WCAS Hotspot Field Trip To See Grassland Birds Sat June 15, 2019 Report

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Bird Walk Report

Event: Hotspot Field Trip to See Grassland Birds
Date and Time: Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 7:00 a.m.
Locations: Bath Nature Preserve, 4160 Ira Rd, Akron, OH 44333 and
Richfield Coliseum, 2923 Streetsboro Road, Richfield Township, OH 44286
Leader: Timothy Colborn
Target species: Grassland Birds
Results: 8 Birders and 51 Species
Description: Eight birders joined leader Tim Colborn in search of grassland birds on a field trip
with the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society on Saturday, June 15, 2019. This Hotspot trip took
the group to Bath Nature Preserve in the Akron area, with a quick stop at the Coliseum
Grasslands. Skies were gray with temps in the mid 60’s and winds blew in the mid-teens as we
arrived at the Preserve just before 8:00 a.m.
We stopped at the first fields near the entrance and immediately were rewarded with a singing,
fluttering Bobolink and vocal Song Sparrows. At the feeders near the field station building, we
had looks at Red-headed Woodpecker, Baltimore Oriole and a few other common species.
Walking toward the open fields, we began hearing (if not seeing) several breeding birds
including two Willow Flycatchers that managed to stay hidden except for a few brief moments.
Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats were vocal along the path in areas of wet,
successional growth and ever present Tree Swallows flew acrobatically, keeping us company
throughout the morning.
Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

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Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: info@wcaudubon.org Web: www.wcaudubon.org
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Our destination was Oil/Gas Well “F” where two target birds had been reported for several
weeks. We had already seen one Bobolink near the Well busy with displaying males performing
their flutter flights and singing their R2D2-like songs. In total, up to seven males were seen or
heard with many providing stunning views on nearby posts.
The second target remained visually elusive despite vocalizing within feet of the path in three
separate locations. In the last several years, the Nature Preserve has become a reliable location
to find Henslow’s Sparrow. This year is no different and birders had seen and heard many of
this species over the prior two weeks. While we heard the sparrow’s lightning fast “se-lik” song
in the same area where the Bobolinks were so common, they never did show themselves.
Several potential reasons for the no show were discussed including the weather, the somewhat
lateness in the season, and possibility that many of the birds were now on nests. Regardless, it
was still a thrill to listen to what is the shortest song of any of our North American breeding
songbirds. While observing the Henslow’s Sparrows and Bobolinks, we got terrific views of
singing Eastern Meadowlark, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and a flyover Green Heron.
We then decided to hike the short Tamarack Bog trail and picked up a handful of woodland
species including a singing Wood Thrush and both Northern Flicker and Hairy Woodpecker. A
male Rose-breasted Grosbeak sat out on a perch and belted it out its sweet song.
The walk back to the parking area yielded many of the same species including some very good
looks at an accommodating Willow Flycatcher. In total, 48 species were seen or heard
throughout our walk.
Four of us then headed to the nearby Coliseum Grasslands. This Cuyahoga Valley National Park
property is the site of the former Richfield Coliseum, once home to the Cleveland Cavaliers
basketball team. The structure was demolished in 1999 and the property transferred to the
National Park. Since then, it has been managed to allow for the growth of a natural grassland
habitat to emerge. From the roadside parking area, we were able to spot Bobolinks and Eastern
Meadowlark as well as a kiting American Kestrel before our departure. We added three new
species for the day bringing our total to 51. - Bird Walk Leader, Tim Colborn

Bird List - Bath Nature Preserve
# Species Count
1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1
2. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 1
3. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 5
4. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 3

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5. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1
6. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
7. Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1
8. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
9. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 1
10. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2
11. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1
12. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) 1
13. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1
14. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1
15. Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 5
16. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
17. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 1
18. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2
19. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1
20. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
21. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 3
22. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 1
23. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 8
24. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 3
25. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2
26. White-breasted Nuthatch (S itta carolinensis) 1
27. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2
28. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 3
29. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 1

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30. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12
31. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 3
32. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2
33. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5
34. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
35. Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 3
36. Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) 3
37. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 5
38. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 2
39. Boblink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 8
40. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 3
41. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 2
42. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 14
uiscalus quiscula)
43. Common Grackle (Q 3
44. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 5
45. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 3
46. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4
47. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 2
48. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 1

Bird List - Richfield Coliseum Grasslands
# Species Count
1. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 5
2. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 4

5
3. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1
4. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1
5. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2
6. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 6
7. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
8. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1
9. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 2
10. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 2
11. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 5
12. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 2

Photos

Photo: Hotspot Field Trip to See Grassland Birds by Tom Fishburn, Bath Nature Preserve, 4160 Ira Rd,
Akron, OH 44333, USA.

