Oxbow, Inc.
Protecting and Preserving Wetlands
Recent Sightings in the Oxbow - 2012
Date: Thursday, December 13, 2012
Location: oxbow
Reporter: Shawn Harris
23 snow geese in the flooded corn on the backside of the lake.
Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Ring-billed Gull 180, Bonapartes Gull 1, Adult Bald Eagle 1
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2012
Location: The Oxbow area
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Nine members of the Miami Valley AS
I birded the Oxbow area Saturday morning from 8:00 am until about noon with a group from the Miami Valley (Oxford) Audubon Society . There were lots of ducks & geese present and lots of these birds seemed to be coming and going throughout the morning.
Joe Bens was simultaneously leading an Oxbow Inc. trip that started an hour later. We compared notes during (cell phone) and after and pretty much had similar species and numbers. Joes group had a Peregrine Falcon soaring above Jackpot Pond and a single female Redhead, both of which we missed.
Some of the species we found this morning included: Canada Goose 1000+ (everywhere, but also several flocks in flight heading south throughout the morning suggesting migratory birds), Mallard 500~, Wood Duck 6, Gadwall 50~, American Wigeon 2, American Black Duck 20~, Northern Shoveler 60~, Green-winged Teal 10~ (Joe had 40+), Pied-billed Grebe 2, Great Blue Heron 15~, Black Vulture 8, Turkey Vulture 15, Bald Eagle 2 (both immature), Red-tailed Hawk 3, American Coot 100+, Killdeer 3, Ring-billed Gull 330, Belted Kingfisher 1, American Crow 1550~ (1500 in one flock), Horned Lark 4+, and a few Field and Swamp Sparrows
Date: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Location: Oxbow and Lost Bridge
Reporter: Allan Claybon
Dozens of Northern Shovelers in Oxbow Lake. 2 Greater Yellowlegs in Osprey Lake, 100's of Crows and Canada Geese in the harvested corn fields, and 100+ Double-crested Cormorants in the air above the casino exit.
4 Bald Eagles far North of Lost Bridge in the trees, an adult and 3 juveniles. In the skypool South of the road as you approach the bridge were 10 GB Herons, a few RB Gulls, and a pair of 1st Winter (?) Bonaparte's Gulls. Images at http://www.flickr.com/nsxbirder
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Patricia Lee
Other Birders: Justin Lee
About 1:30, immature/1st year Golden Eagle along the gated road past the burrow puts where it opens up to all fields. Headed south back towards the river.
Date: Thursday, October 25, 2012
Location: Oxbow area
Reporter: Dustin Barhorst
1, then 2 more double crested cormorant (see message board for a little more on that). 5 Great blue heron, 8 redwing blackbirds, 2 red bellied woodpeckers, 2 Carolina wrens, 5 cardinals, 30+ Canada geese (flyovers). Several sparrows I was not able to ID (I'm still kind of a novice and my binocs aren't the best, probably song). Also several ducks, mostly mallards, but could have been others mixed in
Date: Saturday, October 20, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Darlena Graham
Other Birders: Ox bow field trip
Apologies for the late posting. Besides the usual suspects we saw, up close and happy to be viewed, a Merlin at the lower parking area. On our way back the bird was not found. At the back pond we found a Peregrine Falcon.
There was also a large group of young birders. They were excited and happy to be there.
Date: Sunday, October 7, 2012
Location: The Oxbow Area
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: 10 Audubon Society participants
This is a belated report from an Audubon Society field trip that took place this past Sunday, October 7th. After a morning bird identification program our group visited the Oxbow area from about noon until 2pm. Some of the species we found in the Oxbow and along the lower Great Miami River included: Blue-winged Teal 50~, Northern Shoveler 10~, Pied-billed Grebe 6, Double-crested Cormorant 25~, Great Blue Heron 35+, Bald Eagle 2, Northern Harrier 1, Cooper’s Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 4, American Kestrel 2, Greater Yellowlegs 2, Chimney Swift 15~, Belted Kingfisher 2, Eastern Phoebe 1, Tree Swallow 150~, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 50~, Barn Swallow 4, Golden-crowned Kinglet 2, Cedar Waxwing 12, Tennessee Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 26, Palm Warbler 25+, Field Sparrow 2, Vesper Sparrow 2, Savannah Sparrow 6, Swamp Sparrow 2 and Indigo Bunting
Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Location: lost bridge
Reporter: Frank Frick
at wet area to right of road just before bridge at about 10:00am. one buff-breasted sandpiper, two pectoral sandpipers and some american pipits. No shorebirds seen from bridge.
Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012
Location: Shawnee Lookout & The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Jack Stenger
My son Jack and I took the day off and birded Shawnee Lookout and the Oxbow on Thursday morning and had a pretty good day. Highlights were Baird’s Sandpiper, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Marsh and Sedge Wrens, Blue Grosbeaks, many migrant warblers and songbirds and a great look at a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Some of the species we found at Shawnee included: Black Vulture 7, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Chimney Swift 40~, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Red-headed Woodpecker 3, Northern Flicker 6, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Eastern Wood-Pewee 10, Willow Flycatcher 1, White-eyed Vireo 5, Yellow-throated Vireo 3, Red-eyed Vireo 2, Horned Lark 1, House Wren 2, Sedge Wren 1 (Shawnee bottoms), Marsh Wren 3 (Shawnee bottoms), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, Swainson’s Thrush 4, Wood Thrush 2, Gray Catbird 4, Cedar Waxwing 40+, Tennessee Warbler 6, Nashville Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 4, Black-throated Green Warbler 1, Palm Warbler 3, Black-and-white Warbler 2, American Redstart 2, Ovenbird 1, Common Yellowthroat 3, Eastern Towhee 3, Chipping Sparrow 15+, Field Sparrow 5, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 10, Indigo Bunting 8, Bobolink 1, Red-winged Blackbird 500+, Common Grackle 60, and American Goldfinch 100+ (majority in Shawnee bottoms).
Lost Bridge had lots of exposed sandbars but little in the way of shorebirds. The Martin-Marietta pond west of Lost Bridge had 1 Baird’s Sandpiper, 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at 8am but they were not found when we looked again at 1030am. 25 Blue-winged Teal were also present. An American Kestrel, 1 Green Heron, 3 Great Egrets, 20 Great Blue Herons and 3 Double-crested Cormorants were seen at Lost Bridge. On Sunday, Sep 16, 14 Wild Turkeys (3 adult females and 11 1st year birds) were seen near Lost Bridge.
Some of the species we found in the Oxbow included: Wood Duck 10~, Blue-winged Teal 25+, Northern Shoveler 1, Double-crested Cormorant 7, Great Blue Heron 45~, Great Egret 2 (way down from last Sunday), Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, 100~ swallows (Northern Rough-winged 75, Tree 25), Palm Warbler 1, Northern Waterthrush 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 6, Common Yellowthroat 4, Blue Grosbeak 2 (both 1st year birds) and Indigo Bunting 15~.
