Recent Sightings in the Oxbow - 2010

Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010
Location: Oxbow region
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
Stopped at a few spots in and around the Oxbow Saturday afternoon. Of note: 18+ Great Egrets, and one Double-crested Cormorant on Oxbow Lake. At Lost Bridge, good mudflats on the river, but only found 5 Spotted Sandppipers and 8 Killdeer. The skypool along Lawrenceburg Road was virtually empty with the exception of a Great Blue Heron and a few Killdeer. 

Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Jeff Foster
Other Birders: my son Jeffrey
Made it to Oxbow just after sunrise this morning. We were not disappointed as we saw two species we had not seen before - the Great Egret and the Little Blue Heron. Two of the Egrets were in Osprey Lake and the third was in Jackpot Pond. The Little Blue Heron was perched on a stump in the middle of Oxbow Lake.

The birds positively identified this morning were: Great Blue Heron - 10, Great Egret - 3, Red Winged Blackbird - 20+, Mourning Doove - 25+, Indigo Bunting - 2, Killdeer - 1, Mallard - 1, American Robin - 15, American Crow - 2, Little Blue Heron - 1.  There were many others we saw but could not get a good enough view to positively identify. Also, we heard many more than we were able to see.

Date: Monday, June 28, 2010
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Jeff Foster
Other Birders: my son Jeffrey
Today was my first trip to Oxbow and I really enjoyed it. I know it is not prime birding season nor was it the optimal time of day but it was still productive as I saw two species of birds for the first time. We saw 3 Great Blue Herons wading in Oxbow Lake. We also saw 5 northern Cardinals, 2 Indigo Buntings, 50 or more Common Grackles, 2 American Robins, 1 Red Tailed Hawk, 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Song Sparrow, and 1 Yellow Warbler. This was the first time I had ever seen the Wood Duck or the Yellow Warbler. The Wood Ducks were in Jackpot Pond. The Yellow Warbler flew in and lit in a tree no more than ten feet from us at the Oxbow Lake Overlook. He stayed in the tree long enough for me to pull ot my field guides and positively identify him.  Also while we were at the Overlook, the Red Tailed Hawk flew in and perched on the electrical tower near the Overlook parking area. I got a great view of him through my binoculars to confirm that he was indeed a Red Tailed hawk. There were many other waterfowl out on Oxbow lake but I could not get a good enough look to identify them. We also heard many more birds than we were able to observe. I can't wait to go back to Oxbow at a more prime birding time!
 
Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Location: oxbow
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Cathy Kappa
Took our canoe out on the lake last night and paddled around the edge. Highlights were four Black-crowned Night Herons, and an adult Green-back Heron with two young which were to young to fly.
Complete list: Canada Goose 2, Wood Duck 12, Mallard 8, Double-crested Cormorant 7, Great Blue Heron 8, Great Egret 6, Green Heron 3, Black-crowned Night-Heron 4, Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Mourning Dove 5, Chimney Swift 10, Eastern Kingbird 2, Horned Lark 18, Purple Martin 2, Tree Swallow 9, American Robin 3, Yellow Warbler 1, Song Sparrow 5, Northern Cardinal 7, Indigo Bunting 2, Red-winged Blackbird 35, Common Grackle 55, Brown-headed Cowbird 2, Baltimore Oriole 1

Date: Friday, May 23, 2010
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Paula & Jeff Quatkemeyer
The Oxbow is worth getting up early to see in the fog.  We didn’t think about mosquitoes in the early hour.  We soon doused ourselves in Deet.  With cameras and coffee mugs in hand, and feeling like Stephen King surely must be close by, into the fog we went … only to encounter the Game Warden!  In true Stephen King fashion, we half expected the Game Warden to sprout something or eat us. He was checking things out, had just missed me in a nature calls moment, and wished us a great day. A short distance in and we already spotted our first Prothonotary Warblers!  Then a Common Yellowthroat Warbler, Eastern Kingbirds, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Cormorants, Canada Geese, Song Sparrows, Gold Finches, Carolina Wren, Tree Swallows, Indigo Buntings galore, White Striped Sparrow and a Great Crested Flycatcher … and numerous ‘common’ birds. Giant turtles splashed into the water … they were halfway up trees!    The shots of the day were what we thought was a Green Heron, a first for me.  The Heron was flying towards us out of the fog, turned slightly and the light was perfect for a midflight shot!  He landed a short distance from us.  When we got home and checked our field guide we discovered it was not a Green Heron but an immature Black Crowned Night Heron … just passing through our area, only by chance that we took his pictures – 20 minutes from Downtown Dent.  (Corrections on species welcome.) www.PJQandFriends.com

Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Matt Stenger
Also lost bridge site was a good stop. Blue-Winged Teal in addition to previously mentioned shore birds.
 
