Oct, about two weeks late for central About 500 swarmed the Celina grain silos, Mer- Ohio. Three sites hosted them on the next-latest cer, on 11 Nov when the Cincinnati Bird Club date, 14 Oct. Doug Marcum provided the high was there. Joe Hammond posted that 325 were at count of nine, from North Chagrin Reservation, Garfield Commons,Cuyahoga , on 12 Sep. Only Lake, on 16 Sep. (57 counties) Vinton didn’t produce a report. American Robin American Pipit Inga Schmidt saw more than 600 on 19 Aug and The first was right on time; Brad Imhoff saw it about 700 on 27 Oct at a roost-cum-staging area at Wilderness Road on 01 Sep. Kent Miller and on Chagrin River Road, Geauga. Cam Lee saw friends counted 150 at Ragersville, Tuscara- the most elsewhere, 525 at Delaware WA on 23 was, on 08 Nov and about 120 there on other Oct. (All 88 counties) dates. The most elsewhere were Devon Zimmer- man’s 80 at his Shiloh, Richland, farm on 15 Brown Thrasher Nov. (30 counties) Meadowbrook Marsh, Ottawa, hosted 11 on 14 Sep when Nancy Anderson was there. Counts of House Finch seven came from Beach City WA, Tuscarawas, Irina Shulgina found 150 in the Honda Wetlands, on 07 Sep (Kent Miller) and Woodland Memori- Union, on 12 Aug. Next most were Jen Brum- al Park, Hamilton, on 11 Sep (Richard Payne). field’s 70 at Edgewater on 13 Oct. (73 counties) (58 counties) Purple Finch The high count of four was shared by Zebedee Muller at Columbus’ Green Lawn Cemetery on 06 Nov and Kent Miller near Ragersville, Tus- carawas, on 08 Nov. (28 counties) Red Crossbill Philip Chaon saw the first, at Wendy Park on 03 Nov. A flock of about 25 spent from 24 Nov into Dec around the OOPMP lodge area (m. obs.). Lori Brumbaugh sound-recorded them and as- signed them to Type 2. Robert Hershberger and David Weaver also found about 25, at Clear Fork on 27 Nov. (15 counties) White-winged Crossbill Patrick Markee saw eight in Acacia Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 04 Nov. Pine Siskin Michael Monarch saw a few at OOPMP on 03 A Brown Thrasher stands tall at Firestone MP, Summit, on Oct. Tom Frankel found 60 at Holden Arbore- 19 Sep for Brian Tinker. tum on 29 Nov, and Warren Leow noted 50 while

23 Vol. 41 No. 1 watching the Red Crossbills in OOPMP on 24 this of four birds in the Virginia Kendall area of Nov. (49 counties) CVNP on 09 Oct. Tyler McClain saw about 250 Common Redpoll at Killdeer on 22 Nov. The next-highest count The first were two by Lakeshore Boulevard, was 30, shared by Cam Lee at East Sandusky Cleveland, on 02 Nov (Michelle Moore). Next Bay MP, Erie, on 19 Nov and the Ostermillers at was one at Lorain on 23 Nov (Tim Cornish), the Wellington Reservation, Lorain, on 29 Nov. and two to three were there into Dec. Gautam (56 counties) Apte found 30 in North Chagrin Reservation, Chipping Sparrow Cuyahoga, on 26 Nov. The only other flock Ed Schlabach saw about 90 near Ragersville, of more than three was the dozen which Atlee Tuscarawas, on 07 Oct. Jen Brumfield counted A. Yoder saw briefly at the Secrest Arboretum, 56 in CLNP on 10 Oct. (80 counties) Wayne, on 17 Nov. Ashtabula, Lake, and Lo- Clay-colored Sparrow rain also had sightings. James Muller’s, at Kiwanis Riverway Park, Franklin, on 12 Sep was the first. Next was one at the Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, on 08 Oct (m. obs.) Philip Chaon’s was the last; it was a couple of weeks late leaving CLNP on 31 Oct. Other singles were in Erie, Hancock, and Lorain. Field Sparrow Flocks of about 30 were at Buck Creek on 31 Aug (Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker), there again on 24 Sep (Mike Hatfield), at Highbanks MP, Delaware, on 17 Sep (Diana Steele), and at Bill Stanley’s Clermont home on 10 Oct. (76 counties) A flock of Common Redpolls were present at Lorain during Nov. Vesper Sparrow On 29 Nov, this cute bird was photographed by Janice Farral. Bill Stanley saw the last, at Indian Creek WA, American Goldfinch Brown, on 01 Nov. Counts of four came from Headlands hosted about 350 on 04 Nov (m. near Oak Harbor, Ottawa, on 16 Sep (Ashli obs.). Tim Haney estimated 250 were in Toledo’s Gorbet) and Wendy Park on 26 Oct (Jen Brum- Woodlawn Cemetery on 29 Oct. (All 88 counties) field). (21 counties) Lapland Longspur Lark Sparrow Craig Holt saw the first, at Conneaut on 28 Sep, Gateway Church, outside Findlay, Hancock, a little later than usual. The next were later still; hosted four on 22 Aug and one the next day Jeff Dale saw two at Maumee Bay on 17 Oct and (Anne Albert). Su Snyder reported one at Wil- Jen Brumfield one at Edgewater on 04 Nov. For- derness Road on 02 Sep and attributed its find ty visited Micki Dunakin at her Paulding home to Rich Pendlebury. She also noted that it was on 17 Nov. Counts of 17 at Ragersville, Tuscar- the first recorded in Wayne since 1902. Robert awas, on 17 Nov (Kent Miller et al.) and 15 at Royse saw two and wrote that they “were in a Lewistown, Logan, on 27 Nov (Troy Shively) field with little vegetation in the northern [Deer were the only other flocks of more than six birds. Creek] WA (Fayette Co.) on Aug. 21. They didn’t (13 counties) stay long in the area. Where they came from and where they were going I have no idea.” Snow Bunting George Novosel’s find at Mosquito WA on 05 Savannah Sparrow Oct was a good two weeks ahead of schedule. Tiffany Watts saw the last of the season, eight at The next were two at the former Lorain (city) her Cincinnati home on 26 Nov, though there hot waters site on 27 Oct (Debbie Parker). Micki were further sightings in Dec. Richard Counts Dunakin estimated 60 were by Dairy Road 71, found 45 at the Hardin wetlands on 07 Oct and Paulding, on 30 Nov. (11 counties) Scott Pendleton counted 28 in the Second Re- claim District, Harrison, on 08 Oct. (48 counties) Eastern Towhee The Barrow FS hosted 16 on 30 Sep (David Fac- Grasshopper Sparrow tor). (78 counties) Irina Shulgina’s bird at Killdeer on 29 Oct was a little late to be the last. Eric Shlapack’s, at an American Tree Sparrow I-70 rest area in Clark on 20 Oct, was about on George Novosel provided another first sighting,

24 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 time. Counts of five came from sites in Allen, Nelson’s Sparrow Belmont, and Stark. (22 counties) The first date was 30 Sep. David Weaver saw two Henslow’s Sparrow that day near the Funk observation deck, and Ed One near Cadiz, Harrison, on 21 Oct (Scott Schlabach another near Sugarcreek, Tuscara- Pendleton) and another in Miami Whitewater was. Atlee A. Yoder contributed the high count Forest, Hamilton, on 20 Oct (David A. Brink- of six, from Wilderness Road on 11 Oct. Up to man) were lagging a little. The third-last was three were at Lorain between 05 and 14 Oct (m. also late for the latitude; Eli Miller saw it in Mill- obs). The last otherwise spent 18 to 23 Oct at ersburg, Holmes, on 09 Oct. Robert Royse re- Darby Creek (m. obs.). (14 counties) marked on the 60 he saw in the Deer Creek area in early Aug; see Field Notes for more. The high- est count otherwise was Kent Miller’s eight along Fargo Road, Carroll, on 05 Aug. (19 counties) LeConte’s Sparrow The first spent 07 and 08 Oct at Wake Robin (m. obs.). Ben Morrison saw the last, at Lorain on 28 Oct. Other singles were in Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Paulding, and Seneca.

The stealthy behavior of this Nelson’s Sparrow was captured beautifully by Adam Brandemihl on 21 Oct at Darby Creek.

White-throated Sparrow The first was about a week early, at Chagrin River Park, Lake, on 02 Sep (Gustino Lanese). Leslie Sours photographed this LeConte’s Sparrow hiding in the The next, at Walnut Woods MP, Franklin, on tall grass at Darby Creek on 19 Oct. 08 Sep, was early for mid-state (Irina Shulgina). Jen Brumfield et al. found almost 1000 at Wendy Fox Sparrow Park on 26 Oct and 340 in CLNP the same day. Nancy O’Bryan’s scouting of the Silvercreek (81 counties) powerline corridor, Geauga, again paid off with her find of the season’s first Fox Sparrow on 05 White-crowned Sparrow Oct. Jen Brumfield et al. saw nine at Wendy Park Nancy Anderson saw the first, at East Harbor on 26 Oct. (39 counties) on 16 Sep, and Fred Losi the next, at Frohring Meadows, Geauga, on 21 Sep. CLNP hosted Song Sparrow 110 on 11 Oct (Jen Brumfield) and up to 80 on The big day was 26 Oct: Jen Brumfield et al. other days (m. obs.). Mark Shaver found 75, the found 270 at Wendy Park and another 250 in next-highest number, at Wendy Park, also on 11 CLNP. Only Lawrence and Pike didn’t produce Oct. Paul Jacyk photographed one of the western sightings. gambelii subspecies at his Lucas home on 12, 13, Lincoln’s Sparrow and 14 Oct. (57 counties) Adriana Losey saw the first, at her Delaware Dark-eyed Junco home on 02 Sep. Joe Brehm saw the last, in The first undoubtable migrants appeared at Trimble Township Community Forest, Athens, CLNP on 28 Sep (m. obs.), though many Aug on 10 Nov. And Jen Brumfield saw the most, 18 and earlier Sep sightings in the northeastern in CLNP on 11 Oct. (50 counties) counties preceded that date. Lori Brumbaugh Swamp Sparrow found about 200 in CLNP on 27 Oct as did Phil- Irina Shulgina found 70 at Killdeer on 22 Oct, ip Chaon on 31 Oct. The most elsewhere were and 55 were in CLNP on 11 Oct for Jen Brum- Paul Jacyk’s 130 in Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo, field. (64 counties) on 23 Nov.

