Celebrated hubby's retirement today by going to Mosquito Lake to see what we could find in the way of waterfowl. It was a good place to be; lots of eagles, 12 different duck species & a fantastic look at some Long-tailed Ducks are just some of the highlights. Starting out at the state park, we found hundreds of Coots & Mallards, probably as many as I have ever seen anywhere but the south. At the state owned boat launch on the east side of the causeway, we found at least 4 Loons. Probably all commons, but some were too far out to tell for sure. Also Horned Grebes, Pied-billed Grebe, Lesser Scaup, 1 Cormorant & 4 Bald Eagles, (2 adult, 2 immature) On the west end of the causeway, looking south, there were a pair of Goldeneyes and 5 Long-tailed Ducks--4 females & what I assume is a 1st year male; it had the color pattern of a winter male but it's tale was as short as the females. They were pretty close to the causeway. We 1st saw them going across the causeway to the east, ate lunch on the east side and they were still there in pretty much the same spot when we returned about an hour later. Going north on Hoagland-Blacstub Rd,we hit the mother lode at the Mahan-Denman Rd boat launch---Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, Gadwell, Black Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, Green-wing Teal, Bonapart's Gulls and 5 more Eagles. (2 adults). At the pull-off on Hoagland-Blackstub Rd, just north of the above mentioned boat launch, we were able to get better looks at these same birds, with many more of the ducks visible. Also added Pintails and Great Blue Herons (6 of them at once in 1 view of the scope; 2 in a tree, 2 on shore & 2 in the water). And another look at 5 Eagles! Possibly some of these were repeats of the ones we had seen from the boat ramp but I am pretty sure they all weren't. The immatures are all in different stages of plumage and can be distinguished from each other. Heading back south on County Rd 263 we began the raptor jackpot! Saw 2 Red-tail Hawks, 2 Kestrals & 2 Rough-legs (at the wetland). Then near the east end of Mahan-Denman Rd., we topped off with a Northern Harrier, jumping up & down in the grass for several minutes. Also in this area we added American Widgeons, Tundra Swans & lots of Ring-neck Ducks Also throughout the day we found Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee & Ring-billed Gulls. Grand total for the day: 31 species. Bird On! Laura Dornan Stark County ______________________________________________________________________ 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]