The Nerdy Birders have returned from our trip to Arizona with new enthusiasm and excitement for what this spring may bring. We are looking forward to the biggest week in birding, the promise of warmer weather, and yet another trip west to Yosemite National Park.
We took our momentum from the Arizona trip with us into the third weekend in March. We set out to explore Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR) in Ottawa county Ohio. As I have stated before this is a great place to bird. They have provided birds and other wildlife with multiple ponds along Lake Erie, wooded areas, and lots of brush/thicket to hang out in. Visitors can hike along their board walks and trails and see a large number of species of birds. We began like we do every trip to the ONWR with a stop at the welcome center. Here you can review their bird board for the birds seen that day and the past week. The volunteers and staff are also very helpful to point out areas that you are more likely to spot specific species if you want to narrow your search. On this day we were in luck. They were allowing a driving tour of the grounds. This is highly unusual because they don't want traffic in areas such as the active Bald Eagles nest.
Before the driving tour we wanted to head over to ponds two and three where we felt we were more likely to see a Hooded Merganser that was marked on the board. This particular duck is on the top of our most wanted list. We have heard reports before but have had no luck spotting one. This day was going to prove to be just as challenging. We walked to the end of the ponds and managed to see a large number of Trumpeter Swans, a Northern Harrier hunting over the pond, a Green-winged Teal, and were lucky enough to spot two Sandhill Cranes but no Hooded Merganser.
We walked the mile or so back to the car and decided that we would take the driving tour and see what else we could find. At the beginning of the tour you are given a pamphlet with instructions on what areas are restricted and what type of birds may be spotted in each area. They also go into some detail on the plants and other wildlife.
We moved our way through the park, and managed to get within a couple hundred yards of the Eagles nest. That was pretty cool because the male flew up with a catch to feed the female. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of these event. We were advised that the Hooded Mergansers were hanging out near the bridge. As we approached it we kept an eye out. We spotted what we thought was the Hooded Merganser but it was a Bufflehead swimming along a large number of American Coots (a bird we had just seen in Arizona). Just then JoAnna spotted something flying in the woods ahead of us. She said that it landed funny but I was too busy getting some pictures of the Bufflehead. She then said "my god it is an OWL."
We approached very slowly on the path that was about one hundred yards away from the wooded area where she had spotted it. We had a very tough time getting a decent picture so I stepped out of the car and got the best picture I could. There was a car behind us so I walked over and said that there was a Great Horned Owl in the woods. They did not seem very interested so I walked back to the car got in and moved up. We were both ecstatic about what we just saw. We pulled up and as we did an officer of the Division of Fish and Wildlife walked over. He said "I am guessing you know why I stopped you," I said "No, I do not." He said "You stopped your car in front of the Owls nest which is against the rules." I told him that I was unaware of this rule and that we were really sorry. We did not want to do anything to disturb the Owls but we were just excited to see them. He said that if we come back to remember that stopping your car is prohibited in this area. Our excitement quickly faded.
We drove home with our heads hung in shame.
Happy Birding
We took our momentum from the Arizona trip with us into the third weekend in March. We set out to explore Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR) in Ottawa county Ohio. As I have stated before this is a great place to bird. They have provided birds and other wildlife with multiple ponds along Lake Erie, wooded areas, and lots of brush/thicket to hang out in. Visitors can hike along their board walks and trails and see a large number of species of birds. We began like we do every trip to the ONWR with a stop at the welcome center. Here you can review their bird board for the birds seen that day and the past week. The volunteers and staff are also very helpful to point out areas that you are more likely to spot specific species if you want to narrow your search. On this day we were in luck. They were allowing a driving tour of the grounds. This is highly unusual because they don't want traffic in areas such as the active Bald Eagles nest.
Before the driving tour we wanted to head over to ponds two and three where we felt we were more likely to see a Hooded Merganser that was marked on the board. This particular duck is on the top of our most wanted list. We have heard reports before but have had no luck spotting one. This day was going to prove to be just as challenging. We walked to the end of the ponds and managed to see a large number of Trumpeter Swans, a Northern Harrier hunting over the pond, a Green-winged Teal, and were lucky enough to spot two Sandhill Cranes but no Hooded Merganser.
We moved our way through the park, and managed to get within a couple hundred yards of the Eagles nest. That was pretty cool because the male flew up with a catch to feed the female. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of these event. We were advised that the Hooded Mergansers were hanging out near the bridge. As we approached it we kept an eye out. We spotted what we thought was the Hooded Merganser but it was a Bufflehead swimming along a large number of American Coots (a bird we had just seen in Arizona). Just then JoAnna spotted something flying in the woods ahead of us. She said that it landed funny but I was too busy getting some pictures of the Bufflehead. She then said "my god it is an OWL."
We approached very slowly on the path that was about one hundred yards away from the wooded area where she had spotted it. We had a very tough time getting a decent picture so I stepped out of the car and got the best picture I could. There was a car behind us so I walked over and said that there was a Great Horned Owl in the woods. They did not seem very interested so I walked back to the car got in and moved up. We were both ecstatic about what we just saw. We pulled up and as we did an officer of the Division of Fish and Wildlife walked over. He said "I am guessing you know why I stopped you," I said "No, I do not." He said "You stopped your car in front of the Owls nest which is against the rules." I told him that I was unaware of this rule and that we were really sorry. We did not want to do anything to disturb the Owls but we were just excited to see them. He said that if we come back to remember that stopping your car is prohibited in this area. Our excitement quickly faded.
We drove home with our heads hung in shame.
Happy Birding
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