Oxbow, Inc.

 

Protecting and Preserving Wetlands

Sightings for 2006

Date: Sunday, December 10, 2006

Location: Larwenceburg Road @ Great Miami River

Reporter: Jeff Rowe

Other Birders: Donna Rowe

Two snow geese on the gravel pit with Canada Geese. One white phase and one blue phase.

 

Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Dave Lintz

300+ American Coots, 7 Hooded Merganser, 4 Canvasback, 25 Wood Duck, 40 Mallard, 3 Northern Shoveler, 1 Canada Goose, 3 Great Blue Heron, 25 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Carolina Wren, 7 Song Sparrow, 2 House Finch, 1 Carolina Chickadee.

 

Date: Saturday, November 18, 2006

Location: The Oxbow & Shawnee Lookout

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: Oxbow Inc. Field Trip, 9 participants

Due to recent rains, the roads in the Oxbow were pretty wet and muddy and the Ohio and Great Miami River are on the rise and already beginning to flood the lowest areas. So we all agreed it was best not to attempt to drive very far into the Oxbow proper but rather bird various areas around the periphery. While we had pleasant weather and company, the birding was for the most part slow and most of the following species were pretty much scattered over a wide number of locations. Some interesting species found today included; Wood Duck 4, Gadwall 3, Bufflehead 4, Wild Turkey 4, Pied-billed Grebe 6, Great Blue Heron 7, Turkey Vultures 4, Cooper’s Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 7, Peregrine Falcon 1 (at the Miami Fort plant), American Coot 210, Ring-billed Gull 2, Belted Kingfisher 3, Horned Lark 3, Brown Creeper 3, Golden-crowned Kinglet 5, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 and Swamp Sparrow 3+. We also saw a beaver in the entrance (cement plant) pond.

 

Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Kani Meyer, Barry Dalton

300+ American Coot, 50 Mallard, 15 Wood Duck, 2 Horned Grebe, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 25 Blue-winged Teal, 1 Northern Shoveler, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 11 Killdeer, 3 Canada Goose, 5 Ring-billed Gull, 13 Great Blue Heron, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Northern Harrier, 4 Northern Cardinal, 25 Song Sparrow, 13 Carolina Chickadee, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch

 

Date: Sunday, November 5, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Kani Meyer, Denis Conover

Had a great first hand encounter with a Least Bittern that flushed from grass 10 feet in front of us and went back down in the grass 25 feet away and disappeared. This is a VERY rare sighting for the Oxbow since we lack the marsh areas that the bird normally habitats. The bird was in a tall grass, wet prairie restoration north of Osprey Lake. This is only the third sighting I could find record of for the Oxbow area. Also the sighting is later than any sighting I found in Ned Keller's data base. The bird flew well, manuvered in the air well and otherwise appeared healthy in our brief encounter. Other sightings in the Oxbow this afternoon were 1 American Bald Eagle, 6+ Double-crested Cormorants, 8 Ring-billed Gull, 3 Turkey Vulture, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 6 American Crow, 10+ Great Blue Heron, 3 Killdeer, 3 Hooded Merganser, 25 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 3 Pied-billed Grebe, 3 Ring-necked Duck, 15+ Wood Duck, 35+ Canada Goose, 2 Cardinal, 75 Brown-headed Cowbirds, 10 American Robin, 3 Carolina Chickadee, 1 Carolina Wren, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 4 Song Sparrow

 

Date: Friday, October 6, 2006

Location: Oxbow 6-8 pm

Reporter: Wayne Wauligman

Other Birders: 18 Oxbow Hike attendees

1 Northern Harrier, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 diving Osprey, 70 Double-crested Cormorants, 15 Great Egrets, 40 Great Blue Herons, 2 Black-crowned Night Herons, 3 Pied-billed Grebes (Juno Pond), 2 Kingfishers, 6 Wood Ducks, 2 Canada Geese, Mallards, 30 Black Vultures and 40 Turkey Vultures (over the Miami Fort smokestacks), 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet, 6 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 80 Red-winged Blackbirds, and one beaver.

 

Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Mack Garden Club

20 Great Blue Heron, 1 Great Egret, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Green Heron, 17 Canada Goose, 45 Double-crested Cormorants, 5 Crows, 12 Turkey Vultures, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Eastern Bluebird, 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Tennessee Warblers, 1 Winter Wren, 10 Carolina Chickadee, 1 Eastern Wood Pewee, 2 Carolina Wren, 50 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Mourning Dove, 2 Killdeer. After the Garden club had gone home I sat eating lunch on the benchs at the overlook. I was rewarded again with about a 5 minute long sighting of 4 otter moving across Oxbow Lake.

 

Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: The Symmes Late Bloomers Garden Club

45 Double-crested Cormorants, 14 Great Blue Heron, 5 Great Egrets, 14 Black Vulture, 5 Turkey Vulture, 2 Pied-billed Grebe, 3 American Crow, 35 Brown-headed Cowbirds

 

Date: Monday, October 2, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

40 Double-crested Cormorants, 22 Great Blue Heron, 6 Great Egret, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Osprey, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 American Crow, 3 Turkey Vulture, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 5 Killdeer, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Palm Warblers, 1 Yellow-rumped warbler, 7 Carolina Chickadee. All 5 Otter showed up in Oxbow Lake again and were visible for nearly 10 minutes. I took photos but all you can see are single heads that are not well defined. I will keep trying.