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1

Bird Walk Report

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

1. Mallard ​(Anas platyrhynchos) 1

2. Rock Pigeon​ (Columba livia) 1

3. Mourning Dove ​(Zenaida macroura) 5

4. Chimney Swift ​(Chaetura pelagica) 3

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

5. Killdeer​ (Charadrius vociferus) 1

6. Great Blue Heron ​(Ardea herodias) 1

7. Green Heron​ (Butorides virescens) 1

8. Turkey Vulture ​(Cathartes aura) 2

9. Red-headed Woodpecker​ (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 1

10. Red-bellied Woodpecke​r (Melanerpes carolinus) 2

11. Downy Woodpecker​ (Picoides pubescens) 1

12. Hairy Woodpecker​ (​Leuconotopicus villosus) 1

13. Northern Flicker​ (​Colaptes auratus) 1

14. Eastern Wood-Pewee​ (Contopus virens) 1

15. Willow Flycatcher ​(​Empidonax traillii) 5

16. Eastern Phoebe ​(​Sayornis phoebe) 1

17. Great Crested Flycatcher ​(​Myiarchus crinitus) 1

18. Eastern Kingbird ​(​Tyrannus tyrannus) 2

19. Warbling Vireo ​(Vireo gilvus) 1

20. Red-eyed Vireo​ (Vireo olivaceus) 1

21. Blue Jay ​(Cyanocitta cristata) 3

22. Northern Rough-winged Swallow​ (​Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 1

23. Tree Swallow​ (Tachycineta bicolor) 8

24. Barn Swallow ​(Hirundo rustica) 3

25. Tufted Titmouse​ (​Baeolophus bicolor) 2

26. White-breasted Nuthatch​ (S​ itta carolinensis) 1

27. House Wren​ (Troglodytes aedon) 2

28. Eastern Bluebird ​(Sialia sialis) 3

29. Wood Thrush​ (​Hylocichla mustelina) 1

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

30. American Robin ​(Turdus migratorius) 12

31. Gray Catbird​ (​Dumetella carolinensis) 3

32. House Finch ​(Haemorhous mexicanus) 2

33. American Goldfinch​ (​Spinus tristis) 5

34. Chipping Sparrow​ (Spizella passerina) 1

35. Field Sparrow ​(Spizella pusilla) 3

36. Henslow’s Sparrow​ (Ammodramus henslowii) 3

37. Song Sparrow ​(Melospiza melodia) 5

38. Swamp Sparrow​ (Melospiza georgiana) 2

39. Boblink ​(Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 8

40. Eastern Meadowlark ​(Sturnella magna) 3

41. Baltimore Oriole​ (​Icterus galbula)​ 2

42. Red-winged Blackbird ​(Agelaius phoeniceus) 14

44. Common Yellowthroat ​(​Geothlypis trichas) 5

45. Yellow Warbler​ (Setophaga petechia) 3

46. Northern Cardinal ​(Cardinalis cardinalis) 4

47. Rose-breasted Grosbeak ​(Pheucticus ludovicianus) 2

48. House Sparrow​ (Passer domesticus) 1

1. Mourning Dove ​(Zenaida macroura) 5

2. Killdeer​ (Charadrius vociferus) 4

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

3. American Kestrel​ (Falco sparverius) 1

4. Blue Jay ​(Cyanocitta cristata) 1

5. American Crow​ (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2

6. European Starling​ (Sturnus vulgaris) 6

7. American Goldfinch​ (​Spinus tristis) 1

8. Song Sparrow ​(Melospiza melodia) 1

9. Bobolink ​(Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 2

10. Eastern Meadowlark ​(Sturnella magna) 2

1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 1

2. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 1

3. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 5

4. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 3

5. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 1

6. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1

7. Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1

8. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2

9. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 1

10. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 2

11. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 1

12. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) 1

13. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1

14. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1

15. Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) 5

16. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1

17. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 1

18. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 2

19. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 1

20. Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1

21. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 3

22. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 1

23. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 8

24. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 3

25. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 2

26. White-breasted Nuthatch (S itta carolinensis) 1

27. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2

28. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 3

29. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 1

30. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 12

31. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 3

32. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2

33. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 5

34. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1

35. Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 3

36. Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) 3

37. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 5

38. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 2

39. Boblink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 8

40. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 3

41. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 2

42. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 14

44. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 5

45. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 3

46. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 4

47. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 2

48. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 1

1. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 5

2. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 4

3. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1

4. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 1

5. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 2

6. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 6

7. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1

8. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 1

9. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 2

10. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 2

11. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 5

12. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 2