Date: Monday, March 31, 2003
Location: Aurora Ferrly Rd., Petersburg, KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
Owner of the sloughs on Aurora Ferry Rd., called me to tell me of a Swan on their sloughs - couldn't tell species. Went there w/ scope and identified it as a Mute Swan. Bird was browsing on grassy bank along with 7+ Canada Geese. Also present were: N. Shovelers; Blue-wing Teal; Mallards; Wood Ducks; T Vultures; Am Kestrel; M Doves; E Bluebird; Red-w Blackbird.
On way home, stopped by Camp Ernst Lake.
Only birds of note were 2 Ruddy Ducks, m & f.
Date: 31 March 2003
Location: Newport / Dayton Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
A few assorted species of interest. At the Watertown Yacht Club there were 3 Killdeer with one Spotted Sandpiper, as well as 2 Field Sparrows. 5 Northern Shovelers and 4 Bonaparte's Gulls were directly across the river by the Ohio shore. At Taylor Park there was one lonely Lesser Scaup.
Date: Sun. March 30,2003
Location: Dearborn Cty. Ind
Reporter: Paul Wharton
Other Birders:
Rick Pope, a farmer and Board member of Oxbow Inc., told me about a colony of nesting Great Blue Herons he'd seen, so I'll pass on the information. From I-74 West, get off at the Brookville exit (rt.52) and take the first left onto Ind.46. Just as you cross the Whitewater River, go right on Barber Rd. and the colony is about 100yards down Barber on the right in a Sycamore tree. I counted 14 nests in various stages of construction and several birds standing and sitting on nests.
Date: 3/31/2003 AM
Location: Spring Valley Wildlife Area
Reporter: William Hull
Other Birders:
I had counted 91 Pectoral Sandpipers when something flushed them causing them to reposition. There was probably more than that. Also, 3 yellowlegs sp.
Date: 3/30/03
Location: symmes park
Reporter: Jim Scott
Other Birders: mike evans amanda scott
many robins,rufous towee our 1st!
Date: 3/30/2003
Location:
Reporter: Erich Baumgardner
Other Birders:
wrong date on previous.
Date: 3/31/2003 5 - 6 PM
Location: Camp Denison
Reporter: Erich Baumgardner
Other Birders: Jerry Lippert
1 pied-billed grebe, 6 horned grebe, 2 RED-NECKED GREBE, 11 ruddy duck, 6 bufflehead, 300+ coot, 4 shoveler, 3 ring-necked duck, 2 mallard, 6+ c. geese, 1 unidentified large wader (possibly yellowlegs), 1 belted kingfisher, 20+ tree swallows, 1 red-tailed hawk, 1 towhee, and 9 t. vulture.
Date: 3/30/2003 7:30 AM-1:00 PM
Location: Eastern Hamilton Co. and Western Clermont Co., OH
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: Hank Armstrong
The winds were brisk at Camp Dennison at 7:30 AM, but the Red-necked Grebe didn't seem to mind. In fact it was grebe weather, but not duck weather, as the large numbers of divers and dabblers seem to have moved on. Tree Swallow numbers are building, as are Golden-crowned Kinglets. There was a lone Yellow-rumped Warbler in cedars at the northeast corner of the park.
Kelley Nature Preserve started off slowly, but warmed up (bird-wise) later with a Winter Wren and a very lethargic Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, multiple Hairy Woodpeckers, and a perched Cooper's Hawk were also welcome sightings.
The Cincinnati Nature Center was riddled with woodpeckers (and their holes), with everything except Red-Headed showing up, most in good numbers. Multiple sightings of Fox Sparrows, accompanied by their sweet, oriole-like song, were a welcome offset to the flakes of snow that we observed. The best sighting was a Louisiana Waterthrush (chipping, not singing) along Avey's Run. An overhead Red-shouldered Hawk was icing on the cake.
Our final stop was a run out to Sugartree Rd. (near East Fork SP) to look for a Red-headed Woodpecker. We completed a "woodpecker sweep" by finding a single adult Red-headed Woodpecker accompanied by many more of his Picidae cousins. More singing Fox Sparrows sent us on our way with a farewell serenade.
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2003
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond & Glenwood Gardens
Reporter: Jay & Jack Stenger
Other Birders: Audubon Field Trip, 10 observers
Some of the species and numbers observed at the Winton Woods settling pond included; Wood Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 7, Gadwall 3, American Wigeon 6, Ring-necked Duck 70+, Lesser Scaup 20~, Bufflehead 2, Hooded Merganser 2, Cooper's Hawk 1, American Coot 50+, Eastern Phoebe 2, Tree Swallow 30+, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4, Brown Thrasher 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 and VESPER SPARROW 1.
Some of the species and numbers observed at Glenwood Gardens included; Wood Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 9, Northern Shoveler 2, Red-tailed Hawk 3 and active nest, American Kestrel 2, Belted Kingfisher 1+, Northern Flicker 4, Eastern Phoebe 5, Brown Creeper 2, Eastern Bluebird 4, Brown Thrasher 1, Eastern Towhee 3, White-throated Sparrow 2+, Field Sparrow 3.
Date: 3/30/03@10am
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
3 Vesper Sparrows and 20 plus yellow rumped warblers.
Date: March 30, 2003
Location: East Fork State Park
Reporter: Bill Stanley
Other Birders: Tammie Stanley
Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, 8 Turkey Vulture, 13 Canada Goose, 6 Wood Duck, 2 Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Common Merganser, Bald Eagle (1st or 2nd year), 2 Cooper's Hawk, 3 Red-shouldered Hawk, 25 Am Coot, 2 Killdeer, 9 Bonapart's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 5 Morning Dove, 2 Barred Owl, 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3 Downy Woodpecker, 2 Hairy Woodpecker, 5 N. Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, 4 E. Phoebe, 17 Bluejay, 22 A. Crow, Tree Swallow, 13 C. Chickadee, 8 Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, 10 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2 E. Bluebird, 9 A. Robin, N. Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, E. Starling, 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 13 Rufous-sided Towhee, 3 Chipping Sparrow, 8 Field Sparrow, 4 Song Sparrow, 3 White-throated Sparrow, 30 Dark-eyed Junco, 46 N. Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, 21 C. Grackle, 23 Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch, 6 A. Goldfinch
One Barred Owl was sitting in a cavity with two feathers marking the entrance.
Date: March 30, 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds, new property
Reporter: Mike Busam
Other Birders:
I waded through a 20-acre property west of the Gilmore Road parking lot and south of the Miami-Erie Canal this morning. This is mostly wooded wetlands, with a patch of wet sedge-grass meadow, and some field acreage fronting Gilmore Road. The Port-Union - Gilmore Ponds Conservation Corridor group is going to buy this property within a few days. There's some nice habitat here. I didn't see many birds, but here are the highlights: 3 fox sparrows, 5 field sparrows, 6 song sparrows, 1 towhee, 1 phoebe, 1 flicker, 1 pied-billed grebe, 3 mallards, 20 + robins, 1 T.V., (and 1 refrigerator, 1 propane tank, etc. The property could use some tidying up.)
Date: Mar.30,2003
Location: Miami Whitewater wetland
Reporter: Frank Frick
Other Birders:
American Bittern seen around 12:00 noon at the edge of the small pond near the parking lot.
Date: 03/28/03
Location: Miami-Whitewater
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders: Frank Frick at wildlife viewing shelter
Pied-billed Grebe 1, Turkey Vulture 4, Canada Goose 4, Wood Duck 3, Mallard 4, Blue-winged Teal 4, Northern Shoveler 25, Green-winged Teal 39, Ring-necked Duck 11, Greater Scaup 2, Lesser Scaup 4, Bufflehead 6, Northern Bobwhite 1, American Coot 18, Killdeer 2, Wilson's Snipe 1, Mourning Dove 4, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Downy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker 5, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 2, Horned Lark 1, Tree Swallow 7, Tufted Titmouse 1, White-breasted Nuthatch 3, Carolina Wren 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 1, American Robin 30, Brown Thrasher 4, European Starling, Louisiana Waterthrush 1 (Bowle's Woods), Eastern Towhee 2, Chipping Sparrow 4, Field Sparrow 3, Song Sparrow 25, Northern Cardinal 7, Red-winged Blackbird 20+, Eastern Meadowlark 2, Common Grackle 8, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, American Goldfinch 3, House Sparrow 15.
Date: March 30
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Sharon Pawlowski
Other Birders: David Dankovic
7 Great Blue Herons, 32 Mallards, 13 Blue-winged Teal, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 5 Canada Geese, 8 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 2 Eastern Phoebe, 2 Carolina Chickadees, 1 Robin, 3 Cardinals, 4 Rough-winged Swallows, 1 Swamp Sparrow, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 Flickers, 3 Downy Woodpeckers, 5 Cowbirds, 1 Song Sparrow
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2003
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
From about 5:00 to 6:00 pm this late afternoon there were actually 3 Vesper Sparrows foraging along the side of McKelvey Rd, the driveway up to the pond and also along the first 30 yards of the closed road around the pond, just as Jerry had reported earlier in the day.
Date: 3/29/03
Location: East Fork State Park
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
2 Pied-billed Grebes, 8 Horned Grebes (1 in breeding plumage), 7 Common Loons in breeding plumage, 4 Black Ducks, 2 Blue-Winged Teal.
Date: 3-28/3-29
Location: Clermont County Parks
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders:
My First Brown Thrasher of the year seen at Pattison Park on 3-28.
Also, 2 Brown Thrashers seen at Chilo Lock #34 Park on 3-29, along with a pair of wood ducks who stopped and rested in a tree near the restrooms.
Date: 3/29/2003
Location: Caesar Creek Park
Reporter: Jon Woolf
Other Birders:
Total of 34 species in about 2.5 hours at the beach, visitor center, observation tower. Highlights:
* Bonaparte's Gull with the flock of Ring-bills on the beach
* 2 Common Loons on the lake near the beach
* Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged teal on the pond near the observation tower
* Woodpeckers all over the place: Flickers, Downies, Red-bellies, 2 Pileateds(!), and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which was a lifer for me.
* Very good look at a Brown Creeper
* 4 WHITE PELICANS flying over the beach (!!)
Date: March 29th, 2003
Location: Winton Woods Silt Retention Basin (Settling Pond)
Reporter: Jerry Lippert
Other Birders: Park District hike participants
The most interesting find of the day: 2 Vesper Sparrows feeding alongside the road (McKelvey) going by the Silt Basin. These birds flew a number of times when cars passed, but they continually returned to feed at the edge of the road in various locations, such as near the parking lot (closed now), along the road going back to the dam, and mainly nearer the Silt Basin. They would perch 15-20 feet up in nearby trees when disturbed, then return to the road edge and the grass alongside the road. Look for their white outer tail feathers when they fly. Present at the Silt Basin pond were ~18 Blue winged Teal, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 3 Redhead Ducks, 8 Wood Ducks, 1 Bufflehead (female), 50 Ring-necked Ducks, 30 Lesser Scaup, 2 American Wigeon, 20 Gadwall, 6 Mallards, 6 Canada Geese, 35 American Coots, 30 Tree Swallows, and 1 Ring-billed Gull.
Date: 3-28-2003
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
Forgot to mention the grebes... Many Pied billed and Horned Grebe... probably 20 or more PB Grebe and 10-15 Horned Grebe... At least 1 Red-necked Grebe, and possibly another in the second large pond, which is more distant of the two big ponds from the Nature Trail. The bird stayed tucked, but it was fairly large, and seemed to be darker around the neck and chin than the Horned Grebe.
Date: 3-28-2003
Location: Camp Dennison Gravel Pit
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
200 American Coot, 10 Canada Geese, 1 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 5 American Wigeon, 8 Northern Shoveler, 4 Redhead, 25 Ring-necked Duck, 20 Lesser Scaup, 20 Ruddy Duck, 1 Red-breasted Merganser.
Along the middle dike, towards the right (when viewed from the Camp Dennison Nature Trail overlook ridge) were two bigger shorebirds. My best guess is Greater Yellowlegs. Overall, grayish bird, dark wings, lighter underneath, slightly upturned bill. The birds were very distant, but actively "sprint waded" the whole time I was there.
Also, Turkey Vultures were constantly soaring somewhere, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Field Sparrow. On the Nature Trail 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 1 Brown Kinglet.
Date: 3-28-2003
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Redhead (2), Ring-necked Duck (50+), Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot
At least 20 Tree Swallows were swarming over the lake. Turkey Vultures were passing over constantly, and a Red-shouldered Hawk flew over and perched for a few minutes along the back of the water.
Date: 3/28/03
Location: OH, Hamilton, Cincinnati, Spring Grove Cemetery
Reporter: Jason Cade
Other Birders:
My mom, grandparents, and I went down to the cemetery this afternoon to look at the GORGEOUS Weeping Cherry Trees. They were in full bloom and were definitely worth the drive to go see them. A couple of new arrivals at the main lake. Mixed in with the usual Canada Geese, Mallards, and Mute Swan were: 2 American Wigeon(male and female), and 2 Wood Ducks(also male and female).
No Merlin but I could have easily missed it. Good birding!
Date: 3/27/03
Location: OH, Hamilton, Miami Whitewater Park
Reporter: Jason Cade
Other Birders:
1 GREAT EGRET! It was not actually in the park but seen at the edge of the gravel pit located at the end of Mt. Hope Rd. when it turns into 1-28. You are not allowed to enter into the gravel pit, however I could see the bird from the road. Happy birding and bring on the warblers!
Date: 27 March 2003
Location: Evergreen Cemetery, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
My first Chipping Sparrows of the spring, at least 3 singing away this morning.
Date: March 27, 2003 am
Location: Middletown
Reporter: Jim Perry
Other Birders:
A bunch of cowbirds have arrived in Middletown.
Date: 3/26/03
Location: Miami-Whitewater Wetlands
Reporter: Brandt Schurenberg
Other Birders:
Glorious birding out here this morning! Lots of ducks with a good variety. The only surprise (at least it surprised me) was a Bonaparte's gull in non-breeding plumage swimming around with all the ducks. Occasionally, it would fly from one side of the big pond to the other, apparently to snatch some tasty morsel. Then it would swim around again, seeming to paddle for all it was worth.
