Notes From The Field

Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands & Gilmore Ponds

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Well I may not be dull, but I was a little sad not being able to get a little birding in this long Memorial Day weekend. The yard and garden has taken over so much of my spare time recently I’m trying to finish up as much as I can so I could get away for a morning. So with Kathy going into work yesterday, the time was ripe for some local birding. Which isn’t a bad thing since both of the above mentioned birding hotspots are some of my favorites.

The morning was warm and humid as I steps out of the bird-mobile at Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands. So much of the water that was previously there was mostly dried up. However there have been reports recently of White-rumped Sandppipers here so here we go. The large field which will normally hold a boat load of water after a good rain was just a couple of small mud puddles. Scanning paid off with mostly Killdeer and some Spotted Sandpipers. The low spot in the field is this ditch which will hide even the smallest bird was still a hundred yards out of sight, so I walked out into the field in the attempt to close the gap a little and get a better view into the ditch. Not surprisingly was my White-rumped Sandpipers. So much of the water drains into this ditch, which in turn attracts the birds. However my stay was shortened with the onslaught of some flying, biting insects that were feasting on my flesh.

Willow Flycatcher at Ellis Lake.

Onto Gilmore Ponds. I spent over 3 hours here and as the Sun rose higher and higher birding became more difficult as energy levels drained for the heat and humidity. From the Gilmore Road parking lot the trail dives right into a flooded forest. Home to Wood Ducks and Prothonotary Warblers I always thought how much fun it would be to drift in a canoe in this tall stand of trees, but I don’t think the Butler County Metroparks  would like it much.

There were a few folks either enjoying the park with a nice walk, or a few who were there to photograph whatever fancies their interest. I was the only birder.

Green Herons are one of my favorite bird subjects. The hold still long enough for you to get a decent picture, and this one was very cooperative.

The portion of trail I was walking on runs along side of the old Miami-Erie Canal. Vegetation is so thick along the edges that your not able to see over it. The Butler County Regional Airport is on the other side of the canal, and some railroad track, and if it wasn’t for the airplanes you’d never know it’s there. I was able to find a spot where there was a log lying over the now silted over canal, so I tight roped over and peered over the tracks. This part of the airport property slopes down towards the canal and held massive amounts of water where Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons made their home.

Now in this picture you see my spotting scope in the middle, next to the Hemlock. My scope stands a few inches over 4 feet. So you get the idea of how tall, and closed in you can feel along this trail.

As the morning wore on, birds were becoming fewer and fewer. I had reached the half way point when the desire of the ice water in the truck started to call. I made sure that I hydrated myself before leaving, but i was starting to get a little parched. So I quickened my pace.

The stops were less frequent as I made my way around the park. I’d stop and check out when the birds got a little more active than usual. But the last half of the trip was pretty uneventful. The trees became sparse and open fields spread out before me.

This time of year Indigo Buntings are numerous here,

as well as Eastern Kingbirds.

A much needed trip. There are times when we need to get back to nature to recharge our souls.

Notable birds for the day include:

1. Northern Cardinal
2. Blue Jay
3. American Robin
4. Red-winged Blackbird
5. Brown-headed Cowbird
6. Common Grackle
7. Mourning Dove
8. Mallard
9. Wood Duck
10. Double-crested Cormorant
11. Canada Goose
12. Yellow Warbler
13. Prothonotary Warbler
14. Gray Catbird
15. American Goldfinch
16. Eastern Phoebe
17. Great-crested Flycatcher
18. Willow Flycatcher
19. Barn Swallow
20. Tree Swallow
21. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
22. Turkey Vulture
23. Northern Flicker
24. Red-bellied Woodpecker
25. Downy Woodpecker
26. Carolina Wren House Wren
27. Eastern Kingbird
28. Belted Kingfisher
29. Chimney swift
30. Cedar waxwing
31. Field Sparrow
32. Song Sparrow
33. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
34. Swamp Sparrow
35. Great Egret
36. Great Blue Heron
37. Green Heron
38. White-rumped Sandpiper
39. Spotted Sandpiper
40. Semipalmated sandpiper
41. Least Sandpiper
42. Lesser Yellowleg
43. Killdeer
44. Semipalmated Plover
45. Red-eyed Vireo
46. Yellow-throated Vireo
47. White-throated Sparrow
48. Baltimore Oriole
49. Carolina Chickadee
50. House Sparrow

Bird Brief

Serving the Tri-State with all your birding news.

