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Long awaited target birds finally found!

Although not rare in March in Hamilton County, Ohio, it was still thrilling to add three species to my county year list on Monday March 19th. My first stop was a Kilby Road Gravel Pits where Common Loon is usually reliable in the right season. It was a target bird and the reason for my visit there. As I scanned the water, the first waterbird I found on the water after the usual Canada Geese was a single Common Loon which later I was unable to relocate after scoping six female Red-breasted Mergansers, two pair of American Wigeon with a male Lesser Scaup swimming with them. The reason for being unable to relocate the loon was made evident very quickly when it flew over my head and, assuming it was the same bird circling the lake, flew over my head a second time, this time lower and more directly, enabling me to get this photo.


My next stop was Miami Whitewater Forest. My plan was to search for Eastern Phoebe at the restrooms in Bowle's Woods area where they have nested in past years. If unsuccessful there, I was planning to check the restrooms at Timberlakes area across West Rd. at the other end of the park. I turned onto West Rd. from Dry Fork Rd. and turned onto the access road that leads to Bowle's Woods. Well, I didn't make it that far because, with the windows rolled down, as soon as I made my turn, I heard one singing! I parked the car and jumped out to locate the bird for a visual. I located the distant singer on a low-hanging branch over the stream under the bridge where phoebes like to be. Finally! I've been trying for phoebe since early February to no avail.

I then went to the nearby wetlands along Baughman Rd. to try for Vesper Sparrow and Wilson's Snipe, two tough finds but at the right time of the year. A lot of others are finding snipe but I have been searching for them in reported places just as much as the phoebe. However, no Vesper Sparrow or snipe found today. Sometimes you come across things unexpectedly. I photographed a partially leucistic American Robin near the wildlife viewing shelter, and noted Golden-crowned Kinglets, Fox Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, American Coots, Northern Shovelers, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck from the shelter. As I walked back toward the Shaker Trace trail, I heard a singing Brown Thrasher and soon located the songster in the top of a deciduous tree.

New birds added: Common Loon, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Thrasher. Total is at 108 species.



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