Thursday, April 24, 2003
In the neighborhood - For the first time this spring, I have noticed crows in our hood today. A male Goldfinch spent some time today on the sunflower hopper feeder. Shortly after 6:00 P.M. this evening, I saw a Junco in the backyard. The most Juncos I saw at one time today was one. I bet I don't see anymore Juncos in the yard after this weekend, at least not until October. The Juncos leave when the trees are just budding out and return when the leaves have changed from being green.
Birding Stuff - nearby birding trip tips - I walked the boardwalk at Magee last Saturday afternoon with a guy I've seen on the tower in the past. He told me that he and a birding group always go to Hocking Hills on the last weekend of April. They bird the Shawnee Logan area. They walk/drive along Clear Creek Valley Road. He also told me that Swainson's Warblers can be seen at the New River Bridge area in West Virginia.
binoculars - Vic said there's a cheaper knockoff of the Cannon stabalizer binos. They are made by Newcon?? He saw them at Eagle Optics or at B&H Video. Anyway, these Newcons are 15 x 60 and have the stabalizer. They cost $650 new. Vic's Cannons were refurbs, which costed $650.
warbler peaks - Some peak times for spring warblers in Ohio: Yellow-rumps: May 5th, Magnolias: May 15th, Redstarts: May 25th. Probably coincides with the three main waves of passerines in May.
cormorant fall migration - Vic may start up a fall Cormorant migration project at Big Island Wildlife Area. Cormorant migration: Aug 20 - Oct 20, peak Oct 5. Most fly by BIWA between 8-10, with peak between 8:15 - 9:15 A.M. Where at BIWA? One mile due west of Rt 95 and 203. Gravel parking lot with mound. Need a north-wind day. Flight direction is typically northeast to southwest. They migrate in a 'V' formation. He said it would be nice to have an additional person counting about four miles to the west of this location.
whimbrel spring movement - May 22 - 25, after 4:00 P.M., sledding hill at Maumee Bay St. Park.
binoculars - Vic said there's a cheaper knockoff of the Cannon stabalizer binos. They are made by Newcon?? He saw them at Eagle Optics or at B&H Video. Anyway, these Newcons are 15 x 60 and have the stabalizer. They cost $650 new. Vic's Cannons were refurbs, which costed $650.
warbler peaks - Some peak times for spring warblers in Ohio: Yellow-rumps: May 5th, Magnolias: May 15th, Redstarts: May 25th. Probably coincides with the three main waves of passerines in May.
cormorant fall migration - Vic may start up a fall Cormorant migration project at Big Island Wildlife Area. Cormorant migration: Aug 20 - Oct 20, peak Oct 5. Most fly by BIWA between 8-10, with peak between 8:15 - 9:15 A.M. Where at BIWA? One mile due west of Rt 95 and 203. Gravel parking lot with mound. Need a north-wind day. Flight direction is typically northeast to southwest. They migrate in a 'V' formation. He said it would be nice to have an additional person counting about four miles to the west of this location.
whimbrel spring movement - May 22 - 25, after 4:00 P.M., sledding hill at Maumee Bay St. Park.
Rossford Island View Park - I birded Rossford this morning from 8:30 to 10:00. There were no Juncos. I did observe: 3 House Wrens, 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 30+ White-throated Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, 2 Hermit Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and as I was walking out of the park, an Ovenbird Warbler sang.
At home this morning: 1 Junco and 1 White-throated Sparrow.
At home this morning: 1 Junco and 1 White-throated Sparrow.
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Hawk Watch: 22-Apr-2003 It was a good thing I went out birding at Magee the day before, because my hawk watch shift on Tuesday of this week was a bust. Winds were from the northwest at 10-15 mph. Temps were in the low 40's. Skies were overcast. During my 9-12 shift, I recorded one migrating raptor: a Sharp-shinned Hawk who buzzed the tower. I saw some local Bald Eagles flying around. I also saw three Bonaparte's Gulls in breeding plumage. In the water near the tower there was a pair of Hooded Mergs and a few Blue-winged Teal. I didn't stay around when my shift was over, nor did I bird anywhere else.
