An update on grassland birds from the harrison County hinterlands. 
This morning I drove through the grasslands hoping to confirm breeding of 
Short-eared Owls. We have been watching them on and off for two months but 
have yet to confirm breeding. I was hoping to see more than two feeding. 
No luck. 
     Two harriers, adult male and immature were noted.  We had two 
confirmed breeding pairs this year and one possible. Two Upland Sandpipers 
were seen; they will be exiting shortly for their winter grounds in Chili. 
Bobolinks are just starting to flock up. I estimated 70 Grasshopper 
Sparrows and 30 Henslow's Sparrows. The Henslow's are still "singing" at 
all stops. Dickcissals feeding young also present. Vespers are regular but 
not overly abundant.
     The bird of the morning was a Merlin. It was first spotted along the 
road eating either a Henslow's or Grasshopper Sparrow. It flew and landed 
in the top of a dead tree approximately 100 meters down the road where I 
had good diagnostic looks. I saw this species twice in early June and 
thought there was a possibility it may stick around to breed in the high 
wall areas where there are plenty of pines. I have not seen it since June 
10 and today's bird was an adult bird. It is hard to say if this is the 
same bird seen in June but the area it flies into is several hundred acres 
in size and not amendable to observation. Possiple and perhaps probable it 
stuck around all summer but not confirmed at this point.
     It would be an amazing thing to have a Short-eared Owl and Merlin 
breeding in the same area in Ohio! But alas, I have been able to confirm 
neither.
Scott Pendleton, Cadiz

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