October 2006
Synopsis of Outings

Sunday, October 1 — Buffalo Creek IBA-80 (by participant Mary Grey)

The morning started out cool and cloudy, but with peeks of sun coming through for the eight participants. The trees in the IBA were starting to turn, and it promised to be a nice early fall day. You wouldn't have known by the sounds in the parking lot though, as many birds were singing as if it were a spring morning. I guess they were happy for the sunshine.

We were concentrating on fall migrants and sparrows, as Larry and I had attended a Sparrow Symposium in Ohio the day before. We were able to find a nice variety of warblers, but few of each kind. We worked the road edges and were able to pull out female Black-Throated Blue, Tennessee, and Magnolia Warblers. Later we did find a Lincoln’s Sparrow with the help of Judy Campsey’s eyes.

We then went to the ridge top in search of Savannah Sparrows. We didn't find those, but did get a singing Meadowlark. It’s a sound that we won't get to hear for many months to come. We got good views of mature and immature field sparrows, and a Palm Warbler working its way through the trees, bobbing its tail as it moved.

The morning passed quickly, and upon our arrival at Green Cove wetlands, we were upset to find a group of hunters target practicing. Larry made some calls, and hopefully the situation won't be repeated. We had lunch at the beautifully restored red-covered bridge. The sun was fully out by then, and it was a lovely spot for a picnic. This was followed by a walk into the White Pine habitat at the top of the hill. This is a truly magical place and we all enjoyed the sounds, sights and smells. We topped our day with a nice Pine Warbler flitting through the trees: our 44th species of the day. It was another enjoyable day in IBA 80.

Species List (44 total species)

Mallard Wild Turkey Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Acadian Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren

Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Nashville Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Common Yellowthroat Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Eastern Meadowlark House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow

Time: 8:00am-2:30pm. Weather: Cloudy to partly cloudy. Temps.: morning low 60's to mid 60's by afternoon. Winds calm. Areas covered: S-Bridge parking area; 1.5 miles SR-3006; 1 mile T-541; Walked T-611 and White Pine Plantation 1 mile. Participants: Woody Oliver, Jolie Schroeder, Fritz Okie, Judy, Mike and Cassie Campsey, Mary Grey and Larry Helgerman leader.

Saturday, October 14 — Pymatuning State Park (by leader Bob VanNewkirk)

A cold, blustery wind and steel-gray skies did not deter the eleven birders who met at the Wildlife Learning Center from trying to locate waterfowl, eagles, and late passerine migrants. The first observers to arrive in the parking lot were treated to a flyover by two immature Bald Eagles, and later while setting up their spotting scopes at the center, they spotted a red fox casually walking along the edge of the woods before disappearing into it. Cormorants were actively feeding, while Ring-billed Gulls were circling above them. A flock of Common Mergansers, two adult Bald Eagles, and Eastern Bluebirds were also sighted. No matter how overcast the day, a sighting of bluebirds always brings a warm feeling to the viewer.

The fish hatchery proved to be the best place for harboring waterfowl. All three merganser species were found as well as American Wigeon, Wood Ducks, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Shovelers. A Great Egret was fishing along the shoreline among many Great Blue Heron. Looking through scopes and binoculars became difficult when a snow squall passed through. We decided to try to escape the weather by driving to the Miller Ponds.

The squall turned into flurries, and we were able to add two new waterfowl species to our day's list - Black Ducks and Ruddy Ducks. Six Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper were observed foraging along a weedy spit of land that juts into the pond. As we were getting into our cars, a pair of American Pipits was heard as the birds flew over the road. A quick stop at the Hartstown Administrative Headquarter's pond produced Ring-necked Ducks and a solitary Pied-billed Grebe.

After a lunch stop and a chance to warm ourselves at the Spillway Inn, we headed for the lower section of the Conneaut Marsh - better known as "The Wells." Along the road we found a mixed flock of Black-capped Chickadees and Yellow-rumped Warblers. A Rusty Blackbird was flushed from its tree perch as we walked by. Red-winged Blackbirds, Chimney Swifts, and Tree Swallows coursed their way over the marsh.

Our last stop was at Custards. The outing concluded like it had started with sightings of eagles. This time we had wonderful views of two sedentary adults and flyovers from two immature eagles.

Species List (42 total species)

Grebe, Pied-billed Teal, Green-winged Gull, Ring-billed Cormorant, Double-Crested Duck, Ring-necked Dove, Rock Heron, Great Blue Merganser, Hooded Dove, Mourning Egret, Great Merganser, Common Swift, Chimney Vulture, Turkey Merganser, Red-breasted Kingfisher, Belted Goose, Canada Duck, Ruddy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Duck, Wood Eagle, Bald Jay, Blue

Gadwall Hawk, Red-tailed Crow, American Wigeon, American Kestrel, American Swallow, Tree Duck, American Black Killdeer Chickadee, Black-capped Mallard Yellowlegs, Lesser Nuthatch, White-breasted Shoveler, Northern Sandpiper, Solitary Starling, European Pipit, American Sparrow, Chipping Warbler, Yellow-rumped Blackbird, Red-winged Towhee, Eastern Blackbird, Rusty

Sunday, October 22 — Lake Arthur (by participant Mike Fialkovich) (View Photos)

This was the popular anniversary outing to Moraine State Park, complete with a picnic celebration. The weather was not cause to celebrate as the thirty-two participants began the day with rain and cold temperatures. Thankfully, the rain didn’t last and we saw a brief period of sun.

Waterfowl migration was not well underway yet, but we did have Ruddy Ducks and Pied-billed Grebes at the day use area. Two distant Mute Swans were found and two distant flying Great Egrets were a welcome sight. Egrets have been lingering later than usual across the state this fall.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been lingering also and it was unusual to hear them in full song at this time of year. We had good looks at a perched flock of Cedar Waxwings but most were seen overhead in flight. A close look at a Hermit Thrush was a real treat and so was a late Cape May Warbler that only a few people saw.

A few White-crowned Sparrows were found at the Bear Run Boat launch along a trail through an overgrown field. Red-winged Blackbirds were present in this field, singing like it was March and several Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen.

We finished with a hearty and welcomed TRBC birthday celebration lunch on the north shore. The winds really started blowing as a front was passing through, so we did not bird after we ate. While we were eating a very late Osprey was spotted flying across the lake; a great end to a very enjoyable outing.

Bird List:

Canada Goose Mute Swans (2) Wood Ducks (5) Mallards (4) Ruddy Ducks (32) Pied-billed Grebes (14) Double-crested Cormorants (2) Great Blue Herons (2) Great Egrets (2) Turkey Vultures (11) Osprey (1) Cooper's Hawk (1) Red-tailed Hawks (3) American Coots (~275) Ring-billed Gulls (16) Rock Pigeons Mourning Doves Belted Kingfisher (1) Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Downy Woodpeckers (2) Hairy Woodpecker (1) Pileated Woodpeckers (2) Eastern Phoebes (2) Blue Jays

American Crows Black-capped Chickadees (3) Tufted Titmouse (1) Golden-crowned Kinglets (3) Ruby-crowned Kinglets (2) Hermit Thrush (1) American Robins European Starlings Cedar Waxwings (90) Cape May Warbler (1) Yellow-rumped Warblers (5) Eastern Towhees (4) Chipping Sparrow (1) Field Sparrows (2) Song Sparrows White-throated Sparrows (14) White-crowned Sparrows (3) Dark-eyed Juncos (3) Northern Cardinals Red-winged Blackbirds Common Grackles Brown-headed Cowbirds House Finches (2) American Goldfinches