 

Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Short visit to the Oxbow before the rains closed in again. 31 Great Blue Heron, 8 Great Egrets, 37 Double-crested cormorants, 5 Wood Duck, 4 Canada Geese, 1 Turkey Vulture, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, and 1 Killdeer.

 

Date: Sunday, September 24, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Steve Pelikan, Kani Meyer

Second Day of the Great Outdoor Weekend dawned clear and bright but the forecast still kept the numbers down. We had a muddy walk to the Oxbow Lake over look but had good sightings, 10+ Great Blue Heron, 3 Great Egret, 3 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Green Heron, 4 Wood Ducks, 35+ Double Crested Cormorants, 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 20+ Purple Martins (immature), 2 Barn Swallow, 2 Carolina Chickadee, 3 Carolina Wren, 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 Turkey Vulture. As we were walking out 5 River Otter appeared in the middle of Oxbow lake and for about 3 minutes offered excellent viewing to all members of the party. Driving Home a Northern Harrier crossed I-275 in front of me coming from the Oxbow consevation easements adjacent to the State Line. As I crossed the Whitewater bridge near the Kilby exit an Osprey flew down the Whitewater toward Lost Bridge.

 

Date: Saturday, September 23, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Kani Meyer, Steve Pelikan, Darlena Graham

First Day of the Great Outdoor Weekend dawned wet and dreary. Four brave souls came for the morning tour even though our announcement had indicated we would cancel if it rained. Due to muddy conditions we only descended as far a Juno Pond and the northwest end of the causeway. At the end of the causeway we could see 20+ Double-crested Cormorants in the trees adjacent to Mercer Pond. A Perigrine Falcon made a low almost lazy pass across the farm fields. On Juno Pond we saw all four resident herons, Great Blue, Green, Black-crowned Night Herons, and Great Egret. A Belted Kingfisher splashed down for dinner and, as we were wrapping up and the rain was getting a bit harder, an Osprey drifted right over our heads and landed in the open directly opposite us. Not too bad for a rain and mud restricted outing.

 

Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Picking up fisherfolk trash along Oxbow Lake today ahead of the Great Outdoor Weekend. Oxbow Lake area alone, 15 Great Blue Heron, 11 Great Egret, 1 Green Heron, 3 Black-crowned Night Heron, 4 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Mallards, 2 Wood Duck, 68 Double-crested Cormorants, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Killdeer, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Northern Flickers, 400+ Tree Swallows, 1 Rough-winged Swallow, 5 Barn Swallow, 1 Mourning Dove, 3 Carolina Chickadee, 5 Indigo Bunting, 3 Turkey Vulture, and 3 American Crow.

 

Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Marge Seymour|

I Took my 90 year old mother to the Oxbow on Monday. We did not count and only had binoculars to look through so the following are estimates of some of the birds seen. 20 Great Blue Heron, 15 Great Egret, 100 Double-crested Cormorants, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Osprey, and FIVE OTTERS. This is the fourth otter sighting and the second this summer. Three of the four sightings have been in the same location, just south of the Oxbow Lake overlook in Oxbow Lake. Today's sighting involved seeing two swim toward the center of the lake followed by another about 40 feet back. Within a minute the trailing single otter was joined by two others and for a few seconds all five heads were visible above the surface. On reaching the center of Oxbow Lake all five dove and I did not see them surface within the field of my vision. This time of year these 5 should represent a family group.

 

Date: Sunday, September 10, 2006

Location: Shawnee Lookout & The Oxbow

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: CBC Field Trip, 20 Participants

Twenty members and friends of the Cincinnati Bird Club participated on today’s field trip to Shawnee Lookout and the Oxbow. Very pleasant weather helped make up for the less than hoped for assemblage of migrant warblers (only 11 species and not many individuals) although as a group we did manage a total of 81 species for the trip. We recorded 62 species at Shawnee Lookout where we began in the bottoms around the boat ramp parking lot before moving up the hill, where we walked about 1.25 miles along the park road from the Meadow Shelter to the Fort Trail parking lot. We then spent some time at Lost Bridge over the Great Miami and ended up in the Oxbow around 1:00 p.m. adding 19 more species from those combined locations. Osprey Pond in the Oxbow only had a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper and several Killdeer, but the water is beginning to recede again, and if we don’t get too much rain, it may attract more shorebirds in the weeks to come.

Some of the more interesting species we found today included; Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant 125~, Great Blue Heron 15+, Great Egret 7, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey 2 (Lost Bridge), Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk 5, Semipalmated Plover 4 (Lost Bridge), Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 15~, Belted Kingfisher 2, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee 4, Acadian Flycatcher 3, Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax species 3, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo 8, Yellow-throated Vireo 6, Warbling Vireo 2, Red-eyed Vireo 7, late Purple Martins 4, Tree Swallow 3, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 40 +, Barn Swallow 15~, House Wren 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson’s Thrush 4, Wood Thrush 4, Gray Catbird 5, Cedar Waxwing 5, Tennessee Warbler 6, Nashville Warbler 2, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 4, Cape May Warbler 2, Blackburnian Warbler 2, Yellow-throated Warbler 2, Bay-breasted Warbler, American Redstart 2, Common Yellowthroat 2, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, eastern Towhee 7, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5, Indigo Bunting 12+ and 2 fairly late Baltimore Orioles.