25 Vol. 41 No. 1

Jack Leow photographed an “Oregon” Junco in Eastern Meadowlark the Deer Hollow subdivision, Wood, on 07 Nov. Scott Pendleton counted 53 at the Second Re- Two sites in Wood each held a bird attributed to claim District, Harrison, on 24 Sep. The next- the cismontanus race. (79 counties) most were Ed Schlabach’s 45 in Holmes north Harris’s Sparrow of Sugarcreek on 03 Sep. (61 counties) One in Clark generated many posts with photos Western Meadowlark and descriptions, but no formal report. Eli Miller saw two west of Farmerstown, Holmes, on 14 Aug. Jamie Cunningham also found two, at the Findlay Reservoirs on 01 Sep. Orchard Oriole Jeff Peters saw the last, at Terra Woods, Clark, on 03 and 04 Sep. Irina Shulgina found six at Milford Center Prairie SNA, Union, on 05 Aug. (26 counties) Baltimore Oriole Dennis Mersky saw the last of the season, at Mogadore Reservoir, Portage, on 07 Oct. That’s a good three weeks late for so far north, but that date was eclipsed by an adult male bird which frequented Connie Nierzejewski’s Ashtabula feeder for most of Dec and into Jan. Marcia Ru- bin watched several small flocks totaling about 50 pass her Geauga home on 04 Aug. The 06 ONWR census produced 28 (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). (59 counties) Red-winged Blackbird Renee Clark estimated that 10,000 were at Darby Creek on 01 Oct; numbers to 5000 were reported there on other dates. The highest number else- where was 3500; it was shared by some gravel The Harris’s Sparrow that spent the fall visiting the South pits along Friendsville Road, Medina, on 28 Oct Charleston Bike Trail in Clark posed for Jamie Cunningham (Jacob Raber) and fields along Dayton-Yellow on 22 Oct. Springs Road, Greene, on 05 Nov (Lee Funder- Yellow-breasted Chat burg). (83 counties) John Landon saw the last, at East Fork on 24 Sep. Brown-headed Cowbird Often some are still here into Oct. Kirk Westen- In addition to the Red-winged Blackbirds above, dorf saw three at Armleder Park on 08 Aug. (16 Lee Funderburg also saw about 2500 cowbirds counties) in the fields along Dayton-Yellow Springs Road. Yellow-headed Blackbird Chris Lamb’s 500 along Easton Street, Stark, The reports were all of single birds: on 02 Nov was the second-highest number. (69 At Pickerel Creek on 10 Aug (Dan Gesualdo) counties) At Sandy Ridge on 17 Aug (Gary Korzan) and 23 Rusty Blackbird Sep (Ed Wransky) Richard Bradley gave a good description of a In Shiloh, Richland, on 18 and 19 Aug (Devon very early arrival north of Delaware on 05 Aug. Zimmerman) Even the second sighting, at Magee on 09 Sep, At Springville Marsh on 29 Aug (Dave Smith) was a week or so early (Marge and Ron Bicknell). Bobolink A trio of birders tallied 620 at Mosquito WA on Scott Pendleton saw the last, near Cadiz, Har- 31 Oct and about 250 were at each of three sites. rison, on 21 Oct. The second-last date, 08 Oct, (43 counties) was shared up by four locations. Brad Imhoff Brewer’s Blackbird noted about 120 at the Granville Intermediate Gary Cowell well described the view and the call School Land Lab, Licking, on 10 Sep. Amy of one in a feedlot at Steam Corners, Morrow, Downing and Jeff Loughman found half that on 23 Nov. many near the Findlay Reservoirs on 13 Sep. (32 counties) 26 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Common Grackle Black-and-white Warbler Fred Losi provided the high count, 10,000 in the The last lingered a bit; Chris Tonra saw it at the Jaite area of CVNP on 02 Oct. (79 counties) OSU wetlands, Franklin, on 19 Oct. Charles Blackbird sp. Bombaci counted seven at Sharon Woods MP, Eli Miller and Aaron Nisley saw a mixed flock Franklin, on 11 Sep. (52 counties) of about 25,000 at Keim Lumber, Holmes, on Prothonotary Warbler 22 Nov. Usually these are gone by Labor Day, but Mickie Ovenbird Getz saw a holdover at Lake Medina on 20 Sep. The last lingered an extra month; Brandon Bry- Gayle McKay found eight at the nesting area of wczynski saw it at Maumee Bay’s nature center Hoover NP on 26 Aug. Carl Winstead saw three feeders on 22 Nov. Irina Shulgina saw the sec- there on 01 Aug and Mike Wielgopolski tied him ond-last at OSU’s Mirror Lake, Franklin, on at Magee on 26 Aug. (19 counties) several dates between 26 Oct and 06 Nov. Arm- Tennessee Warbler leder Park hosted five on 02 Sep for Lauren Bo- Nancy O’Bryan noted the first (on 19 Aug) and erger and Michael Gertz. (48 counties) the last on (25 Oct), both at the Silvercreek pow- Worm-eating Warbler er corridor, Geauga. Leroy E. Yoder contrib- Stefan Gleissberg saw the last, in Strouds Run uted the two highest counts, 31 on 14 Sep and SP, Athens, on 22 Sep. David Carr saw the sec- 20 on 21 Sep, in northwestern Coshocton. (61 ond-last, at Shawnee Lookout on 09 Sep. Joe counties) Brehm scored the only double, in Trimble Town- Orange-crowned Warbler ship Community Forest, Athens, on 06 Aug. The Ronnie Clark saw the first, at Prairie Oaks MP, rest of the reports came from another site in Ath- Franklin, on 07 Sep. Gustino Lanese saw the ens, one in Delaware, two in Hamilton, and last of the season, at Headlands on 05 Nov, one in Hocking. though were are several Dec reports as well. Jen Louisiana Waterthrush Brumfield found a dozen at Wendy Park on 12 Rick Luehrs discovered the last, at Caesar Creek Oct. Counts of five came on 16 Oct from CLNP on 26 Aug. Usually they’re seen for another (Gautam Apte) and a utility access road in West- month or so. Counts of two came from Pipe lake, Cuyahoga (David Smith). (32 counties) Creek Road, Belmont, on 09 Aug (Sandie My- ers) and Fort Hill Earthworks and NP, Highland, on 10 Aug (Chris Zacharias). (14 counties) Northern Waterthrush Ed Pierce et al. saw the first, at ONWR on 06 Aug (fide Douglas Vogus). The next got all the way to Bill Stanley’s Clermont home before be- ing seen there on 13 Aug. Sally Isacco saw the last, on the north coast at Wake Robin on 13 Oct, a date when they’re usually just leaving the state. Gautam Apte and Laura Gooch found three at Shaker Lakes NC on 25 Aug. (23 counties) Golden-winged Warbler Jeanne Hrenko’s was the first, at Chagrin River Park, Lake, on 25 Aug. Singles at Blendon Woods (Rob Thorn) and Aullwood (R. Lee Reed) on 31 Aug were the next. The last date of 01 Oct was also shared, by Rob Thorn at Blacklick Woods MP, Fairfield, and Ed Pierce et al. at ONWR (fide Jon Cefus photographed this inquisitive Orange-crowned War- Douglas Vogus). Four locations each hosted two. bler at Wendy Park on 13 Oct. (19 counties) Blue-winged Warbler Nashville Warbler The last was seen at Blendon Woods on 29 Sep Kiwanis Riverway Park, Franklin, hosted the (m. obs.). Scott Huge found three in the Swine first, for Jennifer Kuehn on 23 Aug. Two on 04 Creek Reservation, Geauga, on 19 Aug. (26 Nov were the last: Brian Tinker rescued one in counties) during a dawn Lights Out

