Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Four members of the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society joined leader Tim Colborn on a local
search for waterfowl and other birds at Sandy Ridge Reservation in the Lorain County Metro
Parks on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Skies were overcast with temps in the mid 40’s as we
arrived at the Reservation at about 8:00 a.m.
At the feeders near the Reservation building, we had looks at common species like
White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and a skittish White-throated Sparrow.
Walking through the wet woodlands, we enjoyed other common forest birds like Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse and migrant Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Upon exiting the woods, we arrived at the impoundments for our target group of birds
including ducks, geese and swans. Immediately upon gaining a view, we had many Mallard,
Gadwall, and Northern Shoveler. The day would be good for dabblers, less so for divers.
Scanning the ponds produced a handful of Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Hooded
Merganser, American Black Duck and Ruddy Duck. A single female Bufflehead was diving and
feeding near the central mound viewing point. Other waterfowl seen were nearly 150 Canada
In addition to waterfowl, raptors were the other highlight of the day. As we emerged from the
woods into the wetlands area, an adult Cooper’s Hawk was spied by one of our group. We all
got quick looks before the bird dropped from its perch and disappeared. Several minutes later,
we were treated to an incoming Peregrine Falcon that cruised over the water and perched in a
tree allowing scope views for nearly a quarter hour before moving to another tree and showing
off another fifteen minutes! While too dark to get great photos, our scope views were stunning.
Soon after the Peregrine had departed, the Coopers Hawk re-appeared near its original perch
and very good scope views allowed us to tick off field marks separating this bird from its close
relative, the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Other raptors seen included a Red-shouldered Hawk and an
adult Bald Eagle.
In total, 35 species (including 11 waterfowl species) were seen by the time we completed our
long walk around the property and headed for home. - Tim Colborn, Bird Walk Leader
Photos
Photo: November 2018 Hotspot Birders by Kaoru Tsubone at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
North Ridgeville, OH 44039.
Photo: Birders Scanning the Horizon by Kaoru Tsubone at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
North Ridgeville, OH 44039
Photo: Birders Surveying the Wetland by Kaoru Tsubone at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
Photo: Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) by Patrick McGuigan at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.
Photo: Cormorant (Phalacrocoracidae) by Patrick McGuigan at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
North Ridgeville, OH 44039.
Photo: Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) by Patrick McGuigan at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.
Photo: Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) by Patrick McGuigan at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.