January Big Month – 2003

Cumulative List with First Sightings by date

January 2003 Total Species Seen

Dan Sanders: 132

Greg Miller: 130

Cumulative total: 133 species

 

Note: “Heard Only” species for the month were: Eastern Screech-owl and Great Horned Owl.  Only Peregrine Falcon and Yellow-rumped Warbler were single observer sightings (Dan only).  All other sightings were in the presence of other birders.  Additionally, Dan spent 2 extra days birding (1/25-1/26) while Greg lounged around visiting family and watching the Superbowl (what a slacker!).  Species seen by Dan and not by Greg: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, and Grasshopper Sparrow.  Species seen by Greg and not Dan: Common Loon.

 

January 1  (36 species) 

Common Name:                                 Location:

Rufous Hummingbird                            Kidron residence, Wayne County

Cedar Waxwing                                   Kidron residence, Wayne County

Canada Goose                                     Wayne County, en route

American Crow                                    Wayne County, en route

European Starling                                 Wayne County, en route

Northern Cardinal                                 Wayne County, en route

Red-tailed Hawk                                  Summit County, en route

Rock Dove                                           Summit County, en route

Ring-billed Gull                                     Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Herring Gull                                          Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Mourning Dove                                    Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Common Eider                                     Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Lesser Scaup                                        Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Pied-billed Grebe                                 Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Greater Scaup                                      Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Belted Kingfisher                                  Fairport Harbor Marina, Lake County

Bonaparte’s Gull                                   Fairport Harbor, Lake County

Great Black-backed Gull                      Fairport Harbor, Lake County

Common Merganser                             Fairport Harbor, Lake County

Great Blue Heron                                 Cuyahoga County, en route

Dark-eyed Junco                                  Gordon Park, Cuyahoga County

House Finch                                         Gordon Park, Cuyahoga County

American Robin                                    Gordon Park, Cuyahoga County

Gadwall                                                Gordon Park Marina, Cuyahoga County

American Black Duck                           Gordon Park Marina, Cuyahoga County

Red-breasted Merganser                      Gordon Park Marina, Cuyahoga County

Bufflehead                                            Gordon Park Marina, Cuyahoga County

Ruddy Duck                                         Gordon Park Marina, Cuyahoga County

American Coot                                     Gordon Park Marina, Cuyahoga County

Lesser Black-backed Gull                     E. 72nd Street, Cleveland Lakefront, Cuyahoga County

Mallard                                                E. 72nd Street, Cleveland Lakefront, Cuyahoga County

Blue Jay                                               E. 72nd Street, Cleveland Lakefront, Cuyahoga County

Common Goldeneye                             E. 55th Street, Cleveland Lakefront, Cuyahoga County

Surf Scoter                                           Perkins Beach Overlook, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County

Double-crested Cormorant                   Rocky River Park, Cuyahoga County

Merlin                                                  Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County

 

January 2  (13 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

House Sparrow                                    Findlay, en route, Hancock County

American Kestrel                                  Wood County, en route

Red-bellied Woodpecker                     Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

Downy Woodpecker                            Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

Tufted Titmouse                                    Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

American Goldfinch                              Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

Northern Flicker                                   Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

Black-capped Chickadee                     Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

White-breasted Nuthatch                      Oak Openings Metropark, Toledo, Lucas County

Cooper’s Hawk                                   Fulton County, en route

Horned Lark                                        Fulton County, en route

American Tree Sparrow                       Fulton County, en route

Brown-headed Cowbird                       Fulton County farm

 

January 3  (18 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Carolina Chickadee                              Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Eastern Bluebird                                   Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Song Sparrow                                      Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Northern Harrier                                   Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Eastern Meadowlark                            Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Rough-legged Hawk                             Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Northern Saw-Whet Owl                     Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Barred Owl                                          Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Long-eared Owl                                   Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Red-headed Woodpecker                    Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Northern Bobwhite                               KPWA,  Wyandot County; later in Madison County

Short-eared Owl                                  Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Eastern Screech Owl                            Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

Great Horned Owl                                Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

