OHIO-BIRDS
Received From Subject
12/8/25 4:18 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Clinton county - black duck
12/8/25 3:36 pm Douglas Vogus <vogeye...> [Ohio-birds] Ottawa NWR Monthly Census
12/8/25 12:18 pm Doug Overacker <cdoveracker...> [Ohio-birds] Clark County Christmas Bird Count
12/7/25 2:27 pm Robert Thorn <robthorn6...> [Ohio-birds] urban Scioto, Columbus, 12-07: some waterfowl, raptors
12/6/25 12:49 pm Doug Overacker <cdoveracker...> [Ohio-birds] Clark County - siskins - longspurs
12/5/25 5:38 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Gull watching - Caesar creek - Warren county
12/4/25 12:00 pm John Reinhard <jdreinhard15...> [Ohio-birds] 300+ Sandhill Cranes flying over in Paulding County
12/3/25 3:46 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Snowy field birding - Snow Bunting!
12/2/25 1:09 pm Douglas Vogus <vogeye...> [Ohio-birds] Cuyahoga Valley Towpath Trail Census
12/1/25 3:29 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Warren county - snow geese - finally!
11/30/25 6:06 am Canterbury, Ronald (canterrd) <00000951b275ca19-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Fall 2025 Sightings
11/22/25 4:36 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Three reservoirs trip - SW Ohio
11/19/25 8:57 am Paul <0000058abbfed79a-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Dead Woodcock
11/17/25 2:48 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Clinton - sparrows
11/15/25 7:43 pm Derek Hill <derek.jackson.hill...> [Ohio-birds] Awesome blackbird roost Richland County
11/15/25 3:41 pm Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...> [Ohio-birds] Clinton big year birding - Greater white fronted goose
11/9/25 6:58 pm Robert Thorn <robthorn6...> [Ohio-birds] RainyHilliard&PrairieOaks,11-09: harrier,TrumpeterSwan
11/9/25 7:06 am Douglas Vogus <vogeye...> [Ohio-birds] Cuyahoga Valley Towpath Census
 
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Date: 12/8/25 4:18 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Clinton county - black duck
Yea! They do exist! At most bodies of water I checked this afternoon. Still no Snow
Goose though…. I chased a Kentucky Ross's yesterday. Success! I love birding Kentucky
And it’s close! Right across the river for me. I live in Cincinnati. Kentucky bird! And I still
Need Snow Goose for Kentucky! It seems to be a good year for Ross's in SW Ohio and
Vicinity.

50 or so Horned Larks. After all those my last time up there!! Most of the snow has
Melted. Tracking down field birds with no snow cover is a very tedious process. I wait
For snow! I still need snow bunting for Clinton.

A nice surprise was 7 shorebirds - either Snipe or Dows - very far. And somewhat into
The sun….. they were shadows. Feeding. I admit to not knowing the feeding behavior of
Snipe - I will study that when I get a chance! They were on the open on a mud flat. Which
Seems normal for Snipe in Ohio! Shorebird sp…..

I stopped at that boat ramp at Caesar creek before heading home. Yep. Gulls out there!
This was about the time I started counting gulls on Friday for the survey. I did not have
The time to scan well. Had to get home to a zoom meeting at 6:00. Made it! I'll be glad
Next year to not have to make that drive down I71. The traffic…….

Good birding all. Black Duck was new for the Clinton big year. 188. Inching up there….

Sandra Keller

Sent from my iPad mini
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Date: 12/8/25 3:36 pm
From: Douglas Vogus <vogeye...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Ottawa NWR Monthly Census
DECEMBER 07, 2025 - OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE MONTHLY CENSUS.
ROUTE: East Side, West Side and Western Prairies in the morning; Wildlife
Drive in the afternoon.
TIME: 7:15am - 11:50am; 12:45pm - 2:55pm TIME AFIELD: 6:45 TEMP.: 29F ~
32F
COND.: Gray and overcast with a low ceiling and poor visibility the entire
day; light snow all morning;
all impoundments frozen except for a couple small pockets in MS4 and and a
few open leads near
the mouth of Crane Creek; Lake Erie open and very low.
OBS. EAST: Jim Reyda, Al & Betty Schlecht.
OBS. WEST: Susan Brauning, Katie Clink, Jennifer Kuehn, Donna Kuhn, David &
Kim Myles,
George Novosel, Chris Pierce, Bob Scheidt, Tracy Wiczer.
OBS. WESTERN PRAIRIES: Douglas W. Vogus.
OBS. WILDLIFE DRIVE: Bob Bartolotta, Jim Reyda, Douglas W. Vogus.