27 Vol. 41 No. 1 sweep, and m. obs. saw another at CLNP. Jen were singles on 13 Oct at CLNP (Chris Caprette, Brumfield counted 11 at Wendy Park on 10 Oct. Eileen Zimlich), and the Orweiler Road marsh, (55 counties) Richland (Gary Cowell). CLNP hosted 24 on 06 Connecticut Warbler Sep (m. obs.). (62 counties) Gregory Allen saw one at Blendon Woods and Cape May Warbler Eric Juterbock another at Rushsylvania Farm, David Sherman’s was the first; he found it in Logan, on 03 Sep. The last was a week or more Duranceau Park, Franklin, on 19 Aug. Mau- late to leave; Irina Shulgina found it in Walnut reen MacIntyre’s duo at A.B. Williams Woods in Woods MP, Franklin, on 10 Oct. The sec- North Chagrin MP, Cuyahoga, on 19 Oct were ond-last, Tim Haney’s in Woodlawn Cemetery, late for that far north. David Factor counted 25 at Toledo, on 01 Oct was late for that far north. the Barrow FS on 18 Sep. (51 counties) All of the sightings, in 11 counties, were of single Cerulean Warbler birds. Usually a few are here into late Sep, but Dick Mourning Warbler Hoopes saw this year’s last on 08 Sep, two in the By contrast, this species adhered to its histor- Swine Creek Reservation, Geauga. Kyle Alding- ical schedule. The first was at Cory Chiap- er’s three at Lake Hope SP, Vinton, on 02 Aug pone’s Lake home on 23 Aug and the last was were the most. (10 counties) at ONWR Navarre on 09 Oct (Alex Eberts). Northern Parula Doubles were at Blendon Woods on 09 Sep (John Jen Moore and Jason Parrish photographed a late Shrader), Cleveland’s First Energy Stadium on bird at the Hebron fish hatchery and wetlands, 13 Sep (Kevin and Patty McKelvey), and Cleve- Licking, on 25 Nov. The second-last, found by land’s Public Square on 01 Oct (Jen Brumfield). Elizabeth McQuaid at CLNP on 15 Oct, was late (16 counties) for so far north. Quintets were at Sheldon Marsh Kentucky Warbler on 01 Oct (Ben and Steve Meredyk) and Toledo’s Ed Schlabach saw the last, at Ragersville, Tus- Woodlawn Cemetery on 08 Oct (Ashli Gorbet). carawas, on 09 Sep, about a week later than (36 counties) usual for that far north. Joe Brehm saw the sec- Magnolia Warbler ond last, in Waterloo WA, Athens on 03 Sep, An immature bird, no doubt born locally, at Za- and the most, three along the Buckeye Trail in leski on 02 Aug was the first (Bruce Simpson). Athens on 05 Aug. All the other sightings were The last were singles on 18 Oct at the Silvercreek of single birds. (Eight counties) powerline corridor, Geauga (Nancy O’Bryan) Common Yellowthroat and Lawrence Woods SNP, Hardin (Eric Juter- This year’s last was (still?) at Medusa on 29 Nov bock). The most were 22 in CLNP on 06 Sep (m. (Robert Hershberger), though at least one was obs.). (63 counties) reported during a CBC. The only other cur- rently-confirmed sighting after 04 Nov was Gary Cowell’s at the Orweiler Road marsh, Richland, on 26 Nov. Ed Pierce et al. counted 42 during the 06 Aug census (fide Douglas Vogus). David Carr found 33 at the other end of the state, in Miami Whitewater Forest, Hamilton, on 10 Sep. (75 counties) Hooded Warbler Bob and Sara Crist saw the last, a little late in Blacklick Woods, Franklin, on 12 Oct. Howev- er, another also remained at OSU’s Mirror Lake, Franklin, on 09 Oct (Irina Shulgina) and Ed Schlabach noted one still singing in Ragersville, Tuscarawas, on 07 Oct. Bernard Preserve, This stunning Hooded Warbler posed for Allan Claybon near Athens, held six for Joe Brehm on 18 Sep. (40 Harrison, Hamilton, on 08 Sep. counties) American Redstart Bay-breasted Warbler Laura Gooch discovered one in CLNP on 06 The first date was 25 Aug. Cory Chiappone and Nov, a late date for the north coast. The next-last Jon Cefus saw one in Chagrin River Park, Lake, that day, and Bob and Elaine McNulty saw an-

28 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 other at Blendon Woods. The last was very late; gler at the Wildlife Production Area, Hancock, Irina Shulgina saw it on 14 and 16 Nov at OSU’s on 07 Nov. Margaret Bowman had seen another Mirror Lake, Franklin. The second-last were in Licking on 03 Nov. Jen Brumfield counted 23 singles on 13 Oct at Blacklick Woods MP, Frank- in Cleveland’s Erie Street Cemetery on 05 Oct lin (Gene Stauffer) and Blendon Woods (Bob and and 13 in CLNP the next day. (55 counties) Sara Crist). Ed Pierce et al. counted 21 at ONWR Pine Warbler on 03 Sep (fide Douglas Vogus). (58 counties) Dennis Mersky saw the last, in Tallmadge, Sum- Blackburnian Warbler mit, on 29 Oct. Six locations each had three on Nancy O’Bryan saw the first since Jun, in the dates during the last half of Sep. (41 counties) Silvercreek powerline corridor, Geauga, on 16 Yellow-rumped Warbler Aug. The last departed a couple of weeks late; Nancy Anderson found the first two, at the Elizabeth McQuaid saw it in CLNP on 15 Oct. Dempsey Boat Basin, Ottawa, on 23 Aug. More Jon Cefus and Kent Miller counted 16 along arrived at other north coast sites on 28 Aug. Stuckey Valley Road in Tuscarawas on 16 Sep. Headlands hosted 90 on 05 Oct (Jim McCon- (48 counties) nor). Counts of 75 came from Charles Mill Lake Yellow Warbler Park, Ashland, on 13 Oct (Todd Sahl) and the Some usually stay into Oct, but the last sight- Norma Johnson Center, Tuscarawas, on 26 ing was on 26 Sep in Horse Hills Park, Licking Oct (Kent Miller). (81 counties) (Margaret Bowman). The 06 Aug ONWR cen- Yellow-throated Warbler sus found 62 (Ed Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus), The last two stuck around an extra week, to 08 and Mark Shieldcastle had seen 48 there four Oct. Joseph Keating found one at Fernald that days earlier. The most elsewhere were Elizabeth day and Jeremy Dominguez and Dan Enders saw McQuaid’s 20 in CLNP on 06 Aug. (55 counties) the other at Huffman Prairie, Greene. Three lo- Chestnut-sided Warbler cations held three, all in Aug. (26 counties) A trio of birders provided an excellent descrip- Prairie Warbler tion of their find along the Olentangy Trail, A trio of birders found the last, on 22 Sep in the Franklin, on 09 Nov, a month or so later than Williamsburg Wetlands of East Fork. The Mc- expected in the middle of the state. The second- Gills saw two at East Fork on 05 Aug and two and third-last were also lingering: Trevor Wears- more in the CNC Rowe Woods on 16 Sep. (Nine tler saw one in Wildwood Park, Cuyahoga, on counties) 26 Oct, and Sarah Lawrence another at Blendon Woods on 16 Oct. The high count was 12, from Black-throated Green Warbler CLNP on 06 Sep (m. obs.). (50 counties) The last, along the South Charleston Bike Trail, Clark, on 28 Oct, was only a little behind sched- Blackpoll Warbler ule (Rick Luehrs). The second-last, in CLNP on The first arrived at the north coast on 24 Aug, at 24 Oct, needed to speed up (Laura Gooch). Jon CPNWR (Tom Kemp) and Maumee Bay (Ryan Cefus and Kent Miller found 22 along Stuckey Jacob). CPNWR also fielded the last, for Elliot Valley Road, Tuscarawas, on 16 Sep. The next Tramer on the late date of 04 Nov. About two most were Chris Tonra’s 11 in the OSU wet- weeks earlier, on 21 Oct, Bill Ohlsen had seen lands, Franklin, on 12 Oct. (60 counties) the second-last, at CLNP. CLNP also hosted the most, 90 on 06 Sep; next-highest were 40 at Hun- Canada Warbler tington Reservation, Cuyahoga, the same day Sally Isacco noted the first migrant, at Wake (both Jen Brumfieldet al.). (57 counties) Robin on 13 Aug. Adam Brandemihl saw the last, at O’Shaughnessy NP, Delaware, on 30 Black-throated Blue Warbler Sep. Brian and Gale Wulker found three in Cin- The first were singles on 27 Aug at Sheldon cinnati’s Burnet Woods on 04 Sep. (29 counties) Marsh (Amy Didion, Dan Gesualdo) and by Township Road 122, Holmes (Daniel Beechy). Wilson’s Warbler Carl Hanson saw the last, at his Franklin home Ryan Jacob saw the first, at Maumee Bay on on 18 Oct. Four sites each hosted four. (38 24 Aug, about a week later than expected. Phil counties) Barnes saw the last, in Glenwood Gardens, Hamilton, on 13 Oct, about a week earlier than Palm Warbler they usually depart. CLNP held six on 06 Sep The first two got to Kiwanis Riverway Park, (Jen Brumfield) as did Chagrin River Park,Lake , Franklin, before George Billman spotted them on 16 Sep (Gustino Lanese). (42 counties) on 27 Aug. Chad Carroll found the last, a strag-

29 Vol. 41 No. 1

Summer Tanager Blue Grosbeak A trio of birders saw the last, at Highbanks MP, Sara Lord found one in Spring Valley WA, Delaware, on 14 Oct, two weeks later than the Greene, on 23 Sep, two weeks or so beyond usual last sighting. Counts of three came from, their usual departure date. The high count of Spring Grove Cemetery, Hamilton, on 17 Sep five was shared by the Great Miami WMB on 14 (Michael Gertz), Sharon Woods CP, Hamil- Aug (Julie Karlson and Doug Overacker) and the ton, on 19 Sep (Harris Abramson), and CNC’s Heritage Preserve, Franklin, on 02 Sep (Bryan Rowe Woods on 23 and 30 Sep (the McGills). (18 Sharp). (18 counties) counties) Indigo Bunting Scarlet Tanager These are usually gone before the end of Oct, Carl Winstead saw the last, at Inniswood Metro but Jacob Raber saw one in CLNP on 03 Nov. Gardens, Franklin, on 16 Oct, about a week late A super-straggler was at Janice Emrick’s Malaga, for the latitude. David Factor saw six at the Bar- Monroe, feeder on 21 and 28 Nov. Ed Pierce et row FS on 26 Sep. (57 counties) al. counted 43 at ONWR on 06 Aug (fide Douglas Northern Cardinal Vogus). The next-highest count was 25, at Shaw- ONWR hosted 40 during the 06 Aug census (Ed nee Lookout on 10 Sep (Jonathan Frodge and Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). (All 88 counties) Leslie Houser). (74 counties) Rose-breasted Grosbeak Dickcissel George Coleman saw the second-last, in Fair- The last date, 23 Sep, was a month earlier than view Park, Cuyahoga, on 26 Oct, and Carole the historical norm. On that day Lee Funderburg Babyak the last, three weeks later on 17 Nov at found a Dickcissel at Huffman Prairie, Greene, her Trumbull home. At least one Dec sighting and Larry Scacchetti another at the Sooty Tern followed. Nancy O’Bryan found 20 in the Silver- site in Tuscarawas. The most were the six tal- creek powerline corridor, Geauga, on 08 Aug lied by Ed Pierce’s ONWR census crew on 06 and up to 15 there on other dates. (51 counties) Aug (fide Douglas Vogus). Michael Brush saw five at the Lost Creek Preserve, Miami, on 02 Aug. (17 counties) Northern Saw-Whet Owl Banding Results 2017 Fall through 20 December All data are courtesy of Tom Bartlett.