Date: March 25, 2003
Location: Mockingbird Hill Farm Williamsburg Oh.
Reporter: Bill Stanley
Other Birders:
1 Vesper Sparrow
Date: 3/26/03
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
I stopped by on my way to work today. Of note were grebes. 2 RED-NECKS now present, 4 Horned, and ~20 PB Grebes. Other birds included both Teal, Mallards, Ca Geese, Gadwall, A Widgeon, 15 Bufflehead, 6 Redhead, 10 Ring necked, 20 L Scaup, and a pair of RB Mergs. Oh yeah and Coots. 1 RN Grebe was in each of the large ponds.
Date: 3/24-26/2003
Location: Cincinnati Nature Center Rowe Woods
Reporter: William Hull
Other Birders:
I have seen 1-2 Fox Sparrows each of these days. I have also seen "Spring" Azure butterflies on 2 of the 3 days.
Date: Sunday, March 23, 2003
Location: Miami Whitewater Wetlands
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Audubon Field Trip, 12 participants
Some of the species and numbers seen on our mid day visit included the following. Pied-billed Grebe 1, Wood Duck 4, Green-winged Teal 45, American Black Duck 14, Mallard 50~, Blue-winged Teal 12, Northern Shoveler 20+, Gadwall 4, American Wigeon 6, Ring-necked Duck 25~, Lesser Scaup 25~, Bufflehead 4, Hooded Merganser 1, Red-tailed Hawk 3+, American Coot 15~, Killdeer 5, PECTORAL SANDPIPER 6, COMMON SNIPE 1, Tree Swallow 25+, Field Sparrow (many singing), FOX SPARROW 3, White Crowned Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark 3 and RUSTY BLACKBIRD 30+.
Date: 03/25/03
Location: Miami-Whitewater
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders:
9:15-9:55 a.m. :Park areas of Big Sycamore picnic shelter along Dry Fork Creek, just south of West Rd. bridge and briefly in the Bowles Woods area.
10-11:15 a.m. : Wetlands area.
Bird counts indicate area of property, [e.g., (4p,10w) means 4 were seen in park, 10 at wetlands] All waterfowl and waterbirds were at the wetlands and sexes are indicated by (m:f) format where noted. All but two of the Blue-winged Teal were in the pond closest to Baughman Rd.
The list:
Pied-billed Grebe 2, Canada Goose 6, Wood Duck 2 (1:1), Green-winged Teal 1m, Blue-winged Teal 15 (12:3), Northern Shoveler 21, Ring-necked Duck 27, GREATER SCAUP 2 (1:1), Lesser Scaup 18, Bufflehead 8 (4:4), Turkey Vulture 14 (4p,10w), Northern Bobwhite 1w, American Coot 21, Killdeer 1w, Mourning Dove 7 (3p,4w), Belted Kingfisher 2p, Red-bellied Woodpecker 4p, Downy Woodpecker 3 (1p,2w), Northern Flicker 3 (2p,1w), Eastern Phoebe 1w (Baughman Rd. pond), Horned Lark 6 @ Baughman and Edgewood Roads, Tree Swallow 5w, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW 2 under West Rd. bridge, Blue Jay 1p, Carolina Chickadee 3p, White-br. Nuthatch 1p, Eastern Bluebird 2p @ nest box, Am. Robin 25 (10p,15w), N. Mockingbird 1w, Brown Thrasher 1w, Starling 9 (5p,4w), N. Cardinal 8 (7p,1w), Eastern Towhee 5 (2p,3w), Field Sparrow 4 (1p,3w), Song Sparrow 18 (6p,12w), Swamp Sparrow 1w, Red-winged Blackbird 17 (2p,15w) - females have arrived, E. Meadowlark 3w, Common Grackle 2w, B.H. Cowbird 8 (6p,2w), House Finch 1p, Am. Goldfinch 13 (4p,9w).
Date: 3/24/03
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
In addition to the birds in Frank's posting I had 10 PB Grebes, 3 Horned Grebes, 8 Gadwall, 1 BW Teal, 10 Redhead, 6 L Scaup, 1 Hooded Merg. And the best part is, I could see everything from the road, Including some of the best looks I have had at the RN Grebe!
Date: 24 March 2003
Location: California Woods, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
While watching a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches carry nesting material into their nest hole, I counted about 80 Turkey Vultures drifting past, along with 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk. Also 2 Eastern Phoebes.
Date: 24 March 2003
Location: Camp Dennison, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
The RED-NECKED GREBE is still present and still in winter plumage. Lots of American Coots (200) but not many ducks in view. Visible were 10 Ring-necked Ducks, 6 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 American Wigeon and 20 Bufflehead. Also 1 singing Pine Warbler in a nearby pine plantation area.
Date: March 23, 2003
Location: Crooked Run Nature Preserve
Reporter: Chris Clingman
Other Birders: Suzanne Clingman
White Winged Scoter, Common Loon, Tree Swallows were highlights from Sunday.
Date: 03-24-03
Location: 275 heading east
Reporter: Sister Marty Dermody
Other Birders:
I spotted the white pelican flying west towards the Oxbow area at 10:30 a.m. this morning. What a beautiful sight on a beautiful morning.
Date: Saturday, 3-22-03
Location: Miami Whitewater Wetlands (Shaker Trace)
Reporter: Ann Oliver
Other Birders:
Wood ducks (4 pairs) in the small flooded woodlot across the street from the parking area. Pair of Hooded mergansers in pond by parking lot. From viewing platform on main body of water: Pied-billed grebe (2), Blue-winged teal (4), N. shoveler (8), Ring-necked ducks (30+), scaup species (lesser?), bufflehead (3), Hooded Mergansers (2 pair... probably includes pair from area near parking lot), many Coots, several Mallards, and Canada geese. 30+ tree swallows seen. Meadowlark (H).
Date: 3.22.2003
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
I forgot to put the location, etc. into my earlier post.
Canada Goose 6, Mallard 6, American Coot 50, Wood Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 7, Northern Shoveler 15, Gadwall 10, American Wigeon 15, Redhead 25, Ring-necked Duck 60, Lesser Scaup 20, , Bufflehead 5, Hooded Merganser 2, Pied-billed Grebe 2
Also, 3 Tree Swallows flying about the lake. A single Eastern Pheobe was along the road, in a tree, off the hillside, next to the wet field (opposite side of the settling pond). 2 Cooper's Hawks were flying over the neighborhood just outside the park on McEvley Road.
Date: Sat. March 23
Location: Summit Lake State Park, Brookville Res. and in between
Reporter: Paul Wharton
Other Birders: Cincinnati Bird Club trip led by Jay Stenger
A total of 70 species were found during the course of the day, but we had to work pretty hard for most of them. Summit Lake was very slow and Brookville wasn't any better. Could it have had anything to do with the boats on the lakes??? We did end up with 15 sp of waterfowl, but it was still a rather disappointing day from a numbers standpoint. Highlights were 17 C.Loons(5@SL,12@BL), 15 Horned Grebes, 7 PBGrebes, 6 DCCormorants, 100 Grt.Blue Herons including 88 nests at the rookery 1 mile south of the town of Brookville, 60 Can. Goose, 2 Snow Geese(Summit), 50 Mallards,2 Gadwall,25 BW Teal,12 N. Shoveler, 8 Woodies,7 Redheads, 2 Ring-neck, 6 Greater Scaup, 15 Lesser Scaup, 14 Bufflehead, 11 C.Goldeneye, 7 Hooded Mergs, 11 RB Mergs, 100+T Vultures, 8 Blk. Vultures, 3 Coopers Hawks, 36 Red-Tails including several on nests, 3 imm. Bald Eagles at Brookville, 1 Osprey at Brookville, 10 Kestrels, 10 Wild Turkeys, 7 Sandhill Cranes (flyovers at Summit), 150+/- Coots, 10 Killdeer, 1 Snipe, only about 30 Ring-billed Gulls, 4 Bonaparte's at Brookville, 2 Kingfishers, 2 phoebes, 3 Tree Swallows, 2 Savannah Sparrows,plus small numbers of the usual songbirds.
Date:
Location:
Reporter:
Other Birders:
Canada Goose 6, Mallard 6, American Coot 50, Wood Duck 2, Blue-winged Teal 7, Northern Shoveler 15, Gadwall 10, American Wigeon 15, Redhead 25, Ring-necked Duck 60, Lesser Scaup 20, , Bufflehead 5, Hooded Merganser 2, Pied-billed Grebe 2
Also, 3 Tree Swallows flying about the lake. A single Eastern Pheobe was along the road, in a tree, off the hillside, next to the wet field (opposite side of the settling pond). 2 Cooper's Hawks were flying over the neighborhood just outside the park on McEvley Road.
Date: 3/23/03
Location: Shawnee Lookout and the Oxbow
Reporter: Paul Krusling
Other Birders: Catarina Neuman
Three male turkeys in courtship display along with at least a half dozen other turkeys along Lawrenceburg Road in Shawnee Lookout Park. The white pelican was seen in the oxbow area south of the entrance ramp to I-275.
Date: 22 March 2003
Location: Red River Gorge, Wolfe and Powell Cos., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders: Veronica Renfrow
Highlights of a two day (22 & 23 March) trip to the Red River Gorge include the following highlights:
One BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER near Rock Bridge on the 22nd - possibly an early spring date for the State of Kentucky (earliest date in new annotated checklist - 23 March).
Also very early as well as multiple numbers of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS.
Early courtship activities of the isolated population of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at Rock Bridge - a total of 3 pairs noted.
Pine Warblers on territory in good numbers with nesting activity noted.
Eastern Phoebes also on territory in excellent numbers.
Details for 22 March:
Rock Bridge / Swift Camp Creek trail, Wolfe Co.;
First noted singing Blue-headed Vireo near old log dam, then a singing Black and White Warbler came into view along with 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, and 3 Carolina Chickadees. Near Creation Falls a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches was observed with the male feeding the female and both inspecting likely snags and cavities. A Black-throated Green Warbler was sighted as well as another Blue-headed Vireo heard nearby. Another Black-throated Green Warbler present at picnic area. A total of 7 Pine Warblers and 5 Eastern Pheobes also noted.
Whittleton Arch Trail, Powell Co. - 2 Black Vultures, 30 Turkey Vultures, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2 Eastern Pheobes, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos.
Details for 23 March:
Lower Trail near Natural Bridge SP Nature Center, Powell Co.;
2 Eastern Pheobes, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 2 Dark-eyed Juncos.
Rock Bridge Trail, Wolfe Co.;
2 pairs Red-breasted Nuthatches in territorial dispute near cliff overlook - lots of chasing and agitated trill song vocalizations by both males - 1 male White-breasted Nuthatch also singing nearby. One male RBNU went to same snag as last year's nesting - a freshly enlarged hole noted. Also 1 Brown Creeper, 4 Black-throated Green Warblers, 1 Blue-headed Vireo, 8 Pine Warblers (1 carrying nesting material).
Sky Bridge, Wolfe Co.;
1 Blue-headed Vireo, 3 Pine Warblers.
Date: March 23, 2003
Location: Highlands Nature Sanctuary
Reporter: Dan Hadley / Mary Elizabeth Huey
Other Birders: Hiking Group of Twenty
While hiking to view a magnificent display of hundreds of blooming Snow Trillium (rare wildflower) we spotted a dozen Eastern Phoebe scattered throughout the woods at Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Highland County Ohio. Sanctuary naturalist Larry Henry also states a Barn Owl is being seen in the vacinity.
Date: March 23
Location: L. Miami's Horseshoe Bend below Fairfax
Reporter: Stan Hedeen
Other Birders:
Five cormorants, and a kestrel attacking a Cooper's Hawk
Date: March 23, 2003
Location: Cincinnati Nature Center
Reporter: Bob Lacker
Other Birders:
Louisiana Waterthrush along Avery's Run downstream from the confluence of the east and west branch.
Date: 3-22-03
Location:
Reporter: Andy Bess
Other Birders:
White Pelicans still at oak creek campground in Higginsport. White Winged Scoter still in New Richmond. AlsoPine Warbler and Winter Wren at Mitchell Memorial Forest.
Date: Fri., 3/21/03 4:35-5:10 PM
Location: Camp Ernst Lake Boone Co. KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
Been making almost a daily stop at the lake in hopes of catching some uncommon to rare birds. Today during the above time period, there was a Common Loon at the lake --- first seen near the dam, out from the fishing pier. Later the bird moved up near the beach area located on the NW shore. Also seen:
xx Canada Geese; 6 T Vultures: 10+ Am Coot; xx Red-wing Blackbird.
Other than C Loon, not a very good day.
BTW, didn't know Loon's stay under water for such a long period of lltime.
Granville Carey
Date: 3-21-2003
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
It was hard to ID many of the ducks because the sun took out a lot of the water. But, pretty good variety of ducks.
Canada Goose 10, Mallard 15, American Coot 40, Wood Duck 1, Green-winged Teal 6, Blue Winged Teal 12, Northern Shoveler 20, Gadwall 15, American Wigeon 10, Redhead 25, Ring-necked Duck 50, Lesser Scaup 10, Scaup sp 20, Bufflehead 8, Hooded Merganser 1
A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over the overlook point. There were 4+ Tree Swallows circling over the water. Also, a single PURPLE MARTIN was kiting across the water. The bird also flew over the overlook point a few times.
Winton Woods Lake had 2 Canada Geese, 4 Wood Duck, and a single Horned Grebe (I don't know what a Horned Grebe sounds like, but something was calling quite a bit from its general location. I assume it was the H Grebe).
Date: March 21, 2003
Location: Winton Woods settling pond
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
Jack and I heard and saw 3 American Woodcock peenting and displaying in the wet weedy field across the road from the settling pond at Winton Woods about 7:15 thru 7:30 pm this evening.
Date: 3/21/03@530p
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
Another merlin at SGC, not the one that I have been watching for the past several weeks. This looks like an adult male, very skitish behavior for a merlin. It has the rufous wash on the legs and sides of breast. It's a very dark bird. It was all over the area in the back but was first perched in Section 125, in the Tulip Tree, the tallest tree in the section.
Date: 3/21/03
Location: Acton Lake ~ Hueston Woods State Park
Reporter: Cindy
Other Birders:
Most of these were seen behind the Acton Picnic area.
