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Ohio Birds

Updated on Tuesday, December 11 at 07:08 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Shane Egleston and I saw the Red-throated Loon and Surf Scoter from
Harveysburg Rd at Caesar Creek State Park this afternoon.

The Surf Scoter was quite close to the end of Harveysburg Rd, but the
loon kept its distance.

Rick Asamoto
Miamisburg

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I went by Hoover Reservoir at lunch today looking for the previously reported
Greater White-Fronted Geese. Unfortunately, the reservoir was creating its own
fog bank, so visibility was minimal. The only geese I found were Canadas, and
the only sizable flock was off the causeway to the Oxbow.

Highlights were 25 Tundra Swans off the boardwalk, and about 15 Hooded
Mergansers off the Oxbow causeway. The rest were Canada Geese and Mallards. I
did not see any vultures near the dam as I drove by.

Hoover Reservoir has collected some barnyard animals in the past, so feral
Greylag Geese are a definite possibility there. Anyone finding Anser sp. geese
should check carefully to be sure they indeed have white fronts.

Happy birding,




Paul Gardner
Columbus, OH

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Hello all,
I spent a few hours this morning birding Delaware Wildlife area (and
getting rained on a bit), and it was a fairly birdy place. There were
good numbers of birds in the thickets, though nothing like the late
yellowthroat I was hoping for. I turned up 45 species, with a single
flyover Snow Bunting (SNBU) and 6 Lapland Longspurs (LALO) being the
highlights. A harrier was nice too, along with 12 Hooded Mergansers
and 2 pintail.


Location:     Delaware State Park
Observation date:     12/11/07
Number of species:     45

Canada Goose     20
American Black Duck     2
Mallard     9
Northern Pintail     2
Hooded Merganser     12
Northern Harrier     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     2
Bonaparte's Gull     70
Ring-billed Gull     30
Herring Gull     1
Rock Pigeon     10
Mourning Dove     15
Red-bellied Woodpecker     6
Downy Woodpecker     8
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     8
Blue Jay     15
American Crow     15
Horned Lark     65
Carolina Chickadee     25
Tufted Titmouse     7
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     8
Carolina Wren     4
Eastern Bluebird     11
American Robin     4
Northern Mockingbird     2
European Starling     20
Cedar Waxwing     18
Yellow-rumped Warbler     12
American Tree Sparrow     40
Song Sparrow     25
Swamp Sparrow     14
White-throated Sparrow     8
White-crowned Sparrow     18
Dark-eyed Junco     25
Lapland Longspur     6
Snow Bunting     1
Northern Cardinal     16
Red-winged Blackbird     13
Brown-headed Cowbird     10
House Finch     10
American Goldfinch     25
House Sparrow     5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Good birding,
Sean

--
Sean Williams
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH
seanbirder AT gmail.com

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AUDUBON CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 
HOOVER RESERVOIR CIRCLE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2007

 
 





THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT SPONSERED BY THE NATIONAL  AUDUBON SOCIETY 
FOR THE HOOVER RESERVOIR CIRCLE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2007. 

THE MAIN ASSEMBLY POINT FOR THE CIRCLE IS THE PARKING LOT  AT THE HOOVER 
RESERVOIR DAM ON SUNBURY ROAD IN WESTERVILLE. PARTICIPANTS GATHER AT 8:00 AM TO 

BREAK INTO TEAMS TO COVER THE EAST AND WEST SHORES OF HOOVER  RESERVOIR AND 
AREAS IN THE HOOVER NATURE PRESERVE. THERE WILL ALSO BE TEAMS STARTING DIRECTLY 

AT CAMP MARY ORTON, ALUM CREEK RESERVOIR, HIGHBANKS METRO PARK  AND SHARON 
WOODS METRO PARK. THE TWO METRO PARKS HAVE TIED THE COUNT TO PROGRAMS TO BE LED 

BY EACH METRO PARK’S NATURALIST, SUZAN JERVEY AND ALLISON SHAW.  ALL ARE 
ALWAYS WARMLY WELCOME AND  APPRECIATED.   
THE NATIONAL AUDUBON ASSESSES EACH ADULT PARTICIPANT A  FEE OF $5.00. 
STUDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 19 MAY PARTICIPATE WITHOUT PAYING A FEE.  THE FEE IS 
MANDATORY AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE MEETING SITE. 
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE COUNT, YOU  MAY CONTACT CHARLIE 
BOMBACI, THE COUNT COORDINATOR, FOR DETAILS AT ( OR E-MAIL AT 
_charlesbombaci AT aol.com_ (mailto:charlesbombaci AT aol.com) . PRIOR CONTACT IS NOT 

REQUIRED AS YOU CAN SIMPLY JOIN US  AT THE HOOVER DAM PARKING LOT ON THE 
MORNING OF SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15,  2007.



**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes 
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Birders, 
 Reminder to all that Sunday, December 16 is the CBC for Greenville. This is 
open to all who are interested in birds, regardless of experience. Being a good 
observer is as important as being able to identify every bird seen or heard. 
What you see will give another observer a chance to identify what he missed. 
The more eyes the better. 

 We will meet at McDonalds North, on the Corner of Russ Rd and Wagner Ave. at 
7:00 am, if you wish to eat or be there by 8:00 am to sign in and receive your 
assigned area. Lunch will be provided by Friends of the Darke County Parks at 
the Nature Center around noon at Shawnee Prairie Preserve in the assembly room 
of the Nature Center. It will be a time to compare notes and visit, and a time 
to turn in your count sheets, unless your are going back out in the after noon 
to continue with the count. 

 Observers and counters 18 years and younger will not be charged the $5.00 fee, 
and the fee for those 19 years and older will be paid by the Darke Countians 
for Wildlife Conservation and the Darke County Birders, as we've done in the 
past. Another way to participate, if you are in the Circle, is to do a feeder 
watch that day and turn in your count to the compiler. For further information 
and/or directions contact Bob Welch at  or gwelch2 AT woh.rr.com. 


Hope to see you Sunday.     

Bob Welch, compiler

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Tuesday, Dec. :30 a.m.

Northern pintails - 40
Black ducks - 16
Northern shoveler - 1
Green-winged teal - 5
Mallards - 100s
Canada geese
Great blue herons

Ed and Bev Neubauer
Englewood, Ohio



**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
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Seen and heard twice this morning about 8:30 was a Bohemian Waxwing in
the streets surrounding Rocky River Park. It was very mobile, moving
around the neighborhood a lot.
Bill Whan
Columbus

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Keep an eye on those gulls.  Quite often you'll find other species amongst 
them.  Saturday, for instance, I thought I saw a sooty tern.

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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
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You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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Howdy,

I arrived at around 11:28am at the North Pool launch
and wandered up to the beach along the shore.  To my
surprise, when the flock of ~23 Ring-billed, 4
Bonaparte's and single Herring Gulls flushed, there
remained a single adult, female, mostly-breeding
Red-breasted Merganser.  She looked displeased with
the sudden lack of cover, but allowed me close enough
to get some decent photos -- decent enough for ID...