With all the recent activity in the area focusing on the skulking, elusive, and vocally identifiable Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii), this author thought a little brief  update is in order. For the past several weeks now this hard to see bird has been either seen or heard at Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands, Gilmore Ponds, Smith Tract County Park, and near Rapid Run Park.

With it’s very distinctive song, you will find this bird in low and mid level thickets frequently bobbing it’s tail. They have obvious white spectacles that are broken in the front and back, and 2 white wing bars, with the lower one being more prominent. There are 4 sub-species that become progressively greener above and yellower below as you travel from West to East.

Become familiar with it’s unusual call as you travel about birding. It’s rather unmistakeable and was the first thing I heard as I was hunting down this bird both this year and last at the same location. And remember it’s not a very large bird at only 4 3/4″.  Each year more and more of these birds are showing up in our area. Is this a sign of them losing their habitat out West, or another victim of Brown-headed Cowbirds? I guess that’s what the pros at Cornell have to think about. For us it’s still good birding for Ohio.

Your Week In Review

For the week of April 22nd, through April 28th, this is your week in review.

Another busy birding week brought birders out in force once again. At times like these I seem to do more blogging than actual birding. I’d be birding tonight if it wasn’t for the workshop tomorrow and all the stuff I have to ready. So I’ll stay home and compile this extremely long list of parks and neighborhoods where birders reported from. So without further ado here’s the list of the parks where birders visited this week: Gilmore Ponds, East Fork S.P., Magrish Riverland Preserve, Armleder Park, Avoca Park, Hueston Woods S.P., Brookville Lake, Winton Woods Park, Lost Bridge, Smith Tract Park, Campbell Lake Preserve, Cincinnati Nature Center, Shawnee Lookout, Burnett Woods Park, Caesar Creek Gorge, and Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands.

Neighborhoods reporting in include: Winton Place, Deer Park, Felicity, East Walnut Hills, Goshen, Newtown, Anderson Twp., Newport, Kenwood, Clifton, Southern Clermont County, Franklin County, Finnytown, Monroe, Sharonville, Latonia, and Westwood.

Notable birds for the week include:

Accipitriformes

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

Pelecaniformes

1. American Bittern
2. Black-crowned Night Heron

Charadriiformes

1. Spotted Sandpiper
2. Least Sandpiper
3. Semipalmated Sandpiper
4. Pectoral Sandpiper
5. Greater Yellowleg
6. Lesser Yellowleg
7. Dunlin
8. Willet
9. Solitary Sandpiper
10. Short-billed Dowitcher
11. Long-billed Dowitcher
12. Bonaparte’s Gull
13. Wilson’s Snipe
14. Common Tern
15. Caspian Tern
16. Forester’s Tern

