Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of Ohio’s Birdlife • Vol. 42, No. 3, Spring 2019 While patrolling the Magee causeway on 10 May, Kathy Mock was pleased to see this Sandhill Crane up close along with its colts.

On the cover: While looking for early migrants at one of his favorite patches in Greene, Sean Hollowell captured this Ruby-crowned Kinglet at incredibly close range at Spring Lakes Park on 12 Apr. Vol. 42 No. 3

Devoted to the Study and Appreciation of Ohio’s Birdlife

EDITOR OHIO BIRD RECORDS Craig Caldwell COMMITTEE 1270 W. Melrose Dr. Westlake, OH 44145 Jay G. Lehman 440-356-0494 Secretary [email protected] 7064 Shawnee Run Rd. Cincinnati, 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) Ron Canterbury Andy Jones (2008–2010 Tim Colborn Jill M. Russell (2010–2012) Bob Dudley Andrew France Stephan Gleissberg Rob Harlan Andy Jones Kent Miller Bill Whan Brian Wulker And the 27 eBird county reviewers

ISSN 1534-1666 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

COMMENTS ON THE SEASON

By Craig Caldwell the subject’s travels. The Columbus zoo monitors two receivers, one at the Zoo itself and anoth- The Ohio Birding community has lost another stal- er at The Wilds, and this spring the Zoo receiv- wart. Ed Pierce passed away on 31 July. Ed was the er marked the passage of a Kirtland’s Warbler publisher of the Cardinal for almost 30 years and its among other migrants. Elsewhere, the Black editor for the first third of that time. He was an early, and Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) has applied for major, financial supporter of OOS and deeded theCardi - a grant to fill gaps in the receiver network along nal to our organization at its founding. Ed led the monthly the southern Lake Erie shore. For more on Mo- bird census at ONWR from 1981 until this spring and tus, see https://motus.org/. And stay tuned for for many years led in- and out-of-state van trips for the a Motus article in a future issue if the Cardinal. Kirtland Bird Club. R.I.P. Even in an era of early arrivals, this spring stands out. Almost two-thirds of “our” war- Mar was cool, with an average temperature blers were first sighted earlier than their historic ranking only number 49 with number 125’s norms, some by as much as a month. All four of being the warmest. Rainfall overall was near its the thrushes which don’t overwinter here were long-term average, though a band from Cincin- ahead of schedule, as were about half of the fly- nati to Columbus had 150 to 200% of its nor- catchers, vireos, swallows, wrens, and sparrows. mal amount, and the Toledo area and parts of The last sightings of wintering species and pass- the southeast had less than 75% of their norms. through migrants were generally near their his- Apr and May, however, were both much hotter toric dates. and much wetter than usual. Apr’s average tem- This issue of the Cardinal contains reports of perature ranked at number 102 of the 125 years 310 species, down a bit from 2018’s 313 but high- with records and May’s was number 93. The er than the counts in the three years before that. two months’ rainfall totals came in at numbers The species accounts also include eight hybrids, 96 and 89 respectively. In Apr, the Grand Lake 11 reports below the species level, and one exotic, area received almost 10 inches of rain, triple its Chukar. The streak of reports from every county long-term average. That month only the Co- continues. A whopping 29 species were reported lumbus area received less than usual. In May, a in all 88 counties; 15 species were seen in 87 and few areas had as little as 75% of their norm, but 34 more were seen in at least 80. most of the state was wetter than usual and the Twenty-five review species were reported; Grand Lake area was again drenched with up to their names are underlined. Sightings of eight of 15 inches of rain. them generated 11 formal reports to the OBRC Due to much winter snow in the upper Great – thank you! Reports of some of those species Lakes watershed and spring rain there and here, and 14 of the others (from about 50 locations Lake Erie reached record high levels in May in all) were only posted to eBird or other media, which continued into summer. Over-topped fortunately with photos or descriptions which will roads in Lucas and Ottawa forced some shuf- allow review. Unfortunately, three reviews species fling of field trips during the Biggest Weekin were reported with no supporting information at American Birding. all, so almost without question they will not enter Weather data are from the National Weather the official record, nor will they appear in eBird Service (http://water.weather.gov/precip/), the except to the observer. (These numbers don’t in- NOAA (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and- clude Trumpeter Swans or the Chukars.) precip/maps.php and http://www.ncdc.noaa. The season produced over 1.6 million eBird gov/extremes/records/), and the Plain Dealer. entries, a substantial increase over last year’s 1.3 In this issue we introduce Motus, a wildlife million, which was itself a 30% increase over the tracking system managed by Bird Studies Cana- spring 2017 count. As usual, Lucas accounted da. (Though Motus is frequently fully capitalized, for more than a quarter of them, and Lucas and and looks like an acronym, it’s actually Latin for Ottawa combined contributed almost 35% of “movement”.) Animals, especially birds, are fit- the total. ted with small transmitters, each of which has a The OBRC and this editor continue to urge unique signal. Each receiver in the widespread birders to formally report all sightings of Review network captures the signal when the animal is List species, of Core List species found at unusual within a few miles of it, providing great detail of times, of nesting by birds previously not known

97 Vol. 42 No. 3 to nest in the state, and of course sightings of The Bowl = a limited-access area near the Har- birds never before found in Ohio. An easy-to-use rison airport on-line form is available at http://ohiobirds.org/ BRAS = Black River Audubon Society rare-birds/report-a-rare-bird-sighting/. BSBO = Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Otta- Data for the following Species Accounts come wa (http://www.bsbo.org) from reports submitted directly to The Cardinal Buck Creek = Buck Creek State Park, Clark and The Bobolink (the latter courtesy of its pub- Burke Airport = Cleveland Burke Lakefront Air- lisher, Robert Hershberger), eBird (http://ebird. port, Cuyahoga org/content/ebird), and the Ohio-birds listserv Caesar Creek = Caesar Creek State Park, War- (http://birding.aba.org/maillist/OH). In the ren, unless the lake is specified; a bit of the species accounts, “normal” departure and arrival lake is also in Clinton dates are from Harlan et al., Ohio Bird Records Com- CBC = Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count mittee Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Ohio, 2008. CCE = Crane Creek Estuary, Lucas and Otta- Mentions of breeding locations are from Rode- wa, viewable from both ONWR and the CCE wald et al., The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Ohio Trail which originates at Magee (“OBBA II”, 2016). Chapel Drive = a road off Ohio 83 south of Cum- Taxonomic order and nomenclature follow berland in Noble which traverses grasslands the Check-List of North American Birds, 7th Edition Clear Creek = Clear Creek Metro Park; the east- (1998) as updated through the 59th Supplement ern 2/3 is in Hocking, the rest in Fairfield (2018). These documents are produced by the Clear Fork = Clear Fork Reservoir (or Lake), North American Classification Committee of the partly in Morrow but most of the birding is American Ornithological Society and are avail- done in the larger Richland section able at http://www.checklist.aou.org/. CLNP = Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve County names are in bold italics. Locations (the former Dike 14), Cuyahoga whose counties are of the same name, for ex- CNC = Cincinnati Nature Center, a non-govern- ample Ashtabula (city) and Delaware Wildlife mental entity whose Long Branch Farm and Area, usually do not have the counties repeated. Rowe Woods units are in Clermont County names for sites described in Cincinnati Conneaut = the mudflats to the west of Con- (Hamilton), Cleveland (Cuyahoga), Columbus neaut Harbor, Ashtabula (Franklin), Dayton (Montgomery), and Tole- CP = County Park do (Lucas) are also omitted. Shortened names CPNWR = Cedar Point National Wildlife Ref- and a few sets of initials are used for locations uge, Lucas and organizations which occur repeatedly; these CVNP = Cuyahoga Valley National Park, abbreviations are listed here. The term “fide” is Cuyahoga and (mostly) Summit used in some citations; it means “in trust of ” and Darby Creek = Battelle Darby Creek Metro is used where the reporter was not the observer. Park, almost entirely in Franklin but with bits in other counties as well Deer Creek = the State Park is in Pickaway, the Abbreviations: Wildlife Area is in Fayette, and Deer Creek Lake is in both but mostly Pickaway Alum Creek = Alum Creek Reservoir, Dela- East Fork = East Fork State Park, Clermont ware, unless otherwise noted East Harbor = East Harbor State Park, Ottawa Armleder Park = a Cincinnati city park on the Edge Preserve = The Nature Conservancy’s Little Miami River, Hamilton Edge of Appalachia Preserve, multiple par- Audubon = the National Audubon Society cels mostly in Adams and extending a bit into (http://www.audubon.org) Scioto. Bayshore = a fishing access site near a power Edgewater = the Edgewater unit of Cleveland plant a bit east of Toledo Lakefront Metroparks, Cuyahoga BBS = the North American Breeding Bird Sur- Englewood = Englewood MetroPark, vey, a joint project of the United States Geo- Montgomery logical Survey (USGS) and the Canadian Fernald = Fernald Preserve, Butler and Wildlife Service Hamilton Berlin Lake = Berlin Lake (or Reservoir), Ma- Findlay Reservoirs = several contiguous water honing and Portage bodies east of town in Hancock Big Island = Big Island Wildlife Area, Marion Funk = Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area, Ashland Blendon Woods = Blendon Woods Metro Park, and (mostly) Wayne Franklin

98 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Grand Lake = Grand Lake St. Marys. The State Medusa = Medusa Marsh, Erie, an informally Park, the state fish hatchery, and the eastern named and privately owned area between 20% of the lake itself are in Auglaize. The Sandusky and Bay View rest of the lake is in Mercer. Metzger = Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, Great Miami WMB = Great Miami Wetlands not to be confused with Metzger Reservoir, Mitigation Bank, Montgomery Allen Headlands = Headlands Dunes State Nature Mill Creek = Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, a Preserve, Headlands Beach State Park, and limited-access area in Mahoning adjoining waters, Lake Mohican = Mohican State Forest and State Park. Holden = Holden Arboretum, Lake, except for Many trails cross the boundaries so some re- its Stebbins Gulch unit in Geauga ports include sightings from both without Hoover NP = Hoover Nature Preserve, distinction. Delaware Mohican SF = Mohican State Forest, Ashland Hoover Reservoir = the northern 80% is in Del- Mohican SP = Mohican State Park, (mostly) aware, the rest and the dam in Franklin Ashland and (slightly) Richland Howard Marsh = Howard Marsh Metropark, a Mosquito Lake = Mosquito Lake State Park, recently opened bird magnet in Lucas formerly Mosquito Creek SP, and also called Huron = the harbor, breakwalls, and old dredge Mosquito Creek Reservoir, Trumbull. Mos- spoil impoundment in that Erie city, unless quito (Creek) Wildlife Area adjoins it. noted otherwise Nimisila = Nimisila Reservoir, Summit Indian Lake = Indian Lake State Park, Logan MP = Metro Park, MetroPark, or Metropark de- Jones Preserve = Jones Preserve at Long Point, on pending on the system Kelleys Island, Erie NC = Nature Center Kelleys Island = the island and adjoining waters, NF = National Forest Erie NP = Nature Preserve, except as part of CVNP Killbuck = Killbuck State Wildlife Area, Holmes OBBA II = the second Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas and Wayne OBRC = Ohio Bird Records Committee Killdeer = Killdeer Plains State Wildlife Area; a Old Highland Stone = that company’s wa- bit is in Marion but it’s mostly in Wyandot ter-filled gravel pits, Highland Kiwanis Park = Kiwanis Riverway Park, on the Old Woman Creek = Old Woman Creek Nation- Scioto River in Dublin, Franklin al Estuarine Research Reserve, Erie LaDue = LaDue Reservoir, Geauga OOPMP = Oak Openings Preserve MetroPark, Lake Erie Bluffs = a Lake Metroparks parcel Lucas overlooking the eponymous water body ONWR = Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Lu- Lake Hope/Zaleski = Lake Hope State Park and cas and Ottawa surrounding Zaleski State Forest, Vinton ONWR Blausey, Boss, and Navarre = units of Lake Loramie = Lake Loramie State Park, ONWR separate from the main area, all in Shelby Ottawa; of them only Boss is open to the Lorain = the dredge spoil impoundment east of public downtown in the city and county of the same ONWR WD = Ottawa National Wildlife Ref- name, unless otherwise noted uge Wildlife Drive, the monthly opening of Lost Bridge = a Great Miami River crossing areas otherwise closed to vehicles, Lucas and on Lawrenceburg Road near Elizabethtown, Ottawa Hamilton, where a covered bridge was lost OSU = The Ohio State University, of course; to fire in 1903 sites are in Franklin unless noted otherwise m. obs. = multiple observers Painesville TP = Painesville Township Park, over- Magee = the boardwalk and immediate vicinity looking Lake Erie in Lake in Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Lucas, unless Pearson MP = Pearson Metro Park, Lucas otherwise noted. The northern third of the Pickerel Creek = Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, causeway is also in Lucas, the rest in Ottawa. Sandusky Mallard Club = Mallard Club Marsh Wildlife Pickerington Ponds = Pickerington Ponds Metro Area, Lucas Park, Fairfield and Franklin Marblehead Light = Marblehead Lighthouse Pipe Creek = Pipe Creek Wildlife Area, in the State Park, Ottawa city of Sandusky, Erie Maumee Bay = Maumee Bay State Park, Lucas, Pleasant Hill Lake = an impoundment straddling unless otherwise noted the Ashland/Richland line

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Rocky Fork = Rocky Fork State Park, Highland Wright Marsh = a hotspot in Killbuck WA north Salt Fork = Salt Fork State Park, Guernsey of Shreve, Wayne Sandy Ridge = Sandy Ridge Reservation, Zaleski = Zaleski State Forest, Vinton Lorain Seneca Lake = most of the lake and the (non- state) Park are in Noble, while the dam is in Guernsey SF = State Forest Shawnee = Shawnee State Forest, Scioto, unless otherwise noted Shawnee Lookout = Shawnee Lookout County Park, Hamilton Sheldon Marsh = Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve, Erie Sherod Park = a city park overlooking Lake Erie in Vermilion, Erie SNP = State Nature Preserve SP = State Park Springfield Lake = in Greater Akron, Summit Springville Marsh = Springville Marsh State Na- ture Preserve, Seneca Spring Valley = Spring Valley Wildlife Area, al- most entirely in Greene but extending into Warren Stillfork = The Nature Conservancy’s Stillfork Swamp Preserve, Carroll 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 WRGBT = Western Reserve Greenway Bike Trail, Trumbull

100 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

By Craig Caldwell wrote that they were “counted from photos of two groups in the air containing 83 and 47”. Josh Black-bellied Whistling-Duck King found 120 at Mercer WA on 16 Mar. (30 The OBRC has a report from Lake and many counties) posts with photos. One post from Guernsey Cackling Goose and many from Wayne have photos, but the The last date of 17 Mar was shared by Sue one report from Holmes has no supporting Johnson with one along the Magee causeway, information. Michael Crouse with one at Killdeer, and Eric Elvert with three at Big Island. The high count of nine was also shared by two observers; Paul Jacyk saw them at Bay View Park, Lucas, on 07 Mar and Eric Elvert at the Osborn Road gravel pits, Clark, on 09 Mar. (21 counties) Canada Goose Metzger held about 3700 for Jason Bojczyk on 12 Mar. Next most were the 2769 counted by Doug- las Vogus et al. during the 03 Mar ONWR census. The most away from Lucas and Ottawa were 1648 passing Lake Erie Bluffs on 14 Mar (John Pogacnik). (all 88 counties) Tom Frankel photographed this pair of Black-bellied Whis- [Snow x Canada Goose] tling-Ducks feeding at Headlands on 17 May. One spent from 02 to 04 Mar at Delaware WA Snow Goose (m. obs.). Larry Early saw another near New Katelyn Shelton saw the last, a duo along Rich- Holland, Pickaway, on 06 Apr. ardson Road, Franklin, on 05 May. One was Cackling/Canada Goose a blue morph, the other white. The second-last Cuyahoga, Delaware, and Franklin hosted were quite a bit earlier, singles on 13 Apr by John indeterminate birds. Sharits at Grand Lake SP and by Ron Sempier Mute Swan at Big Island. John Pogacnik provided the high Suska Kocis found a congregation of 29 along count of 28, from Lake Erie Bluffs on 14 Mar. the ONWR WD on 07 May. (44 counties) (24 counties) Trumpeter Swan Ross’s Goose Paul Jacyk saw about 200 at Metzger on 02 Mar. Several observers independently reported the Ed Pierce’s ONWR census team counted 164 on last, a solo bird at Big Island on 12 Apr. That 07 Apr (fide Douglas Vogus). The most away from was almost a month after the second-last, which the northwestern marshes were Dave Barnett’s Duane Miller and Atlee Yoder saw at Wilderness 75 at Killdeer on 23 Mar; 50 were in Pond 2 and Road on 18 Mar. The high count of three was the rest scattered elsewhere throughout the WA. shared by Cam Lee at the Columbus Upground (42 counties) Reservoir, Franklin, on 01 Mar and John Po- gacnik at Lake Erie Bluffs on 14 Mar. The rest Tundra Swan of the sightings, from eight counties in total, were The last date was 13 Mar, when Don Pfouts of single birds. saw two at Magee and Katlyn Todd three near Shreve, Wayne. The most were the 1731 seen Snow/Ross’s Goose during the 03 Mar ONWR census (Douglas Vo- Indeterminate birds were reported from Lucas gus et al.), and about 1500 were reported there and Wayne. and at Metzger on other early Mar dates. The Greater White-fronted Goose most away from Lucas and Ottawa were 1100 Three birds at the intersection of Decant and along Stollacker Road, Ashtabula, on 01 Mar Seaman Roads, Lucas, on 01 Apr were the last (Lori Brumbaugh and Lou Gardella), and the (m. obs.). The high count of 130 came from most inland were 850 at Killdeer on 23 Mar Killdeer on 11 Mar; Cam Lee and Leslie Sours (Alayna and Kevin Lee). (39 counties)