NSWO EASO Foreign In-season Other Owl Banding Station County Bander in Charge Nights Banded Banded Recaps Recaps Recaps

Kelleys Island Erie Tom Bartlett 32 43 1 4 17 1

Miller Farm Seneca Jim Coffman 19 4 1 0 1 0

Caesar Creek Warren Rebecca Palmer/Steve Lee 21 16 0 2 3 0

Lake Erie Bluffs Lake Ann Bugeda/Dan Donaldson 15 13 0 0 0 0

Hueston Woods Butler Dave Russell 1 1 0 0 0 0

Norma Johnson Tuscarawas Dan Kramer 8 2 0 0 1 0

Palatial Estates Vinton Bob Placier 20 17 0 0 4 0

Lowe-Volk Park Crawford Bob Placier 1 0 0 0 0 0

Dowler Ridge Athens Bob Placier/Kelly Williams 1 1 0 0 0 0

NSWO = Northern Saw-whet Owl Catawba Island Ottawa Bruce Buckingham 8 4 0 0 0 0 EASO = Eastern Screech-Owl "Foreign Recaps" are Saw-whets banded elsewhere and captured this year at the named station. Ohio Totals 126 101 2 6 26 1 "In-season Recaps" are Saw-whets both banded and recaptured this year at the station. The four recaptures at Kelleys Island had been banded thusly: NSWO = Northern Saw-whet Owl 16 Nov 2015 at Fairmont, West Virginia EASO = Eastern Screech-Owl 30 Oct 2016 at Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Ontario, Canada "Foreign Recaps" are Saw-whets banded elsewhere and captured this year at the named station. 07 Nov 2017 at Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada (caught by Tom four days later) "In-season Recaps" are Saw-whets both banded and recaptured this year at the station. 08 Nov 2017 at Pelee Island (caught by Tom five days later) The four recaptures at Kelleys Island had been banded thusly: The two recaptures at Caesar Creek had been banded thusly: 16 Nov 2015 at Fairmont, West Virginia 08 Oct 2016 in St. Ignace, Michigan 30 Oct 2016 at Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Ontario, Canada 09 Apr 2017 in Cheboygan, Wisconsin 07 Nov 2017 at Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada (caught by Tom four days later) 08 Nov 2017 at Pelee Island (caught by Tom five days later) The two recaptures at Caesar Creek had been banded thusly: 08 Oct 2016 in St. Ignace, Michigan 09 Apr 2017 in Cheboygan, Wisconsin 30 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

CONTRIBUTORS

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

Zeb Acuff Charles Bombaci Ronnie Clark David English Harris Abramson Margaret Bowman George Coleman David L. Erb William Addis Richard Bradley Christopher Collins Norman L. Erb Anne Albert Adam Brandemihl David Comes Reuben S. Erb Kyle Aldinger Susan Brauning Tim Cornish Susan Evanoff Gregory Allen Joe Brehm Richard Counts David Factor Gabriel Amrhein David A. Brinkman Matt Courtman Brad Feasel Nancy Anderson Kenny Brown Gary Cowell Tyler Ficker Ken Andrews Lori Brumbaugh Annie Crary Tom Frankel Gautam Apte Jen Brumfield Bob Crist Renee Frederick Sameer Apte Michael Brush Sara Crist Nicole Freshour Carole Babyak Doug Bryant Michael Crouse Jonathan Frodge Volker Bahn Brandon Brywcznski Jamie Cunningham Lee Funderberg Joe Baldwin Junior Burkholder Jeff Dale Michael Gertz John Ballou Martha Burrows Henrey Deese Dan Gesualdo Phil Barnes Gary Bush Ned DeLamatre Mickie Getz Tom Bartlett Mary Caldwell Amy Didion Linda Gilbert Robert Batterson Rob Campbell Mary Lou Dickson Stefan Gleissberg Daniel Beechy Phil Cantino Jeremy Dominguez Laura Gooch Dick Beery Chris Caprette Patrick Doran Ashli Gorbet Gregory Bennett Susan Carpenter Amy Downing Bill Grant Marge Bicknell David Carr Teri Drewyer Alan Green Ron Bicknell Chad Carroll Tim Drewyer Jeff Green George Billman Jon Cefus Micki Dunakin Oliver Griffin Black River Audubon Philip Chaon Mike Edgington Tracy Hammer Society Dave Chase Alex Eberts Joe Hammond Black Swamp Bird Allen Chartier Al Eibel Tim Haney Observatory Cory Chiappone Eric Elvert Dawn Hanna Bob Boekelheide Cincinnati Bird Club Janice Emrick Marc Hanneman Lauren Boerger Renee Clark Dan Enders Carl Hanson

31 Vol. 41 No. 1

Josh Hargrave Emily Keeler Audrey Maran James Muller Jeff Harvey Matt Kemp Doug Marcum Zebedee Muller Mike Hatfield Tom Kemp Patrick Markee Sandie Myers John Herman Daniel Kempf Jim Martin Scott Myers Troy Herrel Mark Kershner Bret McCarty Angelika Nelson Michael A. Donna King Brian McClain Jennifer Niederlander Hershberger Josh King Tyler McClain Connie Nierzejewski Robert Hershberger Tim Kleman Lori McCollister Aaron Nisley Brian Hicks Gary Korzan Jim McConnor Cynthia Norris Dan Higby Kelly Kozlowski Andy McGill George Novosel Michael Hilchey Mark Kraus Bill McGill Nancy O’Bryan Dave Hochadel Dan Kramer René McGill Brian O’Connor Dick Hoffman Bob Krajeski Gayle McKay Bill Ohlsen Sean Hollowell Dan Kramer Larry McKelvey Anne Olsen Craig Holt Jennifer Kuehn Patty McKelvey Hope Orr Dick Hoopes Allison Kulka Bob McNulty Helen Ostermiller Leslie Houser Sandra La Faut Elaine McNulty Ken Ostermiller Louis Hoying John Landon Elizabeth McQuaid OSU Ornithology Jeanne Hrenko Club Bob Lane Ben Meredyk Mary Huey Doug Overacker Denise Lane Steve Meredyk Scott Huge Karl Overman Gustino Lanese Dennis Mersky Henry Hvizdos Debbie Parker Jean Lauro Alvin E. Miller Brad Imhoff Jason Parrish Sarah Lawrence Cristy J. Miller Sally Isacco Greg Pasek Cam Lee Eli Miller Shari Jackson Richard Payne Jack Leow Jeffrey A. Miller Ryan Jacob Michelle Pesho Warren Leow Kent Miller Tim Jasinski Jeff Peters Ryan Lesniewicz Ray L. Miller Paul Jayck Rich Pendlebury Rebecca Lewis Frank Minnick Sue Johnson John Petruzzi Michael Linkster Stefan Minnig Andy Jones Morgan Pfeiffer Sara Lord Kathy Mock Steve Jones Lisa Phelps Adriana Losey Joy Mohr Eric Juterbock Chris Pierce Fred Losi Michael Monarch Tom Kaczynski Ed Pierce Jeff Loughman Jen Moore Julie Karlson Bob Scott Placier Rick Luehrs John Moore Rich Kassouf John Pogacnik Maureen MacIntyre Michelle Moore Joseph Keating Beki Poitras Chandler Mancuso Ben Morrison

