I haven't been able to do as much birding lately as I would have liked, but I have seen (or heard) some noteworthy birds in the last several days. Some of these are a little late, but for what they're worth: Saturday, 26 May: Yellow-breasted Chat, 2 @ Battelle-Darby Creek MP (saw 1 quite obliging individual, considering the secretive habits of this species, at Turkeyfoot Trail, Indian Ridge Picnic Area) Common Yellowthroats, lots Ring-necked Pheasant, 1 calling at ~7 AM E. Bluebird, pair Willow Flycatcher, pair on territory Brown Thrasher, 1 (this and all of above at same location, Turkeyfoot Trail) Red-eyed Vireo, 1 Terrace Trail R-b Grosbeak, 1 Terrace Trail -- my wife called me at this point and needed me home pronto, so my trip was cut short!! That's life I guess. She's worth it! Sunday, 27 May: Mourning Warbler -- heard singing at Prairie Oaks MP, Darby Lakes area ~9 AM; we were on a "Sunday Morning Family Walk," and NOT "birdwatching," per my wife's loving stipulation; but that didn't stop me from hearing the Mourning Warbler! Monday, 28 May: Barred Owl -- heard calling at Battelle-Darby Creek MP along Terrace Trail, ~7 PM Wednesday, 30 May: Great Egret -- seen flying over I-670 & Grandview Blvd at 7 AM A couple friends of mine have been giving me a little heckling over my birding obsession. A buddy and I were tossing the frisbee out at Battelle on Memorial Day when a Barred Owl started calling--I pointed it out and told him what it was and he said, "Who are you, the Bird Whisperer?!" I couldn't deny the allegation. Another friend that same night asked me if I had remembered to bring along my "bird-seeing goggles," referring to my binoculars. I do have a couple other friends, however, who are beginning to show some serious interest in birding. Good times. -Nate Nye Hilliard, OH ______________________________________________________________________ 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]