Northwest Ohio RBA
January 19, 2001
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 09:32:55 -0500
Reply-To: Greg Links <glinks@BGRCOMPANIES.COM>
Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Central)"
<BIRDCNTR@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
From: Greg Links <glinks@BGRCOMPANIES.COM>
Subject: NW Ohio RBA Update January 19 2001
Comments: cc: "Overman, Karl" <Karl.Overman@usdoj.gov>
To: BIRDCNTR@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: NW Ohio RBA
Phone number: 419-877-9640
Areas covered: NW Ohio, other state highlights
Compiler: G Links
Transcriber: G Links
Highlights: HARLEQUIN DUCK; TOWNSEND's SOLITAIRE; NORTHERN HAWK-OWL
--TEXT
Friday, January 19th at 9:35am. this is a special update to the NW Ohio RBA,
sponsored by the TNA. Local highlight is Harlequin duck, state highlight is
Townsend's solitaire and Northern Hawk-owl.
I have had no reports of the immature male Harlequin duck on the Maumee
River Rapids since Tuesday, when it was seen, but is most likely still
present. From Toledo, take route 24 SW about 15 miles to the town of Grand
Rapids. Cross the Maumee River at route 578, and turn right to the RR
bridge, The bird is being seen most frequently just upstream from this
bridge, and also right in front of the Isaac Ludwig Mill.
Staying SW of Toledo, a long-eared owl, first discovered December 30, has
been seen at least a couple of times since then in the Maumee State Forest.
Check appropriate habitat along Henry County road 2.
A Northern Hawk-owl was reported from near the Killdeer Plains Wildlife
area, about 90 minutes south of Toledo. Apparently the bird was seen
perched near the large resrvoir very near the town of Marseilles, Ohio. I
will be investigating this report myself this afternoon, and will update the
tape this evening. For those interested in doing some looking on their own,
directions from Toledo are as follows: Take I-75 south to Findlay. Follow
signs to Columbus, taking route 15 to 23. Take 23 south past the town of
Upper Sandusky to route 294. Go west on 294 toward Killdeer PLains, all the
way to Route 67. Go south on 67 to the large reservoir near the town of
Marseilles.
An adult Townsend's solitaire was confirmed yesterday at the Holden
Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio, east of Cleveland. It was last seen this
morning at about 10am. The bird was evidently discovered yesterday, and was
relocated near the same spot today. From Toledo, take I-90 east to Mentor.
Take the Kirtland exit, which is exit 193, and turn right onto route 306.
Take route 306 to the bottom of the hill, and turn left on Kirtland-chardon
road. Go about 3 and a half miles to Sperry road. Go left on Sperry, and
go about a mile and a half to the visitor center.
There is a 4 dollar admission charge at the visitor center, and the staff
there will direct you to where the bird was seen. The Holedn Arboretum is
closed on Mondays.
Back closer to home in the Oak OPenings, I would recommend folks check the
thicket at the corner of route 295 and Obee roads. This area seems ripe for
a rarity, as there is tremendous bird activity here. Go through the
hundreds of American robins and Cedar waxwings, and also watch for the
HErmit thrushes, Purple finches, and Northern mockingbird that have all been
regular here, as well as others.
The TNA monthly meeting will be held this Saturday, January 20th. Chris
Dwyer, from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, will speak on the metzger MArsh
restoration Project. He will update us on specific projects that focus on
vegetation, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and avian use of the marsh.
Meet at the Andersons Activity Center at 7:30pm on South Holland-Sylvania
road in Toledo.
If you see the HArlequin duck, or have a successful chase with the solitaire
or hawk-owl, and as always to report your findings, please leave a detailed
message after the tape. Thanks for calling, and good birding!
--END