Last Sunday, Sep 16, Oxbow Inc. conducted a field trip into the Oxbow. I never got a chance to post a timely report but we did see a few interesting species. For the record we saw an adult Peregrine Falcon, 2 Forster’s Terns, 2 Caspian Terns, 70+ Great Egrets, 60+ Great Blue Herons, 30 Blue-winged Teal and 3 Northern Shovelers and several Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers all from the mid point observation area.
Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012
Location: Shawnee Lookout & The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: 11 CBC Field Trip Participants
The Cincinnati Bird Club conducted a field trip to Shawnee Lookout & the Oxbow on Sunday morning September 9th. Eleven participants had a very good morning of birding as warblers and other songbirds were numerous, particularly in terms of numbers of individuals. Warblers were very active and widespread and many went unidentified (foliage, distance, backlighting etc). As reported on this site earlier, water levels were up on the Great Miami River and in the Oxbow, so shorebird conditions were not ideal and our numbers reflect that. We had 78 species during the field trip (730am-noon). Below is a list of some of the species we were able to identify. The list represents the entire groups sightings and every bird was unlikely seen by everyone. The numbers are the best estimates of four of us creating this list at the end of the trip.
Some of the species found at Shawnee Lookout included; Black Vulture 4, Solitary Sandpiper 1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3, Chimney Swift 5, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3, Northern Flicker 3, Pileated Woodpecker 3, Eastern Wood-Pewee 2, Eastern Phoebe 3, White-eyed Vireo 13, Yellow-throated Vireo 8, Warbling Vireo 3, Red-eyed Vireo 10, Brown Creeper 1 (pretty early), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 8, Eastern Bluebird 2, Swainson’s Thrush 12, Wood Thrush 3, Gray Catbird 2, Brown Thrasher 5, Cedar Waxwing 20, Tennessee Warbler 16, Nashville Warbler 2, Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Magnolia Warbler 9, Cape May Warbler 1, Black-throated Green Warbler 6, Blackburnian Warbler 6, Bay-breasted Warbler 5, American Redstart 9, Common Yellowthroat 2, Canada Warbler 1, Scarlet Tanager 3, Eastern Towhee 6, Chipping Sparrow 7, Indigo Bunting 3, and Baltimore Oriole 1.
The only notable birds seen at Lost Bridge were Great Egrets, Blue winged Teal and a few (3) getting late Cliff Swallows. Those numbers are included with the Oxbow
Some of the species we found in the Oxbow included: Wood Duck 25~, Blue-winged Teal 25~, Northern Shoveler 2, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Double-crested Cormorant 15~, Great Blue Heron 40+, Great Egret 51, Greater Yellowlegs 5, Lesser Yellowlegs 3, Pectoral Sandpiper 10, unidentified peeps 6, and a 100+ swallows made up of Tree, Barn and N. Rough-winged and Indigo Bunting 15~. We did not relocate the previously reported American Avocet.
Birders participating included Jay Stenger, Ann Oliver, Ned Keller, Mark Gilsdorf, Harris Abramson, Debra Hausrath, Mary Ann Barnett, Jim Stitchcomb, Lou, David Edwards & David Shakins.
Date: Saturday, September 8, 2012
Location: The Oxbow & Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Paula Stenger
On Saturday afternoon Paula and I made a late afternoon visit to the Oxbow and Lost Bridge. My thanks go to Bob Foppe for posting the American Avocet sighting earlier today. We saw the single avocet on Osprey Lake around 4pm, but it was the only shorebird present at that time, even though shorebird conditions remain good there. Exposed shoreline had pretty much ringed Oxbow Lake the past few weeks but the recent rains have raised water levels considerably. Most of that previously exposed shoreline is now under water although a good amount of mudflat is still present at the extreme south end. What is left of that can hardly be called a mudflat however as emergent vegetation carpets most of it. Even so quite a few shorebirds, about 45, were present there. These were made up of Killdeer 5, dowitcher species 1 (Short-billed my guess), Stilt Sandpipers 2, Pectoral Sandpipers 10, Lesser Yellowlegs 3, and about 25 peeps, mostly Least Sandpipers (20) but a few Semipalmated Sandpipers (5) as well.
Also of interest on Oxbow Lake were the numbers of ducks present. Around 250 ducks were seen, many resting up in the wooded shoreline but at least 150 rafted up on the lake itself. The numbers included about 40 Mallards and 70 Wood Ducks. The rest, about 140 ducks, were teal, mostly Blue-winged (130) but a few Green-winged Teal (10) as well. Teal are common early fall migrants in our area but this may be an unprecedented fall number, as local records suggest Blue-winged Teal are much more numerous in the spring.
Also seen at the Oxbow were 16 Great Egrets, 30~ Great Blue Herons and 7 Double-crested Cormorants. A few warblers were still active in the trees and brush around the Lake Overlook and included 2 Tennessee Warblers, 3 Palm Warblers, an American Redstart and a couple of first fall Common Yellowthroats that I tried to turn into better things.
Only 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 15 Blue-winged Teal and a few Mallards and Canada Geese were using the Martin-Marietta topsoil pond west of Lost Bridge around 6pm.
As far as Mark Gilsdorf’s Friday Lost Bridge report before last nights rain: forget about it. You could probably still walk across the river now, but the water will be at least up to your knees if not your butt, and its moving along at a good clip. This evening only one sandbar remained partially above water on the north side of the bridge, a bit more on the south side. I would expect conditions will quickly return to normal fall (low-water) conditions once the drainage from last night’s storm runs off.
Date: Friday, September 7, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
7 - 7:45 pm
Made a quick stop last night at Lost Bridge after my trip to Fernald.
Had one Osprey at the Bridge, two Caspian Terns, a Semipalmated Plover, 6 Killdeer and a handful of Mallards on the gravel scrap alongside Lawrenceburg Road.
You could practically walk all the way across from one edge of the river to the other on the massive sandbars at the bridge.
Date: Saturday, September 8, 2012
Location: Oxbow Osprey Lake
Reporter: Robert Foppe
Other Birders: Jay Stenger
Jay just called to report a single Avocet present as of 4pm.
Date: Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Paul Krusling
Two Caspian Terns were in the topsoil pond at the lost Bridge this morning.
Date: Saturday, September 1, 2012
Location: Oxbow & Lost Bridge
Reporter: John Dovel
Other Birders: Leigh Dovel
Oxbow: Lots of GBH and Egrets on the south end of the Oxbow pond. Juvenile eagle overflew cornfields toward Oxbow pond.
Lost Bridge: Phalarope, semipalmated plover, killdeer on water west of river & bridge. A few horned larks nearer to the road.
Date: Saturday, September 1, 2012
Location: Sky pool West of Lost Bridge
Reporter: Allan Claybon
Red-necked Phalarope continues to be seen in the area. Video and images at http://www.flickr.com/nsxbirder
Date: Saturday, September 1, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Matt Stenger
Other Birders: Ned Keller, David Rustle, Andrew Baldelli
Consensus is that the "Hudsonian Godwit" is a Short-billed Dowitcher.