Red-Necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Pied-Billed Grebe
Canada Goose
Mallard
Wood Duck
Lesser Scaup
Ring-Necked Duck
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-Breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Date: 3/21/03
Location: Acton lake - Oxbow
Reporter: Tom Uhlman
Other Birders:
A red necked grebe was at the marina area at Acton lake on 3/20, along with a horned grebe, many gulls and canada geese.
3/21 - there were still 2 white pelicans at the oxbow along with large numbers of gulls, 9 D.C. cormorants, 2 gadwall, 40+ blue winged teal. large numbers of tree swallows.
Date: 21 March 2003
Location: Taylor Park, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
Still a nice assortment of waterbirds along the mouth of the Licking about an hour after David's post. The 18 Horned Grebes (most in summer plumage) were keeping in tight formation, and diving in unison, against the current. The dabblers - 2 Blue-wing Teal, 1 pair Wood Ducks, 1 American Wigeon and 6 Mallards - were also working against the current, sifting through the drift. The divers - 2 Bufflehead and 2 Ring-necked Ducks were keeping out of the current in a calmer cove by the river's mouth.
Date: 03/21/03 7:15 - 7:45 a.m.
Location: Taylor Park - Newport, KY
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders:
In the high debris-filled muddy waters of the mighty Ohio and Licking Rivers, and along their muddy shores, I found the following:
Horned Grebe 18, Canada Goose 5, Wood Duck 1, Mallard 27, BLUE-WINGED TEAL 3 (3m), Ring-necked Duck 2 (2f), Bufflehead 2 (1m, 1f), American Coot 6, Ring-billed Gull 5.
Common songbirds and 2 Rock Doves were also noted.
Yesterday (3/20) at aprox. 6:20 p.m. I noted a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flying north along the Mill Creek over the Western Hills viaduct.
Date: March 20, 2003
Location: Miami Heights
Reporter: Ned Keller
Other Birders:
Spring must be here. I also just saw my first Chipping Sparrow of the year, in our back yard.
Date: 3/20/03
Location: New Richmond
Reporter: mark Wessel
Other Birders:
Heard and saw Chipping Sparrows in my yard for the first time this year.
Date: 3-19-2003
Location: Pleasant Ridge
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
2 Cooper's Hawks, flying together for a moment (when first seen), then flying in seperate directions. Possibly courtship/mating behavior? I've seen one Cooper's around here often, but never two at the same time.
Date: March 19, 2003
Location: Miami Heights
Reporter: Ned Keller
Other Birders: Kathy McDonald
After being absent since the end of January, the Indigo Bunting was back at our feeder this evening. At least, we assume it's the same one. It's mostly blue now, but still a lot of tan blotches, so its molt is well along now. One reason for assuming that it's the same bird is that it's still nearly a month early to expect returning Indigo Buntings.
Date: 19 March 2003
Location: Oxbow / Wilson Creek Dearborn Co., IN
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
I could just make out 1 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and 100 Ring-billed Gulls through the trees in the rain from the side of the RT 50 ramp to KY-bound I-275. At the Wilson Creek backwater near Aurora - 10 Lesser Scaup, 15 Ring-necked Ducks.
Date: 3/19/2003 12:00-12:30
Location: Camp Dennison gravel pits.
Reporter: William Hull
Other Birders:
The biggest news is that there was a shrike sp. It was perched on one of the short trees on the earthen dyke that separates the two biggest ponds. I was on the overlook that parallels the nature trail so it was quite distant. Given the distance and the background the bird appeared as a dark blob. However, the dark blob had the right shape and behaviour for a shrike.
Counted: Common Goldeneye (2), Red-necked Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Tree Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk (2),
Not Counted: American Coot, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Canada Goose, Ruddy Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveller, Redhead, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Scaup sp., Bufflehead, Turkey Vulture
Date: Sun 3/16/03
Location: East Fork/Meldahl/Chilo Lock
Reporter: Ginny Fantetti
Other Birders: Rick Chanin, Ken Phillips
Sorry for the late post. We missed the pelicans, but had great close-up looks at some ducks.
East Fork & vicinity: 2 Herring Gulls and 1 Bonaparte's with xx Ring-Billeds, 8 Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal pair. And in my neighboring yard: Red-headed woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and 3 Fox Sparrows that have spent the winter were still present, as well as a Yellow-rumped Warbler feeding at the Sapsucker wells. A woodcock called in the horse pasture in the evening.
Meldahl Dam: Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebird pair, Horned Grebe, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Hooded Mergansers, a Black Duck looking oddly out of place with the mergansers, 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 Killdeer and many Turkey Vultures.
Chilo Lock Park: Redhead (duck), Killdeer, Eastern Phoebe, Red-winged Blackbirds calling.
Rt 133 Farm Pond near Bethel: 7 Lesser Scaup, 8 Ring-necked Ducks
Date: 3/18/03
Location: White Oak Creek/ Higginsport
Reporter: Chris Clingman
Other Birders: Suzanne Clingman
Four American White Pelicans were still present at 6:30 PM.
Date: 3/18/03
Location: Miami Whitewater Wetlands
Reporter: Patti Niehoff
Other Birders:
cardinal, red-winged blackbird, robin, tree sparrow (?), song sparrow, American coot, killdeer, Canada geese, ring-necked duck, bufflehead, pied-billed grebe, tree swallow, northern shoveler, mallard, northern harrier, starling, red-bellied woodpecker.
Date: March 17, 2003
Location: Oxbow, Indiana
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: none
2 American White Pelicans in the Oxbow about 3 pm.
Date: 3/18/03 345-415
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
Just to show how the waterbirds are changing right now. there were 125+ RN Ducks present today. There were a decent number considering the time of day and 5 people fishing around the lakes. I did not search to hard for anything (Grebes), well except a E Widgeon or a Tufted Duck. ~15 PB Grebes, 10 C Geese, 4 Mallards, 2 Black Ducks, 25 A Widgeon, 20 Gadwall, 3 N Shovelers, 1 GW Teal, 3 BW Teal, 125+ RN Ducks, 14 L Scaup, 20 Redhead, 6 Canvasback, 3 Hooded Mergs, 8 Bufflehead.
Date: 03/16/03
Location: Glenwood Gardens
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders: Bridget J. Brinkman
Bridget and I went for a leisurely stroll at this new addition to the Hamilton County Park District.*
Spring arrivals that I heard while walking or sitting were 1 Brown Thrasher, a few Tree Swallows (bubbly call, could not locate the birds and did not have binocs with me), 2 Winter Wrens chattering along the West Fork of Mill Creek. Also noted a Turkey Vulture and an American Kestrel. Seventeen species identified without binocs.
* FYI: This new park is located behind McDonald's at the intersection of Springfield Pike (a.k.a. Rt. 4) and Glendale-Milford Rd. (exit #14 from I-75). Go west on Glendale-Milford Rd. from I-75 and thru this intersection. Nice area of about 360 acres.
Date: 3/17/03 3:30p to dark
Location: New Richmond to Chilo
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
4 WHITE PELICANS at White Oak Creek Marina/Campground in Higginsport.
A kettle of 200+ BLACK VULTURES over the same area.
1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on the Ohio shore at New Richmond. It swam in to shore and stole a large fish from a Ring-billed Gull and took off with the victim in pursuit. The gull kept trying to pounce on the scoter who kept diving with the fish until finally the gull gave up.
Date: 3.17.2003
Location: Camp Dennison; Lake Isabella
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders: Jon Woodhouse
Pretty good day for waterbirds at CD; 16 species total. The RED-NECKED GREBE was still present, close to the bluff of of the Camp Dennison Nature Trail. It often was close to a Horned Grebe. Also, one of the Horned Grebes was molting into its breeding plumage.
Numbers are rough estimates
15 Pied-billed Grebe, 6 Horned Grebe, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, 100+ American Coot, 25 Ring-necked Duck, 4+ Greater Scaup, 15 Lesser Scaup, 10 Bufflehead, 20 Ruddy Duck, 1 (fem.) Hooded Merganser, 5 Northern Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 10 Blue-winged Teal, 2 Gadwall, 10 Redhead, 25 Canada Goose
Also from the bluff:
3 Great Blue Herons landed on one of the dirt hills, above the furthest ponf (from the bluff). Killdeer were heard nearly constantly, and a few were seen. 1 Red-tailed Hawk. 10 Turkey Vultures. 4 BLACK VULTURES (all in a single flock, with one Turkey Vulture). 25 American Goldfinches.
On the Nature Trail, 5 Dark-eyed Juncos, 1 Brown Creeper, 1 Eastern Towhee, White-throated Sparrow (heard only), many Song Sparrows.
Date: 3/17/03 1000-1120
Location: Miami Whitewater Wetlands
Reporter: Ron Kolde
Other Birders:
Spent the morning traveling the Shaker Trace bike path with my kids. Stopped at the Wetlands shelter, there was a scoter present, unfortunately sleeping most of the time. It moved once after a Lesser Scaup bothered it, at that time the following things were noted: white iris,light spot on head below and behind the eye, dull grey bill, slightly darker on top of head. Couldn't see any white on wings, the duck didn't flap its wings. This was a brief look, but the profile resembled a female Surf Scoter. Unless someone gets a better look, it's just scoter species, I guess.
Date: 3/16/03
Location: Stonlick Twp, home
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
The lake had a few waterfowl as usual this time of year, 8 Ca Geese, 2 Mallards, 12 Woodies, 22 RN Ducks, and 2 L Scaup. 4 Tree Swallows were competing with a couple Bluebirds for a box, 1 Woodcock was flying around at dusk, and last but not least a Brown Thrasher. I would assume this is a migrant since he was in my normal birding route I take and this is the first time I have seen since last fall here.
Date: March 16, 2003 5:30pm-dark
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Erich Baumgardner
Other Birders: Jerry Lippert, Wayne Wauligman
Unsuccessful locating any owls. Many Woodcock were calling, making flights. On and around the water were, 7 N. Shovelers, 14+ Mallards, 1 Coot, xx Geese, 8 Pintail, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Tree Swallows, 2 Killdeer, as well as the usuals.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: Oxbow (Lawrenceburg, IN)
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: none
Beautiful day to be out. The bright sun light made the colors stand out well. I took a few minutes to walk back to the first pond and saw the following: Coots XX, Mallards X, Pintail X, Canadian Geese, XX, Shoveler X, Red Heads XX, Canvasback X, Lesser Scaup XX, Ring Necks XX,Wood Duck X, Gadwall X, Green Winged Teal X, Golden eye X. There were several hundred gulls in the distance to far to ID. Many Red Taild Hawks & Turkey Vultures. Had one Brown Creeper land on a tree nearby.
Date: March 16, 2003
Location: Winton Woods
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger, Charlie Saunders, Brian Keane and 9 other participants of an Audubon Society field trip
An Audubon Society field trip to the settling ponds from about 11:30 am to 1:00 pm today saw the following species and approximate numbers. Pied-billed Grebe 1, Canada Goose 200+ throughout park, Wood Duck 1, Mallard 4, Northern Shoveler 6, Gadwall 6, American Wigeon 35, Redhead 35, Ring-necked Duck 200+, Lesser Scaup 25, Bufflehead 4, Hooded Merganser 15, American Coot 50 and BONAPARTE"S GULL 5.
Some other species seen in other areas of the park included Turkey Vulture 3, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, Killdeer 4, Ring-billed Gull 35, Pileated Woodpecker, EASTERN PHOEBE 1, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebirds and BROWN THRASHER 2. Lots of Carolina Chickadee's, Tufted Titmouse and other common species seen and heard throughout the park.
Date: 3/16/03@5:15p
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
Brown Merlin in Section 133. Possibly a second one.
Date: March 16, 2003
Location: L. Miami River floodplain north of Beechmont
Reporter: Stan Hedeen
Other Birders:
Good numbers of seven sparrows. In order of abundance: song, white-crowned, tree, savannah, swamp, white-throated, fox.
Date: March 16, 2003
Location: Winton Woods
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: none
Settling Pond: Ring-necked Duck 250 (see Ev Kitchen's note), Killdeer 1, Red-headed Duck 25, Lesser Scaup 20, Widgeon 35, Coots 50, Mallard 14, Wood Duck 2, Shoveler 6, Bufflehead 3, Canada Goose 7, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Hooded Merganser 15.
Elsewhere in Winton Woods: Red-bellied Wp 6, Ring-billed Gull 1, Cardinal 8, Tufted Titmouse 3, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Crow 3, Mockingbird 2, Flicker 2, Song Sparrow 5, Turkey Vulture 2, Blue Jay 3, Robin 1, Downy Wp 2, Carolina Chickadee 8, Pileated Wp 1, Grackle 8, Mourning Dove 2, Northern Junco 1, Starling 20, Brown-headed Cowbird 1, House Finch 2.
Date: March 16, 2:30 to 3:30 pm
Location: Camp Denison Gravel Pits
Reporter: Ev Kitchen
Other Birders: Susan Kitchen
Good collection of ducks,geese,grebes, coots and loon.
Common Loon(1), grebes, pied billed 20, horned 2, red-necked 1; coots 150, goldeneye 6, red heads 12, canvassback 24, am wigeon 20, gadwall 4, mallards 10, bufflehead 8, scaup 50, ruddy 20, Canada geese 40. Interesting that hooded mergansers and ring-necked ducks which have been the most numerous ducks since October were absent.
Date: 16 March 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds (10-1130am)
Reporter: Jeff Brown
Other Birders:
Was unsuccessful in locating either of the saw-whet owls in there general locations. Water is starting to subside and there were few ducks or geese present. Did observe 2 tree swallows flying in and out of a nest box on the west side of the West Pond area.
Date: 3-15-03
Location: Spring Valley WA & nearby gravel pit
Reporter: Diana Shuler
Other Birders: Jeff Brown
Spring Valley (5:30-7:20 p.m.)- ruddy duck(1), lesser scaup(13), turkey vulture(12), red-bellied wp(1), wb nuthatch(1), downy wp (1), Carolina chickadee(1), killdeer (4), red-winged blackbird(xxxx), Carolina wren(1), northern shoveler (12), mallard(2), tree swallow(5), sandhill crane(2), barred owl (2), mourning dove(1), eastern phoebe(1), sharp-shinned hawk(1), Virginia rail(5).
