EASTERN HIGHLANDS & UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY 
Many prior Ohio records of Wood Stork have been one-day wonders seen by a few observers. These three allowed close study 
for a great many 26 August through 8 (here 6) September 2008. Photograph by Renee Tressler. 
Oct (fide SK) made a good count. Of only 2 
Brant along L. Erie, one in Cuyahoga, OH 31 
Oct was the earliest (JBr). Staging before their 
winter dispersal at East Harbor S.P., Ottawa, 
OH were a state-record 220 Mute Swans 29 
Nov (TB, P. Bartlett). The flight of Tundra 
Swans over the West Virginia mts. was well 
documented, with 180 over Berkeley 10 Nov 
(RB), 75 over Jefferson 16 Nov (E. 
Kirschbaum), and 40 over Tucker 23 Nov 
(RB). Another 50 were at Snake Hill W.M.A., 
Monongalia 21 Nov (SO). Peak flights in 
Pennsylvania came 11 Nov, with 460 at 
Y.C.S.P (MH), and 670 at Stone Mt. hawk- 
watch, Huntington (GG). 
The summering Redhead at Blendon 
Woods Metropark, Columbus, OH remained 
through 21 Oct (S. Townsend, m.ob.), while 
one at S.RC.E 30 Aug QB, BS) was early. A fe- 
male Greater Scaup at Conneaut 9 Sep (CH) 
was early. An estimated 16,900 scaup passed 
Presque Isle in just 90 minutes 26 Nov, fol- 
lowed by over 15,000 in just 30 minutes on 
28 Nov QM). Nothing of this movement was 
detected farther west. A Bufflehead at the 
Bellevue wetlands, Sandusky 31 Aug-2 Sep 
(CP C. Caldwell) was likely one seen there 
through Jun. The 150 on Cheat L., Monon- 
galia, WV 21 Nov (SO, M. Peters) was an ex- 
cellent count for the s. mts., as was 370 at L. 
Ontelaunee, Berks, PA 17 Nov (RK). A female 
Common Goldeneye on the Scioto R., 
Franklin 30 Aug (P North) was likely the 
same bird found there 15 Sep (j. Tinianow). 
There are no prior fall Ohio records away 
from L. Erie before Oct. Equally astonishing 
was a 25 Aug Long-tailed Duck at Headlands 
(RH). One s. to Deer Creek L., Pickaway, OH 
29 Oct (R. Royse) was unexpected, while an- 
other settled in at a Columbus metropark 4- 
16 Nov to the delight of many (fide A. Shaw, 
RLy, m.ob.). High counts in Pennsylvania 
were 17 at Presque Isle 19 & 23 Nov QM). 
Single Black Scoters in Pickaway, OH 30 Oct 
(RLy) and Clennont, OH 18 Oct (AS, BSs) 
were early for s. Ohio. One on the Shenan- 
doah R., Jefferson, WV 2 Nov and 2 there 11 
Nov (MO) were exceptional for the Eastern 
Panhandle. The passage of scoters along the 
Central Basin in Nov was 
average, with about 58 Surf 
and 60 Black Scoters. An- 
other 15 Surf Scoters were 
found on inland Ohio wa- 
ters. The 26 White-winged 
Scoters tallied at Presque 
Isle 19 Nov (JM) was the 
largest Regional concentra- 
tion in many years. At least 
2, possibly 4, Harlequin 
Ducks were found within 
the Central Basin from 16 
Nov QP) into Dec. A Harle- 
quin Duck was at Keystone 
S.P, Westmoreland, PA 19 
Nov (fide D. Byers). 
Relatively few Red- 
throated Loons were found 
on L. Erie, although 14 were 
tallied at P.l.S.P. 29 Nov 
OM). Singles were inland to 
Caesar Creek 2 & 23 Nov 
(LG, RA) and Rocky Fork 
S.P, Highland (RA), with a 
high count of 5 at L. Nock- 
amixon, Bucks, PA 18 Nov 0- Horn). The 
main Common Loon flight took place with 
800 over Headlands 17 Nov (RH, JT) and 175 
over H.M.S. 18 Nov (LGo). An ad. Horned 
Grebe at S.R.C.E 8-17 Aug QB, DB, BS) was 
very early. Within a small Horned Grebe flight 
of 119 birds in Lake, OH 15 Nov were 2 Red- 
necked Grebes and an Eared Grebe QP)- The 
only Ohio inland report of Red-necked Grebe 
came from Buck Creek 30 Oct (BSs). Two 
Eared Grebes at Findlay Res., Hancock, OH 1 
Nov (AS, BSs) were joined by another 30 Nov 
(RSs). Singles were at Rocky Fork S.P, High- 
land, OH 9 Nov and at Caesar Creek 23 Nov 
(both RA). Two Eared Grebes at S.R.C.E 12- 
31 Oct represent a 2nd local record (BS et al.). 
A juv. Northern Gannet in Lake, OH 13-15 
Nov (RH, JT) and one in Lorain, OH 16 Nov 
QBr, P. Chaon, GL) may have been the same 
bird. Another sighting from the Ohio heart- 
land came 3 Oct with one circling over a 
Fredericksburg, Holmes farm Qoseph & 
Wilma Miller). An American White Pelican 
was at Buck Creek 2-3 Aug (DO), and 3 were 
in Preble 22 Sep 0- & S. Michael). A flock of 
6 was noted at Grand L., Auglaize/Mercer, OH 
21 Aug 0 - Bowers), while 5 appeared at 
Hoover 31 Aug through 2 Oct (C. Waldron, 
RTh, CB, m.ob.), with one remaining 30 Oct 
(CB). Two more were near Bakersville, Tus- 
carawas, OH 31 Aug (Robert Miller). A juv. 
Brown Pelican found dead 5 Nov at Raystown 
L., Huntingdon, PA, represents a 3rd state 
record (fide GG, ph B. Weaver); it had been 
banded previously in Maryland. A Great Cor- 
76 
Rare but regular In Ohio, Marbled Godwits staged a widespread flight in autumn 
2008, affording rare opportunities for photography. This bird was present in Sandusky 
County 28 (here 30) August through 1 September. Photograph by Renee Tressler. 
morant at Peach Bottom, Lattcaster, PA 8 Nov 
was unusual for that location (BS, TA). The 
19,000+ Double-crested Cormorants over 
Kelleys 1., Erie, OH 14 Nov (TB) is becoming 
an annual event. Single ad. female or juv. An- 
hingas rose on thermals over H.M.S. 10 Sep 
(RK) and 17 Oct (C. Funes, RK, AK). A group 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