Meeting the Merganser half-way out in the lake was a
single adult, non-breeding Common Loon.  I was able to
get some passable photos (MUCH better than last time).


I didn't see the Red-throated Loon, sadly, but this
still was a pretty good day, despite the decidedly
foul (no pun intended) conditions.  The only other
species of note was a busy Red-tailed Hawk zipping
from tree to tree just enough ahead of me that even
with the zoom, he was just a brown blob.

There WAS a small puzzle as I pulled into a VERY empty
Spring Valley NP (Juncos...).  It looked for the world
like a Northern Harrier, though while having the clean
white front, the back wasn't grey, but brown with the
white rump. Intermediate molt?  Sadly, as it was
perched along the road coming up on the horse farm at
the bend, I had to slow the car down a bit and try to
get the moonroof open without spooking the bird.  No
such luck.  Dove low and disappeared.

Anyway, it's late, I'm rambling, and I hope to have
the photos of the Mergi and Loon up, soon.

Happy birding, and good night,

Phil

---------------------
Philip M. Ware
warep AT yahoo.com
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/free/gallery.asp?mem=117474
http://www.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=79253
---------------------
"I've never been so insulted in all my life."
"It's early, yet." - G. Marx.


 
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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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The two Black Vultures previously reported by Al La Sala were still in the
same location near the Hoover Reservoir dam around 4:00 pm today. The tree
is south of the dam on the west side, and is very near the road which leads
from the Sunbury Road parking area to the parking area below the dam.



Also seen were 8 Buffleheads and about 10 Hooded Mergansers in the spillway
pond, and five Tundra Swans and four Red-breasted Mergansers above the dam.
Of course there were a lot of Canada Geese, a couple of Mallards and a few
Ring-billed Gulls.



Gene Stauffer

Grove City


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three of us regular headlands birders enjoyed a group of about 200 common 
redpolls, some dozen or so pine siskins, and 200+ american robins along the 
lakefront trail at mentor lagoons just past the cart turnaround and bench at 
mid-morning today, 12/10/2007. the redpolls were feeding in the trees, in 
bushes at eye-level, and below eye-level on the slope leading to the beach. our 
observation lasted approximately 20 minutes after which the redpolls departed. 


neither the red-throated loon nor the purple sandpiper, reported from headlands 
beach on 12/09/2007, was relocated earlier in the morning. 


______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
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This list is awesome.  Indeed it is subjective depending on where you live,
but I think its very valuable and very accurate if you are willing to find
the right habitat/niche in Ohio for any listed species that you may be
looking for.  BIG thanks to everyone that had anything to do with it.

Glen Crippen
Burr Oak Lake

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:OHIO-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU]On Behalf Of
Robert Royse
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 6:09 PM
To: OHIO-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Checklists with Difficulty Codes


I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but the codes to me really still are
very subjective depending on where you live. I hate driving very far, and
that really does mean effort to me (and expense considering the price of gas
nowadays). My very subjective criteria for numbers would be the following :


1 - Birds seen at least 75% of the time in the right habitat at the right
time of year without any effort within a 1/2 drive. This could include areas
along the Scioto River in Columbus, any Columbus Metropark (except Clear
Creek),  the
Hoover and Deer Creek Reservoirs and surrounding areas, Stage's Pond, the
Hebron Fish Hatchery, and anywhere else in Franklin County, northern
Pickaway County and eastern Madison County.

2 - Birds seen 25% to 75% of the time in the above areas during the right
time of the year in the right habitat. Birds that can be found 75% of the
time or more within a 1 hour 15 minute drive. These additional places could
include Scioto
Trail, Tar Hollow, and Zaleski State Forests, Killdeer Plains, Big Island,
and Tri-Valley Wildlife Areas, Buck Creek State Park, and anywhere in
Delaware, Marion, Licking, or Hocking Counties and southern parts of
Pickaway and
Wyandot Counties.

3 -  Birds that may be scarcer or harder to see, but can be usually found
anually in the right time and place close to home. Birds easily found in a
longer drive to places at the edges of Ohio such as anywhere along Lake
Erie, Crown City and Spring
Valley Wildlife Areas, Shawnee State Forest, Adams County, Caesar Creek
Reservoir, and the Cincinnati area.

4 - Birds that require a special trip or special effort to see or a lot of
driving, or they won't be seen annually. A few review list species might
fall into this category.

5 - Birds that are hard to find even with special effort.  This may include
both review list and non-review list species.

6 - Review list birds I've seen only once or twice Ohio. Birds I have never
seen in Ohio. This list might include a few non-review list species.


Based on the above I would probably give some birds like Dickcissel a "1"
since they're a gimme at Deer Creek in the summer. Great Black-backed Gull
would be a "3". Ruffed Grouse would be a 2 or 3, since it requires much less
time and effort for me to see one than a Gr B-b Gull.  A review list species
like Ross's Goose I would probably give a "4", since they're not that hard
to find with a little effort. I would give Sabine's Gull a "6" even though
it's not a review list species. I've never seen one in Ohio.  As I said,
it's all very subjective.

Bob Royse


Robert Royse
rroyse AT sprynet.com
www.roysephotos.com

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at
www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org

A report that is a little dated but here goes anyway:

 Ventured out with five Holmes Co. birders on Saturday. First stop was at the 
now famous grosbeak hangout (Obee and 295). In addition to fully-satisfying 
views of a pine grosbeak, we enjoyed a fly-by red-shouldered hawk and a perched 
adult sharpie. 


 Searched the campground for the shrike at Maumee Bay, but to no avail. Saw 
two, and perhaps three, cackling geese among the throng of Canadas on the lake. 


 Made a shorter stop at Huron than we had originally intended due to receiving 
a report from the Columbus Avids on the hordes of Bonies and a kittiwake at 
Lorain. Best bird at Huron was a lesser black-backed gull. 


 Most of the gulls at Lorain were on the water. We were able to locate the 
kittiwake after a lengthy search. We spent considerable time studying a gull 
that was either a first-year laughing or Franklin's gull. It was noticeably 
larger than the Bonaparte's and considerably smaller than a ring-billed gull. 
After a lengthy discussion the other five decided to call it a small laughing 
gull, because of its "dirty" appearance. It didn't show as much pristine white 
on the underwing, sides, breast, and nape as depicted in field guides. I am the 
lone dissenter. I am stubbornly clinging to my belief that the bird was a 
Franklin's, because I saw black spots in the tail, more prominent white around 
the eye than what I think typically shows on a laughing, a smaller bill than I 
think a laughing would have, and in flight a mostly clean underwing. The other 
guys obviously saw it differently. I suppose it is the identification 
challenges such as this bird posed that make studying gulls 

 either exceedingly frustrating or alluring, depending on one's disposition.

