Date: 12/6/24 8:58 pm From: Robert Thorn <robthorn6...> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Inland Rare Birds, Nov 30 - Dec 6
Now comes the uncomfortable period of whipsaw weather – either cool & rainy
or very cold & clear – as cold fronts rush through our area from the north
or west. It can be a very good time for rarities, especially waterfowl &
gulls, as the lakeshores, ponds, and rivers freeze & thaw. We’re also
experiencing our typical late influx of migrant swans & sandhill cranes;
while not rare, these spectacles of large noisy migrant birds are still
awe-inspiring.
Snow Goose – lots of records from IL and IN, with OH vagrants continuing at
Adams Lake St.Park thru 12-04, 4 at Clear Creek Park (Cincinnati) thru
12-02, Deer Creek St.Park 12-06, Groveport Warehouse ponds 12-05, and
Prairie Lane wetlands (Wooster) thru 12-04
Ross’s Goose –fewer birds around Chicago, more around downstate IL and IN.
Eastern strays reached as far as Indian Lake OH 12-01, the Ohio River above
Parkersburg WV 12-02, Shawnee Regional park WV thru 12-04, and Ethel
Springs Lake (E of Pittsburgh) thru 12-03
Greater White-fronted Goose – scattered records all over the glaciated
parts of IL, IN, and OH, with nore records & bigger flocks to the
southwest. Bucking this trend were flocks of 48 at Prairie Lane Wetlands
(Wooster) OH and 86 at Dillon Lake St.Park (Zanesville) OH 11-29.
Pink-footed Goose – none in our area, but several sightings along the
Atlantic coast this cycle mark this as a species to be watched for.
Eurasian Wigeon – none in our area, but again lots of records in the
mid-Atlantic states, so watch for them
Surf Scoter – multiple reports from the central basin of Lake Erie, but
ascarce elsewhere. Birds persist at Erie Marsh MI thru 12-01 and Geist
Reservoir IN thru 12-04. A burst of strays occurred on 12-01, with birds at
Eagle Creek Lake 9Indianapolis), Louisville KY, Jeffersonville IN, and
Burlington (Ohio River) KY.
White-winged Scoter – the only Lake Erie bird was reported from the
Cleveland lakefront 12-06. Most records now are inland: 2 birds continuing
at Geist Reservoir IN thru 12-03, at nearby Eagle Creek Lake IN 12-02,
LaGrange IN 12-02, and in the Ohio River at Jeffersonville IN 12-01 and
Louisville KY 12-02
Black Scoter – a few still around Lake Erie (Fairport Harbor OH, Lorain
lakeshore OH, and Erie Marsh MI), but several also now inland: at Geist
Reservoir IN thru 11-20, LaGrange IN 12-02, Jeffersonville IN 12-01 and
Louisville KY 12-02.
Long-tailed Ducks – plenty of sightings north & east of us, with a steady
trickle of spots along Lake Erie (Cleveland lakeshore, Vermilion OH
lakeshore) and Lake Michigan (Chicago lakeshore, Hammond IN lakeshore). Of
special note are the flocks seen off New Buffalo MI with numbers between 75
and 150! A few made it inland: Geist Reservoir IN 12-02, Louisville KY
12-02, and along the Mississippi at Rock Island IL 12-06 and Riverlands
Sanctuary MO thru 12-05.
*Harlequin Duck* – now only Lake Michigan had the reports, with singles at
Winthrop Harbor IL thru 12-05 and Gary IN lakeshore 12-05.
Eared Grebe – none currently in our area, though birds were recently
reported from southern Ontario and central Iowa.