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Wood Duck Northern Pintail Ed Pierce et al. counted 152 at ONWR on 07 Jeffrey Roth found the last, at Pickerington Ponds Apr (fide Douglas Vogus). Duane Miller and At- on 27 May. Two were seen almost daily until 17 lee Yoder found about 150 at Wilderness Road May at Howard Marsh (m. obs.). The highest on 18 Mar for the only other triple-digit report. of many large counts at Funk was Helen and Only Crawford, Meigs, and Pike didn’t have Ken Ostermiller’s 3000 on 09 Mar. Jason Bo- sightings. jczyk’s 720 at Metzger on 12 Mar was the largest Blue-winged Teal number elsewhere; for more see Field Notes. (63 Jason Bojczyk’s 130 at Howard Marsh on 16 Apr counties) were the most. Next were Steve Jones with 100 at [Mallard x Northern Pintail] Killdeer on 14 Apr and Nicky Rosner with 100 at Debbie and Mark Raven photographed this hy- Funk on 16 Apr. (79 counties) brid at Lagrange Community Park, Lorain, on Northern Shoveler 31 Mar. The last sightings of the season were of one to Green-winged Teal three at Howard Marsh through 29 May (m. The last of the season were single birds on 23 obs.) though sightings there and elsewhere con- May at Wilderness Road (m. obs.) and Wake tinued into Jun. A flooded field near Kendrick, Robin (Cole DiFabio and Haley Thoresen), Allen, held about 160 for Jamie Cunningham on though up to seven were at Howard Marsh for 26 Mar. (74 counties) most of Jun (m. obs.). Wilderness Road also host- Gadwall ed the high number, a careful count of 503 on 23 Sightings continued well into Jun though most Mar (Aaron Nisley). The next most were 225 at birds were gone before that month. The two Howard Marsh on 16 Apr (Jason Bojczyk). (74 highest counts came from ONWR, 448 on 24 counties) Mar (Jason Bojczyk) and 672 on 07 Apr (Ed Canvasback Pierce et al., fide Douglas Vogus). The most not in The last sightings but for a single one in mid-Jun Lucas or Ottawa were Paul Sherwood’s 203 at came on 21 May. Kevin and Patty McKelvey the Castalia pond, Erie, on 05 Mar. (77 counties) found one at Lorain that day while Jacob Raber Eurasian Wigeon and Trevor Zook saw two at Wright Marsh. Paul The reports, all of single birds, are: Jacyk saw about 1600 off the Bayshore fishing At Big Island on 01 and 02 Mar (m. obs.) access point on 07 Mar. Up to 1000 were seen at At Killbuck from 09 to 19 Mar (m. obs.) other Erie, Lucas, and Ottawa sites; the most At Killdeer from 11 to 29 Mar (m. obs.) inland were Aaron Bartley’s 320 at West Branch By the Unionville Road, Union, on 11 Mar SP, Portage, on 08 Mar. (66 counties) (Margaret Bowman) Redhead At Wright Marsh on 20 Mar (Sandie Myers) Sightings continued into Jun. Shari Jackson and By Elliston Road, Lucas, from 02 to 04 May (m. Ben Morrison counted by 20s and that 1550 obs.) were at Berlin Lake on 02 Mar. (74 counties) American Wigeon Ring-necked Duck The last date of 24 May was shared. That day A few of these, too, lingered into Jun. The high George Novosel and Bill Ohlsen saw one at Pipe count of 1100 came from Killbuck on 15 Mar Creek, Irina Shulgina saw another at Killdeer, (Susan Evanoff and Su Snyder). (84 counties) and Andy Jones found two near the corner of Stange and Krause Roads, Ottawa. Wright Marsh hosted about 350 for Susan Evanoff and Su Snyder on 21 Mar. (72 counties) Mallard Estimates of 500 came from Walborn Reservoir, Stark, on 08 Mar (Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison) and the Eco-Ohio Wetlands, Warren, on 11 Mar (Brian Jorg). (all 88 counties) American Black Duck Duane Miller and Atlee Yoder counted 58 at Killbuck on 08 Mar. (66 counties) [Mallard x American Black Duck] On 10 Apr, Su Snyder photographed a pair of Ring-necked These common hybrids were reported from 17 Ducks at Funk. counties. 102 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Greater Scaup provided the high count, 108, seen in the Crane One stayed on at Howard Marsh until 17 May Creek Estuary from the CCE Trail on 17 Mar. (m. obs.) and the second-last was at Wright (83 counties) Marsh on 14 May (Kent Miller). Jenny Bowman Common Goldeneye saw about 250 at the Franklin end of Hoover The last was seen on and off from 05 to 19 May in Reservoir on 07 Mar. (63 counties) the Crane Creek Estuary (m. obs.). Several folks Lesser Scaup also saw the second-last, which flew past South A few stayed on into Jun. Jason Bojczyk estimat- Bass Island, Ottawa, on 05 May. Two hundred ed that more than 18,000 were off Maumee Bay in the lower Cuyahoga River on 07 Mar (Jen on 24 Mar; see Field Notes for more. This high Brumfield) and 224 off Sims Park, Cuyahoga, count dwarfed the second-highest, 2000 shared on 21 Mar (Cynthia Norris) were the only counts by three locations. (84 counties) exceeding 100. (69 counties) Greater/Lesser Scaup Hooded Merganser A flock of scaup numbering about 4500 was off Chris Lamb counted 64 at Guilford Lake SP, Co- Maumee Bay for Paul Jacyk on 06 Apr. lumbiana, on 23 Mar. (81 counties) Aythya sp. [Common Goldeneye x Hooded Jason Bojczyk noted a flock of about 15,000 birds Merganser] off Maumee Bay on 06 Apr; it included Canvas- Eric Elvert photographed this individual at East- backs, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, and both wood MP on 09 Mar and wrote, “Presumably the scaup species. same bird from a year or two ago.” [it was seen Surf Scoter on 02 Feb 2018 – ed.] Kent Miller saw the last, at Willard Reservoir, Common Merganser Huron, on 14 May. Shane Myers’ at the Findlay The last migrants were gone by the end of May, Reservoirs on 12 May was the only other sighting and possibly earlier, though the date can’t be after mid-Apr. Mosquito Lake held 11 for Larry pinned down. Nesters stayed on: Janet Chan- Richardson on 17 Apr, and the next-largest flock, dler saw a female and 18 young on the Kokosing six, was off Lake Erie Bluffs on 14 Mar (John -Po River, Knox, on 30 May, and Carol Detmer saw gacnik). (16 counties) what was probably the same family, now reduced White-winged Scoter to 14 young, nearby on the next day (fide Kather- The Marysville Upground Reservoir, Union, ine Noblet). (See Field Notes for another family hosted the last, a single bird on 18 Apr. (Steve encounter.) Paul Jacyk saw about 3000 off the Meisky). Counts of six came from three locations Bayshore fishing access on 07 Mar; and Jason on four dates. (23 counties) Bojczyk had noted 1900 there two days earlier. (71 counties) Black Scoter The last were duos on 02 Apr at Eastwood MP, Red-breasted Merganser Montgomery (m. obs.) and Rocky River Park, A few stayed around into Jun. Cleveland Harbor Cuyahoga (Bill Ohlsen). Another duo was at hosted about 3000 on 31 Mar (Bill Ohlsen) and Delaware SP on 10 Mar (m. obs.). Singles were about 2500 were off the Mentor Lagoons mari- also seen in those counties and in Franklin. na, Lake, on 27 Mar (Joel Throckmorton). The inland high count was Matthew Valencic’s 400 at Long-tailed Duck LaDue on 25 Mar. (74 counties) Gordon Fitch well described a straggler at Mal- lard Club on 15 May. Three sites had one or two Ruddy Duck on the second-last date of 17 Apr. Two counts, Quite a few were still in the state in Jun. The high both on 31 Mar, exceeded eight: Jeff Harvey count came much earlier, of course: Metzger and John Petruzzi separately reported 21 at Ev- held about 2300 on 18 Apr for Jason Bojczyk. ans Lake, Mahoning, and MiMi Hoffmaster The second-most were the 800 seen by Matthew counted 17 at Pymatuning Lake, Ashtabula. (30 Valencic at LaDue the same day. (73 counties) counties) Northern Bobwhite Bufflehead Anne and David Wills saw a covey of 14 at The last was a single bird which stayed in the Crown City WA, Lawrence, on 05 May. Mi- Preble section of Hueston Woods SP into Jun. chael Lamont and Chad Pumpelly found eight The last otherwise were one or two at Howard at Old Highland Stone on 25 May. (24 counties) Marsh on 21 May (m. obs.). Mike Wielgopolski Chukar Hunt clubs release these, and a few occasionally

103 Vol. 42 No. 3 wander. Singles were seen in Hamilton, Jeffer- man Farm on 04 Mar. Brown and Noble didn’t son, and Wayne. (They’re not on the official have sightings. Ohio list, because they don’t have an established Eurasian Collared-Dove wild population, but they’re fun to see. They are Stefan Minnig saw four outside Urbana, Cham- established in several western states.) paign, on 14 May. (16 counties) Ring-necked Pheasant White-winged Dove Irina Shulgina provided the high count, eight at Posts from Hamilton have photos. Darby Creek on 17 Mar. (42 counties) Mourning Dove Ruffed Grouse John Pogacnik counted 66 at Lake Erie Bluffs on The reports are: 28 Mar. (all 88 counties) Two at Midway Lake, Columbiana, on 19 Mar (William Addis) Yellow-billed Cuckoo One heard in Harrison SF on 17 Apr (Scott Nathaniel Mast saw the first, near Dalton, Pendleton) Wayne, on 13 Apr, almost two weeks before One heard in Shawnee on 05 May (Eric and Liz they’re expected. The next, at Burr Oak SP, Shlapack) Morgan, on 22 Apr, was still a bit early (Lynda One at Mosquito Lake on 10 May (David Andrews). Rick Luehrs counted nine at Huffman Hochadel) MP, Greene, on 12 May; see Field Notes for One seen in Mohican SF on 17 May (Christina more. (73 counties) Stump) Wild Turkey Jon Cefus and Kent Miller found about 100 along Riverdale Road, Stark, on 08 Mar. Clifton Mar- tin saw about 80 near Dresden, Muskingum, on 03 Mar. Only Fayette didn’t produce a sighting. Pied-billed Grebe Howard Marsh had the most, 25 on 16 Apr (Ja- son Bojczyk). (78 counties) Horned Grebe T.J. Walker saw the last, at Howard Marsh on 20 May. The only triple-digit counts were of 150 at CLNP on 31 Mar (David Miller) and 450 at Mos- quito Lake on 11 Apr (Larry Richardson, Blanca Rodriguez). Larry called it a “pre winter storm fallout”. (76 counties) Red-necked Grebe The last spent from 30 Apr to 02 May off CLNP (m. obs.). The only duo was at the old Shelley gravel pit near Marietta, Washington, for most of Mar (m. obs.). (12 counties) A Yellow-billed Cuckoo delighted many birders at Magee, where Eared Grebe Jacob Roalef captured this photo on 10 May. The reports are: One at Willard Reservoir, Huron, on 02 Apr (Paul Sherwood). One at the Richland end of Clear Fork from 08 to 11 Apr (m. obs.). John Herman noted that it’s the first documented occurrence in that county. One at the Wellington Upground Reservoir, Lo- rain, on 22 to 24 Apr (m. obs.) One at the end of the CCE Trail on 06 May (m. obs.) Leslie Sours was surprised to find this Eared Grebe at Clear Fork on Apr 09. Rock Pigeon Karl Mechem found about 140 at OSU’s Water-

104 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Black-billed Cuckoo Virginia Rail Mark Maier found the first, near Clarksburg, These also came a couple of weeks early; Josh Ross, on 28 Apr. Three sites each hosted three, King saw the first, at Delaware WA on 13 Mar. all in the second half of May. (54 counties) The next sightings were on 23 Mar, one in the Common Nighthawk Warren section of Spring Valley WA (Eric Hol- The first report came from West State Street lins) and two in the Greene section of it (Ran- Park, Athens, on 25 Apr (Stefan Gleissberg). dy Morgan). The high count of 12 came from Dan Gesualdo counted 77 passing Volunteer Maumee Bay on 09 May (Jaden and Josh King). Bay, Erie during one evening hour on 22 May. Darby Creek produced seven for David Donahue The next most were 72 which Robert Hershberg- on 13 Apr. (34 counties) er saw over Force Road in Killbuck on 23 May. (54 counties) Chuck-will’s-widow The first date was 25 Apr. Helen and Ken Os- termiller heard one at Lynx Prairie and m. obs. heard three on Hamilton Road; both sites are in Adams. On 05 May, five were calling along Hamilton Road for m. obs. Hancock, Lucas, and Scioto also produced reports. Eastern Whip-poor-will Todd Schmelzenbach found the first, near McAr- thur, Vinton, on 04 Apr. Next was one on 10 Apr at a Scioto farm (Zachary Allen). A group of Participants on a Biggest Week van trip to Winous Point were birders counted 11 along Foundry Hill Road, Co- delighted when an OSU grad student presented a side-by-side lumbiana, on 31 May. (25 counties as far north comparison of a Virginia Rail and Sora. Trip leader Amy Hod- son documented the moment on 07 May. as Cuyahoga and Lucas). Chimney Swift Sora The first was at least a week earlier than usual The first, at Darby Creek on 02 Apr, was about for mid-state; Heather Luedecke saw it at Prairie a week early for mid-state (m. obs.), but sightings Oaks MP, Franklin, on 29 Mar. Janice Farral were steady after that. The high count was 20, and Joshua Vardous saw about 500 at Lorain on shared by Darby Creek on 04 May (Andrew 01 May, and the Findlay Reservoirs hosted about Hood) and Maumee Bay on 09 May (Jaden and 250 on 12 May for Shane Myers. Only Defiance Josh King). (46 counties) and Meigs didn’t produce reports. Ruby-throated Hummingbird Nicole Garner saw the first, in Pepper Pike, Cuyahoga, on 11 Apr. That’s about when they’re usually crossing the Ohio River. Feeders in Shawnee hosted 15 on 12 May for a group of birders. (83 counties) Yellow Rail The OBRC has reports from Marion and Sum- mit. In addition, a post from the former has an audio recording and some of those from Sum- mit have descriptions. King Rail A favorite of many birders at Biggest Week was this Sora, which The first showed up at Sandy Ridge on 30 Apr, hung out right along the Magee boardwalk and was photographed two weeks earlier than usual for so far north (m. by Jacob Roalef on 10 May. obs.). It was seen or heard there until late May. American Coot The only duo was at Howard Marsh beginning Linda Berry saw about 1000 at Metzger on 06 13 May and at least one was recorded there into Apr and Jason Bojczyk about 800 at Howard Jun. Delaware, Ottawa, and Wayne also host- Marsh on 16 Apr. The inland high count was ed singles. Brenda Meese’s 424 at Funk on 02 Apr. (70 counties)

105 Vol. 42 No. 3

Common Gallinule 69 at Funk on 20 May; the next most were the Ron Avers saw the first, at Pipe Creek on 12 Apr, 39 which Susie Shetterly found near Kingston, a couple of weeks early for the north coast. The Ross, on 18 May. (17 counties) next was seen at Darby Creek on 20 Apr (m. American Golden-Plover obs.). Howard Marsh (Paul Jacyk) and Metzger These also were early; Kenn Kaufman saw two (John Kolar) each hosted 14 on 09 May. (28 at Carroll, Ottawa, on 12 Mar. The next, and counties) most, were 53 which flew over Oscar Wilhelmy in Mercer at dusk on 13 Apr while he was seeking Smith’s Longspurs. The last were Dave Smith’s two by Krause Road, Ottawa, on 28 May. (14 counties) Upland Sandpiper One along Industrial Park Drive, Harrison, on 09 Apr was a week or so early for the county (Scott Pendleton). Next were three at the OSW Livestock Facility, Franklin, on 16 Apr (Irina Shulgina). The most, four, were seen at that site between 18 and 25 Apr and sightings up to four continued there throughout Jun. Ashtabula, A Common Gallinule struck a pose for Leslie Sours at Darby Champaign, Lucas, and Madison also had Creek on 16 May. sightings. Sandhill Crane Killbuck provided the two highest counts, 82 on 02 Mar (Virgil Troyer) and 55 on 23 Mar (Jim McCormac). The most elsewhere were 54 at ONWR during the 03 Mar census (Douglas Vo- gus et al.). (54 counties) Black-necked Stilt The first, which delighted a host of birders on 25 Mar at Howard Marsh, was at least a month earlier than their history suggests is normal. By 04 May the count had risen to seven (also m. obs.), and one or two pairs nested there. The most elsewhere were Michelle Pesho’s five at the Chippewa Inlet Trail, Medina, on 23 Apr. Re- ports also came from Mercer, Ottawa, Preble, and Wyandot. American Avocet By contrast, the first of these were about on time. The OSU Livestock facility had a nesting pair of Upland Sand- Several birders saw a flock of 33 at Sippo Lake, pipers this year, where this bird was photographed by Leslie Sours Stark, on 23 Apr. Two birds at Howard Marsh in 03 May. on 06 May (Tim Haney) and one at ONWR on 11 May (Sue Summers) were the last of the Semipalmated Plover season. The Sippo Lake count was eclipsed by The four which Brian Wulker saw at Cleves, a flock of 46 in an Ottawa field near ONWR Hamilton, on 19 Apr were about a week ear- on 26 Apr (Kristy Reske) and by the inland high ly. The next, Mia Yeager’s single on the Pioneer number of 40, at Alum Creek on 25 Apr (Matt Trail, Portage, on 27 Apr was early for the Orebaugh, Oscar Wilhelmy). Clark and Mont- north. At least four locations hosted them into gomery also had sightings. Jun. Jenny Bowman and Su Snyder independent- Black-bellied Plover ly counted a flock at Wilderness Road on 22 May Chris Pierce saw the first, along Darsch Road, and agreed on 108 birds. The Funk-Wilderness Ottawa, on 21 Apr, somewhat early for so Road-Killbuck area provided several counts in far north. The last of the season were at three the high two digits. The most elsewhere were 73 locations on 31 May, but one lingered into which Charlie Saunders found at the Ellis Lake Jun at Howard Marsh. Dan Kramer counted wetlands, Butler, on 16 May. (43 counties) 106 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Piping Plover expected. Todd Pepper saw the next (and most), Posts from Clermont, Cuyahoga, Lake, and two at Howard Marsh on 05 May, still an early Lucas had photos but no one filed a report with date for the north coast. Lots of birders saw the the OBRC. last, at Funk on 19 May. No other counties had Killdeer sightings. Jason Bojczyk spent 11 hours on The Hill at Sanderling Maumee Bay on 13 Mar and counted 1335 Several observers saw one at Sheldon Marsh on passing by – see Field Notes for more. Josh Har- 03 May, a week earlier than they’ve historically grave and Joan Scharf counted 610 westbound arrived across the Ohio River. The last of the at Mentor Lagoons, Lake, in three hours on 14 season was one at Magee on 31 May (James Be- Apr. The most away from Lake Erie were the 60 atty), but one small flock was seen in early Jun. which Jim Crumpler saw at the Ellis Lake wet- Maumee Bay hosted the most, 63 on 23 May lands, Butler, on 24 Apr. (all 88 counties) (Jack Leow). The second-most were a relatively Whimbrel paltry 14 at Wilderness Road on 23 and 24 May Kent Miller saw the first, at Wilderness Road on (m. obs.). Reports also came from Hancock, 14 May, a week or so early for the northern half Lake, and Lorain. of the state. The last of the season were seven Dunlin which flew past Dave Chase at Headlands on 28 For a change, these arrived about as expected. May, but sightings continued into Jun. Counts of Sylvia Hadley saw the first, two at Richland 67 came from Funk on 23 May and Killdeer on Quarry, Clinton, on 24 Mar. Three at Howard 24 May, both by m. obs. Reports also came from Marsh on 30 May were the first for the far north Holmes and Lucas. (m. obs.). Several were still reported in early Marbled Godwit Jun. About 1000 were at Howard Marsh on 16 The reports spanned only a few days: May (m. obs.). Many reported the next-highest One at Lorain on 04 May (Janice Farral and number, 800, at the corner of Elliston and Vel- Joshua Vardous) er Roads, Lucas, on 16 May. The most away One at Sandy Ridge on 05 May (m. obs.) from Lucas and Ottawa were 375 at the Green Four flying west past Lake Erie Bluffs on 06 May Creek Hunt Club, Sandusky, on 06 May (m. (John Pogacnik) obs.). Amy Downing found the most away from One by Route 2 at the Lucas/Ottawa line on 09 Lake Erie, 200 at Oakwoods NP, Hancock, on May (Andrew Tolzmann) 03 May. (30 counties) Ruddy Turnstone Least Sandpiper The first was seen at Wendy Park on 03 and 04 These usually hit the state in the second week of May (m. obs.), about when they’ve usually been April, but Richard Domokos found two at How- entering the state from the south. A single Jun ard Marsh on 07 Apr. Quite a few were still here sighting followed the season’s last, which James in Jun. J. Gary Kohlenberg saw about 300 along Stammen made at Maumee Bay on 31 May. The the Lake Erie shore of Metzger on 06 May; next next-to-last date of 23 May was shared by a total most were John Kendall’s 100 at Howard Marsh of seven birds at two locations. The high count on 09 May. The third most were inland, 80 which of 78 was also shared, by Rick Nirschl along Sea- Austin Langdon saw in fields along Union Road, man Road, Lucas, on 16 May and Geoff Malosh Warren, on 17 May. (46 counties) at Maumee Bay on 19 May. The most elsewhere White-rumped Sandpiper were Roger Starnes’ 24 at Caesar Creek on 20 Marlene Calco saw the first one, about two weeks May. (10 counties) early at ONWR on 05 May. Lucas Weaver and Red Knot Atlee Yoder found the next one, at Funk on 11 More than 40 eBirders, and who knows how May. A few lingered into Jun. Funk also held the many others, saw one at Howard Marsh on 13 most, Helen and Ken Ostermiller’s 15 on 21 May. One passed The Wilds’ Motus station on 23 May, and nearby Wilderness Road hosted eight May (fide Michael Kreger). for Alvin Miller on 27 May. (12 counties) Ruff Pectoral Sandpiper Posts from Lucas included photos. These are usually our first sandpipers to arrive, and they were about on schedule this year. Sky Stilt Sandpiper ponds on Solon Road, Greene, provided the first Cam Lee saw the first, in Marion near Big Is- two sightings, two birds on 13 Mar and seven on land, on 24 Apr, at least a month earlier than 22 Mar (both Lee Funderburg). A flock of six

