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Field Trip Report 

 
Event: ​Field Trip to Howard Marsh Metropark 
Date and Time: ​Sunday, August 4, 2019 at 8:00 a.m.  
Location:​ Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice, OH 43412 
Map 
Leader:​ Timothy Colborn 
Target species:​ Migrating Shorebirds 
Results:​ 11 Birders and 42 Species 

Description:​ Leader Tim Colborn was joined by eleven birders at Howard Marsh, a Toledo area
Metropark, in search of shorebirds on a field trip with the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society
on Sunday, August 4, 2019. The weather was sunny with warm temperatures in the mid to
upper 70’s and light winds that helped with our comfort throughout the morning. We met at
the Marsh at 8:00am.

Our plan was to first walk the roads within several hundred yards of the parking area, looking
into the marshes for wading birds and waterfowl. Within the first few minutes, we were
observing dozens of swallows around and landing on structures. Mostly Barn Swallows, they
were joined by a handful of Tree Swallows and one or two Bank Swallows allowing comparisons
of plumage and size.

A further section was busy with mature and juvenal American Coots. The heavy rains and
flooding from spring led to many waterbird species delaying their nesting. This resulted in
several species hatching their young much later in the summer than we might normally find.
We observed several other families throughout the morning including many Pied-billed Grebes
(with their cute stripe-headed young) and a group of Common Gallinules (two adults tending
three nearly full grown “chicks”).

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While observing the Coots, we saw a small warm brown colored wading bird moving along the
outer edge of the cattails and reeds. The diminutive size and habit of perching with its feet
clutching two separate reeds suggested correctly that we were watching a Least Bittern. These
oft secretive waders had been seen regularly in the Marsh over the past week or more. We
discussed the possibility that these birds were being more conspicuous as they were anxious to
feed in anticipation of their fall journey south. After a few minutes of following the bird in and
out of the edge, another of our group had located a different bird just up ahead. When we
arrived, we found a third bird and, to our delight, it alighted and flew in front of us allowing for
terrific views of its beautiful plumage. As it turned out, this was just the beginning of our Least
Bittern experience.

As we moved west across the road, we noted about 25 Caspian Terns resting in the marsh. This
has become a reliable place to find groups of these large gull relatives, their gray and white
bodies offset by a black cap and bright red-orange bill. While viewing the Terns, four
Black-necked Stilts flew into our view and landed in front of us. Adjusting our scopes, we
realized that three of the birds had a distinctly brownish hue to their black backs and wings,
denoting that these were also juvenals. Two pairs of Stilts nested here this spring further
supporting the reputation of Howard Marsh as a true haven for water birds. They fed briefly
and then alighted, flying off to another area beyond our view. The other bird of note here was a
Greater Yellowlegs that initially provided an ID challenge.

We then headed back in the direction of the parking lot, toward the northeast corner of the
marsh. Again, we needed only to move within a couple hundred yards of the parking lot to have
wonderful birding. A small mudflat had formed directly north of the eastern most section of the
lot and we added a couple shorebirds here including Semipalmated Plover and Least Sandpiper,
showing off its diagnostic yellow legs. A discussion ensued between several of us regarding the
meaning of the word “semipalmated.” The word means toes that are partially webbed – not an
easy field mark to see on shorebirds!

As we worked our way east along the main path, we added a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers
with their strongly patterned “bibs” as well as another Semipalmated Plover and a Lesser
Yellowlegs. Behind us, the marsh held reed beds that drew our attention and, sure enough, we
found several more Least Bitterns. They were active here as well and we observed at least two
more birds taking flight across the marsh. While one or two of our group indicated they believe
they had seen more, I felt confident we had seen a total of at least seven separate birds.

Our last target for the day was King Rail, another successful nester this year at Howard. We
spent plenty of time looking for them but only one of our group, who had smartly moved ahead
of us earlier, was able to see them. She briefly observed three of the young moving stealthily
through the tall grasses and reeds. Most of the rest of us had to be content with a quick but
nice look at a Sora as our consolation prize.

More than three hours into our walk, the heat had risen and several of the group began to
depart. While a few of us stood vigil over the Rail area, a pair of birders walking by mentioned

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 3

that they had just seen two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks around the corner from where we
were. They provided a description of the site and we proceeded post-haste to the spot. And
there they were, resting in the marsh! These ducks of the southern Atlantic coast and Texas
have surprisingly been seen in many northern Midwest and Northeast states this year, allowing
many to add them to their life and/or state lists. Four of our group made the trek and were able
to see these chestnut, black and white bird with their brightly colored legs and bills.

