Article source for : Willow Point and Magee sightings 29-Aug-2006
"From":http://www.rarebird.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1512&PN=4 the TNA message board ...
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The Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area between Fremont and Sandusky is currently closed for duck hunting as of last Friday. The staff was very kind, but made it clear that it is now the hunters' turn to enjoy the facility. Fair enough. I didn't think to ask when the current "Teal Season" ends.
As a consolation prize, the Pickerel Creek staff directed me towards Willow Point Fish Work Unit, just east of the Pickerel Creek complex (signs off rte 6). This open-year-round facility is quite a bit smaller, but held a couple really nice surprises, nonetheless:
12+ Snowy Egrets
1 American Avocet
4 Lesser Yellowlegs
1 (presumably SB) Dowitcher (Sorry; I was too busy enjoying the Avocet to properly i.d. this bird.)
The shorebird habitat in both facilities has been pretty well inundated by the recent rains. The Avocet was last seen at 4:45 PM in the southern cell of the diked complex just east of the Willow Point FWU buildings.
To reach this area, park in the lot in front of the large garage, making sure to obey parking restrictions (don't block the drive or access to the buildings). On foot, bear right around the eastern side of the large garage. Follow the sometime gravel, sometimes grassy, two-track up and onto the dike on your right. Proceed just a little further to the central E/W causeway dike between the two eastern cells. The Avocet was associating loosely with the Snowy Egrets towards the east (far) end of the south cell. A Willow Point site map can be obtained at the Pickerel Creek HQ.
Additionally, I birded Magee Marsh Boardwalk early this AM. I saw 18 warbler species of the 19 recorded in Mary Warren's earlier post on the OH-Birds listserv, all found at boardwalk marker #5, near the west entrance to the boardwalk). A very localized fallout ("smallout?"). The rest of the boardwalk was snoozy -- mostly Icterids & Veeries. Thanks goes to Mary for posting this info much earlier than I could've. One question still remains: how in the heck did I dip on the Common Yellowthroat?
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A commenter in that thread posted the following imaga and observation of Willow Point:
!http://www.rarebird.org/forum/uploads/Caracara/2006-08-30_172830_IMG_2959_crun_Avocet_Willet_Medium.jpg!
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The Avocet was joined by a Willet at 3 PM Wednesday.
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Another commenter added:
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This is presumably a female Avocet with the more strongly upcurved bill....if I remember correctly.
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tag=sightings
tag=WillowPoint
tag=Magee