107 Vol. 42 No. 3 reached a private property in Lucas on 23 Mar Lesser Yellowlegs (Kim Warner). The last one spent 28 to 31 May This year’s first date was 17 Mar, about as- ex by the Heritage Trail, Franklin (m. obs.). The pected for the southernmost counties. But the small Marion section of Killdeer hosted 432 on sightings were further north: two at Deer Creek 16 Apr (Cam Lee) and the next most were 315 (Jenny Bowman), one at ONWR (David Myles), at a Madison sky pond on 22 Apr (Ian Lynch). and two on private land in Lucas (Kim Warner). (38 counties) Quite a few stayed into Jun as usual. Observers Semipalmated Sandpiper found about 270 at Oakwoods MP, Hancock, on Elias Raber saw the first, three at Funk a week 04 May and about 150 at Funk on 08 and 09 or more early on 27 Apr. As usual, their migra- May. (65 counties) tion extended into Jun. Alvin Miller found about Willet 200 at Wilderness Road on 27 May, and the next Duane Miller saw and heard seven calling over- most were Helen and Ken Ostermiller’s 125 at head at Vermilion, Erie, on 25 Apr, a date they’d the Stange and Krause Road corner, Lucas, on be expected to arrive in the southern counties. Lee 19 May. (34 counties) Funderburg and Sean Hollowell separately report- Short-billed Dowitcher ed the last, from Selma-Jamestown Road, Greene, The first two of these were only a little early; Ron on 23 May. Lorain hosted 60 on 26 Apr (m. obs.). Sempier saw them at Killdeer on 25 Apr. R. Lee The most elsewhere were 40 at Fairport Harbor’s Reed saw the last, three at Howard Marsh on 26 Lakefront Park, Lake, also on 26 Apr and also by May. Alex Nickley provided the high count of 78, m. obs. Mark Shaver counted 29 at LaDue on 02 from Funk on 16 May. (17 counties) May for the inland high number. (23 counties) Long-billed Dowitcher One was in the Marion section of Killdeer on 14 Apr (Cam Lee) and it or another was there on 27 Apr (David Lehner). Three were at Big Island on 15 Apr (Ron Sempier). Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher Jason Bojczyk saw an indeterminate bird at How- ard Marsh on 16 Apr; by precedent it was prob- ably a Long-billed. American Woodcock The evening of 10 May produced 21 for a group of birders at Maumee Bay. Counts of 15 came A regular but scarce migrant in Ohio, this lone Willet put on from four sites. (69 counties) quite a show for Alex Eberts as he lay waiting on the beach at Wilson’s Snipe Maumee on 28 April. Howard Marsh is popular with both birders and Greater Yellowlegs birds. Ann Lasky counted 59 snipe there on 07 Jason Bojczyk saw the first, at Maumee Bay on Apr. Andy Sewell nearly tied her with 56 at Pick- 13 Mar, a typical date for the north coast. Erin erington Ponds on 05 Apr. (52 counties) Allen and Andy Avram saw the last of the sea- Spotted Sandpiper son, at Wake Robin on 27 May, though there was These broke the pattern; the one which Martin also a 01 Jun sighting elsewhere. A wet area just Powney saw in Wayne NF, Washington, on 26 south of ONWR held 55 on 03 May (Ryan Dz- Mar was a week behind their historical schedule. iedzic and Valerie Trabucchi) and 07 May (Gail Gregory Allen saw the next at the Hoover Reser- Coffey). The most inland were Steve Jones’ 26 at voir dam on 04 Apr. Lori Brumbaugh counted 29 Killdeer on 20 Apr. (62 counties) at Wendy Park on 09 May. (79 counties) Yellowlegs sp. Solitary Sandpiper Joshua Davidson noted a “[h]uge flock kicked up The first date, 07 Apr, was shared by single birds on earth north side of [Howard Marsh]. Count- along the Holmes County Trail (Aaron Nisley) ed by 20s”, and came up with 320. and along Township Road 224, Paulding (Mic- Red-necked Phalarope ki Dunakin). They’re usually gone by the end of Several birders saw one at Funk on 22 May, and May but a couple stayed into Jun. Jason Bojczyk it apparently moved to Wilderness Road where saw 35 at Maumee Bay on 06 May. (68 counties) several saw one on 24 May.

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Wilson’s Phalarope Laughing Gull The first, at the Ellis Lake wetlands, Butler, on One showed up quite early at Piedmont Lake, 24 Apr was a week early (m. obs.). Cam Lee saw Harrison, on 16 Mar and several birders got the last of the season, at Killdeer on 26 May, good looks. Ray Bontrager saw the last of the though one spent much of Jun at Howard Marsh. season on 14 May, at Maumee Bay, but a couple The high count of four came from Howard, on others were seen in Jun. Cuyahoga, Lake, Otta- 08 May (Charissa Ebersole, Wendi Haugh). wa, and Preble also had sightings. Hancock, Licking, Ottawa, and Wayne also Franklin’s Gull had sightings. The first of these was two weeks early; m. obs. saw it at Germantown MP, Montgomery, on 15 Mar. Paul Jacyk saw the next, at Maumee Bay on 25 Apr. Stefan Minnig saw the last, two at Indian Lake SP, Logan, on 30 May, and they were the only duo reported. Delaware and Ottawa also had sightings. Laughing/Franklin’s Gull Louis Hoying saw an indeterminate bird at Stone Pier, Shelby, on 26 Apr. Ring-billed Gull To the delight of Alex Eberts and many other birders, this Wil- Jason Bojczyk estimated that 12,000 were off Ma- son’s Phalarope was one of a mated pair that graced Howard gee on 12 Mar. Mike Sustin saw about 10,000 Marsh with its presence for this 07 May photo. from the old Coast Guard station at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River on 23 Mar. Kent Miller’s Bonaparte’s Gull 3000 at the Bolivar Landfill, Stark, on both 01 Stephen Brauning saw about 540 in a field by and 07 Mar were the most inland. (80 counties) Darsch Road, Ottawa, on 30 Apr. Nicky Rosner Herring Gull found 300 at Charles Mill Lake, Ashland, on 31 The lower Cuyahoga River hosted about 9000 Mar. (71 counties) for Jen Brumfield on 07 Mar. Counts of 1000 came from other Lake Erie-side sites. Jon Cefus saw the inland high count of 700 at Lake Cable, Stark, on 08 Mar. (67 counties) Iceland Gull Kevin and Patty McKelvey saw the last, at Wen- dy Park on 05 Apr. Two counts of 14 came from Jen Brumfield, at Wendy Park on 31 Mar and from the Cuyahoga River upstream of there on 07 Mar. The Bolivar Landfill, Stark, gave us the inland high count of five, on 08 Mar (Jon Cefus and Kent Miller). Erie, Lake, and Lorain also provided reports.

On 03 Apr, Debbie Parker photographed this handsome Bona- Lesser Black-backed Gull parte’s Gull in Cleveland. Richard Norton saw the last, at Maumee Bay on 22 May, a month beyond their historical depar- ture date. The Bolivar Landfill,Stark , had 12 on Black-headed Gull 07 Mar (Kent Miller) as did Wendy Park on 31 A post from Ottawa had a description. Mar (Jen Brumfield). (23 counties) Little Gull [Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull] The reports, all of single birds, are: Kent Miller identified this individual at the Boli- Off Lorain on 01 Apr (Janice Farral and Joshua var Landfill,Stark , on 07 Mar. Vardous) In Huron harbor, Erie, on 14 Apr (Dan Gesual- Glaucous Gull do, Ben Meredyk) Duane Miller saw the last, at Vermilion, Erie, on At Mosquito on 23 May, confirmed by photo on 04 May, a couple of weeks later than usual. Jen this very late date (Leonard Blass) Brumfield saw the second-last, at Wendy Park on 15 Apr. She also provided the high count, 23, also

109 Vol. 42 No. 3 from Wendy Park, on 31 Mar. Kent Miller’s eight Great Cormorant at the Bolivar Landfill, Stark, was the inland Posts from Cuyahoga have photos and high. Ashtabula, Lake, Lorain, and Summit descriptions. also had sightings. Neotropic Cormorant Great Black-backed Gull The OBRC has a report from Hamilton in addi- A few Jun reports followed this season’s last, tion to posts with photos and descriptions. by Marc Hanneman at Conneaut on 29 May. Double-crested Cormorant Jen Brumfield found about 380 on the lower John Pogacnik counted 1667 moving eastbound Cuyahoga River on 07 Mar, and other Cleve- past Lake Erie Bluffs in four hours on 12 Apr. land-area counts were almost as high. The most Matthew Valencic estimated 1050 were at LaDue elsewhere were Kari Warner Matsko’s 40 at on 18 Apr. (81 counties) Headlands on 31 Mar, and the inland high was Kent Miller’s nine at the Bolivar Landfill, Stark. American White Pelican (19 counties) Several folks enjoyed three at Buck Creek start- ing on 15 Mar; they were the first in the state Least Tern since mid-Feb. Their movement through Ohio A post from Lucas has a description. continued into Jun. Mercer WA hosted 237 on Caspian Tern 06 Apr (Josh King) and up to 175 were seen there The first sightings, on 30 Mar, were shared by on other dates. The next-highest number was 34; Marc Hanneman at Conneaut and m. obs. at Nicholas Parish and John Petruzzi watched them Scioto Audubon MP, Franklin. A group of bird- fly over Mill Creek on 18 Apr. (22 counties) ers agreed on a count of 219 at Headlands on Brown Pelican 05 May. Eric Juterbock provided the inland high The OBRC has a report from Delaware. count of 45, from near the Grand Lake hatchery on 22 Apr. (46 counties) American Bittern Larry Richardson heard one at Mosquito WA on Black Tern 12 Mar, the first date, which is a little early for so Birders started the season on 01 May with up to far north. Darby Creek held eight on 04 May for four at Indian Lake SP, Logan. Mallard Club Robert Mills and up to six on other dates. The hosted nine on 17 May for Elizabeth Wilkins. most elsewhere were six at Mallard Club on 10 Three inland sites each held seven on mid-May May (Terry Grabill). (28 counties) dates. (15 counties) Least Bittern Roseate Tern Greg Bammerlin saw the first, a duo two weeks Posts from Hocking have descriptions. early at Killdeer on 20 Apr. Several birders re- Common Tern ported four at Pipe Creek on 04 and 05 May. (16 Scott Myers saw the first, two at Defiance Reser- counties) voir on 04 Apr. Next were the two which Patrick Great Blue Heron McGuigan found at CLNP on 07 Apr. Andrew Sally Ingraham counted 102 at the Bath Road Staufer saw about 400 at ONWR on 11 May rookery in CVNP on 06 Apr. (all 88 counties) and Pat Williamsen 112 at Metzger on 04 May. Several birders saw the largest inland flock, 25 at Hoover NP on 30 Apr. (24 counties) Forster’s Tern Cam Lee saw the first, at Big Island on 02 Apr. ONWR provided counts of 100 on 10 and 11 May (m. obs.). Next most were Carole Babyak’s 77 at Mosquito Lake on 15 May. (39 counties) Red-throated Loon The first since Dec was at Turkeyfoot Lake, Summit, on 01 Mar (Jennifer Allison). The last flew past Magee on 16 May (Gary Chapin). Two were in Wayne Township, Ashtabula, on 21 Apr Susan Evanoff captured a Great Blue Heron hunting in the vege- (Marc Hanneman). (14 counties) tation of the CVNP Ira Road marsh on 24 May. Common Loon John Kolar and Kelly Kozlowski saw 85 at La- Great Egret Due on 01 Apr. (73 counties) The high count of 200 was shared by Howard

110 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Marsh on 03 and 05 May and ONWR on 17 Black-crowned Night-Heron May (all m. obs.). The most away from Lucas Tyler Ficker found 35 at Turning Point Island, and Ottawa were Tyler Ficker’s 150 at Turning Erie, on 29 May. 18 were scattered around Point Island, Erie; he counted 486 nests there. Cleveland harbor on 21 Apr for Andrew Bailey. Kori Gasaway and James Muller provided the (27 counties) inland high count of 73, from Griggs Reservoir, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Franklin, on 15 Apr. (68 counties) Several folks got to see one in the Rocky River Cattle Egret Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 05 May. John Po- Jennifer Allison and Marianne Woodside saw gacnik saw three arrive and quickly depart at the first, near Port Clinton, Ottawa, on 17 Apr. Lake Erie Bluffs on 23 May; see Field Notes for Frances and Harris Brown found 14 at Howard more. Marsh on 14 May. The next most were Don Glossy Ibis Hoechlin’s five at Magee on 20 May, and the Posts from Lake, Lorain, and Lucas have pho- most inland were Kelly Volz’s four at the Ellis tos and descriptions. Lake wetlands, Butler, on 21 Apr. (14 counties) White-faced Ibis Snowy Egret Posts from Lucas and Ross have photos and The first was at Pipe Creek on 10 Apr; Aman- descriptions. da Bowe and Martyn Drabik-Hamshare saw it at different times. Mary Eyman and Liz - Spen Plegadis sp. ce counted 11 at Howard Marsh on 08 May. All A post from Hamilton has a photo and descrip- of the sightings away from Lucas and Ottawa tion. Posts from a Lucas location have them as were of single birds; the other lakeshore county well, but posts from two other sites in that coun- represented was Erie. Inland sightings were at ty have no supporting information at all. A post the mouth of Newell Run, Washington, on 20 from Wayne has a description. No one filed an Apr (Michael Schramm), at Plain Center, Stark, OBRC report for any of the ibis sightings. on 30 Apr (m. obs.), and at Killdeer on 07 May Black Vulture (Sam Romeo). Wayne Wauligman counted 82 at Addyston, Hamilton, on 13 Mar; they were “[e]ating dead fish caught behind a ball field fence after floodwaters receded.” Cole DiFabio saw about 65 roosting on the roof of the Hueston Woods SP lodge, Preble, on 23 Mar. (62 counties as far north as Cuyahoga and Lorain) Turkey Vulture Jason Bojczyk counted 1646 passing Maumee Bay on 02 Apr. John Pogacnik saw 1208 from Lake Erie Bluffs on 07 Apr. The most away from the Lake Erie shore were Corey Stacy’s 120 at a roost in Delaware SP on 29 Mar. (all 88 counties) On 03 May, this Snowy Egret was photographed by Patty McK- elvey while it foraged along the ONWR WD. Little Blue Heron One was at Stonelick SP, Clermont, on 23 Apr (John Landon) and another at the Ellis Lake wet- lands, Butler, from 10 to 25 May (m. obs.) Green Heron The first two were at least three weeks earlier than expected, but several birders saw them at M.L. “Red” Trabue NP, Franklin, on 22 Mar. The next was only a bit early at the Hebron hatchery, Licking, on 06 Apr (Margaret Bow- man, Brad Imhoff). Nathan Mast found 10 at Funk was the favorite feeding ground for this Green Heron while Killbuck on 15 May. (75 counties) Su Snyder was there on 27 Apr.

