The Ohio Bird Records Committee has resolved 48 records since the last report. Of these, 39 records of 27 species were accepted, while nine additional records were not accepted. A summary of those records is reported below.

As this is my first report as Secretary of OBRC, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank my predecessor, Tom Kemp, for his years of service to the Committee and to the Ohio ornithological community. I would also like to thank departing Committee member Dwight Chasar for his years of service, and to welcome our newest member, Jennifer Brumfield.

Records accepted:

Ross’s Goose, Chen rossii: 1 individual, Auglaize County; 18 November 2007, documentation by Andy Sewell; vote 6-1.

Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga: 1 individual, Hocking County; 16 September 2008, documentation by Jim Fry, Stephen J. Williams; vote 7-0.

Frigatebird species, Fregata sp.: 1 individual, Stark County; 16 September 2008, documentation by Gabe Hostetler; vote 6-1. The details of this record of an immature bird were not sufficient to conclusively establish the bird as a Magnificent Frigatebird.

Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolor: 1 individual, Erie County; 25 August 2008, documentation by Craig Caldwell; vote 7-0.

Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens: 1 individual, Ashtabula County; 5 June 2008, documentation by Craig Holt; vote 6-1. First Ohio Record. Another documentation from 14 June was not sufficient to be accepted on its own, but suggests that this bird may have remained in the area.

White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi: 1 individual, Ottawa County; 10 May 2008, documentation by Laura Keene; vote 7-0.

Plegadis ibis, Plegadis sp. : 1 individual, Ottawa County; 10 May 2008, documentation by Craig Caldwell; vote 7-0. (note: Although seen the same day as the previous record, it was sufficiently far away that this may well have been a different bird.)

Wood Stork, Mycteria americana: 3 individuals, Coshocton County; 30 August 2008, documentation by Craig Caldwell; vote 7-0.

Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis: two records accepted:

a) 1 individual, Hocking County; 24 June 2008, documentation by Heather Nagy; vote 7-0.

b) 1 individual, Geauga Count; 7 June 2008, documentation by Ethan Kistler; vote 7-0.

Yellow Rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis: two records accepted:

a) 1 individual, Holmes County; 24 September 2006, documented by James E. Yoder; vote 7-0.

b) 1 individual, Wayne County; 11 October 2008, documented by James E. Yoder; vote 7-0.

Black Rail, Laterallus jamaicensis: 1- 2 individuals, Pickaway County; 1 June 2008, documentation by Bill Whan; 2 June 2008, documentation by Craig H. Caldwell, Rob Lowry, Bill Heck; 4 June 2008, documentation by Mike Yough; vote 7-0.

Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus: four records accepted:

a) 1 individual, Lorain County; 13 May 2008, documentation by Jim McCarty, Bret McCarty; vote 7-0.

b) 2 individuals, Sandusky County; 22 June 2008, documentation by Robert N. Harlan, Sandra J. Harlan; vote 7-0.

c) 4 individuals, Seneca County; 30 June 2008, documentation by Jay Lehman; 8 July 2008, documentation by Aaron Boone; vote 6-1. While the documentation did not conclusively establish breeding, it was suggestive of a breeding attempt.

d) 4 individuals, Ottawa County; 12 August 2008, documentation by Michael R. Bolton; vote 7-0.

Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus: 1 individual, Cuyahoga County; 20 December 2008, documentation by Rob Lowry; 9 January 2009, documentation by Craig Caldwell; vote 7-0.

Least Tern, Sternula antillarum: two records accepted:

a) 1 individual, Hamilton County; 19 August 2007; documentation by Jay Stenger; vote 7-0.

b) 1 individual, Wayne County; 4 July 2008; documentation by Kevin Kline; vote 7-0.

Eurasian Collared-Dove, Streptopelia decaocto: two records accepted:

a) 1 individual, Tuscarawas and Coshocton Counties; 21 April – 28 June 2008, documentation by Adam H. Yoder, James E. Yoder; vote 6-1.

b) 2 individuals, Seneca County; 1 June 2008, documentation by Bill Whan; vote 6-1.

White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica: 1 individual, Holmes County; 14 December 2007, documentation by Jolan Miller; vote 6-1.

Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia: 1 individual, Darke County; 24 June 2008, documentation by Robb Clifford; vote 7-0.

