Watching Autumn Arrive

Hiking around Perry Phillips Lake on this sunny, cool morning, I observed a thick band of dark clouds across the northwestern horizon.  Having watched the Weather Channel earlier in the day, I knew that it was the leading edge of a cold front that will push across the Midwest over the next 24 hours.  Freeze warnings are in place for the Upper Midwest tonight while, here in Missouri, a frost warning is in effect.

Out on the lake, an osprey and a pied-billed grebe hunted for their breakfast while flocks of noisy Canada geese passed overhead, seemingly declaring the onset of autumn.  Other than a lone, chatty northern mockingbird, songbirds were relatively inactive and quiet, perhaps in response to the atmospheric change.

By the time I completed the 1.4 mile loop, the cloud bank had reached Columbia, temporarily blocking out the bright October sunshine.  At least for now, autumn has displaced our long, hot, miserable summer.  

The Water Birds of Sandy Lake

Though I have been visiting Sandy Lake, in Portage County, Ohio, since 1975, I did not begin reporting for eBird from this location until 2017.  Reviewing my records since that year, I am somewhat surprised that I have only encountered 11 species of "water birds" feeding on or along the lake.

Some, such as Canada geese, mallards, ring-billed gulls and double-crested cormorants are seasonally abundant while others, such as pied-billed grebes have only been observed on occasion.  Ospreys are reliably seen here during the warmer months and great blue herons stalk the shorelines throughout the year.  Bald eagles, though observed during all seasons, are especially common during the winter. Rounding out the list are wood ducks, belted kingfishers and green herons.

Though I'm almost certain that I've seen common loons and great egrets at Sandy Lake in the past, they have escaped my eBird lists.  Of course, bird sightings rely a great deal on seasonal timing and records are only as reliable as the diligence of the recorder.  In that respect, my pre-2017 observations, however accurate, are questionable.  

From Lake Plain to Appalachia

After a night in Napoleon, Ohio, we continued our drive to Sandy Lake, in Portage County.  The first half of the journey took us across the flat Lake Plain of northwestern Ohio, left behind by the periglacial lakes of Lake Maumee and Lake Warren; the latter was the larger predecessor of Lake Erie.

Most of this flat terrain is now covered by crop fields, laced by streams, marshes and their riparian woodlands.  About halfway across the State, we encountered the foothills of the Appalachian Plateau, where the Ohio Turnpike is bordered primarily by forest.  Just east of Interstate 71, the highway makes its climb onto the Glaciated Appalachian Plateau of northeastern Ohio, the realm of our final destination.

Sandy Lake, southwest of Ravenna, is a kettle lake, since modified by distribution canals that connect it with other regional lakes and waterways.  Our cottage is on its north shore and a fine trail leads around its perimeter.  Reports from this pleasant retreat will follow in the coming days. 

Back to Phillips Lake

After a prolonged absence, my wife and I returned to Perry Phillips Lake early this morning.  While "development" continues along the Park's rim, it was a pleasant visit, having completed our loop walk before heat became a factor.

Annual cicadas provided a background chorus while pockets of ironweed, trumpet vine and bright red wild plums added color to the verdant landscape.  Following recent heavy rains, the lake was full for the first time this year though swallows and a lone great blue heron were the only birds to take advantage of its bounty.  Birdlife was otherwise limited to common summer and permanent residents and, as is usually the case there, northern mockingbirds were most conspicuous.

While I have previously decried the development along the edge of the Park, this former farm lake and its adjacent woodlands, fields and wetlands continue to attract an interesting mix of wildlife.  We'll keep visiting whenever we're in Columbia.

Wind, Raptors & Drought

Meeting a friend at South Platte Park this morning, we were greeted by a strong and desiccating southwest wind.  As expected, this kept the songbirds huddled in the shrubs and thickets but it certainly appealed to the raptors.

During our visit, we encountered an osprey, two bald eagles (an adult and an immature), two turkey vultures and an American kestrel.  While the others were cavorting in the wind, the kestrel was having breakfast atop a bluebird box, much to the chagrin of tree swallows that were nesting there.  Double-crested cormorants and great blue herons seemed to enjoy the wind as well, catching a ride as they traversed the refuge.

But the most noticeable feature of the Park was the ongoing drought, which has significantly lowered water levels in the South Platte River and its adjacent lakes.  Indeed, I do not recall levels this low over the past three decades.  Though rain is forecast to arrive this weekend, it will take an early and long-lasting monsoon to produce a significant recovery along the Front Range. 

Ruddys at Phillips Lake

Desperate for signs that the autumn waterfowl migration is finally underway, I was pleased to encounter a flock of nine ruddy ducks on Phillips Lake this morning.  Long one of my favorite duck species, these small, attractive birds were diving for their breakfast in the center of the lake, oblivious of the chilly air and gusty, southwest winds.

I would be remiss not to mention the three gadwall and a lone pied-billed grebe that shared the choppy waters and, to be absolutely complete, the single Canada goose that flew overhead.  Of more interest were at least 200 robins, now gathering in their large winter flocks, that filled many of the trees that surround the lake.

But the ruddys were the highlight of my visit.  Hopefully, they represent the vanguard of a spectacular, though belated, waterfowl migration season.

October Chill at Phillips Lake

Arriving at Phillips Lake, in southeast Columbia, this morning, I was greeted by a low, gray overcast, chilly air and a steady east breeze.  Nevertheless, I enjoyed an invigorating walk and encountered a pleasing mix of birds.

Adding to the seasonal milieu, multiple flocks of Canada geese passed overhead, honking as they moved on to their favored feeding grounds.  Other highlights included an osprey, a red-shouldered hawk, an American kestrel, a pair of great blue herons, four northern mockingbirds and the first flock of white-crowned sparrows that I have observed this season.

The long, hot summer has finally drifted to the south and our current autumn chill is more than welcome.  I look forward to the arrival of more winter visitors and residents over the coming weeks. 

Beautiful Morning, Few Birds

As experienced birders know, "birding success" often has no relationship to the weather; exceptions include heavy rain or strong winds which tend to keep the birds in sheltered areas.  My visit to Phillips Lake on this beautiful morning offered an excellent example of that point. 

Despite the sunny, pleasantly warm, windless conditions, the birds were few and far between; indeed, on my 1.4 mile circuit of the lake, I encountered only 11 species and most of those were represented by 1-3 individuals.  The highlight of my visit proved to be a blue grosbeak, singing from the top of a small tree.

Of course, one's enthusiasm for birding (and for the exploration of nature in general) stems from the fact that we cannot predict what we might encounter; numbers, in the end, matter only to competitive-minded individuals.  A glorious morning in the great outdoors is enough.

Indigo Delight

On this cool, cloudy morning at Phillips Lake Park, a trio of indigo buntings brightened the landscape.  Having just returned from Central America or the Caribbean, they were moving about a lakeside meadow and will remain here in Missouri through September.

Other summer residents included a green heron, barn and cliff swallows, three spotted sandpipers, a noisy chat and a lone yellow warbler.  Yet to head north were a large number of white-crowned sparrows, foraging in thickets that line the shore.  An unexpected migrant (though not rare) was an American pipit, wagging its tail as it scoured the edge of a grassy pool.

But the indigo buntings were a special delight.  Though they will be numerous on regional grasslands throughout the summer, this species has always brought back a nostalgic event from my childhood, long before I owned a pair of binoculars or had any concept of birding.

Shift Change at Phillips Lake

Here in Missouri, April is a month of avian transition.  By the middle of the month, the last of the winter residents are departing while, throughout the month, summer residents are filtering in.  Evidence of that shift change was evident at Phillips Lake this morning.

Out on the lake were flocks of northern shovelers and ruddy ducks, soon to depart for breeding grounds to our north.  A handful of yellow-rumped warblers (our winter warbler) were feeding in the trees and shrubs that line the shore, fueling up for their journey to Canada.  Meanwhile, tree and northern rough-winged swallows, back from a winter in the south, were strafing the surface of the water and a lone green heron, my first of the season, hunted along the shoreline.  By the end of April, many more summer species will grace the park.

Of course, permanent residents such as cardinals, robins, blue jays and others, tend to dominate the bird population in most Midwestern ecosystems.  One wonders if they take notice of the migrants and seasonal residents that join them in the course of a year; unfortunately, too few humans do. 

Seasonal Opening in Denver

An extended period of mild weather along the Front Range has finally taken a toll on the ice-covered lakes and open water is attracting waterfowl from the South Platte River where they have spent the winter.  This local shift will soon be followed by an influx of migrants from the south.

Throughout this month, wintering ducks will be joined by horned and pied-billed grebes, common loons and the first wave of double-crested cormorants; American white pelicans, western grebes and summer ducks (such as cinnamon and blue-winged teal) usually arrive by April.  Canada geese, abundant here in winter, decrease throughout March as many return to breeding grounds on the Northern Plains.

Periods of snow and chilly weather will persist through April (and possibly into May) but the parade of seasonal travelers will continue.  Winter ducks and spring migrants often linger into April but, by the end of that month, permanent and summer residents will dominate the scene. 

A Lone Scaup

During this season of discontent for waterfowl watchers in central Missouri, I decided to visit Perry Phillips Lake in southeast Columbia.  There my effort was rewarded by the presence of a single male lesser scaup.

A common migrant through our region, this diving duck is generally found in small groups or sizable flocks during the autumn migration; a fair number may winter in mid-Missouri if open water is found.  Lesser scaup feed on both aquatic invertebrates and submerged plants.

Though I was, once again, disappointed by my waterfowl observations, I did see a large number of white-crowned sparrows and a limited mix of other winter songbirds.  I would be remiss not to express my appreciation to the lone scaup; somehow, one duck is far better than none, especially this year.

The Short Life of Lake Powell

Named for John Wesley Powell, a geologist who explored the Green and Colorado Rivers for the U.S. in 1869, Lake Powell filled Glen Canyon after construction of the Glen Canyon Dam in the early 1960s.  Opposed by environmentalists, including Edward Abbey, the Dam was built for water storage, hydroelectric power and recreation.

After reaching a maximum volume in 1983, the reservoir began to shrink in the late 1990s as climate change reduced mountain snowpack and increased evaporation.  In concert, sedimentation from the Colorado and San Juan Rivers was filling its basin from below.  As the lake level continues to fall and the upper feeder streams resurface, energy production will cease and Lake Powell will reach the "dead pool" state. Unfortunately, since adequate deep release tunnels were not included in the dam's design, flow through the Grand Canyon (just downstream) will be greatly diminished.  A current proposal, not yet fully endorsed, is to create new channels through the adjacent bedrock before sediment fills Glen Canyon and its riverine ecosystem is forever degraded.

For a concise and readable history of this saga, I strongly recommend Life after Dead Pool, by Zak Podmore (the source for this post).  He deftly weaves the political, industrial, hydrologic, cultural, geological and ecological elements of the Lake Powell debacle.  My thanks to a good friend for introducing me to this fascinating book.  

Waxwing Spectacle

Cedar waxwings, among my favorite songbirds, often gather in large flocks during the fall and winter months, a behavior that facilitates their discovery of food sources.  However, early September is generally a bit too soon to observe such congregations.

Nevertheless, I encountered at least 120 of these attractive wanderers yesterday morning, at Phillips Lake in southeast Columbia.  Despite the steady encroachment of residential and retail development, the waxwings must have found something of interest in the trees along the lakeshore.  As my wife and I hiked along the graveled loop trail, they were observed in every lakeside grove; unlike noisy flocks of robins or blackbirds, the waxwings were politely quiet, save for an occasional soft whistle.

While we were fortunate to observe this waxwing spectacle, the eBird computers questioned my report (not an unusual occurrence).  Rather than argue the point, I'll take the waxwing approach: calm cooperation. 

Back with the Martins

We have returned to my wife's family cottage on Sandy Lake, a small kettle lake on the Glaciated Plateau of Northeast Ohio.  During the summer months, this peaceful location is dominated by a large flock of purple martins that occupy a collection of apartments near the shore.

Noisy and active, the martins spend most of their day strafing the lake's surface for insects.  There they are often joined by a handful of cormorants, cruising about the calm waters or diving for fish, and by a pair of osprey that soar overhead before plunging into the lake to snare their prey.  Flocks of Canada geese and mallards forage along the marshy shoreline while a belted kingfisher moves among the docks, searching for schools of fingerlings.

This lakeside retreat is a pleasant escape from the summer heat that ravages most of the country.  Indeed, many climatologists believe that the Great Lakes region will be least affected by our warming climate (with the probable exception of heavy, lake-effect snowstorms).  Time will tell but, for now, we'll visit when we can.

Birding in Place

During periods of hot summer weather, I recommend birding in the early morning or evening hours since bird activity tends to be suppressed by the heat (and because birding in the hot sun is not a healthy choice for humans).  This afternoon, however, I found myself in the vicinity of Perry Phillips Lake and decided to stop for a brief bird count from the shade of a large tree.

As it turns out, I ended up seeing 16 species within my half-hour, stationary visit.  Highlights included a green heron, a Mississippi kite and a large flock of cliff swallows (attending to their nestlings and clearly unfazed by the stifling heat).

Veteran birders know that stationary birding can be quite productive, especially in areas of mixed habitat.  Rather than driving through a refuge or negotiating a trail, one allows birds to come to their location.  Indeed, this passive approach often leads to closer views of avian residents and visitors since they are not spooked by our activity or our vehicle.  Today's "adventure," prompted by limited time and the oppressive weather, reminded me of that fact. 

Heron under Attack

This morning, at Phillips Lake, my wife and I encountered a flock of red-winged blackbirds, dive bombing a small tree along the marsh-lined inlet.  Upon closer examination, we found a green heron, huddled on one of the branches.

Common across the central and eastern U.S. during the warmer months, this small heron prefers to hunt along secluded lakeshores, in the dense vegetation of swamps or along the shaded banks of streams.  Since they feed primarily on small fish, aquatic invertebrates, large insects and amphibians, I doubt the blackbirds had much to worry about.  Then again, red-wings are aggressive and gregarious birds and are quick to attack any perceived enemy.

After enduring the onslaught for several minutes, the heron squawked and took off over the lake, escorted and harassed by several of the blackbirds.  Perhaps it had been too close to their nests; whatever the reason for their attack, I doubt the heron will be returning to that feeding site anytime soon. 

Summer Guests at Phillips Lake

Despite the continued encroachment of commercial and residential development, the woodlands and fields around Phillips Lake (southeast of Columbia) attract an excellent variety of songbirds.  While most are permanent residents, seasonal residents and visitors are also found at the shrinking refuge.

On this cloudy, mild morning, I encountered some of my first summer residents of the year.  These included a great crested flycatcher, indigo buntings and several blue grosbeaks.  Of most interest was a Mississippi kite, soaring above the lake, perhaps the first I have ever observed at the Park.

One of the more rewarding aspects of birding is that your quarry changes throughout the year.  Of course, the avian diversity is especially large during the spring and fall migrations and the former has not yet ended. 

Winter at the Lake

Taking advantage of a hiatus between snowstorms, I visited Perry Phillips Lake this morning.  Since the snowy landscape discouraged visitors and shut down construction activity that borders the Park, it was a pleasant and mostly quiet experience.

Noisy flocks of Canada geese and the raucous calls of blue jays and crows disturbed the silence at times but a seasonal calm had settled over the refuge.  A bald eagle, a red-shouldered hawk and an American kestrel respected the tranquility, patiently observing the scene from nearby trees.  The lake itself was mostly frozen and only a handful of songbirds rummaged in the thickets that line its shore.

Bundled as I was, it was an enjoyable walk on the snow-covered loop trail.  By tomorrow, a fresh coat of snow will adorn the Park, to be followed by the first Arctic blast of the season. 

Landlocked Salmon

On our recent roadtrip to New England and Nova Scotia, we crossed the Salmon River in New York that was clearly flowing into Lake Ontario; the river rises on the Tug Hill Plateau east of the Lake.  Having always associated salmon with marine environments, I was intrigued and did some research.

In the Northeast U.S. and Eastern Canada, landlocked salmon are a subspecies of the Atlantic Salmon, having become trapped in freshwater lakes during the Pleistocene, when glaciers altered the regional hydrology.  Landlocked Atlantic Salmon were first discovered in Maine but native populations were later found in Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain as well.  Unlike marine salmon species, these salmon spend most of their lives in freshwater lakes, ascending feeder streams to spawn.  The native populations dwindled over time (due to pollution, dams, overfishing and other human influences) but have been sustained through stocking programs.

Landlocked salmon are also found in the Pacific Northwest, where similar geologic events likely played a role in their evolution and where fisheries now introduce them into freshwater ecosystems.