Date: 5/20/26 7:03 pm From: Chris Lamb <alanchris.lamb...> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Shorebirds - Guilford Lake (Columbiana Co.)
With the lake water drawn down for dam reconstruction, Guilford Lake State Park just off OH-172 continues to be a large mudflat with some water channels. Shorebirds are still migrating through, stopping for a few hours or days. You never know what you might see. Separate groups have come through so there have been multiple opportunities to see some species.
Today’s highlights (5/20), almost all in breeding plumage, were Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, and Semipalmated Plover, as well as Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers.
Surprise of the day was Hudsonian Whimbrel. It was super exciting to see a pair of this life bird once I figured out what they were! I recognized not having seen them before but the species wasn’t on my radar today, lol. So I put them through the ID paces - size and shape comparison, bill type, etc. to get to the species. Later I learned a large group of Hudsonian Whimbrel was seen earlier when I was at work.
So if you’re looking for a place to see shorebirds, check out Guilford Lake.
Benches, mostly paved and close parking, vehicle birding possible at several spots, vault toilets.
Or, with the water drawn down, some of the lake bed is walkable.
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