State of Migration

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Today was as good a day as I have had this early in March in NW Ohio.  The migration was spectacular along the Lakeshore today.  There were massive numbers of waterfowl, blackbirds, American Crows, Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs.  

We (Becky Cullen, Sherrie Duris, John Chadwick) had huge flocks of waterfowl (dabblers, Canada Geese, Tundra Swans) in the farm fields.  Despite seeing nearly 7,000 Canadas, we could not find a single Cackling or Greater White-fronted!  We found 18 species of ducks (missing only the two teal), many in good numbers between the fields and bay.  Groups of meadowlarks were seen flying over the lake, Killdeer were going over, and clouds of Lapland Longspurs were staging in the fields.  

Raptors were good. We saw numbers of Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Cooper's Hawks, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels.  We found 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light and 1 dark) along Lickert-Harder road, 2 miles south of Ottawa Refuge (these were not migrants).  We did not see any, but friends from MI saw a handful of Red-shouldered Hawks as well.  

Our best bird was Sandhill Crane (3) in a field directly south of Maumee Bay State Park.

Some interesting stats from today (numbers are approximate, of course):

Lesser Scaup:  5,500
Common Goldeneye:  450
Common Merganser:  650
Horned Lark:  350
Lapland Longspur:  900 (viewable birds along road to Metzger, close)
Northern Harrier:  7
Tundra Swan:  300
Wood Duck:  15
Killdeer: 2
Eastern Meadowlark: 10
American Crow:  400

We ran into a couple BIG blackbird flocks, but could not find anything different.  There were also a few Snow Buntings in with the big longspur flocks, but just a few.

69 species, and just huge individual numbers.

GREAT day today, fun stuff.

-Greg L.

Edited by harpy - 03 March 2007 at 9:10pm

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harpy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 24 January 2004 Location: Burkina Faso Online Status: Offline Posts: 725	Post Options Post Reply Quote harpy Report Post Quote Reply Topic: State of Migration Posted: 03 March 2007 at 9:06pm
	Today was as good a day as I have had this early in March in NW Ohio. The migration was spectacular along the Lakeshore today. There were massive numbers of waterfowl, blackbirds, American Crows, Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs. We (Becky Cullen, Sherrie Duris, John Chadwick) had huge flocks of waterfowl (dabblers, Canada Geese, Tundra Swans) in the farm fields. Despite seeing nearly 7,000 Canadas, we could not find a single Cackling or Greater White-fronted! We found 18 species of ducks (missing only the two teal), many in good numbers between the fields and bay. Groups of meadowlarks were seen flying over the lake, Killdeer were going over, and clouds of Lapland Longspurs were staging in the fields. Raptors were good. We saw numbers of Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Cooper's Hawks, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels. We found 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light and 1 dark) along Lickert-Harder road, 2 miles south of Ottawa Refuge (these were not migrants). We did not see any, but friends from MI saw a handful of Red-shouldered Hawks as well. Our best bird was Sandhill Crane (3) in a field directly south of Maumee Bay State Park. Some interesting stats from today (numbers are approximate, of course): Lesser Scaup: 5,500 Common Goldeneye: 450 Common Merganser: 650 Horned Lark: 350 Lapland Longspur: 900 (viewable birds along road to Metzger, close) Northern Harrier: 7 Tundra Swan: 300 Wood Duck: 15 Killdeer: 2 Eastern Meadowlark: 10 American Crow: 400 We ran into a couple BIG blackbird flocks, but could not find anything different. There were also a few Snow Buntings in with the big longspur flocks, but just a few. 69 species, and just huge individual numbers. GREAT day today, fun stuff. -Greg L. Edited by harpy - 03 March 2007 at 9:10pm
	"I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me" -Lady GaGa

NGilbert Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Fledgling Joined: 22 September 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Post Options Post Reply Quote NGilbert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 March 2007 at 9:20pm
	hey Greg, Karl and I had a large flock of blackbirds near Benton-Caroll Road. We picked out a few Rusty Blackbirds, and also got brief views of a couple Brewer's Blackbird canidates, but a Cooper's Hawk kept flushing the birds and we lost them. Ottawa had Snow Goose and several Green-winged Teal. We had 4-5 Red-shouldered Hawks total. Late in the afternoon we saw a couple more cranes in a field just south of Teachout Road, near where we first saw Wood Ducks. It was a fun day! cheers, Neil. G. Beverly Hills, MI

Sherrie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Eagle Joined: 23 July 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 422	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sherrie Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 March 2007 at 3:14pm
	It was fun to top that day off with life bird #3 the Spotted Towhee in Jan�s yard making 70 for the day. Lapland Longspur was #1 life bird at Metger�s Marsh and the Rough-Legged Hawks off Lickert-Harder Road were #2 life birds and it was exciting to see the light and dark phase at the same time. What an awesome day! I posted the picture of the Sandhill Cranes in another post.
	Sherrie Duris Field Trip Coordinator/Webmaster The Toledo Naturalists'Association

pwlg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Nestling Joined: 28 April 2006 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Post Options Post Reply Quote pwlg Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 March 2007 at 5:44pm
	There was not as many birds there today, Monday. Things had frozen up. But there was a nice flock of Hooded Mergansers along the canal to Metzger. pwlg