Birding Ohio's Shawnee State Forest in Late April

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to join the Ohio Ornithological Society's Spring Conference and bird the Shawnee State Forest. The weather was a little bit cold and damp, but the birding was pretty good. Some warblers seen last weekend included:

*Worm eating Warbler
*Kentucky Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow throated Warbler
Yellow breasted Chat
Louisiana Waterthrush
Yellow Rumped Warber
Pine Warbler
Ovenbird
White eyed Vireo
Red eyed Vireo
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker

At one point, our group spotted a Louisiana Waterthush, but I was facing the opposite direction, I was trying to lock focus on a nearby *Carolina Chickadee!

A Rare Gentian Species?

I really wanted to see more butterflies on this weekend, but it was cold and rainy on Saturday, and only warmed up on Sunday later in the afternoon. I did get a chance to see a Horaces' Duskywing and a Zebra Swallowtail. I probably could have seen several more species if it had been a bit warmer.

An Awesome Butterfly to Discover

Three Swallowtail Species in this Photo - Can you spot the Zebra Swallowtail?

On a more local note, I birded Malden Park in West Windsor after work and was happy to see my first decent group of Warblers. 6 Yellow Rumped, 2 Palm Warblers and a couple of Blue grey Gnatcatchers. 

Good Birding!

Dwayne

Horaces' Duskywing