Julie and I looked around Buck Creek State Park this morning. We found the
Red-necked Grebe that was reported a couple days ago. It was out from the
beach with six Ruddy Ducks. At first it had its head tucked in and all we
could see was that it was a little larger than the Ruddy Ducks. Then it
raised its head and it was obvious what it was. After a minute or two it
dove and we could never find it again. Considering how big the lake is, it
could be very hard to find this grebe. We also saw a large flock of
Double-crested Cormorants very closely packed together on the lake.

We took a walk along the Coyote Run Trail and found several birds including
at least four Purple Finches, a Gray Catbird, and lots of White-throated
Sparrows plus other common birds. If you walk along the trail to the power
lines and turn north, there are usually lots of birds in the fall.

The lake level is low and there are extensive mudflats at the north end of
the lake. This area can accessed from Grant Road. Walk straight to the lake
and you can see some of the mudflats. If you walk north under the power
lines, there is a little path leading to the lake near the Osprey pole where
you can see much of the mudflats. We didn't have any uncommon birds but we
saw lots of Killdeer and Dunlins with six Pectoral Sandpipers and two
Greater Yellowlegs. We also got great looks at some Rusty Blackbirds feeding
on the mudflats.

Doug Overacker
Julie Karlson
Springfield, Ohio

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