American Bittern                                   Willard Reservoir, Huron County

Ring-necked Duck                                Willard Reservoir, Huron County

Bald Eagle                                            Willard Reservoir, Huron County

Sharp-shinned Hawk                            Huron County, en route

 

January 4  (8 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Snow Bunting                                       Bayview, Erie County              

Glaucous Gull                                       Huron Pier, Erie County

Common Loon                                     Huron Pier, Erie County (Greg)

Hooded Merganser                              Lorain Harbor, Lorain County

Canvasback                                         Lorain Harbor, Lorain County

Redhead                                               Lorain Harbor, Lorain County

Long-tailed Duck                                  Lorain Harbor, Lorain County

Black Scoter                                        Bradstreet Landing, Rocky River, Cuyahoga County

 

January 5  (15 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Carolina Wren                                      Kingston Count, Ross County

Northern Mockingbird                          Kingston Count, Ross County

White-throated Sparrow                       Kingston Count, Ross County

Hairy Woodpecker                               Kingston Count, Ross County

Ruffed Grouse                                      Kingston Count, Ross County

Golden-crowned Kinglet                       Kingston Count, Ross County

Eastern Towhee                                    Kingston Count, Ross County

Common Grackle                                 Kingston Count, Ross County

Turkey Vulture                                     Clermont County, en route

American Wigeon                                 Camp Dennison, Hamilton County

Northern Shoveler                                Camp Dennison, Hamilton County

Northern Pintail                                    Camp Dennison, Hamilton County

Green-winged Teal                               Camp Dennison, Hamilton County

Red-necked Grebe                               Camp Dennison, Hamilton County

Brown Thrasher                                    Camp Dennison, Hamilton County

                                                (also later at Spring Valley WA, Greene County)

 

January 6  (2 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Ring-necked Pheasant                          KPWA, Wyandot County; later in Holmes County

Lapland Longspur                                 Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot County

 

January 7  (l species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Chipping Sparrow                                Westerville, Franklin County, feeder

 

January 8  (9 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

White-crowned Sparrow                      Spencer Lake Wildlife Area, Medina County

Swamp Sparrow                                  Spencer Lake Wildlife Area, Medina County

Black Vulture                                       Lake Buckhorn, Holmes County

Mute Swan                                           Lake Buckhorn, Holmes County

Pileated Woodpecker                           Findley State Park, Lorain County

Snow Goose                                        Prairie Lane, Wayne County

Wood Duck                                         Whitey’s Pond, Holmes County

Barn Owl                                             Mel’s Silo, Berlin, Holmes County

Virginia Rail                                          Holmesville, Holmes County;

later at Spring Valley WA, Greene County

 

January 9

Reached goal of 100 species yesterday and took a day off for R&R.

 

January 10

Trip to Killdeer Plains WA for shrikes, but no new birds were added. (Our only day birding in Ohio without any new additions to the month list)

 

January 11

On a last minute decision (last night at 11pm) we decided to do a road trip to Rochester, New York for Ross’s Gull.  We spent the night in Rochester.

 

January 12  (1 species)

We got better looks at Ross’s Gull and stopped at Spencer Lake WA on return trip.

Common Name:                                 Location:

Northern Shrike                                    Spencer Lake Wildlife Area, Medina County

 

January 13  (1 species)

Road trip to Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas for Golden-crowned Warbler, Blue Mockingbird, Brown Jay, and Whooping Crane (all life birds for Dan, GCWA lifer for Greg).  Stopped in Dayton en route for Harlequin Duck.

Common Name:                                 Location:

Harlequin Duck                                    Greater Miami River, Dayton, Montgomery County

 

January 14

Drove all night straight through to Texas (24 hours).  Got Golden-crowned Warbler and Blue Mockingbird in the afternoon.  We birded Anzalduas County Park and McAllen for Red-crowned Parrot and Green Parakeet.

 

January 15

Got Brown Jay early in the morning at Chapeno.  Got better views of White-collared Seedeaters at San Ygnacio and birded back down the Rio Grande to Bentsen State Park and finished the day with good looks at Ferruginous Pygmy-owl.