I. MAMMALS: 4 SPECIES, 41 TOTAL (Recorded since 04/07/2002)

1. Eastern Cottontail - 3
2. Eastern Fox Squirrel - 25
3. Common Muskrat - 1
4. White-tailed Deer - 12 (6-pt. buck,7 does,3yearlings,2 unknown)


II. BIRDS: 55 SPECIES, 3,640 TOTAL BIRDS. (Recorded since 03/02/1969)

1. Canada Goose - 898
2. Trumpeter Swan - 147
3. Tundra Swan - 1,177
4. Gadwall - 5
5. American Wigeon - 1
6. American Black Duck - 16
7. Mallard - 225
8. Green-winged Teal - 1
9. Common Goldeneye - 3
10. Hooded Merganser - 3
11. Common Merganser - 20
12. Red-breasted Merganser - 1
13. Mourning Dove - 6
14. Sandhill Crane - 113
15. Killdeer - 3
16. Wilson's Snipe - 1
17. Ring-billed Gull - 177
18. American Herring Gull - 26
19. Great Blue Heron - 45
20. Northern Harrier - 4 (two were scavenging a dead Canada Goose in
the soybean field east of Grimm Prairie)
21. Cooper's Hawk - 2
22. Bald Eagle - 68 (31 adult,37 immature)
23. Red-tailed Hawk - 4
24. Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 (gray morph) (peering out of the barn owl
hole in the blue goose barn)
25. Great Horned Owl - 1
26. Red-headed Woodpecker - 2
27. Red-bellied Woodpecker - 5
28. Downy Woodpecker - 17
29. Hairy Woodpecker - 4
30. Northern Flicker - 4
31. Pileated Woodpecker - 1 (First December Record on Census)
32. American Kestrel - 2
33. Northern Shrike - 1
34. Blue Jay - 32
35. Black-capped Chickadee - 13
36. Tufted Titmouse - 2
37. Horned Lark - 15
38. White-breasted Nuthatch - 14
39. Brown Creeper - 2
40. Carolina Wren - 5
41. Gray Catbird - 1 (Second December Record on Census)
42. European Starling - 66
43. Hermit Thrush - 1 (Fourth December Record on Census)
44. American Robin - 1
45. House Sparrow - 7
46. American Goldfinch - 66
47. Lapland Longspur - 20 (in with the Horned Larks in gravel lot at
corner of Veler Rd. and Rt. 2)
48. Fox Sparrow - 2
49. American Tree Sparrow - 254
50. Dark-eyed Junco - 21
51. White-throated Sparrow - 19
52. Savannah Sparrow - 3 (all together in Stange Prairie - Third
December Record on Census)
53. Song Sparrow - 25
54. Swamp Sparrow - 6
55. Northern Cardinal - 26

??. Unidentified Duck Species - 53 (poor visibility)
??. Unidentified Sparrow Species - 2 (fleeting glimpses)

Compiler: Douglas W. Vogus - Akron, Ohio.

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Date: 12/8/25 12:18 pm
From: Doug Overacker <cdoveracker...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Clark County Christmas Bird Count
We are holding our CBC on December 19. If you are interested please contact
Doug Overacker at <cdoveracker...> We will assign each person to an
area. Let me know if you would like to participate or have any questions.

Doug Overacker
Springfield, Ohio

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Date: 12/7/25 2:27 pm
From: Robert Thorn <robthorn6...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] urban Scioto, Columbus, 12-07: some waterfowl, raptors
The Columbus Audubon trip to this corridor in Columbus found a better
morning than predicted: cold, but no rain or snow, and partly cloudy sky.
We started at Scioto Audubon where the river and bay were entirely frozen,
then moved down to Berliner Park where the river was partly clear.
Afterwards Istopped at a series of riverside parks upstream, including Long
St, Dam, Marble Cliff bike path, 5th Ave bridge, Quarry Trails, and Griggs
Dam, with side trips to a few quarry lakes. Perhaps it was the part sun,
part warmer temperatures, but the snow cover was melting off and the river
was mostly clear above Long St. Dam. Landbirds were a little thin (except
at Berliner), but waterbirds and raptors kept the morning interesting.
Notables included:

Waterfowl -- Mallards and Hooded Mergansers at many locations, but also had
a hen Wood Duck at Marble Cliff, and Black Ducks & Gadwalls below Griggs Dam

Gulls - Ring-bills at most locations, with the iced river at Scioto Audubon
holding the most. A few Herring Gulls were also found, but nothing else.