On exiting the property, I encountered a young Cooper’s hawk lazily circling and being harassed
by one or two swallows. I regretted that the group was not there to share the sighting. The
total for the morning, including the Whistling Ducks and the Cooper’s Hawk, was 42 species
including 7 shorebirds. ​- Tim Colborn, Field Trip Leader.
 
Bird List - Howard Marsh Metropark 

# Species Count

1. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ​(Dendrocygna autumnalis) 2

2. Canada Goose​ (Branta canadensis) 50

3. Blue-winged Teal ​(Anas discors) 3

4. Mallard​ (Anas platyrhynchos) 8

5. Ruddy Duck​ (Oxyura jamaicensis) 12

6. Pied-billed Grebe ​(Podilymbus podiceps) 16

7. Mourning Dove ​(Zenaida macroura) 1

8. King Rail​ (Rallus elegans) 3

8. Sora​ (Porzana carolina) 1

9. Common Gallinule ​(Gallinula galeata) 5

10. American Coot​ (Fulica americana) 40

11. Black-necked Stilt​ (Himantopus mexicanus) 4

12. Semipalmated Plover​ (Charadrius semipalmatus) 3

13. Killdeer​ (Charadrius vociferus) 8

14. Least Sandpiper​ (Calidris minutilla) 1

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 4

15. Pectoral Sandpiper ​(Calidris melanotos) 2

16. Greater Yellowlegs ​(Tringa melanoleuca) 1

17. Lesser Yellowlegs​ (Tringa flavipes) 2

18. Ring-billed Gull​ (Larus delawarensis) 10

19. Herring Gull​ (Larus argentatus) 2

20. Caspian Tern​ (Hydroprogne caspia) 25

21. Forster's Tern​ (Sterna forsteri) 1

22. Double-crested Cormorant ​(Phalacrocorax auritus) 6

23. Least Bittern ​(Ixobrychus exilis) 7

24. Great Blue Heron​ (Ardea herodias) 5

25. Great Egret ​(Ardea alba) 9

26. Snowy Egret ​(Egretta thula) 1

26. Green Heron​ (Butorides virescens) 2

27. Black-crowned Night-Heron ​(Nycticorax nycticorax) 1

28. Turkey Vulture ​(Cathartes aura) 1

29. Cooper's Hawk​ (Accipiter cooperii) 1

30. Purple Martin​ (Progne subis) 2

31. Tree Swallow ​(Tachycineta bicolor) 6

32. Bank Swallow​ (Riparia riparia) 1

33. Barn Swallow​ (Hirundo rustica) 50

34. Marsh Wren ​(Cistothorus palustris) 1

35. Gray Catbird​ (Dumetella carolinensis) 1

36. European Starling​ (Sturnus vulgaris) 60

37. American Goldfinch​ (​Spinus tristis) 3

38. Song Sparrow​ (Melospiza melodia) 2

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

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Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 5

39. Red-winged Blackbird ​(Agelaius phoeniceus) 50

​ uiscalus quiscula)
40. Common Grackle​ (Q 5
 
Photos 

 
Photo: Howard Marsh Field Trip ​Birders by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd.
Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Photo: ​Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ​(Dendrocygna autumnalis)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh

Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 6

 
Photo: ​Black-necked Stilt​ (Himantopus mexicanus)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S.
Howard Rd. Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Photo: ​King Rail​ (Rallus elegans)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice,
OH 43412 USA​​.

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 7

Photo: ​Least Bittern ​(Ixobrychus exilis)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd.
Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Photo: ​Lesser Yellowlegs​ (Tringa flavipes)​ and Pectoral Sandpiper ​(Calidris melanotos)​ by Debra Sweeney,
Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 8

Photo: ​Pectoral Sandpiper ​(Calidris melanotos)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S.
Howard Rd. Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Photo: ​Semipalmated Plover​ (Charadrius semipalmatus)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611
S. Howard Rd. Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 9

Photo: ​Great Egret ​(Ardea alba)​ by Debra Sweeney, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice,
OH 43412 USA​​.

Photo: ​Harward Marsh Birders by Michelle Brosius, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice,
OH 43412 USA​​.

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 10

Photo: ​Harward Marsh Birders by Michelle Brosius, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice,
OH 43412 USA​​.

Photo: ​Bird Walk Leader Tim Colborn by Michelle Brosius, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd.
Curtice, OH 43412 USA​​.

Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org
 11

Photo: ​Harward Marsh Birders by Michelle Brosius, Howard Marsh Metropark, 611 S. Howard Rd. Curtice,
OH 43412 USA​​.

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Copyright 2019 Western Cuyahoga Audubon.

Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society, 4310 Bush Ave., Cleveland, OH 44109
Email: ​info@wcaudubon.org​ Web: ​www.wcaudubon.org