ABA Warning: This post Rated PG-13 for fish gore, bird-on-fish violence, and smoking. Viewer discretion is advised.
Dateline: 3 September 2023
A special report from BirdingPI.com’s occasional adjunct team in NE Ohio with a trip last Sunday to remarkable Lake Co, Ohio. Specifically, a great visit to Headlands Beach State Park and adjacent Mentor Marsh, Mentor, OH.
North end of Mentor Marsh (closest to Lake Erie) is Shipman Pond – great for Egrets, etc. (Tip: for easy access to Shipman Pond and SW end of Headlands Beach Park, park at the Zimmerman Trail lot off Headlands Rd and follow the blue-blazed trail across the road and through the park maintenance yard.)
Main beach at Headlands Beach is unremarkable (wide open and flat), but worth it for adjacent Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve = great mix of beach, grassy dunes, & woodland border.
Couple nice shots of Cape May Warbler, showing a bit more typical colour:
Other than gulls, etc., no shorebird activity. But lots of Osprey, including this beautiful bird and its fish lunch:
Coming up soon, more Osprey x fish plus a BirdingPI.com “first sighting ever!” Wow.