2022 Ohio Birding Big Year

July 31 st           Mike and I were able to see eleven new species during the month of July.   This may not seem like an impressive total but since we have already seen most of the common birds that pass through Ohio, we were satisfied.   The majority of birds that we saw this month were shorebirds, with the exception of the Blue Grosbeak and the Little Blue Heron.           The Upland Sandpiper was probably nesting near Columbus, but the other shorebirds were migrating through our area.   They were coming from their summer breeding grounds in the arctic or the western great plains.   Some were young birds like the Wilson’s Phalarope and the Little Blue Heron.   These birds tend to show up in unexpected places and are considered vagrants.           The Blue Grosbeak breeds in small numbers in Ohio because this is the nort...

  July 30 th (posted July 31 st )           After a wonderful visit with Becky, Scott, Ryan, and Jared, we dropped everyone off at Detroit Metro about 8:15am.   Our week had included a Mudhens game, visit to the Toledo Zoo, a ride on the canal boat at Providence Metropark and searching for fossils at Fossil Park.   We played mini golf, rode go karts, spent time at the pool and had a full day at Cedar Point.   We played Clue, Connect Four, Chinese Checkers etc. etc.           Before the visit, we decided to rent a minivan so we could all fit in one vehicle.   We got upgraded to a premium SUV which was a black Nissan Armada.   We nicknamed it “the monster”.   After returning from the airport, we stopped at home to change into our birding clothes and pack a lunch.   We returned “the monster” to Toledo Express Airport and were off in “Electra” my Prius for a...

  July 21 st           This morning Mike and I left the house at 6:30am with every intention of arriving at Poland Township Park by around 9:30am.   This park is outside of Youngstown and some of you will remember that we were here on June 13 th trying to find a Clay-colored Sparrow.   We decided to give it one more try, even though the park is very large, and we still had no specific information about where to look.   It was not meant to be!           We stopped at a service plaza along the Ohio Turnpike for coffee and a pit stop.   When we returned to the car, Mike noticed that we had one very flat tire.   We were able to put air in the tire and got back on the turnpike.   We got off at the first exit about ten miles down the road and immediately stopped at a gas station to add more air.             We di...

  July 20 th           Once again, we were compelled to return to Huron Harbor which seems to be our favorite birding site even though it is an hour and fifteen minutes away.   The last time we were there four days ago, we could not find a Red-necked Phalarope.   It was seen again yesterday afternoon, so we decided to take another look.           When we arrived, we walked out to the viewing deck but could not identify the birds from that distance.   We walked the familiar path to get closer views of the mudflat and were able to locate a Red-necked Phalarope swimming in circles in a pool of water.    This is a very special bird, and we were excited to see it at close range.           A Red-necked Phalarope is a small shorebird known for spinning in the water to stir up small invertebrates.   Phalaropes reverse th...

  July 16th (posted July 17th)                There were a couple of good birds seen last evening at Huron Harbor so once again we decided to make a return trip to search for a Stilt Sandpiper and a Red-necked Phalarope.   We wore our knee-high waders and walked the trail to get close views of the mudflats.   We were rewarded with excellent views of four Stilt Sandpipers.   We searched high and low but did not see the Red-necked Phalarope.           From here we headed south on back country roads for an hour and a half to get to Wilderness Road which is between Mansfield and Wooster.  We were looking for a Wilson’s Phalarope.   We could not locate the phalarope, but we did get scope views of some Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Sandhill Cranes.             Next, we went to nearby Funk Bottoms Wild...

  July 12 th (posted July 13 th )           Mike came home from his bridge game about 4:00pm and said, “A Willet and a Stilt Sandpiper were seen this morning at Huron Harbor.  Would you want to chase them?”  I had already started marinating some turkey tenderloins for dinner, but that got put on hold and off we went.            We arrived at Huron Harbor and walked out to the viewing platform and spotted a Willet right away.  There were other shorebirds on the mudflat, but they were too far away to identify.  We decided to explore a mowed trail that went through the marsh to see if we could get closer to the birds.  As we walked along, the trail got narrower and narrower and was no longer mowed.  We forged ahead and eventually came out in a clearing that was much closer to the shorebirds.           There were actu...

  July 9 th (posted July 10 th )           Mike and I have been to the corner of Girdham and Reed roads in the Oak Openings Metropark umpteen times (at least six or seven) in search of a Blue Grosbeak.   A pair has been reported sporadically at this location for at least two months.   Every time we’ve gone, we wander up and down the road looking and listening and finding nothing.   We’ve come at different times of the day.   We’ve hiked a trail near the intersection.   No grosbeak.           I’ve listened to recordings of the Blue Grosbeak song trying to get it in my head.   The problem is that a Blue Grosbeak sounds somewhat similar to an Indigo Bunting.   This is a common bird that is always around and singing.   Every time I hear an Indigo Bunting, I think to myself could this be a Blue Grosbeak?   I was making myself a little crazy.  ...