As I read Paul Gardner's statewide report on the migration I note that Louisiana waterthrush was reported from Licking and Guernsey counties (among others.) Filling the gap, I am happy to announce that yesterday afternoon, at 12:15, I heard my first-of-season for the species, singing merrily from the deepest ravine at the back (east) of our property. I have been monitoring the nest box activity pretty carefully since returning home Tuesday night. House sparrows had invaded Boxes #s 1 & 5, now eliminated, at least those particular males. This morning, tree swallows are showing interest in box 1. Box #2 has had tree swallows perched atop. I straightened it up from its windblown tilt, but didn't open it. Box #3 has always been the scene of some activity in previous years, including last year's probable successful bluebird fledging. Interesting that there is no activity there yet this year, no nest materials within, nada. As I approached Box #4 on Thursday a male bluebird flushed from nearby, followed by a female who exited the house. 'Nuff said. I halted my approach and will continue to monitor: so far so good. Brown thrashers, at least two, are calling pretty consistently from the shrubby edges of our fields. It's always a delight to hear the various paired phrases. While I was pruning back the multiflora rose from our trails yesterday, I approached to within fifteen feet of one who continued to sing. Thursday evening was glorious, moonlit, and tolerably warm, so I headed out through the fields to listen for woodcocks. Although they have been widely reported from around the state, I heard nary a peent. Not one. I have noticed in previous years that our woodcocks always seem to arrive later than most or at least many. There are plenty of earthworms out and about. Is it because we live on an upland? Maybe it is just our particular woodcocks: late arrivers. My crepuscular walk was still well-rewarded: Orion and his Big Dog were confronting the Bull, with Venus spectacularly ablaze at the bull's heels, above a fading twilight. A foray into the woods along the north end of the back field landed me in the midst of a flock of at least a dozen golden-crowned kinglets on Thursday afternoon. Several were gleaning the fallen grape tangles around a couple wind-fallen ironwoods, allowing for great study without warblerneck. Turkey vultures are soaring low and high over the Flint Ridge upland. I echo Bill Whan's sentiments of a few days ago, admiring their effortless ease in riding the wind and updrafts. Towhees are seeming everywhere, paired up and active. Quite a few meadowlarks are also skulking in the fields, easy to hear but more elusive to see. Juncos are still out and about, some now singing their chiping-sparrow-like trill. Plenty of field sparrows in the fields. My first-of-season female red-winged blackbird was perched on the fence at the top of the pasture yesterday. Lots of mixed blackbirds: redwingeds, grackles, cowbirds, starlings. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County DeLorme 70 A1 ______________________________________________________________________ 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]