Thank you Jen, that is a very important point I should have brought up. Navigating Breakwalls is often a very difficult and possibly dangerous activity. One must not only harness the power of the Purple sandpiper to get it done ;-) , but be possessed of good balance, proper eqiupment, and a careful outlook. Like Jen said, having a good scope and scanning for Pipers is always a good idea and can save you a trip, unfortunately I wasn't able to find any this way, but some people have seen them on the beach or in closer than we had our sighting. It is always done at your own risk, and just like any other possibly dangerous out-door activity (mountain climbing, canyoneering, caving, skiiing etc) one should follow basic rules: 1. Have a partner; the "buddy system" is essential in my mind, and can definately come in handy should one fall and need assistance, but never take unnecessary risks in hopes your buddy will pick up the pieces, this is not necessarially your buddie's responsibility. At least tell someone where you'll be, and have people watching from the shore. 2. Wear appropriate gear. Good fitting and rock-gripping boots are also essential. I wear sturdy shoes with sticky rubber, or tight fitting waterproof boots. Also have water-proof pants and jacket for the possible spray from the waves. Other cold weather gear may be needed. Tie your shoes tightly. 3. Know your limits and always be ready to turn back if the conditions are too dangerous. On the day of the successful sighting we all judged that the waves were only big enough to get us a bit wet, and that the ice had indeed melted off of most of the rocks. Always take care when picking foot placements since water, moss, ice and sand can all cause you to slip. On at least two occaisions we had to not venture out onto the wall because the waves were too high, and another when the rocks were too ice-covered. 4. Keep your hands free for balance and if needed to use in holding the rocks to assist yourself. There are large body sized gaps between many of the large stone blocks. Never be afraid to use all "fours" or turn around. Its not worth breaking bones. Each of these rules are subject to modification with the conditions of the weather, but should never be totally disregarded. Our continued use of the breakwall depends on good decision making and safety. There are other breakwalls made of stone like this one that are safer, I'd say Headland's breakwall is moderatly difficult compared to others; more dangerous than some. Personally I'm glad to have a break from breakwall rock-hopping. That little bird sure made us appreciate just what its worth! A very worthy bird I must say and fun to observe. But none-the less it was one of the most difficult sightings, effort wise, that I've had in Ohio and certainly these birds can be one of the most difficult shore-birds to find in Ohio. But this doesn't mean you can't see one with more ease than it took me, since they sometimes appear near or on the beach and when finally encountered they are relatively tame and can be easily viewed- usually. Well thats my views of the subject. Hopefully some will find them handy. Enjoy your birding, - Ben Warner Sunbury OH ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]