White Hummingbird in Ohio

     A quick check of the ABA Ohio Birding News  http://birding.aba.org/maillist/OH  the other day revealed a report of a leucistic Ruby-throated Hummingbird visiting the plants and feeder at Inniswood MetroGarden in Westerville, OH (near Columbus). Initially the species was thought to be a Rufous but photos sent to Allen Chartier by Jim McCormac allowed Allen to ID it as a Ruby-throated.  Here is a link to Jim's blog the gives the details ID determination.  http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2013/10/white-hummingbird-at-inniswood-gardens_23.html


   With the park being 3 hrs from my house, I figured I could shave 45 minutes off the trip if I went after work which is just north of the Michigan-Ohio border.  This morning after an 8 hour shift,  I talked myself (literally as I was walking to my car) into making an attempt to photograph the white hummingbird. 
  The way a situation like this usually goes is that when I arrive the target bird has just left, I wait around for an hour, the bird doesn't show and when I get home I read that the bird reappeared about 10 minutes after I left and everyone is treated to spectacular views and photo-ops.   Not this time.  The bird was very cooperative when it wasn't visiting the feeder it spent considerable time perched in the nearby trees.

October Migration



  October migration is in full swing, had a Carolina Wren visit the yard for the first time in three years.



  My yard has hosted a Ruby-Crowned Kinglet on 7 days so far this month, I only had 8 visits in the past five years.  The funny thing is that this Kinglet has shown up on every odd numbered day except the 7th and has yet to appear on an even numbered day.  Maybe tomorrow.

  Then the sparrows arrived.

White-throated Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Late Monarch

  Here are some warblers that I saw after work on Wednesday last week.

Common Yellowthroat

Yellow-rumped

Palm

 Last Friday I stopped by the Lake Erie Metropark Hawk Count.  The highlight for me was this male Northern Harrier.

  There were still a few monarchs passing through.

Flight shot composite



Yard Merlin 10/3/2013

    This Merlin stopped by my yard for a visit this afternoon. It spent a few minutes preening, looked for a easy meal, then moved on.