Anseriformes

1. Blue-winged Teal
2. America Wigeon
3. Northern Shoveler

Strigiformes

1. Barred Owl

Piciformes

1. Northern Flicker
2. Pileated Woodpecker
3. Hairy Woodpecker

Gruiformes

1. Virginia Rail
2. Sora

Apodiformes

1. Chimney Swift
2. Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Passeriformes

1. Acadian Flycatcher
2. Great-crested Flycatcher
3. Least Flycatcher
4. Wood Thrush
5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
6. Blue Grosbeak
7. Orchard Oriole
8. Baltimore Oriole
9. Pine Siskins
10. Red-eyed Vireo
11. White-eyed Vireo
12. Blue-headed Vireo
13. Warbling Viroe
14. Yellow-throated Vireo
15. Rusty Blackbird
16. Eastern Phoebe
17. Eastern Kingbird
18. Horned Lark
19. Bobolink
20. Savannah Sparrow
21. White-throated Sparrow
22. White-crowned Sparrow
23. Meadow Lark
24. Lark Sparrow
25. Vesper Sparrow
26. Swamp Sparrow
27. Grasshopper Sparrow
28. Field Sparrow
29. Scarlet Tanager
30. Summer Tanager
31. Indigo Bunting
32. Palm Warbler
33. Northern Parula
34. Prothonotary Warbler
35. Common Yellowthroat
36. Yellow-throated Warbler
37. Nashville Warbler
38. Cerulean Warbler
39. Kentucky Warbler
40. Blackburnian Warbler
41. American Redstart
42. Black-throated Green Warbler
43. Prairie Warbler
44. Louisiana Waterthrush
45. Northern Waterthrush
46. Yellow-breasted Chat
47. Ovenbird
48. Worm-eating warbler
49. Black and White Warbler
50. Blackpoll Warbler
51. Pine Warbler
52. Hooded Warbler
53. Tennessee Warbl
54. Barn Swallow
55. Cliff Swallow
56. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
57. Tree Swallow
58. Purple Martin

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.

 

Notes From The Field

Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands, Gilmore Ponds, Lost Bridge, Shawnee Lookout boat ramp, & The Oxbow

Sometimes the best made plans don’t necessary go a wry, they’re delayed till a more advantagous time. Reports out of Indiana concerning the Smith’s Longspurs, our target bird for this road trip, have been slim to none. Our connection in Indiana for this elusive bird has been in contact with Jon and they’re still a no show according to him. So the prospect of a 2 1/2 hour drive to dip on this bird didn’t make too much sense.  What we were looking for was some activitty that the birds were passing through on migration. We opted to bird locally.

We meet at Ellis Lake/ West Chester Wetlands just as the Sun started to lighten up this gray, overcast morning. The previous evenings rain left several sky pools on the open field as you pulled into Ellis Lake. Scanning with the spotting scope revealed several ducks and a lone Lesser Yellowleg. A FOS for me.

Ellis Lake on a gray morning.

We walked around the lake, pausing while we listened and looked for any and everything. Yellow-throated Warblers have been showing up in good numbers this past week, so we weren’t disappointed when we both heard one just out of sight, behind a row of trees. Another FOS for both of us. After retracing our back from the lake we walked the bike path towards the stone foundation of the old ice house and the pond where the ice was harvested. It was along this path where we discovered a Great Horned Owl perched pretty close to the path. He was all fluffed up drying his feathers. Unfortunately I didn’t have my spotting scope so I couldn’t digiscope a picture. And trying to take a picture through my binoculars proved difficult with poor results.

This was the best I could do.

Our next stop was Gilmore Ponds Metropark. These two parks are in close proximity to each other, and share a common feature. The Miami-Erie Canal which flowed along the border of the parks. This canal became quite an obstacle if you choose to cross it. It’s just wide and deep enough to persuade anyone from crossing. And we wanted very much to cross it and have a look into the flooded fields that are on the airport property. However in between the fields and us sit railroad tracks. Now the logical, and illegal thing to do would be walk the gravel path that runs along side of the tracks, but if caught we could get in big trouble, let alone maybe killed. Trains are ALWAYS going by. So we opted to walk the trail that runs parallel to the canal, that runs parallel to the train tracks. We hiked several hundred yards till we found a spot where we could get across an not get too muddy. We walked up to the tracks and peeked over, not crossing in fear of getting busted, to a large expanse of flooded fields.

 

We scanned for only a few minutes as we added up species seen. What struck me were all the Swallows. Tree and Northern Rough-winged buzzed around continually over these sky pools. After returning to the park we visited the wildlife blind which was close by. This elaborate blind sits about 10 feet up and offers some good views of the lake in the middle of the park. It also offers a nice place for a pair of Eastern Phoebe’s to nest. The pair were within feet of the blind waiting for us to leave so they could commence with building their nest.

You can see the nesting material in it’s beak.