Date: Friday, August 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Jim Rettig
Other Birders: John, Otto, Otto's wife
Imm Bald Eagle (in flight and perched), adult Peregrine Falcon (in flight and perched), Snow Goose with pink legs in flight with 9 Canada Geese, and a fisherman / hunter who reported a GBH in the water being stalked by a bobcat! And the usual herons, egrets, cormorants all about 10 AM.
Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Location: Oxbow, then Lost Bridge where I met John
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: John Kendall
Oxbow (Lawrenceburg), Dearborn, US-IN
Aug 28, 2012 5:55 PM - 7:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
23 species
Canada Goose 65
Wood Duck 29
Mallard 8
Northern Shoveler 9
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Great Blue Heron 42
Great Egret 46
Little Blue Heron 2
Black Vulture 16
Turkey Vulture 5
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 27
Lesser Yellowlegs 7
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 9
American Crow 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
American Robin 11
European Starling 35
Field Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 2
Lost Bridge, Hamilton, US-OH
Aug 28, 2012 7:15 PM - 8:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Happen to meet John Kendall from Valparaiso, IN, (Current Indiana "Big Year" all time record holder.)
24 species
Canada Goose 51
Mallard 7
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 11
Great Egret 45
Green Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 4
Killdeer 18
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 3
Least Sandpiper 2
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1
Rock Pigeon 7
Mourning Dove 5
Belted Kingfisher 2
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4
Barn Swallow 3
European Starling 250
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 27
Brown-headed Cowbird 6
Saw the Phalarope from the bridge in the narrow strip of water on the far left on the gravel pit side of the bridge.
Date: Monday, August 27, 2012
Location: The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Mark Gilsdorf
This report is from Mark Gilsdorf who called me and asked me to post the sighting for him. At noon today Mark found 3 American Avocets in the Oxbow. The birds were seen foraging on the mudflat at the far south end of Oxbow Lake. Mark viewed the 3 avocets from the Lake Overlook, the mid-way observation point on Oxbow Lake.
Date: Sunday, August 26, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Joe Bens
Neotropical Cormorant still preset. It was at far end of jackpot pond in the area called hidden pond (which are actually the same pond). Otherwise,
1 L Yellowlegs
6 Pectoral Sand
5 Semi-palmated Sand
2 Least Sand
8 Spotted Sand
100 Great Egrets spread out Oxbow, and lost bridge
2 Little Blue Herons
No migrants, but 8 Baltimore Oriole feasting on black cherries.
1 Osprey
Date: Saturday, August 25, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jay Lehman
Arrived at about 6:00 pm. Shorebirds are very sparse and scattered. Requires careful and repeated scanning. Water level is lower than in July and earlier in August. Lesser Yellowlegs 1, Killdeer 15, Baird's Sandpiper 1, Least Sandpiper 3, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Green Heron 1 (under bridge), Great Egret 31 (shallow pond on right side before bridge when driving toward Shawnee Lookout.).
Baird's was first found along the channel of water along northeast shore of river. When I walked past the center of the bridge to get closer, the Green Heron flushed toward the Baird's and the Baird's flushed. Could not re-find it for awhile, but
It flew into the center of the river at the waters edge closest to the bride with thee Least Sandpipers. I left at about 7:00 pm happy to have seen the Baird's Sandpiper reported at this location.
Date: Thursday, August 23, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge ~8:45
Reporter: William Hull
I stopped by Lost Bridge this morning. Did not find any phalaropes or golden-plovers. All shorebirds were on bars in river. They were upstream from the bridge near were the bars start. Many were too distant for ID even with scope.
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 36
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 3
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) 1
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 12
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) 3
peep sp. (Calidris sp. (peep sp.)) 20
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) 1
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) 1
Date: Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: David Brinkman
Red-necked Phalarope and Baird's Sandpiper still present as of 3 p.m. today. I observed mudflats/sandbars below the bridge from 1:45-3 p.m.
A probable little blue heron was present as I drove back across the bridge when I was leaving. It was next to a great egret. Did not notice it when I counted the great egrets when I arrived. My concentration was mainly on finding the shorebirds. The phalarope was found immediately and at one point both the phalarope and the Baird's (initially found in the company of three least sandpipers) were in the same scope view, walking together. Phalarope not observed spinning as they sometimes do. Mostly seen resting and feeding by walking.
Note: A pickup truck honked at me while I was on the bridge scoping the Baird's, causing me to have to refind the bird in my scope!
Date: Monday, August 20, 2012
Location: Elizabethtown Bridge, Hamilton Co., OH
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: Kim Cade
Plenty of shorebird activity on the gravel islands in the river, and along the banks of the shrinking pond opposite the gravel pits. The Red-necked Phalarope, American Golden Plover, and Stilt Sandpiper still remained as of 8:00 PM (when we left). They were accompanied by Least, Semipalmated, 2 Baird's, 1 White-rumped, Spotted, Solitary, and Pectoral Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Killdeer. The Yellowlegs were actually around the pond opposite the gravel pits, which experienced a large turnover of birds while we were present. Most interesting to me was the large mixed flock of Horned Larks (all ages) and American Pipits.
Including perched raptors and staging swallows, 53 species were seen/heard in 45 minutes. Not a bad way to spend a beautiful evening!
Date: Monday, August 20, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge - Elizabethtown, OH
Reporter: Jonathan Frodge
Other Birders: Posting for Les Houser
Les called to confirm sighting the previously reported Red-necked Phalarope around 5-6pm tonight. Also present were Stilt Sandpiper, American Golden-Plover, Least, Semi, and Pectoral Sandpipers.
Date: Monday, August 20, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Frank Frick
lost bridge this morning. the american golden plover reported yesterday by steve bobonick is still there, could not find the baird's sandpiper. also seen RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1, Stilt sandpiper 1, semipalmated plover 4, semipalmated sandpiper 1, least sandpipers. other peeps to far away for me to ID. Lots of great egrets and great-blue herons.
Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012
Location: Oxbow and Lost Bridge
Reporter: Steve Bobonick
Stilt Sandpiper remains at Osprey Pond in the Oxbow. It seems to have an injured leg. Also, a Baird's Sandpiper and American Golden Plover at Lost Bridge, on the river islands.
Date: Saturday, August 18, 2012
Location: Oxbow/Shawnee/Kilby Rd Ponds/Waterloo
Reporter: Albert Scruggs
Oxbow--STILT sandpiper, Lesser yellowlegs, several Least sp and Pectoral sps. Shawnee--Tennessee, Nashville,Blackpoll warblers. Kilby Rd--Blue grosbeak still singing! and the two Swallow-tailed kites on Waterloo! thank you Susan!
Date: Saturday, August 18, 2012
Location: Oxbow @ Osprey Lake
Reporter: David Brinkman
Finally got a STILT SANDPIPER after following all the recent reports. First one for me in about 15 years (so it feels like a lifer ;-)
Not much else in terms of numbers today - 1 least, 2 pectoral ( had 15 two days ago), 1 lesser yellowlegs, 3 killdeer. Nice size comparisons between yellowlegs and stilt sandpiper. E-bird checklist at the link below.