Our list was rounded out by the following more common species; Canada Goose ++, Wood Duck +, Mallard +, Turkey Vulture +, Killdeer ++, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove +, Chimney Swift, Red-bellied Woodpecker +, Downy Woodpecker +, Northern Flicker +, Blue Jay 30+, American Crow +, Carolina Chickadee +, Tufted Titmouse +, White-breasted Nuthatch 5, Carolina Wren 25+, American Robin +++, European Starling, Field Sparrow 4, Song Sparrow +, Northern Cardinal ++, Red-winged Blackbird +, Common Grackle +++, Brown-headed Cowbird 5, House Finch +, American Goldfinch ++ and House Sparrow.

Two other interesting species were independently seen by two seperate participants, A Bald Eagle along the Great Miami River, and a very early Brown Creeper in the Oxbow.

 

Date: Monday, September 4, 2006

Location: Elizabethtown Bridge, Hamilton Co., OH

Reporter: Neill Cade

I stopped here before going to Shawnee Lookout. Highlights included a Great Egret, a dozen Wild Turkeys, an adult Bald Eagle, a lone Sanderling (among the Killdeer), and all of the swallows (thousands were sweeping over the Great Miami River).

 

Date: Sunday, September 3, 2006

Location: Shawnee Lookout Park and Oxbow

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: Mike Busam, Joe Bens

Joe, Mike and I birded Shawnee Lookout Park from 8:00-11:30 a.m. this morning. Afterwards Joe and I took a brief look at the Oxbow. The beginning of fall songbird migration was apparent this morning as we had 10 species of warblers as well as several other migrants and 73 total species overall. Our best find was an Olive-sided Flycatcher, which gave us a long and decent look, including the two white oval tufts on it’s back, as it perched in classic olive-sided fashion at the extreme tip of the uppermost snag on a dead tree. We saw this bird from about 8:30 to 8:45 a.m., but it was not there when we checked on our way out at 11:30. To find this spot, go down the driveway to the boat ramp and turn right into the large parking lot and stop. Look due east at the tree line at the east edge of the parking lot and as close to the driveway you just came down and you should see a dead tree/snag with several bare branches. The Olive-sided was perched at the top of this snag.

Some other interesting species we had at Shawnee this morning included; Wild Turkey 4, Great Blue Heron 6, Great Egret 5, Black Vulture 2, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 4, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 7, Pileated Woodpecker 1, Olive-sided Flycatcher 1, Eastern Wood-Pewee 7, Least Flycatcher 1, Empidonax flycatcher species 12+, Eastern Phoebe 3, White-eyed Vireo 3, Yellow-throated Vireo 4, Red-eyed Vireo 6, Northern Rough-winged, Barn and Tree Swallows numbering about 50 total (over the Great Miami), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, Swainson’s Thrush 4, Wood Thrush 4, Gray Catbird 1, Cedar Waxwing 20+, Blue-winged Warbler 1, Tennessee Warbler 6, Northern Parula 1, Chestnut-sided Warbler 7, Magnolia Warbler 6, Blackburnian Warbler 3, Yellow-throated Warbler 2, Bay-breasted Warbler 3, American Redstart 3, Common Yellowthroat 8, Scarlet Tanager 1, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5 and Indigo Bunting 20~.

Shorebird conditions are currently poor in the Oxbow and we saw none other than Killdeer. Some species that were present there included many Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets 8, Green Heron, Blue-winged Teal 5, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants 65~ and Cooper’s Hawk.

 

Date: Sunday, August 27, 2006

Location: The Oxbow

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: Ned Keller, Debra Hausrath & Mary Ann Barnett

Good shorebirding continues in the Oxbow, particularly the north edge of Osprey Lake. This morning we found an adult winter plumaged Wilson’s Phalarope there and saw the previously reported juvenile plumaged Sanderling as well as a first year Black Tern over Oxbow Lake. We could not find the previously reported Willets, Baird’s or Stilt Sandpipers. In fact there were fewer shorebirds overall than reported during the past week, maybe a total of 45 birds, down from 75.

A list of our more interesting species in the Oxbow today includes; Double-crested Cormorant 35, Great Blue Herons, Great Egret 12, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron 4, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs 8, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Sanderling 1, Semipalmated Sandpiper 5, Least Sandpiper 5, Pectoral Sandpiper 15, Wilson’s Phalarope 1, Black Tern 1, Warbling Vireo and a Purple Martin.

Only a few species were present on the Great Miami River at Lost Bridge over the Great Miami River. Birds seen there included; Great Egret 4, Great Blue Herons, Killdeer 12, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Pectoral Sandpiper 2, Least Sandpiper 1, and a very long billed Semipalmated Sandpiper that flew off before we could turn it into a Western Sandpiper.

