Birding Sites: Cleveland South
South
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- LaDue Reservoir:
(Delorme 42 A2). This is a part of the city of Akron water supply
system, and thus has a certain amount of restricted access. LaDue is
located at the intersection of state routes 44 and 422 in south east
Geauga county. Much of the reservoir is observable from Valley Road
which intersects SR 44 north of SR 422 and then runs north-south along
the west side of the reservoir, and from routes 44 and 422, although
there are few places to pull off and view the water from these roads.
Follow SR 44 south past SR 422 to a right turn on Bartholomew Road.
This will take you through marshy backwater areas and farm fields to
Auburn Road. Turn right (north) here and you will shortly cross a
bridge from which you can view more of the reservoir. LaDue is an
excellent magnet for migrant waterfowl of all sorts, especially swans,
loons and grebes. Sandhill cranes, which may nest nearby, may be found
here with persistance. Bald Eagles nest nearby and Wild Turkey has
increased here of late.
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- Brecksville Reservation: (Delorme 41
B6). This is a part of the Cuyahoga County Metroparks, the 'Emerald
Necklace' that bounds the Greater Cleveland region on three sides. The
park is cut by seven distinct gorges that, with their varied habitats,
support rare and endangered plants. From Interstate 77 south of
Cleveland, exit at SR 82 (Royalton Road) and proceed east for about 1.3
miles to the park entrance just past the intersection of SR 82 and SR
21. Park at the Chippewa Creek ford area to look for nesting
Yellow-throated Warbler and check the Plateau picnic area for Northern
Parula. Walk north along the railroad tracks from the Station Road
Bridge to a swampy area with nesting Prothonotary Warblers, an active
Great Blue Heron colony and look for nesting Hooded Merganser and
Red-headed Woodpecker. Check for annual probable nesting of Pine
Warbler on Meadows Drive near the ballfields and for nesting Dark-eyed
Junco across Meadows Drive from the horse stables.
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- Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP):
(Delorme 41 A6-C6). This park occupies an extensive area along the
Cuyahoga River as it meanders north from Summit County to Cuyahoga
County. Habitats from bottomland swamps to hemlock forests are found
here, along with the birds that frequent them. Exit Interstate 271 at
SR 303 and follow SR 303 east for about 1.5 miles to to city of
Peninsula and Riverview Road . Turn south on Riverview and enter Deep
Lock Quarry on your left in abount .25 miles. Hike the trails here for
warblers such as Cerulian and Hooded and various flycatchers. Proceed
north on Riverview for about 3.75 miles to Vaughn Road and turn right
to the park headquarters at Jaite. Walk the railroad tracks north to
swampy areas where Prothonotary warbler may be present. From Deep Lock
Quarry, proceed south on Riverview about 3.2 miles to Ira Road, turn
left to a parking area and walk the trails and boardwalks through the
marsh. The parking area at Indigo Lake, between Deep Lock Quarry and
the Ira Road area, is a good place to look for nesting Orchard Oriole.
Additional information on the CVNP can be found at the Cuyahoga Valley NP Home Page.
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- Hinckley Lake: (Delorme 41 C5). This
park in Medina county is a part of the Cuyahoga County Metroparks, the
'Emerald Necklace' that bounds the Greater Cleveland region on three
sides. Take Interstate 71 south and exit at SR 303. Proceed east on SR
303 for about 3.5 miles and turn right on Hinkley Hills Road. In less
than a mile, turn left on Bellus Road; the park entrance will be
shortly on your right. Check the lake for interesting waterfowl and
hike the extensive trail system through Whipps Ledges for warblers and
other passerines. Every year in mid-March, a "Buzzard Festival" is held
to welcome back the Turkey Vultures that nest here, if you're into that
sort of thing.
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Go to Dick & Jean Hoffman's birding page: Birding
from the North Coast
(Dick developed this himself; Jean provided some solicited
advice)
URL:http://pw1.netcom.com/~djhoff/sosites.html
Please address comments to: djhoff@ix.netcom.com
Changes last made on: Dec. 20, 2005