Lawrence Woods, Hardin County

    Friday (Jan 29) found me with a very rare day off, so I went down to Lawrence Woods Nature Preserve in southern Hardin County.
    While it was slightly chilly, the themometer I brought along read -2F at 9 AM, it was still a worthwhile day.
    Woodpeckers were out in force; I saw 5 of our 6 woodpecker species.  Downies, Hairy, sever Flickers, many Red-bellieds, two Pileateds, and one Sapsucker near the bird blind.
    A Barred Owl was also flushed out by several aggitated Blue Jays.
    The highlight was easily a Northern Shrike, that I saw in a tree line on the south border of the preserve (CH200).  The tree line was perhaps 1/4m east of an old barn found on the preserve property.
    If you have never been, I'd recommend paying a visit to Lawrence Woods.  It's roughly 4 miles south of Kenton.  Take 292 south for Kenton and then take a right on CH190 (there's a sign), the entrance is a little over a mile down the road on the left.  Watch out for horse-and-buggie teams.
    On the way back to Findlay, I took a detour to see what was flying around the Wetlands south of Forest, Ohio.  4 Harriers were seen (1adult male, 2 immatures, and 1 I didn't get a great look at).  Also present were a Kestrel and a Red-tail that was being harrased by the adult male Harrier.

Chukar

I spotted a pair of Chukars today (Jan 16) in northern Cass Township, in extreme north-central Hancock County, barely a mile south of Belleville.

Obviously birds released for hunting purposes, apparently at least two survived the hunt.

They were on TR 114, 1/4 mile west of TR 232.

TR114 is a pretty isolated county road with a nice-looking Wildlife Production Area found at the corner of 114 and 232. This location could be good for ticks, chats in summer, ticks, and perhaps a few migrants in spring, as well as ticks.

Note: The picture is a bit blurry because I had it set to manual focus and completely forgot to focus the thing. Ah well, live and learn.

Directions (from Van Buren OH):

Head east on US 613.

About 1 to 1.5 miles past the Allen Twp Sports Complex, there'll be a sea-green house on the left.

Take a left on the county road immediately past this house (this is TR232).

Take the next left (> 0.5miles down) (TR114)

The birds were 0.25 miles down the road on the left side, just past the first woodlot.