Inspired by the many reports of shorebirds in Cincinnati, I went out to the Mound Road access point in the northern part of the Caesar Creek area. (Click here<http://local.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&z=14&ll=39.549986,-83.970995&spn=0.047187,0.062399&om=1&msid=104411027825639848188.000001121091b9b478454&msa=0>for interactive map.) I had noted about 10 days ago that a great deal of mud was exposed here, but in the interim the lake has risen significantly. There was still a goodly amount of habitat, but no shorebirds, if you don't count one distant killdeer calling from a nearby field. The trip wasn't a complete bust, though. There was a Great Egret present. I have only three other April records in this area; most Great Egrets around here are seen in late summer during the post-nuptial wanderings. I expect this bird is on its way up to the lake. The Osprey nest visible from this point was occupied. On the way home through rural Clinton County, I chanced on two Northern Harriers. These birds are definitely infrequent here, especially in the spring. I have only one other April record. Cheers, Bob -- Robert D Powell Wilmington, OH, USA [log in to unmask] http://rdp1710.wordpress.com Nulla dies sine linea ______________________________________________________________________ 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]