Finding something rare during this period of many bird movements is always a treat. Looking around the region over the past few days, we hear of a calling black rail in Michigan, a red-necked stint in Indiana (images from John Cassady at http://www.jkcassady.com/gallery/rnst.htm ), and a remarkable reddish egret (image from Frank Angileri at http://www.pbase.com/eng45ine/image/79325440 )in Illinois. These birds are to one degree or another out of range, and the farthest anyone's likely to go in predicting their occurrence in these parts is to guess they'll show up once in a blue moon. Ohio seems overdue for a rarity. Other phenomena of the season are more predictable, and while they may not be jaw-dropping surprises are on the other hand all the more inspiring for being predictable. Take the current movement of whimbrels through the Great Lakes as an example. A report came from just across the border in SE Michigan on Sunday of ~230 passing over a march during the afternoon, then a flock of 66 there yesterday; a watch in the Toronto area yesterday tallied 2892 of these stirring travelers. For photos from Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway see Ontario Birds: http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2007/whimbreltoronto.htm . Whimbrels tend to move en masse here, over a period of just a few days...that is now, seekers. Other bird appearances have graduated from the lightning-bolt stage to something more regular. Spring seems to be producing more Mississippi kites in the region in recent years. Nearly all Ohio's records have occurred in the past three decades, and during May and June. They now nest regularly in the Washington DC area, and in southernmost Indiana and Illinois. This season birds have appeared in Massachusetts and New York, and in surprising numbers elsewhere. Might be a good one to look for these days in Ohio; they have a distinctive flight profile. Then there are the species demoted from regular status into the lightning-strike category . Take as an example the evening grosbeak that appeared two days ago in Holmes County. These birds were far more often seen not too long ago. They were regular in Ohio during winter, and habitues of feeders. A Hocking County feeder hosted as many as 310 during April of 1996, where one hung around into June. I couldn't afford sunflower seed for a horde like that. These days we see a few in winter, and about as many in spring, seldom more than a couple at a time. I haven't seen one here in years. They seem have joined (though perhaps not for all the same reasons) northern birds that used to be more common here---crossbills, redpolls, pine grosbeaks, Bohemian waxwings, etc. Anyway, good luck to all with an eye for the unusual. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ 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]