We left Gilmore Ponds to get something to eat and to figure out where we were heading next. We stopped at a fast food joint so Jon would get something to eat and I could get some nasty tasting coffee. With still a good portion of the day left we decided to visit Lost Bridge and the Shawnee Lookout boat ramp area.

It was at this time when Jon received a phone call. He sat in his car for about 10 minutes talking as I waited. After he hung up he told me it was out Indiana contact, and he told us that the Smith’s Longspurs were there. You’ve got to be kidding. We debated our options and the temptation to pack it in and go was enormous. This is a life bird for the both of us and the decision not to go was a tough one to make. First it’s a 2 1/2 hour drive and it’s already going on to noon. Our contact said they’re going to be here all of April and it gives us time for the males to change into their breeding plumage. Which in turn makes it easier to spot them in a field of corn stubble. So in 2 weeks (If Jon’s schedule permits) we’re heading over to Crawfordsville Indiana and meetup with our contact who will lead us to our prize. It will be a long 2 weeks.

The rest of the day was spent traveling from Hamilton to Lost Bridge, to the boat ramp at Shawnee Lookout park, to the Oxbow, picking up species along the way. The Great Miami River was up so there was no exposed mud flats under  Lost Bridge, however there were a few wading birds feeding in some sky pools before you crossed the bridge. The boat ramp was pretty much a bust with only a few birds to speak of that we picked up.

After we left the boat ramp we drove to The Oxbow along Rt. 50. We had a nice fly over of a Merlin before we made it into Lawrenceburg. Now the Oxbow can be a difficult place to drive, especially after it’s been raining. It floods so easily that the dirt roads become impassable. We were lucky today, the recent rains left the roads open. Yellow-rumped Warblers were on the move as we watched large numbers overhead and in the lower vegetation that run along the road.

Driving further in the The Oxbow we came across large fields of bottom land that have yet to be plowed.

Further back in this field was a small sky pool that was a frenzy of activity with Great Blue Herons and hundreds of Swallows. It was at this time we started to notice all the Double-crested Cormorants flying in. They would fly over in small waves of a dozen or less, but it was constant. We lost count at 150. So we walked back to the truck and drove on looking to see if we could re-locate them. We did find a good many perched in a group of trees.

We drove around some more, stopping and getting out to check certain areas that might be promising. The road eventually winds up behind one of the casino’s so we opted to backtrack to Jon’s car and head home for a nap. It had been a long day.

Notable birds for the day include:

1. Field Sparrow
2. Canada Goose
3. Red-winged Blackbird
4. American Robin
5. Red-bellied Woodpecker
6. Mallard
7. Lesser Yellowleg
8. Greater Yellowleg
9. Killdeer
10. Blue-winged Teal
11. Green-winged Teal
12. Common Grackle
13. American Kestrel
14. Merlin
15. Turkey Vulture
16. Black Vulture
17. Red-tailed Hawk
18. Northern Cardinal
19. Song Sparrow
20. Swamp Sparrow
21. White-throated Sparrow
22. Savannah Sparrow
23. Brown-headed Cowbird
24. Wood Duck
25. Yellow-throated Warbler
26. Yellow-rumped Warbler
27. Wilson’s Snipe
28. Downy Woodpecker
29. Northern Flicker
30. Great Horned Owl
31. Blue Jay
32. American Goldfinch
33. Tree Swallow
34. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
35. Barn Swallow
36. Eastern Phoebe
37. Mourning Dove
38. Tufted Titmouse
39. Carolina Chickadee
40. Carolina Wren
41. House Finch
42. House Sparrow
43. Eastern Towhee
44. Great Blue Heron
45. Double-crested Cormorant
46. American Coot
47. Pied-billed grebe
48. Bufflehead
49. Northern Shoveler
50. Gadwall
51. American Crow
52. Pectoral Sandpiper
53. Belted Kingfisher
54. Ring-necked Duck
55. White-breasted Nuthatch
56. Horned Lark
57. Rock Dove
58. Bonaparte’s Gull

Notes From The Field

Fernald Preserve & Gilmore Ponds

With the passage of this destructive cold front that left nothing but devastation in it’s wake from countless tornadoes, Saturday was cool and windy with gray overcast skies and a few streaks of sunlight shining through. This was going to be a big day for me as I made my way to Fernald Preserve for the start of the morning.