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Osprey Cooper’s Hawk Sarah Lord saw the first, at the Warren section Jason Bojczyk’s hawk watch at Maumee Bay on of Spring Valley WA on 12 Mar. A hawk watch 02 Apr produced nine. (78 counties) at Malek Park, Ashtabula, by Duane Miller and Northern Goshawk Atlee Yoder on 18 Apr produced 50. Don Niece A post from Ashtabula has a description but saw the second-highest number, 15 at Indian one from Holmes has nothing to support the Lake SP, Logan, on 22 Apr. (79 counties) identification. Golden Eagle Bald Eagle Ten were reported, starting on 12 Mar with Larry Richardson found 33 at Mosquito WA on one near Fresno, Coshocton (Benjamin Yoder) 14 Mar. (83 counties) and ending with solos on 18 Apr at Malek Park, Ashtabula (Duane Miller and Atlee Yoder) and Red-shouldered Hawk near Walhonding, Coshocton (Elias Raber). The Jason Bojczyk counted 148 passing Maumee Bay sightings were distributed among Ashtabula (1), on 13 Mar, and up to 95 were seen there on other Coshocton (5), Sandusky (1), Wayne (2), and dates. The most elsewhere were the eight which Wyandot (1). Dan Gesualdo saw passing East Sandusky Bay MP, Erie, on 14 Mar. (78 counties) Northern Harrier Duane Miller and Atlee Yoder, the Malek Park, Broad-winged Hawk Ashtabula, hawk watchers, counted 36 on 18 Randy Rowe saw the first, two sub-adults over Apr. Susan Brauning found 12 along Larue- Wright Marsh on 01 Apr. That’s a little early for Green Camp Road, Marion, on 01 Mar. (70 the northern half of the state. The next were sin- counties) gles on 06 Apr in Guernsey and Hocking and two in Medina the same day. The Malek Park, Sharp-shinned Hawk Ashtabula, hawk watch on 18 Apr tallied 4240 Duane Miller and Atlee Yoder saw 562 stream by (Duane Miller and Atlee Yoder), while Dan Ge- Malek Park, Ashtabula, on 18 Apr. Janice Farral sualdo counted 547 passing East Sandusky Bay and Joshua Vardous watched 45 pass their Lo- MP, Erie, on 23 Apr. (66 counties) rain yard on 01 May. (67 counties) Red-tailed Hawk Mississippi Kite Jason Bojczyk counted 130 from The Hill at The OBRC has reports from Ashland and Maumee Bay on 02 Apr. John Pogacnik’s 49 at Summit. Posts from Clermont, Greene, Ham- Lake Erie Bluffs on 07 Apr was the second-high- ilton, Holmes, Richland, Ross, and Summit est number. (all 88 counties) have photos, descriptions, or both. Rough-legged Hawk Bill Ohlsen and Chris Pierce separately report- ed the last, from Sandy Ridge on 24 Apr. Jen Brumfield saw seven at Cleveland Hopkins Air- port on 04 Mar and up to four were seen there other days. Three sites each hosted three birds. (27 counties) Barn Owl Justin Berkheimer et al. saw an adult and five young at a nest box in Holmes on 31 May. Reports also came from Fairfield, Franklin, Union, and Wayne. Great Horned Owl The high count of four came from six locations; though some posts didn’t specify, it’s likely they were all families. (60 counties) Snowy Owl Brent Woerner photographed one perched at the Lake Health Medical Center, Lake, on 19 Mar. One spent from 07 to 17 Apr at Howard Marsh, and the one seen only on 07 and 17 Apr at next- door Metzger was most likely the same bird (m. Jenny Bowman captured a photo of a Mississippi Kite near its nest at Junction Earthworks, Ross, on May 19. obs.). 112 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Five locations each hosted four, and like the quin- These often stay until the end of May, but Steve tets of Great Horned Owls, most groups were Landes saw this spring’s last on 07 May, at Del- probably families. (66 counties) aware WA. The second-last was Jason Bojczyk’s find at Howard Marsh on 16 Apr. A roosting site in the Rocky River valley, Cuyahoga, produced eight for Jen Brumfield on 17 Mar. Robert Yocum found five at Wright-Patterson AFB, Greene, on 06 Mar. (23 counties) Northern Saw-whet Owl The reports, all of single birds, are: At CLNP from 23 to 30 Mar (m. obs.) At Quail Hollow SP, Stark, on 27 Mar (m. obs.) At Maumee Bay on 28 Mar (Paul Jacyk) At Mill Creek Park, Mahoning, on 10 Apr (Mol- ly Toth) At Magee on 03 May (m. obs.) Belted Kingfisher John Pogacnik watched 14 pass Lake Erie Bluffs on 12 Apr. Douglas Vogus et al. counted 11 during the 06 Apr CVNP census. (84 counties)

An inquisitive Barred Owl spotted Jen Allen birding at Glen Echo Park, Franklin, on 24 Apr.

Eastern Screech-Owl Peter Debes counted five at Maumee Bay starting at 9:00 pm on 14 May. (40 counties)

Gautam Apte captured a stunning photograph of a Belted King- fisher patrolling the OSU campus on 15 Apr.

Red-headed Woodpecker Matt Anderson counted 53 in OOPMP on 09 Mar; see Field Notes for more. Jason Bojczyk found 34 there three days later. The most else- One of the famous Eastern Screech-Owls at Magee gave Sean where were Lydia Machczynski’s 20 at Geneva Hollowell the stink eye on 16 May as he clicked away alongside SP, Ashtabula, on 08 May. (81 counties) other birders and photographers. Red-bellied Woodpecker Long-eared Owl John Pogacnik caught a major movement on 06 Brad Goodner heard the characteristic long hoot May; he saw 41 at Lake Erie Bluffs that day. Dick of one while “talking” with Barred Owls on Bro- Lee had counted 33 at the Bur Oak Reservation, cius Road, Portage, on 04 May. That’s a couple Lorain, on 24 Mar. (all 88 counties) of weeks after they’ve usually left. Janice Grimes Yellow-bellied Sapsucker saw the second-last, in the Ottawa section of Nina Rach saw one at Metzger on 15 May. It was Magee on 26 Apr, still a bit late. The last before probably the last northbound migrant, as all of those two was Susan Brauning’s at ONWR on the later sightings were at or near their known 07 Apr. The Norma Johnson Center, Tuscara- nesting areas in the northeastern counties. Leah was, hosted three on 01 Apr for Elias Raber. (11 Driscoll and John Finn counted 11 in Glen Echo counties) Park, Franklin, on 06 Apr. (71 counties)

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Downy Woodpecker dusky Bay MP, Erie, on 03 May. Reports came The high count of 18 was shared by Karl from all counties except Crawford, Monroe, Mechem at Columbus’ Green Lawn Cemetery and Van Wert. on 01 Mar and Timothy Gotsick at ONWR on 24 Mar. Only Pike didn’t have a sighting. Hairy Woodpecker A trio of birders counted 13 along only 1.5 miles of trail in the Hocking section of Wayne NF. (all 88 counties) Northern Flicker “There was a constant stream of flickers migrat- ing west” at Lake Erie Bluffs on 12 Apr; John Pogacnik counted 252 in four hours. Other days produced counts of up to 228 there. Joan Scharf saw the most elsewhere, 50 at Headlands on 08 Apr, and wrote of the “[h]uge migration coming Bruce Miller had a close encounter with an Eastern Kingbird at along the shore from the east”. (all 88 counties) Shawnee SP on 27 Apr. Pileated Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher The high count was six. Ned DeLamatre saw that The first was right on time; Jody Strong saw it many at CVNP’s Hunt Farm on 17 Mar as did at Caesar Creek on 01 May. Sightings continued Adam Mitchell near Flushing, Belmont, on 04 into Jun. Counts of three came from OOPMP on Apr. Pike and Van Wert didn’t provide sightings. 24 May (Nate Koszycki) and Magee on 26 May American Kestrel (Patricia Patterson). (31 counties) John Pogacnik’s four hours at Lake Erie Bluffs on Eastern Wood-Pewee 12 Apr produced 108 of these. The Malek Park, Melanie Shuter heard the distinctive call of Ashtabula hawk watchers on 18 Apr counted 82 the first, at Mary Virginia Crites Hannan Park, (Atlee Yoder et al.). All counties except Coshoc- Pickaway, on 13 Apr, a week or so earlier than ton, Jackson, and Vinton had sightings. expected, but it was soon followed by others. A Merlin banding crew at the Jones Preserve on Kelleys Is- Diane Early saw the last of the season, two birds land processed 20 on 19 May (Tom Bartlett and in Columbus on 30 May, but two more were spot- Andy Jones, et al.). No reports came from Jeffer- ted in Jun elsewhere. Atlee Yoder et al. counted 11 son, Meigs, and Pike. at Malek Park, Ashtabula, on 18 Apr. That was Yellow-bellied Flycatcher the only count exceeding two. (39 counties) Beverly Levreault saw the first, at Magee on 07 Peregrine Falcon May, about a week early for the north coast. Irina Shulgina saw a pair with three young chicks Three were separately seen on 30 May, the last on the OSU North Campus on 31 May. (37 date of the season, but a few were still here in counties) Jun. The BSBO banding team at ONWR Na- varre processed 37 on 25 May. They and other Great Crested Flycatcher banders counted up to 32 on other dates and at Several birders saw the first, at Shawnee Lookout other sites. The most otherwise were the four about timed as expected on 20 Apr. Three far- which Julie Heitz and Rick Nirschl saw at Magee north sites hosted singles on 24 Apr. Andy Walk- on 19 May. (34 counties) er counted 14 at Maumee Bay on 03 May. Only Monroe and Pike didn’t have sightings. Acadian Flycatcher Judy Hochadel saw the first, on 16 Apr along the Western Kingbird Western Reserve Greenway Bike Trail, Trum- A post from Franklin has a photo and one from bull (hereafter WRGBT). That’s at least a week Richland has a description. earlier than usual for the upper half of the state, Eastern Kingbird but the next reached Holden on 24 Apr (Haans These usually arrive in mid-Apr, and this year Petruschke and Mike Watson). Linda Ar kayaked was no exception. The first date of 13 Apr was 4.5 miles of Rocky Fork Creek, Highland, on 25 shared by Joe Brehm and Karen Mammone at May and tallied 39. (71 counties) Tom Jenkins Dam, Athens, and Bill Stanley at Alder Flycatcher his Clermont home. Daily sightings began two The first was Jennifer Suydam’s in Findlay,Han - days later. Dan Gesualdo found 33 at East San-

114 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019 cock, on 05 May, a bit early for so far north. Ma- Bell’s Vireo gee hosted 10 for Henrey Deese on 25 May. (45 Gale Wulker saw the first, at Buck Creek on counties) 04 May. The next was a solo along the Marion Willow Flycatcher Tallgrass Trail on 10 May (m. obs.). Lots of folks Another early arrival: George Weigly saw it at reported three from Darby Creek on 27 and 28 Richardson Farm, Athens, on 27 Apr. The north May. (9 counties) coast’s first were two at Magee on 03 May (m. obs.), early for there but about the expected date for the southern part of the state. Marty Reynard counted 22 at CLNP on 24 May. (72 counties) Alder/Willow “Traill’s” Flycatcher The ONWR Navarre banding station processed 107 on 25 May (BSBO staff). (25 counties) Least Flycatcher For a change, this species’ first sighting was about when expected. Andrew O’Connor ticked it at Lake Barber, Hamilton, on 21 Apr. One got to Lake Erie soon after; Josiah Stumbo saw it at CLNP on 26 Apr. Six locations each held 12 Ronnie Clark photographed this Bell’s Vireo on 19 May at Dar- by Creek. birds on mid-May dates. (62 counties) Eastern Phoebe Yellow-throated Vireo Sightings were scattered throughout winter, so Trevor Zook saw the first, along the Hockhock- the first sightings, on 01 Mar, aren’t really firsts. ing Adena Bikeway, Athens, on 15 Apr. It took a But Erin Allen’s 25 at Headlands on 06 Apr were week, until 22 Apr, before George Novosel saw the most. Only Van Wert didn’t have a sighting. one at Magee. Shawnee Lookout hosted 12 for Neill Cade on 27 Apr. (80 counties) Northern Shrike The Magee causeway is usually a good place to Blue-headed Vireo find these, and Paul Jacyk did that on 26 Mar The first was a week early for mid-state; Leah for the last sighting. The only duo was Andrew Driscoll found it in Glen Echo Park, Franklin, Hood’s at Delaware WA on 03 Mar. (9 counties) on 28 Mar. Tom Frankel saw the north coast’s first, at Mentor Marsh SNP, Lake, on 06 Apr. White-eyed Vireo Jim Danzenbaker counted 13 at Magee on 01 David A. Brinkman and Scott Pendleton shared May. (70 sites) first-sighting honors on 10 Apr, at Shawnee Lookout and the Buckeye Trail, Harrison, re- Philadelphia Vireo spectively. Lots of folks saw one at Magee two Several birders discovered the first, a little early days later. Kimberly Bostwick and David Wills at Shawnee on 27 Apr. Lake Erie-side sites had counted 19 at Crown City WA, Lawrence, on 05 up to three on 03 May. Two early Jun sightings May, and Neill Cade saw or heard 14 at Shawnee followed this season’s last, which was by Natalie Lookout on 27 Apr. (75 counties) Carusillo at O’Shaughnessy NP, Delaware, on 31 May. The high count of four was shared by four locations. (43 counties) Warbling Vireo For a change, WAVI’s first sightings, at three lo- cations on 17 Apr, were about a week later than expected. Magee hosted 45 on 08 May (Chris Followay) and up to 44 on other dates. The most elsewhere were 31 at CLNP on 24 May (Marty Reynard). (all 88 counties) Red-eyed Vireo The first was Zachary Allen’s in Wayne NF, Law- There is no question where the White-eyed Vireo gets its name rence, on 17 Apr. David Myles saw one near Port after you see this beautiful 28 Apr photo by Bruce Miller at Clinton, Ottawa, on 24 Apr. Three miles of trav- Shawnee SP. el in Shawnee on 20 May produced 50 for Dylan Vasapolli. Only Henry didn’t have a sighting.

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Blue Jay Tree Swallow John Pogacnik spent four hours on 06 May These started arriving in late Feb; the first of counting migrants at Lake Erie Bluffs; he tallied spring were singles at three locations on 02 Mar. an astounding 22,546 jays. The next most were The most were J. Gary Kohlenberg’s 1000 at the approximately 10,000 which Andy Walker Maumee Bay on 07 May. Meigs alone didn’t saw from the CCE Trail that same day. (all 88 produce a report. counties) Northern Rough-winged Swallow American Crow Gordon and Jody Bills saw the first, two at Lake Dennis McGillicuddy estimated that 5000 were Barber, Hamilton, on 24 Mar. Cynthia Norris settling in at a roost in Zanesville, Muskingum, and Bennie Saylor found one at the Ira Road on 04 Mar. Gary Cowell’s 300 at Cooke Family area of CVNP on 02 Apr. About 600 were work- Conservation Park, Richland, on 09 Mar was ing Mentor Marsh SNP, Lake, on 08 May (Becky the second-highest count. Putnam alone didn’t Donaldson). John Pogacnik counted 197, the sec- produce a crow report. ond-highest number, at Lake Erie Bluffs on 01 Fish Crow May. Only Pike didn’t have a sighting. These were reported in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Bank Swallow Franklin, Lake, Mahoning, and Summit. The The first were at least a month earlier than ex- OBRC has one report from Franklin; support- pected. Tom Kemp saw one at Grand Rapids, ing data from the other counties’ posts range Lucas, and Jacob Raber another at Overton from a brief description to photos. Ponds, Wayne, on 15 Mar. The next, Marga- Common Raven ret Bowman’s find at Dillon WA, Licking, on Scott Pendleton found four at The Bowl on 30 03 Apr was still a week ahead of schedule. Tom May and there were many duos elsewhere. (14 Frankel saw about 400 at Lake Erie Bluffs on 16 counties) May and up to 250 were reported there on other dates. The most elsewhere were the 200 which Horned Lark David Factor saw along the Esker Ridge Trail, Tim Troutner’s 150 at New Baltimore, Wood, Portage, on 08 May. (62 counties) on 03 Mar were the most. Next were Jason Bo- jczyk’s 111 passing Maumee Bay on 13 Mar. (72 Cliff Swallow counties) Richard Payne found three at Lake Barber, Hamilton, on 21 Mar, only a week or so earlier than usual. Jim McCormac saw one at Killbuck two days later but the north coast’s first weren’t seen until 17 Apr, at Howard Marsh (m. obs.). Bob Lane provided the high count of 240, from Berlin Lake on 30 May. The next most were the 150 which Robert Edelen and Ginny Fantetti saw at the mouth of Bullskin Creek, Clermont, on 22 May. (63 counties) Cave Swallow Posts from the Franklin/Madison border have photos but no report to the OBRC came from the sightings. Patty McKelvey got low for a photo of a Horned Lark showing off its namesake field mark at Howard Marsh on 03 May. Barn Swallow Ryan Weber saw one at Wilderness Road on 20 Purple Martin Mar, about two weeks early for that far north. Ken and Julie Davis saw the first one. It was The next were singles on 26 Mar at Pickerington mixing with Tree Swallows at the north end of Ponds (Carl Winstead) and Eastwood MP, Mont- Hoover Reservoir on 17 Mar, and was about two gomery (Jenny Bowman). J. Gary Kohlenberg’s weeks early for mid-state. Brian Wulker’s at Fer- 500 at Maumee Bay on 07 May was the highest nald on 20 Mar was still a bit of a pioneer, as was number. (all 88 counties) John Pogacnik’s at Lake Erie Bluffs on 28 Mar. Carolina Chickadee Flocks of 200 were at ONWR on 22 Apr (An- The high count of 28 was shared by Jamie Cun- drew O’Connor) and 06 May (Ernesto Reyes). ningham at Aullwood Audubon Farm and Cen- (77 counties) ter, Montgomery, on 16 Mar and Charles Bom- baci at Delaware WA on 18 Apr. (67 counties)

