I convinced our visiting sister-in-law that a trip out to the nearby MetroPark would be a good occasion to sharpen her birding skills on some migrants. We've got her interested in birding, and figured Blendon would be a great hike even if the birds were slow. We hiked the forest loop (Overlook Trail & Streamside Trail) and migrants were not very conspicuous, until we reached the lower portion of the Streamside trail. There we ran into a number of birds singing, including one of the few WORM-EATING WARBLERS that I've ever seen in Columbus. We also had 3 singing Hooded Warblers, most of which are likely residents at Blendon, and a singing Veery, which is also a potential pioneer here. 3-4 singing Redstarts, plus single Bay-breasted, Black-thr.Blue, Magnolia, and Chesnut-sided helped keep things lively, as did singing Scarlet & Summer tanagers and calling Pileated Woodpeckers. Toss in some Swainsons Thrushes, singing Red-eyed Vireos, calling Wood Pewees and Acadian flycatc
hers, and mix liberally for the complete effect. All this was along about 100 m of trail. Sometimes you don't need the entire trip to be good, just a small part of it to be great. We talked about this golden stretch all the way back to the car, and I noted that she was writing in her field guide on the drive home.
I think our sister-in-law might be hooked.
Rob Thorn
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