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jason Cade
At Lost Bridge were 6 Killdeer, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 12 Dunlin, 20 Least Sandpipers, 5 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, & 3 Spotted Sandpipers. Also 2 SNOWY EGRETS in a small pool of water right behind the large skypool.
 
Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Location: Elizabethtown bridge, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: Jason Cade
Jason just called again (10:20 AM). There are 5 RUDDY TURNSTONES, a dozen Dunlin, and 2 Snowy Egrets in a skypool (which may be the "new pond" referenced in earlier posts) near the gravel road pull off on the opposite side of road from the large gravel pit pond adjacent to the Elizabethtown Bridge (aka Lost Bridge). If you're coming from Elizabethtown traveling toward the bridge, this would be on the right. Again...have fun!
 
Date: Monday, May 17, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jonathan Frodge
Other Birders: several
Lost Bridge (thanks for the back way directions Mark)was great for close looks at breeding plumage Dunlins and Cliff Swallow. The pool also held semipalmated sp., Least, and yellowlegs. Right as I was leaving a Lark Sparrow flitted in to the planted field adjacent to the driveway.
 
Date: Monday, May 17, 2010
Location: New gravel pit pond near lost bridge
Reporter: Frank Frick
6 Black-Bellied Plovers,12 Dunlin,1 White-rumped Sandpiper,2 Semipalmated Plovers plus Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers and some Yellowlegs.The Phalarope that Kirk reported yesterday was not seen.I have been coming to this site for a while now and there seems to be a frequent turn over of birds.
 
Date: Sunday, May 16, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Kirk Westendorf
Other Birders: Jim Lundberg
1 Wilson's Phalarope (male)  Jim and I saw a Wilson's Phalarope in the sky pool closest to the bridge today around 1pm. It seemed to be either an immature bird or between plumages. I guess this is either the 4th W. Phalarope of the season or perhaps the same bird that was observed here during the Birdathon last weekend.
 
Date: Saturday, May 15, 2010
Location: Shawnee Lookout/Lost Bridge/The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: 21 Participants Cincinnati Bird Club Field Trip
Pleasant weather greeted the 21 CBC members and friends who participated on this morning’s field trip to Shawnee Lookout. While we did not find many of the hoped for migrant songbirds, there were plenty of breeding birds about. Our most rare species was an Alder Flycatcher, which we heard well at the boat ramp parking lot. We also checked the sky pool near Lost Bridge. Most of us broke up by noon, but about 5 of us decided to take a quick peak at the Oxbow where we picked up a few new species for the day including 2 Bald Eagles. As a group we managed 96 species on our combined trip list. It is quite possible someone may have had something I missed and have omitted. To the best of my knowledge our complete list follows.
Shawnee Lookout Park: Wood Duck 4, Wild Turkey 4, Great Blue Heron 2, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 10, Cooper's Hawk 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Rock Pigeon 6, Mourning Dove 12, Chimney Swift 4, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 6, Downy Woodpecker 6, Northern Flicker 4, 
Pileated Woodpecker 4, Eastern Wood-Pewee 5, Acadian Flycatcher 2,   Alder Flycatcher 1, Willow Flycatcher 2, Eastern Phoebe 1, Great Crested Flycatcher 10, White-eyed Vireo 2, Yellow-throated Vireo 5, Warbling Vireo 3, Red-eyed Vireo 12, 
Blue Jay 3, American Crow 15, Tree Swallow 3, Barn Swallow 2, Carolina Chickadee 15, Tufted Titmouse 6, White-breasted Nuthatch 3, Carolina Wren 4, House Wren 15, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 20, Eastern Bluebird 1, Swainson's Thrush 5, Wood Thrush 10, American Robin 30, Gray Catbird 2, Northern Mockingbird 1, Brown Thrasher 1, European Starling 40, Blue-winged Warbler 1, Northern Parula 5, Yellow Warbler 3, Magnolia Warbler 2, Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Warbler1, Prairie Warbler 1, Cerulean Warbler 7,  American Redstart 4, Prothonotary Warbler 1, Kentucky Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 4, Wilson's Warbler 1, Yellow-breasted Chat 4, Summer Tanager 3, Scarlet Tanager 3, Eastern Towhee 35, Chipping Sparrow 6, Field Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 10, Northern Cardinal 15, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1, Indigo Bunting 20, Red-winged Blackbird 15, Common Grackle 10, Brown-headed Cowbird 20, Orchard Oriole 4, 
Baltimore Oriole 20, House Finch 6, American Goldfinch 15, House Sparrow 5
Lost Bridge: Canada Goose 25, Mallard 20, Blue-winged Teal 6, Great Blue Heron 2, Semipalmated Plover 4, Killdeer 6, Spotted Sandpiper 4, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 8, Semipalmated Sandpiper 40, Least Sandpiper 30, Pectoral Sandpiper 6, Dunlin 1, Tree Swallow 15, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5, Bank Swallow 20, Cliff Swallow 25, Barn Swallow 5
The Oxbow: Wood Duck 7, Double-crested Cormorant 25, Great Blue Heron 4, Bald Eagle 2 (1 adult & 1 3y bird), American Kestrel 1 Palm Warbler 1, Prothonotary Warbler 1 

