Hello, Today while surveying a block for the winter atlas in northern Wayne County, we found a single harrier, despite the drizzle. Another highlight included a flock of about 2000 mixed blackbirds. Last week we encountered a very large flock of at least 10,000! We have been surprised at the interesting birds we've found in a block that is largely agricultural, in this unusual winter. Last week we found 2 field sparrows, along with white-crowned, white-throated, tree and song sparrows. In the afternoon we quickly drove though Funk Bottoms, finding very little other than rising water. But north of Funk between Route 30 and old Route 30 we found a small "pond" in a field holding 12 snow geese (2 blue phase) and 1 pintail with about 20-25 mallards. A wonderful surprise, though the geese didn't stay. Perhaps these geese settled north of the extensive Funk wetlands because of the hunters at Funk. Helen & Ken Ostermiller ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. 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]