Raptors -- 2 gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawks were found -- 1 at Scioto
Audubon and the other on the disc golf course at Griggs. A Red-tail was
at McKinley quarry lake, while the only Bald Eagle was perched along the
river north of the 5th Ave bridge. As a final gift, a Merlin was perched
right next to the Griggs Dam parking area.

Woodpeckers -- quite few, with Downies the most common in most riverside
woods
Kinglets,Creeper -- 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets were at Berliner, which also
had 3 Creepers
Bluebirds - a few, with sightings at Quarry Trails and Griggs Dam
Sparrows -- Songs, White-throats, and Juncos at many locations, but also
had a Fox at Berliner
Finches -- nothing but the expected Goldfinches and House Finches

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Date: 12/6/25 12:49 pm
From: Doug Overacker <cdoveracker...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Clark County - siskins - longspurs
Julie and I took a couple walks at Buck Creek State Park northeast of
Springfield this morning. We found a large flock of Pine Siskins along the
road just west of the power lines near the cabins. They are visiting the
sweetgum trees. There are lots of sweetgum trees in the park so they might
wander around.

Later we stopped at the beach and found a flock of more than 20 Horned Larks
on the beach along with a couple Lapland Longspurs.

Doug Overacker
Julie Karlson
Springfield, Ohio

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Date: 12/5/25 5:38 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Gull watching - Caesar creek - Warren county
I was helping with the Twilight gull roost survey. Fun! I like gulls. Anyway, Caesar creek
Beach was where I counted from. Alas, I work Friday, even though I rearranged things
A bit, I couldn’t get there very early. It’s an hours drive! And an hour and 25 minutes
To get back home. What is with the traffic on I 71?

Anyway, I love the beach. The gulls stage there. Nice looks! I didn’t really get a chance
To study the mainly RB gulls much. Other species “got in the way”…..no Bonies!! And not
many Herring. And only 4 LBBGs. Hmmmm. Interesting. I am presuming a lot of the
Gulls flew onto a deep section of the reservoir to spend the night. Before I got there.

Anyway, snipe, least and WR Sandpipers!?! Wow. I got sidetracked….. I had scanned when
I first got there. Not well obviously…… although the birds do feed right at the beach - water
Edge. In other words they can “hide”. I scanned well after I caught a flock of pipits overhead
And then landed. Nice! All three shorebirds are new for the big year - 189! And snipe is new
For the county! Yea! But that took time….. pics and making sure of id. No peregrine
Flyby. I waited! I need that one still. And no Dunlin. That was reported today. Sigh…..

Fun! I should have tried for screech owl as I drove out. But a long day……

I probably will not get north again til Monday. And then it will be Clinton. Snow goose
Would be nice…….

Good birding all.


Sandra Keller

Sent from my iPad mini
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Date: 12/4/25 12:00 pm
From: John Reinhard <jdreinhard15...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] 300+ Sandhill Cranes flying over in Paulding County
Just saw 2 flocks of Sandhill Cranes here in Paulding County. Estimated 300
due to the fact that I counted one of the short legs of each of the V's
they were flying in, and there were 50-75 in each of the V's. One of the
flocks was 2 V's. Very very cool sighting😊

Jonathan Reinhard

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Date: 12/3/25 3:46 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Snowy field birding - Snow Bunting!
Success in Warren! County bird! I was optimistic with the reports around SW Ohio. It
Took awhile! If finally saw one on the ground. Not in flight….. I think surprisingly this
Species isn’t easy to pick up on in flight as a flock of say 100 horned larks flushes
And flies around before landing again! Lapland longspurs around in small numbers
Also. I started at Mounts park - a Cackling Goose successful chase! Both of these are
County birds! I missed least sandpiper. And peregrine.

I decided to hit Clinton county to try for snow bunting. I skipped a couple things
I was going to do in Warren. No success with Snow Bunting. But a couple thousand
At least Horned Larks was impressive! Every road edge had some. Wow! No cranes,
Snow geese, or black ducks around either……. Oh well!