Date: Friday, May 14, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
At about 3 pm today a good number of shorebirds were present in the sky pool along Lawrenceburg Road just west of Lost Bridge and included 9 Short-billed Dowitchers and at least 1 White-rumped Sandpiper. Other species present included about 100 peeps made up roughly of 50 Least Sandpipers and 50 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 11 Semipalmated Plovers, 7 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs and about 5 Killdeer. Six Blue-winged Teal were also present as were all our local swallow species, which were dominated by approximately 50 Bank Swallows.

Date: Monday, May 3, 2010
Location: Oxbow, Lost Bridge, Shawnee Lookout Park
Reporter: Paul Krusling
Other Birders: Jeff Davis and David Tzul
Nothing unusual but still a great day.
Location: Oxbow (Lawrenceburg): Wood Duck 1, Mallard 6, Blue-winged Teal 2, Double-crested Cormorant 8, Great Blue Heron 6, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Turkey Vulture 6, Bald Eagle 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, American Kestrel 1, American Coot 3, Killdeer 1, Spotted Sandpiper 5, Least Sandpiper 8, Mourning Dove 4, Chimney Swift 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 4, American Crow 2, Tree Swallow 6, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4, Barn Swallow 6, Carolina Chickadee 2, Tufted Titmouse 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4, American Robin 5, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 12 , Common Yellowthroat 1, Chipping Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 1, White-throated Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 4, Red-winged Blackbird 12, Rusty Blackbird 1, Common Grackle 20, Brown-headed Cowbird 15, American Goldfinch 4, House Sparrow 6
Location: Shawnee Lookout County Park: Wood Duck 1, Wild Turkey 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Black Vulture 12, Turkey Vulture 6, Bald Eagle 1, Broad-winged Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Mourning Dove 4, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Empidonax sp. 1, Eastern Phoebe 1, Great Crested Flycatcher 1, Blue Jay 2, 
American Crow 4, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6, Carolina Chickadee 4, Tufted Titmouse 4, White-breasted Nuthatch 1, 
House Wren 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4, American Robin 6, Gray Catbird 4, European Starling 8, Cedar Waxwing 1, Blue-winged Warbler 1, Northern Parula 1, Yellow-throated Warbler 1, American Redstart 1, Prothonotary Warbler 1, Summer Tanager 1, Eastern Towhee 2, Chipping Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 2, White-throated Sparrow 2, Northern Cardinal 6, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2, Indigo Bunting 1, Red-winged Blackbird 4, Common Grackle 12, Brown-headed Cowbird 6, 
Orchard Oriole 2, Baltimore Oriole 2, American Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow 2
Location: Lost Bridge: Canada Goose 2, Blue-winged Teal 4, Wild Turkey 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Turkey Vulture 6, Bald Eagle 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 6, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs 4, Least Sandpiper 8, 
Dunlin 1, Mourning Dove 5, Chimney Swift 2, Eastern Phoebe 3, Eastern Kingbird 1, Blue Jay 4, American Crow 4, Tree Swallow 5, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 12, Bank Swallow 20, Cliff Swallow 40, Barn Swallow 4, Carolina Chickadee 3, 
Tufted Titmouse 3, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8, American Robin 20, Gray Catbird 3, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 20, Cedar Waxwing 1, Blue-winged Warbler 1, Chipping Sparrow 1, Field Sparrow 2, Northern Cardinal 6, Blue Grosbeak 1,
Red-winged Blackbird 25, Common Grackle 20, Brown-headed Cowbird 12, American Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow 5
 
Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge area near Shawnee Lookout Park
Reporter: Jerry Lippert
Other Birders: Erich Baumgardner, Madeleine Lippert
At the large sky pool just southwest of Lost Bridge, we got great looks at a Franklin's Gull! As we were about to leave the area, the Franklin's Gull flew near us along with a Forster's Tern. The gull then rested along with the tern on a small island in the pool, and we were able to put a spotting scope on the bird and verify all of the field marks. When a noisy truck went by the gull and the tern flew south/southwest and were not seen again. This was at about 4:00 PM. Hopefully the Franklin's Gull will stay in the area another day, perhaps at the Oxbow Lake area or this same Lost Bridge area spot. Birds of note present at Lost Bridge were:  Franklin's Gull, 1, Forster's Tern, 1, White-rumped Sandpiper, 2, Semipalmated Plover, 2, Pectoral Sandpiper, 1, Greater Yellowlegs, 1, Purple Martin, 2, Canada Goose, 2, Great Blue Heron, 1
 
Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010
Location: Shawnee Lookout & Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Mark Gilsdorf
It seemed like it might be less rainy to the west, so after the Spring Grove rain out Mark and I decided to check Lost Bridge and the Shawnee Lookout area. Even if it was still raining we figured we could bird a bit from the car. It was still raining, but it wasn’t heavy. The birding was better.
Some birds seen around Lost Bridge and the sky pool included: Great Blue Heron 4, Great Egret 1, Killdeer 3, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Lesser Yellowlegs 3, Pectoral Sandpiper 2, Franklin's Gull 1, Caspian Tern 1, Forster's Tern 1, Tree Swallow 15, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10, Cliff Swallow 20,  Barn Swallow 3
Some species found along Mt Nebo Road included:  Yellow Warbler 3, Prairie Warbler 3, Blue Grosbeak 2, Orchard Oriole 3
Some of the species we found at Shawnee Lookout included:  Wild Turkey 1, Great Crested Flycatcher 1, White-eyed Vireo 1, Red-eyed Vireo 2, House Wren 3, Gray Catbird 1, Northern Parula 2, Yellow Warbler 4, Chestnut-sided Warbler 1, 
Yellow-throated Warbler 1, American Redstart 2, Prothonotary Warbler 1, Louisiana Waterthrush 1, Kentucky Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 4, Scarlet Tanager 2, Eastern Towhee 5, Baltimore Oriole 3
A quick peak at the Oxbow entrance gave us another Prothonotary Warbler and 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers. We decided it was too wet to drive in.

Date: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Location: Oxbow area and the Lost Bridge
Reporter: Sister Marty Dermody
Other Birders: College of Mount St. Joseph Bird Class
The class was taking their final exam in the field and we had great looks at all the following birds: Prothonotary warbler, Warbling vireo, Song sparrow, Eastern kingbird, Double-creasted cormorant, Mallard, Red-winged blackbird, Palm warbler, Killdeer, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Osprey with fish, Common Grackle, Great Blue Heron, American Goldfinch, Ruddy Duck, Lesser Yellowlegs, Blue winged teal, Semipalmated sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, Turkey Vulture, Chimney swift, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, Mourning Dove, Canada Geese, Blue-grey gnatcatcher.

Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Location: Oxbow and the Lost Bridge
Reporter: Paul Krusling
I stopped by the Oxbow at around 4:00 pm and then stopped by the Lost Bridge. I saw the following:
Oxbow: Canada Goose 19, Wood Duck 20, Blue-winged Teal 25, Double-crested Cormorant 25, Great Blue Heron 10, Black-crowned Night-Heron 2, Turkey Vulture 15, Bald Eagle 1(Imm.), Red-tailed Hawk 2, Rock Pigeon 12, Mourning Dove 2, Warbling Vireo 6, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 4, Tree Swallow 10,  Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2, Bank Swallow 1, 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, American Robin 8, Prothonotary Warbler 1 So bright yellow that it was almost orange!, Song Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 2, Red-winged Blackbird 50, Common Grackle 30, Brown-headed Cowbird 12, House Finch 2,
American Goldfinch 4, House Sparrow 6

Lost Bridge: Canada Goose 2, Mallard 2, Blue-winged Teal 6, Northern Shoveler 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Killdeer 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Greater Yellowlegs 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 12, Least Sandpiper 2, Pectoral Sandpiper 1, Mourning Dove 2, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1, Bank Swallow 2, Cliff Swallow 10, Barn Swallow 2, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 12, Red-winged Blackbird 25, Common Grackle 20, Brown-headed Cowbird 4

Date: Monday, April 26, 2010
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: Marsha Webster
Trip List: Canada Goose 7, Wood Duck 2, Mallard 4, Blue-winged Teal 2, Double-crested Cormorant 75, Great Blue Heron 11, Great Egret 8, Turkey Vulture 5, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Killdeer 1, Ring-billed Gull 1, Mourning Dove 2, Belted Kingfisher 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Warbling Vireo 5, American Crow 3, Tree Swallow 15, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3, Carolina Chickadee 2, Tufted Titmouse 3, Carolina Wren 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, American Robin 6, Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, Prothonotary Warbler 2, Song Sparrow 1, White-throated Sparrow 1, Northern Cardinal 8, Red-winged Blackbird 9, Common Grackle 3, American Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow 1

Date: Friday, April 23, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge and Shawnee Lookout Boat Ramp
Reporter: Paul Krusling
I stopped by the Lost Bridge and the Shawnee Lookout Boatramptoday after work and saw the following: Canada Goose 2, 
Wood Duck 4, Mallard 2, Blue-winged Teal 1, Wild Turkey 4, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 2, Turkey Vulture 6, American Kestrel 2, Killdeer 4, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Solitary Sandpiper 2, Greater Yellowlegs 4, Lesser Yellowlegs 6, Semipalmated Sandpiper 4, Short-billed Dowitcher 3, Ring-billed Gull 1, Rock Pigeon 2, Mourning Dove 8, Chimney Swift 4, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Hairy Woodpecker 1, Blue Jay 2, American Crow 6, Purple Martin 2, Tree Swallow 20, Cliff Swallow 4, Barn Swallow 8, Carolina Chickadee 4, Tufted Titmouse 8, White-breasted Nuthatch 1, House Wren 2, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2, American Robin 10, European Starling 20, Chipping Sparrow 2, Song Sparrow 2, Northern Cardinal 2, Red-winged Blackbird 15, Common Grackle 8, Brown-headed Cowbird 4, House Finch 1, House Sparrow 6

Date: Friday, April 23, 2010
Location: Larwenceburg Rd @ bridge
Reporter: Jeff Rowe
Saw 2 Dowitcher sp. (no scope) along with 4 Greater yellowlegs, 6 Lesser yellowlegs, 1 Solitary sandpiper, 1 peep, and severl swallow species (Bank FOS).

Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Allan Claybon
Counted 250+ Double-crested Cormorants on the South end of Oxbow lake early this afternoon. 1 Osprey at Jackpot Pond.

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Location: Oxbow, Lost Bridge & Shawnee Lookoout
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Robyn Lung
The road through the oxbow is washed out approximately half way back. It is still intact on the far left side but just barely. If you have a high clearance vehicle (as I do) you may be tempted to get across by staying left (as I did). "When" you get stuck (as I did) you will find a pile of rocks left by other adventurous soles before me. It is possible to jack your car up and stack the provided rocks under your wheel so you can make it through. The better thing to do is to not even attempt it and access the second half of the oxbow via the Hollywood access road. You may also note that there are various car parts such as bumpers etc laying on the edge of the caved in road apparently from previous attempts of people who also said "I can make it". If these car parts are yours, please collect them so we can keep the oxbow looking nice.

The Oxbow did provide some excellent birds today including Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Snipe and VESPER SPARROW'S. The two Vesper Sparrows were in the field at the turn in the road just beyond the parking/obeservation area. They were only 15-20 feet from the road and were very cooperative.