  -- Gabe Hostetler, Wooster




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______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org

I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but the codes to me really still are 
very subjective depending on where you live. I hate driving very far, and that 
really does mean effort to me (and expense considering the price of gas 
nowadays). My very subjective criteria for numbers would be the following : 



1 - Birds seen at least 75% of the time in the right habitat at the right time 
of year without any effort within a 1/2 drive. This could include areas along 
the Scioto River in Columbus, any Columbus Metropark (except Clear Creek), the 

Hoover and Deer Creek Reservoirs and surrounding areas, Stage's Pond, the 
Hebron Fish Hatchery, and anywhere else in Franklin County, northern Pickaway 
County and eastern Madison County. 


2 - Birds seen 25% to 75% of the time in the above areas during the right time 
of the year in the right habitat. Birds that can be found 75% of the time or 
more within a 1 hour 15 minute drive. These additional places could include 
Scioto 

Trail, Tar Hollow, and Zaleski State Forests, Killdeer Plains, Big Island, and 
Tri-Valley Wildlife Areas, Buck Creek State Park, and anywhere in Delaware, 
Marion, Licking, or Hocking Counties and southern parts of Pickaway and 

Wyandot Counties.

3 - Birds that may be scarcer or harder to see, but can be usually found 
anually in the right time and place close to home. Birds easily found in a 
longer drive to places at the edges of Ohio such as anywhere along Lake Erie, 
Crown City and Spring 

Valley Wildlife Areas, Shawnee State Forest, Adams County, Caesar Creek 
Reservoir, and the Cincinnati area. 


4 - Birds that require a special trip or special effort to see or a lot of 
driving, or they won't be seen annually. A few review list species might fall 
into this category. 


5 - Birds that are hard to find even with special effort. This may include both 
review list and non-review list species. 


6 - Review list birds I've seen only once or twice Ohio. Birds I have never 
seen in Ohio. This list might include a few non-review list species. 



Based on the above I would probably give some birds like Dickcissel a "1" since 
they're a gimme at Deer Creek in the summer. Great Black-backed Gull would be a 
"3". Ruffed Grouse would be a 2 or 3, since it requires much less time and 
effort for me to see one than a Gr B-b Gull. A review list species like Ross's 
Goose I would probably give a "4", since they're not that hard to find with a 
little effort. I would give Sabine's Gull a "6" even though it's not a review 
list species. I've never seen one in Ohio. As I said, it's all very subjective. 


Bob Royse


Robert Royse
rroyse AT sprynet.com
www.roysephotos.com

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org

I was talking on the phone and looking out the picture window at my bird 
feeder. It was about 4:30PM. The cardinals usually gather for their last 
feeding. Then I noticed this other bird--sparrow size. There was something odd 
about his posture. I grabbed my binoculars. The orangish patch on the crown was 
very visible bordered by the dark crown stripes. I couldn't believe my eyes; it 
was an ovenbird! I went to get my camera and could not locate him. Then I saw 
him foraging on the side of our lot. Wished I did not have to work tomorrow to 
see if he sticks around. Too dark for pictures. 


Sally Isacco
Chardon

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org

Yes, both Chickadees are Code 1 birds. I was giving an example on how one 
chickadee is common in one region but almost absent in another and still 
remained a Code 1. Sorry for the confusion. 


 This has been a really interesting discussion and I really want to thank Paul 
Gardner, Dan Sanders, Greg Miller, Bill Whan and Joe Hammond for putting 
together the codes. 


  Ethan Kistler
  Newton Falls, Ohio


Andy Sewell  wrote:
  I think that as a general statewide bird checklist, the difficulty codes are
pretty accurate. Your own mileage may vary, but in general, I think the list
is well reflective of the majority of birders' experiences in finding these
birds. Bill Heck's point about the ease of seeing the bird on any given trip
to where it regularly occurs is a good one.

The code list did make me feel a little sheepish about not having a Code 1
bird on my state list, but that just made the bird my number one target for
2008.

Regarding Ethan Kistler's example: Perhaps I am looking at the wrong
checklist, but aren't both chickadees under code 1 in this system?
Andy Sewell
Columbus, Ohio

________________________________

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-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:OHIO-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU] On Behalf Of Ethan
Kistler
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 3:08 PM
To: OHIO-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Checklists with Difficulty Codes

Jay Stenger brought up a great point. Personally, I think we should code
them the same way the ABA does; If it's common somewhere in the given
region, mark it a Code 1. Black-capped VS Carolina Chickadees is a good
example. Just because one chickadee is rare in a region of Ohio doesn't mean
it should be considered rare statewide.

Ethan Kistler
Newton Falls, Ohio


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now.

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at
www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org



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______________________________________________________________________

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I think that as a general statewide bird checklist, the difficulty codes are
pretty accurate. Your own mileage may vary, but in general, I think the list
is well reflective of the majority of birders' experiences in finding these
birds. Bill Heck's point about the ease of seeing the bird on any given trip
to where it regularly occurs is a good one.

The code list did make me feel a little sheepish about not having a Code 1
bird on my state list, but that just made the bird my number one target for
2008.

Regarding Ethan Kistler's example: Perhaps I am looking at the wrong
checklist, but aren't both chickadees under code 1 in this system?
Andy Sewell
Columbus, Ohio

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-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:OHIO-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU] On Behalf Of Ethan
Kistler
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 3:08 PM
To: OHIO-BIRDS AT LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Checklists with Difficulty Codes

Jay Stenger brought up a great point. Personally, I think we should code
them the same way the ABA does; If it's common somewhere in the given
region, mark it a Code 1. Black-capped VS Carolina Chickadees is a good
example. Just because one chickadee is rare in a region of Ohio doesn't mean
it should be considered rare statewide.

  Ethan Kistler
  Newton Falls, Ohio


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As Jay noted, these issues all are rather subjective, and I join everyone in
thanking Paul and company for their efforts.

The codes for the warblers that have been mentioned are really tough; it's
rather difficult to discern the difference between 1's and 2's in general.
(I don't mean on the lists in question, I mean *really *in general.  It's
sort of "easy to find" *vs.* "really easy to find;" what does that amount
to?)

But I do understand the Ruffed Grouse being a 4.  The difference in my mind
is this: if I go anywhere along eastern Lake Erie in the winter, I am
absolutely guaranteed to see greater black-backed gulls, thus the "1."  (Not
only are there GBBG's at every suitable location, but even distant ones can
be identified readily withe naked eye.  And they don't hide behind trees or
anything else.)  But I've certainly made trips to SE Ohio forests at
appropriate times and neither heard nor seen a grouse, and on other
occasions have heard them but not seen them.  So, in my experience, a higher
code does not seem unreasonable; indeed, a "4" seems about right to me given
my ratio of success in finding grouse.

Bob's experience is different.  That may be because of two factors: (1) he
spends a lot more time in appropriate habitat than do I and (2) his birding
skills are superior (a point that I would readily concede!).

Perhaps the way to think of these codes is not so much worrying about where
one lives or usually birds, but rather something like this: *if* you visit
the appropriate habitat at the right time of year, what are your chances of
finding the bird in question?   In the gull case above, the probability is
%); in the grouse case, it's less (for me, anyway).  Now how much
less....ah, there's the question.

