An Avid Birders trip in late August offers a plethora of possibilities. Migration is in full swing: those legendary confusing fall warblers offer their annual challenge, while shorebirds can be plentiful if suitable habitat can be found. Of course, most resident species are still around, too. The weather can be anything from cold and stormy to hot and humid, influencing not only the birds but the birders as well.
So where to go for this trip? The planning committee stewed over the decision for the week preceding the trip, weighing each late-breaking report from the field, watching the weather, and calculating itinerary times and distances. Early in the week, the forecast looked gloomy, with thunderstorms a distinct possibility — not a good sign. Northeast Ohio beckoned: reports from Conneaut spoke of flocks of shorebirds, including some rarer species. We had learned recently of a new location for shorebirds in the area; a new birding spot is a rare treat for the Avids. Still, the prospect of such a long drive, perhaps complicated by inclement weather, was daunting.
But if not Conneaut, then where? Sheldon Marsh is our traditional September destination, but would the last days of August be too early for good numbers of migrants? Shorebirds had been plentiful at Pickerel Creek, but the most productive pond there had been flooded; would the shorebirds move to other nearby ponds or would they depart for other regions? Few birds had been reported from Ottawa, and a mid-week scouting trip to Killdeer had turned up little of interest.
In the end, we chose to take our chances with the shorter drive, and it turned out that we chose well. Our usual departure time put us at Sheldon Marsh Wildlife Area just before 8:00 am, perfect timing for passerines. If anything, we were a few minutes too early, as the warblers seemed to wake up through the first thirty minutes or so of our stay. We took a leisurely walk on the main road out to the lake front, then back to the parking lot via the easternmost path, turning up eleven species of warblers — a very good number for this time of year — along with a few vireos and flycatchers, as well as residents ranging from eagles to herons to woodpeckers.
We then checked in at Pipe Creek, but with little luck in the bird department. However, much to the delight of the herptologically inclined in our group, we found five Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) sunning themselves at various locations along the path. We stopped for lunch at the boat launch and picnic area across from Turning Point Island in Sandusky, where we hoped to spot some of the Cattle Egrets that had roosted there this summer. No egrets, but in compensation a peregrine falcon landed on the arm of a nearby crane (the industrial machinery type of crane, not the avian sort) where it posed for scope views.
Next it was on to Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area, where we struck a bonanza. We had fifteen species of shorebirds, an excellent number. Highlights included a lovely Wilson’s phalarope and superb views of several white-rumped sandpipers. An immature Cooper’s hawk zoomed in, hoping to pick off a shorebird; fortunately for the peeps it harassed, the hawk’s timing needed some work.
Oh yes, the weather. Threatening clouds and even a little rain on the trip north yielded to sunny skies and cool to moderate temperatures as the morning went on. Heavy clouds heralding a possible storm front passed harmlessly near midday, and the day became ever more beautiful through the afternoon.
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All in all, a wonderful and successful day. Nine tired but happy birders headed home in late afternoon with a final tally of 82 species for the day. The full list follows.
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Snipe
Wilson’s Phalarope
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling-vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson’s Warbler
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow