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Updated on Sunday, May 11 at 09:54 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Least Sandpiper,©David Sibley

11 May Update to Earlier Post [Canyon Wren ]
11 May Monroe County weekend birds [Cathy ]
11 May Re: LBDO, UPSA pics [Liz Day ]
11 May Greene Co. May Day count highlights [Mike Clarke ]
11 May Spring Count (Lake Co.) - Glaucous Gull, Clay-colored Sp., Moorhens [Michael Topp ]
11 May May Count - St. Joe County (Potato Creek) [JOHN CASSADY ]
11 May Greene Co. MDC - 5/10 [Jim Hengeveld ]
11 May Gibson Co. Pacific Loon - No? [Gary Bowman ]
11 May More Allen Co. May Day count []
11 May Allen County May Day Count- May 10 [Rodger Rang ]
11 May Lk. Lemon - siskins, Surf Scoter [Jim Hengeveld ]
11 May Riddle Point 5/10 [Robert Kissel ]
11 May Re: Question about Wild Turkey in Indianapolis ["B.G. Sloan" ]
11 May Fort Harrison SP May 11 - Rain! [Don Gorney ]
11 May BIG MAY COUNT & NEW STATE RECORD [Canyon Wren ]
11 May Beehunter area ["Whitehead, Donald R." ]
11 May Pacific Loon [Gary Bowman ]
11 May Dubois County May Day Count [Theresa Schwinghammer ]
11 May Muscatatuck NWR 100 species 10 MAY [Gary Dorman ]
10 May Griffy Lake, 5/10 - 3 FOYs ["B.G. Sloan" ]
10 May Re: Osprey in Mishawaka [Brian Miller ]
10 May Bev. Shores portion of May Count ["Kenneth J. Brock" ]
10 May Long-billed Dowitcher at Wakarusa [Dan Stoltzfus ]
10 May Dunes S.P. 5/10/08- Foredune Portion [Brad Bumgardner ]
10 May McCool Basin & Big May Day highlights LBDO, KEWA [John Kendall ]
10 May Laughing Gulls - Eagle Creek [Kirk Roth ]
10 May Re: Osprey in Mishawaka [Timothy Martin ]
10 May LBDO, UPSA pics [Ray Troyer ]
9 May Goose Pond- Willet [Greg Page ]
10 May Potato Creek/Kingsbury 5/9/08 [Jim Spier ]
9 May Starkey Park, Boone Co. [Roger and Michelle Hedge ]
9 May Clear Creek Trail, 5/9 - 48 species, 1 FOY ["B.G. Sloan" ]
9 May Eastern Marion County ["Mark C. Rhodes" ]
9 May Fox Island- May 9 AM [Rodger Rang ]
9 May Osprey in Mishawaka [Lindsay Klein ]
9 May Columbus area 5/9/2008 [Bill Moats Jr ]
9 May Red-winged Blackbird aggression ["B.G. Sloan" ]
9 May Vets Memorial Park Indianapolis [Tom & Bonnie ]
9 May Lebanon Sod Farm, Boone County [Larry Peavler ]
9 May Wrens have fledged [Terri Greene ]
9 May LAUGHING GULL/Lake Monroe 5/9 [Scott Evans ]
9 May Lk. Lemon -- 5/6 - 5/8 [Jim Hengeveld ]
9 May Long Beach Oven Bird [D Holmes ]
9 May Franke Park Golden-winged Warbler, Caspian Tern [REBECCA BROWN ]
9 May shorebirds at Celery Bog ["Michael L. P. Retter" ]
9 May Mount Comfort Airport, Hancock Co. - UPSA, BOBO, GRSP [Don Gorney ]
9 May SW Monroe Co Yard Birds [Terri Greene ]
9 May Fairfax ["Whitehead, Donald R." ]
8 May Kingsbury FWA Willets [Robert Huguenard ]
8 May Hillenbrand FWA grasslands May 7 [Lee Sterrenburg ]
8 May Goose Pond FWA Shorebirds May 7 [Lee Sterrenburg ]
8 May Whip-poor-will in Elkhart Co. [Dan Stoltzfus ]

Subject: Update to Earlier Post
From: Canyon Wren <canyonwren AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:07:01 -0500
Hi All,
As I stated in my earlier post today, I asked Ken Brock for confirmation 
regarding Barred Owl records.  Ken responded stating that the Owl Surveys 
done by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore were, indeed, single party 
counts.  Therefore, my team's count this week-end will constitute a count in 
the top ten, but not a new state record.  Even so, we were thrilled to have 
that many Barred Owls.

Thanks, Ken, for clarifying the owl data for me.

Good Birding!
Lynea

Lynea Hinchman
Michigan City, Indiana
Heart of the Indiana Dunes
CanyonWrenatComcastdotnet

"The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived though its first
material expression be destroyed.  A vanished harmony may yet again inspire
the composer, but when the last individual of a race of living beings
breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a
one can be again."  William Beebe

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Subject: Monroe County weekend birds
From: Cathy <cmeyer AT KIVA.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:03:40 -0400
I helped a group of 8 birders visiting form northern Indiana find birds 
in the area yesterday and today. Tomorrow they are meeting Lee 
Sterrenberg to see Goose Pond.Yesterday we had a beautiful day, in 
contrast to today's rain. I believe the group is up to about130 for 
their trip and they were happy to see, or at least hear, some of our 
local birds. I think their reactions make me reconsider some of the 
birds I take for granted here and appreciate them more. A few highlights:

Sat. 5/10
Flatwoods Park - Bobwhite, 2 singing Willow Flycatchers, White-crowned 
Sparrows, nice variety of warblers in the woods
Upper Woodall Rd. - 2 singing Grasshopper Sparrows (1 perched on a fence 
in full view), a dozen bobolinks in the grape vines, 2 Blue Grosbeak 
males (nice looks), Red-headed Woodpecker (far to the west calling 
loudly from the top of a big dead tree)
Bryant's Creek Rd. - 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, lots of warblers - 
including Ovenbird, Worm-eating, Kentucky (good looks), Hooded, 
Blue-winged, Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow, Yellow-throated, 
Cerulean, Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Gray-cheeked Thrush
Lake Griffy - White-eyed Vireos building a nest over the parking lot, 
Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, pr. Blue-winged Teal, more

Sun. 5/11 Riddle Point - 3 Common Loons, D. C.Cormorant, Spotted 
Sandpiper, nice variety of warblers, including Blackpoll, Cape May, lots 
of Yellow-rumped, and  Palm, Cliff Swallows on a wire
Little Africa - Prothonotary, Yellow-throated, and Prairie Warblers, 
Northern Waterthrush
Brummet's Creek Rd. - 5 Lesser Yellowlegs
Stillwater - Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Waterthrush. Least 
Flycatcher, Redstart
Paynetown - Cattle Egret in the primitive campground (we watched it 
gobble up a big nightcrawler)
Monroe dam- Ruddy Duck
Fairfax - 2 Caspian Terns, 2 Forster's Terns, 2 Laughing Gulls in 
alternate plumage, 1 Herring Gull, Spotted Sandpiper

Cathy Meyer
Bloomington

Cathy  Meyer

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Subject: Re: LBDO, UPSA pics
From: Liz Day <lizday44 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 18:44:06 -0700
>
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2344970620101565606kxywXG

The wide pale edges to the back feathers cause me to
wonder if perhaps this particular bird might be a
short-billed.   Any thoughts?

Liz Day
Indianapolis

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Subject: Greene Co. May Day count highlights
From: Mike Clarke <redeyegravy AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:28:36 -0400
On Saturday, Jim Mitchell and I worked the Greene Co. side of the
Greene-Sullivan State Forest for the Big May Day count.  In the evening, we
poached on other's areas in Goose Pond and Beehunter Marsh where we added
most of the evening-species mentioned in Jim Hengeveld's report for our
personal day-list.  We finished the day with 133 species, 107 in our
assigned area.

Highlights included: 1 Common Loon, 5 Ring-necked Ducks, 2 Black-crowned
Night Herons, 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 5 Barred Owls, 1 Common Nighthawk,  4
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOWS, 8 Eastern Wood Pewee, 4 Veery,  12 Swainson's Thrush, 9
Wood Thrush, 24 warbler species (including 1 Golden-winged and 2 Pine), 4
Summer Tanagers,  and 9 sparrow species (including 2 Grasshopper, 2 Savannah
and 2 Swamp).

-Mike Clarke and Jim Mitchell
Bloomington

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Subject: Spring Count (Lake Co.) - Glaucous Gull, Clay-colored Sp., Moorhens
From: Michael Topp <mtopp7927 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:59:28 -0400
I covered Parts of Lake County for the Spring Count - 5/10
    Highlights were Glaucous Gull, Bald Eagle, Clay-colored Sparrow
    Moorhens and some tardy ducks.  * Photos I will post later.

   Highlights:
      MILLER BEACH:
    1-Common Loon
    3-Horned Grebes
    3-Red-breasted Mergansers
    1-BALD EAGLE (Juv. bird feeding on the beach.)
    1-Osprey
    1-Peregrine Falcon
   13-Spotted Sandpipers (Together at the breakwall)
    8- Sanderlings
   27-Dunlin (Including a flock of 24 flybys.)
    1-GLAUCOUS GULL (Juv. bird ) *
    5-Caspian Terns
    1-Forster's Tern 
    1-Horned Lark
    1-Brown Thrasher
    1-Field Sparrow

      GARY  (Area) :
    1-GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Male)
    2-Blue-winged Teal
    2-N.PINTAILS  (Pair)
    1-N.SHOVELER (Male)
    3-Hooded Mergansers
    1-Great creasted F.C.
    3-E.Kingbirds
    5-Marsh Wrens
    1-E.Bluebird
    1-Wood Thrush
    2-Swainson's Thrush
    1-Veery
   10-Palm Warblers
     4-Yellow Warblers
    3-Y.R.Warblers
    3-C.Yellowthroats
    1-Indigo Bunting
    3-Swamp Sparrows
   11-White-throated Sparrows
     2-Savhanna Sparrows
   
        CLINE AVE. MARSH AREA -   (HIGHLAND)
   1-Pied-billed Grebe
  29-D.C.Cormorants
  58-G.B.Herons
   6-Great Egrets
  17-B.C.Nightherons
   4-Green Herons
  12-Wood Ducks
   2-Blue-winged Teal
   3-Hooded Mergansers
   2-Turkey Vultures
   1-Virgina Rail
   6-Soras
   7-COMMON MOORHENS (all were seen.)
   1-Lesser Yellowlegs
   5-Spotted Sandpipers
   6-Solitary Sandpipers
   1-Belted Kingfisher
   4-Red-headed Woodpeckers
   2-Red-bellied Woodpeckers
   1-E.Phoebe
   1-Great-creasted F.C.
   2-E.Kingbirds
   3-Warbling Vireos
   2-R.E.Vireos
  12-Marsh Wrens
   1-Swainson's Thush
   1-Blue-winged Warbler
   2-Tennessee Warblers
   2-Nashville Warblers
   1-Northern Parula
   9-Yellow Warblers
   2-Magnolia Warblers
  10-Y.R.Warblers
   1-Black-throated Green Warbler
  12-Palm Warblers
   1-Black and White Warbler
   1-A.Redstart
   1-Ovenbird
   2-N.Waterthrush
   9-C.Yelowthroats
   1-Wilson's Warbler
   1-Indigo Bunting
   2-E.Towhees
   1-Rose-breasted Grosbeak
   2-Chipping Sparrows
   1-CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
   1-Lincoln's Sparrow
   5-Swamp Sparrows
  11-White-throated Sparrows
   9-White-crowned Sparrows
   2-RUSTY BLACKBIRDS  (Feeding on cracked corn in my yard.)
   5-Baltimore Orioles  (At my feeder)
   2- Monk Parakeets (Cline Ave. nest) My wife had 5 at the Post office site.
                                            
                                                      Michael Topp
                                                        Highland IN.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
    
    
    

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Subject: May Count - St. Joe County (Potato Creek)
From: JOHN CASSADY <jcassady AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:07:52 -0600
Wendy and Kelly Cassady once again joined me for our annual May Count at Potato 
Creek. Late migration was evident - Yellow-rumpeds and Palms were still around 
in numbers, but few other warblers, and almost no flycatchers (it has been 
years since we have missed Willow). However it was a beautiful day to bird, and 
we did have some nice highlights - including: 

BROAD-WINGED HAWK, PINE WARBLER (female on the ground!), YELLOW-THROATED 
WARBLER, FORSTER'S TERN, 

and our "bird of the day" - BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.

