A photographer friend asked me to join him for some Christmas Day birding, and we ended the early afternoon in the Croton egg farms area, including Clover Valley Road, Tagg Road, Downing Road, Roberts Road and Benner Road.  Most of this area is between Johnstown and Croton in Licking County, north and south of Croton Road.  Hopefully some of his photos will turn out and either he or I will post them on Central Ohio Birding FB page.

We saw more Lapland Longspurs than I ever remember seeing anywhere in Ohio, and in one location we had 14 American Pipits.  There were several flocks of Horned Larks, with the largest estimated at at least 75 birds.  No Snow Buntings today.  Raptors were disappointing, with only Red-tailed Hawks positively identified, although there was an interesting buteo that will have to remain IDK.  No harriers or Rough-leggeds, which are usually fairly common in that area.  Too windy?

And, we kept our eyes out for Snowy Owls, but didn’t see any.  Some day .....

Margaret Bowman
Licking Co., OH

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