EASTERN HIGHLANDS & UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY 
American White Pelicans are increasing as visitors to many parts of the East and 
Midwest, even in summer, as attested by up to 28 birds in Stark County, Ohio 26 
July 2009. Photograph by Gabe Leidy. 
A few reports of Brown Pelican in northeastern Ohio in late June 2009 
culminated with this bird nicely documented in Lake County on 2 July. 
Photograph by John Pogacnik. 
Jul in Hamilton, OH as it flew in from the 
Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Single 
American Bitterns in different Morgan, OH 
wetlands were unexpected 10 Jun (DS, DL) 
and 3 Jul (B. Lowe). A Least Bittern at a re- 
stored wetland in Union, OH was noteworthy 
(fide KW), as was another in Hancock, OH 12 
Jul (RSs). In Pennsylvania, Least Bitterns pre- 
sumed breeding were present in Bucks, Cum- 
berland, and Erie (DF, VG, JM). The presence 
of 25 Great Egrets in Trumbull, OH 1 Jun (fide 
DHo) led to the observation of an individual 
collecting nesting material 10 Jun (LGo). Un- 
expected was one in Putnam, WV 6 Jun (CE), 
with 2 in the highlands of Pocahontas, WV 28 
Jul (S. Kearns). Little Blue Heron reports in 
Pennsylvania included 5 in Bucks 11-27 Jul 
(fide AM) and 2 at S.R.C.E 28 Jul (CC). Har- 
lan Spring Rd. pond, Jefferson, WV hosted an 
imm. 23-29 Jul (BD, m.ob.). The same ob- 
server discovered a Tricolored Heron at near- 
by Stauffer’s Marsh, JeJJersoit 29-31 Jul (BD, 
m.ob.), only tbe 2nd for West Virginia. Three 
Snowy Egrets along the 
Schuylkill R., Berks, PA 26 
Jul were unusual (SF), as 
were 2 Cattle Egrets at Top- 
ton, Berks 12 Jun (SF). A Yel- 
low-crowned Night-Heron 
was found feeding within in 
a Franklin, OH spillway 14 
Jun (RTh), and one in 
Delaware, PA 19 Jun-1 Jul 
was rare there (L. Lewis). An 
imm. White Ibis obliged 
many in Guernsey, OH 14-19 
Jul (EH, ph. R. Tressler). Two 
one-day wonders in West 
Virginia included one a mile 
n. of the Rte. 33 bridge over the 
Buckhannon R., Upshur, WV 19 Jul 
(ph. W. Kordek, fide RT), and an 
imm. along the Kanawha R., near St. 
Albans, Kanawha, WV 22 Jul (ph. S. 
Fox). A White-faced Ibis was in Ot- 
tawa, OH 30 Jun-1 Jul (R. Hinkle, 
ph. GLy). Glossy Ibis were at Lan- 
denburg, Chester, PA 4 Jun (KF) and 
10 Jul (A. Leidig). 
VULTURES THROUGH TERNS 
Two Black Vultures were seen 3 Jul in 
Ashland, OH (GCo). Several Osprey 
nests appeared at new Ohio locations 
in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Geauga, Mar- 
ion, Meigs, Portage, Summit, and 
Warren (fide DSh, O.D.N.R.). Missis- 
sippi Kites returned, once again, to a 
private golf club in Hocking, OH for 
the 3rd straight year; ads. were seen 
12 & 17 Jun (fide B. Whan). Else- 
where, a kite over the Cincinnati Zoo, Hamil- 
ton, OH 30 Jun (ph. TSh) and another ad. kite 
over suburban Columbus 15 6s: 16 Jun (ph. B. 
Master) were intriguing. In Pennsylvania, 
Mississippi Kites included up to 2 in Lancast- 
er 1-2 Jun (E. Chubbs, M. Lombard et al.) and 
one in Berks 10 Jun (TC). The Bald Eagle 
population increased for the 22nd consecu- 
tive year in Ohio; 33 new eagle nests were 
found in Butler, Franklin, Hamilton, Logan, 
Medina, Montgomery, Paulding, Pike, and 
Scioto (fide O.D.N.R.). Single Northern Harri- 
ers in Stark, OH 12 Jun (CMc) and in Wash- 
ington, OH 27 Jun (B. Bond) were unexpect- 
ed. New Ohio pairs of Peregrine Falcons were 
observed in Franklin and Trumbull (fide 
O.D.N.R.) but apparently did not nest. Pere- 
grines nested in Clinton, PA, the hrst time 
there since the DDT era (W. Laubscher). 
Two King Rails were observed at Pickerel 
Creek W.M.A., Sandusky, OH 13 Jun (KW), 
and one was at Killbuck Marsh 27 Jun (GLy). 
A Common Moorhen was at a restored Union, 
OH wetland 4 Jun, with a pair evident there 
15 Jun (fide KW), and a moorhen nest was 
found in Belmont, OH 22 Jun (EH). A Com- 
mon Moorhen in Dauphin, PA 12 Jun was un- 
usual for that locale (B. & J. Horton). A pair 
of Sandhill Cranes at Slate Run Metro Park, 
Pickaway, OH continued into Jun (fide J. 
Watts), while a new nest in Madison, OH pro- 
duced at least one colt (fide DSh). O.D.N.R. 
survey efforts yielded evidence of 21 young 
produced in the state during the period. A re- 
liable second-hand report of a pair with one 
fledgling in Knox, OH is intriguing (fide M. 
Bowman). Since 1993, Plain Grove, Lawrence 
continues to be the most reliable nesting site 
for this species in Pennsylvania (MV). One in 
Lebanon, PA all summer was unusual for that 
locale (A. Annibali, Jidc R. Miller). 
Single Black-bellied Plovers were in Ottawa, 
OH (CC) and Ashtabula, OH (CH) 18 Jul. A 
color-banded ad. Piping Plover was at Con- 
neaut 26 Jul+ (R. Krajeski, Jicie JP; CH, ph. L. 
Keene, m.ob.). Four American Avocets were in 
Franklin, OH 26-27 Jul (B. Sparks, DSr); 2 
were in Montgomery, OH 31 Jul (RA); and one 
was at Pymatuning L., Crawford, PA 17 Jul 
(MV). Three at Sutton Dam, Braxton, WV 23 
Jul (S. Gillespie) were exceptional for the high- 
lands. Two Black-necked Stilts were at S.R.C.E 
10 Jun (CC, EW et al). Fifty Solitary Sand- 
pipers in Montgomery, OH 31 Jul (RA) made 
an excellent count for the species anywhere. 
Fifteen Willets were at Conneaut 22 Jul (CH), 
with singles reported in Ottawa, OH 23 Jul 
(TB), Erie, OH 26 Jul (GLy), and Wayne, OH 
A A single Merlin first observed in Lake, OH 16 Jun (JP) continued from the same location through Jun and into Jul. An 
Jfsad. female was observed bringing food to at least 2 juvs. 16 Jul. This nesting continues a westward return to the Al- 
legheny foothills and is Ohio's first nesting record since the 1930s. In Pennsylvania, Merlins successfully raised young for the 
3rd year in a row at Promised Land S.P., Pike (RW). Topping off these discoveries, Casey Rucker visiting settling ponds of the 
ski resort in the Canaan Valley highlands of Grant, WV 30 Jul came across an ad. Merlin. Recalling a report, accompanied by 
photographs, earlier in the week of a "family" of Merlins on private property in the vicinity, he investigated that evening to 
find 2 ads. and 2 juvs. there. The ad. female persisted in giving agitated alarm calls, while the 2 juvs. gave soft mewing calls. 
Upon closer approach (100 m), the ad. female took flight toward the observer, circling 3 m overhead, calling all the while. 
This observation marks a first breeding record for West Virginia — and the southernmost breeding outpost for the species in 
North America and indeed anywhere in the world. 
VOLUME 63 (2009) 
NUMBER 4 
593 
