Bird Watching in October

This is certainly not the time to put the binoculars away and hope warm southern breezes of spring. Great numbers of
birds have been found locally in October and there are  considerable chances for finding a rarity. Prime wetland areas such as Sandy Ridge Reservation can host numerous puddle ducks at this time. On the larger inland lakes, Ring-necked and Ruddy Ducks gather. Shorebirds will remain in numbers--provided there is habitat-- and if someone is in the right spot at the right time they just might get a good look at a rare phalarope. Gulls start to arrive in impressive style with no expected gull any more stylish than the highly-sought Sabine’s. Hundreds if not thousands of Chimney Swifts and Tree Swallows hawk insects close the water’s surface at inland lakes on the first cool days of October.

The variety of thrushes continues at the beginning of the month, but by the end only the Hermit Thrush is expected. However, inspecting the green islands of Downtown Cleveland may produce an interesting array of thrushes well after their expected departure dates. Birders with the time should try Erie Street Cemetery or the plantings around the National City Bank Building just for fun.


Hummingbird watchers will be surprised to find an occasional dawdling Ruby-throated. However, this is a good time to look for a stray Rufous Hummingbird.

The southbound warbler movement continues into the first half of the month. These lingering warblers provide many exciting observations well into October. Orange-crowned and Cape May Warblers can be found at this time better than any other month. The real stars of the first half of the month are the sparrows. At this time, it is possible to tally as many as 11 species of sparrows in a single outing. Major flights of Chipping, Field, White-throated, White-crowned, Song and Swamp Sparrows can occur in early to mid-October along the south shore of Lake Erie. Towards the end of the month, ardent field observers who can tolerate being wallpapered by Spanish Needles, Stick Tights and various burs of the weedy fields along Lake Erie are often rewarded with glimpses of the rare Le Conte’s and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Fox Sparrows also add to the mix by mid-October. Pine Siskins will be widespread in an invasion year. The last half of the month often results in a lull that will only be awakened by the nasty northwest winds of November.

Be sure to check the Cleveland Rare Bird Alert for updates at 216 556-0700 or join us at the October meeting or on a October field trip. All are welcome. Click Here for meeting and trip times and locations.

Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, Dike 14, Larry Rosche
Sabine's Gull, Lorain, Larry Rosche
Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Kelleys Island, Pat Hayes
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Grafton, Cathy Priebe
Mourning Warbler, Cleveland Public Square, Scott Wright
LeConte's Sparrow, Dike 14, Larry Rosche