 

Date: Saturday, August 26, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lost Bridge, Allen Road (West Chester)

Reporter: Mike Busam

Other Birders: Bob Lacker

Oxbow: There were a few other birders there at 8:00 a.m. when we arrived, and their lists might be different. We missed Baird's Sandpiper, for instance, but a couple from Indiana said they saw at least one, between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. 12+ Killdeer, + Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Willet, 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Sanderling, 6+ Semipalmated Sandpipers, 12+ Least Sandpipers, ~12 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Stilt Sandpipers.

The Lost Bridge area was a bit slow. 12 Killdeer, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Spotted Sandpipers.

 

Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Location: Oxbow

Reporter: William Hull

After seeing Jay's post I realized that I forgot Baird's Sandpiper. That brings the count up to the 13 like I had mentioned.

 

Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Location: The Oxbow

Reporter: Jay Stenger

I visited the Oxbow this evening from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. As Jon and Bill previously reported, the north edge of Osprey Lake was alive with shorebirds. To view an Oxbow Inc. map of the Oxbow, including Osprey Lake, go to the following website. http://www.oxbowinc.org/images/pocket-map.jpg

I only found 1 of the 3 previously reported Willets and could not find the Sanderling, but there were 2 Baird’s Sandpipers and 3 Stilt Sandpipers present during my visit. It is hard to say how many total birds were present, as there was much movement and coming and going while I was there, but around 80 shorebirds sounds right. In addition to the above shorebirds I also saw Killdeer 20~, Greater Yellowlegs 8, Lesser Yellowlegs 10, Solitary Sandpiper 3, Spotted Sandpiper 4, Semipalmated Sandpiper 6, Least Sandpiper 12, and Pectoral Sandpiper 12~, for a total of 11 shorebird species. Semipalmated Plover was conspicuous by its absence. There were a few shorebirds at the extreme south end of Oxbow Lake but all I could make out were a few Killdeer and a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs. Other species I found included; Wood Duck 25+ (including 2 broods), Blue-winged Teal 4, Double-crested Cormorant 15, Great Blue Heron 25+, Great Egret 27, Green Heron 1, Black-crowned Night-Heron 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Peregrine Falcon (1 immature, most likely one of the four young birds which fledged from the Miami Fort Plant below Shawnee Lookout last spring, but maybe not), Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2, and many Indigo Buntings 20~, and American Goldfinches 25~.

I also saw several shorebirds on sandbars on the Great Miami River at Lost Bridge. From the car, and stopped for a minute on the bridge, I could only make out Killdeer and unidentified yellowlegs and peep species. As I was late for a meeting I had no time to pull over and look them over. The sandbars are quite large and inviting right now and are probably worth checking.

 

Date: Wednesday, August 22, 2006

Location: Oxbow

Reporter: William Hull

This morning I stopped by the spot that Jon Seymour mentions below (Osprey Lake). The shorebird habitat is looking very nice and the species list had grown from his Monday report. There were now 13 shorebird species.

Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Willet, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper

 

Date: Saturday, August 19, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Oxbow Lake, Osprey Lake, and Juno Pond alone: 15 Great Egret, 12 Great Blue Heron, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Green Heron, 2 Lesser Yellow Legs, 2 Semi-palmated sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 3 Killdeer, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 12 Double-crested Cormorants, 8 Wood Duck, 15 Mallards, 1 Canada Goose, and several other species that I did not count today.

 

Date: Monday, August 14, 2006

Location: Oxbow

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: Jack Stenger, Joe Bens

The Oxbow: Water conditions were pretty high in the Oxbow on Sunday and there was hardly any exposed shoreline. Killdeer and a couple of distant peeps were the only shorebirds we found. Lots of Great Blue Herons, 5 Great Egrets and a few Double-crested Cormorants were present.

 

Date: Monday, July 24, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Dave Styer

I met Dave and Jane Styer in the Oxbow to show Dave the progress we are making at developing the Oxbow area. Jane accompanied us part of the trip and unfortunately had to conduct some business so could not join us for the whole walk. While not strictly bird watching we were able to see and hear several things. 2 Canada Goose, 10 Wood Duck, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 15 Double Crested Cormorant, 20+ Great Blue Heron, 10+ Great Egret, 5 Green Heron, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 2 Turkey Vulture, 1 Cooper's Hawk, 2 Red-tailed Hawk, 5 Killdeer, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 2 Mourning Dove, 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo (calling), 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 2 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Red-bellied Wp, 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Eastern Wood Peewee, 1 Willow Flycatcher, 1 Great-crested Flycatcher, 1 Warbling Vireo, 4 American Crow, 1 Horned Lark, 2 Carolina Chickadee, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Carolina Wren, 2 House Wren, 4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 1 Eastern Bluebird, 2 American Robin, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 3 Common Yellowthroat, 10+ Song Sparrow, 2 Northern Cardinal, 1 BLUE GROSBEAK (singing), 3 Indigo Bunting, 100+ Red-winged Blackbird, 25+ Common Grackle, 1 Brown-headed Cowbird, 6 American Goldfinch.