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Black-capped Chickadee The high count of three was shared by sites in Joseph Ford and Brady Holko found 35 around Erie, Lorain, and Lucas. (13 counties) Mogador Reservoir, Portage, on 17 Mar. (34 Marsh Wren counties) The early arrival trend continues with these: The Chickadee sp. first sighting was of two birds at Lorain on 15 Indeterminate birds were reported from 21 Mar (Cynthia Norris) and others found them counties. there from that day on. (That’s two weeks be- Tufted Titmouse fore they usually cross the Ohio River.) The first The Bacon Woods section of the Vermilion Res- sighting elsewhere was by Ronnie Clark at Darby ervation, Lorain, hosted 30 for Janice Farral on Creek on 21 Mar, still about two weeks early for 25 Apr. (all 88 counties) mid-state. Paul Jacyk estimated 80 were along the ONWR WD on 19 May and many other high Red-breasted Nuthatch counts came from there and the other northwest- Following a banner winter for these, it’s not sur- ern marshes. Jon Cefus’ 20 at Killbuck on 26 prising that two groups each found 20 birds. Ed- May were the most away from Lucas and Otta- die and Elizabeth Monson’s were at Magee on wa. (31 counties) 04 May, while Andy Jones et al. banded 12 and saw or heard eight more on South Bass Island, Carolina Wren Ottawa, on 05 May. (77 counties) Jeremy Dominguez counted 18 at Burr Oak SP, Morgan, on 06 Apr. Van Wert alone didn’t have White-breasted Nuthatch a sighting. Jen Brumfield counted 21 in the Rocky Riv- er Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 11 Mar. (all 88 Bewick’s Wren counties) A report from Wood had no supporting information. Brown Creeper Josh Hargrave found 18 along the Zimmerman Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Trail in Mentor Marsh SNP, Lake, on 08 Apr. Zella Nisley saw the first, at Lake Snowden, Ath- (79 counties) ens, on 29 Mar, about when expected. The next, Nicole Garner’s in Pepper Pike, Cuyahoga, on House Wren 02 Apr, was early for the north coast. The high The first were more than a week early on 31 Mar. count of 50 was shared by m. obs. at Slate Run On that day, Doug Gilbert saw one at Phillips MP, Pickaway, on 28 Apr and Tim Cook at Park, Hamilton, and Jeff Kurtzman saw two Magee on 04 May. (all 88 counties) along the Prairie Trail, Greene. Ellie Benedict saw the first for the far north, at Forest Ridge Golden-crowned Kinglet Preserve, Cuyahoga, on 07 Apr, about when MaryAnn Thesing’s duo in Euclid, Cuyahoga, they’re first expected near the Ohio River. Rhon- on 21 May were the last, though a few sometimes da Miller counted 46 at Magee on 18 May; the stick around to nest. Magee was hopping on 07 next most were 41 found during the 05 May Apr when Chris Pierce counted 69 there, and up CVNP census (Douglas Vogus et al.). Only Jack- to 54 were seen on other dates. On that same 07 son didn’t have a sighting. Apr, Jason Bojczyk counted 46 at Maumee Bay. (82 counties) Winter Wren The last migrants were seen on 01 May in a lush Ruby-crowned Kinglet Euclid, Cuyahoga, yard (MaryAnn Thesing), Several of these were in southern Ohio in Feb, and at Headlands (Cole DiFabio). Others were so the first sighting’s date of 01 Mar isn’t a sur- seen into summer at nesting areas like Holden’s prise. Kirk Westendorf found the bird at Lake Stebbins Gulch and the Kendall Ledges area of Barber, Hamilton. Dan Gesualdo saw the first CVNP. Counts of 14 came from Magee on 07 for the north coast at Willow Point WA, Erie, on Apr (Richard Domokos) and Green Lawn Ceme- 14 Mar. The last was Mary Ann Wagner’s at her tery, Franklin, on 12 Apr (m. obs.). (55 counties) Lake home on 31 May; there were no Jun re- ports. Counts of 200 to 500 came from Magee Sedge Wren on 04 May (m. obs.). Andy Jones’ team banded Michael Lamont thoroughly described the two 40 of the 100 they noted on South Bass Island, he found at Darby Creek on 08 Apr, a month ear- Ottawa, on 05 May. (82 counties) lier than usual for mid-state. The second, possibly one of the same birds, was seen there on 01 May Eastern Bluebird (m. obs.), still a week ahead of schedule. But one Karen Zeleznik counted 20 in the Kendall Ledges got to Magee the next day for LeAnne Holland. area of CVNP on 19 Mar. (all 88 counties)

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Veery er, let alone almost to Lake Erie. The next date Jack Verdin found one at Shawnee Lookout on was more timely; four sites each hosted one or 17 Apr, only a little earlier than expected. But more birds on 13 Apr. Jon Cefus and Ben Morri- Ryan Lesniewicz’s two at Magee on 23 Apr were son teamed up to count 35 along Chapel Drive, definitely ahead of schedule. Christina Stump Noble, on 18 May. Only Auglaize and Henry counted 15 along the Lyons Falls Trail in Mohi- didn’t provide sightings. can SP on 17 May. (56 counties) Gray Catbird American Robin The high count of 60 was shared by Bob Helton Jason Bojczyk counted by 10s as robins streamed at Wendy Park on 10 May and m. obs. at Magee past The Hill at Maumee Bay on 02 Apr and on both 12 and 13 May. (all 88 counties) ended with 3800 for the day. On 23 Mar he had counted 2470 there. The most elsewhere were John Pogacnik’s 1956 which passed Lake Erie Bluffs on 14 Mar. (all 88 counties)

This inquisitive Gray Catbird popped up on 18 May to see how Kathy Mock’s day was going at Clinton Towpath in Summit. Brown Thrasher Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison counted 20 along Debbie Parker photographed this American Robin on 12 Mar Chapel Drive on 18 May. The next most were at Lorain. Lucas Weaver’s 11 near Fredericksburg, Holmes, Gray-cheeked Thrush on 19 Apr. Only Pike didn’t have a sighting. Karen Markey saw the first, at Columbus’ Green Northern Mockingbird Lawn Cemetery on 27 Apr. Rick Nirschl saw the A few minutes on the grounds of St. Therese’s far north’s first at his Toledo home on 01 May. Retreat Center in Columbus produced 17 for Both dates are about a week earlier than the his- Yvette Higgins on 06 Apr. The next most were torical norms for their latitudes. The last date of eight at Fernald on 04 May (Ellie Hahn) and near the season was 29 May though three sightings Fox Lake, Athens, on 18 May (Terry Bronson). also came on 01 Jun. Carolyn Spidle counted 10 Remember when mockingbirds were scarce? in Pearson MP, Lucas, on 10 May. (49 counties) Only four counties didn’t have sightings this Swainson’s Thrush spring. Teri and Tim Drewyor saw the first, all the way European Starling up at Magee on 13 Apr, two weeks before they Lorain hosted about 10,000 on 18 Mar for Josh- used to get to Lake Erie. Sightings continued into ua Vardous and up to 6000 on other dates. The the first week of Jun as usual. Kandace Glanville most elsewhere were the 3020 which John Po- et al. banded 75 at ONWR Navarre on 19 May gacnik saw from Lake Erie Bluffs on 03 Apr. (all and birders found up to 60 at Magee that day. 88 counties) The most not near Lake Erie were Brian Menk- er’s 15 at Hills and Dales MP, Montgomery, on Cedar Waxwing 17 May. (77 counties) Several observers at Lake Erie Bluffs on 19 May agreed that about 1000 went past westbound that Hermit Thrush day, and up to about 500 were counted there on Magee hosted 30 on 23 Apr (m. obs.). (73 other dates. Leslie Sours found about 250 at Pick- counties) erington Ponds on 27 May. (78 counties) Wood Thrush House Sparrow Susan Carpenter’s find at Nimisila Reservoir, Brian Tinker saw about 200 in downtown Cleve- Summit, on 27 Mar was at least two weeks ear- land on both 25 and 26 May. Joan Scharf not- lier than they’re expected along the Ohio Riv-

118 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019 ed about 100 along the Strawberry Pond Trail, Purple Finch Cuyahoga, on 10 Mar. (all 88 counties) Between flyovers and some which landed, Jim American Pipit Danzenbaker counted 45 at Magee on 01 May. Though a few were here as early as Jan, larger Dick Hoopes and Kelly Kozlowski found 26 movements began in Feb. The last date was 19 along the Maple Highlands Trail, Geauga, on May, when Bill Ohlsen saw four in Westlake, 04 May. (70 counties) Cuyahoga, and Jason Bojczyk another at How- Common Redpoll ard Marsh. Leslie Sours found a flock of 60 in LaDue was the only site; Inga Schmidt saw three Deer Creek WA on 08 Mar. (44 counties) there on 09 Mar and David English a single bird Evening Grosbeak on 15 Mar. Though these were seen all winter long, Benja- Red Crossbill min Yoder’s along County Road 190 in Coshoc- Alex Eberts found two at Lake Hope SP, Vinton, ton on 13 Mar was this season’s first. Lou Ann on 11 Mar. Shellenberger saw the last, one bird in Copley, White-winged Crossbill Summit, on 07 May. Jonas Yoder provided the Tom Kaczynski saw the only one, at Gully Brook high count of seven, from a property on County Park, Lake, on 20 Mar. Road 150, Coshocton, on 11 Apr. Reports also came from Ashland, Greene, Hocking, Lucas, American Goldfinch Muskingum, and Portage. Jason Bojczyk’s morning of 06 May on The Hill at Maumee Bay produced 2136 “[i]ndividually Pine Siskin clicked streaming west”. John Pogacnik counted These were here all season with a few lingering 292 passing Lake Erie Bluffs that same day. (all into Jun. Birders reported 70 to 75 at Maumee 88 counties) Bay on 07 May. The most elsewhere were 30 at Cincinnati’s Spring Grove Cemetery on 28 Apr Lapland Longspur (Jack Stenger) and at Magee on 06 May (Eddie Ashley Collins saw the last, at Howard Marsh Monson). (59 counties) on 07 May. Previously, John Herman had found two along Champion Road, Richland, on 30 Apr and 01 May. Richard Bradley and Russell Scalf saw about 400 near Rockford, Mercer, on 16 Apr, and the second-highest count was Jason Bojczyk’s 154 at Maumee Bay on 13 Mar. (20 counties) Smith’s Longspur Posts from Mercer and Madison have photos. Snow Bunting Richard Nugent saw the last, at Pymatuning SP, Ashtabula, on 12 Mar. Brad Goodner moni- tored a flock of 200 by Soltis Road, Geauga, between 06 and 08 Mar; he also contributed the second-highest count, 30, from Hayes Road, Geauga, on 08 Mar. Lake, Mahoning, and Wood also had sightings. Eastern Towhee Jon Cefus and Ben Morrison counted 40 along Chapel Drive on 27 Apr. Reports came from all counties except Defiance, Putnam, and Van Wert. American Tree Sparrow This Pine Siskin stopped by a feeder in Wooster, Wayne, when Su Snyder was ready with her camera on 11 Mar. The 03 Mar ONWR census crew tallied 212 (Douglas Vogus et al.). Next most were Cam Lee’s House Finch 80 at Killdeer on 21 Mar, and there were reports Brian O’Connor counted 42 at his Coshocton of 60 there and elsewhere. (71 counties) home on 20 Apr. Only Meigs didn’t have a Chipping Sparrow sighting. The high count of 74 came from Debbie Parker

119 Vol. 42 No. 3 at Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain, on 19 Apr. Only obs.). Up to eight were reported there on other Pike didn’t have a sighting. dates, and Frances Dupont and Kathy Granillo Clay-colored Sparrow found six a couple of miles north near Toledo The first spent 18 to 22 Apr at Sean Hollowell’s Airport on 07 May. The most elsewhere were home in Xenia, Greene; it was about a week ear- Cathy Beck’s four at Howard Marsh, also on 07 ly. The next date of 02 May was shared by Peter May. (9 counties) Dy-Liacco at CLNP and m. obs. at OOPMP. Savannah Sparrow Kent Miller’s near Apple Creek, Wayne, on 25 Lori Brumbaugh supplied the high count of 25, May was the last. (10 counties) from Burke Airport on 04 May. (72 counties) Grasshopper Sparrow Atlee Yoder saw the first, at his Wayne home on 07 Apr, a week or more earlier than expected. The first of the far north was in Cleveland’s Erie Street Cemetery on 17 Apr for Jen Brumfield. Jeff Goff and Dana and Sean Ricker counted 17 at Fry Family Park, Stark, on 02 May, and up to a dozen were there on other dates. Tyler Ficker and Joseph Lautenbach contributed the next-highest number, 11, from Tri-Valley WA, Muskingum, on 14 May. (56 counties) Henslow’s Sparrow Sean Hollowell shared this Clay-colored Sparrow with many The first date of 06 Apr was shared by m. obs. at visitors after its early arrival at his Greene home. Darby Creek and by Steven Klingler and Jacob Raber in Wayne NF, Hocking. Tri-Valley WA, Field Sparrow Muskingum, hosted 25 for Joseph Lautenbach Scott Myers and Pattye Nicolls found about 40 at on 14 May, and Linda Ar found 18 near Hills- OOPMP on 17 Apr. (all 88 counties) boro, Highland, on 28 May. (41 counties) Nelson’s Sparrow Singles of this seldom-seen-in-spring species were at Lake Erie Bluffs on 19 May (m. obs.), banded at ONWR Navarre, also on 19 May (Kandace Glanville and Sally Ingraham), and photographed at the CVNP Coliseum Grass- lands on 21 May (Philip Chaon). Fox Sparrow The last lingered a week or so longer than usual; Arnold Buehler found it at Bay View Park, Lu- cas, on 11 May. On 05 Apr Jason Bojczyk made a careful one-way count along trails in the Ot- While birding at Sandy Ridge, Debbie Parker photographed this tawa section of Magee and came up with 80. Field Sparrow on 26 Mar. He also provided the second-highest number, 21 along the Magee boardwalk on 30 Mar. (59 Vesper Sparrow counties) Paul Sherwood saw the first, at Irwin Prairie Song Sparrow SNP, Lucas, on 20 Mar, about a week early for Joel Throckmorton found about 270 throughout the north coast. Kori Gasaway and Rick Luehrs CLNP on 14 Mar and up to 250 were reported each counted 12 in a field on William Lucas there on other dates. Ed Pierce et al. counted 174 Road, Madison, on 20 Apr; others reported up in ONWR on 07 Apr (fide Douglas Vogus). (all to eight there. The next most were the six which 88 counties) Meg Glines found in Poland, Mahoning, on 07 Lincoln’s Sparrow May. (51 counties) A group of birders saw the first, at CLNP on 09 Lark Sparrow Apr, a good two weeks before they’re usually that OOPMP hosted the first, on 17 Apr (Brandon far north. Four sites hosted the last on 26 May. Brywczynski), and the most, 12 on 07 May (m. John Kendall counted 11 at Magee on 09 May

120 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019 and the next most were quintets at three loca- were reported from Franklin, Hancock, Mont- tions. (47 counties) gomery, Summit, and Wayne. “Oregon” juncos were well described in Darke and at two Swamp Sparrow Franklin locations. Bill Ohlsen’s 34 at Lorain on 04 May were the most. (72 counties) [White-throated Sparrow x Dark-eyed Junco] White-throated Sparrow Rick Baumann photographed this hybrid at the The last date of the season was 31 May, with Germantown MP nature center, Montgomery, sightings in three counties, but one was photo- on 07 Mar. graphed throughout Jun in Washington. Tom Kemp counted 427 from his Grand Rapids, Lu- Yellow-breasted Chat cas, yard on 03 May; see Field Notes for details. Susan Evanoff and Su Snyder saw the first, at The next most were Michael Goethe’s 316 at Shawnee on 23 Apr. One got to OOPMP on CPNWR, also on 03 May. Defiance and Henry 03 May for m. obs. Linda Ar counted 13 along alone didn’t have sightings. the Kamelands Trail, Highland, on 26 May. (60 counties) Yellow-headed Blackbird Howard Marsh hosted five between 10 and 15 May (m. obs.) Singles were seen there, elsewhere in Lucas, and in Lake, Lorain, Ottawa, and Summit.

Jen Allen photographed a coy White-throated Sparrow in the Franklin section of Clear Creek on 30 Apr.

Harris’s Sparrow Posts from Holmes had descriptions. One from Franklin had a photo. This male Yellow-headed Blackbird was the highlight of Susan White-crowned Sparrow Evanoff’s trip to Howard Marsh on 09 May. Sightings were steady to the last, which was on 31 May at Mary Ann Wagner’s Lake home. Counts Bobolink of 50 came from Magee on 23 Apr (Jamie Cun- The first was a little early when Lori McCollister ningham) and the CCE Trail on 03 May (Chris saw it in Muskingum on 18 Apr. Matt Kappler Peet). An individual of the western gambelii sub- saw the first for the far north, in the CVNP Col- species was documented at Maumee Bay on 07 iseum Grasslands on 24 Apr. The Wilds hosted May; David Sibley is credited with confirming 128 for Tim Troutner on 11 May, and Jon Cefus the identification. (77 counties) and Ben Morrison found about 100 along Chap- el Drive on 18 May. (64 counties) Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) Ken Vinciquerra saw what was probably the last Eastern Meadowlark migrant, at Squire Valleevue Farm, Cuyahoga, Karen Markey provided the high count of 26, on 27 May; sightings continued at their usu- from the Seip Earthworks, Ross, on 30 May. (all al nesting locations. Karen and Rich Kassouf 88 counties) counted 115 at West Park Cemetery, Cuyahoga, Western Meadowlark on 12 Apr, and Ed Pierce et al. almost tied them Many birders saw and heard one at ONWR’s with 114 at ONWR on 07 Apr (fide Douglas Vo- Adam Grimm Prairie, Ottawa, on 19 May. Mic- gus). Only Jackson, Meigs, and Mercer didn’t ki Dunakin found another at her Paulding prop- have sightings. erty on 23 May. Dark-eyed Junco (Other) Orchard Oriole Individuals identified as subspecies cismontanus Gordon and Jody Bills saw the first, at Armleder Park on 18 Apr. Bill Ohlsen saw the first for the 121 Vol. 42 No. 3 far north, at the Station Road area of CVNP on Blackbird sp. 25 Apr. Several birders found 15 at Lake Erie Kevin and Patty McKelvey wrote from Lorain Bluffs on 05 May and three sites each hosted on 16 Mar, “Inestimable - huge, massive rivers of nine. (80 counties) birds coming in from west, some perching in tree- tops and most diving into phragmites to roost— Baltimore Oriole mix of COGR, RUBL, RWBL, BHCO, EUST”. Two at Hoover NP (Elizabeth Ames) and one They put the number at 75,000. at Cincinnati’s Burnet Woods (Steve Pelikan) on 17 Apr were the first. Sheldon Marsh hosted the Louisiana Waterthrush north coast’s first, on 22 Apr (Mike Sustin). On One arrived a week early, on 19 Mar at CNC’s 06 May, Jason Bojczyk counted 71 passing Mau- Rowe Woods (John Neack). The next was all the mee Bay and John Pogacnik tallied 58 at Lake way up at Magee on 24 Mar (Timothy Gotsick). Erie Bluffs. (all 88 counties) Four miles of kayaking Rocky Fork Creek, High- land, on 25 May produced 24 for Linda Ar. Next most were Dylan Vasapolli’s 15 at Shawnee on 20 May. (67 counties)

Bruce Miller captured this beautiful Baltimore Oriole while birding Magee on 11 May. The sweet song of a Louisiana Waterthrush drew Leslie Sours Red-winged Blackbird to a stream bank in Delaware where she captured this photo on John Pogacnik’s morning at Lake Erie Bluffs on 16 May. 14 Mar produced 34,500. Jason Bojczyk counted 24,730 passing his watch site at Maumee Bay on Northern Waterthrush 13 Mar. (all 88 counties) The first sightings were on 12 Apr, about two weeks early at sites in Lake: Chagrin River Park Brown-headed Cowbird (Josh Hargrave) and Mentor’s Veterans Park (Dave About 10,000 infested Lorain on 18 Mar (Joshua Chase). One Jun sighting followed this season’s Vardous) and up to 8000 were reported there on last, which Brad Goodner made on the Grand other dates. Jason Bojczyk’s 4100 passing Mau- Oak Trail, Portage, on 31 May. Magee hosted 10 mee Bay on 13 Mar was the second-highest num- for Ray Bontrager on 13 May. (57 counties) ber. (all 88 counties) Ovenbird Rusty Blackbird Molly Toth saw the first, at the J.H. Barrow Field The last were two which Cynthia Beans saw at Station, Portage, on 07 Apr, a week or more Howard Marsh on 24 May; usually they’ve left early for so far north. Gautam Apte and Doug the state a week or more before then. Ben Mere- Raybuck counted 35 in Vinton Furnace Experi- dyk estimated about 4000 were at Lorain on 15 mental Forest on 06 May. (79 counties) Mar, while Janice Farral and Joshua Vardous saw about 2500 there the previous day. The most elsewhere were 400, at both Maumee Bay on 24 Mar (Jason Bojczyk) and Mentor Marsh SNP, Lake, on 06 Apr (Tom Frankel). (61 counties) Common Grackle Joshua Vardous found about 10,000 at Lorain on 18 Mar and up to 10,000 were seen there on other dates. Scott Myers saw the most elsewhere, 7500 at the Bayshore fishing access point,Lucas , on 08 Mar. (all 88 counties) An Ovenbird perched nicely for Kevin Perozeni while he was bird- ing Magee on 04 May.

