Today (6/12) I went to Killdeer in the morning w/ Snake-master Doug Wynn and some other students who are taking a Herp class at Stone Labs. While we were mainly looking for snakes, I did have some fun bird sightings for the day. The Sedge Wrens were heard in the off limits area (off limits except when researching w/ Doug) accross from the headquarters building, but Doug told me that he also heard them in the field behind the Sportsman's Center/stables building. Also seen/HEARD in both these areas in good numbers were BOBOLINKS, one male came and settled down really close to us, it was pretty cool. Later, during lunch beside pond 27 at the easternmost parking lot w/ the trees, we were serenaded by an Orchard Oriole, Common Yellowthroats, Willow Flycatcher etc. A Juv. Bald Eagle flew by w/ mobbers in tow. After all the good times w/ snakes (found a mamma massasauga on the crawl thru the grass, relased 12 "head-started" Plains Gartersnakes from Cols. Zoo, caught lots of E. Garters and Brown Snake) I thought I'd hit Hardin Co. really quick, even though it was about 4 o'clock and hot out. Here I couldn't locate the Wils. Phalarope (but I didn't try very hard), I only hit the corner of the wetland nearest the road and then cruised t-50 and 215 afterwards. SAVANNAH SPARROWS were heard "trying to start their tiny engines" and I heard and then saw several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS (along the road w. T-50) as well as Heard at least two Dickcissels who must have been calling from the ground since I couldn't spot them after several min. Luckily on rt. 215 a nice male Dickcissel perched up on the powerline to sing and I got a good look at him and watched as he flew down to frolic w/ his female friend. My Wood Tick count for the day was 8, not bad. haha. I also had good birding from the car as I drove down route 37 south of t-60 : Adult male "grey ghost" Harrier, E. Bluebirds, Am. Kestrels, E. Bluebirds, Horned Larks, and a Brown Thrasher. Exhausted from the heat, I headed home and this evening was more than satisfied to watch the Hummers drink from our feeder and listen to the melodious Grey Catbird. semi-ordered Lists: K.P.W.A. Wood Duck - 30 (20 seen on one small pond) Mallards Great Blue Heron - 10 Sedge Wren - 2 Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Purple Martin R.W. Swallow Bobolink - 10 RWBB - found a nest too. Meadowlarks E. Kingbirds Willow Flycatchers Orchard Oriole - 2 Baltimore Oriole - 1 Yellow Warblers Common Yellowthroat Song Sparrows Goldfinches Bald Eagle - 1 juv. + 1 adult seen later Am. Kestrel - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 4 T.V - 6 Mourning Doves Killdeer Longbrakes/Hardin Co. WoodDucks - 5 B.W. Teal - 2 pairs Mallards Pied-billed Grebes - 1 seen, more heard Am. Coot Grt.Blue Herons - 6 Killdeer - 10 Grasshopper Sparrow - 4 Savannah Sparrows - 3 Song Sparrows Bobolinks - 3 RWBB Meadowlarks - 6 Dickcissel - at least 4 Tree Swallows Barn Swallows E. Bluebirds Robins Juv. Redtailed Hawk Crows Grackles Mourning Doves Horned Larks Couldn't hear/find the sedge wrens at Hardin, but didn't really know where they were supposed to be hanging out. Sorry if this account is too rambling and such, I'm pretty tired. The Wed. Morning Birdwalk at Kenyon's Brown Family Environmental Center will happen tomorrow. Meet me and whoever else shows up at the second white barnlike building on Laymon Road off of rt. 229 for some good times w/ the birds. Ceruleans are calling as well as Chats, Parulas, Orchard Orioles, Towhees etc. Come on out, brush up on your bird I.D., see new birds, or just re-visit old birds, anyone of any skill level is most welcome. Binoculars are available if you need them. The bird walk should happen next week Wed. as well, we meet at 8:00am and go thru 9-ish. Good birding, - Ben Warner ________________________________________________________________________ AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]