Today, Friday, while attending the spectacular Ohio Optics Fling, hosted by Robert Hershberger, at Time And Optics; my wife Denise, Jeff Harvey, and myself, found at least five Blue Grosbeaks. The Blue Grosbeak site was about 10 miles southeast of the event location; follow CR168 east from Bunker Hill to Leihley Hill Road, go right at the sharp CR168 left turn. Follow Leihley Hill to the Stingy Road intersection, You have just exited Holmes County and entered Tuscarawas County. Continue south about six hundred feet until you see a brushy depression on the left and a grassy uphill grade to the right. A high tension tower line is overhead. From this location we saw at least three males and two females. During our visit from 11AM to 11:30AM, we saw a female in the depression area gathering nesting material. Another female to the southwest was sitting on the top of the highest bare snag. A male up the hill was being harassed by an Eastern Kingbird, while frequently entering a scrubby short bush. Another male toward the depression, was cooperative, posing for photos at about forty feet away. And a third male was sitting atop the utility wire along the driveway. Something of interest, was the fact that there were no vocalizations heard from the grosbeaks during our stay. Some of the other birds of interest we had while here, were Grasshopper Sparrows and a Yellow-breasted Chat to the east under the tower line. The Ohio Optics Fling continues tomorrow, Saturday, from 7:30AM to 5PM. Attendance is a guaranteed good time! Time And Optics is located two miles south of the town of Mount Hope on CR77 in Holmes County.

Bob Lane / Mahoning County                                        
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