In the backyard on the 22nd, there was a White-throated Sparrow in the morning.
In the backyard on the 22nd, there was a White-throated Sparrow in the morning.
My first Golden Eagle: 21-Apr-2003 - At home on the 21st: in the A.M. 3 Juncos, in the P.M. 1 White-throates Sparrow.
I started at Rossford Island View Park at 9:30. It was cloudy, with temps about 60. At Rossford, I observed: Eastern Phoebe, White-throated Sparrow, Catbird, 2 Brownthrashers, 1 Broadwing. 4 Hermit Thrushes, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Purple Martin, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Broadwing was moving from tree to tree within the park, and it finally soared up and flew by me so I verify that it was a Broadwing. I finished birding at RIVP at 10:15.
While driving by the grain elevators along Miami Street, it appeared that a Peregrine Falcon was attacking a Turkey Vulture. I didn't pull of the road soon enough. While driving by, I looked over my shoulder and saw the Falcon in a dive, heading towards the Vulture. When I did pull of the road, I could not locate either bird.
I drove around the western part of Ottawa NWR and observed: a hunting Northern Harrier, Horned Larks, American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Chipping Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Teal.
I arrived at the Magee Marsh nature center at 11:20. While talking to Vic outside the center, a low-flying Osprey went by us. He appeared to be hunting, since he was moving slow and looking down at the water. Vic was doing the tower hawk watch from 9-3. He went back to the tower, and I walked the small trail around the pond by the nature center and tower. I rarely walk this trail, but someone had seen a Nashville Warbler earlier. Vic was on the boardwalk from 7-9 A.M., before going to the tower, and he saw a Tennessee Warbler and had a singing male Hooded Warbler.
Anyway, on the small trail by the nature center I observed: 5+ Palm Warblers, 5+ Yellow-rumps, 5+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Purple Martins, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and White-eyed Vireo. But the best sighting on the trail and my best sighting of the year was seeing a low-flying (200 feet high) immature Golden Eagle drift directly over my head from the north. The winds were blowing from the southwest at 10-20 mph, and this bird came from the north. I
just figured it was going to be an immature Bald, but I looked at the bird anyway, since I never get tired of watching Bald Eagles. I had several nice sightings of local Balds on Monday.
I was surprised when I put the binos on the bird. Since the bird was so low, I could easily see it's markings on the wings and tail, and I knew it was an immature Golden. The bird creeped directly over my head. I saw it drift by the tower, and I was hoping Vic was still there. I hurried back to the tower, to check with him to make sure it really was an immature Golden Eagle, since I had never seen one before.
The bird went directly over Vic's head too, and he showed me the video he took, which is real nice. The bird filled up most of the screen. This happened around Noon. I remained on the tower with Vic until he was done with his hawk watch duty at 3:00 P.M. As usual, I had interesting conversations with Vic. I may do some database/web programming for him.
The raptor movement was really weird on Monday. Birds were coming from the north-northwest, especially the Broadwings. Vic had 12 species of raptors from the tower on Monday. He spotted a Rough-legged that I couldn't find. Vic uses 15 x 45 Cannons with the image stabilizer. I think for the day in all of my travels I had 11 species of raptors. I watched some Sharpies, Broadwings, Vultures, and Coopers from the tower. I also saw a Chimney Swift. Flight height of the birds was medium. I also saw a Yellow Warbler from the tower.
I visited the boardwalk for a bit, arriving there around 3:15. There I observed: Palms, Yellow-rumped, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, RCKI, Yellow Warbler, and Hooded Mergs. I saw a Snow Egret along the causeway when I was leaving.
I started at Rossford Island View Park at 9:30. It was cloudy, with temps about 60. At Rossford, I observed: Eastern Phoebe, White-throated Sparrow, Catbird, 2 Brownthrashers, 1 Broadwing. 4 Hermit Thrushes, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Purple Martin, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Broadwing was moving from tree to tree within the park, and it finally soared up and flew by me so I verify that it was a Broadwing. I finished birding at RIVP at 10:15.
