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Field Trip Report 

 
Event: ​Hotspot Field Trip to Sandy Ridge Reservation 
Date: ​Saturday, November 17, 2018 
Time: ​7:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. 
Location:​​ ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, ​6195 Otten Rd, North Ridgeville, OH 
44039 ​Map 
Leader:​​ Tim Colborn 
Target Species:​​ Waterfowl 
Results: ​4 Birders and 35 Species 

Four members of the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society joined leader Tim Colborn on a local
search for waterfowl and other birds at Sandy Ridge Reservation in the Lorain County Metro
Parks on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Skies were overcast with temps in the mid 40’s as we
arrived at the Reservation at about 8:00 a.m.

At the feeders near the Reservation building, we had looks at common species like
White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and a skittish White-throated Sparrow.
Walking through the wet woodlands, we enjoyed other common forest birds like Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse and migrant Golden-crowned Kinglets.

Upon exiting the woods, we arrived at the impoundments for our target group of birds
including ducks, geese and swans. Immediately upon gaining a view, we had many Mallard,
Gadwall, and Northern Shoveler. The day would be good for dabblers, less so for divers.
Scanning the ponds produced a handful of Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Hooded
Merganser, American Black Duck and Ruddy Duck. A single female Bufflehead was diving and
feeding near the central mound viewing point. Other waterfowl seen were nearly 150 Canada

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

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Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
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Geese and two Trumpeter Swans.

In addition to waterfowl, raptors were the other highlight of the day. As we emerged from the
woods into the wetlands area, an adult Cooper’s Hawk was spied by one of our group. We all
got quick looks before the bird dropped from its perch and disappeared. Several minutes later,
we were treated to an incoming Peregrine Falcon that cruised over the water and perched in a
tree allowing scope views for nearly a quarter hour before moving to another tree and showing
off another fifteen minutes! While too dark to get great photos, our scope views were stunning.
Soon after the Peregrine had departed, the Coopers Hawk re-appeared near its original perch
and very good scope views allowed us to tick off field marks separating this bird from its close
relative, the Sharp-shinned Hawk. Other raptors seen included a Red-shouldered Hawk and an
adult Bald Eagle.

In total, 35 species (including 11 waterfowl species) were seen by the time we completed our
long walk around the property and headed for home. ​- Tim Colborn, Bird Walk Leader 

Photos 
 

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
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Photo: November 2018 Hotspot Birders by Kaoru Tsubone at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
North Ridgeville, OH 44039​​.
 

 
Photo: Birders Scanning the Horizon by Kaoru Tsubone​​ at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
North Ridgeville, OH 44039
 

 
Photo: Birders Surveying the Wetland by Kaoru Tsubone​​ at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
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North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

Photo: ​Peregrine Falcon ​(Falco peregrinus)​ by Patrick McGuigan​​ at S

​ andy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
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Photo: ​Cooper's Hawk​​ (Accipiter cooperii)​ by Patrick McGuigan​​ at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

Photo: ​Cormorant ​(Phalacrocoracidae)​ by Patrick McGuigan​​ at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road,
North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
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Photo: ​Northern Shoveler ​(Anas clypeata)​ ​by Patrick McGuigan​​ at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

Photo: ​Trumpeter Swan ​(Cygnus buccinator)​ by Patrick McGuigan​​ at ​Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten
Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

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Copyright 2018 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org