Attention Cincinnati region birders! Sooty Tern!

[semillama]

If you aren't already aware, Hurricane Dennis apparently blew a poor Sooty Tern all the way up to Ohio. It can currently be seen at East Fork State Park in Clermont County. I unfortunately can't get away from work to go see it, but if you are in the area, try and see it. I hear the best location at the park is at the South Beach area. This may be the first official record of Sooty Tern for Ohio.

[XemaSab]

1. Wow

Good luck to anyone chasing!

[semillama]

2. Thanks, I'm off right now! Updates later n/t

[semillama]

3. Got it.

I drove 2 1/2 hours from Columbus to East Fork. Saw a couple folks on the beach with scopes, so I walked up with my scope and asked if they had seen it. One lady said that the other guy had seen it a half-hour ago, then the guy said "There it is!" and lo and behold, there it was.

Great bird, striking black and white contrasts. It looked like it was having a great time, feeding on the lake with no competition. I observed it for about 15 minutes and then went to a different part of the park to check out how good a place this was for birding. the place I went was being managed for turkey, so it was essentially a shrubby field with paths mowed through it, and was chock full of female Orchard Orioles, Yellow-Breasted Chats, and Indigo Buntings. I needed the chat for my year list, and kept getting glimpses of one, so I braved a downpour and stuck around until I got it!

[XemaSab]

4. Excellent!

Congratulations!

It's always fun to get a chase.