Pulling into the small lot by Lodge Pond I unloaded my gear and walked to the small observation platform overlooking the pond. As usual the resident Mute Swans were there with a couple of dozen other ducks. A mix of Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked, Gadwall and a lone Canvasback was the extent.

Canvasback on Lodge Pond

Ring-necked Ducks on Lodge Pond

I left the platform and walked up between the pines that line the pond in an attempt to get the sun towards my back and get some pictures. Finding a good spot I snapped off some pictures that you see above. I also had a Kingfisher who sat still long enough for me to get yet another out of focus shot. Even when they’re sitting still I can’t get it into perfect focus. I think I know what I’m doing wrong, I just have to make a conscience effort that when I focus on a bird that I need to release the shutter release and depress again so the camera can re-focus since I changed to focus of the spotting scope. I know that might not make sense, but in my head it does.

Leaving Lodge Pond I drove slowly towards the Visitor’s Center to warm up a bit. My next stop was the Weapons to Wetlands Pond and see what’s happening there. The road twists and turns as I made my way back. This is always a slow process for me since I always stop  along the way to check out other ponds and check the wires for Kestrels and Hawks which are always here.

The gravel path that takes you to the Weapons to Wetlands Pond was busy with Goldfinches and Red-wing Blackbirds as they feed from feeders set up near the Visitors Center.

A tree full of American Goldfinches.

The Weapons to Wetlands Pond held a better selection of ducks as I was joined by Darlena Graham for a short time. She told me she was out at Fernald by 6:30 for Short-eared Owls with no luck. We scanned to pond thoroughly and traded birding stories for a while till we went our separate ways. She went home and  walked to trail out from the Visitors Center.

Gadwall at Weapons to Wetlands Pond

American Wigeon and Ring-necked Ducks on Weapons to Wetlands Pond.

Leaving my spotting scope in the car for my walk, the sun started to peak out a little more as the wind picked up on the exposed grasslands that makes up this part of Fernald Preserve. During the Spring and Summer this place is so incredibly active with birds that when you’re here during this part of the year you have to work to get your birds. A few Eastern Meadowlarks would spook in front of you as they made short flights into the tall grass not to be seen again. An American Woodcock would do the same thing however this time I was able to keep the bird in sight as it circled around and landed too far away to see again. I was nice to see 2 Eastern Bluebirds making up their nest box for their young.

This picture was taken through my binoculars.

With the morning waning and the need to get home so I can let the dog out I made my way back to the bird-mobile. Once again driving slowly I was fianaaly able to spot some American Kestrels. Not just one but three this time. Jackpot!

You can see the 3 Kestrels as they perched on the gutter of this out building. This shot was taken about 250 yards away.

After making my way home I had some lunch and took a nap, which was very much needed for phase 2 of my birding day. I once again left home and arrived at Gilmore Ponds 10 minutes before the 4:30 start time for my first “Meetup Group” outing. Penny Jarrett who contacted me concerning the Great Backyard Bird Count along the Little Miami River was there and we finally meet face to face. I also meet Gene Dennis, the gentleman who I was supposed to meet last Saturday and look for the Long-eared Owl. The group on a whole was a mix of varied skill levels, and everyone was real pleasant. I’m happy I joined this group and I’m also sure some good friendships will grow from it.

The rains that have plagued us during this Winter has really taken it’s toll at Gilmore Ponds. The last time I was here there was hardly any water in Cattail Marsh, however this time it’s different.

I don’t think your supposed to get your feet wet as you make your way to the observation platform.

The group got quickly separated into smaller groups as we circumnavigated the whole park. There seemed to be good waterfowl on the lake but it was difficult to get close with all the flooding.

A good sign of a healthy ecosystem, Angry Beavers. That’s for all you “Nickelodeon” fans.

The light was fading fast as we finally made it back to the parking lot and some fond memories. It was a great, but tiring day.