 

Date: Sunday, July 23, 2006

Location: Miamiview Road

Reporter: Christopher Sandman

Heading toward Shawnee Lookout Park , before the bridge over the Great Miami, 2 Wild Turkeys and 9 offspring crossed the road in front of me. Last year, at this spot, a similar sized flocked did the same. Gobbler expressway? I don’t know, but I’ve seen lots of them out here, especially in the large, low cut field just to the east, grazing.

 

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Working in the Oxbow today, only on the West side of Oxbow Lake. Counted 25 Great Blue Heron, 12 Great Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night Heron, 5 Wood Duck, 3 Mallards, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Turkey Vulture, 2 American Crow, 3 Killdeer, 3 Tree Swallows, 200+ Red-winged Blackbird, 3 Cardinal, 1 Eastern Kingbird, 2 Tufted Titmouse, 6 Song Sparrow, 3 Indigo Buntings, and 2 Prothonotary Warbler.

 

Date: Monday, July 10, 2006

Location: The Oxbow

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: Jack Stenger

Towards the end of a morning of breeding bird surveying, Jack and I found a pair of Blue Grosbeaks in the Oxbow around 12:30 pm today. Both birds were seen around the parking area of the Oxbow overlook (the one with the benches), which is located about midway down the west bank of Oxbow Lake (the right shoreline as you come in the main entrance, or the US 50 side). As we pulled into the lot both birds flushed up into trees along the shore. We saw the male only briefly, but the female gave us long and unobstructed looks. We were unable to confirm breeding, but it would be most probable for a pair at this date.

Other species we found during our quick drive through included; Great Egret 5, Great Blue Heron 12, Double-crested Cormorant 6, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Barn Swallow 3, House Wren 3, Eastern Bluebird 2, Common Yellowthroat 3, Indigo Bunting 6, and a Baltimore Oriole.

 

Date: Thursday, July 6, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

I had all four heron species on Juno Pond at the SAME time. I was the only one there and the herons were flying across the pond squawking at me and each other. 2 Great Egret, 2 Green Heron, 2 Black-crowned Night Heron, 15 Great Blue Heron, 7 Double-crested Cormorant, 3 Wood Duck, 37 Canada Goose, 3 Turkey Vulture, 2 Large Raptors (too far), 1 American Crow, 1 Belted Kingfisher,16 Song Sparrow, 8 Robins, 55 Red-winged Blackbirds, 3 Indigo Buntings, 2 American Goldfinch, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 11 Tree Swallow, 3 Rough-winged Swallow, 4 Northern Cardinal, 1 Carolina Wren, 1 Carolina Chickadee, and 3 Starling.

 

Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Great Blue Heron, 4 Great Egret, 3 Spotted Sandpiper, 5 Killdeer, 2 Green Heron, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 35 Canada Goose, 6 Wood Duck, 50 Tree Swallow, 4 Rough-winged Swallow, 2 Prothonotary Warbler, 3 Carolina Chickadee, 3 Song Sparrow, 1 Osprey, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1 Northern Flicker, 2 Turkey Vulture, 6 Robin, 30 Red-winged Blackbird, and 1 Eastern Bluebird.

 

Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

A quick walk along Oxbow Lake revealed 14 Great Blue Herons, 17 Double Crested Cormorant, and 4 Great Egret. One Caspian Tern was seen in the distance over Mercer Pond. A female Wood Duck was leading a brood of about 10 ducklings on a merry chase through the swamp woods on the northeast edge of Oxbow Lake. Two prothonotary warblers were singing on the southwest edge of the Lake

 

Date: Friday, June 9, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Jackie Seymour, Chuck and Bobbi Frolik

Took some visitors out to the Oxbow today. Fairly quite with the usual suspects but for the interesting presence of 3 Caspian Terns and 1 Ring-billed Gull.

 

Date: Saturday, May 20, 2006

Location: oxbow mercer pond

Reporter: Tom Uhlman

2 adult little blue herons

 

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2006

Location: North Bend, OH Yard and Oxbow

Reporter: Jeff Rowe

Other Birders: Andy Bess

A late report from the Oxbow Thursday night included Warbling Vireos, Prothonatary, Palm (11), Yellow-rumped, Yellow, and possible Nashville (1) Warblers. Also in the flooded field south of Mercer Pond, Yellow legs (8 -10) and Dunlin (2) along with two possible water pipits (flyover).

 

Date: Saturday, April 29, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: multiple other observers

Leading a cub scout group so birding was not actually possible for most of the time. Got a little in afterward but was in a hurry. Important was the continued presence of the immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron hanging out all day (acording to other observers) in the Juno Pond area. Fairly bold. 4 Great Egrets, 2 Great Blue Heron, 40+ Double-crested Cormorants, 2 Wood Duck, 9 Canada Geese, 4 Caspian Terns, 12 American Coot, 2 Killdeer, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 3 Mallard, 2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 1 Warbling Vireo, 2 Carolina Wren, 2 Rough-winged Swallow, 2 American Crow, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 3 Turkey Vulture, 5 Ring-billed Gulls, 5 American Goldfinch, 4 Northern Cardinals, 2 Song Sparrow, 3 Red-winged Blackbirds, 2 Mourning Dove, and xx Robins, Grackles, and Tree Swallows.

