Hi Folks - Another grand morning in the field - this time Bath Nature Preserve (off Ira Road...just west of Rt. 21 near Richfield). I didn't make it out till 10 a.m. and it was really starting to cook up. Just down the hill from the parking lot I came upon the first flight-displaying male BOBOLINK. Taking the 'creekside trail' allowed for old-field species in good numbers. Gray Catbirds, Yellow Warblers, and Eastern Bluebirds were out in force, along with Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and Eastern Kingbirds. Nearing the low-lying large grass & sedge-filled field, I peered up to one of many snag-filled large willows and black walnuts and was treated to an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Crossing the field and working towards a small hillside covered in bramble, I was mocked by a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT - a species that I haven't before been able to pick up at Bath NP, but have continued to search for in vain. Was able to get a quick look as it popped out of cover for a brief couple of seconds, then dipped back into thick tangle. It's a bit too early for territorial Henslow's to be calling - none were heard. Throughout the grasslands I was able to see at least 8 displaying Bobolinks, and added Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, and Least and Willow Flycatchers to the walk. A large and dry 'bog' sits down below the grassland fields - here I found 2 singing Prothonotary Warblers. The predominately oak and maple forest held several singing Hooded Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, American Redstart, a few Magnolia Warblers, several pairs of Great Crested Flycatchers, and the scrubby edges were thick with Indigo Bunting song. Ran into Brett and Jim McCarty - thanks to Brett's pointing out of a slick-looking Blue-winged Warbler right at the parking lot. Bath Nature Preserve is sure to impress. cheers jb Jen Brumfield Akron, Ohio [log in to unmask] Birding America / www.birding-america.com Illustrator/Naturalist, Cleveland Metroparks Nikon Birding Optics ProStaff/ nikonusa.com Editorial Advisor, A Bird's-Eye View / ABA personal site: www.meadowhawkart.com "Journeys, like artists, are born and not made. A thousand differing circumstances contribute to them, few of them willed or determined by the will." - Lawrence Durrell "Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventure." - L. Drachman _________________________________________________________________ PC Magazine’s 2007 editors’ choice for best Web mail—award-winning Windows Live Hotmail. http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_pcmag_0507 ______________________________________________________________________ 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]