I drove the country roads after early services at church, again today, but in this block for the first time this season. The overcast skies gave way to scattered sun, and the birds were in full song in many places. I was able to confirm a couple more species today, and spotted some nice migrants as well. The list: Canada goose - three "pairs", in fields Mallard - a pair on a temporary wet spot Red-tailed hawk - one on nest with another perched nearby, what looked like two fuzzy heads, but hard to see Mourning doves Red-headed woodpeckers - 7 total, in 5 different locations. This is still red-headed woodpecker heaven, confirmed last year. Red-bellied woodpecker Northern flicker Horned larks - in two different recently plowed fields. Today marks the beginning of the "safe" dates for this bird, so I recorded OS. Tree swallow Barn swallow Northern mockingbird Brown thrasher - they were everywhere, and in full song Eastern bluebird - already confirmed last year, but re-confirmed today. American robin Blue-gray gnatcatcher Carolina chickadee Blue jay American crow - finally saw one actually building a nest. Followed it with binoculars carrying shredded corn husk material. European starling - carrying nesting material American goldfinch Yellow-throated warbler - probably a migrant, but he was in large pines Chipping sparrow - singing on territory everywhere Filed sparrow - also singing on territory, but confirmed last year Song sparrow Northern cardinal Red-winged blackbirds Eastern meadowlark Common grackle Brown-headed cowbird In addition, although it seems early, I'm pretty sure I heard a prairie warbler. The habitat was right, but I couldn't spot it with my binoculars, and it wasn't singing consistently enough to get a good location. I'm not a great birder. I just love the outdoors, and watching birds. I'm sure that it will take me more time to accomplish what others might in the required 25 hours. But frankly, I can't think of anything else that I would rather do with my time. I am really looking forward to the end of school, when I can spend at least 6 mornings a week "out there". I encourage anyone who bothers to read my posts to record your own observations for the OBBA II. It's easy. I even record observations for blocks that I do not "own", when I see confirming evidence of nesting. Also, don't assume that an observation has been entered simply because a nest is well known locally. The heron rookery in Newark is very well known to local birders, but no one had entered it as an observation until I accepted "ownership" of the block last year, much to my surprise. 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]