July 2020

Virtual Field Trip:

Bath Nature Preserve
Bird Walk Leader: Michelle Brosius
WCAS Board Member and Field Trip Co-Coordinator
Bath Nature Preserve

The preserve is a 411-acre property

owned and managed by Bath Township.
The property was once part of
“Reymann’s Farm” owned by the family
of Marcel Reymann and the Raymond
Firestone estate, which was purchased
on October 1997 by Bath Township. The
preserve was opened for public use in
August of 2001.

Bath Nature Preserve is the place for a

bounty of bluebirds, beautiful meadows:
Aerial View by James F. McCarty, The
Plain Dealer
Photo: Bath Nature Preserve Signage by Tom Fishburn
Bath Nature Preserve (cont.)

“This acreage is a showcase of

several environmental habitats
– wetlands, woodlands, prairie,
riparian, and old-field habitats,
including a Tamarack bog and
multi-use trails (hike, bike,
nature and equestrian), all
emphasizing limited
intervention and minimal
access to maintain ecological
integrity throughout.”
– Bath Business Association,
History of Bath Township

Photo: “The grasslands at the Bath Nature Preserve on July 25, 2020” by Tom Fishburn
 Bath Nature Preserve (cont.)

“Established in 1998 as a collaborative

arrangement between The University of Akron
and Bath Township, the mission of The
University of Akron Field Station is to serve the
needs of the people of northeastern Ohio
through research, education, and service that
promotes a better understanding of our
relationship with the natural environment. The
goals of the Station are: 1) to provide a center
for long-term environmental research
emphasizing habitat restoration and terrestrial
ecology, 2) to support the education programs
of primarily urban universities and local schools,
and 3) to interact with the local community in
promoting environmental awareness.” –
University of Akron Field Station

Photo: “Bath Township collaborates with the University of Akron which manages
field studies at the preserve.” by Tom Fishburn
Target Species
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

“Handsome aerialists with deep-blue iridescent

backs and clean white fronts, Tree Swallows are a
familiar sight in summer fields and wetlands across
northern North America. They chase after flying
insects with acrobatic twists and turns, their steely
blue-green feathers flashing in the sunlight. Tree
Swallows nest in tree cavities; they also readily
take up residence in nest boxes. This habit has
allowed scientists to study their breeding biology
in detail, and makes them a great addition to many
a homeowner’s yard or field.” – The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, Tree Swallow

Photo: Tree Swallow by Tom Fishburn

Target Species (cont.)
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
“Perched on a grass stem or displaying in flight over
a field, breeding male Bobolinks are striking. No
other North American bird has a white back and
black underparts (some have described this look as
wearing a tuxedo backwards). Added to this are the
male’s rich, straw-colored patch on the head and
his bubbling, virtuosic song. As summer ends he
molts into a buff and brown female-like plumage.
Though they’re still fairly common in grasslands,
Bobolink numbers are declining.” – The Cornell Lab
of Ornithology, Bobolink

Photo: Bobolink by Tom Fishburn

Joanne & Terry Gorges
32 Species

Joanne and Terry birded on July 4, 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

It was sunny, temperatures going from 75 to 85 degrees.
• 4 Trumpeter Swan • 18 Tree Swallow • 15 Song Sparrow
• 1 Mallard • 2 Black-capped • 5 Northern Cardinal
Chickadee
• 3 Great Blue Heron • 33 Red-winged
• 2 Tufted Titmouse Blackbird
• 1 Green Heron
• 1 White-breasted • 1 Eastern
• 12 Turkey Vulture
Nuthatch Meadowlark
• 1 Red-shouldered
• 3 Carolina Wren • 7 Common Grackle
Hawk
• 1 House Wren • 7 Brown-headed
• 1 Mourning Dove
Cowbird
• 7 Eastern Bluebird
• 5 Downy Woodpecker
• 1 Orchard Oriole
• 21 American Robin
• 2 Northern Flicker
• 5 House Sparrow
• 6 Gray Catbird
• 2 Great Crested
• 6 American Goldfinch
Flycatcher • 9 European Starling
• 2 unknown species of
• 1 Blue Jay • 1 Cedar Waxwing
accipiters
Mary Ann & John Henderson
35 Species

Mary Ann and John birded on July 15 for 3½ hours.