In any case, a fascinating topic.

Bill Heck

On Dec 10, 2007 2:28 PM, Robert Royse  wrote:

> I pretty much agree with Jay Stenger that the codes are heavily skewed
> toward the northern half of the state. He mentioned many of the things that
> stuck out to me too regarding the passerines. Tennessee Warbler, especially,
> stuck out glaringly at me too. There are sometimes days in May when they
> seem to outnumber all other birds put together. Great Black Backed Gull gets
> at 1 and Ruffed Grouse gets a 4?  HUH? I would give them both a "2"
> probably. I guess it's all subjective depending on where you live and like
> to bird. If you spend a lot of time in the forests in southeastern Ohio in
> the early spring and only go up to Lake Erie a couple of times a year, then
> you would definitely come up with very different numbers. I think I have
> seen a Least Bittern (a "3") twice in Ohio in the past 15 years, but I
> usually see Ruffed Grouse, sometimes a half-dozen or more, in March or early
> April in any of the state forests. Codes for the different parts of the
> state might be more appropriate, but that takes away from being a simple
> shecklist.
>
> Bob Royse
>
>
> Robert Royse
> rroyse AT sprynet.com
> www.roysephotos.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
> Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
> Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
> Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at
> www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
>
> You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
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> Send questions or comments about the list to: listowner AT ohiobirds.org
>



--
Bill Heck

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Greg Links wrote, in relevant part:

> As to the Review Species, well, there's not much that could have been done on 
these - they are defined by the OBRC, so they are all pretty much labeled 
correctly. I wonder why the Glossy Ibis, Ross's Goose and Cackling Goose for 
example, are on the review list still (and probably deserve Code 4 status 
instead of 5), but that is for the committee to figure out. 


As a member of the Ohio Bird Record Committee up until last spring, I'll
try to respond to this point. Those three species, together with Rufous
Hummingbird, could well be dropped from the review list. We elected to
retain them on the list because we wanted to encourage continued
documentation, and the close observation that documentation requires, of
these species. Each is easily confused with another species (and, in the
case of Ross's Goose, a hybrid). During my tenure on the committee, we
rejected records of each of these birds, at least as to species, because
the observer failed to eliminate the relevant other species/hybrid.
Removing them from the list is something we discussed every year or two,
and I'm sure the current committee will do the same. Eventually, they'll
probably be dropped from the review list.

At any rate, that's why those species are on the list for now. By all
means, regard them as Code 4 as you devise your strategy for building an
Ohio big year.

On a related point, sharp-eyed readers will no doubt have noted that the
checklist includes 420 species (414 plus 6 extinct/extirpated), but the
official checklist as stated on the OOS web site includes only 419.
That's because the OBRC has accepted a White-throated Swift record, but
the decision has not yet been published in the Ohio Cardinal.


--
--
Ned Keller
keller AT one.net

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Jay Stenger brought up a great point. Personally, I think we should code them 
the same way the ABA does; If it's common somewhere in the given region, mark 
it a Code 1. Black-capped VS Carolina Chickadees is a good example. Just 
because one chickadee is rare in a region of Ohio doesn't mean it should be 
considered rare statewide. 


  Ethan Kistler
  Newton Falls, Ohio


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I pretty much agree with Jay Stenger that the codes are heavily skewed toward 
the northern half of the state. He mentioned many of the things that stuck out 
to me too regarding the passerines. Tennessee Warbler, especially, stuck out 
glaringly at me too. There are sometimes days in May when they seem to 
outnumber all other birds put together. Great Black Backed Gull gets at 1 and 
Ruffed Grouse gets a 4? HUH? I would give them both a "2" probably. I guess 
it's all subjective depending on where you live and like to bird. If you spend 
a lot of time in the forests in southeastern Ohio in the early spring and only 
go up to Lake Erie a couple of times a year, then you would definitely come up 
with very different numbers. I think I have seen a Least Bittern (a "3") twice 
in Ohio in the past 15 years, but I usually see Ruffed Grouse, sometimes a 
half-dozen or more, in March or early April in any of the state forests. Codes 
for the different parts of the state might be more appropriate, but that takes 
away from being a simple shecklist. 


Bob Royse


Robert Royse
rroyse AT sprynet.com
www.roysephotos.com

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Paul Gardner invited comments regarding the new Ohio Birding Checklist with 
Difficulty Codes. Before I throw my 2 cents into the discussion let me say that 
I like the list, generally agree with it and think it will be quite useful. I 
also realize that projects like this, by their very nature, will always have a 
few species codes that people disagree with. It is unlikely that any two 
birders working alone would come up with the exact difficulty codes for 416 
species. Overall I found the list accurate. That said, and realizing I am 
splitting hairs, here are my perceptions on some codes I would have assigned 
differently. 


 

1) I consider Tennessee and Bay-breasted Warbler, which were both given a code 
2, among the most common migrant warblers and would have given them a code 1 
just as Nashville and Magnolia Warbler and American Redstart were. 


2) I assume Great Black-backed Gull was given a code 1 because it is hard to 
miss along the Lake Erie shoreline. In the southern part of the state they are 
accidental (only two records in southwestern Ohio). If the criteria for code 1 
are that as long as a certain species is common in one part of the state but 
absent or rare in another it still qualifies as code 1, then a number of 
southern species should probably also be given code 1 that are now assigned a 
code 2 given they're restricted range. Another example of this is Carolina and 
Black-capped Chickadee, both rightfully assigned codes 1. On the other hand 
there are a number of species on the list given a code 2 that are common in 
southern Ohio but less so in northern Ohio. Using the criteria mentioned above 
I think Yellow-throated Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-throated 
Vireo, all easy to find species in southern and eastern Ohio should be given a 
code 1. All of those species are at least as common as Blue-winged Warbler, 
which is also given a code 1. On the other hand maybe Great Black-backed Gull 
should be given code 2. 


3) I think Eastern Wood-Pewee and Acadian Flycatcher, both given codes 2, are 
as common and easy to find as Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, 
Eastern Phoebe and Least Flycatcher all of which were assigned codes 1. 


 

Just a few thoughts and I appreciate the efforts of all who put the checklist 
together. 


 

Jay Stenger

Cincinnati, Ohio

 

 

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Hello Everyone,

Paul Gardner wrote:

"I'd be very interested in a thread that discussed your opinions about the 
birds whose codes you thing are out of whack." 


First of all, great job on putting this together. It really is a neat 
checklist, in a pretty desirable format. I just looked through it for the first 
time, and don't know if anything is completely "out of whack" - which is no 
surprise. Considering the individuals involved, I would not have expected to 
find anything that was unreasonable. So, let's split hairs. 


Easier to See Birds: The only bird I thought listed that maybe doesn't belong 
is Dickcissel. Personally, I find the Dickcissel at least as difficult as some 
of those listed as Code 3. 


Harder to See Birds: There are several that I thought belonged more in the 
Easier to See category. Those are: American Bittern, Least Bittern, Cattle 
Egret, Black Tern, Black-billed Cuckoo, Whip-poor-will, Yellow-bellied 
flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Mourning Warbler and Blue 
Grosbeak. 


