Rare Bird Alert

Just because I’m at Lake Erie, doesn’t mean I can’t report a rare bird. Such is the case today when 2 Black Terns were sighted at Fernald Preserve at Lodge Pond feeding. If you’ve never been to Fernald Preserve before, this is the first ponf on the right when you turn onto the property.

Your Week In Review

For the week of April 29th, through May 5th, this is your week in review.

28   That’s the number of total Warblers identified this week throughout the tri-state area. One might call this a fall-out, and you’d probably be correct in that statement. Once again it was another phenomenal week birding. With some of the heavy rains we’ve been experiencing, the effects in regards to the different species of birds is apparent.

Area parks where birders visited include Withrow Nature Preserve, Boone County Cliffs,  Ault Park, Spring Grove Cemetery, Burnett Woods, Miami Whitewater Forest, Shawnee Lookout Park, Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands, Smith Tract Preserve, Magrish Riverlands Preserve, Armleder Park, California Woods, East Fork S.P., Chilo Lock #34, Mt. Airy Forest, Fernald Preserve, and Ferbach-Werner Nature Preserve.

Neighborhoods reporting in include: Newtown, Clifton, Westwood, Lost Bridge, Owensville, West Chester, New Richmond, Milford, Price Hill, Kenwood, and Williamsburg.

Notable birds for the week include;

Accipitriformes

1. Broad-winged Hawk
2. Cooper’s Hawk
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Ferruginous Hawk
5. Osprey

Falconiformes

1. American Kestrel

Charadriiformes

1. Wilson’s Snipe
2. Solitary Sandpiper
3. Pectoral Sandpiper
4. Greater Yellowlegs
5. Lesser Yellowlegs
6. Long-billed Dowitcher
7. Short-billed Dowitcher
8. Spotted sandpiper
9. Least Sandpiper
10. Semipalmated sandpiper
11. Dunlin
12. Semipalmated Plover

Piciformes

1. Hairy Woodpecker
2. Downy Woodpecker
3. Pileated Woodpecker
4. Red-bellied Woodpecker
5. Northern Flicker

Gruiformes

1. Sora
2. Virginia Rail

Caprimulgiformes

1. Common Nighthawk

Passeriformes

1. Red-eyed Vireo
2. Warbling Vireo
3. Blue-headed Vireo
4. Bell’s Vireo
5. Acadian Flycatcher
6. Least Flycatcher
7. Willow Flycatcher
8. Great-creasted Flycatcher
9. Wood Thrush
10. Hermit Thrush
11. Veery
12. Eastern Phoebe
13. Grasshopper Sparrow
14. Savannah Sparrow
15. Henslow’s Sparrow
16. White-throated Sparrow
17. White-crowned Sparrow
18. Chipping Sparrow
19. Song Sparrow
20. Lincoln Sparrow
21. Summer Tanager
22. Scarlet Tanager
23. Rose-breasted grosbeak
24. Blue Grosbeak
25. Baltimore Oriole
26. Orchard Oriole
27. Sedge Wren
28. Dickcissel
29. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
30. Bobolink
31. Cedar Waxwing
32. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
33. Blue-winged Warbler
34. Black and White Warbler
35. Nashville warbler
36. Cerulean Warbler
37. Yellow Warbler
38. Pine Warbler
39. Yellow-throated Warbler
40. Yellow-rumped Warbler
41. Black-throated Green Warbler
42. Prothonotary Warbler
43. Chestnut-sided Warbler
44. Palm Warbler
45. Magnolia Warbler
46. Tennessee Warbler
47. Northern Waterthrush
48. Louisiana Waterthrush
49. Hooded Warbler
50. American Redstart
51. Blackpoll Warbler
52. Wilson’s Warbler
53. Cape May Warbler
54. Prairie warbler
55. Kentucky Warbler
56. Canada warbler
57. Black-throated Blue warbler
58. Yellow-breasted Chat
59. Ovenbird

4th Annual Bird Study Merit Badge Workshop

Fernald Preserve

First thing is that I’d like to thank all the staff at Fernald Preserve who’s hospitality went above and beyond our expectations in allowing us to once again offer this workshop to the youth leaders in the Tri-state area. I join Phil Burgio in thanking you from the bottom of our hearts.

The weather channel called for off and on rain and thunder showers throughout the day. As with anything Scout related where the outdoors in concerned, you better be ready for rain. Phil and myself prepared ourselves with the lesson plan that was set for the indoors, but what do you do if your outdoor plans get rained out? With 6 hours set aside for the workshop we were pretty sure that there was going to be sometime during that time when it wasn’t raining and then we could get the Scouts outside.

At 9 am we started with 4 fewer Scouts than those that signed up. We usually only have 12 Scouts, and with only 8 today that was kind of nice. We also had 3 parents stay which is always a big plus. After everyone introduced themselves we started into some of the early requirements, like how to take care and properly adjust your binoculars and how birds are useful indicators of the quality of the environment.

Linda, one of the staff at Fernald helping out with some free samples for the Scouts.