32 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Martin Powney Mark Shieldcastle Isaac Troyer Marvin Yoder Elias A. Raber Troy Shively Heidi Trudel Chris Zacharias Jacob Raber Eric Shlapack Takayuki Uchida Karen Zeleznik Debbie Raven Liz Shlapack Matthew Valencic Eileen Zimlich Mark Raven John Shrader Maddie Varias Devon Zimmerman R. Lee Reed Irina Shulgina Douglas Vogus Debbie Riggs Melanie Shuter Mary Ann Wagner Robert Riggs Bruce Simpson Bev Walborn Jacob Roalef Michelle Skolmutch Michelle Ward Sam Romeo Chuck Slusarczyk Jr. Ben Warner Mary Anne Romito Dave Smith Kim Warner Jeffrey Roth Kathy Smith Tiffany Watts Robert Royse Mike Smith Trevor Wearstler Marcia Rubin Elizabeth Snedecker David Weaver Todd Sahl Su Snyder Matthew Webb Robert Sams Leslie Sours Joe Wojnarowski Sam Saunders Bill Stanley Kirk Westendorf Benny Saylor Kent Starrett Mike Wielgopolski Larry Scacchetti Gene Stauffer Oscar Wilhelmy Joan Scharf Diana Steele Dan Winstead Regina Schieltz Allen Stutzman Carl Winstead Ed Schlabach Daniel Stutzman Karen Winstead Leroy Schlabach Wayne Stutzman Anna Wittmer Robert Schlabach David Svetich Ed Wransky Inga Schmidt Rob Thorn Brian Wulker Ron Sempier Brian Tinker Gale Wulker Judy Semroc Ryan Tomazin Josh Wyatt Marilyn Shade James Tomko Nick Yarde Michael Shade Chris Tonra Mia Yeager Rachel Shamy Elliot Tramer Adam Yoder Bryan Sharp Adam Troyer Aden M. Yoder Mark Shaver Albert Troyer Andy A. Yoder Lynne Shayko Allen W. Troyer Atlee A. Yoder Nic Shayko Andy R. Troyer Benjamin H. Yoder David Sherman Anthony R. Troyer David H. Yoder Paul Sherwood Dennis Troyer Leroy E. Yoder

33 Species Number

Canada Goose 307

Wood Duck 58 Vol. 41 No. 1 Mallard 59

CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONALWild Turkey PARK 1 FALL CENSUS, 2017 Pied-billed Grebe 4 By Dwight Chasar and Craig Caldwell seen only once before, in 2009. The Killdeer, BaldRock Eagle, Pigeon Belted Kingfisher, Tufted Titmouse,15 The 2017 Fall Census in CVNP was conducted and Chestnut-sided Warbler counts were the on 16 Sep. Nineteen teams with a total of 52 ob- highestMourning ever, Dove and the 20 Scarlet Tanagers73 were servers found 112 species. The weather was mild, more than usual but not a record. The Lesser and with temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees and GreaterYellow-billed Yellowlegs Cuckoo sightings were the first1 since scattered clouds. The species count was the third 2009. Chimney Swift, American Crow, Euro- highest ever, behind the censuses of 2006 (115 peanChimney Starling, Swift and Northern Cardinal numbers99 species) and both 2008 and 2015 (113), though the were unusually low, and for the first time on a fall 2010 census also tallied 112. The total number of censusRuby-throated the counters Hummingbird didn’t find a Cooper’s1 Hawk. individuals, 5716, was well within historic num- bers. This was the 35th fall census and the 20th in Killdeer 55 which counts of individuals were made. As usual, a few items stand out. The Yel- Lesser yellowlegs 3 low-crowned Night-Heron was the first for a fall census. American Pipits (two this year) had been Greater Yellowlegs 1

Ring-billed Gull 1

2017 CVNP FALL CENSUSHerring Gull TABLE 1

Species Number Double-crestedSpecies Cormorant Number9

Canada Goose 307 GreatCanada Blue Goose Heron 30719

Wood Duck 58 GreatWood EgretDuck 585

Mallard 59 GreenMallard Heron 2459

Wild Turkey 1 Yellow-crownedWild Turkey Night-Heron 1

Pied-billed Grebe 4 TurkeyPied-billed Vulture Grebe 224

Rock Pigeon 15 OspreyRock Pigeon 152

Mourning Dove 73 BaldMourning Eagle Dove 737

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Red-shoulderedYellow-billed Cuckoo Hawk 31

Chimney Swift 99 Broad-wingedChimney Swift Hawk 991

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Red-tailedRuby-throated Hawk Hummingbird 51

Killdeer 55 EasternKilldeer Screech-Owl 551

Lesser yellowlegs 3 LesserBarred yellowlegsOwl 13

Greater Yellowlegs 1 GreaterBelted Kingfisher Yellowlegs 231

Ring-billed Gull 1 Ring-billedRed-headed Gull woodpecker 251

Herring Gull 1 HerringRed-bellied Gull Woodpecker 1231

Double-crested Cormorant 9 Double-crestedDowny Woodpecker Cormorant 1229

Great Blue Heron 19 HairyGreat WoodpeckerBlue Heron 2619 34 Great Egret 5 NorthernGreat Egret Flicker 865

Green Heron 24 PileatedGreen Heron Woodpecker 3524

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 1 PeregrineYellow-crowned Falcon Night-Heron 1

Turkey Vulture 22 Olive-sidedTurkey Vulture Flycatcher 222

Osprey 2 EasternOsprey Wood-Pewee 152

Bald Eagle 7 AcadianBald Eagle Flycatcher 37

Red-shouldered Hawk 3 WillowRed-shouldered Flycatcher Hawk 13

Broad-winged Hawk 1 LeastBroad-winged Flycatcher Hawk 31

Red-tailed Hawk 5 EasternRed-tailed Phoebe Hawk 475

Great-crested Flycatcher 3

Eastern Kingbird 2

White-eyed Vireo 1

Yellow-throated Vireo 12

Blue-headed Vireo 1

Warbling Vireo 19

Red-eyed Vireo 14

Blue Jay 436

American Crow 143

Black-capped Chickadee 253

Tufted Titmouse 153 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2

Eastern Screech-Owl 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 142

Barred Owl 1 Carolina Wren 58

Belted Kingfisher 23 House Wren 24

Red-headed woodpecker 25 Marsh Wren 1

TheRed-bellied Ohio Cardinal, Woodpecker Fall 2017 123 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2

SpeciesDowny Woodpecker Number122 EasternSpecies Bluebird Number115

CanadaHairy Woodpecker Goose 30726 VeeryCanada Goose 3071

WoodNorthern Duck Flicker 5886 Gray-cheekedWood Duck Thrush 581

MallardPileated Woodpecker 5935 Swainson'sMallard Thrush 1659

WildPeregrine Turkey Falcon 1 WoodWild Turkey Thrush 51

Pied-billedOlive-sided Grebe Flycatcher 42 AmericanPied-billed Robin Grebe 3504

RockEastern Pigeon Wood-Pewee 15 GrayRock CatbirdPigeon 15215

MourningAcadian Flycatcher Dove 733 BrownMourning Thrasher Dove 735

Yellow-billedWillow Flycatcher Cuckoo 1 EuropeanYellow-billed Starling Cuckoo 801

ChimneyLeast Flycatcher Swift 993 CedarChimney Waxwing Swift 24599

Ruby-throatedEastern Phoebe Hummingbird 471 HouseRuby-throated Sparrow Hummingbird 591

KilldeerGreat-crested Flycatcher 553 AmericanKilldeer Pipit 552

LesserEastern yellowlegs Kingbird 32 HouseLesser yellowlegsFinch 423

GreaterWhite-eyed Yellowlegs Vireo 1 AmericanGreater Yellowlegs Goldfinch 2851

Ring-billedYellow-throated Gull Vireo 121 EasternRing-billed Towhee Gull 231

HerringBlue-headed Gull Vireo 1 ChippingHerring Gull Sparrow 221

Double-crestedWarbling Vireo Cormorant 199 FieldDouble-crested Sparrow Cormorant 139

GreatRed-eyed Blue VireoHeron 1914 SongGreat SparrowBlue Heron 7619

GreatBlue Jay Egret 4365 SwampGreat Egret Sparrow 65

AmericanGreen Heron Crow 14324 White-throatedGreen Heron Sparrow 246

Black-cappedYellow-crowned Chickadee Night-Heron 2531 Dark-eyedYellow-crowned Junco Night-Heron 1

TuftedTurkey TitmouseVulture 15322 EasternTurkey VultureMeadowlark 226

OspreyRed-breasted Nuthatch 2 BaltimoreOsprey Oriole 42

BaldWhite-breasted Eagle Nuthatch 1427 Red-wingedBald Eagle Blackbird 4317

CarolinaRed-shouldered Wren Hawk 583 CommonRed-shouldered Grackle Hawk 9103

Broad-wingedHouse Wren Hawk 241 OvenbirdBroad-winged Hawk 21

Red-tailedMarsh Wren Hawk 51 Black-and-whiteRed-tailed Hawk Warbler 15

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2 Tennessee Warbler 7

Eastern Bluebird 115 Orange-crowned Warbler 1

Veery 1 Nashville Warbler 3 35 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Connecticut Warbler 1