Dusky Flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri: 1 individual, Ottawa County; 3 June 2005, documentation by Mark Shieldcastle and Luke DeGroote; vote 7-0. First Ohio Record. This bird was banded, and was measured and photographed in the hand.

Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya: 1 individual, Holmes County; 24 December 2008, documentation by Johnny Miller; vote 7-0.

Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis: 1 individual, Hamilton County; 22 July 2008, documentation by Brian Wulker; vote 6-1.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus: 1 individual, Clark County; 11 May 2008, documentation by Brian Menkeer; vote 7-0.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus: 1 individual, Ashtabula County; 16 June 2008, documentation by Craig Holt; vote 6-1.

Common Raven, Corvus corax: four records accepted:

a) 1-2 adults at a nest which contained 5 nestlings, Jefferson County; 25 March 2008 – 30 April 2008; documentation by Aaron Boone, Ethan Kistler; vote 7-0. This is the first Ohio nesting record in well over a hundred years.

b) 1 individual, Jefferson County; 15 June 2008, documentation by Robert N. Harlan, Sandra J. Harlan; vote 6-1. (note: Although in the same county, the location was sufficiently different from the previous record that this may well have been a different bird.)

c) 1 individual, Monroe County; 11 July 2008, documentation by William L. Murphy, Martie Heins, Bob Heins, April Sterling; vote 7-0.

d) 5 individuals, Jefferson County; 12 July 2008, documentation by Andy Sewell, Bill Whan; vote 6-1. (note: This record was reviewed independently from the other Jefferson County birds; the committee made no attempt to guess whether these were the same birds.)

Cave Swallow, Petrochelidon fulva: two records accepted:

a) 7 individuals, Cuyahoga County; 9 November 2008, documentation by Larry D. Richardson; vote 7-0.

b) 4 individuals, Hocking County; 17 November 2008, documentation by John Habig, Rick Asamoto, Jay Lehman; vote 7-0.

Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana: 1 individual, Lorain County; 7 July – 11 July 2008, documentation by Melinda Burdette; vote 7-0.

Harris’s Sparrow, Zonotrichia querula: two records accepted:

a) 1 individual, Huron County; 18-19 May 2008, documentation by Dean Sheldon, Jr.; vote 7-0.

b) 1 individual, Coshocton County; 27 January 2008 – 30 April 2008, documentation by James E. Yoder, Willis Brubaker; vote 7-0.

White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys: 1 individual, Hamilton County; 1 August 2008, documentation by Mark Gilsdorf; vote 7-0. This bird was an adult. The documentation was not sufficient to accept a second bird, an immature, which would have been a truly exceptional date.

Records not accepted:

Ross’s Goose, Chen rossii: 1 individual, Cuyahoga County; 14 December 2007; vote 2-5. The committee could not rule out a hybrid with Snow Goose, C. caerulescens.

Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens: 1 individual, Ashtabula County; 14 June 2008; vote 3-4. See the notes under the accepted record, above.

Yellow Rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis: 1 individual, Wayne County; 14 October 2007; vote 5-2. Although a majority of the committee voted to accept this record, a vote of at least six to one is required. The primary issue with this record was the very brief view which the observer was able to obtain.

Wilson’s Plover, Charadrius wilsonia: 1 individual, Sececa County; 11 July 2008; vote 2-5. Although the written description suggested Wilson's Plover, the supplied photograph was more consistent with Killdeer.

Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus: 1 individual, Hardin County; 7 June 2008; vote 3-4. This bird was probably a Black-necked Stilt, but the documentation was too sparse to be conclusive.

California Gull, Larus californicus: 1 individual, Lucas County; 13 May 2008; vote 0-7. The documentation consisted of a single photograph of the head, which was not sufficient to rule out Ring-billed Gull.

Least Tern, Sternula antillarum: 15 individuals, Mahoning County; 4 May 2008; vote 1-6. The description lacked detail, especially for a record of such an extraordinary number.

Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia, 1 individual, Highland County; 6 November 2008; vote 0-7. The observer had only a brief look at this bird, from a moving vehicle.

Swainson’s Warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii: 1 individual, Columbiana County; 20 June 2008; vote 0-7. The documentation was not sufficient to rule out other species.

Respectfully submitted,
Edward O. Keller
Secretary, Ohio Bird Records Committee
8098 Turcotte Lane
North Bend, OH 45052
keller@one.net