 

January 16

Birded Santa Ana NWR and Laguna Atascosa NWR.  Though not yet countable, seeing an Aplomado Falcon there was a treat.  Stayed overnight in Rockport, TX near Aransas NWR.

 

January 17

Spent most of the day (boat trouble delays) taking boat out to see Whooping Cranes (saw 25).  Drove to Austin, TX for the night.

 

January 18

Had to scrape [a thin layer of] ice off the windshield this morning!  Brrrr.  Okay.  It was WAY better than Ohio!  We spent the night in Jackson, Tennessee.

 

January 19  (1 species)

Left Jackson, TN at 4:30am in an effort to get back to Ohio with enough daylight to find the Dayton Ross’s Goose.  Thankfully, we were successful.  (162 species seen in TX)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Ross’s Goose                                       Greater Miami River, Dayton, Montgomery County

 

January 20  (4 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Thayer’s Gull                                        E. 72nd Street, Cleveland Lakefront, Cuyahoga County

Iceland Gull                                          E. 72nd Street, Cleveland Lakefront, Cuyahoga County

Rusty Blackbird                                    Mt. Hope, Holmes County, in trees near feeder

Wilson’s Snipe                                     Berlin, Holmes County, ditch near Berlin

 

January 21  (4 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

American White Pelican                        Greater Miami River, Dayton, Montgomery County

Fox Sparrow                                        Germantown Metropark Nature Center., Montgomery County

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker                     Germantown Metropark, Montgomery County

Hermit Thrush                                       Spring Valley Wildlife Area, Warren County

 

January 22

It was extremely cold and windy.  No report of a hummingbird we were going to chase.  Took a much-needed day of R&R.

 

January 23

Cars needed a day of R&R (oil changes WAY overdue…).

 

January 24  (2 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Brown Creeper                                    Prairie Oaks Metropark, Franklin County

Winter Wren                                        Scioto River, at 5th Ave., Franklin County

Also at Kiwanis Park, Franklin County

 

January 25  (2 species)

Common Name                                  Location:

Wild Turkey                                         Holmes Co (Greg), Shawnee State Forest (Dan)

Red-shouldered Hawk                          Eastfork State Park, Clermont County (Dan);

The Wilds, Muskingum County (Greg & Dan)

 

January 26  (3 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Grasshopper Sparrow                          Bellefontaine, Logan County, feeder (Dan)

Peregrine Falcon                                   OSU near Lane Avenue, Franklin County (Dan)

Yellow-rumped Warbler                       Hoover Reservoir, Franklin County (Dan)

 

January 27  (3 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Tundra Swan                                        Muzzy’s Lake, Urbana, Champaign County

Field Sparrow                                      St. John’s NP, Bowling Green, Wood County

Black-crowned Night Heron                 Bashore Power Plant, Lucas County

 

January 28  (1 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Golden Ealgle                                       The Wilds, Muskingum County

 

January 29  (3 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Gray Catbird                                        Spring Valley Wildlife Area, Greene County

Red-winged Blackbird                          Cincinnati Residence, in tree above feeder

Indigo Bunting                                      Cincinnati Residence, in tree near feeder

 

January 30  (2 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Ruby-crowned Kinglet                          Lake White, Waverly, Pike County, suet feeder

Pine Warbler                                        Chillicothe, Ross County, coming to feeder

 

January 31  (4 species)

Common Name:                                 Location:

Pine Siskin                                            Tiffin, Seneca County, coming to niger feeder

Red-breasted Nuthatch                         Brecksville, Cuyahoga County, coming to suet feeder

Horned Grebe                                      Avon Lake Power Plant, Lorain County

White-winged Scoter                            Avon Lake Power Plant, Lorain County

 

Other January sightings:

Common Name:                                 Location:

Trumpeter Swan                                   Killdeer Plains WA, Wyandot County

                                                            (released population not countable yet in Ohio)