Gravel Pits (Roxanna-New Burlington Rd)(4:30-5:20)-Canada goose(100), Am. widgeon(25), black duck(12), mallard(50+), hooded merganser(6), common merganser(3), rb merganser(2), ring-necked duck(15), green-winged teal(18), redhead(30), Am. coot(50), gadwall(4), n. shoveler(1), killdeer(3), kestral(1), great blue heron(2), lesser scaup(32), ring-billed gull(10), song sparrow(1).
Date: 3/16/2003
Location: Cowan Lake State Park
Reporter: Jon Woolf
Other Birders:
Seen from the beach and the adjacent marina:
* Male Canvasback
* Male Red-breasted Merganser
* Flock of 20-30 Lesser Scaup, both males and females
* 3 of what looked like winter-plumage Horned Grebes
* Something I've only seen once or twice: a flock of Turkey Vultures in a kettle.
* A lot of gulls, mostly way out on the ice in the middle of the lake. Those close enough to identify were all Ring-bills.
Date: 3-16-03
Location: Lawrenceburg IN
Reporter: Wayne Wauligman
Other Birders:
Confirming Patrick Heekin's sighting, the American White Pelican was found about 9:30AM at a backwater opposite US50 and Wilson Creek Road. Additionally, there were Red-necked Grebe (1), 3 Green Winged Teal and numerous Black Ducks and Mallards.
When I returned later about 10:30, all ducks, grebe and the pelican were gone. Access was obtained by parking near the Indiana Monument Co. Through the scope, I saw the pelican jump when an emergency vehicle went by with a blaring siren. Tree Sparrows were present in the field.
Date: 3/16/03
Location: Chilo lock #34 Park/Crooked Run Nature Preserve
Reporter: Chris Clingman
Other Birders: Suzanne Clingman, Regina Schieltz
As this mornings fog lifted it revealed TWO AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. Seen at 8:30 AM. Last saw heading towards Locust Creek on the Kentucky shore. Yesterday a single pelican was seen at Chilo and at Meldahl Dam. Last time on Saturday that I saw the pelican ws at 6:00 PM at Meldahl. Perhaps Lawernceburg Pelican joined the Chilo Pelican? Or maybe there are at least three pelicans out there.
Date: 03/16/03 ~ 9:10 a.m.
Location: Covedale backyard
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders:
As I watched a Mourning Dove collecting nesting material, she carried it to the top of the pine tree in our backyard where I found a male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER feeding at the top of the main trunk. This is the first sapsucker I've seen in my yard since moving here in Sept. 2000.
Date: 15 March 2003
Location: California Woods, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
Spent a few hours watching White-breasted Nuthatch nesting activity. The female may be already incubating, male returning to vicinity of the nest every 20 minutes or so with an encouraging "song". Also 2 Eastern Phoebes, 1 Brown Creeper. I probably would have missed the creeper, if it hadn't creeped right past the nuthatch nest hole. Also 2 Horned Grebes at Taylor Park in Newport, KY.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: E. Fork Lake State Park
Reporter: Dave Dankovic & Sharon Pawlowski
Other Birders:
Saw and heard several woodcocks displaying after sunset at Willow Wood Memorial and the wild turkey habitat/native grasslands area across the street. Had a good look at one who was displaying and taking off from the nature trail that runs through the turkey habitat.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: Miami Whitewater Wetlands (12p-2:30p)and SGC (5-6p)
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
I would agree with Jason, there was a flurry of raptor activity like I haven't seen before. While viewing waterfowl at the Wetlands, an endless stream of first Turkey Vultures (106), followed by Redtail Hawks (14), Black Vultures (6), Red-shoulders (6), Cooper's Hawks (2) and (1)Peregrine came into view over the field beside the wetlands. Talk about lazy birding, sitting in the parking lot! At one point, there were the 6 black vultures, 2 coopers,2 redtails, 2 redshoulders and the peregrine were in one thermal overhead. A kestrel, one male N. Harrier and two resident Red-shoulders were also seen. In that same field beside the wetlands and adjacent to the parking lot was a Prairie race Horned Lark per Peterson's. The facial markings above were not smudgy; they were distinctly black and white and the throat was yellow.
Brown Merlin is still there; seen in Section 133).
Date: Mar.15,2003
Location: Miami Whitewater wetland
Reporter: Frank Frick
Other Birders: Bob Rapien
White-Winged Scoter? Bob saw this bird come in with some other ducks. Dark bird with small white spot under and behind eye. Bill was tucked under wing most of the time,but when we did see it,it was all dark. WE think White-Winged Scoter.I hope it stays around so some else can I.D. it.Other birds seen, Mallards 8,Black Ducks 5,Gadwall 2,A.Wigeon 4,Wood Duck 2,N.Shovelers 5,Green-Winged Teal 4,Canvasback 2,Ring-Necked Ducks xx,L.Scaups xx,Bufflehead 3,Hooded Mergansers 2,A. Coots 6,Pied-Billed Grebe 1, N.Harrier 1,Turkey Vulture 46. The numbers on water birds kept changing though the day.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Reporter: Patrick Heekin
Other Birders: none
American Pelican,
Get off 275 and go into downtown Lawrenceburg. Go past the first BurgerKing, Through old downtown, past the Walmart and you will see a second Burger King on the Right. Across the road and down an embackment is some timber were water has accumulated. On the left is a break in the guard rail. Go through this break and there is small path down to the backwater. The Pelican was sitting on a stump in the middle of the backwater. I saw it at about 5:00pm. There is quite a few waterfowl in this timber. The best place to park is near the Burger King.Crossing the highway and parking on the highway is very dangerous.
Date: Saturday, March 15, 2003
Location: Hueston Woods/Brookville Lake
Reporter: Ned Keller
Other Birders: Audubon field trip
I didn't take notes as we went, so no doubt I've forgotten a few things. The highlight was a Red-necked Grebe at Hueston Woods. The lake was frozen below the beach, but the area above had a couple of hundred waterfowl, including Canada Goose, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and Hooded Merganser. Brookville also had a lot of ice, but about half the lake was open. The biggest concentration of waterfowl was a few thousand north of Fairfield Causeway. Species at Brookville included all the Hueston Woods birds except Wood Duck, and added Gadwall, American Black Duck, Blue- and Green-winged Teal, Shoveler, Pintail, and Common and Red-breaster Mergansers. A few Tree Swallows were at Dunlapsville Causeway. Finally, a single American Pipit was in the fields west of Brookville between Treaty Line Road and Dunsapsville, along with Horned Larks and a Northern Harrier.
Date: 3-15-03
Location: Gilmore Ponds/ Rapid Run Park- backyard
Reporter: Ann Oliver
Other Birders: Mike Acheson
Gilmore Ponds 10:30-to 12:00: could not relocate the saw-whet owl today. Did find 5 drake northern shovelers, 2 ring-necked ducks, 13 drake hooded mergansers and 4 female, a pair of widgeon, 3 black duck, many mallards, many canadas, 2 coots, 1 red-tailed hawk, eastern phoebe (heard).
In my backyard bordering Rapid Run Park: fox sparrow for 2 days, male towhee for the last three days, and a female red-winged blackbird (with an orange-pink throat) on Thursday, and the regular titmice, chickadees, and white-throated sparrows. Also, heard two great horned owls this a.m. but they ceased calling just before 6:25.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: OH, Hamilton, Cincinnati, 2791 Morningridge Dr.
Reporter: Jason Cade
Other Birders: Neill Cade
A small flurry of raptor activity. A total of AT LEAST 6 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS!! riding thermals and 5 or more Turkey Vultures. Although we usually have 1 or 2 resident Red-shoulders hanging around we have never seen this many in the neighberhood.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: Spring Valley along bike path
Reporter: Aimee Morrison
Other Birders: Kevin Terell
Well the moment I have been waitng for...Spring Valley to thaw. Except right now there is little open water and mostly mud flats....but still a great birding morning. Here is the list of birds we saw this morning around 8-9 a.m.: 1 female Ruddy Duck, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, Northern Shovlers, many Wood Ducks in flight only, Blue-winged Teal in flight, Lesser Scaup, many Ring-billed Gulls, a few Ring-necked Ducks, Canada Geese, 1 male Bufflehead, Great Blue Heron, and too many Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbirds to count... :)
Have a great weekend!!!
Date: March 15, 2003
Location: near my home S. of Williamsburg
Reporter: David Hess
Other Birders:
Ten sandhill cranes on the edge of a corn field, two pairs of red shouldered hawks riding thermals over the field, and two pairs of mallards and five pairs of woodducks on a pond nearby.
Date: 3/15/03
Location: Chilo Lock #34 Park, Ohio River
Reporter: Chris Clingman
Other Birders: Suzanne Clingman, Regina Sheiltz
At 8:40 AM an American White Pelican showed up at Chilo Lock #34 Park. At 11:30 AM it was seen on the upriver side of Meldahl Dam near the Kentucky shore. There is also a White Fronted Goose at Meldahl and 4 Greater Scaup. White winged Scoter was seen in New Richmond. Tree Swallows and a Phoebe have shown up at Chilo Lock #34 Park as well. So far it has been a good day of birding along the river.
Date: 3-13-03
Location: Gap Outlet, Hebron, KY
Reporter: Mary Jo White
Other Birders:
As I opened my car door at 7:15pm, I heard my first Woodcock of the season. Since I was in such a civilized place, I decided to hold still & wait to hear it again. There was the peent again. I was so excited that I wanted to tell someone but there wasn't anyone who was interested. So, I went shopping.
Date: March 14, 2003
Location: Winton Woods
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders:
About 40 Ring-billed Gulls and 4 Lesser Scaup on Winton Lake at Harbor Point. Birds seen and approximate numbers at the settling pond late this afternoon included Pied-billed Grebe 1,Wood Duck 8, Green-winged Teal 1, Gadwall 2, Am Wigeon 40+, Redhead 30, Ring-necked Duck 70, Lesser Scaup 25, Bufflehead 3, Hooded Merganser 8, Am Coot 20 and Ring-billed Gull 6. Only 4 Mallards seen on the pond but several were on Winton Lake.
Date: March 14,2003
Location: Mitchell Memorial Forest
Reporter: Andy Bess
Other Birders:
Saw 3 Phoebes on our hike this afternoon. Also heard a Barred Owl calling.
Date: 14 March 2003
Location: Morscher Field Wetlands, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
There is still life at the wetlands despite recent filling activities (just what we need another soccer field in N. KY). 4 Wood Ducks, 4 Blue-winged Teal and 3 Wilson's Snipe. Alas the trees in which the Rusty Blackbirds normally congregate at this season are all gone -victims of the bulldozer.
Date: 14 March 2003
Location: 4 Seasons Marina / Rowe Arboretum Ham. Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
1 Pied-billed Grebe, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers at the marina. 1 Black Vulture and a Red-tailed Hawk soaring over the arboretum in Indian Hill.
Date: 14 March 2003
Location: Taylor Park, Newport, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
A nice variety of birds on a beautiful day. 1 Horned Grebe, 12 female and 4 male Ring-necked Ducks, 2 female Lesser Scaup, 20 Mallards, 4 American Coots, 2 Bonaparte's Gulls, 30 Ring-billed Gulls.
Date:
Location:
Reporter: Jon Woodhouse
Other Birders: none
I am a birdwatcher.
Date: Friday, March 14, 2003 - 3:55/4:35PM
Location: Aurora Ferry Rd., Petersburg, KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
Couldn't resist such a beautiful day. Drove to sloughs on AFR. 12 species of Grebes & waterfowl, not great numbers but the smaller quantity allowed for easier scoping and longer periods of checking each species.
2 Pied-billed Grebes; 5 Grn-w Teal; 1 Am Black Duck; 7 Mallard; 2 N Pintail (been years since last seen on the sloughs); 2 Blue-w Teal; 6 N Shoveler; 7 Gadwall; 6 Am Wigeon; 2 Ring-nkd Duck; 2 Scaup; 2 Bufflehead; 1 T Vulture; 1 Am Crow.
NO Canads's or Woodies! The north slough usually is home to 10-20 Wood Duck most of the year.
As I was leaving, 27 birds in "V" formation, about 500 feet high, were flying N-NE up river at about 4:30. I didn't hear any calls and they were too far for IDing with binocs - Sandhills I wonder?
Granville
Date: 3-14-03 about 3pm
Location: Rt. 52 just east of New Richmond
Reporter: YPowell
Other Birders:
Spoted what I think was a Red Tailed Hawk flying over field on north side of highway.
Photo (not a real good one) at http://www.pbase.com/image/14297722
Bald Eagle was spoted also in New Richmond on south side of highway along trees near access rode across from McDonalds at about 11am. It flew deeper into the woods before I could get a photo :(((
Date: 03/14/03
Location: W. Main Street & St.Rt.32 (by Red Barn Flea Market), Batavia OH ~9:45am
Reporter: Donald Morse Jr.
Other Birders:
A fairly dark Rough-legged Hawk was flying around a field at this location. Across the sky from the RL was 2 Red tails - never really got to compare the size of theese two hawks before - a big size difference.
Date: 3/13/03
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
I guess all the puddle ducks went somewhere else to feed today. 2 PB Grebes, 4 C Geese, 15 Gadwall, 10 A Widgeon, 4 Mallard, 3 N Pintail, 6 GW Teal, 20 Canvasback, 33 Redhead, 90+ RN Ducks, 24 L Scaup, 5 Bufflehead, 8 H Mergs, 5 Ruddy Ducks, and finally 2 Tree Swallows.
Date: 13 March 2003
Location: Taylor Park, Newport, Campell Co.,KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
3 male Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Horned Grebe, 50 Ring-billed Gulls.
Date: 12 March 2003
Location: VOA
Reporter: Jeff Brown
Other Birders:
woodcock (12), short-eared owl (1), Wilson's snipe (12), N. harrier (1-female), Am. tree sparrow (7), Carolina wren (1), eastern meadowlark (50+), red-winged blackbird (xxx), killdeer (13), Am. robin (16), mallard (14), song sparrow (3), Canada goose (2), mourning dove (2), european starling (xxx).