122 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Worm-eating Warbler Hunting Area, Columbiana, on 20 May and The first, at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Linda Ar along the Kamelands Trail, Highland, was a bit early on 12 Apr (m. obs.). Molly Toth’s at on 26 May. (79 counties) CLNP the next day was definitely early for the north [Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler] coast. Kandace Glanville found 15 in Vinton Fur- Delaware, Erie, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, nace Experimental Forest on 27 May. (39 counties) Stark, and Wayne hosted individuals of the Prothonotary Warbler “Brewster’s” form, and the rarer “Lawrence’s” Spring Valley WA, Warren, hosted the first, on were found in Geauga and Stark. eBirders in 09 Apr (Lee Funderburg). One got to Magee on Holmes, Lucas, and Ottawa didn’t specify the 18 Apr (Geoff Malosh). John Kolar saw 20 along form seen. the upper Cuyahoga River in Geauga on 24 Black-and-white Warbler May and others found 15 in the area on other Heidi Rosales saw the first, at her Cincinnati dates. (There’s a string of nest boxes there.) (54 home on 08 Apr. The north coast’s first showed counties) up at Magee on 12 Apr (m. obs.). Gautam Apte and Doug Raybuck counted 16 at Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest on 06 May. (80 counties) Swainson’s Warbler The OBRC has one report and zillions of posts with photos from Clark. Tennessee Warbler Joe Brehm saw the first, in Morgan on 25 Apr, and Gautam Apte the first for the north coast, at Wendy Park on 30 Apr. Their migration extend- ed to 01 Jun. Henry Trimpe tallied 33 along the CVNP Wetmore Trails on 18 May. (72 counties)

Su Snyder photographed a proud Prothonotary Warbler sitting watch over Killbuck on 01 May.

Golden-winged Warbler Several birders saw the first, two at Glen Echo Park in Columbus on 23 Apr, about a week ear- ly for mid-state. It only took two more days for A Tennessee Warbler posed with the perfect backdrop for Kevin one to reach Strongsville, , for Matt Cuyahoga Perozeni at Magee on 07 May. Means. One Jun sighting followed this season’s last bird, which Matt Kappler saw at the CVNP Orange-crowned Warbler Wetmore Trails on 27 May. Richard Payne had The season’s first date was 01 Mar, but birds were eyes on three along the Mariemont S80 Trails, already here in Feb. On 01 Mar Austin Rice pho- Hamilton, on 30 Apr and there were several re- tographed one at Lake Barber, Hamilton; one ports of twos. (25 counties) had also been seen there about a month earlier. Blue-winged Warbler Another which had arrived at a South Findlay, Bryan Smith saw the first, in the Lawrence sec- Hancock, feeder on 03 Feb was seen there daily tion of Wayne NF on 13 Apr. Penny O’Connor until 05 Mar. The next showed up at the Home saw the first for the far north in the Rocky Riv- Road Marsh, Richland, on 17 Mar (Gary Cow- er Reservation, Cuyahoga, on 23 Apr. Theresa ell). But it took until 12 Apr for one to reach Lake Wolanin gave us the high count of 26, from the Erie; Kandace Glanville saw it at ONWR Na- Zaleski region on 27 Apr. Counts of 14 were varre. Jeff Harvey saw the last, at McGuffey NP, shared by Bob Lane at Hellbender Bluff Public Mahoning, on 25 May. Magee hosted five on 03 May (Gautam Apte). (40 counties)

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Nashville Warbler 36, from nine miles of the CVNP Wetmore Trails Daniel DeLapp saw the first, at Cincinnati’s on 18 May. Next most were 25 in Shawnee on Spring Grove Cemetery on 20 Apr. Two days 29 May (Michael Lamont and Chris Lotz). (75 later, Jeffrey and Stephenie Bojc found the first counties) near Lake Erie at Mentor’s Veterans Park, Lake. James Beatty saw the last, at Magee on 28 May, and Mark Seaman the most, also at Magee, 31 on 06 May. Rick Nirschl’s 23 at Wildwood Preserve MP, Lucas, on 12 May was the second-highest count. (74 counties) Connecticut Warbler The first, at Shaker Lakes, Cuyahoga, on 06 May, was two weeks early for so far north (Mi- chelle Anselmo). The last was at CLNP on 28 May (m. obs.) though their migration often ex- tends into Jun. Tom Bartlett and Andy Jones’ Kelleys Island team banded two and heard two others on 19 May. The only other multiple sight- A gorgeous Hooded Warbler graced Bruce Miller’s viewfinder ings were of duos at Magee on 19 and 21 May during a photography field trip at Shawnee SP on 27 Apr. (m. obs.). (21 counties) Mourning Warbler American Redstart The first were seen on 04 May, at two sites inCl - Jack Verdin saw the first, at Fernald on 11 Apr. ermont, one in Hamilton, and one all the way It was two more weeks before Quentin Skrabec up in Geauga. Lori Brumbaugh saw the last of saw the north coast’s first, at Magee on 25 Apr. the season, at the Erie Street Cemetery in Cleve- Magee also hosted the most, 55 seen by Kenn land on 30 May, but there were several more Kaufman on 21 May, but Cole DiFabio almost seen during the first week of Jun. BSBO staffers tied him with 50 at Headlands the same day. (82 banded 11 at ONWR Navarre on 25 May. The counties) most not at a banding station were the five which Kirtland’s Warbler James McCarty saw at Headlands on 19 May. (38 Posts from Franklin and from more than one counties) Lucas location have photos. The Columbus Zoo Kentucky Warbler Motus receiver noted one on 03 May. Joe Brehm saw the first, in the Athens section of Wayne NF on 18 Apr. Several birders saw the first for the far north, at the Rocky River Reserva- tion, Cuyahoga, on 26 Apr. About three miles of travel in Shawnee yielded 30 for Dylan Vasapolli on 20 May; next most were Brian Wulker’s seven at Shawnee Lookout on 04 May. (50 counties) Common Yellowthroat Robb Clifford saw the first, at the Routzing Pre- serve, Darke, on 20 Mar. That’s about a month early for the latitude. The next was also early on 06 Apr, at Shawnee Prairie Preserve, also Darke (m. obs.). Molly Toth found two at CLNP on 13 Kevin Perozeni nailed this photo of a beautiful Kirtland’s War- Apr, the first near Lake Erie. Honey Run High- bler that excited the Biggest Week crowds at Magee on 06 May. lands Park, Knox, hosted 43 for Nathan Mast on 11 May. Only Crawford and Pike didn’t have sightings. Cape May Warbler Judy Hochadel saw the first two, during her Hooded Warbler morning on the WRGBT on 16 Apr. That’s al- The first was in Logan, Hocking, on 06 Apr most two weeks early for so far north. Corinna (Renee Frederick). Next was one at Tar Hollow Honscheid and Beth Lenoble found the next, in SF, Ross, on 13 Apr (Dave Barnett) and the first Scioto Trail SP, Ross, on 25 Apr. Several birders for the far north was at Magee on 18 Apr (m. saw one or two at Magee on 01 May. Dave Chase obs.). Henry Trimpe provided the high count of saw the last, at Headlands on 28 May. Magee’s

124 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019 numbers topped at 50 on 14 May (m. obs.) and Yellow Warbler the most elsewhere were Cam Lee’s 11 at Terra- Gregory Allen saw the first, in hisFranklin yard dise NP, Marion, on 12 May. (63 counties) on 08 Apr, about a week ahead of schedule for Cerulean Warbler mid-state. Michael Hensley saw the far north’s The first date of 16 Apr was shared by Gregory first, in Sandusky, Erie, on 15 Apr. Douglas Vo- Hartman at Mohican SP and Melissa Wales in gus et al. counted 489 during the 05 May ONWR the Athens section of Wayne NF. The far north’s census. Next most were 400 in wetlands along first was at the Station Road area of CVNP on Route 269 south of Route 2, Erie, on 09 May 25 Apr (Bill Ohlsen). Shawnee hosted the most, (m. obs.). Only Pike didn’t have a sighting. 20 for Dylan Vasapolli on 20 May. (62 counties) Chestnut-sided Warbler Northern Parula The first were about three weeks early; KellyWil - Jack Verdin provided an excellent description of liams found one in Athens on 09 Apr and Mark the early arrival he saw at Fernald on 28 Mar. Ruane saw another the next day at Spring Valley Kathi Hutton’s at Withrow NP, Hamilton, on WA, Warren. The third was still early for the lat- 06 Apr was the next. It took a while, but up to itude, at Indian Lake SP, Logan, on 21 Apr (Don three made it to Magee on 18 Apr (m. obs.). As Niece), as was the north coast’s first, at Magee on is frequent, Magee had the high count, 25 on 01 May (m. obs.). Magee’s 55 on 11 May were 11 May (Pam Hornick). Rick Nirschl found 19 the most (m. obs.), and 12s at sites in Cuyahoga at Wildwood NP, Lucas, for the second-highest (1), Franklin (2), and Montgomery (1) were the number. (77 counties) most elsewhere. (72 counties) Magnolia Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Alexis Treeger saw the first, at Englewood about Judy Hochadel saw one along the WRGBT on a week early on 21 Apr. Samuel Payne’s at Head- 16 Apr, almost two weeks early for Trumbull. lands on 22 Apr was the next, and earlier still for Next were singles on 27 Apr in Butler, Frank- the north coast. One migrant straggler lasted into lin, Medina, and Montgomery. Several birders Jun and several birds remained in their few nest- found one at each of Sandy Ridge and Magee on ing areas. The BSBO banding team processed 37 02 May. Their migration continued into Jun. Bill at ONWR Navarre on 25 May. The most seen by Deininger counted 20 at Magee on 24 May, while non-banders was 30, at Magee on 11 May (Pam Tyler McClain’s 14 at Kelleys Island on 22 May Hornick), and the most away from Magee were were the most elsewhere. (70 counties) 12 in a Coshocton woodlot on 18 May (m. obs.) Black-throated Blue Warbler (71 counties) Several birders saw one or two at Mill Creek Bay-breasted Warbler Park, Mahoning, on 23 Apr, at least a week early Zaleski provided the first sighting, a bit early for that far north. One got to the Canalway Cen- on 28 Apr (Thomas Winczek), and OOPMP ter, Cuyahoga, on 28 Apr (m. obs.). Brooklynne the far north’s first, on 03 May (m. obs.). Lou- Price saw the season’s last, at the Kendall Ledges ise Acheson and Ken Vinciquerra saw the last, area of CVNP on 31 May, but there was at least at an Ashtabula private property on 31 May. one Jun sighting as well. Magee again took top Magee again hosted the most, 30 on 22 May (m. honors with 20 reported on each of 10, 13, and obs.). CVNP’s Wetmore Trails had 13 for Hen- 15 May (m. obs.). Mill Creek Park, Mahoning, ry Trimpe on 18 May, the most elsewhere. (59 hosted 10 on 08 May, the most away from Magee counties) (Nicholas Parish and John Petruzzi). (65 counties) Blackburnian Warbler Palm Warbler The typical first arrival date of 23 Apr was shared Mark Kraus saw the first; it was about a week by sites in Athens, Franklin, and Lucas; those early at East Fork on 31 Mar. One made it to the in the last two counties were one and two weeks Ira Road area of CVNP on 08 Apr (m. obs.). Jack early for their latitudes respectively. The last mi- Leow saw the last, along the Slippery Elm Trail, grants were seen on 29 May, at Chagrin River Wood, on 30 May. Tim Krynak found about 100 Park, Lake (Josh Hargrave) and Magee (Larry at the Wellington Upground Reservoir, Lorain, Richardson), though Mohican hosted probable on 05 May. (76 counties) nesters in Jun. Magee’s 20 on 11 May were the “Yellow” Palm Warbler most (Pam Hornick) and 15 at Wildwood Pre- This subspecies, hypochrysea, warrants special serve MP, Lucas, on 12 May the next most (Rick attention when seen west of the Appalachian Nirschl). (71 counties) Mountains. Jennifer Allison and Matt Kap- pler photographed one at the Ira Road area of

125 Vol. 42 No. 3

CVNP on 08 Apr and Tom Bartlett banded one Black-throated Green Warbler at Springville Marsh SNP, Seneca, on 27 Apr. Lynda Andrews saw the first, at Burr Oak SP, Pine Warbler Morgan, on 08 Apr. Diana Steele’s at the Ober- One spent from 06 Jan to at least 16 Mar at lin College Arboretum, Lorain, on 13 Apr, was Green Lawn Cemetery, Franklin. The first oth- the first in the far north. Lori Brumbaugh found erwise was at Baileys Trail, Athens, on 01 Mar one at CLNP on 30 May; it was probably the last (Kyle Brooks; see Field Notes). Karl Overman migrant as later sightings were at known nesting saw the far north’s first, at Maumee Bay on 16 areas. Magee hosted 21 on 02 May for Philip Mar. A group of birders counted 11 at OOPMP Chaon, and two sites each had 14, the most else- on 04 May. (71 counties) where. (80 counties) Yellow-rumped Warbler Canada Warbler One Jun sighting followed this season’s last, The first was a week or so early for mid-state; which was by Kim Nordquest at Red Brook MP, m. obs. found it at Glen Echo Park, Franklin, Ashtabula, on 31 May. Jen Brumfield counted on 23 Apr. The next was Matthew Crandall’s 152 at the Vineyards Apartments in Broadview at CVNP on 01 May. Tom Bartlett and Andy Heights, Cuyahoga, on 01 May. The 05 May Jones banded 40 on Kelleys Island on 19 May, ONWR census tallied 188 (Douglas Vogus et al.). and the next most were 15 at Magee on 25 May Only Gallia and Pike didn’t have sightings. (Henrey Deese). Lori Brumbaugh and Marty Reynard found the most away from Magee and Yellow-throated Warbler banding stations, six at the Bedford Reservation, Steve Pelikan saw the first, at Cincinnati’s Burnet Cuyahoga, on 21 May. (45 counties) Woods on 29 Mar. Ann and Dwight Chasar and Karen Zeleznik each saw one in CVNP on 09 Wilson’s Warbler Apr, and Tim Colborn saw the first on the Lake These usually enter the state about 01 May, but Erie shore at Pipe Creek on 12 Apr. Counts of 12 Ben and Steve Meredyk photographed one at the came from Miller Sanctuary SNP, Highland, on Catawba Point Preserve, Catawba Island, Otta- 18 Apr (Kathy Beil-Morgan and Randy Morgan) wa, on 16 Apr. The next, two which Andy Sewell and the Station Road area of CVNP on 23 Apr saw in Columbus on 29 Apr, were still early for (Karen Zeleznik). (71 counties) mid-state. Two widely-separated sightings in early Jun followed this season’s last. That date of Prairie Warbler 31 May was shared by Cathy Green at the Bed- Jack Verdin saw the first, at Fernald on 11 Apr. ford Reservation, Cuyahoga, and Bill Ohlsen at One was at Magee the next day (m. obs.). Anne CLNP. Counts of 12 came from the BSBO band- and David Wills found 25 at Crown City WA, ers at ONWR Navarre on 25 May and Candice Lawrence, on 05 May, and up to 20 were report- Lowther at Magee on 26 May. (51 counties) ed there on other days. The most elsewhere were 19 at Highlands Nature Sanctuary, Highlands, Summer Tanager on 26 May (Linda Ar). (55 counties) Alex Eberts wrote that one at ONWR Navarre on 23 Apr was the “[m]ost surprising bird of the day. Female, captured and [b]anded.” It was that far north a week or so early. A group of birders found seven at Mt. Airy Forest, Hamilton, on 06 May. (47 counties)

Germantown MP, Montgomery, is a well-known location for nesting Prairie Warblers; Jacob Roalef captured this one on 29 Apr.

Townsend’s Warbler The OBRC has a report from Magee and one from another Lucas site; the second site also gen- erated many posts with photos. Leslie Sours had her camera ready when this gorgeous Summer Tanager stopped for a photo op at OOPMP on 14 May.

126 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Scarlet Tanager Indigo Bunting The first of these crowd-pleasers showed up in The first was another early bird, by about a week. Cincinnati’s Burnet Woods on 17 Apr (Steve Pe- Robert Edelen found it in Clermont on 13 Apr. likan), and two days later one was all the way up Dick Lee saw the first of the far north, at Bur at Harroun Community Park, Lucas (Teri and Oak Reservation, Lorain, on 27 Apr, still about Tim Drewyor). Pam Hornick counted 22 at Ma- a week ahead of schedule. Jason Bojczyk count- gee on 11 May; the most elsewhere were Henry ed 33 at Maumee Bay on 19 May; Irina Shulgi- Trimpe’s 20 at the Wetmore Trails in CVNP on na found 25 at Killdeer on 24 May. Only Pike 18 May. Sightings came from all counties but didn’t have a sighting. Brown, Mercer, Pike, and Van Wert. Dickcissel Western Tanager Several birders saw the first, south of Grand Lake Posts from Guernsey have photos. on 04 May. That’s a few days early for the upper Northern Cardinal half of the state, but Gary Dorman saw one at Ginny Fantetti has a very cardinal-friendly yard Magee the next day. Chris Lotz counted 11 near in Clermont; she counted 61 there on 01 Mar. Radnor, Delaware, on 18 May. (38 counties) Douglas Vogus et al. edged her with 68 during the 01 Mar CVNP census, albeit in a much larger area. (all 88 counties) Rose-breasted Grosbeak The first sighting was a good two weeks early for Franklin; Elizabeth Ames and Jay Wright saw and heard the bird in the OSU wetlands on 29 Mar. Taben Roye saw the next, at his Summit home on 17 Apr. Andy Walker found 45 at Mau- mee Bay on 03 May, while Pearson MP, Lucas, hosted 25 for Kim Hall and Jonathan White the next day. (82 counties) Blue Grosbeak Kirk Westendorf described his find at Avoca Park, Hamilton, on 18 Apr; it was about a week early. But the next was in Hillsboro, Highland, only two days later (Linda Hamilton). The third sighting was by Rick Dunning at Camp Denni- son, Hamilton, on 26 Apr, and reports came al- most daily after that. OOPMP hosted the first for the far north, on 07 May (Brandon Brywczynski). Many sites had two birds. (23 counties) Painted Bunting Multiple posts from Portage have photos; one from Wood has a description.