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11384681
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jon Seymour
65+ Canada Goose, 12 Black Vulture, 2 Turkey Vulture, 60+ Great Blue Heron, 35+ Great Egret, 2 Black-crowned Night Heron, 1 Green Heron, 1 Snowy Egret, 8 Double-crested Cormorant, 5 Wood Duck, 9 Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 Least Sandpiper, 1 Stilt Sandpiper, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Killdeer, 1 American Coot, 3 American Goldfinch, 2 American Crow, and 2 Mourning Dove\
Date: Monday, August 13, 2012
Location: Oxbow (Old Channel Lake and Osprey Lake)
Reporter: David Brinkman
Searched for stilt sandpiper (haven't seen one for awhile) to no avail. Did not try for neotropic cormorant. Best bird was probably a close encounter with an immature black-crowned night-heron on the near shore at the Old Channel Lake overlook.
This first list is from birding along the first two stops where there are openings in the trees before getting to the overlook (which is past Osprey Lake).
Oxbow (a.k.a. Old Channel Lake, Lawrenceburg), Dearborn, US-IN
Aug 13, 2012 3:02 PM - 3:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.7 mile(s)
Comments: Sky 1, wind 1. Temps in 70's F. Mileage by car odometer.
11 species
Canada Goose 10
Mallard 4
Turkey Vulture 1
Killdeer 2
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4 Perched with large flock of tree swallows.
Tree Swallow 120 Pretty close to a direct count, until some flew from the tree and others arrived. This is an accurate estimate within +/- 10 birds.
Bank Swallow 2 Perched with large flock of tree swallows.
Barn Swallow 1 Perched with large flock of tree swallows.
Northern Cardinal 4
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Osprey Lake, Dearborn, US-IN
Aug 13, 2012 3:19 PM - 4:36 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Sky 1, wind 1. Temps in 70's F. Unsuccessful search for STILT SANDPIPER.
14 species
Mallard 5
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 1
Killdeer 5
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Semipalmated Sandpiper 2
Least Sandpiper 2
Pectoral Sandpiper 12
Mourning Dove 3
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 1
Song Sparrow 3
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Oxbow (a.k.a. Old Channel Lake, Lawrenceburg), Dearborn, US-IN
Aug 13, 2012 4:37 PM - 4:54 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Sky 1, wind 1. Temps in 70's F. Overlook with two benches.
13 species
Canada Goose 5
Mallard 11
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 75 direct count
Great Egret 18
Little Blue Heron 2
Green Heron 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Near shore about 20 ft. away when I stepped out of the car.
Black Vulture 1
American Crow 6
Northern Cardinal 1
Indigo Bunting 1
American Goldfinch 2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Date: Sunday, August 12, 2012
Location: The Oxbow & Lost Bridge
Reporter: Wyatt Westerkamp
A great day at the Oxbow. To add to the list of good birds, I had an American Bittern fly in to Oxbow Lake. Full list below.
Oxbow (a.k.a. Old Channel Lake, Lawrenceburg), Dearborn, US-IN
Aug 12, 2012 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.5 mile(s)
25 species
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 7
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 8
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 7
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) 1 Seen flying in to Oxbow Lake. Clearly saw the tan and white stripes, stocky build, and two-toned wings in good light.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 35
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 28
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 1 Seen fishing and later flying on Osprey Pond. In flight I saw the distinctive black legs with yellow feet.
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 1 Feeding with Snowy Egret. Small egret with two toned bill.
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 6
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 5
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 2
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) 4
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) 1 Adult nonbreeding on the Osprey Pond mudflats. Very quick to fly and flew completely when an accipiter hawk dove at the shorebirds.
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 8
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) 4
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 26
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 40
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 12
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 11
Dickcissel (Spiza americana) 2 Both birds were very calm and gave great views at about 13ft away. Seen in the fields next to Jackpot Pond.
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 7
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 10
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
Date: Sunday, August 12, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge, Shawnee & The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Mark Gilsdorf & Harris Abramson
The three of us birded Lost Bridge, Shawnee Lookout Park and the Oxbow Sunday morning from about 8 to 11 A.M. We did not see the Neotropical Cormorant during our morning visit. However Jack Stenger and Kate Ball did find and see the bird in the Oxbow later in the evening. They saw the bird at roost in a tree along Jackpot Pond on Sunday evening just before dark. There is still plenty of shorebird habitat in the Oxbow and at Lost Bridge but shorebirds numbers were still sub par. Osprey Lake has potential and was where we saw 15 Pectoral Sandpipers and a lone Least Sandpiper.
Some of the species we found this morning included: Lost Bridge and adjacent sky pool: Great Blue Heron 15~, Great Egret 9, Green Heron 1, Belted Kingfisher 2 and Cliff Swallow 3 (down from 20+ one week ago). Aside from Killdeer a Spotted Sandpiper was the only shorebird seen here.
Shawnee Lookout: Wild Turkey 6, Pileated Woodpecker 2, Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1, Eastern Wood-Pewee 2, White-eyed Vireo 1, Yellow-throated Vireo 3, Wood Thrush 1, Northern Mockingbird 3, Brown Thrasher 2, Cedar Waxwing 5, Kentucky Warbler 1, Yellow-breasted Chat 1, Summer Tanager 1, Eastern Towhee 6~, Indigo Bunting 10~, Orchard Oriole 2 and Baltimore Oriole 2.
The Oxbow (AM): Wood Duck 15~, Double-crested Cormorant 6, Great Blue Heron 93, Great Egret 6, Black Vulture 3, Cooper’s Hawk 1, American Coot 1, Killdeer 15~, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Least Sandpiper 1, Pectoral Sandpiper 15, Eastern Kingbird 1, Tree Swallow 40+ and smaller numbers of N. Rough-winged, Barn & Bank Swallows.
Date: Sunday, August 12, 2012
Location: Oxbow -- 6-720pm
Reporter: Kirk Westendorf
1 Neotropic Cormorant (backside of Jackpot)
2 Snowy Egret (watched one continually catch and, seemingly, deliberately drop the same live fish for several minutes)
3 Little Blue Heron (all immature)
And now I'm a proud (not really) member of the Neotrop Two-tripper Club as I looked for and didn't find it last weekend. From the look of the sightings board, membership isn't quite as exclusive as it should be.
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Don Martin
Neotropic Cormorant was difficult to find and see today. It was perching on a low snag in the swampy area just to the north of Jackpot Pond. It was adjacent to a DC Cormorant which provided an excellent side-by-side comparison.
Also observed immature Little Blue Heron, Pectoral, Stilt, Least and Semi-palmated Sandpipers.
http://maps.google.com/maps/myplaces?ll=39.105076,-84.843995&spn=0.003172,0.00817&ctz=240&t=h&z=18
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Jeff Foster
Other Birders: My son
Made it to Oxbow just before sunrise this morning hoping to see some good ones. We were not too disappointed. Even though we didn't see some of the more prized birds, I did pick up a couple of lifers! The ones we were able to identify were:
Great Egret >100
Great Blue Heron 30-50
Red-shouldered Hawk (Lifer - got a great look at him through my binoculars while he was perched at the top of an electrical tower)
Spotted Sandpiper 10 (Lifer - watched them through the binoculars for about 15 minutes)
Wood Duck 7
Indigo Bunting 1
There were several other smaller birds that I was not able to see well enough to identify.
