The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour will be open this Sunday, November 12 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. This is a self-guided, travel at your own pace auto tour, that travels through 7 miles of the refuge that is only open one day each month. We haven't been seeing anything rare out there. Waterfowl numbers are high with all dabbling ducks likely (except blue-winged teal), we have been seeing ruddy ducks, also tundra swans are plentiful and there are some snow geese around. Other birds we've noticed are northern harriers and snow buntings. We still have a number of waders including black-crowned night heron. Bald eagles are pretty common with pairs being seen around nests. We do still have some shorebirds, mostly dunlin and some yellowlegs (not sure which, I didn't even have binoculars with me, shame on me). Everything has been about what you would expect for this time of year, which means of course it is a lovely time to come birding on the refuge and see the parts that are only open one day a month. Upcoming dates are as follows December 16, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 12 and 13, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15. We skipped January intentionally - we have never been able to hold the January Auto Tour due to weather. Enjoy your fall birding Rebecca Rebecca E. Hinkle Visitor Services Manager Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 14000 West State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449 419-898-0014 ext. *813 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. 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]