Larry Jeanblanc and I arrived to look for the phalarope at Buck Creek State Park just before 8 am. It wasn't at the north end of the beach right away, so we walked down to look through the gulls. There were about 200 ring-billeds, 10-15 Herring Gulls, and an amazing 8 Franklin's Gulls. I stayed to photograph the gulls for a while and Larry walked down to the south end where he found a Ruddy Turnstone. When I was done with the camera, I turned around and quickly saw the phalarope in the same area it has frequented at the north end of the beach. Larry and I watched it for 30-45 minutes and showed it to a birder named John from Mason who had come to find it. After they left I got some very good close photos of it by sitting at the edge of the grass as it walked and swam less than 20 feet away. I will post some shots on the OOS Forum later tonight. I decided to walk down to find the turnstone. As I got towards the middle of the beach, a Merlin flew over, stirring all the birds up. It landed in a tree by the beach restroom briefly, then flew north. I didn't find the turnstone, only some Killdeer and Horned Larks. As I walked back, scanning the shore, I saw the Merlin sitting at the water's edge bathing! I got some distant photos of the bird standing in the water all fluffed up. It flew up, did a short aerial dance with a Kestrel, then they both landed in the same tree. It was great to see the size comparison. Larry and Lenna Mae Gara arrived just then (~9:30) I tried to show them the Merlin, but it flew just as they were trying to scope it. Their consolation was a Northern Harrier flying by right after the Merlin left. Charlotte Mathena arrived and we all tried to find the Red Phalarope to no avail. The Merlin likely scared it off. There were still at least 2 Franklin's Gulls on the beach, plus we spotted 2 Forster's Terns and a Common Tern among the gulls. Another birder joined us and we saw an Osprey overhead. We continued to look for the phalarope until about 12:30 and gave up. It may still be around. It has shown an affinity to the north end of the beach for several days now. Brian Menker Dayton/Springfield No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.1/1050 - Release Date: 10/4/2007 5:03 PM ______________________________________________________________________ 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]