Good birding all.


Sandra Keller

Sent from my iPad mini
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Date: 12/2/25 1:09 pm
From: Douglas Vogus <vogeye...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Cuyahoga Valley Towpath Trail Census
DECEMBER 01, 2025 - CUYAHOGA VALLEY MONTHLY TOWPATH TRAIL CENSUS.
ROUTE: Red Lock Trailhead south to Botzum Trailhead (census cut short due
to fading light), with a stop at Trail Mix in Peninsula for lunch.
TIME: 7:20am - 4:35pm TIME AFIELD: 9:15 TEMP.: 25F ~ 32F ~ 31F
COND.: Cloudy and cold; clouds/sun mix from 1:15pm to 3:10pm; partly cloudy
until end of census;
Ira Beaver Marsh mostly frozen except for one open pocket at south end of
marsh; no snow cover.
TRAIL COND.: Frozen and holding just a dusting of snow, thawing to no snow
and sloppy; bridges
from Red Lock to Peninsula were ice-covered and slick; Stumpy Basin
boardwalk ice-covered and slick.
RIVER COND.: Normal.
FT. MI.: 12.00 OBS.: John Henry and Douglas W. Vogus.

I. MAMMALS: 8 SPECIES, 47 TOTAL.

1. Eastern Cottontail - 1 (Third December Record on Census)
2. Eastern Chipmunk - 1 (Fifth December Record on Census)
3. Eastern Gray Squirrel - 16 (7 black morph)
4. Eastern Fox Squirrel - 4
5. Red Squirrel - 17
6. American Beaver - 2 (Fourth December Record on Census & Tied Census
High from 08/2014, 06/2015, 02/2019, 04/2023, 10/2023 & 05/2024)
7. American Mink - 1 (First December Record on Census)
8. White-tailed Deer - 5 (8-pt. buck,1 doe,1 unknown,2 yearlings)


II. BIRDS: 54 SPECIES, (1 HYBRID, 1 ESCAPE/EXOTIC), 1,969 TOTAL.
(NOTE: m = male; f = female; ? = bird was seen but not sexed; * = bird was
heard calling but not sexed)

1. Canada Goose - 194
2. Tundra Swan - 14 (one flock headed south over Brandywine "Ski
Resort" - First December Record on Census)
3. American Black Duck - 46 27m,19f)
4. Mallard - 53 (29m,24f)
5. Northern Pintail - 1 (f) (at Ira Beaver Marsh - Second December
Record on Census)
6. Common Merganser - 1 (f) (Fourth December Record on Census)
7. Rock Pigeon - 3
8. Mourning Dove - 40
9. Virginia Rail - 1 (at Ira Beaver Marsh - First December Record on
Census)
10. Ring-billed Gull - 878
11. American Herring Gull - 44
12. Iceland Gull - 1 (adult) (in with a flock of gulls heading south -
Second Record on Census, First December Record on Census & Tied Census High
from 02/2014)
13. Great Blue Heron - 5
14. Turkey Vulture - 1 (soaring over Peninsula northeast of Terry
Lumber - First December Record on Census)
15. Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 (f) (Second December Record on Census)
16. Cooper's Hawk - 3 (1m,2 immature m)
17. Bald Eagle - 5 (3 adult,2 immature)
18. Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
19. Red-tailed Hawk - 10 (1 immature)
20. Belted Kingfisher - 2 (m)
21. Red-bellied Woodpecker - 18 (8m,2f,4?,4*)
22. Downy Woodpecker - 18 (7m,8f,1?,2*)
23. Hairy Woodpecker - 9 (1m,3f,5*)
24. Northern Flicker - 2 (1m,1*)
25. Pileated Woodpecker - 4 (2f,1?,1*)
26. American Kestrel - 1 (m) (Fourth December Record on Census)
27. Blue Jay - 29
28. American Crow - 162
29. Black-capped Chickadee - 13
30. Tufted Titmouse - 15
31. Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 (f)
32. Cedar Waxwing - 70
33. White-breasted Nuthatch - 26 (9m,3f,4?,10*)
34. Carolina Wren - 11
35. Winter Wren - 1
36. European Starling - 37
37. Eastern Bluebird - 14 (4m,2f,7?,1*)
38. Hermit Thrush - 1 (First December Record on Census)
39. American Robin - 45
40. House Sparrow - 34
41. House Finch - 10 (4m,4f,2*)
42. Purple Finch - 1 (m) (Third December Record on Census)
43. American Goldfinch - 34
44. Fox Sparrow - 1 (Fourth December Record on Census)
45. American Tree Sparrow - 7
46. Dark-eyed Junco - 4 (2m,2f)
47. White-throated Sparrow - 14
48. Song Sparrow - 10
49. Swamp Sparrow - 2
50. Eastern Towhee - 2 (1m,1*)
51. Red-winged Blackbird - 3 (2m,1f)
52. Rusty Blackbird - 4 (3m,1f)
53. Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2 (Fifth December Record on Census)
54. Northern Cardinal - 37 (15m,18f,4*)

