Shorebirds are keeping birders busy in August

  • By Bruce Glick
  • August 22, 2012
  • 307
                        
Shorebirds are keeping birders busy in August Columnist Bruce Glick summarizes happenings in the local birding world. The topic this week is shorebirds on the move. Find out more in the "Gone Birding" column. Although none of us are happy about the lack of rainfall this year, one benefit for shorebirds is the increased amount of suitable habitat as the water level drops in area lakes and marshes. This is true both locally and around the state, but has resulted in some spectacular birding along the Lake Erie shores and marshes. Metzger Marsh, Ottawa National Wildlife Area, Crane Creek Estuary, and Pipe Creek Wildlife Area have been the hot-spots in the northwestern part of the state. Pipe Creek is currently closed to birders during the teal hunting season, but the other areas are open. Up to 20 species of shorebirds have been found in one day, and in Ohio that's a good day. The highlights have been the sought-after large shorebirds such as Marbled Godwits and Whimbrels. All of the more common species have been showing up in large numbers, along with some other unusual finds such as Western, Baird's, and White-rumped Sandpipers. At least two of the three species of phalaropes have also been located. Not to be outdone, Conneaut, in the extreme northeastern corner of Ohio, has also been a reliable location for seeing many different shorebirds. At Conneaut, birders compete with people walking or running along the shore, as well as dogs that love to chase away gulls and shorebirds. Since many of the birds don't stay long, a block of several hours may increase the variety seen. At Conneaut, it's not unusual to spot shorebirds flying by without stopping, as was the case last week when a flock of 30+ Whimbrels caused some excitement. When one of our local biking birders called me to say that he had seen lots of shorebirds at Berlin Lake (a round-trip bike ride of 135 miles), I decided to drive up to this lake located northeast of Alliance. The two days before I went were cool and sunny, with north winds, so I wasn't surprised when the shorebird numbers turned out to be quite low. Nevertheless, there were shorebirds to watch, and lots of other waterfowl. Three Great Egrets were hunting for fish, along with 65 of their Great Blue Heron cousins. A few Double-crested Cormorant were perched on snags or swimming in the water, a reminder that this species continues to increase. Another bird on the increase in Ohio is the Osprey. Their population has exploded over the last decade. Berlin Lake has a number of nests, one of which is right along U.S. Rt. 224 at the bridge over Berlin Lake. An apparently full-grown young Osprey was calling for food from the nest, located on a platform on a pole which is now halfway up the beach instead of in the water. My favorite experience of the day was watching a performing Peregrine Falcon as it circled close overhead, gradually getting higher and higher, probably in preparation for the next leg of the journey south. It was also fun to watch a group of 10-12 shorebirds, mostly "peeps", but including one Short-billed Dowitcher and several Lesser Yellowlegs. All of them were actively bathing in shallow water - quite a show. Nearby, among a flock of Ring-billed Gulls were five Caspian Terns and one Common Tern. All too soon it was time to head for home. A few raptors have already been on the move, with at least four Broad-winged Hawks, a Northern Harrier, an Osprey and a Peregrine Falcon being reported from eastern Holmes County by August 18. There are lots more to come, plus all the warblers and other songbirds. Enjoy! Bruce Glick birderbruce@yahoo.com 330-317-7798


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