Other notes:
1.) Snipe were located on waterlogged trails directly east of the new parking lot. All 12 were originally in one area then when flushed dispersed in pairs to different wet spots in same area, 2.) short-eared owl was first spotted coming out of the taller grassed field with a lone tree in it near the southeast ball fields, and 3.) the ponds were still frozen over except for small fringe areas along the edges.
Date: 3/12/03
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
Brown merlin, not banded.
Date: March 12, 2003
Location: East side of Neville, Ohio
Reporter: Chris Clingman
Other Birders:
Two adult Bald Eagles perched near the Ohio River. Can be easily seen for Route 52, just east of Neville. There is a dead tree near the river that is almost directly behind a black barn near the road. That seems to be their favorite tree to perch in.
Date: 3/10-3/11
Location: Adams County / East Fork Lake
Reporter: Sue Cline
Other Birders: L. Lose
2 days in Adams County yielded a nice list:
Adams Lake State Park: 2 Snow Goose, many many Canada Goose, 20+ Lesser Scaup, 8 Canvassback, 20 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Hooded Merganser (3 life birds for me!)
Back roads in Adams County: 6 Meadowlark, 1 American Kestrel, 2+ Eastern Bluebirds, several Red Tailed Hawks, many Turkey Vultures, and the usual suspects (American Robins by the dozens, crows, starlings, cardinals, Carolina chickadees, White-breasted nuthatch, Junco, Titmice, American Goldfinch, Killdeer)
East Fork Lake (3/11): 30+ American Coot, 1 Horned Grebe, 5 Bufflehead, many Canada Goose, many Ring-billed Gulls
Date: 3/12/03 815-900
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
Present this morning were 2 PB Grebes, 1 Horned Grebe, 1 RN GREBE, 15 C Geese, 4 Wood Ducks (first time I've seen them on the lakes down there), 25 Gadwall, 54 A Widgeon, 24 Black Ducks, 65+ Mallards, 6 N Shovelers, 3 Pintails, 12 GW Teal, 6 Canvasback, 24 Redhead, 88+ RN Ducks, 6 L Scaup, 4 Scaup sp., 8 Bufflehead, 16 Hooded Mergs, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Killdeer, 40 RB Gulls, and 1 B Kingfisher.
The Horned and RN Grebe were seen together the whole time.
Date: 3/11/03, about 4:30 p.m.
Location: Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Darlena Graham
Other Birders:
W. Pelican found, but not at the R.350 @ R 50 water area. I drove around there for some time, spotted several Red-headed Ducks, Black Ducks, Mallards, Gulls, etc gave up and headed out. As I was driving east I spotted the Pelican in the backwater area where the water was up between R.50 and the river. To my everlasting shame I did not note the name of the strip mall where I pulled off. It was a mile or so east of R. 148. Other than that I was in too much of a hurry to do more birding. (I hate when that happens)
Date: March 11, 2003
Location: Winton Woods Lake
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: none
Over 400 Ring-billed gulls on the Lake waiting for the ice to melt.
Date: 11 March, 2003
Location: Watertown Yacht Club, Dayton, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
1 Horned Grebe, 5 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Greater Scaup, 20 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Great Blue Herons, 1 Savannah Sparrow, 6 Song Sparrows.
Date: 11 March 2003
Location: Camp Ernst Lake, Boone Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
28 Ring-necked Ducks, 8 Lesser Scaup, 2 Common Goldeneye. The presence of a boat on the small lake may have flushed off some of the other birds that Granville had posted on the KY listserv earlier.
Date: 3.11.2003
Location: Glendale
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
Heard Woodcock at dusk on Oak Avenue (between Oak Drive and Albion Avenue) in Glendale.
Date: 3/11/03
Location: Stonlick Twp and Lake Isabella
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders: none
I went to start my truck this morning and heard this funny buzzing, first time I have been home at the appropriate time for Woodcock so it was my first of the year.
Around 4pm I stopped at Lake Isabella, No WW Scoter! nemisis bird. Present were 6 Ca Geese, 2 Mallards, 6 C Goldeneye, and 4 Bufflehead. Oh and an active GH Owl nest. 1 Adult was on the nest.
Date: 3/11/03
Location: Neville, OH
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders:
Two adult bald eagles are still hanging out along US 52 just east of Neville, OH. They were both seen at about 12:00 pm on 3-11. Also,on Saturday the 8th, Chris and Suzanne Clingman spotted one perched along the Kentucky shoreline across from Crooked Run Nature Preserve.
Date: 10 March 2003
Location: Gilmore Pons
Reporter: Jeff Brown
Other Birders:
Woodcock(8), Saw-whet owl(2), Am. Tree sparrow(5), White-throated sparrow(2), Redwing blackbird(xxx), Common grackle(xx), Great blue heron(1). Waterfowl included: Pintail(5), Wood duck(15), Mallard(xxx), Gadwall(1), Green-winged teal(5), Black duck(35), Am. Wigeon(8), Ringneck duck(1), Shovler(2), Canada goose(50). Ducks and geese were continueing to arrive well after dark.
Additionally, 3 coyotes seen on the north side of west pond.
Date: March 10, 2003
Location: Glenwood Gardens
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: none
Walking the dog in Glenwood Gardens saw 50 robins, 4 killdeer, 1 red-tailed hawk, 2 red-bellied woodpeckers, and 1 belted kingfisher.
Date: March 10, 2003
Location: Winton Woods Settling Pond
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: none
The water has opened up and there were 70 ring-necked ducks, 6 redhead, 1 widgeon, 1 Bufflehead, 2 hooded-mergansers, 4 black duck, and 4 wood duck present.
Date: 10 March 2003
Location: Watertown Yacht Club, Dayton, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
There hasn't been much on the OH R. here recently but a pair of Greater Scaup is still holding court at the back end of the marina. Also 50 Ring-billed Gulls here and another 80 at Newport.
Date: 10 March 2003
Location: Lake Isabella / Camp Dennison, Ham. Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
The imm. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was back at Lake Isabella today along with 6 Common Goldeneye and 7 Bufflehead.
The RED-NECKED GREBE was still present at Camp Dennison. The waterbirds were more scattered and harder to view due to the shifting position of the ice. Others included 100 American Coots, 40 Ring-necked Ducks, 30 American Wigeon, 10 scaup species, 6 Northern Pintail. Also forgot to mention 4 Ruddy Ducks on yesterday's post, not seen today.
Date:
Location: back yard in Loveland
Reporter: Michael Evans
Other Birders: none
I have seen a red bellied woodpecker a few times in the past couple of days.
Date: 3/10/03
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
Brown merlin in large sycamore tree by lake west of the waterfall.
Date: 9 March 2003
Location: Flooded fields at Union Station area off Mulhauser Rd.
Reporter: Jeff Brown
Other Birders:
Only had time to give a quick 5-minute scan but saw some beautiful birds. Sorry I don't have numbers for more than one sp. : Pintails (50+), Mallards, Black ducks, gadwall, shovlers, wood ducks, green winged teal, blue winged teal, Am. coot, Canada goose, Ring-billed gull.
Date: 3/9/2003
Location: Hueston Woods/Acton Lake
Reporter: Erich Baumgardner
Other Birders:
Forgot to mention 2 Am. Woodcock calling.
Date: March 9, 2003
Location: Winton Woods
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: none
The water is just opening up along the edges. There were 250 Ring-billed gulls, 13 mallards and 3 Canada Geese along with a single hooded merganser that were starting to reoccupy the water.
Date: March 8th and 9th, 2003
Location: Brookville Reservoir
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
We visited Brookville on Saturday 3/8 and again today 3/9. Many species of waterfowl and waterbirds were seen here both days in very good numbers, but the numbers fluctuated considerably over the two days maybe indicating an on going migration or birds were just moving around this large area. Much of the lake was still frozen but large areas are open. We did not see the previously rported Greater White-fronted Geese either day. Bald Eagles were conspicuous both days. We had 3 adult Bald Eagles at one time at Dunlapsville and an immature at Fairfield on Saturday. Today we had 4 immatures of three different ages, 2 at the dam, 1 at Dulapsville, and 1 at Fairfield. That works out to at least six different eagles over the two day period. Bill Buskirk reported 2 immatures yesterday, so at least 5 individual eagle were present yesterday. We covered Dulapsville and Fairfield Causeways, the dam and the farm fields east to the Ohio border on both days. Birds we saw over the 2 days and the high number included Pied-billed Grebe 1, Great Blue Heron 3, Canada Goose 2300, Green-winged Teal 6, Am Black Duck 80, Mallard 1500, N Pintail 41, N Shoveler 1, Gadwall 6, Am Wigeon 8, Redhead 58, Ring-necked Duck 130, Lesser Scaup 75, Co Goldeneye 28, Bufflehead 15, Hooded Merganser 20, Co Merganser 81, Red-breasted Merganser 15, Black Vulture 8, Turkey Vulture 55, Bald Eagle 4 both days, Red-shouldered Hawk 1 3/8, Red-tailed Hawk 7, Am Kestrel 4, Wild Turkey 11 3/8 and 32 on 3/9, Am Coot 30, Killdeer 6, Ring-billed Gull 500+, Herring Gull 2, Horned Lark 12, Tree Swallow 1 both days, Red-winged Blackbirds 150.
Date: 3/9/2003
Location: Camp Dennison / East Fork SP / Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Scott Reeves
Other Birders: Mike Busam at Gilmore
Did a whirlwind tour of several birding locales today. Almost all of the birds I saw have been previously reported by others so I'll keep this short. At Camp Dennison, in addition to the previously reported birds (including one red-necked grebe), I saw my first 3 tree swallows of the year - looking every bit as cold as I was.
Drove down to East Fork where the water is completely open but found few waterbirds. Highlight was the red-necked grebe (ho-hum) reported yesterday and well seen in the waters just east of the dam. Also present were five horned grebes, a few redheads and lesser scaup and 50 or so American coots.
Finished the day with Mike Busam at Gilmore Ponds - lots more ducks, a couple woodcock and 2 Northern saw-whet owls. No time to chase the Ross's Geese but there's always tomorrow.
Date: March 8th and 9th, 2003
Location: Hueston Woods SP
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
On Saturday March 8, about 12:30 pm, Jack and I saw a huge assemblage of what we estimated as 4000 Canada Geese. Among them were 2 ROSS'S GEESE and 1 SNOW GOOSE(white) as previously posted by Dave Russell. These geese were all resting on the ice at the north end of the lake across from the marina. 70 degree temperature's and Acton Lake was still almost entirely frozen except for a long narrow line where the creek enters the lake. Also seen were Mallard 40, N Pintail 1, N Shoveller 3, Gadwall 4, Am Wigeon 3, Redhead 4, Ring-necked Duck 2, GREATER SCAUP 1, Hooded Merganser 1, Black Vulture 2, Turkey Vulture 25, Red-tailed Hawk 4, Am Kestrel 3, SANDHILL CRANE 4, Killdeer 2, Horned Lark 30, AMERICAN PIPIT 1(at Jones Rd sod farm) and Red-winged Blackbirds. Jack was able to get decent film footage of the Ross's.
Because we missed the Red-necked Grebe yesterday and wanted to see the geese again we returned today about 11:00 am. Today with freezing temperatures the north end of the lake was now mostly open, from yesterdays warm spell, but there seemed to be less geese, maybe half of what was present on Saturday. We found the Snow Goose quickly but the 2 Ross's Geese were not readily apparent. We drove down the youth camp road and found both Ross's Geese in the company of many hundreds more Canada Geese in the section of the creek hidden by the north island. The RED-NECKED GREBE was also back there as were 14 Great Blue Herons. At one point all the geese, including the 2 Ross's, took flight and flew back to the main lake where they were easy to see again. The grebe remained in the creek channel hidden by the island. There was also less duck diversity today. We saw only Mallards, 15 Ring-necked Ducks and a Co Goldeneye. There were also several hundred Ring-billed Gulls present yesterday but not nearly as many today.
Date: 9 March 2003
Location: Camp Dennison / Lake Isabella, Ham. Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders: Veronica Renfrow
We made a brief tour of the NE Hamilton County gravel pits in the mid afternoon. Very similar results to Ann Oliver's posting. At Camp D. - 1 RED-NECKED GREBE,2 Pied-billed Grebes, 2 Horned Grebes, 80 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Canvasbacks, 30 Redheads, 15 Northern Pintails, 6 Bufflehead, 1 Hooded Merganser, 3 Northern Shovelers, 20 Green-winged Teal, 20 American Wigeon, 30 Mallards, 20 Canada Geese, 100 American Coots, 2 Ring-billed Gulls.
At Lake Izzy - 6 Common Goldeneye, 8 Bufflehead. No sign of the scoter, but lots of fisher-people lining the lake.
Date: 3/9/2003
Location: Hueston Woods / Acton Lake
Reporter: Erich Baumgardner
Other Birders: Wayne Wauligman, Jerry Lippert & several others
Coooold evening, but worthwhile. 20 Sandhill Cranes (group of 7 flew right overhead, then 13 more came in later). The 7 landed in the creek feeding the lake (near the marina). Also, 4 male Hooded Merg., 1 Common Merg., 15+ Wood Ducks, 7+ Common Goldeneye, 10+ Ring-necked Duck, a pair of Pintails, xx Mallard, xxx C. Goose. Also a single Red-breasted Nuthatch near the feeders, and at least 30 frozen fingers and toes.
Date: 3/9/2003
Location: Rt 50 just south of Kilby Rd across from rr brigde
Reporter: Bob Crouch
Other Birders: Louise Crouch
At dusk 4 sand hill cranes in flood field area. Nice surprise.