Specifically, Code 4 for Cattle Egret, Yellow-bellied and Alder Flycatcher, 
Mourning Warbler and Gray-cheeked Thrush don't fit the bill in my humble 
opinion. I'm not sure how any of these 5 are "easily missed" even with special 
effort. I can drive to Sandusky and find Cattle Egrets any time (in season) I 
want to. In contrast, try finding a Little Blue Heron (also Code 4) any time 
you would like. Mourning Warbler is a common migrant in late May, easily 
detected by song. The two flycatchers are a bit tougher than Mourning Warbler, 
but certainly not easily missed in season. Gray-cheeked Thrush is another 
common migrant. In my opinion, these 5 species are more like Code 2. 


I could also argue that the Code 3 species above would be more accurately 
labeled as Code 2, but they are more debatable for sure. 


As to the Review Species, well, there's not much that could have been done on 
these - they are defined by the OBRC, so they are all pretty much labeled 
correctly. I wonder why the Glossy Ibis, Ross's Goose and Cackling Goose for 
example, are on the review list still (and probably deserve Code 4 status 
instead of 5), but that is for the committee to figure out. 


Overall, I'd say it is quite accurate and will be a welcome addition to my tool 
belt. Thanks. 


Greg Links
Somewhere near Toledo

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Fremont Christmas Bird Count -
The Black Swamp Bird Observatory along with the Ohio Young Birders Club and
the Green Creek Wildlife Society will be conducting the Fremont Christmas Bird
 Count on Sunday, December 16th.  We will meet at 7:00 AM at Rudy's
Restaurant in Fremont to assign areas and eat greasy diner food.
For all of the details please call  or visit BSBO online  at:
_Click here:  Black Swamp Bird Observatory_
(http://www.bsbobird.org/cbc/fremont_christmas_bird_count.htm)

Common Redpoll Update -
As many as four Common Redpolls were seen off and on throughout the day
yesterday as birders braved the wicked winter weather to visit the BSBO window 
on 

redpolls. Interestingly enough, they didn't seem to be going for  the
feeders, but instead opting for the persisting goldenrod seed  heads.

This time of year the BSBO Nature Center is only open on Fridays,  Saturdays,
and Sundays, however, there's someone in the office every day and if  you
catch us when we're in and you look like a poor starving birder who really 
needs 

to see a redpoll, we'll let you in.  While the birds were very  cooperative,
feeding mostly right outside the window, they were also seen  feeding in the
stands of goldenrod along the South side of the building and all  along the
canal that runs just behind our building. If no one is around to let you in the 

building be sure to check these areas.  We also have a  walking trail that
makes a loop through goldenrod laden habitat. The trail  entrance is at the
Southwest edge of the picnic on the left side of our  building.

If you decide to venture out this morning please be careful!  While  the road
crews have been out in force there may still be some slick spots. Just
remember what 90's rap artist "Vanilla Ice" used to say and watch out for the 
Ice 

Ice Baby!

Kim Kaufman, Education Director
Black Swamp Bird Observatory
13551 West State Route 2
Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

_www.bsbobird.org_ (http://www.bsbobird.org/)




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Yesterday in the afternoon, I saw what appeared to be some kind of hawk hunting 
across the street from my apartment in a field. it is in Willoughby about 1/4 
mile from the lake. It was larger than a red tailed hawk, light grey in color 
but had dark grey across the tips of its wings. The field has a lot of high 
grasses right now and I watched him flying around for quite awhile. He did not 
dive into the field but rather "dropped" into the grasses. He came in 
horizontally and then went deep into the grass. I watched for about another 10 
minutes but he never reappeared out of the grass. Is it possible this was a 
goshawk? That's about the only hawk I know of that is grey but again it did not 
fly fast or dive down into the grass. Does anyone know what this was? 


  Thanks

  Joan Scharf
  Willougby Ohio


Joan M. Scharf

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Hello All,

I has been a fun project working with Dan, Greg, Bill and Joe on assigning
difficulty codes to each of Ohio's 420 species. As you can imagine, there was
considerable discussion on some birds before consensus was reached. I don't
imagine anyone will agree entirely with all our choices, but I don't think
you'll find any of them grossly mistaken. I'd be very interested in a thread
that discussed your opinions about the birds whose codes you thing are out of
whack.

The "single column" checklist on the web can be printed front and back on one
sheet of letter-sized paper. (It's called "single-column because it has only
one column for checking off the species. It's good for year- or life-list use.)

For the bean-counters among use, I will note there are 414 species on the
checklists, as we omitted the six extinct or extirpated species. The 205
"Easier to See Birds" include 136 code 1 and 69 code 2. The 86 "Harder to See
Birds" include 30 code 3 and 56 code 4. The 123 Review-list birds are divided
into 19 code 5's and 104 code 6's.

As Dan mentioned, keeping a list (or lists) can be a lot of fun, and  you don't
have to be a rabid chaser to keep one. The difficulty codes provide a handy way
to set some moderate but still challenging goals for oneself. I remember
finally seeing a Common Goldeneye many months after beginning my list. I think
I got as great a sense of satisfaction from ticking off that final "code 1" as
anything else I've done in birding. I recommend giving them a try.

Finally, if you've ever wondered about the method of selecting the species for
the weekly Statewide RBA, they're the code 4's and above.

Happy birding (and listing),
Paul




--- Dan Sanders  wrote:

> Hello All,
>     Most of you have probably read Ned Keller's recent post to Ohio Birds
> about some new Ohio checklists that are now available via the OOS Website at
> ohiobirds(dot)org/publications/checklist/checklists(dot)php. If this link
> does not work, go to the OOS Website at ohiobirds(dot)org, click on
> "publications", then "checklists", then scroll down to "Ohio Field
> Checklists" where there are brief descriptions and links to these files. Here
> is a some additional background information on these four checklists. The
> only one of them that can be printed out on 81/2" x 11" paper is the last
> one, described here as the "Single-column checklist..." The other three
> checklists will require 81/2" x 14" paper for correct printing and folding.
> If you do not have a supply of this legal-sized paper, you can copy the file
> to a disc and take it to a copy center for printing.
>     The first two checklists have been revised by Joe Hammond and are updates
> of earlier checklists that he created several years ago. The other two
> checklists are updated revisions of the Ohio Birding Checklist with
> difficulty codes; originally created in 2002 by Greg Miller and myself and
> which have been used since then by only a few of us. Paul Gardner suggested
> that we should re-work this checklist and make it available to Ohio birders
> via the OOS Website. With some helpful input from Paul and Bill Whan and some
> formatting assistance from Joe Hammond, these checklists have now been
> revised/updated and are now available in two different-sized formats.
>     As an Ohio annual lister, I would encourage you to print out either copy
> of the Ohio Birding Checklist with difficulty codes and (using it as an
> annual checklist) challenge you to find all of the 205 birds (codes 1 & 2),
> listed in the "Easier To See" category, during 2008. While looking for these,
> you will very likely see some of the code 3 & 4 birds and may even see a few
> of the more rare Ohio Review List species. A birder with average optics,
> experience, skills, and knowledge should be able to tally 220 or more Ohio
> species by the end of the year by spending several hours birding varied
> habitats around Ohio, twice each month, plus spending some additional birding
> time during the Spring and Fall migrations. This is a good goal, especially
> if you have a full-time job.
>     Setting new birding goals each year has been a great experience for me
> through the years and has helped to keep me "out in the field" on a regular
> basis. You might even want to consider doing an Ohio "Big Year" in 2008 as
> many of the Winter finches and other harder-to-find species being reported
> now will very likely continue to be seen into January and February.
>     Good Luck and Good Birding to all of you in 2008!
>
> More later,
> Dan
>
>
> Dan Sanders
> 42 Scioto St
> Powell, OH 43065
>
> 
>
>
>
>