With the rain still holding off we loaded everyone up into the 3 cars and made our way down to the lot next to Lodge Pond near the front of the preserve. For this Merit badge the scouts need to identify 20 different species of birds so the idea was to scope out the pond first and pick up any ducks and wading birds before walking the along side the road. The Pine Trees that line both sides of the road are great for passerines as we spotted a good variety of Sparrows and Warblers.

We slowly made our way back towards the Visitor’s Center for some lunch and finish up more indoor requirements. As we drove back we would stop and look at new birds like American Kestrel and Eastern Kingbird. With the sky darkening, we’re lucky as the rain came down in earnest while we had our lunch. This was the time the Scouts worked on bird feeders and identified different birds by their call alone.

Phil had collected old popcorn containers to use as the bird feeders the Scouts would take home with them.

It was during this time that it appeared that the rain was letting up a little
. With only a couple hours left till parents started appearing, we once again made our way outside for more bird watching. It was during this time that we discovered if the Scout was prepared or not. It started to rain lightly and there were a couple of Scouts (who will remain nameless) who looked a little waterlogged. Even though our trip was cut short we were able to pick up even more birds for the days count.

This group of Scouts were very knowledgeable and eager to participate in all activities. Despite the fact that it was cut short a little by the inclement weather the Scouts were well behaved and obedient. It’s groups of Scouts like these that make this workshop worthwhile and a great success year after year.

The bird list might differ from what the Scouts saw. Phil and myself were at Fernald early and we did a little birding before the Scouts showed up.

Notable birds for the day include:

1. American Kestrel
2. Red-tailed Hawk
3. Turkey Vulture
4. Song Sparrow
5. Field Sparrow
6. Savannah Sparrow
7. Grasshopper Sparrow
8. White-crowned Sparrow
9. Chipping Sparrow
10. Killdeer
11. Great Blue Heron
12. Green Heron
13. Canada Goose
14. Northern Mockingbird
15. Common Yellowthroat
16. Palm Warbler
17. Yellow-throated Warbler
18. American Robin
19. Mourning Dove
20. Carolina Chickadee
21. European Starling
22. Brown-headed Cowbird
23. Common Grackle
24. Red-winged Blackbird
25. Red-bellied Woodpecker
26. American Coot
27. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
28. American Goldfinch
29. Eastern Bluebird
30. Eastern Kingbird
31. Mallard
32. Blue-winged Teal
33. Mute Swan
34. Wilson’s Snipe
35. Lesser Yellowleg
36. Hooded Merganser
37. Blue Grosbeak
38. Tree Swallow
39. Barn Swallow
40. Northern Rouogh-winged Swallow
41. Wood Duck

Bird Study Merit Badge

Tomorrow 12 fortunate Boy Scouts will be participating in the 4th Annual Bird Study Merit Badge Workshop. Fernald Preserve near Ross Ohio will be our gracious host as they offer us access to their fully equipped conference room located in the visitors center. Yours truly and birding buddy, Merit Badge Counselor, & Eagle Scout, Phil Burgio is our second team member. As with all merit badges, this is an opportunity for the Boy Scout to learn some new skills that could lead to a new career, or a lifetime hobby.

Your Week In Review

For the week of April 15th, through April 21st, this is your week in review.

Spring migration is in full bloom as more and more of our beautiful Spring migrants arrive around the Tri-state in our typical hotspots. But you better be prepared to know your bird calls since the majority of the trees are leafed out. Being able to ID a Warbler in the top of a totally leafed out tree will require both sight and sound skills. The Ferruginous Hawk is still being seen over at CVG with no sign of it leaving, so if you’ve not seen this bird as of yet, plan a trip before it leaves. We also had 48 hours of excitement as a Black-necked Stilt was sighted at Ellis Lake. And once again this blogger was able to see it and get some pictures as well. Also Caesar Creek had it’s own excitement as both Lesser Black-backed Gull and Surf Scoters were seen earlier this week.

This has got to be the largest “location” list I’ve typed for this column ever and this is just a prelude of what it”ll be like in weeks to come. So to quote Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Jurassic Park, “Hold on to your butts”, here’s the list of where our birders visited this week. Shawnee Lookout, Crooked Run Nature Preserve, Fairview Park, Ault Park, Magrish Riverland Preserve, California Woods, East Fork S.P., Caesar Creek S.P., Hueston Woods S.P., Cowan Lake S.P., The Oxbow, Miami Whitewater Forest, Winton Woods, Smith Tract Park, Fernald Preserve, Eden Park, Spring Valley Wildlife Area, CVG, Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands, Armleder Park, Sharon Woods, Grand Valley, Avoca Trailhead Park, Lake Isabella, and Glenwood Gardens.

Neighborhoods reporting in include: Felicity, Kenwood, Landen, Lawrenceburg Road, Milford, Newtown, Clifton, Maderia, United American Cemetery, Owensville, Oxford, West Wood, Morrow, and Williamsburg.