            35 Canada Goose
            3 Mute Swan
            11 Mallard
            5 Wild Turkey
            1 Pied-billed Grebe
            8 Double-crested Cormorant
            3 Great Blue Heron
            1 Green Heron
            2 Turkey Vulture
            2 Osprey
            3 Red-shouldered Hawk
            1 Broad-winged Hawk
            2 Red-tailed Hawk
            1 Sandhill Crane
            1 Killdeer
            1 Spotted Sandpiper
            1 Solitary Sandpiper
            1 American Woodcock
            1 Ring-billed Gull
            4 Forster's Tern
            4 Rock Pigeon
            1 Mourning Dove
            1 Black-billed Cuckoo
            1 Barred Owl
            1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
            1 Belted Kingfisher
            2 Red-bellied Woodpecker
            2 Downy Woodpecker
            1 Hairy Woodpecker
            1 Northern Flicker
            1 Pileated Woodpecker
            2 Eastern Wood-Pewee
            1 Acadian Flycatcher
            4 Least Flycatcher
            2 Eastern Phoebe
            3 Great Crested Flycatcher
            3 Eastern Kingbird
            9 White-eyed Vireo
            10 Yellow-throated Vireo
            1 Blue-headed Vireo
            5 Warbling Vireo
            7 Red-eyed Vireo
            3 Blue Jay
            15 American Crow
            11 Tree Swallow
            1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
            3 Barn Swallow
            8 Black-capped Chickadee
            2 Tufted Titmouse
            4 White-breasted Nuthatch
            10 House Wren
            1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
            13 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
            2 Eastern Bluebird
            5 Veery
            5 Swainson's Thrush
            7 Wood Thrush
            18 American Robin
            27 Gray Catbird
            1 Brown Thrasher
            1 European Starling
            6 Blue-winged Warbler
            4 Tennessee Warbler
            2 Nashville Warbler
            46 Yellow Warbler
            3 Chestnut-sided Warbler
            2 Magnolia Warbler
            17 Yellow-rumped Warbler
            3 Black-throated Green Warbler
            3 Blackburnian Warbler
            1 Yellow-throated Warbler
            1 Pine Warbler
            9 Palm Warbler
            1 Black-and-white Warbler
            2 American Redstart
            7 Ovenbird
            6 Northern Waterthrush
            1 Louisiana Waterthrush
            24 Common Yellowthroat
            5 Hooded Warbler
            2 Yellow-breasted Chat
            5 Scarlet Tanager
            12 Eastern Towhee
            6 Chipping Sparrow
            3 Field Sparrow
            14 Song Sparrow
            3 Swamp Sparrow
            13 White-throated Sparrow
            1 White-crowned Sparrow
            29 Northern Cardinal
            12 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
            6 Indigo Bunting
            38 Red-winged Blackbird
            2 Common Grackle
            11 Brown-headed Cowbird
            2 Orchard Oriole
            17 Baltimore Oriole
            2 House Finch
            16 American Goldfinch
            2 House Sparrow

     Total species reported: 100


Wendy, John & Kelly Cassady
jcassady AT verizon.net
To view our gallery of "digiscoped" bird photos, go to the following link:
http://www.jkcassady.com

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Subject: Greene Co. MDC - 5/10
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:54:28 -0400
Susan & I participated in the Greene Co. May Day Count yesterday.  We  
spent the majority of the day in Hillenbrand FWA in the northwest  
section of the county, the first time we had birded this area.  After  
Hillenbrand, we covered the Linton Conservation Club (no. of Linton)  
before ending up in the Goose Pond area, where we looked for birds  
that were seen by Lee Sterrenburg's group, by Mike Clarke & Jim  
Mitchell, by Don Whitehead's group, and by the group of Stephen  
Nawrocki, Roger Sweets, Ryan Sanderson, and Ryan Hamilton.  We  
finished the day with 137 species, 111 of those in "our" area.

Highlights in our area included 2 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Ospreys,  
Virginia Rail, Sora, 12 Bell's Vireos, 3 Sedge Wrens, Ruby-crowned  
Kinglet, good numbers of the expected thrush species, 22 warbler  
species, 27 Henslow's Sparrows, and 2 Pine Siskins.  At Goose Pond,  
we added both bitterns, BC Night-Heron, Great Egret, King Rail, Semi.  
Plover, BN Stilt, Dunlin, WESTERN SANDPIPER (a beautiful bird in alt.  
plumage), Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, SB Dowitcher, 2  
Wilson's Phalaropes, and Black Tern.

The following list includes the count of birds from our area, the  
first number for Hillenbrand birds and then additions from outside of  
that FWA.

   -Canada Goose - 9 + 12
   -Hooded Merganser - 2
   -Wild Turkey - 5
   -No. Bobwhite - 16
   -Green Heron - 1
   -Gr. Blue Heron - 2
   -Turkey Vulture - 17 + 4
   -Osprey - 2
   -Cooper's Hawk - 1
   -Red-shouldered Hawk - 4
   -Red-t. Hawk - 3 + 4
   -Virginia Rail - 1
   -Sora - 2
   -Killdeer - 3 + 4
   -Gr. Yellowlegs - 1
   -Am. Woodcock - 4
   -Mourning Dove - 17 + 10
   -Gr. Horned Owl - 2
   -Barred Owl - 4 + 1
   -Com. Nighthawk - 1
   -Whip-poor-will - 3
   -Chimney Swift - 0 + 2 (+ 25 in Linton)
   -Ruby-thr. Hummingbird - 0 + 2
   -Red-headed Woodpecker - 3 + 1
   -Red-bel. Woodpecker - 9 + 5
   -Downy Woodpecker - 2 + 1
   -Pileated Woodpecker - 4
   -E. Wood-Pewee - 5
   -Acadian Flycatcher - 3
   -Least Flycatcher - 1
   -E. Phoebe - 6 + 1
   -Gr. Crested Flycatcher - 9 + 3
   -E. Kingbird - 10 + 3
   -White-e. Vireo - 22 + 11
   -Yellow-thr. Vireo - 3 + 1
   -Bell's Vireo - 12
   -Blue-headed Vireo - 1
   -Red-e. Vireo - 28 + 9
   -Warbling Vireo - 4 + 1
   -Blue Jay - 6 + 5
   -Am. Crow - 22 + 4
   -Tree Swallow - 4
   -Purple Martin - 6 + 2
   -Cliff Swallow - 1
   -No. Rough-w. Swallow - 4 + 2
   -Barn Swallow - 4 + 7
   -Car. Chickadee - 8
   -Tufted Titmouse - 24 + 4
   -White-br. Nuthatch - 5 + 1
   -House Wren - 8 + 2
   -Carolina Wren - 16 + 10
   -Sedge Wren - 3
   -Ruby-cr. Kinglet - 1
   -Blue-gr. Gnatcatcher - 25 + 5
   -E. Bluebird - 2 + 2
   -Wood Thrush - 15 + 5
   -Veery - 7 + 2
   -Gray-ch. Thrush - 3
   -Swainson's Thrush - 22 + 6
   -Am. Robin - 8 + 30
   -Gray Catbird - 16 + 5
   -No. Mockingbird - 1 + 1
   -Brown Thrasher - 6 + 3
   -Eur. Starling - 6 + 110
   -Prothonotary Warbler - 4
   -Tennessee Warbler - 15
   -Nashville Warbler - 1
   -No. Parula - 5 + 2
   -Chestnut-s. Warbler - 3
   -Magnolia Warbler - 2
   -Yellow-rumped Warbler - 34 + 3
   -Blackburnian Warbler - 0 + 1
   -Black-thr. Green Warbler - 3
   -Yellow-thr. Warbler - 1
   -Prairie Warbler - 8 + 4
   -Pine Warbler - 1
   -Palm Warbler - 10 + 4
   -Yellow Warbler - 11 + 4
   -Kentucky Warbler - 19 + 1
   -Canada Warbler - 1
   -Ovenbird - 6
   -Louisiana Waterthrush - 0 + 1
   -Northern Waterthrush - 2
   -Com. Yellowthroat - 76 + 9
   -Yellow-br. Chat - 20 + 3
   -Am. Redstart - 11
   -Summer Tanager - 8 + 1
   -Scarlet Tanager - 9 + 1
   -E. Towhee - 21 + 3
   -Field Sparrow - 34 + 9
   -Chipping Sparrow - 9 + 2
   -Henslow's Sparrow - 27
   -Song Sparrow 10 + 11
   -White-thr. Sparrow - 5
   -White-cr. Sparrow - 14
   -Rose-br. Grosbeak - 10 + 4
   -No. Cardinal - 42 + 10
   -Dickcissel - 2
   -Blue Grosbeak - 7 + 5
   -Indigo Bunting - 72 + 17
   -Bobolink - 7
   -E. Meadowlark - 10 + 5
   -Red-w. Blackbird - 57 + 58
   -Com. Grackle - 5 + 20
   -Brown-h. Cowbird - 22 + 2
   -Orchard Oriole - 10
   -Baltimore Oriole - 16 + 4
   -Pine Siskin - 0 + 2
   -Am. Goldfinch - 16 + 16
   -House Sparrow - 6 + 15


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Subject: Gibson Co. Pacific Loon - No?
From: Gary Bowman <otus44 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 16:31:41 -0400
We checked the strip mine pit where the loon was seen yesterday and 
this morning.
The wind was howling and the rain was coming down so I am not surprised that we
didn't see the loon.  It was probably trying to stay out of the wind 
along the edge to
the pit somewhere.  This is a large, narrow, two section pit possibly 
1/2 mile or more
long so it could have been hidden from view.

I can't imagine that the bird has left in these weather conditions.

If you try for it, the pit is about 2 miles east of Mackey in the 
southeast corner of Gibson
County.  Go east from the blinker light at SR57 on CR700S nearly two 
miles to a
cemetery on the north side of the road at a jog in the 
road.  Continue a little farther to
a stop sign at an intersection and then coninue a short distance to 
the pit.  It is on the
right side of the road.  Good luck.

Gary Bowman
Vincennes

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Subject: More Allen Co. May Day count
From: Jhawillet AT AOL.COM
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 14:20:02 EDT
Ryan Smith and I birded Fox Island for the Allen Co. May Day count  yesterday 
morning.  Doug Rood and Marisa Windell joined us for afternoon in  northwest 
Allen Co., and I quickly surveyed the Woodburn sewage ponds in the  evening.  
Our party total for the day was 115 species, but there was  nothing unexpected 
among them.
 
We had 78 species at Fox Island, which is decidedly subpar for a May Day  
count, including 21 warblers. New for the year was Philadelphia Vireo. Ed and 

Cynthia Powers, a second Fox Is. party for the  morning, added several 
additional species in the park, including the first Blackpoll Warbler of the 
year. 

Although a few migrant species were in fair  numbers, most were quite low.  
Missed entirely at Fox Is. were Blue-headed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Veery, 

Gray-cheeked Thrush, Black and White  Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow.  Some 
other species--many flycatchers including E. Wood Pewee, both cuckoos, Canada, 

Mourning, and Connecticut  Warblers--have not yet been reported in northeast 
Indiana in this late spring  migration.
 
In the afternoon we found a few shorebirds--several Spotted Sandpipers, 1  
Greater and 9 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Least Sandpipers, 2 Dunlin, 3 Wilson's 
Snipe, 

 but again the shorebird variety has not reached us yet.  New for the year  
was Bobolink, present in our assigned area in one of the three locations where 

they have been found in the recent past.  They are just starting to  come in. 
 I had assumed that there were no late-lingering ducks around, but  we found 
Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, a pair of Ring-necked Ducks, 4  Lesser 
Scaup, and a pair of Ruddy Ducks in one location.
 
A glorious day to be out and a good party total in spite of the big gaps on  
our list.
 
Jim Haw



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Subject: Allen County May Day Count- May 10
From: Rodger Rang <rrang AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 13:00:21 -0400
Jerry Brown, Sandy Schacht, Sister Mary Joan and I participated in Saturday's 
Big May Day Count, covering the north central section of Allen County from 
Franke Park northward into the Cedar Creek area. We tallied 99 species- average 
at best- in mostly low numbers, with no lingering waterfowl, very few 
shorebirds, virtually no grassland species, and no new arrivals. We found only 
21 warblers, the best probably being the continuing male Golden-winged 
(singing) at Franke and two Louisiana Waterthrushes (singing) at Bicentennial 
Woods and off Chapman Road. We did have a few lingering early migrants: one 
each of Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, and Purple Finch (singing) at 
Franke, but overall, the list was fairly unexciting. Best highlight was the 
weather- mostly sunny with a refreshing light north breeze, a stark contrast to 
this morning's dark skies and consistent rain. I'm happy to stay inside today. 


Rodger Rang
Fort Wayne

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Subject: Lk. Lemon - siskins, Surf Scoter
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:19:24 -0400
There are currently 24 PINE SISKINs at our feeders.  A fem/imm SURF  
SCOTER was at the east end of the lake at ~11 am.  There are 2 E.  
WOOD-PEWEES  in our yard.

........Jim & Susan



********************
Jim & Susan Hengeveld
East Lake Lemon Observatory
Southshore Drive
Unionville, IN  47468





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Subject: Riddle Point 5/10
From: Robert Kissel <bluesdoc AT BLUEMARBLE.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:53:55 -0400
In walking my dogs early evening at Riddle Point (w end of Lake Lemon), 
I had a Spotted Sandpiper land on a log near the camp. Otherwise, 
Riddle Point and the lake seemed pretty quiet, beyond 3 Common Loons 
mid-lake and the expected Canada Geese. Bluebirds were feeding young at 
the box at the camp (prior years occupied by Tree Swallows).

Bob Kissel
NE Monroe County

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Subject: Re: Question about Wild Turkey in Indianapolis
From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 08:46:35 -0700
 
I wanted to thank Steve Backs for taking the time to address the "urban wild 
turkey" issue. It's always good to hear from the experts. 

 
Steve mentions two potential reasons for the presence of tukeys in urban areas:
 
1. They may be released "pen-raised" turkeys that look like wild turkeys.

2. With urban sprawl, our communities are moving into areas that were once more 
rural and wooded. 


I'd like to offer another potential reason: there are a heck of a lot more wild 
turkeys than there used to be. I saw one estimate that said there were only 
1300 wild turkeys in Indiana as recently as 1969. Turkey numbers have increased 
about a hundredfold since then. In one document published by the Purdue 
extension service they estimated that there 125,000 turkeys in Indiana in 2005. 
These turkeys have to have someplace to go, and in some cases they might be 
slowly expanding their territories into urban/suburban areas, much as was the 
case with whitetailed deer. 


Bernie Sloan
Bloomington

--- On Thu, 5/8/08, Castrale, John  wrote:

From: Castrale, John 
Subject: Re: [IN-BIRD-L] Question about Wild Turkey in Indianapolis
To: IN-BIRD-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008, 10:10 AM

Steve Backs asked me to post this to IN-Bird.
John Castrale


 I apologize for not responding sooner to your request about wild
turkeys around urban areas in Indiana but things have been a little
hectic around here.  The whole issue of urban "wild" turkeys is
something wild turkeys biologists are a little perplexed in addressing.
Unfortunately, none of the scenarios is good for true wild turkeys nor
those folks who appreciate seeing wild critters.

First, several urban areas around the state have a chronic history of
releases of "pen-reared" turkeys that are the wild looking type.
Examples: Carmel area, Greenwood, Geist Reservoir, several communities
in NC Indiana. By experience we are often suspect of the origin of
"wild" turkeys that show up in some urban settings.  In some cases,
these birds may have been hatched from real wild turkey eggs, that were
illegally removed from wild nests under the perception the nest had been
abandoned and these were hatched in an incubator, the hatched chicks
become imprinted to humans and their habitations.  Once the birds begin
to get some size and become a problem to keep the folks turn them lose.
Please note all the associated activities of this latter scenario are
illegal.

Second, as urban sprawl has moved into areas that were once more rural
and wooded we have seen a greater frequency of wild turkeys becoming
more acclimated to humans.  Generally, backyard bird feeders become the
mechanism for this acclimation during periods of winter stress when
birds lose some of the inherent wildness because of their need to find
food resources.  Each subsequent generation of birds who frequent these
feeding sources becomes more acclimated. Before you know you have
semi-domesticated wild birds.

Finally, we did make one wild turkey release at Eagle Creek Park in
Indianapolis against our biological recommendations.  The question was
not so much will they survive but what if they survive.  We are not sure
of the true status of these birds because we know we have had some
subsequent releases of pen-reared birds in the general area as well.

From a biological perspective, none of the situations discussed above is
good for the long term future of true wild turkey flocks in Indiana
because of potential disease concerns from contact with contaminated
fowl, genetic pollution, and the unfortunate nuisance complaints that
eventually occur.  It does take very long for a turkey walking on the
roof of a car to cause several hundred dollars of scratching damage,
roosting on antennas, satellite dishes, and gutters along with
accumulated feces around homes and lawn furniture, flogged windows or
humans especially children, scratched up flower gardens or vegetable
gardens, broken car windshields, etc before the perception of natural
beauty goes to beast!

Bottom-line, wild turkey biologists strongly discourage any feeding of
any wild turkeys and consider any turkeys in an urban setting to be of
either suspect origin and potentially contaminated as carriers of
diseases that pose a potential threat to true wild turkey flocks.  When
asked to address the nuisance complaints regarding such turkeys, trap
and transplanting such birds to someplace else is not an option for
primarily the reasons discussed. 

Steven E. Backs
Wildlife Research Biologist
Wild Turkey Project Leader

-----Original Message-----
From: Castrale, John
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:28 AM
To: Backs, Steve
Subject: FW: [IN-BIRD-L] Question about Wild Turkey in Indianapolis

 
fyi
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Indiana
[mailto:IN-BIRD-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU] On Behalf Of B.G. Sloan
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 6:21 PM
To: IN-BIRD-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: [IN-BIRD-L] Question about Wild Turkey in Indianapolis

Ellie Baker asked:
   
  "Has anyone else seen a turkey in the city [Indianapolis]? We do live
on Little Crooked Creek, so it could have come via that corridor. But it
does not make much sense."
   
  I checked the Christmas Bird Counts (Indianapolis and Indianapolis NW)
since about 1990. There were Wild Turkeys reported in just one count
(1999-2000), and even then only two birds. And I couldn't find any
sightings in the IN-BIRD-L archives. So it looks like they aren't common
in Indy.
   
  But urban Wild Turkeys aren't unheard of. When I was observing a flock
of turkeys in my old Urbana, IL neighborhood I did a lot of background
reading and found quite a few examples. Several Chicago suburbs had
turkeys, as did Boston, Pittsburgh, Hartford CT, and Minneapolis.
Turkeys have even been spotted in Manhattan!
   
  Bernie Sloan
  Bloomington

Eleanor Baker  wrote:
  About 10 minutes ago, a neighbor called to report a very large,
irredescient bird strolling in her back yead. I rushed down and indeed
it was a male turkey.
Location: North Willow Park at Brewster and Cinnebar, one block south of
Tulane (which goes into College Park). About 1/2 mile north of 86th
Street.

Has anyone else seen a turkey in the city? We do live on Little Crooked
Creek, so it could have come via that corridor. But it does not make
much sense.

Ellie Baker

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Subject: Fort Harrison SP May 11 - Rain!
From: Don Gorney <dongorney AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 08:37:43 -0700
The most amazing sighting on May 11 at Fort Harrison State Park, Indianapolis, 
was a birdwatcher for the bird hike despite the downpour. The regulars all 
stayed home but one high school student came out for the hike. Since there was 
heavy rain at 8am I delayed the hike an hour so we birded in the drizzle and 
moderate rain. Only 56 species were found. Seven warbler species, a few 
flycatchers, and one cuckoo were the highlights. The entire list: 


Canada Goose     29
Mallard     8
Great Blue Heron     10
Cooper's Hawk     1
Killdeer     3
Mourning Dove     6
Cuckoo sp    1 seen in flight as I got out of my car
Chimney Swift     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     3
Downy Woodpecker     2
Acadian Flycatcher     1
Great Crested Flycatcher     2
White-eyed Vireo     1
Yellow-throated Vireo     1
Warbling Vireo     1
Red-eyed Vireo     2
Blue Jay     5
American Crow     2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     6
Barn Swallow     6
Carolina Chickadee     5
Tufted Titmouse     2
Carolina Wren     1
House Wren     3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     7
Swainson's Thrush     1
Wood Thrush     1
American Robin     32
Gray Catbird     5
Northern Mockingbird     1
European Starling     17
Cedar Waxwing     2
Tennessee Warbler     3
Nashville Warbler     2
Northern Parula     1
Yellow Warbler     6
Chestnut-sided Warbler     1
Palm Warbler     4
Wilson's Warbler     1
Summer Tanager     1
Scarlet Tanager     2
Chipping Sparrow     9
Field Sparrow     3
Song Sparrow     5
White-crowned Sparrow     3
Northern Cardinal     11
Rose-breasted Grosbeak     1
Indigo Bunting     7
Red-winged Blackbird     8
Eastern Meadowlark     1
Common Grackle     7
Brown-headed Cowbird     20
Orchard Oriole     3
Baltimore Oriole     5
American Goldfinch     12
House Sparrow     2

A bird hike will be held each Sunday in May at Fort Harrison. Meet at 8am at 
Delaware Lake parking lot. 


Don Gorney
Indianapolis, IN
dongorney AT yahoo.com
www.dongorney.com

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Subject: BIG MAY COUNT & NEW STATE RECORD
From: Canyon Wren <canyonwren AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 09:36:42 -0500
Hi Birders,
While I won't have time to report all of my sightings until later today or 
Monday (due to Mother's Day activities), there is one record that worthy of 
SPECIAL MENTION. 


BARRED OWLS:
While I seek confirmation of this record from Dr. Kenneth J. Brock, it appears 
that a new state record was set. My team, comprised of Dr. Jack Swelstad, Dr. 
Jason Swelstad and myself, were fortunate enough to have observed a new STATE 
HIGH SINGLE PARTY SPRING COUNT for Barred Owls. This is based upon data 
published in "Brock's Birds of Indiana." Our tally of Barred Owls for the day 
was SEVEN. If I have intrepreted the data in "Brock's Birds of Indiana" 
correctly, the previous high spring single party count was six. These owls were 
all observed in Porter County; four in Indiana Dunes State Park and three in 
the Heron Rookery unit of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. My team is 
thrilled with this record. 


OTHER BIG MAY HIGHLIGHTS:
We had a Turkey flush from within four feet of us in the Heron Rookery. This is 
a first for this species in that location. 


An Osprey was an exciting addition to our Big May Count list. Both it and a 
Common Loon were observed by Jack and Jason from the foot bridge near Wilson 
Shelter in the state park while I was conveniently back at the porta-pot near 
the Wilson Shelter parking lot. 


Our total species for the day was in the 100 species range. We had 24 warbler 
species for the count; 5 vireo species missing Philly; 4 flycatcher species 
missing, among others, Eastern Wood-Pewee which may not have arrived this far 
north yet. We delighted to watch a mother Wood Duck with 14 chicks. Another 
welcome speices: three Hooded Mergs, at least one was a female that flew in low 
over the footbridge. A singleton Red-breasted Nuthatch put in an appearance as 
we finished our Trails 2-10 loop back at Wilson Shelter. We added a second Pine 
Warbler to the state park tally when we heard both the one counted by Ken Brock 
near the former Green Tower site and a second one from across the street. We 
were also successful in observing the Yellow-throated Warbler in the Heron 
Rookery, the only reliable place for this species in the entire Dunes area. 


That's about it for now.  An update will follow later.

Happy Mother's Day and Good Birding!
Lynea

Lynea Hinchman
Michigan City, Indiana
Heart of the Indiana Dunes
CanyonWrenatComcastdotnet
 
"The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived though its first
material expression be destroyed.  A vanished harmony may yet again inspire
the composer, but when the last individual of a race of living beings
breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a
one can be again."  William Beebe
 

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Subject: Beehunter area
From: "Whitehead, Donald R." <whitehea AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:17:09 -0400
Yesterday John Eakin, Betsy, and I were one team as part of the Greene 
Co Big May Count - we worked Beehunter and areas E to the White River 
and S to Lyons - started at Beehunter at 6:00 AM (very foggy then) and 
finished at 4 PM - we recorded 106 species for the day. The highlights 
were:

     Am. Wigeon - 1
     No. Shoveler - 3
     Hooded Merganser - 1
     Wild Turkey - 1
     No. Bobwhite - 23
     Am. Bittern - 1
     Great Egret - 4
     Green Heron - 1
     Black-cr. Night-heron - 1
     Bald Eagle - 1
     No. Harrier - 1
     Red-sh. Hawk - 1
     Peregrine Falcon - 1
     King Rail - 2
     Va. Rail - 4
     Sora - 6
     Solitary Sandpiper - 2
     Spotted Sandpiper - 2
     Greater Yellowlegs - 8
     Lesser Yellowlegs - 42
     Least Sandpiper - 4
     Wilson's Snipe - 1
     Willow Flycatcher - 4
     Bell's Vireo - 3
     Sedge Wren - 2
     Marsh Wren - 3
     Magnolia Warbler - 1
     Cape May Warbler - 1
     Wilson's Warbler - 1
     No. Waterthrush - 4
     Savannah Sparrow - 7
     Grasshopper Sparrow - 1
     Swamp Sparrow - 1
     Dickcissel - 34
     Bobolink - 120 (all in one field complex along 750 between 100S and
          Baseline Rd)

Don Whitehead
Bloomington
whitehea AT indiana.edu

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Subject: Pacific Loon
From: Gary Bowman <otus44 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:02:51 -0400
Ben Fritz found yesterday and Chuck Mills confirmed this morning a basic
plumage Pacific Loon in far southeast Gibson County.

The bird was seen east of Mackey off the Mackey-Spurgeon Rd.  Go east
from Mackey to a cemetery on the north side of the road.  Continue to the
first strip mine pit on the right (south) side of the road.

Gary Bowman
Vincennes

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Subject: Dubois County May Day Count
From: Theresa Schwinghammer <tatms AT PSCI.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 09:10:44 -0400
Hello Everyone,

Russ Mumford and I did the May Day count yesterday for Dubois County. This 
was our 13th year doing the count together. We missed one year since I have 
started taking more birding trips.

We had a great time birding, which we always do, and ended up with a nice 
total of 120 species. It could have been a record breaking count if all of 
the species that we had seen on Friday would have still been present on 
Saturday, but isn't that the way it always seems to go? Sometimes I think 
birding the day before a count is only torturing myself. However, I would 
not have missed birding the day before for nothing!! We witnessed some 
great bird movement and got a couple of nice bird records for the county!

Russ, now in his 80's, me in my 40's, we DO make a great team! The laughs 
are endless as well as the education! There is never a dull moment!

Theresia Schwinghammer
tatms AT psci.net
Dubois County

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Subject: Muscatatuck NWR 100 species 10 MAY
From: Gary Dorman <cowboybirder AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 04:08:04 -0700
Becky and I along with my parents spent a wonderful day birding the refuge. 
Heavy fog early. Temps. 48-68. Overall a delightful day to be out. 

   
  * - denotes probably undercounted
   
  Canada Goose - 74
  Wood Duck - 28 including 2 broods of 19 young total
  Blue-winged Teal - 2
  Lesser Scaup - 1 male on M4 actively feeding, apparently healthy
  Wild Turkey - 9
  Great Blue Heron - 14*
  Great Egret - 1
  Green Heron - 2
  Turkey Vulture - 10
  Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
  Red-tailed Hawk - 1
  American Coot - 1
  Killdeer - 1
  American Woodcock - 2 peenting approx. 4:45AM
  Rock Pigeon - 1
  Mourning Dove - 8
  Great Horned Owl - 1 calling 4:39AM
  Common Nighthawk - 1
  Chimney Swift - 2
  Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
  Woodpeckers
       Red-headed - 3
       Red-bellied - 2
       Downy - 3
       Hairy - 1
       Northern Fkicker - 1
       Pileated - 4
  Eastern Wood -Pewee -  1
  Least Flycatcher - 5
  Eastern Phoebe - 7
  Great-crested Flycatcher - 4
  Eastern Kingbird - 5
  Vireos
       White-eyed - 21*
       Yellow-throated - 2
       Blue-headed - 1
       Warbling - 5
       Red-eyed - 22
  Blue Jay - 5
  American Crow - 5
  Tree Swallow - 49
  Barn Swallow - 3
  Carolina Chickadee - 4
  Tufted Titmouse - 10
  White-breasted Nuthatch - 4
  Carolina Wren - 8
  House Wren - 2
  Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4
  Eastern Bluebird - 3
  Swainson's Thrush - 4
  Hermit Thrush - 1
  Wood Thrush - 21
  American Robin - 10
  Gray Catbird - 39*
  Brown Thrasher - 4
  Eiropean Starling - 13
  Cedar Waxwing - 21 in 3 flocks
  Warblers
       Blue-winged - 1
       Nashville - 4
       Northern Parula - 4
       Yellow - 38*
       Chestnut-sided - 1
       Magnolia - 4
       Black-throated Blue - 1
       Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) - 4
       Black-throated Green - 2
       Blackburnian - 1
       Prairie - 2
       Palm - 5
       Black-and-white - 4
       American Redstart - 10
       Prothonotary -  9
       Ovenbird - 1
       Northern Waterthrush - 1
       Kentucky - 1
       Common Yellowthroat - 40*
 Hooded -1 Bob Thompson's bird walk group saw another bird for a total of 2 

       Yellow-breasted Chat - 11
  Summer Tanager - 4
  Scarlet Tanager - 3
  Eastern Towhee - 12*
  Sparrows
       Chipping - 1
       Field - 25*
       Henslow's - 2
       Song - 6
       Lincoln's - 1
       Swamp - 2
       White-throated - 18
       White-crowned - 3
  Northern Cardinal - 36*
  Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 4
  Indigo Bunting - 45*
  Red-winged Blackbird - 36
  Eastern Meadowlark - 1
  Common Grackle - 8
  Brown-headed Cowbird - 12*
  Orchard Oriole - 5
  Baltimore Oriole - 12
  House Finch - 1
  American Goldfinch - 22
  House Sparrow - 1 3 houses from refuge near west entrance
   
   
   


Gary Dorman II
New Albany, Floyd Co.,IN
       
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Subject: Griffy Lake, 5/10 - 3 FOYs
From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:30:59 -0700
Spent a little time at Griffy Lake this afternoon. Very nice day!!

I had three first-of-year birds while I was there:

* Hermit Thrush
* Gray-cheeked Thrush
* Acadian Flycatcher

That makes 137 species for me for Monroe County for 2008.

In addition to birds, I spotted a Rough Green Snake, which is an Indiana 
"species of concern" and is supposed to be uncommon in Indiana. First time I'd 
ever seen one! 


Bernie Sloan
Bloomington


 
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Subject: Re: Osprey in Mishawaka
From: Brian Miller <vireo AT MICHIANA.ORG>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 19:14:13 -0400
There is an active Osprey nesting platform at St. Mary's College.  The
platform can be observed from across the St. Joe River, near the
intersection of Riverside Dr. and Lathrop.

Two new platforms have been constructed at St. Patrick's County Park and on
the golf course at South Bend Country Club, but I do not know if any Ospreys
have been observed at these sites this spring.

Potato Creek State Park also has two platforms, at opposite ends of Lake
Worster and both have been productive for several years.

Brian Miller
South Bend

-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Indiana
[mailto:IN-BIRD-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU]On Behalf Of Timothy Martin
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:12 AM
To: IN-BIRD-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: Re: [IN-BIRD-L] Osprey in Mishawaka

I was watching the Notre Dame Baseball team last night and an osprey
flew right over the field.  Wonder if it was the same one?  This is
the fist time I have seen an osprey in this area.  This probably means
if I would have been in my  yard and looked up at the right time, I
would now have an osprey on my yard list!

Tim Martin


On May 9, 2008, at 8:08 PM, Lindsay Klein wrote:

> I was down at Merrifield Park in Mishawaka this afternoon (Fri 5/9)
> around 5
> PM when I saw an Osprey fly over, following the river headed north/
> east.  I
> am not sure if this is a common sighting, but I have never seen one
> in the
> area before.  It was awesome!  Anyone else seen any?
>
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> & search interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html

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Subject: Bev. Shores portion of May Count
From: "Kenneth J. Brock" <kj.brock AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:32:05 -0500
Today (Saturday 10 May 08) Jeff McCoy and I covered Beverly Shores, plus a
few other stops, on the Indiana May Count.

After some owling and railing (avian in nature) we conducted a brief
lakewatch at the Dunes SP green tower site.  There was almost no longshore
flight. The day¹s noteworthy observations included two scoter species, Least
Bittern, Broad-winged Hawk, both cuckoos, and 25 warblers.

HIGHLIGHTS
DUNES S.P. Lakewatch (We were joined by Brad Bumgardner)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (2- swimming off shore)
Double-crested Cormorants (89- in two large flocks)
Our best bird came as we were leaving the park.  Jeff noted a cuckoo flying
over as we drove onto U.S. 12.  As it landed in a nearby tree we quickly
stopped and ticked off BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.
Pine Warbler (1- on territory)

BEVERLY SHORES (Jeff and I were mostly in separate parties )
SURF SCOTER (9- a flock that contained 4 males)
Common Loon (4)
Horned Grebe (1- off the ³L²)
LEAST BITTERN (1- Bev. Dr. near Montana St)
BROAD-WINGED HAWK (1- we rarely get this on on the may count)
Virginia Rail (11)
Sora (13)
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (1)
Barred Owl (1)
Least Flycatcher (5)
Great-crested Flycatcher (5)
White-eyed Vireo (1)
Blue-headed Vireo (3)
Yellow-throated Vireo (14)
Warbling Vireo (1)
Red-eyed Vireo (4)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
Sedge Wren (1)
Marsh Wren (1)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (1)
Blue-winged Warbler (6)
Golden-winged Warbler (4)
Orange-crowned Warbler (2)
Tennessee Warbler (7)
Nashville Warbler (22)
Northern Parula (5)
Yellow Warbler (96)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (5)
Magnolia Warbler (6)
Cape May Warbler (6)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (1 male)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (74)
Black-throated Green Warbler (7)
Blackburnian Warbler (4)
Prairie Warbler (1)
Palm Warbler (14)
Bay-breasted Warbler (1 male)
Cerulean Warbler (1)
Black and white Warbler (6)
American Redstart (17)
Prothonotary Warbler (1)
Ovenbird (11)
N. Waterthrush (17)
Com. Yellowthroat (52)
Scarlet Tanager (2)
Lincoln¹s Sparrow (2)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (6)
Indigo Bunting (6)
Purple Finch (1)

PORT OF INDIANA
Double-crested Cormorant (30)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (1 ad)

We also visited  McCool Basin in late afternoon, but were unable to improve
on John Kendall¹s list.


Ken Brock
Chesterton, IN

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Subject: Long-billed Dowitcher at Wakarusa
From: Dan Stoltzfus <DanHSt AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 18:19:59 EDT
Dr. Dan Kraght brought  some staff persons from his medical  clinic to the 
Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Facility as part of their annual birding outing. 

I met them there and we spent some time studying a few  interesting birds 
there.  Following is a report on our findings:
 


Location:     Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment  Facili
Observation date:     5/9/08
Notes:   The Dowitcher allowed us to examine it carefully. The rufous neck  
and sides had dark rufous streaking and the scapulars were dark centered with  
some rufous spots and with feather edges that were white. It was first seen on 
 the grass bank and then it moved down to the bit of mud at the edge of the  
water.   Lymen Hugg was with us and photographed it. I then called  Leland 
Shaum who got good photos and felt they confirm the ID as Long-billed 
Dowitcher. 

Howard Kauffman came with him and also ID'd it as a Long-billed  Dowitcher 
rather than a Short-billed Dowitcher.
The Gray-cheeked Thrush also  was patient and was photographed. 
Number of species:      40

Canada Goose     50
Mute Swan      2
Blue-winged Teal     2
Ruddy Duck      1
Great Blue Heron     2
Turkey Vulture      2
Broad-winged Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk   1
Killdeer     2
Spotted Sandpiper   14
Solitary Sandpiper     1
Long-billed  Dowitcher     1    ( first for the  site)
Ring-billed Gull     260   Many incubating  eggs. I did not disturb them to 
count eggs.
Black Tern      1
Chimney Swift     7
Downy Woodpecker      1
Eastern Phoebe     1
Warbling Vireo      1
Purple Martin     15
Tree Swallow      20
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     4
Barn Swallow   10
House Wren     3
Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher     2
Gray-cheeked Thrush      1  (another first for the site perched just outside 
the fence)
American  Robin     12
Gray Catbird     2
Brown  Thrasher     1
Yellow Warbler      6
Yellow-rumped Warbler     12
Palm Warbler   2
Savannah Sparrow     2
Song Sparrow   5
White-throated Sparrow     4
Northern  Cardinal     4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak      2
Red-winged Blackbird     14
Common Grackle   4
Brown-headed Cowbird     5

This report  was generated automatically by eBird v2(_http://ebird.org_ 
(http://ebird.org) )
 
Dan Stoltzfus
Goshen
Elkhart County




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Subject: Dunes S.P. 5/10/08- Foredune Portion
From: Brad Bumgardner <bumgbj01 AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:18:25 -0500
Greetings,
Today I covered the high dunes of Trail 9 from Beach House Blowout, east to Big 
Blowout, south through the Pinery, back to the Nature Center, then sections of 
Trails 4, 7, and 8 while doing Mt. Tom and back. Roughly 5 miles of rugged dune 
walking. Times (4am-11:45am; 2pm-3:15pm). I was rewarded with 99 species for 
the day (missed House Sparrow!). It did have the feel of early migration, with 
yellow rumps and palms dominating still. Managed 20 warblers for the day. Still 
not many flycatchers and thrushes around. Ran into many birders on the trail, 
most unknown, but met up with Lynea Hynchman, Randy Pals, Patrick Krueger, John 
Kendall, Ken Brock, Jeff McCoy, and James Cole throughout the morning. 

 
My complete list: (Note: Ken and Lynea, I will separate any overlap in separate 
lists) 

Canada Goose 4
TUNDRA SWAN 1
Wood Duck 1
Mallard 4
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Common Loon 1 (heard yodeling from behind the high dunes!)
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 29
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 3
Osprey 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
American Kestrel 3 (all blowout birds)
Virginia Rail 3 (Cowles Bog, predawn)
Sora 3 (Cowles Bog predawn)
Solitary Sandpiper 1
American Woodcock 2 (Cowles Bog predawn)
Ring-billed Gull 20
Herring Gull 5
Caspian Tern 5
Forster's Tern 1
Mourning Dove 6
Eastern Screech-Owl 1
Great Horned Owl 1 (flushed in The Pinery)
Barred Owl 2
Whip-poor-will 3
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 5
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2 (checked nest with James)
Great-crested Flycatcher 1
Least Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 9
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 3
Red-eyed Vireo 8
Blue Jay 48
American Crow 4
Tree Swallow 12
N. Rough-winged Swallow 6
Barn Swallow 8
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 7
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 10
House Wren 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 11
Eastern Bluebird 3
Veery 2
Wood Thrush 4
American Robin 27
Gray Catbird 19
European Starling 9
Blue-winged Warbler 3
Golden-winged Warbler 1 (across from campground on main park road, Kendall got 
photos) 

Tennessee Warbler 15
Nashville Warbler 12
Northern Parula 3
Yellow Warbler 9
Magnolia Warbler 1
Cape May Warbler 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler 29
Black-throated Green Warbler 7
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 3 (2 in beach house blowout, 1 in small blowout west of Beach 
house) 

Palm Warbler 17
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Cerulean Warbler 4
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 30
Ovenbird 8
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
SUMMER TANAGER 4 (3m, 1f: including territorial pair on Mt Tom)
Scarlet Tanager 10 
Eastern Towhee 11
Chipping Sparrow 23
Field Sparrow 7
Song Sparrow 4
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 65
White-crowned Sparrow 2
Northern Cardinal 14
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5
Indigo Bunting 3
Red-winged Blackbird 18
Common Grackle 9
Brown-headed Cowbird 12
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 17
 
Brad Bumgardner
Chesterton, IN
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: McCool Basin & Big May Day highlights LBDO, KEWA
From: John Kendall <jeffro595 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 14:24:45 -0400
I covered McCool Basin for the big May Day and hit a couple of areas from the 
car.  Highlights were the 240 shorebirds at McCool (a new record for site, as 
were 83 Least SP), a Long-Billed Dowitcher just south of McCool at the 
cornfield puddle on 450W, and heard, located and photographed a singing male 
KENTUCKY WARBLER between Waverly and Mineral Springs roards.  I also got 
word of a singing Golden-winged Warbler from Brad Bumgardner at Dunes SP, 
including decent looks and a photo.  I will post photos later.

John Kendall
Valparaiso

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Subject: Laughing Gulls - Eagle Creek
From: Kirk Roth <kirkleeroth AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 14:04:40 -0400
Two breeding plumage Laughing Gulls were seen from the marina this morning.
They moved north and I could not relocate them later in the morning.

Good warblers today.  Along the trail north of the marina I saw a
Golden-winged, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Parula and Redstart, among the
abundant Palms and Yellow-rumped.  Someone had a Brewster's on the same
trail.  I also had a Wilson's on the trail between the recycling building
and the Earth Discovery Center.

-Kirk Roth

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Subject: Re: Osprey in Mishawaka
From: Timothy Martin <georgeaquinas AT MAC.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 07:11:48 -0400
I was watching the Notre Dame Baseball team last night and an osprey  
flew right over the field.  Wonder if it was the same one?  This is  
the fist time I have seen an osprey in this area.  This probably means  
if I would have been in my  yard and looked up at the right time, I  
would now have an osprey on my yard list!

Tim Martin


On May 9, 2008, at 8:08 PM, Lindsay Klein wrote:

> I was down at Merrifield Park in Mishawaka this afternoon (Fri 5/9)  
> around 5
> PM when I saw an Osprey fly over, following the river headed north/ 
> east.  I
> am not sure if this is a common sighting, but I have never seen one  
> in the
> area before.  It was awesome!  Anyone else seen any?
>
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Subject: LBDO, UPSA pics
From: Ray Troyer <raytroyer AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 04:19:38 +0000
Dan Stoltzfus told me about the Upland Sandpipers in a pasture at the N.E. 
corner of 200 south and 850 west in Lagrange County and the Long-billed 
Dowitcher at the Wakarusa Waist Water Treatment Facility (locked entrance) in 
Elkhart County. I was able to find and photograph both. You can view them on 
webshots. 

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2344970620101565606kxywXG

--
Ray Troyer 
Goshen 
Elkhart County 
raytroyer AT comcast.net

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Subject: Goose Pond- Willet
From: Greg Page <gregpage1465 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:14:32 -0700
I saw 1 Willet at Goose Pond 10S, he flapped his wings and I got a good look. I 
spent the morning and part of the afternoon (until it started raining) at Goose 
Pond and Beehunter Marsh. 

   
  GOOSE POND 10S
  Black-necked Stilt 7
  Willet 1
  Greater Yellowlegs
  Lesser Yellowlegs
  Spotted Sandpiper
  Dunlin
  Blue-winged Teal
  Grasshopper Sparrow
   
  GOOSE POND 9
  Wood Duck
  Blue-winged Teal
  Short-billed Dowitcher
  Greater Yellowlegs
  Lesser Yellowlegs
   
  BEEHUNTER MARSH 5E
  Sora
  Virginia Rail
  King Rail
  Wilson's Snipe
   
  BEEHUNTER MARSH 5S
  Bald Eagle
   
  GOOSE POND 5N
  Northern Bobwhite
  Henslow's Sparrow
  Grasshopper Sparrow
  Sedge Wren
  Common Yellowthroat
   
  GOOSE POND 5S
  Northern Bobwhite
  Bell's Vireo
  Henslow's Sparrow
  Grasshopper Sparrow
  Common Yellowthroat
   
  GOOSE POND 12
  Black-necked Stilt 2
  Northern Shoveler male & female
  Blue-winged Teal
  Wood Duck
  Bell's Vireo
  Yellow-breasted Chat
  Palm Warbler
  Common Yellowthroat
  Baltimore Oriole
   
  GREENE/SULLIVAN SF- SCOTT LAKE
Northern Parula
   
  Greg Page
  Indianapolis
   
   

       
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Subject: Potato Creek/Kingsbury 5/9/08
From: Jim Spier <Spier6565 AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 01:50:35 +0000
I spent the day at Potato Creek S.P (Trail 4) and Kingsbury FWA. Ended up with 
95 species including 16 warblers. Among the highlights: 


Potato Creek:

Hooded Warbler (1)
N. Parula (1)
Cerulean Warbler (1)
BT Green Warbler (4)
Blackburnian Warbler (1)
Blue-winged Warbler (6)
Tennessee Warbler (1)
Black-and-white Warbler (1)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (3)
Ovenbird (2)
YB Chat (1)
Yellow-throated Vireo (5)
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (1)
Scarlet Tanager (2)
Wood Thrush (3)
Grey-cheeked Thrush (1)
Red-shouldered Hawk (1)
Osprey (3)

Kingsbury:

Caspian Tern (2)
Forster's Tern (5)
Least Sandpiper
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
L. Yellowlegs (5)
Sandhill Crane (3) 
Great Egret (10)
C. Moorhen (1)
Blue-winged Teal (1)

Pierce Road:

Dunlin (6)
SB Dowitcher (3)

Jim Spier
South Bend 

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Subject: Starkey Park, Boone Co.
From: Roger and Michelle Hedge <randmhedge AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:45:45 -0500
Tom Hulvershorn, Steve Housefield, and I tallied 25 warblers today (May 9), all 
but one species was found at Starkey Park in Zionsville. My impression was that 
many birds were not singing, maybe due to cool temps and overcast skies. 
However, we had great looks at Mourning, Canada, Prothonotary, and female 
Black-throated Blue Warbler, among others. 


Starkey Park:

Canada Goose - 5
Great Blue Heron - 8
Green Heron - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
Killdeer - 1
Chimney Swift - 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 3
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 5
Northern Flicker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 3
Eastern Phoebe - 2
Great Crested Flycatcher - 3
White-eyed Vireo - 3
Yellow-throated Vireo - 2
Warbling Vireo - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2
Blue Jay - 13
American Crow - 5
Tree Swallow - 5
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 6
Barn Swallow - 4
Carolina Chickadee - 8
Tufted Titmouse - 4
White-breasted Nuthatch - 3
Carolina Wren - 3
House Wren - 13
Winter Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 14
Swainson's Thrush - 5
Wood Thrush - 10
American Robin - 4
Gray Catbird - 18
European Starling - 5
Blue-winged Warbler - 2
Tennessee Warbler - 5
Nashville Warbler - 1
Northern Parula - 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 3
Magnolia Warbler - 16
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 1 fem.
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 5
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2
Blackburnian Warbler - 2
Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
Palm Warbler - 1
Black-and-white Warbler - 4
American Redstart - 13
Prothonotary Warbler - 1
Ovenbird - 6
Northern waterthrush - 1
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1
Kentucky Warbler - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 2
Wilson's Warbler - 1
Canada Warbler - 1
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Chipping Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 3
Lincoln's Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Northern Cardinal - 34
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 10
Indigo Bunting - 9
Common Grackle - 3
Brown-headed Cowbird - 14
Orchard Oriole - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 3
American Goldfinch - 10
House Sparrow - 1

A brief stop in the rain at nearby wetlands produced:
Canada Goose - 2
Great Blue Heron - 1
Green Heron - 1
Sora - 1
Chimney Swift - 7
Tree Swallow - 12
Barn Swallow - 4
Yellow Warbler - 2
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Song Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1

Roger Hedge
Lebanon, IN

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Subject: Clear Creek Trail, 5/9 - 48 species, 1 FOY
From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 18:32:46 -0700
This afternoon we took an abbreviated stroll along Bloomington's Clear Creek 
Trail. We walked about half the length of the trail and back, from the Tapp 
Road trailhead. Walk lasted about one hour. Cloudy, light rain (and we forgot 
our umbrellas!), temps in mid 50s. 


Saw/heard 48 species (1 FOY), which surprised me considering the short duration 
of the walk. 


One high point was a first-of-year Eastern Kingbird, trying to hawk insects by 
the Tapp Road trailhead. That was species #134 for 2008 for me for Monroe 
County. 


Another high point was the Red-winged Blackbird aggression I reported in an 
earlier posting today. 


And one final highlight was a group of 8-10 male Indigo Buntings. Their blue 
colors are really vivid, even on a dark gray day!! 


Here's the list:

Wild Turkey - heard
Turkey Vulture - 6
Black Vulture - 1
Canada Goose - 10
Great Blue Heron - 3
Killdeer - 2
Eastern Meadowlark - 3
Belted Kingfisher - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Carolina Chickadee - 10
Tufted Titmouse - 4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 5
Northern Cardinal - many
Blue Jay - 1
Baltimore Oriole - 2
Scarlet Tanager - 1
Carolina Wren - 5
Tree Swallow - 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 25
Eastern Kingbird - 1 (FOY)
American Robin - 10-12
Wood Thrush - 2
Gray Catbird - 4
Brown Thrasher - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Red-eyed Vireo - several
White-eyed Vireo - 2
Prairie Warbler - 1
Yellow Warbler - 1
Pine Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 5
Indigo Bunting - 8-10
White-throated Sparrow - 2-3
White-crowned Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - many
Eastern Towhee - 3
House Finch - several
American Goldfinch - 10
Mourning Dove - 5
Red-winged Blackbird - many
American Crow - 2
Common Grackle - 8-10
European Starling - 10-12
Brown-headed Cowbird - 4

Bernie Sloan
Bloomington


 
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Subject: Eastern Marion County
From: "Mark C. Rhodes" <arzelfowl AT MSN.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:11:05 -0400
Spent the morning, into the early afternoon, birding Fort Harrison and Ruster 
Park on the eastside of Marion County. In 6 hours I ended up with 109 
species. High points would be making it to 30 warblers.  Included are my first 
ever Black-throated Blue at Fort Harrison, my first ever Mourning Warbler and 
a second Hooded Warbler, this spring, at Ruster Park. The shorebirds continue 
at the flooded field with 7 species there today. Sure looks good for a Wilson's 

Phalarope. Let's hope tomorrow is dry and sunny. Take are all, Mark

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Subject: Fox Island- May 9 AM
From: Rodger Rang <rrang AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:14:57 -0400
I tallied 83 species- many in good numbers- this morning at Fox Island County 
Park, noting a number of personal FOS birds but few if any not already reported 
for NE Indiana. The chorus was decent, lasting throughout my stay (7:30 to 
12:00) due to the cool, cloudy weather. Highlights were the lingering of a few 
early migrants, the arrival of ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS (6) and my first 20-warbler 
outing this spring. (Ryan- We missed the reported chat at the gun club, but I 
picked up Wilson's to get me to 20.) Best stuff (larger numbers are estimates): 


Chimney Swift- 1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird- 1 (Ryan Smith also had one at feeder)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- 1f
Pileated Woodpecker- 1
Acadian Flycatcher- 6, my FOS
Least Flycatcher- 10+
Great Crested Flycatcher- 4
Vireos- White-eyed (4), Blue-headed (1), Yellow-throated (1, my FOS), Warbling 
(6), and Red-eyed (10+) 

Brown Creeper- 2
House Wren- 10+
Winter Wren- 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet- 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet- 3
BG Gnatcatcher- 10+
E. Bluebird- 1 flyover in NE quad
Veery (3), Gray-cheeked (2), Swainson's (5), and Wood (10+) Thrushes
Gray Catbird (20+)
Brown Thrasher- 2
Warblers- Tennessee- 7
    Nashville -10+
    N. Parula- 2
    Yellow- 10+
    Chestnut-sided- 3, my FOS
    Magnolia- 4, my FOS
    Cape May- 1f, my FOS
    Yellow-rumped- 20+
    Black-throated Green- 3
    Yellow-throated- 2
    Pine- 1
    Palm- 1
    Black&White- 1
    American Redstart- 5, my FOS
    Ovenbird- 6
    Northern Waterthrush- 9
    Kentucky- 1
    Common Yellowthroat- 10+
    Hooded- 2
    Wilson's- 1, my FOS
Scarlet Tanager- 4
Swamp Sparrow- 1
White-throated Sparrow- 50+
Rose-breasted Grosbeak- 20+ including 1pr copulating (a new C-list bird!)
Indigo Bunting- 20+
Baltimore Oriole- 15+

Fox Island May Day counters be forewarned! Even with the cool temps, cloudy 
skies, and light breeze, the mosquitoes were mildly annoying. If it's nicer 
weather tomorrow, you may need your bug jackets! 


