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The Wilds
January 21, 2006

1/21/06 Trip to The Wilds and Blue Rock State Park

Fourteen members of the Greater Mohican and Western Cuyahoga Audubon Societies

--Tim Leslie, Gary Cowell, Cheryl Harner, Hugh & Judy Rose, Bill Deininger, Dave Graskemper, Claudia Anders, Jan Holkenborg, Nancy & Don Howell, Dave Lewis, Laurie Boylan, and I met at The Wilds parking lot at 10:30AM on Saturday, January 21, 2006. 

We spent most of the remainder of the morning at the Jeffrey Point bird platform to look for a couple of rumored Golden Eagles.  No eagles, though we did try to turn a far-off Great Blue Heron into one.  We spotted Northern Harriers and both light and dark phase Rough-legged Hawks.  On the pond we saw a family group of 5 Trumpeter Swans with American Black Ducks and Mallards.  It was actually pretty warm for January, but very windy. 

At our next stop, we found a few Horned Larks, which were life birds for a couple in the group.  At another pond, we found 2 male Green-winged Teal—a rare January find.   We then stopped to eat our lunch in the local church and cemetery.  After lunch we said good-bye to Dave L. & Laurie and the rest of us tried Jeffrey Point again for the Golden Eagles.  Again no eagles, but two of the group saw a probable Merlin.  We also scoped out some of the animals grazing at The Wilds, including Bison and Wild Asses.

Then, on a whim, we decided to take a side trip to nearby Blue Rock State Park.  We drove along a 7-mile scenic, hilly, narrow, dirt road until we got to the park and walked around a little.  Among the birds we found here were Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Belted Kingfisher, and Gary Cowell got a Barred Owl to answer his call.  It had actually warmed up near 50 and the sun was shining—and turned into a pleasant day.

Back at The Wilds we found 12 Ring-necked Ducks and a way off probable Bald Eagle. Then we drove to a spot that Hugh recommended for Short-eared Owls.  Here, we got some great looks at 2 male Harriers “Gray Ghosts”.  No owls appeared, but we found the bird-of-the-day, a beautiful Northern Shrike—a rare Ohio bird.  We stayed until after dark and said our good-byes around 6:00.

--Su Snyder

 For more pictures and details check Greater Mohican Audubon Society's website too. Click Here.

Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave, Cleveland, OH 44109 info@wcasohio.org