Lots of birds being reported as November arrives

  • By Bruce Glick
  • October 31, 2013
  • 420
                        
Lots of birds being reported as November arrives Columnist Bruce Glick summarizes happenings in the local birding world. This week Bruce reports on the fall migration at October comes to an end. You can read more in the "Gone Birding" column. Last year a Rufous Hummingbird showed up at the greenhouse on Cherry Ridge near Sugarcreek. We guess that after it left Ohio, the bird most likely flew south for the rest of the winter and then all the way to the northwest part of the country, or even to British Columbia, for the summer. Whatever the case, it seems the bird remembered the way back to Sugarcreek since it has again taken up residence at the greenhouse. I find it amazing that a tiny bird like that can make such a journey. It must have very good built-in GPS system. In other local news, a Lark Sparrow showed up near Sugarcreek on October 20 and stayed for at least a few days. Yellow-rumped Warblers have continued to be numerous, with up to 80 reported from one area. A late White-eyed Vireo was also near Sugarcreek. There have been several Short-eared Owl reports as these beautiful birds return for the winter. Further afield, a White Pelican was located at Killdeer Plains on the 30th, and a Rough-legged Hawk showed up near Columbus. Lots of people have been visiting Inniswood Gardens in the Columbus area to see a white hummingbird. I guess the consensus has been that it is an albino Ruby-throated Hummingbird, but I don't think it was banded to make sure of its identity. Along the Lake Erie shoreline, there have been a number of reports of Purple Sandpipers, including one in downtown Cleveland. There have also been sightings of several Northern Shrikes and an Eared Grebe. Local birders have been talking about checking the Lake Erie shoreline for migrating Cave Swallows. I have tried that for a number of years in November but still haven't seen a Cave Swallow in Ohio. Here in northern Indiana there have been excellent reports from the Lake Michigan waterfront. All three scoter species, a Sabine's Gull and a Parasitic Jaeger were located during a lake watch near Indiana Dunes State Park. A group of us from the Goshen are plan to travel to the area on November 2 to see what we can turn up. A super-rare Fork-tailed Flycatcher was discovered on October 30 along the Indiana/Illinois border but on the Indiana side. It will be interesting to see if it stays around for Indiana birders to see. Here close to home in Goshen we had a short visit from a pair of Common Goldeneye, several Bufflehead, Gadwall, Ruddy Ducks, Green-winged Teal and Northern Shovelers, along with Wood Ducks and lots of Mallards. I watched a very late Common Nighthawk for several minutes in the late afternoon of October 28 - the latest I have ever seen one in the fall. One Greater Yellowlegs and two Dunlin were still here on the 29th. One of the Dunlin was a juvenile bird, a plumage which seems to be quite unusual this late in the fall. I also watched seven Snow Buntings at the same location, the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Facilities, not far from Goshen. At least one Holmes County birder will again be working on a Big November this year. That involves finding as many species of birds as possible during the month. I can testify that it's a lot of fun. Good birding! Bruce Glick birderbruce@yahoo.com 330-317-7798


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