Had an opportunity to travel again to the area and spend some time at the 
Wilds on the evening of January 23rd and morning of January 24th.  I was 
hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Shrike and whatever else I could 
find.

On the evening of the 23rd I was entertained by 5 short-eared owls barking 
and chasing at the end to the day.  Earlier I had seen 3 Kestrels on the 
drive in to Cumberland, as well as 8 Harriers, 6 of which were great 
looking Gray Ghosts.

The following morning I arrived early and started at the end of Zion Ridge 
road and OH-146 and could hear a pair of Long-eared owls calling from my 
spot.  I waiting until daylight to begin my search for the Shrike, but 
could never locate it throughout the 6 hours I was there.  I did enjoy a 
pair of light morph Rough-legged Hawks flying overhead though, as well as 
several Harriers once again that cruised low throughout the morning.  

In the late morning, I moved to the observation platform at the end of Zion 
Ridge road and OH-284 and had 4 Trumpeter Swans in the large pond at the 
base of the hill in front of the platform.  They were all banded, 2 with 
yellow bands marked as 3A1 and 3A4, as well as the other 2 having green 
bands, but could not make out the numbering for them.  About an hour later 
the entire group of 4 swans took flight to parts unknown.  The pond also 
held several Ring-necked ducks and a couple of American Coots.

A question for those in the know...were these Trumpeter Swans visitors from 
afar or does the sanctuary have some swans that they protect and have come 
to be regular around the properties?

I find The Wilds to be a wonderful place.

Steve Glynn
Millville, NJ

______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]