HYBRID: American Black Duck X Mallard - 1 (m) (at Ira Beaver Marsh)
ESCAPE/EXOTIC: American Pekin Duck - 1 (at Ira Beaver Marsh - First Record
on Census)
??. Unidentified Duck Species - 13 (backlit flock of puddle ducks - eleven
"Mallard-sized" and two "teal-sized" - distant and never returned)
??. Unidentified Sparrow Species - 2 (brief glimpses on both)
??. Unidentified Passerines - 4

III. FISHES: 2 SPECIES, 23 TOTAL.

1. Central Mudminnow - 22 (in Lock 28 - aka "Deep Lock" - Fifth
December Record on Census)
2. Bluntnose Minnow - 1 (Third December Record on Census)


Compiler: Douglas W. Vogus - Akron, Ohio.

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Date: 12/1/25 3:29 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Warren county - snow geese - finally!
Flyovers. Caesar creek. Everyone’s posting that they are flying overhead all over….
Well, finally for Warren! Warren not on the flyway or something?? I also picked up
Fox Sparrow. Again, finally…..that was even a county bird. So 2 new year birds up to 184
For my Warren big year. I had wanted to zip over to Clinton and the Gleason rd. Area
But out of time as usual! That’s my best spot for geese in Clinton.

Lots of passerines and waterfowl around Caesar creek! Birds know when storms
Approach. Maybe some feeding and moving before it hits??

Shallow water is frozen. Spring valley was 1/2 frozen.

Good birding all.


Sandra Keller

Sent from my iPad mini
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Date: 11/30/25 6:06 am
From: Canterbury, Ronald (canterrd) <00000951b275ca19-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Fall 2025 Sightings
Dear Birders:

As temperatures fall and winter weather is upon us, and the fall season for the Ohio Cardinal is ending today, it is time to request your data, records and sightings. Please send your August through November 2025 sightings to:

Ron Canterbury, 1585 Summit Hills Drive, Cincinnati OH, 45255 or <ron.canterbury...>



In addition to sightings, we welcome photos, anecdotes, book/e-media/app reviews, general interest articles, and research papers. If you enter your sightings into eBird, you do not need to send a report we download all the entries directly from Cornell. Feel free, however, to expand on items in your eBird list in a separate note to me, because I cant look at every note in eBird.



If you attach a file (Word, Excel, ASCII text, or similar) to an email, please include your name and the season in the file name and also within the file itself. Calling the file smith-fall25 instead of sightings will save me time. And digital photo files, please; send prints only with prior approval. If you post photos to FaceBook, Flickr, or the like, you can send me links to them rather than the photo files themselves. Photos and links go to Photo Editor Tom Fishburn, <tom561tom...>



The deadline is December 31. Thank you in advance. Have a great holiday season everyone and enjoy the Christmas counts.



Ron Canterbury
Editor, The Ohio Cardinal
The Ohio Ornithological Society

Ronald A. Canterbury
Associate Academic Director
University of Cincinnati
Department of Biological Sciences
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006
Voice: 513.556.9570
Mobile: 513.237.7791
E-mail: <ron.canterbury...><mailto:<ron.canterbury...>


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Date: 11/22/25 4:36 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Three reservoirs trip - SW Ohio
I enjoy the reservoirs - gulls! A late afternoon - dusk watch is always best, but I can’t
Be everywhere then! East Fork in Clermont was first - common loons, Pied billed and
Horned Grebes in nice numbers. But lacking waterfowl. Hmmmm…. Too early still?
Dec needed? And just the usual gulls - RB and Bonies.