 

Date: Friday, April 28, 2006

Location: Oxbow

Reporter: Jeff Rowe

Stopped into the Oxbow this morning for a quick look. There were 11 Great Egrets to the left of the dike, Yellow Warbler (2), and Warbling Vireo (2). There were a lot of shore birds but the sun made it difficult to ID. I would call them Lesser Yellowlegs and some Solitary and one Spotted Sandpipers.

There was also one bird that at first I thought immature Black Crowned Night Heron. The bird was fishing from a log. Diving in to catch shad then swim back to the log (like a gull) and jump up to eat the fish. I took some photos but after further review, I believe this is a Yellow Crowned Night Heron based on the length of the neck and the coloration. This bird was fishing on the bank on the road to the overlook between the first and second fishermans paking areas. If I can figure out how, I'll post the photos on them message board. (www.cincinnatibirds.com)

From Dave Styer's Book on the birds of the Oxbow: "We have three previous recorded sightings of Yellow-crowned Night Heron in the Oxbow. Morris Mercer and Doyle Petrey saw two adults at the Oxbow 19 April 1980. Morris, John Heeney and Dave Styer saw an immature at Lost Bridge 29 August 1988. Neil Cade found an immature in the Oxbow 16 Aug 1998. "

The new sighting by Jeff Rowe on 28 April 2006 is only the fourth record. Jeff relocated the bird on 29 April 2006 and Jon Seymour located the bird the same day hanging out in Juno Pond near the causeway. Jeff was able to take some fantastic photos of the bird for all to enjoy. A quick analysis of Ned Keller's data base show probably only 36 independent records of Yellow-crowned Night Heron since 1980 in the Birdathon region, which includes Muscatatuck NWR, Dayton, and East Fork Lake to give an idea of the size of the area involved."

 

Date: Friday, April 28, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Also stopped at the Oxbow between 11:30 and 12:30 today. Had a count of 15 great egrets all up close in the cement plant pond. I was working so did not have time to count much. There was a mixed flock of about 10 Lesser and 10 Greater Yellowlegs. There were 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 55 Ring-billed Gulls, 14 Great Blue Heron, 20+ American Coot and 13 Double-crested Cormorants, 3 Mallards, 7 Canada Geese and 1 COMMON LOON. Many other swallows, blackbirds, and robins. I heard 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Carolina Wren.

 

Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Took a walk at the north end of the Oxbow area between 3:00 - 5:30 pm. Excellent weather, dry walking conditions.

Trip List: Canada Goose 22, Wood Duck 4, Mallard 7, Blue-winged Teal 24, Pied-billed Grebe 4, Double-crested Cormorant 44, Great Blue Heron 2, Turkey Vulture 8, Osprey 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Coot 33, Killdeer 5, Lesser Yellowlegs 35, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Ring-billed Gull 24, Mourning Dove 2, Chimney Swift 5, Belted Kingfisher 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Downy Woodpecker 1, American Crow 3, Tree Swallow 250, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 25, Barn Swallow 75, Carolina Chickadee 6, Carolina Wren 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6, Eastern Bluebird 1, American Robin 40, European Starling 1, American Pipit 6, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Field Sparrow 2, Vesper Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 3, Red-winged Blackbird 12, Rusty Blackbird 3, Common Grackle 35, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, Baltimore Oriole 1, American Goldfinch 10

 

Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Trip List: Canada Goose 18, Wood Duck 11, Blue-winged Teal 28, Northern Shoveler 17, Pied-billed Grebe 3, Double-crested Cormorant 9, Great Blue Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 3, Osprey 1, American Coot 25, Killdeer 2, Mourning Dove 4, Northern Flicker 1, American Crow 1, Tree Swallow 6, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8, Carolina Chickadee 3, Tufted Titmouse 1, Carolina Wren 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3, American Robin 15, European Starling 6, Palm Warbler 1, American Tree Sparrow 3, Field Sparrow 3, Song Sparrow 4, White-throated Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 10, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle 20

 

Date: Saturday, April 8, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Nice morning in the Oxbow:

Trip List: Canada Goose 12, Wood Duck 2, Gadwall 2, Mallard 4, Blue-winged Teal 25, Northern Shoveler 5, Ring-necked Duck 5, Pied-billed Grebe 4, Double-crested Cormorant 14, Black Vulture 2, Turkey Vulture 3, Osprey 2, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Coot 30, Killdeer 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Mourning Dove 15, Downy Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 1, American Crow 2, Tree Swallow 6, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10, Carolina Chickadee 2, American Robin 20, European Starling 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 8, Yellow-throated Warbler 2, American Tree Sparrow 2, Field Sparrow 2, White-crowned Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 7, Red-winged Blackbird 100, Common Grackle 35, House Finch 1, American Goldfinch 3

 

Date: Saturday, April 1, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Shawnee Lookout

Reporter: Ned Keller

Other Birders: Oxbow, Inc. field trip

Last night's rain made it too muddy to drive into the Oxbow. From the intersection at the bottom of the hill, we could see a handful of ducks, including Shovelers, Blue-winted Teal, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, and a solitary Mallard. There were several Pied-billed Grebes, and we had a glimpse of a Common Loon before it swam out of sight. We had a better look at another Loon flying overhead. A flock of about fifty swallows milling about were mostly Trees, except for a couple of Rough-wings and one Barn.

