Until just recently, area ponds, lakes and marshes were still frozen, but with the rainfall and warmer weather, ducks, geese, swans and cranes have returned in large numbers. On March 11, I checked out several lakes and ponds in our area, only to find them frozen and devoid of ducks. After a weekend trip to northwest Ohio, I returned to find everything ice-free, some roads covered with water, and temporary flooded fields in many low-lying areas.
On Sunday afternoon I headed over to Pleasant Hill Lake and was not disappointed. A flotilla of ducks included 350 Ring-necked Ducks plus smaller numbers of Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, and Redhead. There were even three Common Mergansers and a lone Common Goldeneye. A Horned Grebe was actively diving near the shoreline while a young Bald Eagle looked on from a high perch near the marina. Six Herring Gulls and two Ring-billed Gulls were the only gulls on the lake.
Next was a stop at Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area, always a good bet for waterfowl in March, especially when there is any flooding. The water was quite high but not covering route 95. One would have needed waders to reach the observation deck at Funk, but since many of the birds were close to the highway, it really didnt matter. There is something really special about getting out of your car and hearing Tundra Swans and Sandhill Cranes calling nearby and overhead. Between 500 and 1,000 Canada Geese were joined by at least 14 species of ducks. I counted 137 Tundra Swans and may have missed some since it is difficult to see the more distant marshes and flooded fields.
There was a nice mixture of diving ducks and dabblers, with small numbers of Northern Pintails and Northern Shovellers joined by lots of Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Ring-necked Ducks. A beautiful gray male Northern Harrier flew low over the marsh near Wilderness Road. The water covered Wilderness Road west of the bridge, as it typically does after snow-melt and rain in March.
A few miles away at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area, numbers of ducks were beginning to build, with lots of open water in all directions. At least 20 Hooded Mergansers were visible along Cemetery Road. I had not seen any of these beautiful ducks at Funk or Pleasant Hill. Otherwise, the mixture of ducks was similar, with Ring-necked again being the most numerous.
Over the next several weeks there should be a good movement of waterfowl through our area. Numbers may vary a lot from day to day. This would also be a good time to check other area reservoirs and lakes.
Raptor migration got under way recently as Red-shouldered Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks were observed moving north. The wind direction has not been favorable for a large movement along Lake Erie, but the birds are undoubtedly going through anyway. Turkey Vultures are also migrating through Ohio. Their numbers will be growing, probably peaking around the end of March.
An eastern Phoebe showed up outside our house on Thursday, March 11. More spring migrants will be arriving soon. Good birding.
Bruce Glick can be reached by e-mail at birderbruce@yahoo.com or phone 330-317-7798.