Date: March 9, 2003
Location: Oxbow Area
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
Huge numbers of waterfowl and waterbirds in the Oxbow this afternoon. The Oxbow proper is still flooded in all the low areas and access is still difficult. We did our best there, but saw many more ducks than we could identify. We also checked the Great Miami River and the pits along I-275 and the fields north of the Miller Cemetary north to Elizabethtown Rd. Our best estimate of waterfowl numbers were 5000, mostly in the Oxbow and the east of I-275 borrow pit. Ring-billed Gulls were everywhere in large numbers. Our best birds were probably SANDHILL CRANES. Birds we saw and best estimates included Great Blue Heron 2, Canada Goose 1500, Wood Duck 18 (one flock), Am Black Duck 60, Mallard 500+, Gadwall 25+, Am Wigeon 20+, Redhead 500, Ring-necked Duck 500, Lesser Scaup 1000, Bufflehead 25, Hooded Merganser 30, Common Merganser 14, Black Vulture 8, Turkey Vulture 10, Red-tailed Hawk 6, Am Kestrel 5, Peregrine Falcon 1,(at Miami Fort plant), Wild Turkey 17 (at Stateline Rd. and US 50), Am Coot 200+, SANDHILL CRANE 66 (12 in flight and 54 at 5:30 pm in the fields south of E-town Rd.), Killdeer 20, Ring-billed Gull 8000 (6000 in Oxbow and Valley, another 2000, mostly in flooded fields along US 50 west to Aurora),Herring Gull 2, Horned Lark 6, TREE SWALLOW 1, Red-winged Blackbird 75, Co Grackle 300.
We drove to Wilsons Creek in Aurora to try for the Am White Pelican previously reported, but no luck. We stopped at pier 50 along US 50 on the way back and had close looks at 200+ diving ducks there including Canvasback 5, Redhead 70, Ring-necked Duck 35, Greater Scaup 11 and Lesser Scaup 85.
Date: 3-9-03
Location: Camp Denison, Lake Isabella, Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Ann Oliver
Other Birders:
From 2:45-3:30 at Camp Denison: finally, after four visits in as many weeks, & I finally saw the red-necked grebe! Birds include: 1 red-necked grebe, 1 horned grebe, 4 pied-billed grebe, 10 male widgeon (& many female), 10 + gadwall, 100+ male ring-necked duck (& many female), 40+ male canvasback (& few female), 15+ green-winged teal (& many female), 15+ male redhead ,10 + male and female pintails, 8+ bufflehead (& 1-2 female), 1 male hooded merganser, 1 female ruddy, 2 male shoveler, 30+ male and female mallards, 50 + canada geese, 130 + coots, 4 bluebirds, 3 turkey vultures.
From 3:50-4:15 at Lake Isabella: 2 drake common goldeneye, 6 male bufflehead and 3 female, mallards and canada geese. Could not find the white-winged scoter. Two redtails and one turkey vulture overhead.
From 4:45-5:40 at Gilmore Ponds: could not relocate greater white-fronted goose. But observed the saw-whet. Other birds include: 2 great blue herons, 2 drake shovelers, 15 + ring-necked duck, 10+ green-winged teal, 3 gadwall, 3 widgeon, 50+ mallards, 6 pintails, 75+ canada geese. No redheads tonight.
Date: March 9, 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Mike Busam
Other Birders: Scott Reeves
We had decent looks at the second saw-whet owl today, so there are currently two at Gilmore. The second owl is in the lone, large cedar tree along the trail in "Woodcock Corner," approximately 25 to 30 feet off the ground. It's rather tough to see, but can be seen in brief glimpses on the east side of the tree. Also, 2 woodcock, 1 killdeer. 2 Canada goose, 4 green-winged teal, 2 black duck, 20 N. pintail, 3 wigeon, 6 ring-necked duck, 1 turkey vulture, 1 ring-billed gull. Most of the duck and goose incoming traffic seems to occur in the evening, just before dusk.
Date: 3/9/03
Location: Acton Lake, Hueston Woods SP
Reporter: Jim Michael
Other Birders: Sarah Michael
At a little after 7 a.m. today there were six sandhill cranes in the grassy area opposite the boat storage. They stayed for about 20-30 minutes after we arrived, then lined up in a row and took off for parts unknown. While there we also saw many Canada Geese plus horned grebe, 6 ring-necked duck, 5 wood duck, 1 white-throated sparrow, and ring-billed gulls.
Date: Sat., 3/08/03 3:55-4:35 PM
Location: Aurora Ferry Rd., Petersburg, KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
With the nice groupings of birds (es-
pecially waterfowl) of yesterday, thought I'd try again today. Skies were sunny, but THAT WIND! Gusted to 45-50 MPH along river! Almost blew a
Bluebird off a power line.
Sloughs: 2 Pied-billed Grebes; 4
Canada Geese; 2 Grn-winged Teal; 8
Mallard; 6 N Shoveler; 2 Gadwall; 6
Am Wigeon; 2 L Scaup;
Along Roads; 4 T Vultures; 1 Cooper
Hawk; 2 Killdeer; 1 Belted King-
fisher; 4 E Bluebirds; 1 N Mocking-
bird; 4 RW Blackbirds; 1 E Meadow-
lark; and 4 Am Kestrels.
Date: Friday, March 7, 2003 4:30-5:00 PM
Location: Camp Ernst Lake, Boone Co., KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
Forgot to post my Friday visit to CEL
on my way home after the excursion to
Aurora Ferry Rd. Not a large quantity of birds, but again, diverse.
1 Pied-billed Grebe
40+ Canada Geese
2 N Shoveler
4 Am Wigeon
4 Redhead - great color in low
light
4 Scaup - too far for G or L id
1 T. Vulture
2 Gadwall
1 N Mockingbird
Date: 3/9/2003 9:00 A.M.
Location: Camp Dennison Gravel Pits& Lake Isabella
Reporter: Bob Lacker
Other Birders:
This morning there are 2 RED-NECKED GREBES. As viewed from the bluff off of the Camp Dennison Nature trail (off Zumstein). The closest bird is in the open water nearest the bluff. It was near both horned and pied-billed grebes. The second bird was in the open water farthest from the bluff at the northern part of the pits. A scope is required to see these birds. Many other ducks are present and both black and turkey vultures are hovering just above the trees where one is viewing.
At Lake Isabella the WHITE-WINGED SCOTER has returned along with a group of common goldeneye, bufflehead, and hooded mergansers. The scoter was at the north end of the lake. A small parking lot is at this end. A park fee is required for entrance.
Many thanks to Sam Corbo for finding these birds.
Date: 3/8/2003
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
I forgot to add 1 Eastern Meadowlark to my report. It was singing in the top of a tree before it flew.
Date: 3-8-03 from 5:45-6:30 pm
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Ann Oliver
Other Birders: kyle acheson, amy morrison
Despite the winds, saw-whet owl holding tight in the cedar tree by the bench/garbage can. On the open water: XXX canada geese, XXX mallards, 3 redhead, 1 pintail, 1 widgeon, 1 gadwall, 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (initially spotted by A. Morrison).
Date: 3/8/03 0830- 1330
Location: Great Miami River (Hamilton, Oh); Acton Lake, Oh; Brookville Lake, Ind.
Reporter: Ron Kolde
Other Birders: Tim, Tom and Helen Kolde
Stopped at the boat ramp located south of the Columbia Bridge, west side of river- 6 horned grebes, scaup, ring-necked ducks, hooded mergansers and buffleheads. Sun made viewing difficult- no Red-necked Grebe seen. Went on to Acton Lake, viewing from boat storage area- pintail,bufflehead, American widgeon,Common Goldeneye,mallards, Black ducks and hundreds of Canadian geese, several with white, orange and green collars -pouring into the area. Four sandhill cranes were perched in the vicinity, and also observed twenty more landing further in the marshy area. No Red-necked Grebe here either. Sneaking in from the woods on the opposite side of the lake may provide more duck species.
Went next to Brookville Lake, at the Dunlapsville Causeway saw lesser scaup, horned grebe, Red-breasted, Common (2)and Hooded Mergansers. Also went to the Fairfield Causeway,saw more Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Redheads, Northern Pintails, Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads and a single immature Bald Eagle. Two Black Vultures from Klein Road.Killdeer were in evidence in many open fields.
Date: 3/8/03
Location: OH, Hamilton, Miami Whitewater Wetlands
Reporter: Jason Cade
Other Birders: Daniel Boone
A quick stop by the Wetlands at around 4:30 P.M. provided a few good birds. The pond was halfway thawed out but didn't hold many birds, ditto for the main lake. Highlights:
2 Canada Geese, 25 Mallards, 2 Wood Ducks, 2 Green-winged Teal, 15 Killdeer, 25 Turkey Vultures, 5 Wild Turkey, 1 Eastern Meadowlark, 5 American Tree Sparrows, 3 Swamp Sparrows, 30 Red-winged Blackbirds, and 40 Common Grackles.
Also was on a walk this morning at Richardson Nature Preserve, which you need permission to enter into, looking for Skunk Cabbage(a wildflower). A couple of good birds there. 1 GREAT-HORNED OWL, and 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Date: 3/8/2003
Location: Camp Dennison Gravel Pits, Lake Isabella
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
Camp Dennison was again excellent for waterbirds. I viewed from the bluff off of Camp Dennison Nature Trail. (off Zumstein) The best bird was a RED-NECKED GREBE. This evening the ice had melted around most of the northeastern and eastern parts of the largest pit. The ice had melted so that ther was a pocket of open water running along the southeastern shore. The Grebe was swimming here, usually near the ice rim, with many American Coot. It was noticeably larger than the Coots, and had a faint brownish-reddish collar on most of its lower neck. It also had a white-chin strap, and a large, light colored bill.
I saw a total of 18 waterbird species (sorry, most are estimates): XXX Mallard, 70 Canada Geese (including 2 w/ orange collars), XXX American Coot, 20 Northern Pintail, 6 American Black Duck, 2 Gadwall, 25 American Wigeon, 18 Green-winged Teal (many, many more than last week), 8 Canvasback, 15 Redhead, 2 Common Goldeneye, 16 Bufflehead, 5 Ruddy Duck, 1 Common Merganser, 10 Hooded Merganser, 2 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Horned Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe
Also, about 10 Turkey Vultures, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and 1 Rough-legged Hawk (hovering).
Lake Isabella was empty, except for 6 Mallards, 4 Canada Geese, and a bunch of fisherman.
Date: 3/7/2003 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: East Fork SP, Clermont Co., OH
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: Jason Cade and Hank Armstrong
Despite the seeming-Arctic conditions in the AM, we had a BIG waterbird day at the Lake! 17 species of waterfowl and 3 species of Grebes! There was one RED-NECKED GREBE that alternated between the South Swimming Beach and the Saddle Dam. One SNOW GOOSE (white phase) in the Saddle Dam area also. Fifteen SANDHILL CRANES flew over the North (Campers) Swimming Beach. One RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and one FOX SPARROW on Sugartree Rd., and six AMERICAN PIPITS on Slade Rd. at the turnoff to the spillway.
With the Hairy Woodpecker that Jason and I picked up en route to home, we had a Woodpecker sweep!
Here's the trip list: Pied-billed Grebe 3, Horned Grebe 12, Red-necked Grebe 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Black Vulture 9, Turkey Vulture 10, Snow Goose 2, Canada Goose 600, Wood Duck 10, Gadwall 15, American Wigeon 1, American Black Duck 80, Mallard 1,300, Northern Pintail 35, Redhead 6, Ring-necked Duck 1, Greater Scaup 4, Lesser Scaup 10, Bufflehead 3, Common Goldeneye 20, Hooded Merganser 40, Common Merganser 4, Red-breasted Merganser 20, Red-shouldered Hawk 4, Sandhill Crane 15, Killdeer 45, Ring-billed Gull 120, Herring Gull 8, Rock Dove 8, Mourning Dove 12, Belted Kingfisher 1, Red-headed Woodpecker 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 4, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1, Downy Woodpecker 4, Northern Flicker 3, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Blue Jay 70, American Crow 40, Horned Lark 6, Carolina Chickadee 45, Tufted Titmouse 18, White-breasted Nuthatch 5, Carolina Wren 4, American Robin 150, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 1,500, American Pipit 6, Yellow-rumped Warbler 4, Eastern Towhee 10, American Tree Sparrow 3, Fox Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 65, Swamp Sparrow 1, White-throated Sparrow 20, Dark-eyed Junco 45, Northern Cardinal 75, Red-winged Blackbird 600, Common Grackle 150, House Finch 6, American Goldfinch 35, House Sparrow 10.
Date: March 8, 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Reporter: Mike Busam
Other Birders:
Possibly a second saw-whet owl. I posted the details on the message board...
Date: 03/07/03
Location: Saylor Park Marina
Reporter: Kathy McDonald
Other Birders:
Friday morning spotted a Bonaparte's gull flying to the marina across River Road.
Date: March 8, 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds, Riverside, Aurora Ferry Road
Reporter: Kathy Caminiti
Other Birders: Roly Lloyd (birder from Australia)
We found the Saw-whet Owl at Gilmore Ponds around 10:00 a.m. this morning in the same cedar tree as previously reported! Wonderful Bird!
Highlights on the West Pond were Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Redhead.
At Riverside at the Great Miami River, we did not find the Red-necked Grebe, but highlights were several Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, 1 female Red-breasted Merganser, and at least 3 Bonaparte's Gulls.
Many Thanks to Mike Busam for directions to these places!
Stopped at Aurora Ferry Road in Petersburg Ky. on the way home and did see 3 male Northern Shovelers, 1 pair of Green-winged Teal, and 1 pair of American Wigeon.
Great morning to be out and about!
Good Birding,
Kathy Caminiti
Burlington, Ky.
Date: March 7, 2003
Location: Acton Lake (Hueston Woods SP) and Brookville Lake
Reporter: David Russell
Other Birders: Jill Russell
Fantastic number of waterfowl were present at a small amount of open water at both Acton and Brookville Lakes. Highlights included among the thousands of Canada Geese and 14 duck species were 2 ROSS'S GEESE at Acton, a white-phase SNOW GOOSE at Acton, a RED_NECKED GREBE at Acton, and four G WHITE_FRONTED GEESE at Brookville. The only open water at Acton Lake is at the north end by the stream inflows, concentrating the ducks and geese, as well as up to 23 Sandhill Cranes. Brookville Lake is largely frozen except near the inflow at the north end (Dunlapsville bridge) and a large patch north of the dam. Among the thousands of ducks and geese at Dunlapsville were four G White-fronted Geese. The geese seemed to be staying in the middle of the water--not among the thousands of geese along the edges.
Date: March 7, 2003
Location: L. Miami floodplain south of Fairfax
Reporter: Stan Hedeen
Other Birders:
Greater yellowlegs and 14 species of waterfowl, including common merganser. The merganser is the 205th species recorded in the vicinity of Little Miami Inc.'s Horseshoe Bend Preserve, the site for a planned, unneeded new highway bridge over the river connecting Red Bank Road in Fairfax to Route 32 near Newtown.
