Wow, what a great morning to go birding. The air was dead still, so any movement in the leaves had to be a bird. Sometimes, a little luck is needed, too, but for some reason, I was able to see some birds that I haven't seen in several year, including a couple that I have never seen in Licking Co. before. I started the morning at 6:30 at the Dillon Wildlife Area which is across Toboso Road from the main parking lot of Black Hand Gorge. I really like this area. It's state-owned with few limitations on access, and other than an occasional fisherman, I rarely see any people. Most of the birds below were seen in the Dillon WA area. Around 10:00, I went to the Marie Hickey Trail, completing that loop by 11:45. The birds below were seen at the Dillon WA area, unless otherwise noted. The list: Great blue heron Green heron Wood duck (20+ adults) - many with ducklings in tow Turkey vulture Cooper's hawk - at Stadden Bridge, where I stopped on the way home to check for the eagles (whiff!) Sora - within 10 feet - a first for Licking Co, although I have seen them in the past at the Dillon Reservoir just a few miles east, but never so close Barred owl- the first in several years - on the Marie Hickey Trail Ruby-throated hummingbird - none in May, and 5 today - 2 males and 3 females - what gives? Hairy woodpecker - a female really making a racket - I wonder if a predator was too close to her cavity? Eastern wood-peewee Acadian flycatcher Willow flycatcher - a first ever at BHG; my first Licking Co. willow f/c was last evening at the older wetlands at Dawes Arboretum, on Licking Trail near Davis Rd.-2 in 2 days seems unbelievable to me! Eastern phoebe Great crested flycatcher - first of the year on Licking Co. Cedar waxwing - apparently nesting! House wren Gray catbird Wood thrush American robin Blue-gray gnatcatcher Carolina chickadee White-breasted nuthatch - feeding fledglings! Blue jay White-eyed vireo Red-eyed vireo American goldfinch Blue-winged warbler - Marie Hickey Trail Northern parula - both locations Yellow warbler American redstart PROTHONOTARY WARBLER - male and female, and I think I know where they have their cavity! Why I never saw them in April or May - and I really searched - is a real mystery, although the male was not very vocal this morning. See postscript below. Ovenbird - Marie Hickey Trail Common yellowthroat Hooded warbler - Marie Hickey Trail Yellow-breasted chat Scarlet tanager - Marie Hickey Trail Eastern towhee - both locations Song sparrow Northern cardinal Indigo bunting - both locations Red-winged blackbird Common grackle Brown-headed cowbird Baltimore oriole 44 birds for the day Anyone interested in seeing my May Month List for Licking Co. (103 species) can check out the OOS website, at http://www.ohiobirds.org/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1096#p1096 By the way, I made a quick trip out to the Dutch Fork Wetlands, Dawes Arboretum yesterday evening. Other than the willow flycatcher, mentioned above, I didn't actually SEE anything really spectacular. (I realize that a willow flycatcher may not be considered very spectacular to some people, but it was to me!) However, I think I heard a Prothonotary warbler in the fence-row trees that border the old wetlands along Licking Trail Road just south of Davis Road. The sweet-sweet-sweet call is pretty distinctive, and I can't think of anything else it could have been. Anyone who birds in that general area should keep an eye out for it. I'd love for someone to verify this bird. I wish you all the same joy I experienced today! Who says birding life stops after migration? Margaret Bowman Licking Co., 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]