Rodger Rang
Fort Wayne

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Subject: Osprey in Mishawaka
From: Lindsay Klein <lindsayrochelle AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:08:50 -0400
I was down at Merrifield Park in Mishawaka this afternoon (Fri 5/9) around 5 
PM when I saw an Osprey fly over, following the river headed north/east.  I 
am not sure if this is a common sighting, but I have never seen one in the 
area before.  It was awesome!  Anyone else seen any?

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Subject: Columbus area 5/9/2008
From: Bill Moats Jr <bmoatsjr AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 22:58:41 +0000
I stopped by the flooded field behind Hobby Lobby this evening, located on the 
SE side of town. Highlights noted. 


Great Egret  2
Snowy Egret  1, lifer for me
Canada Goose  4
Wood Duck  2
Mallard  7, includes 1 female with approx. 12 ducklings
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Semipalmated Plover  6
Killdeer  1
Spotted Sandpiper  3
Solitary Sandpiper  2
Lesser Yellowlegs  2
mixture of swallows:  Barn, NRWS, Tree, and Bank

While looking for mud flats on the east side of Columbus, I also spotted at 
least 12 Bobolinks along 500E., in an overgrown field. 


Bill Moats
Columbus, IN

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Subject: Red-winged Blackbird aggression
From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:55:42 -0700
The Red-winged Blackbirds seemed especially aggressive today along 
Bloomington's Clear Creek Trail. 


At one point a pair of Canada Geese were grazing in a grassy meadow and one 
apparently got too close to a Red-wing's nest. The male blackbird began 
violently attacking the goose's head and neck. The goose looked confused and 
panicked. He began to walk away from the blackbird rapidly (or at least as 
rapidly as a goose can walk). In a way, it was sort of refreshing to to see an 
animal as aggressive as a goose looking sheepish and meek while being harrassed 
by a much smaller bird. 


Then I saw a couple of blackbirds "escorting" a Great Blue Heron who had flown 
over the edge of another grassy area. 


Next I saw a blackbird vigorously attacking a crow as it flew over this same 
area. The blackbird repeatedly made contact with the crow. As the crow landed 
in a tree the blackbird hit him pretty hard. 


In the final incident, a blackbird was relentlessly pursuing what looked to be 
a cowbird. The cowbird would dive into the grass to get away, and the blackbird 
would follow. They did this a couple times. The next time, the blackbird hit 
the grass particularly hard as the cowbird sought refuge there. The blackbird 
came up out of the grass 5-10 seconds later. I watched for maybe a minute after 
that and never saw the cowbird. Could the blackbird have killed it? 


Bernie Sloan
Bloomington


 
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Subject: Vets Memorial Park Indianapolis
From: Tom & Bonnie <persim AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:50:40 -0700
Action still on the slow side at this park but had a few sightings today around 
12:30pm: 

Warblers:
Yellow-rumped 6
Palm 2
Tennessee 4
Bay Breasted 1 female
Common Yellowthroat 2

also 10 Cedar Waxwings, 2 female Grosbeaks, 6 White-throated Sparrows

 Tom Pericak, Indianapolis

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Subject: Lebanon Sod Farm, Boone County
From: Larry Peavler <lpeavler AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 17:09:20 -0400
There is one pond here that has a few birds.

Semipalmated Plover  4
Killdeer  4
Lesser Yellowlegs  2
Least Sandpiper  5
Dunlin  1
Short-billed Dowitcher  1

Bank Swallow  2
Barn Swallow    5

Larry Peavler
Indianapolis, IN.

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Subject: Wrens have fledged
From: Terri Greene <tgreene AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:50:13 -0400
I came into the house earlier this afternoon (2:30ish) to find several  
of my cats pressed against the windows.  The Carolina Wrens nesting on  
my porch were fledging.  At least 3 fledglings; 2 adults assisting  
with the fledge.  All were out and away from the nest by 3pm.  Cloudy;  
began raining not long after they fledged.  Temp in upper 50s.  Glad I  
took off from work today!

Terri Greene
SW Monroe Co

Observation date:     5/9/08
Carolina Wren     5
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Subject: LAUGHING GULL/Lake Monroe 5/9
From: Scott Evans <scottev12 AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:31:43 +0000
There was a nice variety of gulls hanging out at the marina at Cutright
SRA on Lake Monroe today.  There were four varieties of gull: Bonaparte's,
Herring, Ring-billed and a breeding plumage adult LAUGHING GULL.  There
was also one CASPIAN TERN hanging out as well.  I took really bad pictures
for documentations sake, the red bill and white-eye ring are obvious.

Scott Evans
Monroe Co.

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Subject: Lk. Lemon -- 5/6 - 5/8
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:43:59 -0400
Just catching up on birds that we've seen around our house the past  
few days.  The most exciting species was an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER  
that foraged briefly adjacent to the inlet just east of our house on  
Tuesday, May 6.  Also, on the same day, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON  
called twice shortly after dark.  The flycatcher was our 253rd yard bird

There were 2 FORSTER'S TERNS and 2 CASPIAN TERNS at the east end of  
Lk. Lemon on Wednesday.

Yesterday (5/8), there were 2 PINE SISKINS in our yard, one of them  
singing vigorously.  A VEERY was in the low, wet area east of the  
house and warblers heard from the yard included PROTHONOTARY,  
TENNESSEE, PRAIRIE, YELLOW, NO. WATERTHRUSH, and COM. YELLOWTHROAT.

.........Jim & Susan



********************
Jim & Susan Hengeveld
East Lake Lemon Observatory
Southshore Drive
Unionville, IN  47468





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Subject: Long Beach Oven Bird
From: D Holmes <dcreeden AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:28:53 -0400
Long Beach backyard 

1 Adult Oven Bird  FOY
New - juvenile Swamp Sparrow

D Holmes
Long Beach on Lake Michigan east of Michigan City

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Subject: Franke Park Golden-winged Warbler, Caspian Tern
From: REBECCA BROWN <bbrown8628 AT MSN.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:39:10 -0500
Another good day but no real huge flock. I hope some of todays birds stay to 
be counted tomorrow!

Blue-winged Teal  1
Caspian Tern  2
Least Flycatcher  3
Barn Swallow  2
N. Rough-winged Swallow  3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  2
Gray-cheeked Thrush  1
Swainsons Thrush  2
Brown Thrasher  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Warbling Vireo  4
Red-eyed Vireo  3
Golden-winged Warbler  1   (frog pond)
Tennessee Warbler  3
Orange-crowned Warbler  1
Northern Parula Warbler  2
Yellow Warbler  1
Chestnut-sided Warbler  5
Magnolia Warbler  3
Cape May Warbler  1
Myrtle Warbler  6
Black-throated Green Warbler  1
Bay-breasted Warbler   1
Black and White Warbler  4
American Redstart  8
Nashville Warbler  7
Ovenbird  2
Northern Waterthrush  3
Hooded Warbler  1
Indigo Bunting  2
Chipping Sparrow  6
White-throated Sparrow  20
Rose-breasted Groabeak  4
Baltimore Oriole  2

Jerry Brown, Allen County

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Subject: shorebirds at Celery Bog
From: "Michael L. P. Retter" <mlretter AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:28:30 -0700
Sorry for the late report.  These birds were seen on
Tuesday.

Location:     Celery Bog, Tippecanoe Co.
Observation date:     5/6/08
Notes:     All on S side of Lindberg
Number of species:     9

Sora     1
Semipalmated Plover     2
Killdeer     5
Spotted Sandpiper     2
Solitary Sandpiper     10
Lesser Yellowlegs     5
Least Sandpiper     6
Pectoral Sandpiper     2
Dunlin     1


Michael L. P. Retter
---------------------------------
Tour Leader,
Tropical Birding & Birding America
800.348.5941
http://www.tropicalbirding.com/
http://birding-america.com/

W. Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN
mlretter AT yahoo.com
home:  309.277.7136
cell:  309.824.7317
http://retter.xenospiza.com/
-----------------------------------


 
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Subject: Mount Comfort Airport, Hancock Co. - UPSA, BOBO, GRSP
From: Don Gorney <dongorney AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:41:28 -0700
After doing a bird survey on private ground in Greenfield, Hancock County on 9 
May I stopped by Mount Comfort Airport (600W, a few miles north of I-70) to 
check for Upland Sandpiper. I found one Upland and a large number of Bobolinks. 
The Upland Sandpiper was seen from the end of the paved access road (road ends 
in fencing) on one of the blue lights along the runway. The Bobolinks were seen 
along the paved road between 600W and the T intersection (road going to the 
hangars/buildings). They were actively singing, flying between the ground and 
fence, and perching on the fencing. Highlights from my 15 minute visit: 



UPLAND SANDPIPER 1, perched on runway light
Eastern Kingbird 2
Horned Lark 3
Savannah Sparrow 13
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW 3
BOBOLINK 26+, Probably more but I counted 26 in one sweep, all in flight are 
perched on fencing. I assume a number of birds were hidden in the grass. 


A highlight from the surveys I did in Greenfield was a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  

Don Gorney
Indianapolis, IN
dongorney AT yahoo.com
www.dongorney.com

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Subject: SW Monroe Co Yard Birds
From: Terri Greene <tgreene AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:12:22 -0400
New yard birds:  Common Yellowthroat (FOS) and the female Orchard  
Oriole feeding at the hummer feeders.

Below are a few highlights from the week and last weekend's list.