Notable birds for the day include:

1. Common Grackle
2. American Crow
3. Mourning Dove
4. Rock Dove
5. Red-tailed Hawk
6. Turkey Vulture
7. American Robin
8. Canada Goose
9. Mute Swan
10. Red-winged Blackbird
11. Mallard
12. Belted Kingfisher
13. Green-winged Teal
14. Ring-necked Duck
15. Song Sparrow
16. Canvasback
17. Gadwall
18. American Kestrel
19. Killdeer
20. Northern Harrier
21. Northern Mockingbird
22. Eastern Bluebird
23. White-crowned Sparrow
24. American Goldfinch
25. American Woodcock
26. Ruddy Duck
27. Bufflehead
28. American Tree Sparrow
29. American Coot
30. Red Heads
31. American Wigeon
32. Pied-billed Grebe
33. Eastern Meadowlark
34. House Sparrow
35. Northern Cardinal
36. Cooper’s Hawk
37. Downy Woodpecker
38. Carolina Chickadee
39. Wood Duck
40. Tufted Titmouse
41. Northern Shoveler
42. White-throated Sparrow
43. Great Blue Heron

Your Week In Review

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

Let’s start this review with a re-cap of Cincinnati’s Christmas Bird Count. Jay Stenger posted the results just the other day and with 106 field participants they were able to come away with 89 species. I’m not sure if this is a record but a solid effort for all involved with the count. For a detailed listing of all the birds seen during the count, go to Cincinnati Bird Club web sight and click the “sightings” link on the side tool bar.

It was a pretty busy week for folks, with the holidays and everything else going on, we came away with an impressive list of birds. I’m sure having the CBC going on this week helped with the overall species count, but none the less it sure does fill up some blank spots we’ve had for the past couple of weeks.

Area parks that were visited this week include: Fernald Preserve, Armleder Park, Brookville Lake, Miami Whitewater Park, The Oxbow, Winton Woods Park, White Water State Park, and Gilmore Ponds. Neighborhoods reporting in include: Dayton KY., Sharonville, United American Cemetery, and Lost Bridge.

Notable birds for the week include:

Accipitriformes

1. Cooper’s Hawk
2. Sharp-shinned Hawk
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Red-shouldered Hawk
5. Northern Harrier

Falconiformes

1. Merlin
2. Peregrine Falcon
3. American Kestrel

Charadriiformes

1. Bonaparte’s Gull
2. Wilson’s Snipe

Strigiformes

1. Short-eared Owl

Podicipediformes

1. Pied-billed Grebe
2. Horned Grebe

Anseriformes

1. Canada Goose
2. Cackling Goose
3. Snow Goose
4. Mallard
5. American Wigeon
6. Gadwall
7. Northern Shoveler
8. Northern Pintail
9. Green-winged Teal
10. Canvasback
11. Ring-necked Duck
12. American Black Duck
13. Lesser Scaup
14. Greater Scaup
15. Hooded Merganser
16. Long-tailed Duck
17. Bufflehead
18. Ruddy Duck

Piciformes

1. Northern Flicker
2. Downy Woodpecker
3. Hairy Woodpecker
4. Pileated Woodpecker
5. Red-headed Woodpecker
6. Red-bellied Woodpecker
7. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Gruiformes

1. Sandhill Crane

Galliformes

1. Wild Turkey

Passeriformes

1. Chipping Sparrow
2. Savannah Sparrow
3. American Tree Sparrow
4. Fox Sparrow
5. White-throated Sparrow
6. White-crowned Sparrow
7. Swamp Sparrow
8. Song Sparrow
9. Eastern Towhee
10. Pine Siskin
11. Red-breasted Nuthatch
12. Brown Thrasher
13. Winter Wren
14. Golden-crowned Kinglet
15. Horned Lark
16. Purple Finch
17. Common Yellowthroat
18. Pine Warbler
19. Yellow-rumped Warbler
20. Hermit Thrush
21. Rusty Blackbird
22. Brewer’s Blackbird

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.