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

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> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
>
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> www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
>
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>



Paul Gardner
Columbus, OH

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You'll need to copy and paste that entire web address into you browser, 
don't just click on the link.

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I have posted pictures.  They were too big to post here so I posted them 
on snapfish.  The first photo is a picture of male and female housefinches 
that I took on Oxbow Island.  If you are interested in seeing them, go to 

http://www1.snapfish.com/shareereg/p=/l=/g=/cobrandOid=1000321/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB/pns/share/p=/l
=/g=/cobrandOid=1000321/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB;jsessionid=7AE
075CAD888F521BBF070AC90367BB7

The email address is hayden43212 AT yahoo.com and the password is winter.  If 
they ask for a first and last name, the first name is Ohio and the last 
name is Birder.

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The adult male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL that has been visiting my feeder in
North Perry, Lake County was seen again this afternoon.  It showed up for
ten minutes at noon and again at 3:00.  For those interested in seeing the
bird, be warned its visits are currently infrequent and very brief.  There
were no siskins or redpolls today, but the brown creeper and fox sparrow
were seen.

John Pogacnik
4765 Lockwood Road
Perry, OH 44081


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With the exception of a red-throated loon flying west low over the lake, it
was slow today.  Most of the birds flying by were heading east.  The loon
passed by a little before 8:00.

Lakeshore Reservation, North Perry, Lake County
Date- December 9, 2007, Time- 730-930
Weather- cloudy, Wind- northeast 5-10
Barometer- , Temperature- 32 F
Humidity- 73, Dew point- 22-23
Waves- 1-3 feet, Flight direction- east

Canada goose   2
Red-breasted merganser   88
RED-THROATED LOON   1
Ring-billed gull   135
Herring gull   182
Great black-backed gull   8


John Pogacnik
4765 Lockwood Road
Perry, OH 44081


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I briefly checked Delaware Reservoir (Delaware County) this afternoon. The lake 
is still mostly frozen, but it shouldn't be for much longer. Nothing much of 
note, but there were 59 NORTHERN PINTAIL on the ice visible from Panhandle Rd. 


Also seen were 2 American Black Ducks, 50+ Bonaparte's Gulls and 1 Northern 
Harrier. 


Jack Stenger,
Ohio Wesleyan University


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Just in case some people are unfamiliar with the terminology of  the various
areas at Headlands Beach State Park ----- the Purple Sandpiper has  for two
days been in the leaf litter just west of the breakwall leading to the
lighthouse. It has been seen both days by standing where the water meets the 
sand 

just there along the breakwall.

SWagner, PPike



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I live in the far north end of Clintonville, a suburb on the north  side of
Columbus.  I have been keeping a daily record of birds in my yard  (which is
pretty small) for about 3 years now.  Yesterday, Sat., Dec. 9th,  I tied my all
time daily record of 18 species.  They were, in order of  appearance:

Carolina Chickadee (2)
Junco (6)
Mourning Dove (19)
Goldfinch (5)
Downy Woodpecker (1 male, 2 females)
House Sparrow (xx) (I don't count these)
Mockingbird (1)
Blue Jay (2)
House Finch (xx) (don't count these either)
Cardinal (male, female)
Grackle (1)
Crow (2)
White-breasted Nuthatch (1)
Brown-headed Cowbird (female)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (female)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1, in Sibley's juvenile  plumage)
Robin (2)
Cooper's Hawk (1)

There were starlings flying around and they usually descend on my  suet
feeders, especially on such a cold day when so much is still snow-covered. I 
was 

- I can't believe I'm saying this - actually hoping  for just one to land so I
could break my all time record!  Also absent were  pigeons, and it isn't
unusual to see a Carolina Wren or even a Song Sparrow coming through. Who knows 

what I may have missed when I was away from the  window though!  Was trying
hard to make at least one of the female House  Finches into a Pine Siskin, and
the males into Common Redpolls, but it  didn't work.  :)

Today, Sun., the Grackle was in early, and I also had one Tree  Sparrow and
two Starlings (gee, thanks.... where were you yesterday?!).   I'm at 14 species
for the day, but this afternoon has been dead quiet.   Yesterday had some
quiet periods but was pretty steady all day.  Don't know  if it's the rain, the
Cooper's Hawk, they're eating better somewhere else, a  neighborhood cat is
hiding under the deck, there are just fewer birds than in  years past, or
something else.  Theories abound, answers do  not!

Debbie Woischke
Columbus



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Hello All,
 Most of you have probably read Ned Keller's recent post to Ohio Birds about 
some new Ohio checklists that are now available via the OOS Website at 
ohiobirds(dot)org/publications/checklist/checklists(dot)php. If this link does 
not work, go to the OOS Website at ohiobirds(dot)org, click on "publications", 
then "checklists", then scroll down to "Ohio Field Checklists" where there are 
brief descriptions and links to these files. Here is a some additional 
background information on these four checklists. The only one of them that can 
be printed out on 81/2" x 11" paper is the last one, described here as the 
"Single-column checklist..." The other three checklists will require 81/2" x 
14" paper for correct printing and folding. If you do not have a supply of this 
legal-sized paper, you can copy the file to a disc and take it to a copy center 
for printing. 

 The first two checklists have been revised by Joe Hammond and are updates of 
earlier checklists that he created several years ago. The other two checklists 
are updated revisions of the Ohio Birding Checklist with difficulty codes; 
originally created in 2002 by Greg Miller and myself and which have been used 
since then by only a few of us. Paul Gardner suggested that we should re-work 
this checklist and make it available to Ohio birders via the OOS Website. With 
some helpful input from Paul and Bill Whan and some formatting assistance from 
Joe Hammond, these checklists have now been revised/updated and are now 
available in two different-sized formats. 

 As an Ohio annual lister, I would encourage you to print out either copy of 
the Ohio Birding Checklist with difficulty codes and (using it as an annual 
checklist) challenge you to find all of the 205 birds (codes 1 & 2), listed in 
the "Easier To See" category, during 2008. While looking for these, you will 
very likely see some of the code 3 & 4 birds and may even see a few of the more 
rare Ohio Review List species. A birder with average optics, experience, 
skills, and knowledge should be able to tally 220 or more Ohio species by the 
end of the year by spending several hours birding varied habitats around Ohio, 
twice each month, plus spending some additional birding time during the Spring 
and Fall migrations. This is a good goal, especially if you have a full-time 
job. 

