That's an excellent find! In The Birds of Ohio, Bruce Peterjohn writes that
"spring migrant [stilt sandpipers] are casually encountered along Lake Erie,
mostly within Ottawa and Lucas Counties. They are also casual spring
migrants in central Ohio near Columbus. Spring Stilts are generally
accidental elsewhere." Peterjohn also notes that most spring stilts are seen
in the first three weeks of May (Bruce G. Peterjohn, The Birds of Ohio,
2001, published by The Wooster Book Company). So the Acton Lake stilt Dave
photographed today is pretty rare *and* about a week or so early, according
to the literature.

Take care,
---Mike Busam
West Chester, OH

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Russell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 4:17 PM
Subject: stilt sandpiper


A Stilt Sandpiper was at the north end of Acton Lake this morning--I have
never seen a Stilt Sandpiper around here this time of year (we usually get
them in fall). Pretty neat!
Dave


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