Bird Watching in August

Purple Martins and swallows gather in the beginning of the month. Southbound vireos and warblers begin to make their presence known by mid-month. Common Nighthawks historically have staged impressively at the end of the month. As in July, if suitable habitat exists, shorebirds will be in good numbers and variety throughout the period.

Late August is an optimal time to look for specialties like Marbled and Hudsonian Godwits, Buff-breasted and Baird’s Sandpipers. Conneaut Estuary in the far northeast corner of Ashtabula County offers the closest thing to good shore birding at the present time. Although, Sandy Ridge Reservation in Lorain County can provide observations of some of the more common southbound waders.

The first groups of southbound teal often gather at preferred locations along the major rivers and streams throughout the region by mid-month. Great Egrets often linger for days at a preferred site before heading on their journeys. Sandhill Cranes can often be seen with their chicks in the rural sectors of Geauga County southeast of Burton. Their chicks need quite a bit of tutelage to learn how to fend for themselves and birders are sometimes rewarded with close-up views of the parental process involved in raising a young crane.

The time to watch for stray hummingbirds from the Rockies begins as local hummers are busily stoking up for their long treks. A noticeable passage of Red-breasted Nuthatches at this time acts as a good indicator of future movements of winter finches. By the end of August there should be fair numbers of Neotropical migrants to sift through.

No meeting in August. Click Here for time and location of future meetings.

Photo by Larry Rosche