Date: Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Location: Lever Park & The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Paula Stenger
After getting a few aerial views of the Mississippi Kites at Lever and Home of the Brave Parks in Loveland early this evening, Paula and I decided to run down to the Oxbow to see if we could find the Neotropic Cormorant. We arrived in the Oxbow around 8:20 P.M. and quickly found the Neotropic Cormorant roosting in a tree along the backside of Jackpot Pond. There were several Double-crested Cormorants and many Great Egrets coming in to roost in the trees at Jackpot Pond as well. On closer inspection we were able to distinguish 2 immature Little Blue Herons and 1 immature Snowy Egret in the large egret roost. We could have easily missed some others but I didn’t want to get out of the car at that point and risk spooking them. I counted 73 Great Egrets and I’m sure there were many others in the area. Some other birds seen in our quick half-hour visit included 85+ Great Blue Herons, 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons, 8 Double-crested Cormorants, several Wood Ducks, 6 Black Vultures (eating dead fish along the shore) and a female Blue Grosbeak. In the fading light and limited time I didn’t make an effort to look for shorebirds. But the water levels at Oxbow Lake and the various ponds continue to shrink and there is plenty of exposed shoreline and shorebird habitat.
Date: Monday, August 6, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Jackpot Pond
Reporter: Paul Krusling
Other Birders: Joe Kappa
After finding the Mississippi Kites, Joe and I went to the Oxbow. Incredible numbers of waders! And finally the Neotropical Cormorant!
Canada Goose 35
Wood Duck 12
Mallard 12
Neotropic Cormorant 1 This bird has been at the Oxbow for about a week. Joe Kappa found it first. I confirmed this bird based on the white around the mouth.
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 50
Great Egret 68
Snowy Egret 2
Little Blue Heron 9
Green Heron 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Black Vulture 6
Turkey Vulture 6
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 1
Killdeer 20
Chimney Swift 6
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
American Robin 1
Date: Sunday, August 5, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Dearborn Co., IN
Reporter: Neill Cade
Other Birders: Kim Cade
The NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continues! It was seen at 8:15 PM flying in to the aforementioned line of trees on the western shore of Jackpot Pond. It was just below and behind an immature Double-crested Cormorant, affording a nice comparison of overall length, body mass, tail length, and plumage. It perched among a large group of Great Egrets, where 30-60x scope views confirmed the smaller orange area at the base of the mandible and the white line encircling such. Other nice birds included 4+ Little Blue Herons, 2+ Snowy Egrets, an immature Bald Eagle, and 2 Semipalmated Plovers. Lots of swallows were staging for their southward journey, and a large flock of Blue Jays was another sign that summer is passing.
Date: Saturday, August 4, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jay Lehman
Previous report of Neotropic Cormorant was Saturday, August 4, not Sunday, August 5.
Date: Sunday, August 5, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jay Lehman
Other Birders: Jim and Becky
Neotropic Cormorant seen well at sunset roosting in the trees along back of Jackpot Pond with three Double crested Cormorants, 3 Little Blue Herons and many Great Egrets as previously reported, Good look in telescope of smaller darker Neotropic in comparison to DC Cormorants.
Date: Saturday, August 4, 2012
Location: oxbow
Reporter: Jonathan Frodge
Other Birders: andrew and Bob
11 am Neotropic Cormorant seen well at rear of hidden portion of jackpot pond. First sighted from the end of the walking path on the levee near the casino exit. Then resighted by walking shoreline of jackpot to the nearest point to the line of dead snags that bisect the hidden portion of jackpot aka Hidden Pond (?)
Date: Saturday, August 4, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Robyn Lung
Lots of posts for the Oxbow But I felt this was worth reporting just because of the numbers seen.
Just before dusk the Herons and Egrets flew into several trees at Jackpot Pond. We had 3 Little Blue Herons, 1 Snowy Egret and 79 Great Egrets (that we could count). Amazing site seeing them all grouped together. We thought we saw the Neotropic Cormorant on the back side of Jackpot but didn't get a good enough look and it was by itself so no size comparison.
Oxbow (Lawrenceburg), Dearborn, US-IN
Aug 3, 2012 7:45 PM - 8:50 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
23 species
Canada Goose 45
Wood Duck 9
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Great Blue Heron 41
Great Egret 79
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 3
Green Heron 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron 4
Turkey Vulture 2
Killdeer 4
Mourning Dove 6
Common Nighthawk 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 1
American Robin 18
European Starling 4
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Indigo Bunting 1
Dickcissel 1
Date: Friday, August 3, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jon Seymour
Other Birders: The Silver Heirs tour group
No Neo-tropic Cormorant for the group but we did have a single Little Blue Heron sighting. We also had 20+ Great Blue Heron, 10+ Great Egret, 1 Green Heron, 1 American Coot, 3 Belted Kingfisher, 2 Wood Duck, 8 Mallard, 40+ Canada Goose, 3 Turkey Vulture, 1 Black Vulture, 7 American Crow, 5 Double-crested Cormorant, 150 Grackle, 3 American Goldfinch, 3 Northern Cardinal, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, 3 American Robin, 1 Pectral Sandpiper, 1 Killdeer, 30+ Rough-winged Swallow, 1 Downy Woodpecker
Date: Friday, August 3, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Brian Wulker
The Neotropic Cormorant was still present on Oxbow Lake this afternoon. I had a hard time getting a convincing size comparison when the bird was perched, but it was then joined by and took off with a DC Cormorant a little after 1pm and the body shape and size were very obvious. Both birds departed in the direction of Mercer Pond. Also had 2 Little Blue Heron and 1 Snowy Egret.
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Tyler Ficker
Other Birders: Bill McGill, Noah Rask, Tracy Ficker
Neotropic cormorant still present as of 5:00pm at Jackpot lake. Little blue heron at the entrance
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Allan Claybon
Finally located Neotropic Cormorant in Oxbow Lake at 9PM. It was perched on a snag South of the observation area where Double-crested Cormorants had been seen all day. The 4 immature Little Blue Herons spent much of the day on the North end of Oxbow Lake, but I did not see the Snowy Egret.
Images at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsxbirder/7695315012/in/photostream
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Location: Correction on Neotropic Cormorant size.
Reporter: David Brinkman
I think I was right the first time. Those crazy fractions. Lets just say the bird was between 1/4-1/2 the size of the great egrets!
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Location: Correction on Neotropic Cormorant size.
Reporter: David Brinkman
That should read more than 1/2 the size of the great egrets, NOT less than 1/2.
