Yes, it was possible to bird around the Hocking Hills this weekend without being overcome by crowds & heat. The key tricks were (1) get there very early (2) avoid popular spots (ie: Conkle's Hollow, Old Man's Cave), and (3) plan to hit deep shade later in the morning. With that in mind, we hit some obscure areas around the State Forest yesterday (Spruce Run Hollow, Big Cola Swamp, Keister Road, Big Rocky Hollow) and spent today around Clear Creek early (Fern Trail, Creekside Meadows Trail) with a side trip to Alley Park. Still lots of singing in the early morning, but it largely petered out by 11 AM. Notables included:
Raptors - hardly anything beyond vultures, and even they weren't that common Cuckoos - not a one, incredibly. Maybe they headed south looking for cicadas. Woodpeckers - subdued, with few calling or drumming. Pileateds at Spruce Run Hollow and Clear Creek Creekside Meadows Flycatchers - still quite a few calling Pewees and Acadians Vireos - still tons of Red-eyed, but a surprising steady stream of calling White-eyed at many locations. Had singing Blue-headed up Big Rocky Hollow and the Hemlock Trail at Clear Creek Thrushes -- the only Hermits were at the Hemlock Trail and Big Rocky Hollow, while Veeries were in the lowland forest at Clear Creek (both Ferm & Creekside Meadows Trails) Mimids - Catbirds everywhere, but Thrashers also along Fern Trail (ridgetop meadow) and at Alley Park Warblers -- odd distribution, with some birds common some places but absent others. Ovenbirds abundant at most sites, while Hoodeds were also still singing at many sites. Kentuckies were common at several Hocking Hills sites, but scarce at Clear Creek. Redstarts common only at a few sites. Black&Whites and Ceruleans only at Clear Creek, while Pines were only at Hocking Hills. Black-throated Greens still singing in Hemlock groves at both areas. The only Worm-eating was singing along the Fern Trail at Clear Creek, and Blue-winged was near Thomas Cabin at Clear Creek. Sparrows - Towhees everywhere, but otherwise normal numbers of Chipping-Field-Songs Tanagers - Scarlet Tanagers in low numbers, but at many sites. No Summer Tanagers. Grosbeaks - Rose-breasted widespread. Blue Grosbeak singing along Big Cola Road Orioles - Orchard singing along Big Cola Road. Baltimores not heard anywhere
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