 Setting new birding goals each year has been a great experience for me through 
the years and has helped to keep me "out in the field" on a regular basis. You 
might even want to consider doing an Ohio "Big Year" in 2008 as many of the 
Winter finches and other harder-to-find species being reported now will very 
likely continue to be seen into January and February. 

    Good Luck and Good Birding to all of you in 2008!

More later,
Dan


Dan Sanders
42 Scioto St
Powell, OH 43065




 
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Hey all,

 I also went to E72nd today for about 2 1/2 or 3 hours. I must have just missed 
Chris. Also had the California there sitting out on the water. Besides that 
there were 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls including one of the very dark 
intermedius race from what I could tell. In the more distant gull flock there 
was a "Kulmiens" type gull. Gordon Park Boat Basin held 17 Horned Grebes and 12 
Hooded Mergansers. Burke had a suspicious looking plastic bag out on the 
runways. 


  Good Birding,

  Phil Chaon


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Today I went back to Hoover dam.  There was nothing to see from on to of 
the dam so I walked back to the west side and walked north along the 
shore.  There were the usual Canada Geese (one even had a neck band, 
mallards, and ring-billed gulls.  There was a flock of six American coots 
swiming in the lake.
I wasn't ready to go home so I took another walk across the dam and I'm 
glad I did.  There were now 18 Buffleheads (males and females though not 
evenly paired) and 10 mallards in the spillway pond.

I still didn't want to go home so I went to Alum Creek Dam.  There was a 
flock of 31 American Coots in the water.  There were only a few gulls 
flying overhead.  I didn't see anything else because that's when I decided 
I was ready to go home.

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On Dec. 8, 2007 I made several stops on Hoover Reservoir and had some 
interesting sightings at some of them.

At Oxbow Recreation area I saw two pairs of house finches, numerous 
cardinals, and two hairy woodpeckers. I saw two immature red tail hawks 
and one adult.  There wasn't much in the way of waterfowl here because the 
water was still frozen but I did see some Canada Geese walking on the ice 
and three herons in flight.

At Mudhen Marsh I saw the resident kingfisher, a merlin, and two herons in 
flight as well as numerous Cardinals.

Baldridge boat ramp was the highlight of the day.  Just south of the boat 
ramp there was a large flock of geese.  There were two or three (maybe 
even more) subspecies of Canada Geese in the flock.  One was much smaller 
than the geese we see in suburban Columbus and was probably a Richardson's 
goose.  There were snow geese, greater white fronted geese and even a 
tundra Swan in the mix.  Farther south I saw Buffleheads and Hoode 
Mergansers (male and female of both species).

Afterward I went to the dam.  There was a pair of Hooded Mergansers and 
numerous Mallards on the spillway pond.  Above the dam just off the 
eastern shore were two pairs of Buffleheads.  
I walked along the western shore just above the dam and saw two great blue 
herons fishing.  A kingfisher flew by close to the surface of the water.  
I've never seen a kingfisher on that part of the lake so I'm thinking he 
was forced south because his territory is frozen over.  Of couse there 
were the usual ring billed gulls flying overhead and perched on the light 
posts.
Below the dam on the west side of the creek near the top of the hill is a 
bald tree that is used as a roost by a couple of black vultures.  I have 
observed them there the past two or three weeks.  The tree they use for a 
roost was used as a roost by turkey vultures over the summer.  

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today (12/09/2007) the purple sandpiper was again observed in the leaf litter 
at the end of the natural area beach at headlands beach state park for about 
two and a half hours. also found early and extensively observed until it 
drifted out in to the open waters of lake erie was a red-throated loon which 
emil bacik found. this bird still retained much of its summer plumage - dark 
throat and gray coloration on and around the head. we had a good study of its 
thin, upturned bill as the bird drifted to about 200 yards of us before heading 
out. 


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While out scouting for the Columbus CBC, I made brief stop at several quarries 
along the SCioto River and was rewarded with a modest waterfowl fallout. Best 
spot was the large 'lake' between Dublin Rd and I-70, which was completely 
unfrozen and had the following waterfowl: 

1 Pied-billed Grebe
5 Horned Grebes
1 Cormorant
50 Canada Geese
15 Mallards
6 Black Ducks
1 pair Gadwall
1 pair Canvasback
3 Redhead
50 Ring-necked Ducks
10 Hooded Mergansers
25 Ring-billed Gulls
1 Bonaparte's Gull

I had Mallards, Black Ducks, Ring-necks, Pied-billed Grebes, and Hoodeds at 
several other locations, but not in the numbers at that spot. With the recent 
thaw here, you might want to check any lakes or wetlands adjacent to rivers and 
creeks. Chances seem good that they'll contain some interesting birds that were 
'holed up' on the rivers during the freeze. 


On a different subject, I noticed several copies of Peterjohn's _Birds of Ohio_ 
(the softbound Wooster Press reprint) on sale at a local Half-Price Books. If 
these are being remaindered, this is an excellent time for Ohio birders to get 
their hands on this essential resource for $10 or less. 


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All,

I have just been looking over my records. We reported 174 birds in
November and are at 125 as of this post for December. There are 10 -12
resident birds that have not yet been reported this month.

As of today we are at 319 species for the year. We are also at 30 review
species for the year. All Code 1, 2, 3, and 4 birds have been reported
at least once this year. Through November we were averaging 192.7 bird
species per month.

For those who do Century Januaries we had 136 species reported in
January 2007. Pretty tough mark for an individual to beat.

Good Birding

John Habig
261 Lantis Dr.
Carlisle, OH 45005
ahabig AT cinci.rr.com

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On Saturday afternoon I located an adult California gull among the
ring-billed and herring gulls at East 72nd Street.  The combination of
the slightly "bluer" mantle and heavy streaking forming a near hood on
the head made it fairly easy to separate from the other birds.
 
Only a handful of Bonaparte's gulls were present; I did not see any
white-winged gulls or obvious Thayer's.
 
Good birding.
 
Chris Spagnoli
Lakewood

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Kim just called me from the nature center of the Black Swamp Bird
Observatory to say that there are two Common Redpolls consorting with the
goldfinches and other birds outside the Window On Wildlife there.  The BSBO
center is just north of Rt. 2 at the entrance to Crane Creek State
Park/Magee Marsh, near the Ottawa Co. / Lucas Co. line.  (I watched those
feeders for a while yesterday and saw no redpolls, so they may be new
arrivals there, although I had a small flock fly over at Ottawa NWR next
door a few days ago.)  As a caveat, the roads are a little slick and icy
right now in this general region; but if you're going to be out in the area
anyway, consider stopping by to look for the redpolls.  The BSBO center will
be open today (Sunday Dec. 9) until 5 p.m.