Swainson's Thrush 16 Mourning Warbler 1

Wood Thrush 5 Common Yellowthroat 42

American Robin 350 Hooded Warbler 25

Gray Catbird 152 American Redstart 8

Brown Thrasher 5 Cape May Warbler 5

European Starling 80 Magnolia Warbler 17

Cedar Waxwing 245 Bay-breasted Warbler 4

House Sparrow 59 Blackburnian Warbler 2

American Pipit 2 Chestnut-sided Warbler 8

House Finch 42 Blackpoll Warbler 7

American Goldfinch 285 Black-throated Blue Warbler 3

Eastern Towhee 23 Palm Warbler 3

Chipping Sparrow 22 Pine Warbler 1

Field Sparrow 13 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1

Song Sparrow 76 Yellow-throated Warbler 1

Swamp Sparrow 6 Black-throated Green Warbler 5

White-throated Sparrow 6 Canada Warbler 1

Dark-eyed Junco 1 Eastern Meadowlark 6

Baltimore Oriole 4

Red-winged Blackbird 431

Common Grackle 910

Ovenbird 2

Black-and-white Warbler 1

Tennessee Warbler 7 Vol. 41 No. 1

Orange-crownedSpecies Warbler Number1

NashvilleCanada Goose Warbler 3073

ConnecticutWood Duck Warbler 581

MourningMallard Warbler 591

CommonWild Turkey Yellowthroat 421

HoodedPied-billed Warbler Grebe 254

AmericanRock Pigeon Redstart 158

CapeMourning May Dove Warbler 735

MagnoliaYellow-billed Warbler Cuckoo 171

Bay-breastedChimney Swift Warbler 994

BlackburnianRuby-throated Warbler Hummingbird 21

Chestnut-sidedKilldeer Warbler 558

BlackpollLesser yellowlegs Warbler 73

Black-throatedGreater Yellowlegs Blue Warbler 31

PalmRing-billed Warbler Gull 31

PineHerring Warbler Gull 1

Yellow-rumpedDouble-crested CormorantWarbler 19

Yellow-throatedGreat Blue Heron Warbler 191

Black-throatedGreat Egret Green Warbler 5

CanadaGreen Heron Warbler 241

Wilson'sYellow-crowned Warbler Night-Heron 1

ScarletTurkey TanagerVulture 2022

NorthernOsprey Cardinal 1182

BaldRose-breasted Eagle Grosbeak 67

IndigoRed-shouldered Bunting Hawk 93

Broad-winged Hawk 57161

Red-tailed Hawk 5

36 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

SKYWATCHING IN TUSCARAWAS

By Kent Miller with contributions from watch more closely and noticed them consistently Ed Schlabach beginning to pass overhead around 8:00 am. He hypothesized that these were birds taking off from I have heard birding compared to treasure Lake Erie at first light, and has since observed hunting and indeed the birds, experiences, and loons lifting off early morning at Huron and oth- memories we gather are treasures for us birders. er Erie staging areas to head south, where he now In a similar vein there is a pioneering aspect to knows some will pass over his Tuscarawas hill birding where most of us are inclined to hun- about an hour later. ger for the new in our birding: new birds, new places, new goals, etc. For some, the greater the On 08 Nov, Ed and I had been joined by Ed’s challenge in our pursuit of the new, the better. son Darren. On 10 Nov it was just the two of us. The pioneer pull is behind transitioning from a Right on time our first loons started passing over yard to a state to a country to a world list and around 8:00 am. Loons generally travel in looser, perhaps back then to county listing. It’s behind smaller flocks than the swans we had seen a cou- pelagic birding (and Ohio’s version on Lake Erie) ple of days before. This day most were in groups and sea/lake watches. In some form, pioneering of 20 or fewer although Ed has seen groups of is behind Big Sits and other creative, thorough 70 together. Loons pass high overhead and with coverage of smaller areas. There are many ways the 15 miles per hour tailwind from the north it to find new frontiers in birding. was thrilling to see how fast and direct their paths One underexplored frontier in Ohio is sky- were as they zoomed south; a truly stirring im- watching. The most popular skywatching is mersion into the majesty of migration. We count- looking for migrating hawks at pinch points, ed an impressive (but nowhere near record) 255 funnels, and other topographical features like Common Loons this day. One county west of Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania. However, sky- us some friends had nearly twice that with four watching can be done anywhere and for more Red-throated Loons for good measure. than hawks. Whether it’s because they don’t drive The list of rarities these groups see while cars, or other pioneering traits, the Amish bird- watching the skies is remarkable: Swainson’s ing community in the Bobolink Area is leading Hawks, Northern Goshawks, Golden Eagles, the way for skywatching in Ohio. My Tuscarawas Mississippi Kites, all manner of ducks and geese, survey in 2017 connected me with Ed Schlabach, crossbills and other songbirds, and on and on. So one of many Amish birders in the Bobolink Area consider during next migration, rather than driv- who have been studying and learning more and ing all over to find migrants, you might instead more about when, where, and how to watch the try sitting still and watching the migrants come skies. Ed’s detailed study of weather fronts and to you as you watch the skies. It is a compelling the timing of different diurnal migrants’ patterns frontier. has helped him gain a very thorough knowledge of which days should bring perfect conditions for prime movements of Broad-winged Hawks, Tundra Swans, or loons. I was able to see the spectacle of all of these in 2017. Ed has care- fully chosen one of Tuscarawas’ highest hills, which offers an unbroken view for miles in every direction. From that hill we counted 249 Broad- winged Hawks on 20 Apr and 1282 Tundra Swans on 08 Nov. Now Ed was predicting a strong flight of loons for 10 Nov so we were back up on the hill once again. Ohio’s loon migration is a particular fancy of Ed’s. From his hill, far from any water, he has recorded some of the higher single-day counts of Common Loons in North America, with 700 on some peak days. After noticing loons passing high over his farm many falls ago, Ed started to

37 Vol. 41 No. 1

SKYWATCHING IN TUSCARAWAS RESULTS

SPECIES 08 NOV COUNT 10 NOV COUNT NOTES

Snow Goose 1 1

Canada Goose 21 16

Tundra Swan 1282 114 2, 3

Mallard 1

Rock Pigeon 3

Mourning Dove 3 4

Killdeer 15 4

Bonaparte's Gull 29

Ring-billed Gull 5

Herring Gull 16

gull sp. 12

Common Loon 7 255 4

loon sp. 14 5

Double-crested Cormorant 267 71 6, 7

Black Vulture 3

Turkey Vulture 80 45

Bald Eagle 5 12

Northern Harrier 6 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1

Cooper's Hawk 2 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 1

Red-tailed Hawk 30 15

Rough-legged Hawk 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 38 Hairy Woodpecker 1

Northern Flicker 3 SPECIES 08 NOV COUNT 10 NOV COUNT NOTES

Snow Goose 1 1

Canada Goose 21 16

Tundra Swan 1282 114 2, 3

Mallard 1

Rock Pigeon 3

Mourning Dove 3 4

Killdeer 15 4

Bonaparte's Gull 29

Ring-billed Gull 5

Herring Gull 16

gull sp. 12

Common Loon 7 255 4

loon sp. 14 5

Double-crested Cormorant 267 71 6, 7

Black Vulture 3

Turkey Vulture 80 45

Bald Eagle 5 12

Northern Harrier 6 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1

Cooper's Hawk 2 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 1 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

Red-tailed Hawk 30 15

Rough-leggedSPECIES Hawk 08 NOV1 COUNT 10 NOV COUNT NOTES

SnowRed-bellied Goose Woodpecker 2 1 1

CanadaHairy Woodpecker Goose 211 16

TundraNorthern Swan Flicker 12823 114 2, 3

MallardAmerican Kestrel 1 1

PeregrineRock Pigeon Falcon 13 8

BlueMourning Jay Dove 3 4

AmericanKilldeer Crow 50015 4004

HornedBonaparte's Lark Gull 2910

CarolinaRing-billed Chickadee Gull 2 5

TuftedHerring TitmouseGull 1 16

White-breastedgull sp. Nuthatch 1 12

CarolinaCommon Wren Loon 37 255 4

Easternloon sp. Bluebird 146 2 5

AmericanDouble-crested Robin Cormorant 26714 716 6, 7

EuropeanBlack Vulture Starling 4003 15

CedarTurkey Waxwing Vulture 80 1545

AmericanBald Eagle Pipit 1505 2412 9

HouseNorthern Finch Harrier 256 16

PurpleSharp-shinned Finch Hawk 43 1

PineCooper's Siskin Hawk 132 17

AmericanRed-shouldered Goldfinch Hawk 152 12

LaplandRed-tailed Longspur Hawk 301 15

Dark-eyedRough-legged Junco Hawk 1 4

SongRed-bellied Sparrow Woodpecker 12 1

HairyRed-winged Woodpecker Blackbird 9001 200 39 NorthernBrown-headed Flicker Cowbird 803 30

Rusty Blackbird 20 8

Common Grackle 2000 700

blackbird sp. 9000 1000

Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 American Kestrel 1

Peregrine Falcon 1 8

Blue Jay 3

American Crow 500 400

Horned Lark 10

Carolina Chickadee 2

Tufted Titmouse 1

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

Carolina Wren 3

Eastern Bluebird 6 2

American Robin 14 6

European Starling 400 15

Cedar Waxwing 15

American Pipit 150 24 9

House Finch 25 6

Purple Finch 4

Pine Siskin 13 7

American Goldfinch 15 2

Lapland Longspur 1 Vol. 41 No. 1

Dark-eyed Junco 4

SongSPECIES Sparrow 08 NOV1 COUNT 10 NOV1 COUNT NOTES

SnowRed-winged Goose Blackbird 900 2001 1

Brown-headedCanada Goose Cowbird 8021 3016

RustyTundra Blackbird Swan 128220 1148 2, 3

CommonMallard Grackle 20001 700

blackbirdRock Pigeon sp. 90003 1000

Yellow-rumpedMourning Dove Warbler 3 4

NorthernKilldeer Cardinal 151 4

On Bonaparte's08 Nov, three Gull counters for 5 hours 25 minutes29 from 7:10 am On 10 Nov, two counters for 6 hours 20 minutes from 7:20 am Ring-billed Gull 5 Notes 1. Blue morph Herring Gull 16 2. On 08 Nov groups in order of 26, 5, 55, 21, 67, 70, 40, 80, 48, 70, 200, 120, 50 ,69, 85, 5, 110, 50, 10 ,95, and 6. The last passed by at around 11:00 am. Most groups exact, one gull sp. 12 by one count. A few groups tightly bunched and/or constantly shifting carefully counted by fives. One or two distant groups estimated by size comparison to other groups we had seen. Common Loon 7 255 4 3. On 10 Nov exact count. 4. On 10 Nov exact count of migrants heading south. loon sp. 14 5 5. Likely all common but too distant to be 100% sure. 6. OnDouble-crested 08 Nov exact Cormorant count. Groups of 36 ,55,267 32, 28, 45, 50, 8, and71 13. 6, 7 7. On 10 Nov exact count. 8. FirstBlack seen Vulture harassing an all-white Red-tailed3 Hawk, then moving east and repeatedly dive-bombing a Rough-legged Hawk. Ed’s comment was “Not a tundra Peregrine; a city Peregrine”.Turkey Vulture 80 45 9. On 08 Nov very close estimate. Bald Eagle 5 12