Cowan Lake in Clinton was next. The spot for Ruddys - over 200. Lots more gulls
Than my last visit. I really want a LBBG for the county…..

Caesar creek in Warren last. 4 adult LBB gulls! The beach - always fun! I enjoyed
The first winter Herrings. A couple were very dark with all black bills. Looked like
Late juveniles. They flew. Herring! I was debating staying at the beach through
Dusk, but it was perfect weather - no wind - to search for Short eared Owls. So
Off I went to the observation tower area. And zilch…. No shorties. No harriers
Even! Well I had wanted to try.

I am thinking Cowan lake for the winter gull roost census. I would like a LBBG for
Clinton! Dusk is the best time as they come back to areas to roost. Where do they
Go during the day??!

Good birding all.


Sandra Keller

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Date: 11/19/25 8:57 am
From: Paul <0000058abbfed79a-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Dead Woodcock
I originally was not going to send this to the list but now I’ve decided to report this because I now realize that some people might want to know about this bird and where I found it. So a little over a week ago, I found a deceased woodcock along W Dublin-Granville Road in Columbus in the parking lot of Linworth Lumber company. This location is right beside an active railroad crossing, as well as along a busy two-lane road. The bird was completely intact so I’m assuming it was probably an impact death with either a car or a train too I suppose - I don’t know.
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Date: 11/17/25 2:48 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Clinton - sparrows
I only had 1/2 a day. Off I go! Chasing a Black Duck! Who knew they were
Uncommon in the county……. I couldn’t refind it. Maybe next time up there!
Am told that Snow Goose is back. I'll try and chase that. Or hope for a flyover!
There’s a cemetery hotspot up there that I want to hit. Hmm. Cemetaries are good
For winter finches! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Hit that overgrown area at the east ponds - Cowan lake. I tracked down the
Fox Sparrows! Yea! And had a bonus Vesper. That’s late! I was looking for
Vesper last month at a couple of spots. Both sparrows new for the big year and
The county!

Still need - white geese, cackling goose, black duck, winter finches. Etc. etc.
Keeps me looking til the end of the year!

Good birding all.

Sandra Keller

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Date: 11/15/25 7:43 pm
From: Derek Hill <derek.jackson.hill...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Awesome blackbird roost Richland County
Finally checked out a substantial blackbird roost this evening Saturday 15
Nov. in Mansfield, Richland County. Had glimpsed the afternoon spectacle
from afar a couple times, as the birds fly in before dusk, sounding like a
roaring train. Apparently numbers have dwindled a bit since we first
noticed the birds in early/mid October. Still, there must have been at
least tens of thousands of birds today, intially staging in treetops when I
arrived around 4:30pm. By about 5:00pm they began dropping into the
Phragmites reeds, as light was getting too low for much photography or
scope detail.

Today when I finally came with binocs and scope, the bulk of the numbers
appeared to be Common Grackles with European Starling being 2nd most
numerous. Definitely some Red-winged Blackbirds mixed in, a handful of
Brown-headed Cowbirds, and my hopes of picking out Rusty Blackbird was
rewarded with a few picked out in the scope as they moved in to perch in
the trees right over my observation spot. RUBL was a scarce and sought
after species in North Central TX where I grew up and is always a thrill to
see IMHO. Initially tried to focus on scanning the treetops for a bright
female - still not easy when they initially stuck to the trees on the far
side of the wetland, and very windy conditons blowing the scope around. So
when they came in closer, spotted a couple of the bright fairer sex, with
some adjacent males with subtle rust scalloped edges. Certainly more mixed
in with the throngs of 'black birds'. Pale eyes visible at close range but
surprisingly hard to detect in low light on a very windy cloudy day.

This marsh is adjacent to new houses being built in this neighborhood,
north of Straub Rd, south of Logan Rd, just west of S. Main St. Access
was via Brushwood Drive (from S. Main St., and the still-undeveloped plots
along Elderberry Drive. The marsh is quite obvious from Elderberry Drive,
looking north and west. It is not a Typha wetland, but dominated by
Phragmites. I am curious to look closer soon at this grass, to see if it's
the native 'americanus' type. It doesn't seem as tall as some of the
invasive can grow, and I suspect this wetland has provided very valuable
seasonal roosting habitat for our dwindling blackbird species (ie COGR and
RUBL) for countless generations. Much of the surrounding wetland and woody
thickets have been recently destroyed to make way for new housing off
Straub Rd (Cape Cod Dr. on google maps).