Date: 3/7/2003
Location: Lake Isabella (Hamilton County Parks)
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
The southern half of the lake is ice free. Not many birds, but the quality was excellent! I scoped (a scope is helpful, but not necessary) from the parking lot north of the boathouse. 7 Mallards, 2 Canada Geese, 6 Ring-billed Gulls, 1 Bufflehead, and 1 American Coot were seen with:
1 Horned Grebe. The bird swam from behind the boathouse (from the south) and actively dove in front of me. I think it was investigating me, and swam pretty close.
6 Common Goldeneye (5M, 1F). These birds were swimming and diving along the northern ice lip, across the lake from the parking lot.
1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. This bird originally was swimming with the Goldeneye. It then swam closer to the parking lot, though always stayed along the ice rim. I am pretty sure the bird is an adult female. The bird was brown, and about the same size to slightly larger than the Goldeneye. The bill was large, and at the base was a paler patch of brown. When the sun hit the head right, I could also see a paler patch on the side of the head. The white wing patch was usually slightly visible, and the bird flapped a few times, exposing it.
The lighting when I was there (5:00 - 5:30) was excellent for the birds along the ice rim.
Lake Isabella is just off of 275 on Loveland-Madiera Road. It is about a 5-10 minute drive from Camp Dennison Gravel Pits.
Date: March 7, 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds & Great Miami River, Hamilton
Reporter: Mike Busam
Other Birders: Charlie & Nancy Saunders, Jeff Brown, Diana Shuler, Rose Schaffer
Charlie Saunders saw a red-necked grebe along the Great Miami River in Hamilton this evening. The grebe was above the low dam south of the Columbia Bridge. There's a parking access along Neilan Boulevard at this low dam, and from there you can walk up or down the river.
This evening at Gilmore, there were approximately 10 woodcock. West Pond is mostly open, and there were a lot of ducks dropping in around dusk.
Date: Friday, Mar. 7, '03 2:35-4:00 PM
Location: Aurora Ferry Rd., Petersburg, KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
Undaunted by bird ID error on 3/3/03, decided to try my skills (?) on the sloughs of AFR in Petersburg. Weather was fine - sunny, about 42 deg, little wind. Sloughs were absent of the usual summer vegatation that covers the surface. Ice was not present and this provided stopping off point for several species of birds - not in large quantities, but diverse:
1 pied-billed grebe, 1 gr blue
heron, 6+ canada geese, 8+ mallard,
10 n shoveler, 5 gadwall, 6 am
wigeon, 5 g scaup, 6 l scaup, 1m &
1f bufflehead, 3 t vultures, 1
cooper's hawk, 6+ killdeer, 1 n
mockingbird, 1 red-wing blackbird
in a flock of xxx's of mixed black-
birds and 1 rusty blackbird.
On way home over Rt 20 & 18, saw 2 belted kingfishers side by side on wire
near gravel pit, plus 4 turkey vultures.
Date: March 07, 2003
Location: Lebanon, Ohio.......Peregrine Falcon...
Reporter: CharlieFowee
Other Birders:
Hi ..the Peregrine Falcon was on the watertanks all day early then was gone around noon ..But he seems to be hanging around...see my 03-03-03 post for info.....
Date: 3.7.03
Location: Burnet Woods pond - 8:30 a.m.
Reporter: Bill Zimmerman
Other Birders:
male and female Green-winged Teal amidst the usuals.
two male Ring-Necked Ducks yesterday morning.
Date: 03/06/03
Location: Gilmore, Riverside, Loveland
Reporter: Ken Phillips
Other Birders:
Saw the Saw-whet at Gilmore, on same branch as last two days.
Not much at Riverside - the river was moving quite fast. One blue heron, some ring-billed gulls (and some muskrats.)
In Miami Twp. near Loveland (around the corner from my house) I saw a first year red-shouldered hawk, with a full crop. (This according to a true birder friend!) Photo: http://home.fuse.net/pets/littlehawk.jpg
In general I photograph anything of interest, so email me if you think I've seen something I shouldn't have!
Date: 3/6/03
Location: Spring Grove Cemetery
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
Pair of Hooded Mergansers on main lake
Date: Today, 3/6/03
Location: See my post of 3/03/03
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
Yesterday Steve Pelikan sent me an email asking for documentation of my "Chimney Swift" sighting mentioned in my post of the 3rd. Well I went back to my post and upon examination, make the following corrections:
In the first paragraph the line ".. saw first Tree Swallow of year", is incorrect. It should have read "first Chimney Swift of year". Thats why I questioned its early arrival.
The second paragraph should have read "first Tree Swallow" of year. The pond where swallows visit is behind my home and not on Rt 42 in Florence.
Since Steve called my attenton to the fact that this report of mine was 3-4 weeks earlier by far than any found around Cincinnati, I mentally reviewed my observation. I was driving when I saw the "Chimney Swift" and the bird in question was some 75 feet away, and the light was diminishing. My observation was only brief seconds long, and I relied upon my instinct of shape, flight pattern, color, wing shape, etc., in those brief seconds. I should have know better - for one thing, with the lakes, ponds frozen where were the insects coming from.
A long story but I needed to show that any one of us can make quick judgements, falling back on familiarity, rather than known facts. Thanks Steve and I hope to become a better, more accurate and reliable reporter of sightings in the future.
Granville
Date: Mar.6,2003
Location: Miami River at Shawnee Lookout and Oxbow
Reporter: Frank Frick
Other Birders:
On the river at Shawnee 20 Ring-Necked Duck,10 Common Mergansers and a few mallards. Left park and went to the Oxbow. Lots of water,lots of birds and lots and lots of mud. Had trouble getting around so I can only give estimates of numbers. Mute Swan 1,Canada Geese xxx,Mallard xx,Ring-Necked Ducks xxx,Lesser Scaups xx,N.Pintail xx,Redhead xx,canvasback x,Gadwall xx,Wood Duck 3,N.Shoveler 1,A.Coot 1,Horned Grebe 1 and Ringed-Billed Gulls xxx. Also 6 Yellow-Rumped Warblers.
Date: Monday, March 3, '03 4:35 PM
Location: Rt 42 near Mall Rd, Florence, KY
Reporter: Granville Carey
Other Birders:
While driving to the Mall, saw first Tree Swallow of year. I don't know the records for the time of their annual arrival, but this seems early to me.
P.S. Also saw first Chimney Swift of year about 5:45 PM at home today.
Date: 03/05/03
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Ken Phillips
Other Birders:
Saw-whet owl in usual place (cedar tree), wide awake for a change. Photo at:
http://home.fuse.net/pets/sawwhet4.jpg
Date: March 05, 2003
Location: Hi just correcting my email address to below post
Reporter: CharlieFowee
Other Birders:
thanks this is the right one charliefowee@hotmail.com..............
ref:peregrine falcon...ohio photos
Date: 03/05/2003 3pm
Location: Middletown
Reporter: Jim Perry
Other Birders:
A Brown Creeper landed on the tree favored by brown creepers, climbed to near the top and flew off in a northerly direction.
Date: March 05, 2003
Location: Lebanon, Ohio.......Peregrine Falcon...
Reporter: CharlieFowee
Other Birders:
Hi all I posted a sighting of a Peregrine Falcon a couple days ago..I got some photots..If you like to see them email mail me and I will send them to you..I have him in flight catching prey and perching from that water tower I mentioned in my 03-03-03 post.. so mail away and I will send you them..Remember I was not a bird watcher but soon may be as it seems fun..PS.nor am I a good phohtgraper..Let me know if this is a young/male/female???ok thanks alll..Charlie
Date: 03/05/03
Location: River Road
Reporter: Kathy McDonald
Other Birders:
12 Sandhill Cranes flying West, following the Ohio River in Saylor Park around 8:00 AM.
Date: 3/5/03
Location: Camp Ernst Lake, Burlington, KY
Reporter: Ed Groneman
Other Birders: none
Quick stop at lunch revealed: 5 Redhead, 2 Common Goldeneye, 2 Gadwall,
6 Ring-necked Duck, 4 Lesser Scaup, 43 Mallard, 8 Canada Geese, 1 Amer. Coot, 1 Killdeer
Date: 3/4/03
Location: Crooked Run Nature Preserve
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders:
Two woodcocks were calling and performing their courting ritual. They were first heard over the weekend. They can easily be seen from the observation deck overlooking the meadow.
Date: March 4, 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Mike Busam
Other Birders: Jeff Brown, Rose Schaffer
8 woodcock were calling and displaying in West Pond. Jeff saw the saw-whet owl in the cedar tree around 5:30 p.m. or so, but when Rose and I looked at 6:30, it was a little on the dark side and we missed the bird. Also, 1000+ red-winged blackbirds, xxx grackles, 100+ Canada geese, 100+ mallards.
Date: 4 March 2003
Location: A.J. Jolly Park, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
Lake mainly frozen, with a large opening in the middle. 1 Red-headed Woodpecker at the golf course, sitting very still and nibbling at a spot on a maple branch dripping with sap (similar to what is described by Lawrence Kilham in his Woodpeckers of Eastern North America). Also 3 Wood Ducks, 500 Canada Geese, 2 Black Vultures and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Date: 3/4/03
Location: East Fork State Park, Bantam side
Reporter: Don Koller
Other Birders:
At least 5 singing/displaying woodcocks, at dusk, near the Willow Grove Memorial.
Date: 3/4/03 ~6:30pm
Location: yard, New Richmond, OH
Reporter: Donald Morse Jr.
Other Birders:
I saw my first (1) American Woodcock of the season tonight. After not hearing any peenting or other sounds from a woodcock (with this warmer weather and the thawed ground, there had to be a woodcock around I thought), I tried something for the first time this evening. I played a CD of an American Woodcock peenting and the aerial display sounds. Within no time I heard a peent right beside the house in the weeds. The woodcock took flight and dive bombed me (did not hit me). The bird then flew away and came back and landed right in front of me on the front lawn, peenting louder than I have ever heard one peent. The bird flew around me for about 5 minutes relocating itself each time and peenting. The bird continued peenting after I stopped the CD, but never did perform the aerial display.
Date: 3/4/03
Location: Crooked Run Nature Preserve
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders: Suzanne Clingman
One immature Bald Eagle soaring very high above Crooked Run. 2 Adult Eagles were seen between Meldahl Dam and Neville OH on 3/3.
Date: 3/3/03
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
Lots of birds, well until 430 that is. While I was expecting birds to start piling in at this time, most decided to leave, except the C Geese. Present at 345 were 2 PB Grebes, 250+ C Geese (4 orange collars), 4 Gadwall, 4 A Widgeon, 50 Black Ducks, 340+ Mallards, 3 N Shovelers, 17+ N Pintails, 12 Canvasback, 11 Redhead, 8 RN Ducks, 3 L Scaup, 8 Bufflehead, and 2 Ruddy Ducks. Where did the GW Teal, G Scaup, Hooded and Common mergs go? That would have made 17 species of waterfowl. Gettin closer to that 20 mark.
Date: March 3, 2003
Location: L. Miami R. and Floodplain N. of Beechmont
Reporter: Stan Hedeen
Other Birders:
Several duck species, flocks of redwings and grackles, about 50 killdeer, a snipe, and a greater yellowlegs.
Date: 3 March 2003
Location: Meldahl Dam, Bracken Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
The duck migration is at full swing at Meldah Dam. 1 female SURF SCOTER, 120 Canvasbacks, 250 Redheads, 80 Greater Scaup, 40 Lesser Scaup, 50 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Bufflehead, 1 Hooded Merganser, 1 Green-winged Teal, 6 Black Ducks, 8 Northern Pintails, 130 Mallards, 12 Wood Ducks, 80 Canada Geese, 3 Feral Domestic Geese, 250 Ring-billed Gulls, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 4 Great Blue Herons, 2 Wild Turkeys, 1 Cooper's Hawk. Most of the ducks were at the mouth of and the backwater of Snag Creek, just upriver from the dam.
Date: 03/02/03
Location: Backyard Feeding Station - Mason, KY
Reporter: Marshall Iseral
Other Birders:
My backyard feeders were unusually busy over the weekend. I noticed my first Common Grackles(3) and Red-winged Blackbirds (2) at the feeders. Later in the evening I heard 3 American Woodcock calling on the surrounding hillsides (that was before the snow started to fall - again).
Date: March 03, 2003
Location: Warren County...Lebanon.. Ohio
Reporter: Charles Fowee
Other Birders: Peregrine Falcon (1)
Hi..I work at the state prison in Lebanon Ohio and for the last 3 weeks I have spotted a Peregrine Falcon using our High Water tanks as his perch to swoop down and retrive birds from the air..I,m not a bird watcher but he caused me to look into looking up his history and photos on the net..He grab a bird and then drop him and as he was returning to get him I saw him from my guard tower from about 10 feet..He was marked the black Peregrine Falcon colors and seems to perch at nite on our Highmast(100FT) lights as I spot him there almost every morning..then at sunrise begins his diving and folding his wings from high up to crash every bird from pigeons to turtle doves..I dont know male from felmale but he matches the female in size as the net says she is bigger and the photos match her. I,m in Fairfield Ohio. my# 513-868-0461 if you would like any info..I watched him/her all day today March 03, 2003..I contacted our district and told them of my sighting here in ohio, and he may be a falcon released from Cincinnati.ohio...P.S. SINCE HE NOW HAS MY INTEREST I HAVE SPOTTED EVERY OTHER HAWK FROM COOPER/REDTAIL/KRESTAL(falcon) all day long trying to spot him first>lol
Date: Mar.3,2003
Location: Shawnee Lookout area
Reporter: Frank Frick
Other Birders:
Water that was still left in fields this morning was froze so ducks and geese were in river and graval pit lake. Graval pit lake near lost bridge had Ring-billed Gulls,Canada Geese and 15 Red-breasted Mergansers. Seen on Miami River in park 27 Common Mergansers,8 Mallards,2 Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Blue-winged Teal.