Terri Greene
SW Monroe Co

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Observation date:     5/8/08

Common Yellowthroat     1 (male)
Orchard Oriole     1   (female)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Observation date:     5/6/08

Red-headed Woodpecker     1   (Lee Phillips Rd)
Whip-poor-will     1   (Heard around 5:20am and around 6am.  May have  
been more than one bird . . . or it was on the move.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Observation date:     5/4/08

Rose-breasted Grosbeak     3
Orchard Oriole     2     (1 male, 1 female)
Baltimore Oriole     2     (2 males)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Observation date:     5/3/08

Canada Goose     2
Wood Duck     1
Green Heron     1
Turkey Vulture     1
Mourning Dove     12
Whip-poor-will     1   (Heard SW of house around 9:15 pm)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     3
Red-bellied Woodpecker     1
Downy Woodpecker     2
White-eyed Vireo     1
Blue Jay     2
American Crow     1
Tree Swallow     2
Barn Swallow     2
Carolina Chickadee     4
Tufted Titmouse     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     1
Carolina Wren     1
Eastern Bluebird     1
American Robin     1
Gray Catbird     2
Eastern Towhee     1
Chipping Sparrow     1
Field Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow     2
White-crowned Sparrow     2
Northern Cardinal     7
Rose-breasted Grosbeak     2
Indigo Bunting     1
Red-winged Blackbird     3
Brown-headed Cowbird     25
Orchard Oriole     1
Baltimore Oriole     2
Purple Finch     1
House Finch     3
American Goldfinch     3


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Subject: Fairfax
From: "Whitehead, Donald R." <whitehea AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 11:16:59 -0400
I made a brief stop at Fairfax this morning - water levels now rising 
again, so more of the parking lot (entirely above water two days ago) 
is now flooded. The highlights:
     Canada Goose - 24
     Mallard - 4
     Double-cr. Cormorant - 1
     Osprey - 1
     Turkey Vulture - 6
     Great Blue Heron - 2
     Ring-billed Gull = 6
     Killdeer - 4
     Spotted Sandpiper - 4
     Significan swallow flight - all species except Purple Martin - 
dominated by
          Barn Swallows, then Tree Swallows, then No. Rough-winged 
Swallow, then
          Cliff Swallow, and at least 20 Bank Swallows.
     Brown Thrasher - 4
     Gray Catbird - 2
     E. Kingbird - 2
     Least Flycatcher - 1
     Acadian Flycatcher - 1
     Warbling Vireo - 2
     Yellow-thr. Vireo - 1
     Red-eyed Vireo - 4
     White-eyed Vireo - 1
     No. Parula - 2
     Yellow Warbler - 2
     Prothonotary Warbler - 1
     Yellow-thr. Warbler - 2
     Prairie Warbler - 1
     Kentucky Warbler - 1
     Common Yellowthroat - 2
     Yellow-br. Chat - 1
     Orchard Oriole - 2
     Baltimore Oriole - 4
     Wiesler - 2 (male and female - molting into alternate plumage)

Don Whitehead
Bloomington
whitehea AT indiana.edu

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Subject: Kingsbury FWA Willets
From: Robert Huguenard <roberthuguenard AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:59:17 -0700
Hi,
 
  Brigid and I were at Kingsbury briefly this evening about 5:30 local time. We 
were trying to determine if the 15 large shorebirds we were looking at were 
Willets, when a 16th flew in showing us great views of it's wing pattern.(by 
the time we checked out the other end of the marsh and came back, about 20 
min., they were gone. In all the shorebird action was outstanding, I wish we 
had more time. Others seen were Leasts, Pecs, Lesser Yellowlegs crawling all 
over the place. We had 4 Semi-Palmated Plovers, 1 Stilt Sandpiper, two Spotted 
Sandpipers  and 100 + Dunlin including a flock of 75 that flew in just as we 
were leaving. Last, but not least were 3 Short Billed Dowitchers in nearly the 
same spot as I had Long Billed Dowitchers a couple of weeks ago. 

 
  We also noted that a pair of Mockingbirds have returned to the same brush 
pile as last year, west of the archery range a few hundred yards. 

 
  Pierce road is heating up a little with 4 Dunlin, ~ 30 Least Sandpipers, 8 
Pectoral Sandpipers and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs seen in a quick look. The water 
level continues to recede making for improving habitat. 

 
  I put a couple of digiscoped pics of the Willets and Stilt on my Flickr page 
if you are interested: 

 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41782619 AT N00/
Bob and Brigid


 
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Subject: Hillenbrand FWA grasslands May 7
From: Lee Sterrenburg <sterren AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 23:23:31 -0400
Yesterday afternoon (May 7, 2008) after we finished with shorebirds  
at Goose Pond FWA James Cole, Chip O’leary, and I drove to the  
grasslands of Hillenbrand FWA in western Greene County.  We scouted  
briefly for upcoming Sassafras Audubon Society trip there on  
Saturday, June 7.

The SAS trip to Hillenbrand FWA on June 7 will do a Rapid Assessment  
of obligate grassland birds in this very under birded DNR property.   
We want to ascertain if Hillenbrand might be a potential nominee for  
status as an Indiana Important Bird Area.

The initial results yesterday were quite encouraging.  On a brief  
drive though and making only two stops out of the car we tallied 11  
singing HENSLOW’S SPARROWS in the Hillenbrand grasslands before a  
thunderstorm hit.

Please come and help with our IBA assessment trip to Hillenbrand on  
Saturday June 7.  An announcement for the trip is on line on the SAS  
Leaflet Calendar page:

http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/calendar.html

James Cole has also written an article about our upcoming Hillenbrand  
grasslands trip. The article will be posted when the entire SAS  
Leaflet issue goes on line, presumably sometime during the next week  
or so (can be accessed from the calendar URL above).   If you're a  
SAS member you already have a hard copy of James' article.

Here are the results of our brief two-stop visit yesterday at mid- 
afternoon:

Wild Turkey  4
Northern Bobwhite 6
Eastern Kingbird  1
Tree Swallow  1
Gray Catbird  2
Brown Thrasher  1
Blue-winged Warbler 1
Tennessee Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler  2
Prairie Warbler  3
Prothonotary Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  5
Yellow-breasted Chat 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Field Sparrow 7
Grasshopper Sparrow  4
HENSLOW'S SPARROW  11
Blue Grosbeak 1
Dickcissel 4

Thanks much to Chip for coming along and finding several of the good  
birds.


--Lee Sterrenburg, James Cole, & Chip O’leary







  
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Subject: Goose Pond FWA Shorebirds May 7
From: Lee Sterrenburg <sterren AT INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 23:16:57 -0400
Yesterday morning (May 7, 2008) James Cole, Brad Feaster, Bob  
Russell, and I met for shorebird management discussions and tours at  
Goose Pond FWA in Greene County.  Chip O’leary joined us partway  
though the morning.

Brad gave us a tour of the new Goose Pond Main Pool East and Main  
Pool West wetland units.

We then briefly looked for shorebirds in Goose Pond unit GP9 until a  
big thunderstorm front hit.

Shorebirds encountered during the morning included 1 male WILSON’S  
PHALAROPE in Main Pool West, 20 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 11 SPOTTED  
SANDPIPERS, 15 DUNLINS, 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and our first 1  
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER and 1 STILT SANDPIPER of the spring.

Some of us stopped by to see the GLOSSY IBIS in Goose Pond Unit GP10S  
found by John Eakin and Don Whitehead after Don called and reported  
the bird.

It is encouraging that 2 different Wilson’s Phalaropes were found on  
the Goose Pond property the same day.  Don and John relocated the  
female in GP9 and we found a male in Main Pool West.  Now we need to  
get the two of them together  . . .

Weather: overcast, south winds, falling temperatures, heavy rain off  
and on much of the day starting from mid-late morning onwards.

Selected results:

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT MAIN POOL EAST:
Northern Bobwhite 3
Great Blue Heron 7
Green Heron 1
Bald Eagle 1   adult
Killdeer 10
Spotted Sandpiper 6     included a male doing courtship displays
Solitary Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 7
Lesser Yellowlegs 18
Least Sandpiper 20
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1   our FOY
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Great Horned Owl 1    flushed & seen flying
Willow Flycatcher 2   our FOY
Eastern Kingbird 1
Bell’s Vireo 1     singing near the ruined metal bridge at the north  
end of CR 1200 W
House Wren 4
Blackpoll Warbler 1    singing in Black Creek riparian tree line
Grasshopper Sparrow 1
Dickcissel 4
Orchard Oriole 1

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT MAIN POOL WEST:
Wood Duck 3
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Bobwhite 5
Semipalmated Plover 4
Killdeer 4
Spotted Sandpiper 5
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 19
Least Sandpiper 29
Dunlin 2
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 3   detailed scope studies and soft whistled  
tu tu tu calls heard
WILSON’S PHALAROPE 1   male
Bell’s Vireo 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Henslow’s Sparrow 4    near the tern island at the south end of CR  
1200 W
Dickcissel 4

GOOSE POND UNIT 6E, along CR 1200 W, south of the bridge over Brewer  
Ditch.
Henslow’s Sparrow 2
Dickcissel 8

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT GP11S:
Semipalmated Plover 13
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 4

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT GP9 (visit terminated by thunderstorm shortly  
after we began)
Semipalmated Plover 3
BLACK-NECKED STILT 2   on a drive by after lunch
Lesser Yellowlegs 8
Least Sandpiper 8
Pectoral Sandpiper 11
Dunlin 13
Stilt Sandpiper 1    found by Bob Russell  Our FOY
Wilson’s Snipe 2
Savannah Sparrow 2

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT GP4, along CR 300 S:
Blue Grosbeak 1

GOOSE POND FWA BEEHUNTER MARSH UNITS BH5S and BH5E:

Before heading to the shorebird meeting I scouted in the early  
morning along the Beehunter Marsh farmhouse driveway in advance of  
this Saturday’s Greene County Big May Day Count.  A huge overflight  
of LESSER YELLOWLEGS occurred from 5:57-6:10 AM.  It was still too  
dark to see birds up against the low, heavy clouds.  Sunrise was at  
6:43 AM.   It would have been fascinating to get a count.  The sky  
overhead was full of the calls of departing or passing Lesser  
Yellowlegs for 13 minutes.  By the time I could see birds up against  
the sky only two more passing flocks flew by, with a total of 37  
individuals.  By sunrise only 1 Lesser Yellowlegs was left calling on  
the ground in the nearby wetlands.

Early AM results at Beehunter Marsh:

Wood Duck 1
Mallard 12
Blue-winged Teal 1
Northern Bobwhite 3
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Great Blue Heron 4
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON 2   my FOY
Bald Eagle 2    1 first basic, 1 adult
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 38
Wilson’s Snipe 5     2 winnowing
Sora 6
Tree Swallow 3
SEDGE WREN 1    singing
European Starling 1
Song Sparrow 4
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Eastern Meadowlark 3

Based on the directions of calls in the dark I suspect there could  
have been 4 Black-crowned Night-Herons present.  However, to be safe  
I only counted one seen flying plus another calling in the distance  
at the same time.

--Lee Sterrenburg, James Cole, Brad Feaster, Chip O’leary, & Bob Russell










  
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Subject: Whip-poor-will in Elkhart Co.
From: Dan Stoltzfus <DanHSt AT AOL.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 22:46:27 EDT
Today, May 8, Gary Chupp and his son were birding in a farmer's woodlot  near 
CR35 and CR34 and flushed a Whip-poor-will which fled deeper into the  
woodlot. They searched and found it sitting in typical horizontal fashion on a 

branch about 20 feet above the ground. Gary observed the tail when it flushed 
and 

it had the white in the corners of the tail. It remained sitting on the limb  
while Gary studied its features and then he called Leland Shaum to come and  
photograph it. Leland and I went immediately to the farm and Gary led us to 
the  site and Leland got very good pictures of it.
 
Whip-poor-wills are rarely found in Elkhart County.
 
Gary had also seen a Summer Tanager in the woods, another exceptional find,  
as well as 2 Baltimore Orioles and these warblers:
Black-and white
Nashville
Northern Parula
Tennessee
Yellow
 
Dan Stoltzfus
Goshen



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