This afternoon I heard a Tufted Titmouse at my window who was making a scolding call, that I took as an accusation of my irresponsible behavior for not keeping the feeder filled (he was probably just scolding his reflection). As I filled the feeders I heard a strange sound coming from down the hill by the creek, which I soon recognized as the song of the BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. I'd never actually laid eyes on one, though I had heard them before. So I went in and got my bin's and drug my sister outside as well to try and find this elusive bird. I tracked it down and the bird flushed to a nearby tree, there we refound the bird after some work (and then extra work on my part trying to get my non-birder sister on the bird) and viewed the bird for some time as it sat partially obscured by leaves, but if we moved around a bit we got a good view of head, tail and most of its back and belly. The bird called and we got to see how his throat inflated to the size of a golf ball stuck in his throat as he made his odd po-po-po-po, po-po-po-po, song. A happy life-time viewing in my own backyard. As a side note to those who bother to read all of this, there were a good number of shorebirds and Sedge Wrens at Killdeer Plains W.A. this past friday when I went there to look for snakes. The pond near the sign marked entrance off of 294, was very low and mud was exposed providing ample attraction for 6 Solitary Sandpipers, 4 Spotted S.P., 7 Pectoral S.P, 2 Least S.P., 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, and many Killdeer. The Sedge Wrens were near the Sportsman's Center Calling away repeatedly to one another, I heard about 3 there and further down the closed road from that point I heard 3 more of the little rascals. Even got a decent view of 2 of them. At the Dragonfly conference this past weekend there were some neat birds around as well. Killbuck, on Force road we located Sora, Virginia Rail, Singing Marsh Wrens, Bald Eagle, RTHA, 20 Woodducks, a Green Heron, and the usuals. On Sunday at Mohican State Forest/park area near the Covered Bridge I Heard/saw singing Yellow-throated Warbler, Hooded Warblers, Northern Parula, Be. Kingfishers, Wood THrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwings, Chips and views of Louisianna Waterthrush, E. Phoebe, Accadian Flycatcher (with nest of chirping young) and also the Singing of the WinterWren from along the trail that heads towards the dam from the one side of the bridge opposite the river from the campground. We also saw many cool Dragons and Damsels. A very successful weekend event. Good Birding as usual to all, - 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]