Labor Day Birding. Shawnee Lookout Park and Lost Bridge With Ryan Jorgensen

Fall Migration; Warblers & Shorebirds

Location: Shawnee Lookout Park and Lost Bridge

Monday, September 1st, 2025 (Labor Day) @ 8:00 am

Meet: At the Shawnee Lookout boat ramp upper parking lot. The upper parking lot is located directly across from the Shawnee Lookout Park entrance. (See directions below)

Leader: Ryan Jorgensen, (630) 333-2631, jorgensen28ryan@gmail.com

An excellent argument can be made that, after May, September is the next best birding month in our region, at least in terms of the greatest number of species one could find in a given month. September represents the peak of fall migration for both song birds (especially warblers) and shorebirds. Numbers of other species such as early waterfowl, long-legged waders, tern’s, raptors and others also migrate south during this month. Fall migration will be revving up on this date and finding a diversity of species will be the primary focus on this field trip.

Our trip leader Ryan Jorgensen is a skilled birder and naturalist and an expert level herpetologist. Ryan is also a current ASO board member. Since our primary focus of this field trip is the fall migration of warblers and other songbirds, Ryan will spend most of the morning at Shawnee Lookout. Shawnee Lookout is a great birding location and songbirds, both resident and migrants are abundant here. Towards the end of the morning Ryan will lead us over to Lost Bridge, which spans the Great Miami River. There should be a lot of exposed sandbars at this location which can attract a host of water birds, including shorebirds. This is also the premier spot in Hamilton County to see Bald Eagles. Ryan found a large number of soft-shelled turtles at Lost Bridge recently and we may see a few of them. The nearby gravel pits may also hold some of these same species. If time permits Ryan might take a look at the Oxbow, another great nearby birding location.

The diverse habitats of these excellent birding sites at this time of the year should yield a great diversity of species. Warblers and many other song birds should be abundant. Shorebirds, herons & egrets, terns, and other water birds could be seen in nearby locations. Hawks, including Osprey & Bald Eagles, are all likely to be found during this morning trip.

The plan is to bird until a little after noon. There will be quite a bit of walking on this trip, but most of it will be generally easy and at a comfortable birding pace. Binoculars are necessary if you expect to see birds. Restrooms are available at Shawnee Lookout. A Hamilton County Park Motor Vehicle Permit is required at all Hamilton County Parks. Daily Motor Vehicle Permits can be purchased for $5 for Hamilton County residents and $8 for non-residents at park entrance booths ($10 & $16 annual). Please feel free to contact Ryan if you have any questions.

Directions to Shawnee Lookout Park: We will meet at the Shawnee Lookout boat ramps upper parking lot at 8:00 a.m. The upper parking lot is located directly across from the Shawnee Lookout Park entrance. Shawnee Lookout is located at 2008 Lawrenceburg Rd. North Bend, Ohio. Take I-275 to the Kilby Road Exit # 21. Turn south on Kilby Road and go about 1 mile to the stop light at U.S. 50. Turn right onto US 50 and go about 2 miles to the stop light at Lawrenceburg Road and turn left. Follow Lawrenceburg Road to the stop sign at the end of the Great Miami Bridge (Lost Bridge), turn right and go about 1.5 miles to the park entrance which is on the left. The upper boat ramp parking lot where we will meet is on the right, directly across from the Park entrance.

(Contributed by Jay Stenger)

The Meeting Place can be found here: Shawnee Lookout boat ramp upper parking lot