As I read Paul Gardner's statewide report on the migration I note that Louisiana waterthrush 
was reported from Licking and Guernsey counties (among others.) Filling the gap, I am 
happy to announce that yesterday afternoon, at 12:15, I heard my first-of-season for the 
species, singing merrily from the deepest ravine at the back (east) of our property.

I have been monitoring the nest box activity pretty carefully since returning home Tuesday 
night. House sparrows had invaded Boxes #s 1 & 5, now eliminated, at least those particular 
males. This morning, tree swallows are showing interest in box 1. Box #2 has had tree 
swallows perched atop. I straightened it up from its windblown tilt, but didn't open it. Box 
#3 has always been the scene of some activity in previous years, including last year's 
probable successful bluebird fledging. Interesting that there is no activity there yet this 
year, no nest materials within, nada. As I approached Box #4 on Thursday a male bluebird 
flushed from nearby, followed by a female who exited the house. 'Nuff said. I halted my 
approach and will continue to monitor: so far so good.

Brown thrashers, at least two, are calling pretty consistently from the shrubby edges of our 
fields. It's always a delight to hear the various paired phrases. While I was pruning back the 
multiflora rose from our trails yesterday, I approached to within fifteen feet of one who 
continued to sing.

Thursday evening was glorious, moonlit, and tolerably warm, so I headed out through the 
fields to listen for woodcocks. Although they have been widely reported from around the 
state, I heard nary a peent. Not one. I have noticed in previous years that our woodcocks 
always seem to arrive later than most or at least many. There are plenty of earthworms out 
and about. Is it because we live on an upland? Maybe it is just our particular woodcocks: 
late arrivers. My crepuscular walk was still well-rewarded: Orion and his Big Dog were 
confronting the Bull, with Venus spectacularly ablaze at the bull's heels, above a fading 
twilight.

A foray into the woods along the north end of the back field landed me in the midst of a 
flock of at least a dozen golden-crowned kinglets on Thursday afternoon. Several were 
gleaning the fallen grape tangles around a couple wind-fallen ironwoods, allowing for great 
study without warblerneck.

Turkey vultures are soaring low and high over the Flint Ridge upland. I echo Bill Whan's 
sentiments of a few days ago, admiring their effortless ease in riding the wind and updrafts.

Towhees are seeming everywhere, paired up and active. Quite a few meadowlarks are also 
skulking in the fields, easy to hear but more elusive to see. Juncos are still out and about, 
some now singing their chiping-sparrow-like trill. Plenty of field sparrows in the fields. My 
first-of-season female red-winged blackbird was perched on the fence at the top of the 
pasture yesterday. Lots of mixed blackbirds: redwingeds, grackles, cowbirds, starlings. The 
good, the bad, and the ugly.

Bob Evans
Geologist, etc.
Hopewell Township, Muskingum County
DeLorme 70 A1

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