I wouldnt be surprised if actual peak numbers of birds roosting here
throughout the fall could be in the 6 digits but they're hard to count. Its
got to be in the tens of thousands as of today, so a very important and
valuable wetland. Enjoy the blackbird spectacle while you can, before all
the new houses are built.

Wonder how long these birds will stick around this fall... and if the
Phragmites is of the native variety - the blackbirds sure are relying on
it. Keep in mind a big marsh like this is extremely valuable as safe
roosting habitat for the rapidly declining COGR and RUBL - two
wetland-dependent species.

Good birding,
Derek Hill
Mansfield

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Date: 11/15/25 3:41 pm
From: Sandra Keller <000007a762f332b7-dmarc-request...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Clinton big year birding - Greater white fronted goose
I got a text from a friend on Friday - 2 up at the Gleason rd. Retention pond.
Great! Only I was still traveling….. wasn’t sure I could chase today - just got
Home……but I decided I had better! I am missing sooooo much. I went
Late afternoon. Thinking the geese come back to that pond after feeding in
The surrounding fields. Success! I was going to stay through dusk up there -
And see what else was flying in, but activity in the area - the roads were not
Their usual deserted self! So I came home. Not much flying as I drove back
To Cincinnati, so I probably didn’t miss anything.

That was bird number 200 for Clinton life! Yea. That goal met.
185 for the big year. Poor. Still missing a lot! We will see.

Good birding all.


Sandra Keller

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Date: 11/9/25 6:58 pm
From: Robert Thorn <robthorn6...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] RainyHilliard&PrairieOaks,11-09: harrier,TrumpeterSwan
Things were interesting in these areas east of Columbus this morning. I
started around the Mudsock Trail, birding along Clover Groff stream from
Spindler Road Park up to the Franks Park pond, then stopped at Alton Place
ponds and Hilliard Bradley HS wetland, before hitting several areas of
Prairie Oaks MetroPark (Darby Bend lakes, Sycamore Plains). The common
denominator of the morning was Robins, with flocks everywhere feasting on a
good crop of honeysuckle berries. Other notables included:

Trumpeter Swan - 1 was feeding in the south quarry lake at Darby Bend Lakes
Pied-billed Grebes - at least 4 were scattered around the quarry lakes at
Darby Bend Lakes
Cooper's Hawks -- seen at multiple sites, they seemed more active in the
cold wet weather
N.harrier - 1 was hunting in the fields along Patterson Road, east of
Prairie Oaks
BlackVultures - 4 were flying around the Mudsock Trail just south of the
Franks Park lake
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 was foraging in the shrubbery around the south
quarry lake at Darby Bend lakes
Hermit Thrush - 1 was calling along the edge of the small woodlot at
Hilliard Bradley wetland
CedarWaxwings - a flock of 15 were feeding with Robins along the forest
edge at Sycamore Plains
SwampSparrows - 2-3 were calling in the Hamilton Run marsh adjacent to the
Alton Place development
Blackbirds - nothing but a few Redwings, but they were at several different
sites

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Date: 11/9/25 7:06 am
From: Douglas Vogus <vogeye...>
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Cuyahoga Valley Towpath Census
NOVEMBER 08, 2025 - CUYAHOGA VALLEY MONTHLY TOWPATH TRAIL CENSUS.
ROUTE: Merriman Valley north to Red Lock Trailhead.
TIME: 6:45am - 4:50pm TIME AFIELD: 10:05 TEMP.: 42F ~ 51F ~ 47F
COND.: Cloudy and calm early, turning mostly cloudy, then gray and overcast
from 9:20am until end of census.
TRAIL COND.: Fair; littered with leaves and twigs from recent high winds;
puddling in the usual low spots.
RIVER COND.: Slightly above normal from previous day's rains.
FT. MI.: 13.85 OBS.: John Henry and Douglas W. Vogus.