Total List: Double-crested Cormorant 100+, Great Blue Heron 15, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 (adult), Turkey Vulture 6,
Canada Goose 8, Wood Duck 9, Mallard 4, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Wild Turkey 1 (hen), Killdeer 3, Common Snipe 1, Ring-billed Gull 1 (lost Bridge), Mourning Dove 3, Belted Kingfisher 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 2, Pileated Woodpecker 1,
Blue Jay 2, Am Crow 3, Tree Swallow 16, Carolina Chickadee 3, Tufted Titmouse 1, Am Robin 8, Brown Thrasher 1 (Oxbow), European Starling 17, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, N Cardinal 13, Eastern Towhee 6, Am Tree Sparrow 1, VESPER SPARROW 2, Song Sparrow 4, White-throated Sparrow 15, Red-winged Blackbird 20+, C Grackle 30+, Brown-headed Cowbird 9, Am Goldfinch 2
 
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Location: Great Miami River Valley
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
Other Birders: Danny Barnes
Danny and I spent the day checking several spots in and around the lower valley of the Great Miami River. It’s not a complete list, but here are some of the birds I found interesting: 9 Blue-winged Teal, 5 Double-crested Cormorants, 4 Great Blue Herons, 30 American Coots, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 5 Tree Swallows, 5 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 White-crowned Sparrow. 

Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jon Seymour
1 Redtailed Hawk, 2 Turkey Vulture, 7 Canada Goose, 5 Blue-winged Teal, 4 Ruddy Duck, 1 Mallard, 4 Wood Duck, 8 American Coot, 2 Great Blue Heron, 10+ American Crow, 1 Killdeer, 1 Tree Swallow, 2 Rough-winged Swallow, 4 American Goldfinch, 20+ Song Sparrow, 3 Carolina Chickadee, 1 Tufted Titmouse, 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 30+ Cardinal, 15 Grackle, 20+ Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Starling
 
Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, IN
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Overlooked the 12 Dark-eyed Juncos in my previous report.

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Location: Western Hamilton County
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
Other Birders: 9 Bird Club field trip participants
The Cincinnati Bird Club field trip hit a number of spots in western Hamilton County and south-eastern Indiana today. Beginning at the Shawnee Lookout boat ramp, we stopped off at Lost Bridge, the Oxbow, Hidden Valley, the Kilby Road gravel pits, Campbell Lakes Preserve, the fields along Simonson Road, and ended the day at Fernald. While we didn’t turn up any signs of any large movement of ducks northward, we did have a few good finds. Highlights included a group of 19 Common Mergansers and a Double-crested Cormorant on the river at Lost Bridge, several flocks of Horned Larks along Simonson Rd., a Rough-legged Hawk and a male Northern Harrier at Fernald. One thing we noted was the significant number of breeding pairs of Red-tailed Hawks along the valley. Most of the 20 Red-tails we saw where perched in pairs.

Trip list: Canada Goose – 700, Mute Swan – 3, Gadwall – 5, American Black Duck – 8, Mallard – 200, Canvasback – 6, Redhead – 11, Ring-necked Duck – 300, Lesser Scaup – 2, Bufflehead – 3, Hooded Merganser – 5, Common Merganser – 19, Wild Turkey – 15, Double-crested Cormorant – 1, Great Blue Heron – 2, Black Vulture – 6, Turkey Vulture – 3, Northern Harrier – 1, Cooper’s Hawk – 1, Red-tailed Hawk – 20, Rough-legged Hawk – 1, American Kestrel – 2, American Coot – 5, Killdeer – 9, Ring-billed Gull – 3, Rock Pigeon – 30, Mourning Dove – 20, Belted Kingfisher – 1, Red-bellied Woodpecker – 3, Downy Woodpecker – 1, Blue Jay – 3, American Crow – 100, Horned Lark – 30, Carolina Chickadee – 20, Tufted Titmouse – 10, White-breasted Nuthatch – 3, Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1, American Robin – 15, Northern Mockingbird – 1, 
European Starling – 1000, Song Sparrow – 5, White-throated Sparrow – 1, Dark-eyed Junco – 2, Northern Cardinal – 15, 
American Goldfinch – 1

Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg to Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: 4 Oxbow Walkers
Trip List: Canada Goose 1000, Mallard 75, Ring-necked Duck 4, Common Goldeneye 2, Hooded Merganser 2, Common Merganser 20, Great Blue Heron 10, Bald Eagle 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Ring-billed Gull 8, Mourning Dove 2, Red-bellied Woodpecker 5, Downy Woodpecker 4, Northern Flicker 1, American Crow 100, Carolina Chickadee 3, Tufted Titmouse 7, Northern Mockingbird 1, European Starling 75, American Tree Sparrow 40, Song Sparrow 1, Dark-eyed Junco 2, Northern Cardinal 30, Red-winged Blackbird 300

Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jon Seymour
A short walk in the snow revealed about 350 Canada Geese in the wildlife crop stands in the Oxbow. Also saw 2 Turkey Vultures and a Great Blue Heron.

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Paul Krusling
Paul & I ran into Alan Clayborn at the Lost Bridge on Saturday and admired the four jeuv. Bald Eagles and two Mute Swans (see Alan's post on the message board). In addition to the Eagles, Paul and I saw a Harrier searching the field near the bridge. We then drove to the Shawnee boat ramp where saw an adult Bald Eagle fly overhead. On the way home we drove over the Lost Bridge again just in time to witness a Peregrin Falcon fly in front of our car and land at the top of a tree next to the river. The area also produced Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Wh-Th Sparrows, Carolina Wrens, Chicadees & Titmouse, Hooded Mergansers, Black Ducks, Mallards, Canada Geese (in the hundreds), two Red-tailed Hawks, one Kestral and several Great Blue Herons.

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Allan Claybon
There were 4 immature Bald Eagles North of Lost Bridge today between 12:30 and 1:30. In addition, someone drove by and said he saw 2 mature eagles in a tree further South of the bridge. Managed to capture some pics of 2 engaging as 2 more looked on in the same field of view. 2 Mute Swans were there when I arrived, flying North soon after.

Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Location:  Oxbow, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Reporter: Jonathan Frodge
Other Birders: slightly out of area 
At the Oxbow, late afternoon, things picked up a bit. There's a pond or flooded field that's accessed by driving straight in to the chain and walking past the chain (south?) into the corn stubble fields. All sightings were thru a scope: 10 N. Pintail, 4~ Gadwall, 200 Mallard, 50+ Black Duck, 100's Ring-billed Gulls, 6~ Herring Gulls, 1 suspicious large,2nd year Gull, still probably Herring, 1000's Canada Geese, 25 Great Blue Heron, and NO 'white' geese (although I scanned more than thrice through everything). The cool part was how so many birds were concentrated on this back pond. My guess is that as water recedes it creates nice feeding conditions in the shallows.

Date: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jay Lehman
I headed west to the Lost Bridge area. There I found the Common Goldeneye-8 (1 m the rest f or imm.), Ross’ Goose-1, Northern Pintail-1 (m) and Common Merganser-18. There was a second smaller white goose, but I could not get a good look at its bill. I kept its head tucked, and when it un-tucked its head, it was actively preening and moving too fast to see the bill well. There was a large white domestic goose, with bright orange bill, legs and feet and bigger than the Canada Geese. Hopefully, this was not previously reported as a Snow Goose. The N. Pintail appeared when some shooting flushed a large flock (+300) of Mallards and Black ducks off the river. The Common Mergansers were on the river, south of the bridge (scope necessary). Other birds while I was there were one adult Bald Eagle, perched in a tree north of the bridge in back of the gravel operation, one Northern Harrier, hundreds maybe 1000 Canada Geese and at least 20 Gadwall, a few American Coot and at least one female Ring-necked Duck. I checked the cornfield to the south, but there was no flock of Horned Larks, longspurs, etc. visible while I was present.

Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Joe Kappa
I arrived at the Lost Bridge last night shortly after 4:00 and found one white phased Snow Goose swimming with approximately 1,500 Canada Geese. The Snow Goose left the water by 4:30 and flew across the road to the corn field. In the 90 minutes I was there I observed approximately 2,500 Canada Geese fly over from the East. The earlier geese flew into the Western horizon, approximately 1/3 of the later arrivals landed in the field with the Snow Goose. There were also nearly 500 Mallards and Blacks circling the field while I was there. The lake itself had one Bald Eagle on the ice eating a fish and one dead duck also on the ice (I suspect from a local duck hunter).

