WCAS Towpath Trail Tremont Bird Walk October 23, 2021 Report

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Towpath Trail Tremont Bird Walk Report

Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Location: Ohio & Erie Canalway, Abbey Ave, Tremont, OH 44113. Meet at
Towpath Public Parking Map
Leaders: Nancy Howell, Michelle Brosius
Results: 26 Species, 6 Birders
Description: Kind of a yucky morning, overcast, very light sprinkles and cooler temperatures
BUT the Tremont Towpath Trail bird walk continued! This October walk is the final one of the
2021 year, but WCAS should begin again in January 2022. Check the WCAS website or sign up
for electronic emails for information on all of WCAS events.
Six attendees came to the walk. It was nice to have a small group so that birds sighted could be
easily pointed out. We were not disappointed with bird sightings including some surprises!
Twenty-six species were sighted and/or heard as we walked from the parking area to the
Scranton Flats fire station. It took 2½ hours to get that short distance!
At the parking area we had our urban bird “greeters”, Rock Pigeons, European Starlings, and
flyovers of House Finch and Double-crested Cormorant. Proceeding down the trail we picked up
American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, many American Goldfinch feeding on
seeds of evening primrose and coneflower, Ring-billed Gulls, Blue Jay, Golden-crowned Kinglets,
White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow (NICE!), Palm Warbler (NICE!), and Peregrine
Falcon (NICE!) which was perched on the lift bridge near the Innerbelt bridge.
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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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Along the Cuyahoga River we had more Ring-billed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. Several
Mallards were feeding in the shallows near the walk that extends over the river shoreline. We
also found “Lester” the Lesser Scaup. A discussion ensued as to how the scaup differs from the
mallards in coloration, feeding behavior, and why this bird is here. We love “Lester”. As usual
we’d have little bird activity at times, then other times we’d hit an area where birds were
zipping and dashing all over. A couple of areas along the river produced additional
Golden-crowned Kinglets and a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets, European Starlings, Northern
Mockingbird, House Finch, House Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp
Sparrow, Palm Warbler and Northern Cardinal.
We finally found the Great Blue Heron that hangs out along the river. Rowers on the river
caused the heron to move from one area to another, but it was good to see the bird in flight.
While folks were looking along the river, others were looking the opposite way. Oh boy, an
American Kestrel was perched at the top of leafless branches, (NICE!)
Reaching the Scranton Flats firehouse more sparrows, primarily White-throats, another Palm
Warbler or two, several Golden-crowned and a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets … but wait, a
wren came into a small “weedy” area. It was initially ID’d as a Carolina Wren, but Carolina’s
usually are vocal and respond to “pishing”, this bird did not. Upon closer inspection - whoa a
Marsh Wren quietly skulking in the “weeds” then dashing out between participants into denser
brush. (NICE!). Near the firehouse we scanned the brush and up pops a Hermit Thrush (NICE!)
At the firehouse the group decided to head back to the cars. Our return trip had the same
species that we had sighted heading north. Many American Goldfinch were still feeding in
various areas and participants got good views of the birds working on the seed heads of plants.
We viewed and listened to a Northern Mockingbird as it perched on a telephone pole. It
warbled, squawked, whistled and was just fun to listen to. Participants got a good view of a
Double-crested Cormorant as it perched and preened. A small flock of cormorants flew
overhead moments later. As we neared the Innerbelt Bridge and the lift bridge, 2 Peregrine
Falcons were spotted, one in the place where we had seen it as we started our walk, and the
other at the other end of the lift bridge. It was nice to see them at close range.
A great group, half of which had not birded the Scranton Flats area. What a fun morning … now
where’s the hot cup of coffee? - Nancy Howell, Bird Walk Leader

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List of species and number of each species.
1. Mallard - 14
2. Lesser Scaup - 1
3. Rock Pigeon - 34
4. Ring-billed Gull - 108
5. Herring Gull - 5
6. Double-crested Cormorant - 10
7. Great Blue Heron - 1
8. American Kestrel - 1
9. Peregrine Falcon - 2
10. Blue Jay - 3
11. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4
12. Golden-crowned Kinglet - 10
13. Marsh Wren - 1
14. European Starling - 23
15. Northern Mockingbird - 3
16. Hermit Thrush - 1
17. American Robin - 6
18. House Sparrow - 5
19. House Finch - 6
20. American Goldfinch - 35
21. White-crowned Sparrow - 1
22. White-throated Sparrow - 8
23. Song Sparrow - 3
24. Swamp Sparrow - 2
25. Palm Warbler - 4
26. Northern Cardinal - 2

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Photos
Photo: Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum), Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Shaun
Missig.
Photo: Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25,
2021 by Shaun Missig.

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Photo: House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Shaun
Missig.
Photo: American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Shaun
Missig.

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Photo: Bluejay (Cyanocitta cristata), Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Shaun Missig.
Photo: Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum), Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Shaun
Missig.

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Photo: Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by Shaun
Missig.
Photo: Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by
Shaun Missig.

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Photo: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021
by Shaun Missig.
Photo: Rock Pigeons (Falco peregrinus) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021 by
Shaun Missig.

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Photo: Lester the Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25,
Photo: Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021
by Shaun Missig.

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Photo: Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25,
Photo: American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021
by Shaun Missig.

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Photo: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25, 2021
by Shaun Missig.
Photo: Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25,

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Photo: Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) on the wires, Tremont, OH 44113, Saturday, September 25,


WCAS Towpath Trail Tremont Bird Walk October 23, 2021 Report

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WCAS Towpath Trail Tremont Bird Walk October 23, 2021 Report

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Towpath Trail Tremont Bird Walk Report

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Copyright 2021 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

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