Red-necked Grebe – scattered singles, with birds at Huron OH harbor 12-01,
Pymatuning Reservoir OH 12-01, Lexington KY Reservoir 12-03 thru 05, and
Crystal Lake (NW of Chicago) IL 12-05
Western Grebe – none in our area currently, with the closest reports in MN
and OK
*Anna’s Hummingbird* – reports of the Columbus OH bird resurfaced thru 12-05,
and the Princeville IL bird was still being seen thru 12-05
Rufous Hummingbird – the Homer Glen IL bird was re-seen 12-01, and another
was at nearby Oswego IL 12-01 thru 03, while the Cincinnati OH bird was
seen thru 12-05
Ruby-throated hummingbird – multiple reports along the Atlantic Coast up to
NJ, but our only laggard was at a Columbus OH feeder 12-03 & 04
*Whooping Crane*s – the crazy season of Fall strays seems over; the latest
report was from Northbrook IL 11-29
American Avocet – they appear to have finally pulled out; the closest is in
Memphis TN
Lesser Yellowlegs – less cold tolerant than its large sibling, 1 was still
around Huffman MetroPark (Dayton) OH thru 12-06
Sanderling – a very late flock of 18 was reported from Port Clinton OH 12-01
Purple Sandpiper – none in our area yet, but several sightings around Lake
Ontario this week
Red Phalarope – 1 of these hardy little pelagic sandpipers was at
Willoughby OH 11-30, while another was at Hamilton Ontario 12-01.
either Jaeger – neither was reported from our area, so their period of
movement appears closed
*Little Gull* – the bird in the Detroit River was still being seen thru
12-05, while another was on the Cleveland lakeshore 12-01
*Black-leggedKittiwake* – echoes of last weeks mini-invasion, with birds at
Rocky River Park OH 11-29, Hawesville KY 12-03&04, Bald Eagle St.Park PA
thru 12-02, and even the southern tip of Lake Huron thru 12-02.
Laughing Gull – none in our area, though plenty along the Atlantic coast up
to Long Island
Franklin’s Gull – a last laggard was in the Ohio River off Hawesville KY
12-01&03
*California Gull* - 1 was at several spots along the Detroit River MI
12-04&05
Lesser Black-backed Gull – loads around Lake Erie, and lots of strays all
over our area, as far south as Falls of the Ohio KY 12-01 and Kentucky Lake
12-05. Startling numbers inland were the 325 reported from the Findlay OH
Reservoirs 12-06
Great Black-backed Gull – loads along Lake Erie and singles at many spots
along south Lake Michigan, but none inland
Iceland (Thayer’s ) Gull – birds were around several spots on Lake
Michigan, as well as nearby landfills at Elkhart IN and St.Joseph IN
Iceland (Kumlien’s) Gull – the only local record was 1 at the Elkhart IN
landfill 12-03
Glaucous Gull – singles were at East Harbor St.Park OH 12-01 and the
Elkhart IN landfill 12-03
Forster’s Tern – 1 was at East Harbor St.Park 12-01 & 03 for an incredible
late find
*Red-throated Loons* – scarce now, but still birds at several spots along
south lake Michigan (Winthrop Harbor, Illinois Beach St.Park, Gary IN
lakeshore, and Michigan City IN harbor). Elsewhere birds were still at
Indian lake OH 11-29 and Lorain OH lakeshore 12-04
*Pacific Loon* – none in our area, though 1 was at Madison WI 12-02
*Northern Gannet* – a very out-of-place juvenile was winging off the shore
of East Harbor St.Park OH 12-03. Regular off the Atlantic coast now, but
extremely rare on the Great Lakes.
Neotropic Cormorant – the only 1 this cycle was at East Harbor St.Park
12-03, where Sean Williams had a truly epic day.
American White Pelican – the last flocks in the western basin of Lake Erie
appear to have been from 12-01 thru 03. Still lots along the Mississippi
Valley, with strays to the Chicago Botanic Garden 12-02&03, Charleston Lake
IL 12-02&04 and Eagle Creek Lake (Indianapolis) IN 12-02&03
Great Egrets – most of the Illinois birds are gone, the last being around
12-01; still multiple records around the western basin of Lake Erie as well
as inland (Buckeye lake OH 12-02, Sciot Audubon MetroPark (Columbus) OH
12-06, Raccoon Creek St.Park PA 12-03, and Pleasant WV 12-04.