At Shawnee Lookout, we found lots of Field Sparrows and Towhees along the power line cuts, while Red-tailed and Cooper's Hawks, vultures, Great Blue Herons and Cormorants were overhead. The best bird there was a Fox Sparrow, seen near the end of our walk.

 

Location: Lost Bridge, Oxbow

Reporter: Paul Krusling

It was an interesting day at the Lost Bridge gravel pit today. I arrived at about 3:00 pm and stayed for about 20 minutes, There were several lesser scaup, ringneck ducks, a few bufflhead, canada geese, three hooded mergansers, one pied-billed grebe, two bald eagles, a very large (100+) flock of sandhill cranes flying North, 12+ double crested cormorants flying North.

Not much to add at the Oxbow other than many ring-billed gull, American coots, American robins and starlings. There were several unidentified buteos, including one that I suspect was a rough-legged hawk, but it is in need of confirmation.

Shawnee Lookout's boat ramp added Belted kingfisher, song sparrow, red-bellied woodpecker, Carolina chickadees, great blue heron.

 

Date: Saturday, March 25, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Walking out through the Oxbow with UC reasearchers. Notice a few residents along the way.

Trip List: Canada Goose 4, Wood Duck 3, Gadwall 4, Mallard 5, Northern Shoveler 21, Ring-necked Duck 2, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Horned Grebe 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Black Vulture 1, Turkey Vulture 17, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, American Coot 9, Killdeer 11, Ring-billed Gull 6, Mourning Dove 4, Downy Woodpecker 1, American Crow 6, Tree Swallow 20, Carolina Wren 1, American Robin 1000, European Starling 2000, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, American Tree Sparrow 8, Song Sparrow 4, Northern Cardinal 15, Red-winged Blackbird 400, Common Grackle 400, Brown-headed Cowbird 300, American Goldfinch 2

 

Date: Friday, March 17, 2006

Location: Oxbow Area

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Karl Maslowski, Geroge Laycock, Jim Simpson in our annual search for the Green-winged Teal on St. Patrick's Day we checked out the Oxbow Lake area, Hidden Valley Lake, and Lost Bridge. Here are tallys from these areas (counts are approximate):

Lost Bridge: 15 Green-winged Teal, 2 Northern Shoveler, and 6 Ring-billed Gulls.

Oxbow Lake: Canada Goose 6, Wood Duck 5, Gadwall 30, American Wigeon 10, Mallard 30, Blue-winged Teal 4, Northern Shoveler 8, Green-winged Teal 10, Redhead 2, Ring-necked Duck 20, Bufflehead 5, Pied-billed Grebe 3, Horned Grebe 3, Great Blue Heron 4, Turkey Vulture 3, American Coot 65, Killdeer 4, Ring-billed Gull 15, Mourning Dove 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 1, American Crow 5, Tree Swallow 15, Carolina Chickadee 4, Tufted Titmouse 1, American Robin 25, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, Song Sparrow 6, Northern Cardinal 10, Red-winged Blackbird 2, Common Grackle 12

Hidden Valley Lake: 2 Lesser Scaup, 80 American Coot, 3 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Pied-billed Grebe, 2 Horned Grebe, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 10 Gadwall, 1 Common loon.

 

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Marge Seymour

1 Harrier, 20 American Crow, 5 Great Blue Heron, 150 Gadwall, 45 American Coot, 17 Canada Geese, 20 Mallard, 8 Wood Duck, 6 Green-winged Teal, 3 Northern Shovelers, 5 Pintail, and 20 Yellow-rumped Warblers. Marge is celebrating her 90th birthday with a little drive through the Oxbow.

 

Date: Saturday, February 25, 2006

Location: Shawnee Lookout, Hamilton Co., OH

Reporter: Neill Cade

A dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk was found perched near the gravel pit at the Elizabethtown bridge. A Cooper\'s Hawk was making passes over the nearby Killdeer and Horned Larks.

At the boat ramp, a large flock (60+) of American Tree Sparrows were feeding along the muddy edge of the parking area.

 

Date: Friday, February 17, 2006

Location: Oxbow

Reporter: Jon Seymour

A long walk (rather slog) in the Oxbow was very good today. Still can only cover half the area.