Kenn Kaufman
Rocky Ridge, Ohio

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I spent today scouting areas for the Delaware Reservoir Christmas Bird Count 
and was rewarded with some good birds. 12 COMMON REDPOLLS in area G of Delaware 
Wildlife Area were the most surprising. 


I spent most of the time driving rural roads near the town of Radnor (Delaware 
Co.). Because of the snow many birds were forced close to the roadsides. Horned 
Larks were abundant Highlights include: 


1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (dark phase) - at intersection of Jones Rd. and 203
5 American Kestrels
1 American Coot - Dildine Rd. gravel pit
1 Great-horned Owl
1 AMERICAN PIPIT - River Rd
400+ Horned Larks - small flocks everywhere
1 SNOW BUNTING - Radnor Rd., 0.4 miles West of US-23
1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR - David Rd
180 Brown-headed Cowbirds

Delaware Reservoir - Dam

3      Hooded Mergansers
250+ Ring-billed Gulls

Delaware Reservoir - Weiser Rd

37 Bonaparte's Gulls
18 Great Blue Herons
2   Killdeer

Jack Stenger
Ohio Wesleyan University




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There was not much of a movement of waterfowl today.  Probably the best was
a group of 43 tundra swans heading south off the lake.  There was a good
movement of gulls with the first good movement of great black-backed  gulls
of the season.  There were single ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS.  The gulls
continued to move all day long.  I think there were at least 100 great
black-backed gulls through the day.  I didn't see any more white winged
gulls.

The feeders were a bit slower today.  The male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was
seen briefly, but no siskins or redpolls.  The fox sparrow remains.

Lakeshore Reservation, North Perry, Lake County
Date- December 8, 2007, Time- 
Weather- cloudy, Wind- west 10-15
Barometer- , Temperature- 35-36 F
Humidity- 75, Dew point- 26-25
Waves- 3-5 feet, Flight direction- west

Tundra swan   43
Mallard   3
Common merganser   2
Red-breasted merganser   113
Common loon   3
Bald eagle   1 adult
Ring-billed gull   2,798
Herring gull   345
ICELAND GULL   1 adult
GLAUCOUS GULL  1 1st/2nd
Great black-backed gull   21

John Pogacnik
4765 Lockwood Road
Perry, OH 44081


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Hi all,

Just wanted to report that a friend and I observed the male Common Redpoll
at The Wilderness Center bird viewing area at 3:00pm on Saturday,  .
This is located in Wilmot, Ohio.  This is a first sighting  for me!

Lynn Josefsen (Medina)





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I spent 4 hours checking tangles near station road today- no NSWOs.   1
barred owl, tho.

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Birders,

from about 8:00 to 11:00 I made my way from MLK to rocky river

E72 had several thousand gulls, almost all of them ring-bills- I did not
see a single bonaparte's.  There were a few herring, and one odd gull
with bright yellow legs and a more gentle graceful head than the
ring-bills. It looked a lot like a mew gull- but it had the ring on its
bill. NO white-winged gulls seen. The E72 boat basin had a pair of
horned grebes, but no other ducks.  E 55 had several coots, two
bufflehead, two female hoodies, a female canvasback, a male redhead, and
what looked from a great distance like a female goldeneye. A few Canada
Geese

I tried to get to whiskey island via edgewater park, but did not find
either whiskey or an island- ignornat me!  Same gulls, no ducks.

Rocky river mouth was pretty empty; I missed hte redpolls :(

Off to CVNP.

later,

BIll

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There were 3 White Swans at Lake Rockwell in Streetsboro today and  looked
like hundreds of Canadian Geese on Tucaway Lake in Ravenna

Milly WARD Piros

My Mind Is Like Lightning....One Brilliant Flash and Poooffffffffffffffffff,
It's Gone



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This morning I did some birding around lake eerie. We started at Ottawa 
National Wildlife Refuge. Highlights included a single SNOW GOOSE, 2 maybe 3 
CACKLING GEESE, many many TUNDRA SWANS, and a single dark phase ROUGH-LEGGED 
HAWK. 


 We then moved on to Rocky River and checked the park and Bradstreets Landing. 
Highlights were great black-backed gull and surf and black scoters. 


 Our last stop was Headlands Beach State Park where I did not see the 
previously reported purple sandpiper (although I only walked the breakwall). 
But after a while of picking through a gull flock that consisted of a couple 
Great Black-Backed Gulls and many Ring-billed and Herring Gulls I came across 
what I believe was a juvenile THAYER'S GULL! Here is what led me to believe it 
was a Thayer's: I first noticed it was slightly smaller and quite a bit lighter 
than the Herring Gulls it was with. The first thing that crossed my mind was an 
Iceland Gull (which was one of the species I had been keeping an eye out for), 
but it didn't quite match up. The gull was lighter was it wasn't as white as an 
Iceland Gull should be and its primaries were darker than its back. However I 
still wondered if it were an odd Iceland because it had a thinnish black bill, 
an Iceland-like body form, and an obvious light patch on the front of its face 
around the bill. I decided to look it up and 

 this seemed to fit the description of the juv. Thayers very well. The only 
thing that didn't stand out was the more cleanly marked back pattern. The 
pattern may have been a little cleaner than the Herring Gulls around but the 
pattern seemed lighter rather than cleaner. 


  Ryan Steiner
  Smithville, OH


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Hi, This is Jackie Counts which I'm not a birdwatcher like my hubby but I was 
really excited today I was driving on the new route 30 going toward 
Uppersandusky and there are several ponds along the way and I spotted one 
beautiful white swan . 


Jackie Counts 

Uppersandusky , Ohio

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 My father and I had either a female or juvenile Merlin perched on the metal 
high-tension tower behind Bruegger's Bagels on Merriman Rd., over near the 
Cedarwood Apartments in the Merriman Valley. This would be just northeast of 
Sand Run Metro Park or south of Cuyahoga Valley National Park here in Akron. 

 Coincidentally, we were headed to Calvary Cemetery in Garfield Hts. to try to 
see one or both of "Lou's birds". We still went, and observed the "Section 85 
bird". A very obliging bird indeed. Thanks Lou! 

  Douglas W. Vogus - Akron, Ohio.


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Gene Stauffer, Larry Gara, Shane Egleston and I saw the Red-throated Loon
from the end of Harveysburg Road at Caesar Creek until around 3:00 pm when
we left. The bird spent much of the time to the north (right, as you look
out from
the end of the road) and seemingly across the lake. Earlier Shane and I had
a much closer look from the North Pool boat ramp before it took flight and
headed
to the north end of the lake. This bird had the look of a winter adult with
a very
white face and neck.

While the four of us were looking at the loon we followed another bird in
flight
that landed in the water across from us, very near the opposite shore.
Our suspicions of it being a Surf Scoter were confirmed as it flew directly
at us,
coming within 50 yards before turning and giving us a nice profile view.

Shane and I also found (rather they found us) four American Pipits that
landed within 15 feet of us at the campground area, and 1 Least Sandpiper
at the campground beach.

Rick Asamoto
Miamisburg

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