Notable birds for the week include:

Accipitriformes

1. Bald Eagle
2. Ferruginous Hawk
3. Broad-winged Hawk
4. Osprey
5. Sharp-shinned Hawk

Falconiformes

1. American Kestrel

Pelecaniformes

1. Great Egret
2. Green Heron

Charadriiformes

1. Pectoral Sandpiper
2. Black-necked Stilt
3. Wilson’s Snipe
4. Solitary Sandpiper
5. Lesser Yellowleg
6. Greater Yellowleg
7. Spotted Sandpiper
8. Dunlin
9. Short-billed Dowitcher
10. Forster’s Tern
11. Caspian tern
12. Least Tern
13. Lesser Black-backed Gull
14. Bonaparte’s Gull
15. Semi-palmated Plover

Anseriformes

1. Ring-necked Duck
2. Surf scoter
3. Wood Duck
4. Green-winged Teal
5. Blue-winged Teal
6. Red-breasted Merganser
7. Northern Shoveler

Strigiformes

1. Great Horned Owl

Piciformes

1. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
2. Pileated Woodpecker
3. Downy Woodpecker
4. hairy Woodpecker
5. Red-bellied Woodpecker
6. Red-headed Woodpecker

Gruiformes

1. Virginia Rail

Galliformes

1. Wild Turkey

Apodiformes

1. Chimney Swift
2. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Podicipediformes

1. Horned Grebe
2. Pied-billed Grebe

Passeriformes

1. Great-crested Flycatcher
2. Horned Lark
3. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
4. Orchard Oriole
5. Baltimore Oriole
6. Brown Thrasher
7. Eastern Kingbird
8. Eastern Phoebe
9. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
10. Wood Thrush
11. Rusty Blackbird
12. Purple Finch
13. Scarlet Tanager
14. Yellow-throated Vireo
15. White-eyed Vireo
16. Red-eyed Vireo
17. Warbling Vireo
18. Brown Creeper
19. Red-breasted Nuthatch
20. Tree Swallow
21. Barn Swallow
22. Norther Rough-winged Swallow
23. Nashville Warbler
24. Yellow-rumped Warbler
25. Common Yellowthroat
26. Cerulean Warbler
27. Prothonotary Warbler
28. Yellow-breasted Chat
29. Kentucky Warbler
30. Black-throated Green warbler
31. Louisiana Waterthrush
32. Black and White Warbler
33. Northern Parula
34. Tennessee Warbler
35. Yellow-throated warbler
36. Pine Warbler
37. Blue-winged Warbler
38. Prairie Warbler
39. Palm Warbler
40. Houose Wren
41. Field Sparrow
42. Chipping Sparrow
43. Savannah Sparrow
44. vesper Sparrow
45. Song Sparrow
46. Swamp Sparrow
47. White-throated Sparrow
48. White-crowned Sparrow

For a detailed listing of the weeks postings, please go to www.cincinnatibirds.com

So as we end this week in review, keep on birding, and don’t forget to post your sightings.

 

Your Week In Review

For the week of March 25th, through March 31st, this is your week in review.

Early migrants are still the dominate birds, making a strong showing as we continue with the unseasonably warmer weather. Wading birds are starting to been seen in small numbers in the usual hotspots familiar to tri-state birders. There’s so much good bird action going on that this blogger is having a difficult time keeping up. This could turn out to be a fast and furious Spring, that I’m sure everyone is excited about.

Area parks where our birders visited include: Caesar Creek S.P., East Fork S.P., Hueston Woods S.P., Miami Whitewater Forest, Fernald Preserve, Grand Valley, Spring Valley Wildlife Area, Sharon Woods, Winton Woods, Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands, Chilo Lock #34, Armleder Park, Gulley Park and California Woods.

Neighborhoods reporting in include: Felicity, Newtown, Clifton, Goshen, New Richmond, and Miami Twp.

Notable birds for the week include:

Accipitriformes

1. Rough-legged Hawk
2. Northern Harrier
3. Red-tailed Hawk

Falconiformes

1. American Kestrel

Strigiformes

1. Barred Owl
2. Barn Owl

Charadriiformes

1. Pectoral Sandpiper
2. Greater Yellowleg
3. Lesser Yellowleg
4. Wilson’s Snipe
5. American Woodcock

Ciconiiformes

1. American Bittern

Gruiformes

1. Sora

Pelecaniformes

1. Great Egret

Piciformes

1. Northern Flicker
2. Red-bellied Woodpecker
3. Downy Woodpecker
4. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Gaviiformes

1. Common Loon

Anseriformes

1. Wood Duck
2. Northern Shoveler
3. Bufflehead
4. Blue-winged Teal
5. Red-breasted Merganser
6. Hooded Merganser
7. American Wigeon
8. Red Head
9. Ring-necked Duck
10. Ruddy Duck
11. Surf Scoter
12. Gadwall
13. Greater White-fronted Goose

Passeriformes

1. Blue-headed Vireo
2. Yellow-throated Warbler
3. Louisiana Waterthrush
4. Barn Swallow
5. Hermit Thrush
6. Tree Swallow
7. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
8. Brown Thrasher
9. Eastern Phoebe
10. Yellow-rumped Warbler
11. Marsh Wren

For a detailed listing of the weeks postings, please go to www.cincinnatibirds.com

So as we end this week in review, keep on birding, and don’t forget to post your sightings.