Today was spent inside, recalling yesterday's beautiful weather and some of the birds I saw while "scoping out" my OBBA II blocks. Nothing really extraordinary, but some interesting bird behaviors. After dropping my dog off at the groomer's near downtown Newark, I headed out to Everett Park and the bike path, which are in my block 59D6CE. Downy woodpecker - drumming Female red-bellied woodpecker removing material from a nest cavity Crow carrying sticks to what appeared to be the beginning of a nest. Fascinating to watch. Silent northern flicker, just sitting motionless Eastern meadowlark, singing its heart out, between the Owens Corning landfill and Cedar Hill Cemetery 21 great blue herons at the heron rookery I expect to find rock pigeons nesting in downtown Newark, but haven't seen a nest yet. However, they spent the winter here, and I did see one flying rapidly. Although someone else "owns" it, I then stopped in Block 59D6NE, where I saw: Downy woodpeckers drumming House sparrows nest building in what was probably intended as a martin house No ducks other than the resident mallards 20+ American coots. At least three stayed all winter here. The belted kingfishers are quite noisy again. I didn't see them all winter despite frequent visits (T J Evans Park). A Cooper's hawk - one of the pair that regularly visits my feeders? Then, on the Utica to get my hair trimmed, after which I birded 59C6CE for a couple of hours. The eastern phoebe is back at the abandoned barn where I saw a pair feeding young last year. No signs of other nesters in the barn, though. Downy and red-bellied woodpeckers drumming Song sparrows everywhere, singing joyfully! People ask me what my favorite bird is - and I guess that depends on the time of year. About the middle of February, when the song sparrow outside my bedroom window begins his song, he is my absolute favorite bird. Mourning doves Noisy blue jays. When they make that much noise, I look hard for hawks or owls, but didn't see either. Still, I'd guess that something was up. Several yellow-crowned kinglets. A pair of white breasted nuthatches investigating potential nesting cavities. I saw one enter a cavity, then leave, then enter again. They moved on and I lost them. Eastern bluebird A pair of tufted titmice Eastern towhees calling loudly - I only saw males, so I don't know whether the females are on territory yet or not. Visiting sparrows included white-throated, fox, dark-eyed juncos and a surprising number of American tree sparrows still around. The juncos and white-throated gave occasional bursts of song. My ears need tuned up for spring, as I tried to make the singing juncos into chipping sparrows - not yet. A pair of Carolina wrens. Sadly, the area where I heard and then spotted the sora last June now features a brand new OIL WELL! The ground has been disturbed and the cattails are gone. I imagine the sora won't be back. I drove around some, looking particularly for large nests that might be visible this time of year, but only found one promising one. However, I did see three great egrets in the shallow marshy part of Smoots Lake, which reminded me to stop and ask permission to check that area for the OBBA II. The property is co-owned by the heirs of an earlier owner, but I expect we can work something out. The person I talked to is quite interested in birds, and has a bluebird trail. She may even assist me with the OBBA II in that area. I asked her about kestrels. She hasn't put out any kestrel boxes, but a few years ago, a pair nested in their barn. I see kestrels regularly along that section of Route 13, and I'm wondering if they have taken up residence in a barn that sees less human and/or mammalian activity. I can't wait for all this dreary weather to pass so we can get on with spring 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]