2022 Ohio Birding Big Year

  April 8 th           The swallows are returning to Capistrano and the buzzards to Hinckley Ohio.   Around here, Tree Swallows are the earliest returning swallows followed by other swallows such as the Northern Rough-winged Swallow which we saw today at Woodlawn Cemetery.               This swallow has a plain brown back and dusky throat.   It is a common summer visitor and flies low over water catching insects in midair.   It winters in Mexico and Central America and derives its name from the outer wing feathers which have small hooks or points on their leading edges. The call of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is a low, grating buzz.    (1 new species, total 148) Northern Rough-winged Swallow                                        ...

  April 5 th           After my platform tennis game was cancelled this morning because someone was ill, we had an unexpected free morning.   We went to Resurrection Cemetery to look for a Vesper Sparrow that had been seen there.   We drove around but what we found was a Chipping Sparrow.   Last Friday when I was playing platform, Mike saw a Chipping Sparrow at Woodlawn Cemetery.   I’m glad I found the bird today.   I don’t like it when I’m missing a bird!           A Chipping Sparrow is a common bird that summers in open woodlands, suburban parks and neighborhoods which would include cemeteries.   We also saw a Cooper’s Hawk that flew in near us.   (1 new species, total 147) Chipping Sparrow                                         ...

  April 4 th           This evening at dusk Mike and I went to Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve which is about 15 minutes west of us.   The core of the preserve is the finest remaining wet sedge meadow in the state. It is dominated by sedges, rushes, and wetland grasses.   There is also a shrub swamp area of dogwoods and willows and a swamp forest with pin oak and cottonwood.   Irwin Prairie supports dozens of rare plant species and a variety of interesting birds. We went with hopes of seeing a displaying American Woodcock.   When we first arrived, we did hear several displaying snipe making their hu-hu-hu winnowing sound.   We waited and waited as darkness descended, but never saw a displaying woodcock.   Finally, as we walked back in the dark, we heard several making their buzzy, nasal “peent” cry.   That’s all we needed to count the bird!   The woodcock’s nickname is “Timberdoodle...

  April 3 rd           This morning Mike and I drove to Pipe Creek Wildlife Area in Sandusky.   Even though it is a bit of a schlep, it is one of our favorite marshes.   We were hoping to find some recently returning marsh birds, a Caspian Tern or maybe some American White Pelicans.   The weather was grey and gloomy but not windy or too cold.   As we started walking to the marsh, we looked out at the open water and immediately saw a group of three white pelicans on the far shore.   Success!             We walked the trail to the marsh and saw a nice variety of ducks.   As we turned onto a side trail, we were rewarded with the harsh rattling trill of a Marsh Wren.   Then a B-52 American White Pelican flew directly overhead and gave us a fantastic view.           White Pelicans were uncommon visitors to O...

  April 2 nd           Yesterday Mike went on a birding walk at Woodlawn Cemetery and he saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.   He called me right away, but I was in downtown Perrysburg.   By the time I got to Woodlawn, the bird had flown away.   We went back this morning and luckily the sapsucker was in the same tree.   The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is an early Spring migrant but can be tricky to locate.   They are usually high up in a tree, don’t normally vocalize and we don’t find them every year.   I was very relieved to see this bird.           Next, we went to Maumee Bay State Park and checked the beach and took a long walk on the boardwalk.   We didn’t see anything special, but as we were leaving the park, we saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk soaring in front of us.   While at the Metzger Marsh woodlot, we saw briefly saw a Brown Thrasher.   ...

  February/March Summary           At the end of January our Ohio species total for the year was 121.   During the next two months we only added 19 more species.   This was not for lack of trying!   Granted, we did spend two weeks in Florida, but I think we were so gung-ho in January that we saw most of the birds there were to see.             Recently, since the Spring migrants are starting to return, we are seeing more new birds.   Here is a list of winter target birds that we saw:           Surf Scoter Wild Turkey Barred Owl Pine Siskin           Early Spring Migrants seen:           Blue-winged Teal                Osprey Killdeer   ...

  March 28 th           This afternoon, once it warmed up a little bit, we took a walk at Secor Metropark.   While walking on a swampy wooded trail, we spotted an Eastern Phoebe.   A phoebe is a dark-headed flycatcher without distinct wingbars. It has a large head that often looks peaked. It is grayish brown above and whitish below with a smudgy breast.   Phoebes are very active and generally perch low in trees or on fences.   They make short flights to catch insects and often return to the same perch.           The Eastern Phoebe can be a favorite among birders.   They are among the earliest of migrants a sure sign that Spring is near.   They often nest around buildings or bridges where they are easily observed.   When perched, phoebes wag their tails up and down frequently.   The call of the phoebe sounds like its name (fee-bee) which makes it eas...