Northern Harrier 6 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1

Cooper's Hawk 2 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 1

Red-tailed Hawk 30 15

Rough-legged Hawk 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2

Hairy Woodpecker 1 40 Northern Flicker 3 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017 THE CURIOUS NEST OF THE SOLITARY SANDPIPER

By Bill Whan this species, unlike any other North American shorebird, uses abandoned nests of other species in trees rather Tringa solitaria is a fairly common migrant seen than the ground, so these Ohio reports of ground nests around ponds and watercourses in Ohio. Long ago, must be regarded with extra skepticism. The closely Kirtland (Christy 1936) asserted it “breeds in Trum- related green sandpiper (T. ochropus) of the Old World bull County.” Wheaton (1882:485-6, 581) reported this also habitually uses abandoned nests. The NMNH still species for the periods 24 Apr to 29 Jul 1873 and 28 has an egg specimen, Number B17259, labeled as that May to 25 Jul 1874 in Franklin, calling it “in part [a] of a Solitary Sandpiper, collector unspecified, from Co- summer resident,” and relating “I have seen the Solitary lumbus, Ohio, with a date of Jun 1875. A 1903 cata- Sandpiper here during all the summer months, and once log of prices for egg collectors asked $15 for a Solitary found the young in the care of their parents…four or Sandpiper egg, matching in price that of an Everglades five miles south of this city [Columbus].” He went on to Kite or a White-tailed Ptarmigan. Trautman (1940:244) assert “[a]n egg, presented to me by Mr. O. Davie, which observed two pairs apparently courting in Jul at Buck- was taken in an open field bordering the Scioto River, as eye Lake and found birds present May through Jul in possibly of this species…The fragments of this egg are four different years, but reported no positive evidence now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.” of nesting there. Todd (1940:244) offered an intriguing Davie himself gave the date of collection as “the latter report of possible nesting not far away in western Penn- part of May, 1877,” and described it in detail, adding sylvania. Coues (1903[2]:834) reported “I found a pair that the “female parent of this egg was shot as she left in 1883 in the mountains of West Virginia, under cir- the nest” in his “Nests and Eggs of North American cumstances which left no doubt that they were settled for Birds” (1898, pp.145-6). Trautman (2006:131) wrote of the summer,” but he did not insist on it. All persistent Wheaton’s sighting that “he is too meticulous an observ- old reports of solitary sandpipers nesting in the US seem er to be taken lightly. It is possible that the pair nested to lack adequent evidence. successfully in central Ohio far south of its breeding As a migrant, this species is not uncommon; there is range in central Ontario and Quebec.” Neither the a local high count of a hardly solitary 53 at a Colum- nest or the parent bird specimen has survived; the egg bus sewage pond 02 Jul 1941 (Thomson 91) with 45 still remains at the Smithsonian, but it is said to be a poor there on 04 Aug of the same year (Thomson’s notes at match for the other eggs of that species. MS OSUM). Mayfield Audubon( Field Notes 2:179-180, The Museum (OSUM) collec- 1948) reported a flock of about 500 observed flying over tion’s oldest existing T. solitaria specimen, Number 563, Buckeye Lake. An early date comes from there on 30 is dated 30 Aug 1885. H. Jones’s artists (1886) illustrate Mar, fide E. Thomas (Bent 146:2). Borror (p. 19) gives an egg in their figure 13, plate 68; of it, Jones wrote (pp. a significantly late departure date from central Ohio of 313-314) that the Smithsonian collection “contains five 05 Nov 1930. specimens, of which the one illustrated was a part. The others are entirely different in markings,” and also that Sources cited: this species’ “eggs have never been positively identified in Ohio (ibid. xxxviii:c).” He refers to Coues, who wrote Borror, Donald J. 1950. “A Check List of the Birds of that the only eggs of this species he had ever seen were Ohio.” Ohio Journal of Science 50:19 two from Kirtland’s cabinet in the National Museum Clarke, C.K. 1898. “Breeding Habits of the Solitary of Natural History (NMNH; 1874:499) and that their Sandpiper (Totanus solitarius)” Auk 15(4):328-329. identity was “open to question.” He neglected to men- Coues, Elliot 1887. Birds of the Northwest. tion a nest that he had announced having found in the Davie, Oliver. 1898. Nests and Eggs of North American Birds west earlier. Jones, Lynds. 1903 The Birds of Ohio. There is no Jun or Jul specimen at OSUM, though Thomas, E. (in Bent, A.C. Life Histories of North American scattered appearances of the species in Ohio during Birds 146:2) these months are not very remarkable. Perhaps the Trautman, M. 1940. The Birds of Buckeye Lake. sightings induced Lynds Jones (1903:75) to say: “There Trautman, M., and M.A. Trautman. 2006. Birds of seems good evidence that this sandpiper breeds sparing- Western Lake Erie: Documented Observations and Notes ly from the vicinity of Columbus northward. I have seen 1850-1980. individuals in each summer month.” Of course, many Wheaton, J.M. 1882. Report on the Birds of Ohio. shorebird species which nest only well north of Ohio 85-86:581. have been seen here in each of the summer months. Bent (1928) reported that not until 1923 was Solitary Sandpiper determined to nest only in Canada and Alas- Bill Whan is a regular contributor to the Cardinal of obscure ka; he gave for the area of Columbus a late departure historical items. His home patch is Franklin. date of 01 Jun, and an early arrival date southbound of 03 Jul. A few Solitaries are now known to breed as near as the northernmost US. Modern authorities agree that

41 Vol. 41 No. 1 RECENT ACTIONS OF THE OHIO BIRDS RECORD COMMITTEE, Oct.–Dec. 2017

By Jay Lehman, OBRC Secretary photographs and descriptions posted to on-line venues can sometimes be evaluated. By applying This report includes all records which have peer review to observational records, these sight- been resolved by the Ohio Bird Records Com- ings become valuable scientific data and part of mittee (OBRC) since the last report, which was Ohio’s ornithological record. We also maintain published in The Ohio Cardinal 40:1 (Fall 2016). the official Ohio State Bird List and publish all The period since the last OBRC report has been committee decisions. one of transition. Jack Stenger stepped down as Since the last published summary, the com- Secretary of the committee after a year of ser- mittee has resolved four reports which were vice due to the press of other responsibilities. recirculated after previous rounds of voting; all I succeeded Jack at the annual meeting in Oct were accepted. Acceptance of a record requires 2017. After completing a recirculation of four re- approval by at least eight of the committee mem- cords, Rick Nirshl, Jay Stenger, Doug Vogus, and bers. Records receiving five to seven votes for Jack completed their terms of service and were acceptance are recirculated to the committee for replaced by Jen Brumfield, Ben Morrison, Tom up to three rounds of voting. Records receiving Kemp, and myself. The current membership also fewer than five “yes” votes are not accepted. includes Dan Sanders, Steve Schafer, Su Snyder, Ben Warner, and Brian Wulker. At the annual meeting we agreed to use eBird Records Accepted: reports as stand-alone documents and not just links. The rationale for this is that computer Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) — systems evolve and change with time, causing private pond, Delaware and Union, 14 Sep links to change and sometimes disappear. Stand- 2014. Documented by Jeremy Dominguez alone documents can be converted with chang- and Sarah Lucas. es in computer systems. For example, a recent White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) — recirculation of a Neotropic Cormorant record Wilmington, Clinton, 22 to 24 Apr 2016. at Gilmore Ponds MP used eBird reports as sup- Documented by Elisabeth Mitchell. plements to the submitted OBRC reports. Cur- rently, OBRC is not willing to completely rely on Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax eBird reports, because the quality and details of brasiianus) — Gilmore Ponds MP, Butler, the documentation can be minimal and some- 13, 14, 15, and 19 Aug 2016. Documented by times inadequate, with review by only a few indi- Mike Busam, Andrew Cannizzaro, Jonathan viduals rather than a committee. Frodge, Leslie Houser, Jay Lehman, Steve The role of the committee is to review re- Pelikan, and Charlie Saunders. ports of sightings of review-list species and po- Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) — Oak tential first state records. The review list can be Openings Preserve Metropark, Lucas, 15 Nov viewed and downloaded at http://ohiobirds. 2014. Documented by Matt Anderson. org/rare-birds/rare-bird-review-list/. Reports of sightings of rare birds can be documented online using a handy form at http://ohiobirds. org/rare-birds/report-a-rare-bird-sighting/. Al- ternatively, information can be emailed to the secretary at [email protected] or mailed to him at 7064 Shawnee Run Road, Cincinna- ti, OH, 45243. While the committee endeavors to glean reports of sightings of rarities from the numerous and seemingly ever-expanding corpus of internet sources, many reports never come to the committee’s attention. Direct submission of reports is the only sure way to see that a sight- ing becomes part of Ohio’s official ornitholog- ical record. The Committee bases its decisions on the documentation submitted. Secondarily,