While driving by the grain elevators along Miami Street, it appeared that a Peregrine Falcon was attacking a Turkey Vulture. I didn't pull of the road soon enough. While driving by, I looked over my shoulder and saw the Falcon in a dive, heading towards the Vulture. When I did pull of the road, I could not locate either bird.
I drove around the western part of Ottawa NWR and observed: a hunting Northern Harrier, Horned Larks, American Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Chipping Sparrow, Brown Thrasher, Blue-winged Teal.
I arrived at the Magee Marsh nature center at 11:20. While talking to Vic outside the center, a low-flying Osprey went by us. He appeared to be hunting, since he was moving slow and looking down at the water. Vic was doing the tower hawk watch from 9-3. He went back to the tower, and I walked the small trail around the pond by the nature center and tower. I rarely walk this trail, but someone had seen a Nashville Warbler earlier. Vic was on the boardwalk from 7-9 A.M., before going to the tower, and he saw a Tennessee Warbler and had a singing male Hooded Warbler.
Anyway, on the small trail by the nature center I observed: 5+ Palm Warblers, 5+ Yellow-rumps, 5+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Purple Martins, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and White-eyed Vireo. But the best sighting on the trail and my best sighting of the year was seeing a low-flying (200 feet high) immature Golden Eagle drift directly over my head from the north. The winds were blowing from the southwest at 10-20 mph, and this bird came from the north. I
just figured it was going to be an immature Bald, but I looked at the bird anyway, since I never get tired of watching Bald Eagles. I had several nice sightings of local Balds on Monday.
I was surprised when I put the binos on the bird. Since the bird was so low, I could easily see it's markings on the wings and tail, and I knew it was an immature Golden. The bird creeped directly over my head. I saw it drift by the tower, and I was hoping Vic was still there. I hurried back to the tower, to check with him to make sure it really was an immature Golden Eagle, since I had never seen one before.
The bird went directly over Vic's head too, and he showed me the video he took, which is real nice. The bird filled up most of the screen. This happened around Noon. I remained on the tower with Vic until he was done with his hawk watch duty at 3:00 P.M. As usual, I had interesting conversations with Vic. I may do some database/web programming for him.
The raptor movement was really weird on Monday. Birds were coming from the north-northwest, especially the Broadwings. Vic had 12 species of raptors from the tower on Monday. He spotted a Rough-legged that I couldn't find. Vic uses 15 x 45 Cannons with the image stabilizer. I think for the day in all of my travels I had 11 species of raptors. I watched some Sharpies, Broadwings, Vultures, and Coopers from the tower. I also saw a Chimney Swift. Flight height of the birds was medium. I also saw a Yellow Warbler from the tower.
I visited the boardwalk for a bit, arriving there around 3:15. There I observed: Palms, Yellow-rumped, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, RCKI, Yellow Warbler, and Hooded Mergs. I saw a Snow Egret along the causeway when I was leaving.
Magee birding 20-Apr-2003 - First, in the backyard for April 20th: 2 Juncos, 1 White-throated Sparrow, and 1 Chipping Sparrow.
D, C, and I birded the Magee boardwalk from 2 to 4. Temps were in the 70's with southwest winds at 15-20 mph. We saw: Sharp-shinned, Coopers, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Broadwing, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Palm, Black-and-white, Yellow Warbler, Hermit Thrush (only one), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 5+ Winter Wrens, Blue-heade Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Rusty's Blackbird, White-throated Sparrow.
D, C, and I birded the Magee boardwalk from 2 to 4. Temps were in the 70's with southwest winds at 15-20 mph. We saw: Sharp-shinned, Coopers, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Broadwing, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Palm, Black-and-white, Yellow Warbler, Hermit Thrush (only one), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 5+ Winter Wrens, Blue-heade Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Rusty's Blackbird, White-throated Sparrow.
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