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Location: Oxbow - Jackpot Pond
Reporter: David Brinkman
Other Birders: Paul K., Alan Claybon, Jim Hickman, one other
I arrived at the oxbow at 11:36 a.m. beginning at the dike vantage point near Argosy Casino and rt. 50 overlooking Jackpot Pond. I did not see any cormorants from that vantage point, but did have 8 great egrets from there and 50+ distant swallows among the dead trees in the water. I then headed to the overlook at Old Channel Lake where the two benches are located. When I pulled up I ran into Paul K. who said he had not seen the Neotropic Cormorant there, but did see about four double-cresteds. I then followed him to Hidden Lake where we walked in on a weedy path and down past the trees where we could see parts of Hidden Lake and Jackpot Pond. We only found two double-crested cormorants there - one immature and one adult (way too stocky and too much orange around throat for Neotropic). No luck there on the Neotropic so we walked out of there where we found 3 other birders waiting by our cars. So now the 5 of us drove down further on the main oxbow dirt/gravel road until we came to an opening where we could scope the "L" part of Jackpot Pond (look at Google maps, you'll see what I mean). It was there that I realized I had left my clipboard (with rare bird documentation forms attached) on the ground somewhere at Hidden Lake. So I left the other 4 birders and went back to Hidden Lake to look for my clipboard. I did not find my clipboard, but I found something better! I saw a cormorant in flight flying off to my right, which turned out to be a double-crested. Then I noticed another cormorant in flight, a darker, more slender bird, with a long tail. I knew this had to be the Neotropic! So I followed it until it landed about 300 yards away on a dead branch at the "L" part of Jackpot Pond from whence I just departed. In the same tree were three great egrets. I put my scope on the bird and sure enough, this was the NEOTROPIC CORMORANT that I had been searching for since yesterday! This bird was noticeably very slender, with a short bill and very limited orange on gular pouch. White border was difficult to see at this distance, but tail was slender and long. With great egrets for size comparison, I was able to see that the bird was less than half the size of the egrets. No other cormorants were perched with it. I watched the bird preen in my scope from this vantage point from 1:44 p.m. to 2:13 p.m. Field sketches are available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47907955@N08/7693314518/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/47907955@N08/7693314692/. I gave up trying to find my clipboard, leaving the bird in the scope to go look for it after viewing the bird for several minutes. Went back to my scope, bird still there. Viewed and sketched some more, then decided to see if I could get a closer vantage point. So I drove back to the spot where the 5 of us were earlier and relocated the bird, this time at an estimated distance of 150-200 yards. Through the scope I was able to easily see the white border to the gular pouch. After consulting Sibley - East, I knew to look for a couple of other field marks. The gular pouch and white border came to a distinct V shape, and the lores were definitely dark (not orange as in double-crested). The double-cresteds that I saw today are definitely a much stockier bird, even in the neck region, and have extensive orange on the gular pouch and lores. They also have a much shorter tail. Neotropic is a lifebird for me. The only other cormorants I have seen are Great Cormorants on the Atlantic coast, a species that can be eliminated due to a much larger size and probably less tendency for vagrancy. The time of viewing the Neotropic from this new vantage point was 2:23 p.m. to 2:31 p.m. Alan pulled up again two minutes after I had lost sight of the bird. He was still trying to relocate it when I left.
Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Location: Oxbow and Fernald
Reporter: Gary Stegner
Other Birders: Walt
We located the neotropic cormorant this morning in Hidden Pond (where Joe Bens found it yesterday). In the main pool were little blue herons, a snowy egret, black crowned night herons and many great egrets and great blue herons. We also had seven dickcissels on both sides of the road near Jackpot pond. We walked Lodge Pond trail at Fernald and had a Henslow's sparrow about 150 yards south of the observation deck. Also northern bobwhite, blue grosbeaks, dickcissels and about 20 bobolinks were seen along the trail.
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow nature preserve
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
Relocated the NEOTROPIC CORMORANT in the trees along the backside of Jackpot Pond around 7:15 pm, along with half a dozen Double-crested Cormorants, probably shortly after Les was there. Bird presented a dark overall body, significantly smaller than the nearby DC's, a visibly smaller "throat patch", and a relatively longer tail. The "white V' was barely visible at this distance. You can get decent scope views of the bird from the main Oxbow Road. After being there the last two days, it seems that the Cormorants, including the Neo, move over to roost in the trees along Jackpot Pond in the evenings. Probably your best bet to see them on the main Oxbow Lake would be to go during the day, when they are out fishing. There are also pretty good mud flats developing on Osprey Lake and Jackpot Pond. Only found a couple Semi-palms and a Solitary yesterday, but it would be worth keeping an eye out as fall approaches. Also had a female Dickcissel carrying food in the shruby field in front of Jackpot Pond.
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Leslie Houser
I arrived at the Oxbow at 5:30 and talked to Allan Claybon who was still there, and asked if he had seen the Neotropic Cormorant. He hadn't but he had seen several DC Cormorants from the flood wall just outside of the casino, and overlooks Jackpot Pond and the one Joe Bens called Hidden Pond. I first noticed the bird amongst the line of dead trees that run through the pond, along the edge of the water with a DC Cormorant. I wasn't able to get a good enough view so I drove back around and hiked in from the other side. As soon as I was able to a scope on the bird it took off towards Jackpot Pond where I was able to relocate it roosting in a tree with a DC Cormorant for some good side to side viewing. I wasn't able to get a decent digiscoped image, however the pictures that Joe Bens and Steve Kolbe posted were the same bird I was looking at. This was about 7:00 pm and the sun was low which made getting a good picture difficult.
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Joe Bens
Picture of Neotropical Cormorant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80901875@N04/
OK, I didn't say it was a good picture, but its identifiable.
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Joe Bens
The Neotropical Cormorant was present at noon. It was sitting in the dead trees behind hidden pond(to the right of jackpot pond). Also seen at noon were
2 Little Blue Herons
1 Snowy Egret
4 Dicksissels
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow (Old Channel Lake)
Reporter: David Brinkman
I was at the overlook with two benches from 3:05 - 4:35 pm when I ran into Allan Claybon. We did not see the neotropic cormorant, but there were four double-crested cormorants present. The neotropic may have been elsewhere within the Oxbow (since Jim Rettig reported seeing it earlier in the day), or in the water or on the near side where it is difficult to get a good vantage point. However, Allan and I had up to four immature little blue herons! There were also at least six great egrets.
Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Location: Oxbow Lake
Reporter: Jim Rettig
Other Birders: two
The Neotropic Cormorant was still present at 10:30 or so. Visible from the mid-point parking area with the two benches. Seen with tha aid of a 60x scope and photoed with a camera with a long lens. Bird was with 5 other cormorants sunning and then fishing. Smaller size, white area near bill. Many other other cormorants across lake, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, et al.