I. MAMMALS: 6 SPECIES, (1 NEW TO CENSUS), 84 TOTAL.

1. Eastern Cottontail - 1 (Third November Record on Census)
2. Eastern Chipmunk - 37
3. Eastern Gray Squirrel - 21 (7 black morph) (New Census High -
previous was 14 on 04/2022)
4. Red Squirrel - 19
5. White-footed Mouse - 1 (New Species on Census - currently at 23
Mammal Species since 01/2010)
6. White-tailed Deer - 5 (6-pt buck,3 does,1 yearling)


II. BIRDS: 53 SPECIES, 1,900 TOTAL.
(NOTE: m = male; f = female; ? = bird was seen but not sexed; * = bird was
heard calling but not sexed)

1. Canada Goose - 69
2. Trumpeter Swan - 2 (First November Record on Census)
3. Wood Duck - 2 (1m,1f)
4. American Black Duck - 41 (26m,15f)
5. Mallard - 65 (42m,23f)
6. Common Merganser - 3 (f/immature) (Third November Record on Census)
7. Mourning Dove - 33
8. Killdeer - 4
9. Ring-billed Gull - 7
10. American Herring Gull - 1 (Fifth November Record on Census)
11. Great Blue Heron - 1
12. Cooper's Hawk - 2 (immature m)
13. Bald Eagle - 1 (adult)
14. Red-tailed Hawk - 10 (2 immature)
15. Great Horned Owl - 2 (calling at Red Lock - Fourth Record on
Census, First November Record on Census & New Census High - previous was 1
on 03/2016, 08/2016 & 12/2022)
16. Belted Kingfisher - 1 (m)
17. Red-bellied Woodpecker - 31 (12m,7f,3?,9*)
18. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1 (immature) (Fifth November Record on
Census)
19. Downy Woodpecker - 13 (6m,2f,1?,4*)
20. Hairy Woodpecker - 4 (2m,1?,1*)
21. Northern Flicker - 5 (3m,1?,1*)
22. Pileated Woodpecker - 4 (1?,3*)
23. American Kestrel - 1 (m) (Second November Record on Census)
24. Merlin - 1 (m) (eating a Cedar Waxwing - Fifth November Record on
Census)
25. Peregrine Falcon - 1 (m)
26. Blue Jay - 61
27. American Crow - 140
28. Black-capped Chickadee - 20
29. Tufted Titmouse - 10
30. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 (?)
31. Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 (1f,1*)
32. Cedar Waxwing - 202
33. White-breasted Nuthatch - 25 (8m,3f,2?,12*)
34. Brown Creeper - 2
35. Carolina Wren - 31
36. Winter Wren - 1
37. European Starling - 162
38. Eastern Bluebird - 11 (3m,4f,4?)
39. Hermit Thrush - 1 (Second November Record on Census)
40. American Robin - 358
41. House Sparrow - 86
42. House Finch - 4 (2m,2f)
43. Purple Finch - 2 (m) (Fifth November Record on Census)
44. American Goldfinch - 42
45. Dark-eyed Junco - 5 (2m,2f,1*)
46. White-crowned Sparrow - 4
47. White-throated Sparrow - 72 (New Census High - previous was 64 on
12/2021)
48. Song Sparrow - 12
49. Swamp Sparrow - 4
50. Eastern Towhee - 3 (1m,2*)
51. Red-winged Blackbird - 122 (68m,27f,27?)
52. Common Grackle - 151
53. Northern Cardinal - 34 (9m,8f,17*)

HYBRID - American Black Duck X Mallard - 2 (m) (Third November Record on
Census & New Census High - previous was 1 on 22 other occasions)
??. Unidentified Sparrow Species - 1
??. Unidentified Blackbird Species - 20
??. Unidentified Passerines - 4

III. REPTILES: 1 SPECIES, 1 TOTAL.

1. Midland Painted Turtle - 1


IV. AMPHIBIANS: 3 SPECIES, 9 TOTAL.

1. Northern Spring Peeper - 7 (heard only)
2. American Bullfrog - 1
3. Green Frog - 1 (tadpole) (Fifth November Record on Census)


V. FISHES: 4 SPECIES, 70 TOTAL.

1. Central Mudminnow - 11 (Fourth November Record on Census)
2. Creek Chub - 2
3. Bluntnose Minnow - 56
4. Northern Hog Sucker - 1 (Fourth November Record on Census)


VI. MOTHS/CATERPILLAR: 1 SPECIES, 1 TOTAL.

1. Isabella Tiger Moth - 1 (caterpillar) (Third Record on Census, First
November Record on Census & Tied Census High from 10/2024 & 10/2025)


Compiler: Douglas W. Vogus - Akron, Ohio.

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