Date: March 2, 2003
Location: Great Miami River, Hamilton
Reporter: Mike Busam
Other Birders:
From German Village South to Riverside Natural Area: 7 pied-billed grebe, 5 horned grebe, 2 great blue heron, 100+ Canada geese, 200 mallard, 2 northern shovelers, 13 gadwall, 2 redheads, 12 greater scaup, 23 lesser scaup, 2 common goldeneye, 17 bufflehead, 1 female common merganser, 1 Cooper's hawk, 3 red-tailed hawks, 1 kestrel, 3 coot, 3+ killdeer, 150 ring-billed gulls, 1 herring gull, 100 rock doves, 2 kingfisher, 1 rb woodpecker, 200+ robins, 4+ pipits, 100 starlings, 1 song sparrow, 20 grackles.
The long-tailed duck north of High Sreet seems to have departed. A couple other birders have said they missed it as well, recently.
Date: 3/2/03
Location: Ohio River, Rt 8, KY and Rt 52, Ohio
Reporter: Lori Brumbaugh
Other Birders:
Inlet east of Meldahl Dam: Canvasbacks,Ring-necks, Redheads, Hooded Mergs, Buffleheads, Greater Scaup. Across from Chilo Lock: 2 immature bald eagles performing talon locks. Campground in Ripley: Redbreasted and hooded mergs, Ringnecks,Buffleheads, Horned Grebes. West of Chilo lock on the river side of the road: 1 Greater White-fronted Goose mixed with Canadas and domestics.
Date: 3/2/2003 ~3:00pm
Location: OH River, Ohio St., New Richmond, OH
Reporter: Donald Morse Jr.
Other Birders:
1 Male White-winged Scoter (Life bird, only scoter on LL) floating down the river with the fast current. It flapped its wings once, but did not fly.
It was in front of the half sunken Steamboat Marina.
Date: 3.2.2003
Location: Camp Dennison Gravel Pits, Lake Isabella
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders:
Numbers were way down with most species. No Greater white-fronted Geese, but the Canada Geese had yet to come in for the night as they had done on Saturday. There was a single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK hovering over the southeast shore of the pits. It held perfectly still, and was easy to view through the scope.
As I said earlier, fewer waterbirds than last night. 2 Columbus birders were there when I arrived and said that a group had walked across the dikes scarring away many ducks, including a good number of Redheads. However, several small groups flew back in, Including the only Redheads, Canvasback, and Pintail that I saw.
30 Canada Geese, 40 Mallard (including one Mallard x Black Duck Hybrid), 10 Black Duck, 10 Gadwall, 4 Northern Shoveler, only 2 Pintail (yesterday there were at least 20 or 30), 8 Canvasback, 6 Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, a few Lesser Scaup, 11 Bufflehead, 3 Ruddy Duck, 6 Hooded Mergs, 1 Pied-billed Grebe. The Coot were again very numerous, I would guess 150-200.
Lake Isabella was about half clear of ice. It held 1 Coot and 4 Bufflehead, along with a Great Blue Heron.
Date: 3/2/2003 ~10:30am
Location: East Fork S.P. OH
Reporter: Donald Morse Jr.
Other Birders:
~40 Sandhill Cranes flew in from the south, circled, and flew to the northeast. I was at the boat ramp off of Slade Rd. I thought they might have landed, but I could not relocate the birds. To the right of the Boat Ramp (Slade Rd., Saddle Dam) there was an open area of water with an ice edge which held 2 American Widgeon, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, Mallards, 1 Canada Goose and about 5 Ring-billed Gulls (no Herrings). Other than that, pretty quiet.
I could not get down to the South Beach, as the road is still impassible. I did not see any WATER BIRDS or rafts of waterfowl on the main open water. There was a Red-shouldered Hawk at the Bantam entrance.
Date: 3/2/03 10:00am
Location: Neville
Reporter: Andrea Scheidler
Other Birders:
2 Adult Bald Eagles seen active on both sides of SR 52. A resident there told me he had seen a third one with them on occasion.
Date: 1 March 2003
Location: Newport/Dayton Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
At Taylor Park 3 male and 1 female Ring-necked Ducks in the AM. One handsome male Northern Pintail made a brief appearance a little later in the PM flying up in a wide enough circle to count for both Cincinnati and Covington (trying to build up an Ohio list for the downtown riverfront is quite tricky as I think virtually all of the river is in KY). Also 170 Ring-billed Gulls. Yesterday there was an immature Cooper's Hawk at Taylor Park engaged in a rather involved game of "tag" with several American Crows. The hawk would dive at a crow as soon as it would leave its perch, but made no attempt to actually make contact. When the hawk left its perch the crows gave chase but the hawk quickly turned the tables and began diving at them again. This was repeated several dozen times within a half period.
Today at the Watertown Yacht Club, 250 Ring-billed Gulls were showing signs of "spring fever" - very vocal with the loudest birds aggressively defending their turf on the crowded mud-covered point of the inlet. Also 1 Greater Scaup at the back end of the marina and 1 Great Blue Heron perched atop a tree.
Date: 3.1.2003
Location: Cam Dennison Gravel Pits
Reporter: Sam Corbo
Other Birders: Bob Lacker
A mixed flock of vultures flew along 126 at the pits around 3:45. Most were Black Vultures, probably about 75 of the 100 or so birds. The rest were Turkey Vultures.
In the pits there were 16 species of waterfowl. Around 4:30, The Canada Geese came in by the flock. A group of 5 Greater White-fronted Geese also flew in, landing on the ice. The eventually entered the water about 5:00.
Species seen:
Canada Goose, Mallard, many Pintail, American Black Duck, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, a single Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, American Coot, and 5 Greater White-fronted Geese
Date: 3-1-03
Location: Crooked Run Nature Preserve (Clermont Cty)
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders:
One immature bald eagle perched in tree overlooking Ohio River. Also, 1 red-winged blackbird, 1st of the year for me.
Date: 2/27/03
Location: East Fork SP
Reporter: Hank Armstrong
Other Birders: none
Missed the turkeys but spotted the Bald Eagle (imm.) eating lunch on a branch that hung over the water on the East side of the lake opposite the beach. Other species on the lake were Pied & Horned Grebes, C. Geese 40+, Mallards 150+ hiding out in the cove east of the North boat ramp along with 40+ Black Ducks. Also seen were Redhead Ducks 134, Ring-necked Duck, Greater & Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers. A very accommodating Brown Thrasher feeding on the hillside was the first this year for me. There were 4 Herring Gulls, (2 adult, one 1st year and one 3 year birds) sitting on the ice east of the beach. A word of caution: if you intend to go to the swimming beach area the road is steep and very slick with ice and snow. 4 wheel drive is a must!
Date: 27 February 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
The celebrity SAW-WHET OWL, very well hidden in the foilage of the red cedar closest to the park bench (facing the bench.
Date: 27 February 2003
Location: Watertown Yacht Club, Dayton, Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
The Ohio River is rapidly receding, but still up on parts of the road. Not nearly as much action as yesterday just 5 Greater Scaup, 2 Lesser Scaup, 1 Pied-billed Grebe and 50 Ring-billed Gulls. I hope the newly created mudflats might attract a few early shorebirds (if the river doesn't rise again soon).
Date: 2/26&27/2003
Location: Burnet Woods, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: None
Rapid turnover of waterfowl at this small pond, or rather, the small open area of the small pond! On 2/26, the Ring-necked Duck that Bill Hull mentioned (in an earlier posting) was still present, but the Canvasback was gone. In its stead were a pair of Green-winged Teal. Today, none of the aforementioned were present, so it's back to the Mallards, two American Wigeon, a Black Duck, and several domestic fowl. As for tomorrow...who knows?
Date: 2/28/03
Location: Camp Dennison
Reporter: Bob Foppe
Other Birders:
Where are the 100's of Redheads I was expecting? I guess the open water at CD looks like a puddle compared to that of the Oxbow. Few birds, very good diversity though. 1 PB Grebe, 2 Ca Geese, 2 Gadwall, 1 A Widgeon, 2 Black Ducks, 4 Mallards, 1 GW Teal, 2 Canvasback, 1 Redhead, 20 Ring-necked, 2 G Scaup, 4 L Scaup. 4 Bufflehead, 3 Hooded Mergs, 1m Common Merg, 75 Coots, 7 RB Gulls and GC Kinglet. Good diversity for a little over 100 birds.
Date: February 27 2003
Location: Gilmore Ponds, East Fork Lake
Reporter: Ken Phillips
Other Birders:
At Gilmore, our pal the Saw Whet is holed up in his cedar tree. I've gone several days in a row to get a good photo ... so far I have some nice shots of his eyes.
At East Fork, just as soon as you turn off Rt. 222 toward the dam, on the right side is a field that had 34 wild turkeys feeding. I photographed them ... on shot is visible at http://home.fuse.net/pets/wildt.jpg
Date: 26 Feb 2003
Location: College Hill Hamilton Co.
Reporter: Jeff Hays
Other Birders:
I have lived at the same address in College Hill for 10 years so I do not add a lot of birds to my "yard list" anymore. But this week was a good one. On 24 February I had a Northern Harrier fly over the house and on 26 February a "brown" Merlin made a pass at the bird feeder bit did not catch anything.
Date: 02/27/03
Location: Covedale backyard
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders:
Just after posting the Titmice sighting below, I looked out the window again and saw my first White-breasted Nuthatch of the season at my suet cake feeder.
Are the birds finally coming out of the woods? Is spring dispersal going on where birds are finding the need to wander more to find nesting sites and happen to find a feeder in the process?
Date: 02/27/03
Location: Covedale backyard
Reporter: David A. Brinkman
Other Birders:
For only the fourth time this season I looked out the back window and saw 2 Tufted Titmice this season. I have had 2 Carolina Chickadees all season on a regular basis, and less regularly 2 or more Blue Jays and one American Crow but the titmice have been very sporadic in their appearances at my feeders. Either that or I haven't been looking out the window at the right time. However, I'm always looking out my window and never see the titmice except on such rare occasions as today. Where have they disappeared to and why don't they stick around when they do appear?
Also my American Goldfinches have been showing molt since about the beginning of February, and I have some males with black caps and yellow chins and breasts already.
My male Red-bellied Woodpecker was giving contact calls "churrrr" for the first time this morning and has been a daily visitor at my feeders (likes striped sunflower and cracked corn). These calls hopefully will attract a female to the yard. My next door neighbor has a few dead trees in his backyard which hosted a flicker nest last year before the pair was ousted from the nest by starlings.
Date: 2-27
Location: Felicity, OH
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders:
One Sandhill Crane in cornfield along SR 133/222 just south of Felicity at 9:45am. I could not find the other 5 that were seen on 2-25.
Date: Wed. Feb.26,2003 4:30-6:00 pm
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Paul Wharton
Other Birders:
With the Ohio River cresting at 53 ft. in late February, it's time to hit the Oxbow. Looking from 275, Lost Bridge, and the gravel overlook near Shawnee Lookout, I came up with a pretty good duck count, but the vast majority of them were divers. Also there were 800+/- gulls circling the area, but I could only find 1 imm. Herring to break the monotony of the mass of Ringers. Highlights included 15 Grt.Blue Heron,250 Can. Goose, 4 Snow Geese (2 White,2 Blue),maybe 20 Mallards, 2 Blacks,1 Pintail, 4 Gadwall, 1 Woodie, 225 L.Scaup,6 Gr.Scaup, 250 Ringnecks, 200 Redheads,25 Canvasbacks, 4 Bufflehead, 40 C.Goldeneye, 23 C.Mergs,6 RB Mergs,7 Hooded Mergs, 6 Coots, 800 RBGulls, 1 Herring Gull, 9 Redtail Hawks, 4 Kestrels, 7 Turkeys, and a flock of 75+/- Redwing Blackbirds. I would think that accessing some of the shallower flooded fields would yield more puddle ducks, but I didn't have time or means to do that. I had 17 sp. of waterfowl in 1+1/2 hrs without a swan, teal, shoveler,widgeon, ruddy,or anything rare, so with a bit of time and effort, now is the time to have a 20 waterfowl species day at the Oxbow.
Date: 26 February 2003
Location: Newport/Dayton make that Campbell Co., KY!
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
Correction for earlier post - make that Campbell Co., KY not OH. I think the new regional alignments for North American Birds must have gotten me off track - or was that OH for Ohio River in Kentucky? Notice to Tristate birders we are now in three separate regions all within eyeshot of the Shawnee Lookout Overlook!
Date: 26 February 2003
Location: East Fork SP, Clermont Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
Birds seen on quick stops along the Saddle Dam Road (most near the boat ramp); 4 Horned Grebes, 40 Red-breasted Mergansers, 60 Redheads, 20 Lesser Scaup, 20 Greater Scaup, 6 Hooded Mergansers, 12 Common Goldeneye, 600 Canada Geese, 200 Mallards, 20 Ring-billed Gulls.
Date: 26 February 2003
Location: Newport/Dayton Campbell Co., OH
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
7 Redheads on Licking at Taylor Park in Newport.
Water is now up all along the levee at the Watertown Yacht Club and points west. Today there was 1 male Common Merganser, 4 Greater Scaup, 2 Lesser Scaup, 1 male Northern Pintail, 20 Mallards, 40 Canada Geese, 1 Pied-billed Grebe and 130 Ring-billed Gulls. A good view can be had by taking KY 8 through Dayton, going left on Main St, parking at the intersection of Main and Second and walking up the steps to the top of the Levee.
Date: 2/25/03
Location: Felicity, Ohio
Reporter: Chris Clingman
Other Birders:
6 Sandhill Cranes were in field just south of Felicity on 133/222 at 6:00 PM.
Date: 2/25/2003
Location: Burnet Woods
Reporter: William Hull
Other Birders:
A Ring-necked Duck and a Canvasback were mixed in with the usual suspects.
Date: 2-25
Location: Chilo, OH
Reporter: Keith Robinson
Other Birders:
Northern Harrier was seen in a field near the intersection of US52 and SR222 in Chilo (about 15 miles upriver from New Richmond)
Date: 25 February 2003
Location: Dayton/Cold Sping Campbell Co., KY
Reporter: Frank Renfrow
Other Birders:
Water up against levee at Yacht Club. Seen from atop levee - 4 Redheads, 2 Greater Scaup, 12 Mallards, 30 Canada Geese, 80 Ringbilled Gulls. Also forgot to mention 3 Gadwall on Licking at Taylor Park (Newport) yesterday.< |