Date: Monday, July 30, 2012
Location: Oxbow nature preserve
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
Other Birders: Brian Wulker, Gale Wulker
I headed down to the Oxbow this evening around 7 p.m. to see if I could relocate the previously reported Neotropic Cormorant. I ran into Brian and Gale Wulker, who had the same idea. All we found was one juvenile Double-crested Cormorant on Oxbow Lake, and five additional Double-crested Cormorants on Jackpot Pond, perched in the same trees as the 20 or so Great Egrets. All appeared to be the same size and had relatively short tails. Several of juvenile DC's showed a slight white feathering along the edge of the chin patch, but it did not extend around the corner of the mouth, as it does on Neotropic's "white v". They also had bright white bellies, unlike the brown of juvenile Neos. There was one juvenile Little Blue Heron on Oxbow Lake when we came in.
If folks want to check out the Oxbow, a great resources is the website for Oxbow, Inc., the conservation organization which maintains and defends the Oxbow nature preserve. Their website is www.oxbowinc.org. There you can find downloadable maps of the Oxbow property and info on how to support the work of protecting this important area.
Date: Monday, July 30, 2012
Location: Oxbow Area
Reporter: Steve Kolbe
Birded the Oxbow area from 15:45-18:10 this afternoon. Highlights were 3 Pectoral Sandpipers on the southern mudflats and 1 Neotropic Cormorant. Thanks, Steve, for getting the word out! The Neotropic Cormorant is an adult and was seen with two Double-crested Cormorants. It was initially observed from the southern end of Oxbow Lake but then worked its way to the middle of the lake and could be seen perching on some of the dead tree branches sticking out of the water. It was easily visible from the Lake Overlook Parking Area. I left the area at 18:10 and the bird was actively diving but still visible.
I have posted a few photographs of this bird in a Picasa web album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iAVjiGWLxnoApdEbnvgVB9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
Good birding,
Steve
Date: Monday, July 30, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Steve Bobonick
Other Birders: on behalf of Steve Kolbe
Steve Kolbe called me at 5:15 PM to report a NEOTROPICAL CORMORANT at the main Oxbow Lake. He observed it from the mid-point observation area. It was with DC cormorants so a direct size comparison was possible.
Date: Sunday, July 22, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge & The Oxbow
Reporter: Jay Stenger
Other Birders: Paula Stenger
This evening I saw a fairly early Baird’s Sandpiper on the sandbars below the Lawrenceburg Road Bridge (Lost Bridge) over the Great Miami River. The only other shorebirds I saw at that spot were 5 Least Sandpipers and several Killdeer. I believe the Baird’s Sandpiper was an adult bird and it’s larger size and elongated shape and wings stood out among the nearby Least Sandpipers with which it had little to do with.
There was a better grouping of shorebirds along the shoreline of the shallow pool on the south side of Lawrenceburg Road just west of Lost Bridge. The shorebirds I saw there were several Killdeer, 10~ Pectoral Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper, a Lesser Yellowlegs, one Short-billed Dowitcher and 3 Least Sandpipers. Several Great Blue Herons, a Green Heron and about 4 Horned Larks were seen in the area. All six species of our resident swallows (Tree, N. Rough-winged, Barn, Bank, Cliff and Purple Martins) were also foraging throughout the area in good numbers.
A male Blue Grosbeak was perched in one of his usual spots along nearby Mt. Nebo Road.
In the Oxbow, Oxbow Lake has developing mudflats on its north and south ends and Jackpot Pond and Osprey Lake also have emerging shorebird habitat, but alas only Killdeer were present this evening. Over a hundred swallows were foraging over the fields in the Oxbow and somewhat surprisingly the majority were Cliff and Bank Swallows, at least 30 of each species. Some of the other species I found in the Oxbow this evening included: Great Blue Heron 25~, Great Egret 3, Green Heron 2, Black-crowned Night-Heron 1, Double-crested Cormorant 15~, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Cooper’s Hawk 1, Wood Duck 15~, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1, Prothonotary Warbler 1, Common Yellowthroat 4, Indigo Bunting 15+, and 2 Dickcissels.
My son Jack told me he had about 8 singing Dickcissels in the grassy areas between Osprey Lake and Jackpot Pond on July 2nd of this year. While Dickcissels certainly seem to be increasing in our region and can now be found breeding in several locations not to far from the Oxbow, these are the first summering records of Dickcissels actually in the Oxbow that I am aware of.
Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge, Fernald
Reporter: Brian Wulker
I've stopped by lost bridge a few times this week hoping the storms that have been rolling through would bring in some interesting shorebirds. As far as I can tell there is a little turnover, but its only July and migration is just trickling through.
Mon July 16: Killdeer, 2 Spotted Sandpiper, 4 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 6 Least Sandpiper, 2 Western Sandpiper (clearly seen, mostly full breeding plumage), and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper.
Thurs July 19 7:20am: Killdeer, 4 Solitary Sandpiper, 5 Least Sandpiper, 3 Pectoral Sandpiper
Thurs July 19 4:50pm: Killdeer, 5 Spotted Sandpiper, 3 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Least Sandpiper, 8 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 SB Dowitcher, and 1 unknown peep sp.
Date: Sunday, July 15, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge, Bridge Over Greater Miami Not Whitewater River
Reporter: Jay Lehman
I returned this morning for another look for shorebirds. At first it appeared that most of the shorebird seen Saturday had departed except for a few Least Sandpipers, Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and lots of Killdeer. Just when I was ready to leave a large flock of 50+ shorebirds swirled up and resettled. ABout half appeared to be Killdeer or shorebirds of Killdeer size and half of the flock appeared to be peeps. I scanned again and found 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, about 30 Least. Sandpipers, 3 Solitary Sandpipers, 3 Spotted Sandpipers and about 25 Killdeer. There are likely to be more shorebird species showing up at this spot until the water level rises.
Date: Saturday, July 14, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge, Bridge Over Whitewater River
Reporter: Jay Lehman
Present from about 6:00 pm until about 6:45 pm. Good shorebird habitat and diversity as reported by Jeff Rowe in the morning. One nearly breeding plumage Stilt Sandpiper, 2 Short-billed Dowitchers, 3 Solitary Sanpipers, 5 Spotted Sandpipers, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, and up to 30 Least Sandpipers (LESA). Could not find any Western Sandpipers (WESA) or Semipalmated Sandpipers. There were no birds the cold gray of breeding plumage WESA. There were two interesting birds that were not brown like the LESA that were interesting, larger and with somewhat longer bills, but their legs were yellow. I ID'd them as female LESA. Need to go back. This is likely the best shorebird habitat in SW Ohio right now until a very heavy rain.
Date: Saturday, July 14, 2012
Location: Lawrenceburg Rd., Bridge over Great Miami River
Reporter: Jeff Rowe
Very good shorebird diversity this morning between rain showers. Spotted, Solitary, Least, Semi-palmated, Western, Stilt (1) sandpipers. Short-billed dowitchers (2), Lesser yelowlegs,and many kildeer of course. Western sandpipers were in breading plumage,had black legs and long black bill that drooped.
Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012
Location: Sky Pool nr. Lost Bridge
Reporter: Bruce Leonhardt
My Common Tern is actually a Caspian Tern. Photo will be loaded on smugmug shortly.
http://leonhardt.smugmug.com
Date: Saturday, July 7, 2012
Location: Sky Pool near Lost Bridge
Reporter: Bruce Leonhardt
(1) Common Tern. Watched a GBH chase the tern around the pool a few times. I'll have photos on smugmug tomorrow.
Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge & Oxbow
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Paul Krusling
Lost Bridge, Hamilton, US-OH
Jun 26, 2012 7:20 PM - 7:40 PM
15 species
Canada Goose 8
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 7
Bald Eagle 1
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 7
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Cliff Swallow 35
American Robin 3
European Starling 5
House Sparrow 4
Oxbow (Lawrenceburg), Dearborn, US-IN
Jun 26, 2012 7:40 PM - 9:25 PM
32 species
Canada Goose 12
Wood Duck 75
Mallard 3
Double-crested Cormorant 24
Great Blue Heron 48
Great Egret 18
Black-crowned Night-Heron 6
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Killdeer 25
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Mourning Dove 9
Chimney Swift 25
Belted Kingfisher 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
American Crow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15
Tree Swallow 35
Carolina Chickadee 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
American Robin 9
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 7
Prothonotary Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 21
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Common Grackle 19
Brown-headed Cowbird 16
American Goldfinch 3
Date: Sunday, June 3, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Allan Claybon
Early this afternoon I found only a Ruddy Turnstone, a Spotted Sandpiper, and one peep too far to ID.
Trip List: Canada Goose 25, Great Blue Heron 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Ruddy Turnstone 1
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Location: Lost bridge
Reporter: Brian Wulker
Thought I would try to see if any shorebirds came in with this morning's line of storms after I got off work today. The only place I found anything was at Lost Bridge. Almost none of yesterdays mix was there (including the turnstone), but there were a couple arrivals as well.
List:
5 Killdeer
3 Semipalmated Plover
1 SB Dowitcher
2 White-rumped Sandpiper
8+ Semipalmated Sandpiper
Date: Monday, May 28, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
RUDDY TURNSTONE feeding along the edge of the gravel scrape on the right side of Lawrenceburg Road. The bird was in breeding plumage. Also had 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 4 Semipalmated Plovers, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 3 Least Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, and several Killdeer. There was also a group of shorebirds further out that I couldn't ID. It would be worth checking throughout the day, as there seems to be quite a bit of turnover.
Date: Monday, May 14, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Paul Krusling
A lot of shorebirds at the lost bridge this morning.
Canada Goose 20
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 6
Blue-winged Teal 2
Lesser Scaup 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 6
Turkey Vulture 1
Black-bellied Plover 14
American Golden-Plover 2
Semipalmated Plover 8
Killdeer 4
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Solitary Sandpiper 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 5
Least Sandpiper 12
Pectoral Sandpiper 12
Dunlin 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 12
Rock Pigeon 5
Mourning Dove 6
Chimney Swift 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 9
Barn Swallow 5
Cliff Swallow 25
Tufted Titmouse 2
American Robin 1
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 2
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling 25
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 5
Date: Friday, May 11, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Kathy McDonald
American White Pelican, flying over US 50 into the Oxbow.
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Kerry Kirk
Stopped by for a quick drive through on the way home this afternoon. Highlights were a Common Loon and 2 Great Egrets. Both new birds for me.
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Joe Kappa
Other Birders: Robyn Lung
Highlights:
CASPIAN TERN 5
Dunlin
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Darlena Graham
Other Birders: Oxbow field trip
The crowd didn't buy it when I said I was Ned Keller today but were willing to hunt for Green-winged Teal. To no avail. Even though water fowl were scarce, Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Mallards, and Shovelers, we had a nice morning. We had 3 Bald Eagles, in progressive states of maturity, a very popular snipe, singing Horned Larks, Coots, Cormorants and the other usual suspects. No one insisted on Lorna Doones and Green Tea so I brought it home for another day. I offered the usual $1 for a Blue-headed Vireo but what did I expect!! A whole lot early for that one.
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Shawnee Lookout
Reporter: Joe Bens
I did a swing around west-side parks today. Highlights from the trip.
Oxbow - lots of water (and turtles)
60 Gadwall
25 Shovelers
7 Green-wing Teal
2 Redhead
4 Lesser Scaup
20 Cormorants
2 Bald Eagles
1 Vesper Sparrow (FOY)
25 Swamp Sparrows
Shawnee Lookout
No Migrants except 10 Tree Swallows.
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Mark Gilsdorf
2 Male Red-breasted Mergansers in the gravel pit, on the left side of Lawrenceburg Road this evening around 5 p.m.
Date: Monday, February 13, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Gary Stegner
Other Birders: Jane Powell
There were two common redpolls along the edge of the road in front of the pond before you get to Jackpot Pond. They would occasionally fly into the cornfield across the road but seemed to prefer the cover nearest the pond.
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jon Seymour
250 American Coot, 400 Mallard, 40 Gadwall, 17 Great Blue Heron, 15 American Crow, 2 Turkey Vulture, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Bald Eagle (1 adult, 1 immature)
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012
Location: Oxbow, Lawrenceburg
Reporter: Jon Seymour
250 American Coot, 400 Mallard, 40 Gadwall, 5 Canada Goose, 17 Great Blue Heron, 15 American Crow, 2 Turkey Vulture, 1 Northern Harrier, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Bald Eagle (1 adult, 1 immature), 35 Ring-billed Gull
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jason Cade
Lost Bridge: Redheads, Ring-necks, Wigeon, Black Duck
Date: Sunday, February 5, 2012
Location: Oxbow (IN)
Reporter: Jonathan Frodge
Oxbow: Gulls (all presumably ring-billed) seen in distance in flooded fields, Am. Black Duck, Gr.-winged Teal, Gadwall, Rusty Blackbirds (5)
Date: Sunday, February 5, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jonathan Frodge
I forgot that I stopped at Lost Bridge: nice group of Redheads, Ring-necked Duck and N. Pintail were on the gravel pit lake along with a couple of Great-blue Heron and ubiquitous Coots and Canada Geese.
Date: Saturday, January 21, 2012
Location: Oxbow
Reporter: Wayne Wauligman
Other Birders: John Klein, Kani Meyer
Examining the ice encrusted buds revealed a readiness to burst out with future warm temperatures. Ring-billed Gulls were winging about, Coots were on the water, and Tree Sparrows hid in the brush. The color palette was all shades of gray, relieved by the whiteness of the Gulls and the blackness of the Crows. Other birds seen at the Oxbow were Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, Kestrel, Killdeer, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Cardinals, Chickadees and Song Sparrows. One lone Great Blue Heron objected vocally to us being there.
Date: Monday, January 9, 2012
Location: Lost bridge
Reporter: Tyler Ficker
Other Birders: Ethan Rising, Liz Rising, Tracy and Cassidy Ficker
4 snow geese at lost bridge with many mallards black ducks and rock doves. 3 great blue herons as well.
Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Location: Lost Bridge
Reporter: Jason Cade
Lost Bridge had 4 SNOW GEESE (1 white phase & 3 blue phase), 1 Mute Swan, 2 Lesser Scaup, & 2 Common Goldeneye.