A Painted Bunting showed up in Kent, Portage, as a very rare visitor on 14 May where it was photographed by Leslie Sours.

127 Vol. 42 No. 3

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.

Louise Acheson Tommy Becker Frances Brown William Addis Daniel Beechy Harris Brown Erin Allen Kathy Beil-Morgan Lori Brumbaugh Gregory Allen Ellie Benedict Jen Brumfield Jen Allen Jordan Bennett Brandon Brywczynski Zachary Allen Justin Berkheimer Arnold Buehler Jennifer Allison Linda Berry Oliver Burrus Elizabeth Ames Gordon Bills Neill Cade Andrea Anderson Jody Bills Marlene Calco Dennis Anderson Leonard Blass Susan Carpenter Matt Anderson Jeffrey Bojc Natalie Carusillo Lynda Andrews Stephenie Bojc Jon Cefus Michelle Anselmo Jason Bojczyk Janet Chandler Gautam Apte Daniel Bollett Philip Chaon Linda Ar Charles Bombaci Gary Chapin Ron Avers Ray Bontrager Ann Chasar Andy Avram Kimberly Bostwick Dwight Chasar Carole Babyak Amanda Bowe Dave Chase Andrew Bailey Jenny Bowman Ronnie Clark Greg Bammerlin Margaret Bowman Robb Clifford Dave Barnett Richard Bradley Gail Coffey Tom Bartlett Stephen Brauning Tim Colborn Aaron Bartley Susan Brauning Ashley Collins Rick Baumann Joe Brehm Tim Cook Cynthia Beans David A. Brinkman Gary Cowell James Beatty Terry Bronson Matthew Crandall

Cathy Beck Kyle Brooks Michael Crouse

128 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Jim Crumpler Robert Edelen Cathy Green Jamie Cunningham Eric Elvert Janice Grimes Jim Danzenbaker David English Sylvia Hadley Joshua Davidson Allen J. Erb Ellie Hahn

Ken Davis Reuben S. Erb Kim Hall Julie Davis Susan Evanoff Linda Hamilton Peter Debes Mary Eyman Tim Haney Henrey Deese David Factor Marc Hanneman Bill Deininger Ginny Fantetti Josh Hargrave Ned DeLamatre Janice Farral Gregory Hartman Daniel DeLapp Tyler Ficker Jeff Harvey Carol Detmer John Finn Wendi Haugh Diane DeVillez Denise Fishburn Julie Heitz Cole DiFabio Gordon Fitch Bob Helton Jeremy Dominguez Chris Followay Michael Hensley Richard Domokos Joseph Ford John Herman David Donahue Tom Frankel Michael Hershberger Becky Donaldson Renee Frederick Perry D. Hershberger Gary Dorman Lee Funderburg Robert Hershberger Amy Downing Aaron Gabbe Yvette Higgins Martyn Drabik-Hamshare Lou Gardella David Hochadel Teri Drewyor Nicole Garner Steven Hochstetler Tim Drewyor Kori Gasaway Amy Hodson Leah Driscoll Dan Gesualdo Don Hoechlin Micki Dunakin Doug Gilbert MiMi Hoffmaster Christopher Dundon Kandace Glanville Brady Holko Rick Dunning Stefan Gleissberg LeAnne Holland Frances Dupont Meg Glines Eric Hollins Peter Dy-Liacco Michael Goethe Sean Hollowell Ryan Dziedzic Jeff Goff Corinna Honscheid Diane Early Brad Goodner Andrew Hood Larry Early Timothy Gotsick Dick Hoopes Charissa Ebersole Terry Grabill Pam Hornick Alex Eberts Kathy Granillo Louis Hoying

129 Vol. 42 No. 3

Kathi Hutton Bob Lane Patrick McGuigan Brad Imhoff Austin Langdon Kevin McKelvey Sally Ingraham Ann Lasky Patty McKelvey Shari Jackson Joseph Lautenbach Matt Means

Paul Jacyk Alayna Lee Karl Mechem Sue Johnson Cam Lee Brenda Meese Andy Jones Dick Lee Steve Meisky Steve Jones Kevin Lee Brian Menker Brian Jorg David Lehner Ben Meredyk Eric Juterbock Beth Lenoble Steve Meredyk Tom Kaczynski Jack Leow Aaron Miller Matt Kappler Ryan Lesniewicz Alvin E. Miller Karen Kassouf Beverly Levreault Bruce Miller Rich Kassouf Sarah Lord Cristy Miller Kenn Kaufman Adriana Losey Cristy J. Miller Tom Kemp Chris Lotz David Miller John Kendall Candice Lowther Duane Miller Jaden King Heather Luedecke Eli M. Miller Josh King Rick Luehrs Jeffrey A. Miller Steven Klingler Ian Lynch Jeremy Miller Suska Kocis Lydia Machczynski Kent Miller J. Gary Kohlenberg Mark Maier Ray L. Miller John Kolar Geoff Malosh Rhonda Miller Kelly Kozlowski Karen Mammone Robert Mills Nate Koszycki Karen Markey Stefan Minnig Dan Kramer Clifton Martin Adam Mitchell Mark Kraus Nathan Mast Kathy Mock Michael Kreger Bernard Master Eddie Monson Tim Krynak Kari Warner Matsko Elizabeth Monson Jeff Kurtzman James McCarty Randy Morgan Chris Lamb Tyler McClain Ben Morrison Michael Lamont Lori McCollister James Muller Steve Landes Jim McCormac Sandie Myers John Landon Dennis McGillicuddy Scott Myers

130 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

Shane Myers Michelle Pesho Jen Sauter David Myles Haans Petruschke Bennie Saylor John Neack John Petruzzi Russell Scalf Alex Nickley Don Pfouts Joan Scharf

Pattye Nicolls Chris Pierce Michael Schramm Don Niece Ed Pierce Ed Schlabach Rick Nirschl John Pogacnik Norman D. Schlabach Aaron Nisley Martin Powney Todd Schmelzenbach Zella Nisley Brooklynne Price Inga Schmidt Katherine Noblet Chad Pumpelly Carlton Schooley Kim Nordquest Elias Raber Marvin Dale Scott Cynthia Norris Jacob Raber Mark Seaman Richard Norton Nina Rach Ron Sempier George Novosel Debbie Raven Andy Sewell Richard Nugent Mark Raven Kathy Shank Michael O’Brien Doug Raybuck John Sharits Andrew O’Connor R. Lee Reed Mark Shaver Brian O’Connor Kristy Reske Lou Ann Shellenberger Penny O’Connor Ernesto Reyes Katelyn Shelton Bill Ohlsen Marty Reynard Paul Sherwood Matt Orebaugh Doug Rice Susie Shetterly Helen Ostermiller Larry Richardson Eric Shlapack Ken Ostermiller Dana Ricker Liz Shlapack Karl Overman Sean Ricker Irina Shulgina Nicholas Parish Jacob Roalef Melanie Shuter Debbie Parker Blanca Rodriguez Quentin Skrabec Patricia Patterson Sam Romeo Bryan Smith Richard Payne Heidi Rosales Dave Smith Samuel Payne Nicky Rosner Su Snyder Chris Peet Jeffrey Roth Leslie Sours Steve Pelikan Taben Roye Liz Spence Scott Pendleton Mark Ruane Carolyn Spidle Todd Pepper Dan Sanders Corey Stacy Kevin Perozeni Charlie Saunders Laura Stalder

131 Vol. 42 No. 3

James Stammen Jack Verdin Aden M. Yoder Bill Stanley Ken Vinciquerra Andy A. Yoder Roger Starnes Douglas Vogus Atlee Yoder Andrew Staufer Kelly Volz Benjamin H. Yoder

Diana Steele Mary Ann Wagner David H. Yoder Jack Stenger Melissa Wales Jonas Yoder Jody Strong Andy Walker Marvin Yoder Christina Stump T.J. Walker Vernon E. Yoder Susan Storrud-Barnes Kim Warner Robert Yocum Josiah Stumbo Mike Watson Karen Zeleznik Marty M. Stutzman Wayne Wauligman Trevor Zook Wayne R. Stutzman David Weaver Sue Summers Lucas Weaver Mike Sustin Ryan Weber Jennifer Suydam George Weigly MaryAnn Thesing Kirk Westendorf Haley Thoresen Jonathan White Joel Throckmorton Mike Wielgopolski Brian Tinker Oscar Wilhelmy Katlyn Todd Elizabeth Wilkins Molly Toth Kelly Williams Valerie Trabucchi Pat Williamsen Alexis Treeger Anne Wills Henry Trimpe David Wills Tim Troutner Chad Wilson Allen W. Troyer Thomas Winczek Andy R. Troyer Carl Winstead Anthony R. Troyer Brent Woerner Jesse Troyer Theresa Wolanin Virgil Troyer Marianne Woodside Matthew Valencic Jay Wright Joshua Vardous Brian Wulker Dylan Vasapolli Gale Wulker Terry Vass Mia Yeager

132 Species Number Canada Goose 88 Wood Duck 18 Mallard 42 Wild Turkey 8 Rock Pigeon 1 Mourning Dove 80 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 6 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019 Black-billed Cuckoo 3 Chimney Swift 80 CUYAHOGA VALLEYRuby-throated NATIONAL Hummingbird 19 PARK SPRING CENSUS,Virginia Rail 2019 2 Sora 6 By Dwight Chasar and Craig Caldwell theKilldeer 6524 in 2013. The species count of 13610 just edged the 10-year average of 135 and was tied American Woodcock 8 The 2019 Spring Census was held on 18 May. for fourth highest with three other years. Twenty-five teams totaling 63 observers partici- SpottedDespite theSandpiper overall low numbers, the counts7 of pated. It was a cool day, with temperatures climb- 12Solitary species wereSandpiper the highest ever and another2 tied ing from 54 to 65 degrees as the early rain gave its Ring-billedprevious high. Gull No new species were added,4 but way to sunny skies. However, heavy rain began theGreat two BlueBlack-crowned Heron Night-Herons were87 the again about 9:00 pm. first since 1994 and the Yellow-bellied Sapsuck- Great Egret 1 Last year experienced an unusual migration, er was the first since 2007. Black-billed Cuckoos with a hold-up of birds south of Ohio due to andGreen Mourning Heron Warblers returned after a 4year’s weather, but most numbers were nevertheless absenceBlack-Crowned and Louisiana Night-Heron Waterthrushes after2 two within their normal ranges. The mass of mi- yearsTurkey with Vulture none. The evening rain again 46caused grants was apparently delayed again this year, us Cooper'sto miss CommonHawk Nighthawk. The counts8 of despite the first sightings in the state being early Canada Goose, Rock Pigeon (one!), and Amer- Bald Eagle 8 for about half of the species. The total count was ican Crow were the lowest ever and American 6093 individuals, only 92% of the previous ten GoldfinchRed-shouldered and HawkBaltimore Oriole numbers15 were years’ average of 6648, and was the lowest since muchBroad-winged lower than Hawk usual. 5 Red-tailed Hawk 23 Species Number SpeciesEastern Screech-Owl Number2 Canada Goose 88 CanadaBarred Owl Goose 881 Wood Duck 18 WoodAmerican Duck Kestrel 182 Mallard 42 MallardPeregrine Falcon 422 Wild Turkey 8 WildBelted Turkey Kingfisher 168 Rock Pigeon 1 RockRed-headed Pigeon Woodpecker 191 Mourning Dove 80 MourningRed-bellied Dove Woodpecker 12580 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 6 Yellow-billedYellow-bellied Cuckoo Sapsucker 61 Black-billed Cuckoo 3 Black-billedDowny Woodpecker Cuckoo 573 Chimney Swift 80 ChimneyHairy Woodpecker Swift 8021 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 19 Ruby-throatedNorthern Flicker Hummingbird 1947 Virginia Rail 2 VirginiaPileated RailWoodpecker 392 Sora 6 SoraGreat Crested Flycatcher 386 Killdeer 10 KilldeerEastern Kingbird 1025 American Woodcock 8 AmericanEastern Wood-Pewee Woodcock 408 Spotted Sandpiper 7 SpottedYellow-bellied Sandpiper Flycatcher 71 Solitary Sandpiper 2 SolitaryAcadian FlycatcherSandpiper 392 Ring-billed Gull 4 Ring-billedWillow Flycatcher Gull 134 Great Blue Heron 87 GreatLeast FlycatcherBlue Heron 879 Great Egret 1 GreatEastern Egret Phoebe 421 Green Heron 4 GreenWhite-eyed Heron Vireo 47 Black-Crowned Night-Heron 2 Black-CrownedYellow-throated Night-Heron Vireo 152 Turkey Vulture 46 TurkeyBlue-headed Vulture Vireo 4611 Cooper's Hawk 8 Cooper'sWarbling HawkVireo 628 Bald Eagle 8 BaldRed-eyed Eagle Vireo 2178 Red-shouldered Hawk 15 Red-shoulderedBlue Jay Hawk 14915 Broad-winged Hawk 5 Broad-wingedAmerican Crow Hawk 755 Red-tailed Hawk 23 Red-tailedTree Swallow Hawk 2377 Eastern Screech-Owl 2 EasternNorthern Screech-Owl Rough-winged Swallow 542 Barred Owl 1 BarredBank Swallow Owl 611 133American Kestrel 2 AmericanCliff Swallow Kestrel 28 Peregrine Falcon 2 PeregrineBarn Swallow Falcon 852 Belted Kingfisher 16 BeltedBlack-capped Kingfisher Chickadee 10816 Red-headed Woodpecker 19 Red-headedTufted Titmouse Woodpecker 13719 Red-bellied Woodpecker 125 Red-belliedRed-breasted Woodpecker Nuthatch 1252 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Yellow-belliedWhite-breasted Sapsucker Nuthatch 561 Downy Woodpecker 57 DownyBrown CreeperWoodpecker 573 House Wren 60 Winter Wren 1 Marsh Wren 1 Carolina Wren 45 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 95 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Eastern Bluebird 60 Veery 33 Gray-cheeked Thrush 7 Swainson's Thrush 48 Hermit Thrush 1 Wood Thrush 35 American Robin 233 Gray Catbird 176 Hairy Woodpecker 21 Brown Thrasher 5 Northern Flicker 47 European Starling 94 Pileated Woodpecker 39 Cedar Waxwing 71 Great Crested Flycatcher 38 House Sparrow 44 Eastern Kingbird 25 House Finch 24 Eastern Wood-Pewee 40 Purple Finch 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 1 American Goldfinch 174 Acadian Flycatcher 39 Eastern Towhee 65 Willow Flycatcher 13 Chipping Sparrow 66 Least Flycatcher 9 Field Sparrow 71 Eastern Phoebe 42 Song Sparrow 206 White-eyed Vireo 7 Swamp Sparrow 25 Yellow-throated Vireo 15 White-throated Sparrow 2 Blue-headed Vireo 11 White-crowned Sparrow 4 Warbling Vireo 62 Dark-eyed Junco 3 Red-eyed Vireo 217 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Blue Jay 149 Bobolink 9 American Crow 75 Eastern Meadowlark Vol. 42 No.4 3 Tree Swallow 77 Orchard Oriole 15 NorthernSpecies Rough-winged Swallow Number54 BaltimoreSpecies Oriole Number107

CanadaBank Swallow Goose 8861 CanadaRed-winged Goose Blackbird 39988 Cliff Swallow 8 Brown-headed Cowbird 102 Wood Duck 18 Wood Duck 18 Barn Swallow 85 Common Grackle 133 Mallard 42 Mallard 42 Black-capped Chickadee 108 Ovenbird 26 WildTufted Turkey Titmouse 1378 LouisianaWild Turkey Waterthrush 58

RockRed-breasted Pigeon Nuthatch 12 RockNorthern Pigeon Waterthrush 15 White-breasted Nuthatch 56 Blue-winged Warbler 65 Mourning Dove 80 Mourning Dove 80 Brown Creeper 3 Black-and-white Warbler 7 HouseYellow-billed Wren Cuckoo 606 ProthonotaryYellow-billed WarblerCuckoo 36 WinterBlack-billed Wren Cuckoo 31 Black-billedTennessee Warbler Cuckoo 1263 Marsh Wren 1 Nashville Warbler 3 Chimney Swift 80 Chimney Swift 80 Carolina Wren 45 Connecticut Warbler 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 19 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 19 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 95 Mourning Warbler 4 Ruby-crownedVirginia Rail Kinglet 12 CommonVirginia Rail Yellowthroat 1892

EasternSora Bluebird 606 SoraHooded Warbler 1106 Veery 33 American Redstart 42 Killdeer 10 Killdeer 10 Gray-cheeked Thrush 7 Cape May Warbler 2 Swainson'sAmerican Woodcock Thrush 488 CeruleanAmerican WarblerWoodcock 188 HermitSpotted ThrushSandpiper 71 SpottedNorthern SandpiperParula 117 Wood Thrush 35 Magnolia Warbler 26 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Solitary Sandpiper 2 American Robin 233 Bay-breasted Warbler 22 Ring-billed Gull 4 Ring-billed Gull 4 Gray Catbird 176 Blackburnian Warbler 20 GreatBrown BlueThrasher Heron 875 YellowGreat Blue Warbler Heron 17687

EuropeanGreat Egret Starling 941 GreatChestnut-sided Egret Warbler 131 Cedar Waxwing 71 Blackpoll Warbler 10 Green Heron 4 Green Heron 4 House Sparrow 44 Black-throated Blue Warbler 6 Black-Crowned Night-Heron 2 Black-Crowned Night-Heron 2 House Finch 24 Palm Warbler 1 PurpleTurkey FinchVulture 461 PineTurkey Warbler Vulture 465

