Breaking with tradition, and since we were heading east, we met at the Cracker Barrel off I-70 and Route 256. We took a Yellow Warbler singing in the parking lot as a sign of more interesting birds to come.
We arrived in Harrison County to meet guest leader for the day, Scott Pendleton, in the parking lot of his veterinary clinic by the Cadiz Airport. Our first order of business was finding the Upland Sandpipers, which was made easier by the fact that several people had seen them on Industrial Parkway as they drove to the meeting spot. Three birds provided us great looks and ample photo opportunities, flying and perching near where we stood admiring them.
The next order of business, finding Vesper Sparrows, was accomplished in short order; we also found Grasshopper Sparrows and many Bobolinks. A short walk through the grasslands to a small body of water allowed us good looks at young Spotted Sandpipers. After a quick check for ticks, we drove to several areas, hoping for the glimpse of the elusive Henslow’s Sparrow. Although the birds were singing, we were unable to actually see a single bird. The heat did not seem to bother the other birds, though, as we saw Orchard Orioles, Brown Thrasher, Black-billed Cuckoo, and even a couple of Mute Swans (considered rare in this area according to eBird).
While looking for a Yellow-breasted Chat, Halie Mason found some Dickcissels, so we headed her way, getting long, satisfying views of a bird which is decreasing in numbers and getting more difficult to find in Ohio. After driving through Jockey Hollow looking unsuccessfully for Ruffed Grouse and Ravens, we decided to head back to Columbus as temperatures were rising over 90 degrees and the humidity was sapping our energy.
A few of us enjoyed a late lunch at the Cracker Barrel before calling it a day. 63 species were seen or heard, including our expected targets. Special thanks to Scott for opening his clinic facilities and taking us to the restricted areas of the airport!
Mute Swan
Mallard
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Upland Sandpiper
Rock Pidgeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
House Wren
Wood Thrush
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Chat
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow Warbler
Grasshopper Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow