Bird Watching in June

June–Along Lake Erie, migration continues well into the first week of June. Late arriving shorebirds to be looked for in- clude gaudy Ruddy Turnstones and sleek White-rumped Sandpipers. Many late warblers are still to be found. While fairly rare by this time, a few Tennessee, Magnolia, Black- poll, Mourning, Connecticut and Wilson’s Warblers can still to be expected along the lakefront haunts through the first few days of June. The nesting season will be in full progress and, given 150 species or more nesting in the region, many ob- servers consider this the best time of year.

Hikes in any of the outstanding county parks near the Black, Chagrin, Cuyahoga, Grand, Rocky and Vermilion Rivers can provide excel- lent viewing of breeding Neotropical flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and warblers. Among the warblers to be looked for in riparian corridors are the highly-prized Yellow-throated, Cerulean and Black-and-white Warblers. Cool hemlock ravines harbor small numbers of Magnolia, Blackburnian and Canada Warblers. Chestnut-sided Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chats are to be looked for in the abundant successional habitats available. These same areas often harbor numerous Blue-winged and Yellow Warblers. The beleaguered Golden-winged Warbler is also an outside possibility in these areas.

The annual Summit County Summer Bird Count is run during the second week of June. This survey has provided a wealth of information on the nesting status of many Neotropical mi- grant species over the past three decades. All readers are encouraged to help with this ongoing project.

Please join us for our June monthly meeting or field trips.  All are welcome. Click Here for meeting and trip times and locations.