Lark Bunting draws over 100 birders to the Sugarcreek area

  • By Bruce Glick
  • November 8, 2012
  • 401
                        
Lark Bunting draws over 100 birders to the Sugarcreek area Columnist Bruce Glick summarizes happenings in the local birding world. This week Bruce reports on the Lark Bunting that was recently located near Sugarcreek. Find out more in the "Gone Birding" column. On November 1, one of our local birders was heading for Sugarcreek to see the Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird which was still being seen after the stormy weather. As he biked along Penrod Road south of Barrs Mill, an unusual-looking sparrow caught his attention at the side of the road. Getting off the bike, he observed the bird as it foraged in a small brushy area very close to the road. It was soon obvious that the bird was quite different from the Song Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows. Over the next 30 minutes he decided that the bird had to be a Lark Bunting. The distinctive eye-ring, dark patches and streaking on the breast and underparts, and white patches in flight were distinctive. The news was spread via the local rare bird alert. I received a call on Friday evening made arrangements to join several Sugarcreek birders to check it out the next morning. Calls were also made to several local birders doing a "big year" in the area. When we arrived at the Penrod Road location, there were several bikes beside the road, and birders standing close to a patch of brush and fencerow trees about 100 yards west of the road. They had found the Lark Bunting and were able to point it out as it moved around in the brush and on the ground. With a spotting scope it was possible to get very good looks at the rare western visitor. At one point the bird perched on a branch and closed its eyes, allowing all of us to observe it in detail. The bird appeared to be a male, perhaps an adult molting into winter plumage, or a young male. While we were watching the Lark Bunting, several small groups of Common Loons flew over, as well as 200+ Double-crested Cormorants, and a Peregrine Falcon. North winds in November make for exciting birding. Over the next five days, 100+ birders signed the sheet on a clipboard left at the site. Apparently, everyone was able to find the bird, although some people spent an hour or more looking. I returned with birders from Columbus and from Michigan for a second look on November 7, and we were amazed how hard it was to see the bird even when we knew exactly where it was feeding on the ground among the grass and weeds. Ohio has only a dozen or so records of Lark Buntings over the years. Two of these sightings were in Holmes County in the 1990's. There were no sightings in the 80s. This bird is in Tuscarawas County, although only a couple miles east of Holmes County. The records have most often been from the winter season, with a sprinkling of sightings from spring and summer. This is only the second fall record in Ohio. When a Lark Bunting is found, it often stays for a long time, and in the same location. This bird has shown no sign of leaving and hasn't roamed far from where it was first located. If it hadn't been right along the road, the chances of finding it would have been unlikely, at least until birders were combing the area during a Christmas Bird Count. I don't have space to document all the other unusual birds that have been showing up, but will do that next week. In the meantime, keep enjoying the wonderful November birding, especially the winter finch invasion that may be better than any of us has ever experienced. Good birding! Bruce Glick birderbruce@yahoo.com 330-317-7798


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