AmericanCooper's Hawk Goldfinch 1748 Cooper'sYellow-rumped Hawk Warbler 118 Eastern Towhee 65 Yellow-throated Warbler 11 Bald Eagle 8 Bald Eagle 8 Chipping Sparrow 66 Prairie Warbler 2 Red-shoulderedField Sparrow Hawk 1571 Black-throatedRed-shouldered GreenHawk Warbler 2715 Broad-wingedSong Sparrow Hawk 2065 Broad-wingedCanada Warbler Hawk 105 Swamp Sparrow 25 Wilson's Warbler 7 Red-tailed Hawk 23 Red-tailed Hawk 23 White-throated Sparrow 2 Scarlet Tanager 76 Eastern Screech-Owl 2 Eastern Screech-Owl 2 White-crowned Sparrow 4 Northern Cardinal 221 Dark-eyed Junco 3 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 44 Yellow-breasted Chat 1 Indigo Bunting 116 Bobolink 9 Sum 6093 Eastern Meadowlark 4 Orchard Oriole 15 Baltimore Oriole 107 Red-winged Blackbird 399 Brown-headed Cowbird 102 Common Grackle 133 Ovenbird 26 Louisiana Waterthrush 5 Northern Waterthrush 5 134 Blue-winged Warbler 65 Black-and-white Warbler 7 Prothonotary Warbler 3 Tennessee Warbler 126 Nashville Warbler 3 Connecticut Warbler 1 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019 COMMON TERNS NESTING ON LITTLE CEDAR POINT By Louis W. Campbell This number was augmented to 2,000 by June 7. On June 27 I estimated 5,000 adults and 100 Our indefatigable historian Bill Whan dug up this young. The number of young had swelled to 500 essay from Milt Trautman’s files. He transcribed the Pho- by July 5, by July 13 to 2,000. Before Aug. 2 all tostat, which is here presented with minimal editing (which the young were in the air, and after this date they ignores the Cardinal’s style sheet) to retain the flavor of began to depart. The last estimate of the young the original. Louis Campbell was based in northwest Ohio checked closely with the banding data; since four and wrote Birds of the Toledo Area, Birds of Lucas parties altogether banded about 2,000 young County, and Marshes of Southwestern Lake Erie. birds. Undoubtedly some of the young ones es- caped without a band. Ten miles northeast of Toledo a peninsula Of the 538 young I banded I got only two dis- consisting of marsh land diked on the sides facing tant returns, Matanzas, Cuba, Dec. 4, 1930, and the lake and the bay extends one and a half miles Puerto Rico, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Dec. 4, 1930. into Lake Erie on the south side and thus forms The other local banders report returns from the dividing line between the Lake and Maumee Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and the island of Bay on the south side. The very tip of this penin- Trinidad. sula is Little Cedar Point, Lucas County, and here Neither natural nor human enemies troubled in 1929 common terns began to nest. the colonies during 1929 or 1930, and although Little Cedar Point is a low sand bar about about 300 ringbill and thirty herring gulls re- 1,500 feet long and 200 feet wide. Stones some- mained through the summer, I found no evidence times cut through the middle portion of the bar of injury to the eggs or fledglings. and thus form a channel with a width of about By the Spring of 1931 the channel across the 100 feet and a depth which fluctuates with the bar was filled in and the sand piled up to the level change in direction of the wind from three inch- of the rest of the point. On May 3, 2,000 terns es to three feet. This channel was open in 1929 arrived. By the seventeenth, 5,000 had made from April to August during which month it was their appearance. At this time a fisherman moved gradually closed. At the extreme end, which his gas engine and seine was an island at that time technically speaking, within fifty feet of the colony, and the number the bar is somewhat higher and wider; and that dropped to 2,000. This group apparently became place, apparently free from enemies, was the par- accustomed to the fisherman and the gas engine ticular choice of the terns. Judging from their late and laid their eggs in normal fashion. Then the arrival, I imagine they had attempted to nest else- owner of the bar caused the fisherman and his where but had been driven out. helpers to stop operations, since he was working On June 8, 1929, about fifty common terns a sand-sucker about the edges of the point along- were courting at the point. By June 20 the num- side the terns. The brave birds held their ground. ber had increased to 500 with 200 or more sets Egg hunters now found the place and stole not of eggs. The eggs were still unhatched on July 7. only the eggs but the young. The only fledglings Although a severe July 19 had destroyed many of I saw during the entire season were three new- the eggs, on August 4 fifty-five young in all stages ly hatched on July 5, and these had disappeared were found on the nesting ground. Six days later the following week. This destruction of the eggs no newly hatched birds could be seen, but on the and young finally disheartened the birds, until island were many young birds still unable to fly. July 12 their number diminished to 400. On the Using all the bands I had on hand at the time, I eighteenth only seventy-five of the original 5,000 banded twelve birds. were seen. In 1930 a new channel cut across the bar and Despite the persecution of the previous year, thus made an island of the end of the bar again. on May 18, 1932 about 250 terns returned to By May 11, 500 common terns had returned. their old nesting place at the end of the point.

135 Vol. 42 No. 3

Winter storms had left the bar untouched, and it appeared practically the same as in 1931. By May 29 the colony had increased to 300 birds, but here the limit was reached. On this date fifty nests containing one egg each and one nest each and one nest with two eggs were found. Many eggs were broken or had small holes in the sides as though a gull had punctured them. Gulls, mostly ringbills with a few herring, and a few rats were the only natural enemies of the colony. Then the collectors began their work, first piling up in a heap all the eggs already laid, and then gathering the eggs as fast as they were laid. Although I notified Mr. Chris Myers, -fed eral game protector, and he promised to act at once, the discouraged birds gradually left. The last eggs I saw in 1932 were found July 23. By the thirty-first only sixty birds remained. During the entire season I found not a single young bird alive or dead. And that apparently brings to an end the history of the nesting of the terns on Little Cedar Point.

136 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

FIELD NOTES

(Lightly edited to correct obvious misspellings and to con- ed for miles, with similar numbers throughout. form to the Cardinal’s style sheet.) Number could probably double if counted from multiple sites. Of thousands of birds relatively close, very few species mixed in. Just Bufflehead From Andrea and Dennis Anderson: and Common and Red-breasted mergansers. Of course there are surely some mixed in, but On the afternoon of 05 May, a cloudy, drizzly no Greater Scaup were detected. Easiest to do at day, we were at Fernwood SF campground area. this distance when flushed from fishing boat in air We heard Sandhill Cranes bugling. They were looking at wing stripe. Despite trying, was unable moving and getting closer. After watching the to pick any out. sky for a minute or two, five of them flew over. It [Regarding 1335 Killdeer at Maumee Bay is the first time we have seen them in Jefferson. on 13 Mar] Around 30 estimated flying west [They were the only records from that county over hill while making multiple trips up [the] hill this spring.] taking equipment. After that the rest were indi- vidually clicked flying west. Before 12:00, mainly comprised of one to four individuals, and dom- From Matt Anderson: inant flight path was mostly over hill to slightly south of hill. Birds were detected around every [Regarding 53 Red-headed Woodpeckers other scan. Peak from about 12:00 to 2:00 and along the OOPMP Ridge Trail] This area known especially from 12:15 to 1:30. During peak, dom- by many as “Tornado Alley” represents the path inant flight path was from parking lot 4 to a bit cut through Oak Openings Preserve Metropark out over the lake; however, birds were detected by a Jun 2010 tornado. Birding within the path during every scan, whether north or south of of this storm is well known to be very produc- the hill. During peak, mainly comprised of six tive. This area may well be the most productive to 12 individuals. Largest single flock/group was in the state for breeding and overwintering (on comprised of 16 individuals, although peak scan the heels of good acorn production) Red-headed (comprised of north of the hill and then south Woodpeckers. I’ve had many good counts of this of the hill to the east) surely involved more than species here, but this is certainly my highest total. 50 individuals. 1,000th bird tallied at 2:05. Flight mostly done from 2:15 to 5:15 (wind switched from south to southwest right around 2:00). From Jason Bojczyk: During this time, there were Killdeer flying in multiple directions in small numbers. Only those [Regarding Metzger on 12 Mar] Pintails were with a direct westward flight were tallied. Flight constantly streaming over the marsh from east picked up again from around 5:15 to 7:00. With to west and out of sight. Some pintails did circle all the birds that moved prior to arrival, through- back and land in the marsh and were left off the out the various flight paths and heights, along count. In addition to those that circled back, this with the large numbers of other species, this is 720 doesn’t include any that were in the marsh surely an undercount. to begin with. Therefore, dozens to hundreds of more pintail were surely present. Counted streaming by in tens. From Kyle Brooks: [Regarding 18,000 Lesser Scaup off Mau- mee Bay SP on 24 Mar] Minimum; fishing boat [Regarding an 01 Mar find in Athens] Un- flushed thousands at a time throughout day, plus expected! A single Pine Warbler singing from a thousands on lake. Mostly calm and clear on wa- white pine. The white pine was across the street ter, so thousands could be seen far out with scope. from a planted white pine patch in the Wayne Picture only shows one view; this view extend- NF. The individual sang twice. Both times it

137 Vol. 42 No. 3 was a sweet, melodic trill, much like a Chipping miles of shoreline, and a maximum depth of 76 Sparrow but slower and less dry/mechanical. feet at the dam. To anyone wishing to observe There are Pine Warbler population hubs only an Osprey nest up close and personal, go to the a few miles from here (such as Utah Pond), so southeast corner of State Route 225 and Green- the location is not so surprising, but the timing bower Road, a short distance north of the city is early. Although a handful of Pine Warblers do of Alliance. The nest is about twenty-five above overwinter around central and southern Ohio, so the edge of the road. Look for the House Spar- it’s not so crazy rare. rows residing in the lower part of the nest. The Berlin Lake Osprey count by the end of the sum- mer could be, with an average of two youngsters From Tom Kemp: per nest, an amazing total of one hundred and twenty. Six Bald Eagle nests were also account- [Regarding a Bank Swallow in Lucas on 13 ed for, which could bring their local count to 24. Mar] Remarkably early; Watched for about five Also, as for the local Cliff Swallow population, it minutes as it foraged low over the river with two seems to be booming. We found nesting at eight American Tree Swallows; distinctly smaller than bridge locations and the Berlin Lake dam. On the tree swallows with a brown back and dark the inlet structure above the dam were approx- chest band; unquestionably a Bank Swallow. imately 190 nests being constructed and already [Regarding 427 White-throated Sparrows in occupied, attached to and around the concrete Grand Rapids, Lucas, on 03 May] Seven at the face. Sixty-five nests can easily be seen on the feeders during the day; 420 seen moving along west side of the structure. For eBirders, the in- the canal between 7:15 and 7:45 pm; this was a let structure and the US Route 224 bridge are remarkable movement; I counted these birds by both in Mahoning. These two locations have the 10s as they streamed by to the northeast; one of most numerous nests. The eastern portion of the the neatest migration spectacles I have ever seen. concrete dam is in Mahoning, while part of the western portion is in Portage. Berlin Lake spill- way discharges into the Mahoning River’s hem- From Bob Lane: lock laden rocky gorge, also in Mahoning. Of interest is the fact that all the parking areas at the This morning, Thursday [30 May], from dam are in Portage. Something else of interest about 7:30 am to about 11:00 am, my wife De- this season is the fact that Prothonotary Warblers nise and I did our annual check on this year’s can easily be found at the north end of the Ber- active Osprey nests and also the abundance of lin Lake Trail, and at Teel Avenue west of State Cliff Swallows in and centered around the Ber- Route 225. What a pleasurable three and a half lin Lake area. Berlin Lake stretches through hour morning adventure close to home. three counties in northeastern Ohio, the western edge of Mahoning, the southeastern corner of Portage, and the northeastern corner of Stark, From Rick Luehrs: with its source, the Mahoning River, extending to its headwaters in Columbiana. Thirty active [Regarding nine Yellow-billed Cuckoos at nest sites were found this year, with six new loca- Huffman MP, Greene] Crazy amounts and tions, minus two that had been removed. Of the views of these. Saw several calling and chasing nests, 20 are on cell towers, four on transmission each other. As I watched a YB Cuckoo perched towers, four on wooden utility poles, and two on in a tree for a while another YB Cuckoo ap- wooden hacking structures, all provided by man. proached it and copulated with her. Amazing is the fact that during the Ohio Breed- ing Bird Atlas of 1982 thru 1987, there were no Osprey nests recorded in Ohio. A brief descrip- From Cristy J. Miller tion of Berlin Lake taken from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data is, in summer the length of the My season total for Whimbrel was 93. Not bad lake at normal pool is 18.6 miles long, with 70 for a life bird!

138 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

From Don Niece: Northern Ohio, and whose breeding range be- gins about here and extends much farther north. [Regarding 15 Ospreys at Indian Lake SP, Lo- We also found five Eastern Phoebes in the gan, on 22 Apr] Additional sightings not report- gulch. We had lots of bird activity in the lower ed as they may have been the same birds. We’ve gulch but it diminished to nothing as we moved never seen this many in one day any time of year up stream where it was much deeper and cooler let alone after the “normal” end of the spring and there is still lots of ice. migration in this area of late Mar to mid-Apr. One of the fishermen we met also commented on the number of Ospreys today. As indicated in From John Pogacnik: yesterday’s post we are birding by boat and can get to many areas the land-based birders cannot [On 23 May] Three Yellow-crowned see, e.g., Lucy Pond at Blackhawk, the “game Night-Herons were observed flying east just reserve” and Pony Island in the northeast part south of the Clark Road parking lot [of Lake of the lake, the North Fork Great Miami River. Erie Bluffs]. They dropped into a beaver-cre- Many of the Ospreys are seen in these areas, in- ated wetland and about 10 minutes later came cluding five in the Lucy Pond area out of sight up from the wetland and continued flying east. of the shore line. One Osprey was sighted in the Observed was the typical night-heron shape of channel east of Lake Ridge Island and two in the a medium sized heron with a short stocky neck. area of Long View Cove. Others were also seen The black and white striped head was observed. flying and would have been seen by land-based birders only if they happened to be in the right place as the birds were in the area. This same From Jen Sauter: applies to those seen at Long View Cove. Since there are also Bald Eagles at Indian Lake, we We have had two female Evening Grosbeaks take care to look for the white neck and breast at our feeders [in Hocking] since 16 Feb. They and brown eye line of the Ospreys. We also make were coming regularly about every hour or so. I every effort to avoid double counts since many have not seen them together since Wednesday times the Ospreys are moving around. [06 Mar]. I did catch a glimpse of one this one this morning [09 Mar] but she has not come back so they may still be around. From Haans Petrushke:

Louisiana Waterthushes always return to clear From Leslie Sours: running streams and creeks of extreme NE Ohio along the edge of the Allegheny Plateau on or On 16 Apr, I heard a Merlin over my yard about 01 April, regardless of weather. We are near OSU in Franklin. Throughout Apr and near the northern edge of their breeding range May, my yard became ground zero for a pair of which extends into southern Michigan and SW courting Merlins. There really aren’t words to de- Ontario, Canada, maybe a 100 miles or so far- scribe how cool this is. Stay tuned! ther north. On 27 May a large flight of Cedar Waxwings I was not able to get to [Holden’s] Stebbins came over Pickerington Ponds in Franklin. Gulch earlier in the week but a survey this morn- There were easily over 250 birds. Within min- ing [06 Apr] turned up one singing male. Right utes, the trees were literally dripping waxwings. on time. By mid to late Apr all of these neotrop- I found several large serviceberry trees that were ical migrant birds are back on territory in our loaded with both berries and gorging birds. The area. The running water habitat preference for large deciduous trees around the area were also Louisiana Waterthrush makes it easy to distin- filled with waxwings. I could only conservative- guish from the still water pond and lake prefer- ly estimate how many individuals were present. ring Northern Waterthrush, who also migrates I stayed and enjoyed the spectacle for about an later, beginning to show up in late Apr here in hour; then just as quickly as they arrived, they were gone.

139 Vol. 42 No. 3

From Laura Stalder:

I wanted to report an observation of a female Common Merganser with 10-12 babies on 08 May on the Little Muskingum River in Wash- ington around river mile 23. My husband and I were going kayaking and we surprised the mer- gansers as we went around a turn. We got a good look but not a good picture. The female and ba- bies swam very quickly upstream.

From Douglas Vogus:

[Regarding a wing-tagged Trumpeter Swan seen at ONWR on 03 Mar] Wing tag: P47 (black on yellow); Leg Band #: 1959-01747; female hatched in 2016 near Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and banded on 28 Dec 2016 by Ray W. Kingdon. So, this swan was banded near Toronto, Can- ada—roughly 295 miles as the car drives—not as the swan flies. Also, in case you encounter any of these wing-tagged birds on your birding ad- ventures…the United States uses the neck collars and Canada uses the wing tags.

140 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

YEARS AGO

By Craig Caldwell

10 years ago, the Spring 2009 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 32 No. 3 (Andy Jones, Editor-in-Chief; Ethan Kistler and Gabe Leidy, Seasonal Editors) contained these items: The number was published as a double issue with that of Summer 2009. Twelve Eurasian Wigeons were seen. Sightings of two Piping Plovers, two Black-necked Stilts, and a Ruff were documented and accepted. Nine Northern Saw-whet Owls lingered into Apr. Ohio’s first Golden-crowed Sparrow spent weeks at aHancock feeder (and returned in 2010 and 2011). Six Kirtland’s Warblers were reported, including one in Adams.

25 years ago, the Spring 1994 Ohio Cardinal, Vol. 17 No. 3 (Rob Harlan, Editor) contained these items: Maumee Bay was filled with Lesser Scaup; 80,000 were there on 10 Apr. The winter invasion of Red-necked Grebes continued, with at least 100 birds seen in 24 counties by the end of the season. Irwin Prairie SNP, Lucas, hosted a Yellow Rail. A Bewick’s Wren visited Headlands. The season’s only Kirtland’s Warbler sighting was in Cuyahoga.

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

50 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar 65:2, Annette B. Flanigan, Editor, included these items: . (A re- minder—the Calendar area is a circle of radius 30 miles centered at Cleveland’s Public Square) Lake Erie was ice-covered until 17 Mar. The high count of Great Black-backed Gulls was six. Laughing, Franklin’s, and Little gulls were seen in the Calendar area. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was in Willoughby, Lake. A Bewick’s Wren was sighted in Kirtland Hills, Lake. A Northern Mockingbird which nested in Willoughby Hills, Lake, rated special mention. Evening Grosbeak sightings continued until 27 May with a high count of 90 on 08 Mar.

100 years ago, The Cleveland Bird Calendar Bulletins No. 1 (March 1919) and No. 2 (Apr-May 1919), F.H. Herrick, editor, included these items. Eastern Whip-poor-wills were sighted or heard at two Cuyahoga sites in early Mar. A Blue Grosbeak was in Cleveland’s Wade Park on 29 Apr.

141 Vol. 42 No. 3

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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142 The Ohio Cardinal, Spring 2019

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

143 On 10 May, Jacob Roalef and many other birders and photographers had the opportunity for close-ups of this Black-throated Green Warbler in the Magee parking lot.

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 was thrilled to capture this Hooded Merganser with its lunch at Lorain on 02 Apr. The Ohio Ornithological Society PO Box 2432 Westerville, OH 43086

Contents Comments on the Season By Craig Caldwell...... 97 Species Accounts By Craig Caldwell...... 101 Contributors...... 128 Cuyahoga Valley National Park Census 2019 By Dwight Chasar and Craig Caldwell...... 133 Common Terns Nesting on Little Cedar Point By Louis W. Campbell...... 135 Field Notes...... 137 Years Ago By Craig Caldwell...... 141