Slaty-backed Gull                                 E. 72nd St, Cuyahoga County (January 20)

                                                            (pending OBRC review/acceptance)

 

January Big Month – 2003

Cumulative List in phylogenetic order:

 

**LOONS

Common Loon (Greg only)

**GREBES

Pied-billed Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

**PELICANS

American White Pelican

**CORMORANTS

Double-crested Cormorant

**HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS

American Bittern

Great Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

**NEW WORLD VULTURES

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

**DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS

Snow Goose

Ross's Goose

Canada Goose

Mute Swan

Tundra Swan

Wood Duck

Gadwall

American Wigeon

American Black Duck

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Canvasback

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Common Eider

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Black Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Ruddy Duck

**HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Golden Eagle

**FALCONS AND CARACARAS

American Kestrel

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon (Dan only)

**PHEASANTS AND PARTRIDGES

Ring-necked Pheasant

**GROUSE, PTARMIGAN, PRAIRIE-CHICKENS

Ruffed Grouse

**TURKEYS

Wild Turkey

**NEW WORLD QUAIL

Northern Bobwhite

**RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS

Virginia Rail

American Coot

**SANDPIPERS

Wilson's Snipe

**GULLS

Bonaparte's Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Thayer's Gull

Iceland Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Glaucous Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

**PIGEONS AND DOVES

Rock Dove

Mourning Dove

**BARN-OWLS

Barn Owl

**OWLS

Eastern Screech-Owl

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Long-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

**HUMMINGBIRDS

Rufous Hummingbird

**KINGFISHERS

Belted Kingfisher

**WOODPECKERS

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

**SHRIKES

Northern Shrike

**CROWS AND JAYS

Blue Jay

American Crow

**LARKS

Horned Lark

**CHICKADEES AND TITS

Carolina Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

**NUTHATCHES

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

**CREEPERS

Brown Creeper

**WRENS

Carolina Wren

Winter Wren

**KINGLETS

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

**THRUSHES

Eastern Bluebird

Hermit Thrush

American Robin

**MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

**STARLINGS

European Starling

**WAXWINGS

Cedar Waxwing

**WOOD WARBLERS

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dan only)

Pine Warbler

**SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS

Eastern Towhee

American Tree Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow (Dan only)

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Lapland Longspur

Snow Bunting

**SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES

Northern Cardinal

Indigo Bunting

**BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Rusty Blackbird

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

**FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS

House Finch

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

**OLD WORLD SPARROWS

House Sparrow

 

Other interesting data for January 2003

 
Total days birding:                   28
Total days birding in Ohio:           19
Total days birding out-of-state:       9
Total miles traveled in January:  10,795
Total miles traveled in Ohio:      6,590
Total hours birding in January:      341
Total hours birding in Ohio:         233
Number of Ohio counties visited:      57

 

***Miles traveled and hours birding are an attempt to express the amount of effort expended.  For instance, on January 31, we birded for 15 minutes in Columbus, and then drove to Tiffin.  We watched a feeder there for 10 minutes before seeing the Pine Siskin.  We then crossed the state, arrived at a feeder in Brecksville, and birded another 10 minutes before ticking the pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches.  Even though we really only birded for 35 minutes, our total time expended was over 4 hours.  If we sat down to eat somewhere (which didn’t happen often), however, that time is subtracted from the total hours birding.  We also included our out-of-state data for the month as well with road trips to New York and Texas. 

 

A Final Note:

Considering the absence, this Winter, of irregular species (Snowy Owl, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, and Evening Grosbeak), and other birds we missed that could likely be found (Killdeer, Eastern Phoebe, American Woodcock, American Pipit, Purple Finch, and Brewer's Blackbird) plus other reported species that we tried for, but missed (Yellow-headed Blackbird, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Northern Goshawk) 140 species for January might be a reasonable Ohio record to expect in the future. Well, that might be true if an experienced birder is willing to bird every day, has good connections (cell phone, pc, internet, etc.), and is extremely lucky all of the time!