A great weekend of birding and hiking....

April 18 and 19, 2009

Spent Saturday out in the morning with Dad.  We started at Carlisle Reservation on a very sunny and mild day.  The temps warmed into the 70’s before all was said and done.  There was a very clear indication of migration underway with lots of new species.  The highlight bird was a Brown Thrasher actively calling from the top of a tree.  We also had some good looks at a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Our next stop was Oberlin Reservoir which was quite slow.  Lot’s of Ruddy’s but not much else.  We then headed into Wellington for some lunch.  After lunch we made a quick stop by Wellington Reservation before Dad had to head home.  There wasn’t a lot a variety but there was a pair of Surf Scoters with the males field marks clearly visible.  This was a lifer for Dad.

Next I went to Wellington Reservation.  There weren’t really any new birds that I hadn’t already seen but there were good signs for the shorebird migration.  There was a lot more flooded habitat that should result in some good mudflats.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this will work out.

The final stop of the day was a run up to the Lorain Impoundment.  Here is another spot with some very promising shorebird habitat.  I did manage to find a Solitary Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper.  I was hoping for Yellowlegs or Dunlin but had no luck.

Sunday was cloudy and cooler but the birds did not disappoint.  I joined the Sunday Bird Walk at the Rocky River Nature Center.  This weeks walk drew a crowd of 30.  We managed 3 hawks, Broad-winged, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed.  We also had more good looks at Gnatcatchers and Sapsuckers.  We also managed to get some good looks at a Barred Owl thanks to a man walking his dog.  He mentioned to  our group that he had seen a large owl.  We headed off in pursuit.  I was the first to spot the bird in flight and then was able to track it until it moved out of view.  That was a nice addition to the mornings activities.

After the group walk I went to explore the bridle trail south of Willow Bend.  The wildflowers should be spectacular there next weekend.

This was my favorite sort of birding weekend.  It had lot’s of miles on foot.  After the winter doldrums and lots of time standing around by the lakeshore, it was nice to bird and cover a lot of ground.

Let’s hope next weekend is just as good.