42 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

FIELD NOTES

From Andy Avram: • 8/21–Last look. All good. • 8/26–adults in vicinity but did not observe Passerine Predator Evasion Techniques feeding. On 14 October 2017 at Lake Erie Bluffs I saw • 8/27–observed at 11 am. No adults present. a hunting Merlin while I was leading a Lake Met- Checked nest and chicks gone. roparks bird walk. When I first saw it, the Mer- This was the latest nest I have observed. I lin was clumsily trying to eat a Golden-crowned wanted this pair to have a chance and truly Kinglet while perched in a dead tree. It acci- believe the wren guard was instrumental. The dently dropped this prey item and was unable to mealworms and Styrofoam were probably not recover it before the body fell into dense bush- necessary, but sure relieved my stress! es. A few minutes later the falcon was in rapid Result—I believe successful nest with three pursuit of a Northern Flicker through trees on fledged bluebirds. I will hopefully see the family the edge of Lake Erie. Giving up on the flicker, return to the area after a week or two. the Merlin then shot out over Lake Erie after an unidentified passerine about 50 yards out. With direct and level flight, the Merlin was just about From Michael A. Hershberger: to make impact with the migrating passerine when the small bird folded up and dropped like a This Snowy Owl [the Holmes bird] put on an stone (from shore we thought the bird was stuck ultimate show! A very tame bird, plus a week of and falling dead). Instantly, the Merlin dove af- nice sunny weather gave observers plenty of op- ter it and right before impact the passerine took portunity for excellent viewing. Three of the four to level flight. This caused the Merlin to -over times I was there I saw it catch and eat meadow shoot and have to fly upwards before leveling off voles. in direct pursuit again. Then, like the first time, right before impact the passerine folded up and dropped. This dive and level flight pursuit/eva- From Bob Krajeski: sion technique happened for one more cycle be- [Re two Whimbrels at Conneaut on 13 Aug] fore the passerine was able to directly fly to shore First Bird arrived 9am. Made a large circle of and safely take cover in some bluff-side shrubs. the harbor before landing on west breakwall for At that point the Merlin gave up and flew off. no more than 20 seconds. Made another circle The whole sequence reminded me of how moths of the harbor then landed on western edge of in open skies fold up and drop to evade bats. sandspit amongst a small group of gulls. Stayed approximately one hour before flying off to the east. Second Bird arrived 11 am. Flyover heading From Renee Frederick: east—did not land. Eastern Bluebird—I observed a late nest on my property in Hocking. The bluebirds lost their three eggs to House Wren in mid-Jul. I did From Robert Royse: not clean box for about a week, thinking it was Killdeer—the high count at Deer Creek this too late for another attempt. I checked box two year was a measly 200 birds on 31 Oct. The days after cleaning and found a new nest! reservoir was drawn down later than usual this Some pertinent dates and observations: year and heavy rains in early Nov filled it back • 7/23–two eggs. Installed wren guard. up again. By the time it began to recede again • 7/24–observed wren and bluebird interac- it was too cold and late in the season to be very tion. House Wren landed on top of box but productive for shorebirds this year. did not enter due to wren guard. Bluebird able Bell’s Vireo—In addition to the four singing to chase away wren. males I reported in the spring, a fifth was later • 7/25–three eggs. found. This fifth bird was observed with its mate • 8/8–chicks hatched. No longer House Wren and two young birds on 14 Aug. Two other males activity. Supplemental feeding of mealworms. were still singing nearby, so I had a count of six • 8/12–removed wren guard. that day and probably could have found more. • 8/16–installed Styrofoam to roof. Tempera- That fifth male was last heard singing on 21 Aug tures in high 80’s.

43 Vol. 41 No. 1 briefly after the sun reappeared for the second From Elliot Tramer: dawn after the solar eclipse. An interesting event this year is the immense Sedge Wren—they were present in small num- crops of cones on conifers, especially pines. In bers this year in the southern grasslands at Deer my yard [in Lucas], everything from squirrels to Creek. Access there was difficult this year and I Mourning Doves to chickadees has been eating didn’t spend too much time in there, but two were the seeds. The arrival of Red Crossbills in our present through at least 10 Oct. More notable to area at the end of the reporting period should, me was one in the tiny Stoneridge Park behind perhaps, come as no surprise. my house in northern Grove City, Franklin, on Bay-breasted Warbler—More numerous than 25 Sep. It was in atypical habitat in a hedgerow usual this Sep. Was there an outbreak of spruce adjacent to a field. Definitely a migrant, it was budworms in Canada that would have allowed hanging out with a Wilson’s Warbler. larger-than-usual clutches in this species? Henslow’s Sparrow—unlike Grasshopper Sparrows which were already quiet by the be- ginning of Aug at Deer Creek this year, approx- imately 60 Henslow’s Sparrows were still singing on territory in many places in both counties [Fayette and Pickaway]. Many were in differ- ent fields than they were using in Apr and May. Young birds were regularly flushed in fields dom- inated by partridge pea in early to mid-Aug. I saw my last one on 14 Oct. Ten years ago in 2007 when I did most of my OBBAII atlas work there I didn’t record a single Henslow’s Sparrow and found a few for the first time there in 2008.

From Su Snyder: On 02 Nov, Sue Evanoff and I were birding in Wayne. We were discussing the Calliope Hummingbird we had gone to see the day before and noted that it had been a while since we had found a really rare bird ourselves. A few hours later we saw some Canada Geese and ducks on Clark Road at Killbuck that we suspected were Mallards so I set up my spotting scope to get a better look. Sure enough, they were Mallards; but wait…there was also a bird out there that wasn’t a Mallard nor a Canada Goose. Holy moly!! I yelled for Sue to hurry and come look. In my scope view was a tiny goose with an all-black head and a white necklace—a Brant—Wayne’s first record of this species. Woohoo!! We immediately took a photo of the Brant and posted it to “Bobolink Area of Ohio” on Face- book. I’d estimate that over 100 people came to see it during its four-day stay. We were so pleased that the bird made it through a session of goose hunting season without getting shot. It left on 05 Nov and the next day one was photographed at Dillon SP in Muskingum, but was only seen the one day. Same bird? [Su adds that she saw all six of “Ohio’s geese” in Wayne during Nov.]

44 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

YEARS AGO

By Craig Caldwell

10 years ago, the Fall 2007 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 31 No. 1 (Bill Whan, Editor) contained these items: Bill Whan penned a goodbye note to mark his last volume as Editor. A Prairie Falcon visited Lucas. Four Yellow Rail, one Piping Plover, three Cave Swallow, and one Kirtland’s Warbler reports awaited OBRC action. Winter finches began an irruption.

25 years ago, the Fall 1992 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Rob Harlan, Editor) contained these items: An analysis of Great Gray Owl records concluded that an 1898 record with a specimen was “undoubt- edly correct”, that another record was likely correct, two were possibly correct, and four reports were unacceptable. Matt Anderson and Tom Kemp counted 1590 Broad-winged Hawks passing OOPMP on 12 Sep; they noted 2198 for the season including a straggler on 06 Oct. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was sighted in Lake. Two sightings of Northern Goshawk were confirmed.

35 years ago, the Ohio Cardinal did not publish an issue.

50 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar of Summer 1967, Vol. 63, No. 3 (Aug) and Fall 1967, Vo. 63, No. 4 (Sep-Nov), Donald Newman, Editor, included these items: 400 Common Nighthawks were over Squire Valley View Farm, Cuyahoga, on 25 Aug, 1187 passed Cuyahoga Falls, Summit, on the evening of 29 Aug, and strays were seen into Oct. A Piping Plover was at Headlands on 30 Aug. A Double-crested Cormorant seen on 28 Oct was among the “Noteworthy Records”. The area’s first Sabine’s Gull was seen on and off from 30 Sep to 18 Nov.

100 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar did not publish an issue.

45 Vol. 41 No. 1

OOS MEMBERSHIP

Welcoming backyard birdwatchers and researchers in the field alike, the Ohio Ornithological Society is the largest statewide organiza- tion specifically devoted to fostering a deeper appreciation of wild birds, fellowship and collaboration in advancing our collective knowledge about them, and our ability to speak with one voice to preserve Ohio’s bird habitats. We encourage and support important research on birds. We pro- vide educational resources to members, the public, and the news media. We unite individuals and constituencies interested in birds, and provide means and reasons for them to cooperate. Our activities are not con- ducted independently, but in concert with local organizations whenever possible, and when mutually beneficial. If your membership has lapsed, we hope that you will renew your membership and be a part of this dynamic organization.

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46 The Ohio Cardinal, Fall 2017

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

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

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

MERCER W A

MORROW R

LOGAN A KNOX C SHELBY COSHOCTON S UNION DELAWARE U T

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

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

HAMILTON HIGHLAND PIKE MEIGS JACKSON

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

LAWRENCE

The Counties of Ohio

47 Larry Scacchetti of Hillsdale, NJ, captured this stunning flight shot of the rare Sooty Tern at Bair Road in Dover,Tuscara - was, on 22 Sep.

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

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

Back cover: Debbie Parker had perfect timing on 24 Sep when she captured this photo of a Great Black-backed Gull enjoying the view from the outer breakwall at Lorain Harbor. The Ohio Ornithological Society PO Box 2432 Westerville, OH 43086

Contents Comments on the Season By Craig Caldwell...... 1 Species Accounts By Craig Caldwell...... 5 Contributors...... 31 Cuyahoga Valley National Park Fall Census 2017 By Dwight Chasar and Craig Caldwell...... 34 Skywatching in Tuscawaras By Kent Miller with contributions from Ed Schlabach...... 37 The Curious Nest of the Solitary Sandpiper By Bill Whan...... 41 Recent Actions of the OBRC Oct. –Dec. 2017 By Jay Lehman, OBRC secretary...... 42 Field Notes...... 43 Years Ago By Craig Caldwell...... 45