Temps ranged from 59F on arrival to 86F on departure. Plentiful
milkweed: spotted several beautiful butterflies (including two
monarchs). Covid-concerns: None. Saw only a few other people.

• 4 Canada Goose • 1 Eastern Kingbird

• 3 Wood Duck
• 5 Mourning Dove
• 1 Chimney Swift
• 2 Great Blue Heron
• 1 Turkey Vulture
• 1 Red-tailed Hawk
• 2 Eastern Wood-Pewee
• 4 Willow Flycatcher
• 3 Blue Jay
• 3 American Crow
• 1 Black-capped Chickadee
• 1 Tufted Titmouse
• 2 Barn Swallow
• 2 White-breasted Nuthatch
• 3 House Wren
• 2 Marsh Wren
Photo: “And then I heard the "Fitz-bew" song of this Willow
Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii).” by Tom Fishburn
Mary Ann & John Henderson (cont.)

• 1 Carolina Wren • 1 Field Sparrow

• 21 European Starling • 9 Song Sparrow
• 4 Gray Catbird • 2 Swamp Sparrow
• 5 Eastern Bluebird • 2 Eastern Meadowlark
• 2 Wood Thrush • 15 Red-winged Blackbird
• 2 American Robin • 4 Common Yellowthroat
• 3 Cedar Waxwing • 2 Northern Cardinal
• 12 American Goldfinch • 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• 1 Indigo Bunting

Photo: “A little further along this Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

sang high atop a tall tree.” by Tom Fishburn
Allen Rand
48 Species

Al birded on July 4 and July 19. Two trips!

• Trumpeter Swan • Eastern Wood-Pewee
• Wood Duck • Willow Flycatcher

“These virtual • Mallard • Empidonax sp

(flycatchers)
• Mourning Dove
field trips are a • Great Blue Heron
• Eastern Kingbird
good idea. They • Green Heron
• Red-eyes Vireo
• Blue Jay
get me to new • Turkey Vulture
• American Crow
• Bald Eagle
places.” • Red-tailed Hawk
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Tree Swallow
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Barn Swallow
• Northern Flicker
Allen Rand (cont.)
• White-breasted Nuthatch • Field Sparrow
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher • Henslow’s Sparrow
• House Wren • Song Sparrow
• European Starling • Eastern Towhee
• Gray Catbird • Eastern Meadowlark
• Brown Thrasher • Baltimore Oriole
• Eastern Bluebird • Red-winged Blackbird
• American Robin • Brown-headed Cowbird
• Cedar Waxwing • Common Yellowthroat
• House Sparrow • Yellow Warbler
• American Goldfinch • Scarlet Tanager
• Chipping Sparrow • Northern Cardinal
• Indigo Bunting
Michelle Brosius
Michelle visited the preserve on July 25.
It was a bright, sunny morning and the
birds and cicadas were very vocal. I parked
at the University of Akron field station for
easy access to the Bridle Trail and walked
the entire loop, only leaving the trail to
enjoy a short jaunt through the Tamarack
Bog.

Notable birds include Tree Swallows, an

Eastern Bluebird with a tender morsel,
Song Sparrows, and a Brown Thrasher. I
also snapped a photo of a Monarch
Butterfly!

Photo: Bath Nature Preserve Tamarack Trail Sign by Michelle Brosius

Michelle Brosius (cont.)

Photos: Eastern Bluebird with a Grub at Bath Nature Preserve by Michelle Brosius
Michelle Brosius (cont.)

Photos: Song Sparrows at Bath Nature Preserve by Michelle Brosius

Michelle Brosius (cont.)

Photo: Brown Thrasher by Michelle Brosius Photo: Monarch Butterfly by Michelle Brosius
Nancy Howell
Nancy birded on July 25.
Admittedly I had not been to Bath Nature Preserve for quite some
time, so the Virtual Field Trip for July through Western Cuyahoga
Audubon sounded like a great chance to me to visit.

July has been a hot month and I wanted to choose a day that was
cooler, at least in the morning, so that I could enjoy the “field trip”.
Saturday, July 25 was just the day, I’ll call it “Christmas in July”. As
mentioned, I had not been to the site for many years so was not
familiar with the property and trails. A nice little folding map was at
the kiosk in the parking area off Ira Rd. Perfect. I chose the 1.5 mile
North Fork Trail, a paved trail popular with walkers and dog walkers.

Photo: North Fork of Yellow Creek by Nancy Howell
The North Fork Trail goes through several habitats, many fields and
shrubby areas, past an area called the Garden Bowl, through a
woodland with mixed tree species, and over the north fork of Yellow
Creek. Since it is a one way trail, I followed a slightly different route
back to the parking lot picking up Creekside Trail that follows the
north fork of Yellow Creek. It was a delightful 3 mile walk.
 Nancy Howell (cont.)

Birding wasn’t too bad and I was pleased to see many juvenile species of
birds … some easy to identify and some not so easy. Forty-four species were
seen or heard while out. The fields at the beginning of the walk had
Mourning Doves, many Song Sparrows and Field Sparrows, Red-winged
Blackbirds, American Robins, American Goldfinch and Gray Catbirds. Thank
goodness the juvenile Field Sparrows were already getting their pink bill and
white eye ring. Young Song Sparrows were fairly easy to identify. Since it was
cool and dewy, lots of these birds were using the tops of dead or half dead
trees to preen and dry off. A bright male Eastern Bluebird also came into the
dead branches and was easily seen. Bird boxes dot the fields so Bluebirds
should be seen any time one goes out. House Sparrows were also seen, one
of those species that usurp the nest boxes. At the Garden Bowl is a small
pond where Mallard, Wood Duck, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpipers, Great Blue
Heron, Willow Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, and Swamp Sparrows were
sighted. A couple of Barn Swallows flew over the fields in that area as well.
Photo: Spider Web with Dew by Nancy Howell
 Nancy Howell (cont.)

The shrubby areas had House and Carolina Wrens, House Finch,
Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Eastern Phoebe, White-
breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Towhee, and a few European Starling.
A Turkey Vulture in a tree at the edge of the shrubs and fields was
soaking up the sun in preparation for taking off and riding the
thermals, and an Indigo Bunting sang from the top of a tree - nice!

Heading toward the woods, the shrub and tree habitat got thicker
and provided sightings of juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeak and
Baltimore Orioles. Once in the woods, a couple of Red-eyed Vireos
were singing, as well as a distant Scarlet Tanager, Blue Jays and
American Crows could be heard in various places. Black-capped
Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse juveniles could be heard, then
sighted. Two young Eastern Wood-Pewees were not easy to
identify. Red-bellied Woodpeckers were also heard in the woods.

Photo: House Wren at Bath Nature Preserve by Tom Fishburn

 Nancy Howell (cont.)

Another Eastern Bluebird caught my attention at the wood’s edge and

while looking at it, a Pileated Woodpecker flew by. Similarly, openings
between wooded areas provided sightings of a Red-tailed Hawk and
Chimney Swift. As mentioned earlier I did not want to take the entire trail
back the way I had come so I chose the Creekside Trail which seemed
more wooded, thus shaded. Lots of American Robins feeding on Japanese
Honeysuckle fruits and bathing in the trickling Yellow Creek. At one point I
tried to turn a young robin into a Brown Thrasher … nope sorry. Several
Common Yellowthroats were along this trail and a single Yellow Warbler
was seen.

As I neared the parking lot through the field, I heard a distinctive “pink”
call - Bobolink? Search, search, search … aha, in the distance either a
female or young of the year Bobolink. Yay, what a good end to the Bath
Nature Preserve virtual bird walk.
Photo: Hawk feathers along Creekside Trail by Nancy
Howell. Even hawks are not immune to predators.
 Nancy Howell (cont.)
Here’s the list of species sighted and the number of each species:
• 7 Wood Duck
• 8 Mallard
• 3 Mourning Dove
• 1 Chimney Swift
• 2 Killdeer
• 3 Solitary Sandpiper
• 1 Great Blue Heron
• 2 Turkey Vulture
• 1 Red-tailed Hawk
• 2 Red-bellied
Woodpecker
• 1 Pileated Woodpecker
• 3 Eastern Wood-Pewee
• 2 Willow Flycatcher
• 1 Eastern Phoebe
• 2 Red-eyed Vireo
• 5 Blue Jay
• 3 American Crow
• 4 Black-capped Chickadee • 2 House Finch
• 3 Tufted Titmouse
• 3 Barn Swallow
• 2 White-breasted
Nuthatch
• 3 House Wren
44 Species
• 2 Carolina Wren
• 2 European Starling
• 10 Gray Catbird
• 2 Eastern Bluebird
• 23 American Robin
• 3 House Sparrow
• 14 American Goldfinch
• 10 Field Sparrow
• 12 Song Sparrow
• 2 Swamp Sparrow
• 2 Eastern Towhee
• 1 Bobolink
• 3 Baltimore Oriole
• 34 Red-winged Blackbird
• 1 Common Grackle
• 4 Common Yellowthroat
• 1 Yellow Warbler
• 1 Scarlet Tanager
• 3 Northern Cardinal
• 5 Rose-breasted
Grosbeak
• 1 Indigo Bunting
Tom Fishburn
Tom visited the preserve on July 25.
Near one of Bath Nature Preserve's ponds this
Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) rested.
Numbers have increased in recent years and And a Brown-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis)
the species is no longer listed as vulnerable! was doing its part.

Photo: Slaty Skimmer by Tom Fishburn Photo: Brown-belted Bumble Bee by Tom Fishburn
Tom Fishburn (cont.)
Bath Nature Preserve is a good place to see
Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) . . . and . . . and Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus).

Photo: Eastern Bluebird by Tom Fishburn Photo: Bobolink by Tom Fishburn

 Tom Fishburn (cont.)
In Ohio Bobolinks are designated a
This adult male Bobolink was still species of concern as its breeding
showing its breeding plumage. habitat has diminished.

I got a kick out

of the Dolichonyx
oryzivorus name
for the Bobolink
and was tempted
to say
"Gesundheit"
after it.

Photos: Bobolinks by Tom Fishburn

 Tom Fishburn (cont.)
Tamaracks (Larix laricina) are a northern tree and I was excited to come across Allegheny
rare in Ohio but found in some special habitats like Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens) along the bog boardwalk.
bogs and fens.

Photo: Tamarack by Tom Fishburn Photo: Allegheny Monkeyflower by Tom Fishburn

 Tom Fishburn (cont.)

This male Bronze Copper (Lycaena Usually butterflies fly away before But I took over 60 images of this
hyllus) was undeterred by my I get a few pictures. most cooperative insect.
presence.

Photos: Copper Bronze by Tom Fishburn

Thank you!
Tom Fishburn
Joanne & Terry Gorges
Mary Ann & John Henderson
Nancy Howell
Al Rand

&

Bath Township for Bath Nature Preserve!

Bath Nature Preserve

4160 Ira Rd.
Akron, OH 44333

Visit wcaudubon.org for more virtual field trip

opportunities!
Photo: “A small Furrow Bee (Genus Halictus) was enjoying the
Chickory.” by Tom Fishburn