Other observations on the river from the bridge: Common Merganser 16, Gadwall 4, Lesser Scaup 1, Mallards 40, Great Blue heron 2

On the pond, in the air or in the field: Snow Goose 1, Canada Goose 3000-4000 (mostly fly-overs), Gadwall 5, American Black Duck 23, Mallard 900, Ring-necked Duck 14, Bufflehead 1, Common Goldeneye 18, Hooded Merganser 1, Great blue Heron 3, Bald Eagle 1, American Coot 5, Mourning Dove 4, Belted Kingfisher 1, Crow 14, Starling 22, Song Sparrow 14, White-crowned Sparrow 3, Cardinal 3, Large mixed flock of Rusty Blackbirds and Grackles 700 – 1000, American Goldfinch 1

Date: Sunday, January 10, 2010
Location: Elizabethtown bridge, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: Kim Cade
From 4:30-5:30 PM, there were lots of geese and ducks moving to and from the gravel pit next to the bridge. There appeared to be 1,800-2,000 Canada Gesse, 2 or 3 Cackling geese, 1 Snow Goose, and 1 Greater White-fronted Goose. There were 3 interesting geese that left with a large flock of Canada Geese before I had my scope set up. Binocular views showed 2 probable Greater White-fronted Geese and 1 possible Ross's Goose...but that's probable and possible, not certain.

There was also an interesting goose that remained the whole time I was present. Virtually as large as the Canada Geese, it had bright pink legs and a pink beak with a dark tip. It also had a fairly pale belly and pale areas on the face. In some lights, the facial area looked outlined, like the cheek patch on a Canada Goose.

There was a nice assortment of ducks onsite: Mallard, Black, Gadwall(3), Northern Pintail(1), Rehead, Ring-necked, Greater Scaup(1), Common Goldeneye, and Bufflehead. American Coots, 1 Pied-billed Grebe, and 3 Great Blue Herons rounded out the birds on the pond (and ice).

2+ Lapland Longspurs and 40-50 Horned Larks were also in the area.

Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge Gravel Pit Pond
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Paul Wharton & several unknown birders
Snow Goose 1, ROSS'S GOOSE 1, CACKLING GOOSE 3, Canada Goose 2,500 , Greater White-fronted Goose 2, Redhead Duck 3, American Black Duck 25, Common Merganser 1, Great Blue Heron 3, Ring-billed Gull 2, Rock Pigeon 35, Mourning Dove 9, Belted Kingfisher 1, Northern Flicker 1, Horned Lark 100+, Lapland Longspur 40, Bald Eagle 1, Harrier 1,
Coopers Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Kestral 1, Song Sparrow 20, Tree Sparrow 30, Cardinal 4, Crow 23

Date: Thursday, January 7, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: 2 unknown duck hunters
Arrived at 4:30 this evening and watched thousands of geese fly from both the gravel pit pond and from fields East of the gravel pits to the field on the other side of the road. We estimated 10,000 plus geese
Total list identified: Canada Geese 10,000, Gr Wh-fronted Geese 2, Snow Geese 1 (blue phase, white phase seen two days earlier), Mallard 800, Am Black Duck 45, Am Merganser 2, Gr Blue Heron 3, Bald Eagle 1 (jeuv)

Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Location:  Lost Bridge
Reporter: John Hill
700+ Canada Geese, 15 Herring Gulls, 1 RedtailHawk

Date: Sunday, January 3, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Greater White-fronted Goose 2;  Goose 1,  Canada Goose 2500, Ring-billed Gull 20, Herring Gull 1, Mallard 500, American Black Duck 5, Lesser Scaup 1, Red Head Duck 3, Ret-tailed Hawk 1, Tree Sparrow 15,

Date: Sunday, January 3, 2010
Location: Lost Bridge / Gravel Pits 2:30 p.m.
Reporter: Bruce Leonhardt
The gravel pit pond closest to Lawrenceburg road Was loaded with Canadian Geese, and more continued to stop in. Spotted 1 Peregrine Falcon along the SW bank of the river. 5 Red-tail Hawks circling above the cornfield across the road from the beehives. 2 Mature Bald Eagles perched near the red crane on the gravel pit property. They took flight circling the sky as they made their way south towards the Ohio River. I have photos in my eagle gallery for those that have my gallery web address.