Trip List: Canada Goose 36, Wood Duck 3, Gadwall 10, American Black Duck 5, Mallard 15, Northern Shoveler 10, Northern Pintail 66, Ring-necked Duck 46, Lesser Scaup 6, Hooded Merganser 4, Great Blue Heron 6, Turkey Vulture 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Sandhill Crane 4, Killdeer 9, Ring-billed Gull 15, Mourning Dove 74, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Downy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker 3, American Crow 620, Carolina Chickadee 4, Tufted Titmouse 1, White-breasted Nuthatch 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 2, American Robin 6, European Starling 2, American Pipit 5, Yellow-rumped Warbler 20, American Tree Sparrow 9, Song Sparrow 6, Northern Cardinal 7

 

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Nice day for a walk in the Oxbow. 3 Mourning Dove, 150 Starling, 2 Robin, 2 American Crow, 2 Carolina Chickadee, 6 Ring-billed Gull, 49 Canada Geese, 5 Great Blue Heron, 1 Shoveler, 25 Mallard, 70 Lesser Scaup, 2 Black Duck, 2 Pintail, and 12 Hooded Merganser. Other ducks present at a distance but with only my binoculars I could not be certain of ID.

 

Date: Monday, February 13, 2006

Location: The Oxbow

Reporter: Sarah Waller

Saw a large number of ducks (mainly Mallard) and also saw large groups of starlings, with robins intermixed. Counted 6 ring-billed gulls, along with 5 killdeer.

 

Date: Saturday, February 11, 2006

Location: Lost Bridge Great Miami River

Reporter: Tom Sheehan

Bald Eagle perched less than 100 yards downstream of Lost Bridge. I got to view this impressive bird for 20 minutes until it disappeared into a snow squall heading down river.

 

Date: Sunday, February 5, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Brookville Lake & Miami Whitewater Wetlands

Reporter: Joe Kappa

Other Birders: Paul Krusling

Great day for a cold weather birding triathlon. Highlights of the day include: Oxbow: Numerous Yellow-Rumped Warblers. Brookville: Four Bald Eagles (2 adults/2Imm), three were in the same tree and were seen at the North End of the lake over the mudflats. Also identified a Hermit Thrush and a Winter Wren sharing the same creek fed ravine near the mudflats. Observed three separate groups of turkeys, one at each location. Finished the day with a Harrier patrolling the fields at MWW Wetlands. Day's total = 43 species.

 

Date: Friday, February 3, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Quick spot check on the property. Too wet to drive in.

Lawrenceburg Conservancy District view (LCD): 50 Canada Geese on Osprey Lake, 70 mallards in LCD ponds, 12 Crows in Oxbow fields, one song sparrow on bike path.

Juno Pond entrance: 210 mallards in the smartweed flats, 2 Canada Geese, 2 tufted titmice, 5 Carolina chickadees, 6 American Goldfinch, 30 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 3 Robins, 2 Mourning Dove, one carolina wren.

 

Date: Sunday, January 29, 2006

Location: Oxbow Area

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Wayne Wauligman.

Wayne and I were checking vernal pools in the area and did note a few birds. Present but not counted were carolina chickadees, red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, northern mockingbird, cardinals, mourning doves, a Belted Kingfisher and a Great Blue Heron on Juno Pond. 1 4-5 year old Bald Eagle at Lost Bridge with some Canada Geese and 1- mute swan. The water was receding in the Oxbow Lake and there were several hundred ducks swimming near the overlook but to far out to ID (no scope).

 

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

3 Yellow-rumped Warblers in the parking area.

 

Date: Sunday, January 15, 2006

Location: Shawnee Lookout & Oxbow area

Reporter: Jay Stenger

Other Birders: Ned Keller, Jack Stenger & Jeff Burgess

We birded several sites in the lower Great Miami River valley this morning. Bald Eagles again appear to favor the Lost Bridge area along the Great Miami River this winter, as two adults were present there all morning and gave us close looks. Some other species we found this morning included:

Lost Bridge/Lawrenceburg Rd.: BALD EAGLE 2 (adults), Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gulls, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawk, and Horned Lark.

Shawnee Lookout Boat Ramp: Teeming with small bird activity, especially sparrows including White-crowned Sparrow 2, Swamp Sparrow 3, and American Tree Sparrow 12+. Also Pileated Woodpecker and Brown Creeper.

Stateline Rd. Pond: Mute Swan 2, Northern Shoveler 3, and Belted Kingfisher.

Hidden Valley Lake: Mute Swan 3, Gadwall 3, Bufflehead 4, American Coot 150+, Belted Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, and Horned Lark.

Kilby Rd/I-275: Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed hawk 3.

 

Date: Sunday, January 15, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Took a sticky walk to the backside of the Oxbow Past Juno Pond to Mercer Pond and the Corning easement. 15 Great Blue Heron, 85 Ring-billed gulls, 90 American Crow, 27 Canada Geese, 60 mallards, 1 Great Horned Owl, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 50 Robins, 20 Carolina Chickadees, 2 White-crowned sparrows, 3 White-throated Sparrows, 2 Tufted Titmice, 1 Rusty Blackbird, 2 American Tree sparrows, 6 Downy Woodpeckers, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 25 Northern Cardinals

 

Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2006

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN

Reporter: Jon Seymour

Other Birders: Jeff Rowe

Oxbow Lake and Osprey Lake were active with 600+ Canada Geese, 1500+ Mallards, 20+ Green-winged Teal, 12 Black Duck, 2 Canvasback, 2 American Widgeon, 1 Kingfisher, and 2 Great Blue Heron. Two Mute Swan on the lake on State Line Road visible from the Interstate. Many flocks of Geese moving into the Oxbow at dusk.