Western Cattle Egret – none currently in our area, but 1 was near Point
Pelee Ontario 12-02&03
Rough-legged Hawk – the recent cold waves appear to have pushed many into
northern IL, IN, and OH. Unusual reports from unglaciated areas include
Rimersburg PA 12-02, Hamden OH 12-04, and Mitchell IN 12-03
Golden Eagles – oddly, most of the reports were from the west: N of Terre
Haute IN 12-02, Coles Co. IL 12-06, and Pyramid St.Rec.Area IL 12-01. 1 at
the Allegheny Front Hawkwatch in central PA 12-01 hints at a late movement.
Snowy Owls – multiple reports from the shores of Lakes Erie & Michigan,
with inland birds at Hillsboro OH 12-01, Cedar Lake IN 12-02, and Gridley
IL 12-03 thru 06
*Vermilion Flycatcher *- the bird near Goose Pond FWA IN was seen thru 12-01
Say’s Phoebe – no reports of this tough little flycatcher in our area, but
one has been at Lancaster PA thru 12-04, and several are still in Colorado
Eastern Phoebe – our own tough flycatcher has multiple records from
unglaciated areas this cycle, but some stayed further north: Killbuck Marsh
WA OH 12-02&06, Lebanon IN 12-03, and north Chicago IL 12-03.
Cave Swallows – none this week, so their late Fall movement appears over.
Marsh Wren – a string of late sightings in the east: Mentor Marsh OH 12-03,
Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary (Youngstown) OH 12-02, and Wingfield Pines (S
of Pittsburgh) PA 12-04. These birds may be more widespread in winter here
than we observe.
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher – almost deadly late was a bird at the Cleveland
lakeshore 12-01. Incredibly, 1 was also on the Lake Ontario shore in
central NY the same date.
Loggerhead Shrike – none in our area this week, with the closest
concentration in the upper Mississippi River delta of western Tennessee
Northern Shrike – still multiple reports in northern IL and northern OH,
with strays as far south as Green-Sullivan St,Forest IN 12-04, Buck Creek
St.Park area (Springfield) OH thru 12-04, and The Wilds Preserve
(Zanesville) OH 12-03.
Townsend’s Solitaire – none in our area, with the closest bird in central
WI (Devil’s lake) thru 12-06
Varied Thrush – none in our area now, with nothing close. This is probably
not an invasion year.
Evening Grosbeaks – no reports this week, with the closest birds in north
MI and Niagara Falls
Red Crossbill – still unpredictable, with the only recent sighting at
Moraine Hills St.Park IL 11-29
White-winged Crossbill- a straggler was seen near Elmore OH 12-02
Lark Sparrow – the last sighting was of 1 in Holmes Co. OH 11-30
LeConte’s Sparrow – no reports this week, but few probably checked their
habitat in southern IN & IL
Harris’s Sparrow – none in our area this week, but still many records from
Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – 1 late bird was at the Chicago lakeshore 12-02; another
was at Lyons Woods For.Pres.IL 12-06
Spotted Towhee – 1 was north of Savanna IL 12-05, and strays are currently
in Kansas City and northern WI, so this is one to watch for.
Nashville Warbler – none in our area currently, but there are a cluster of
sightings along the mid-Atlantic coast now
Orange-crowned Warbler – getting scarcer, with birds seen at Glacial Park
IL 12-03, near Yorkville IL 12-06, Euclid Beach Res. OH 12-04, and Forest
Park (St.Louis) MO 12-02. Multiple sightings down in Tennessee currently.
Palm Warblers – a lingerer was at Lexington KY 12-01, with many more down
in Tennessee
Brewer’s Blackbird – none reported in our area currently, but the small
flock around St. Charles MO was still being seen thru 12-05.
Yellow-headed Blackbird – none in our area or even anywhere near us this
week
Great-tailed Grackle – someone stopped by Monee IL and the resident
Great-tail was still there 12-01
Western Meadowlark – none in our area, but several are still in eastern MO
and 1 is in Milwaukee WI
Baltimore Orioles – none in our area, but many records along Atlantic Coast
as far up as MA
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – a very late bird was N of Hamilton OH 12-01
Summer Tanager – a very late bird was seen in Groveport OH 12-04
Western Tanager – a male was photographed at a feeder in Tompkinsville KY
12-01
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