Howdy, It was an interesting day as by the time I got out to CC and SPWA, it was trying to spit rain. There were also scads of fisher-people out and some diminished bird activity, in some regards...the Ceasar Creek beach was filled with teenagers and no gulls or terns...bummer. The big thing, for me, was what I believe to be a Dickcissel. Unfortunately, they seem to have shorter attention spans than gnatcatchers, so I was unable to photograph one, once I finally spotted it (it was visible maybe 15 seconds before descending deep into the brush). Second, I probably would have phased out the call with cacophony of other calls had I not JUST listened to that section on Peterson's audio guide, Eastern birds and had just listened to the Dickcissel call. It was calling at about a 1' to 1'30" interval between the Eastern Towhee racket (there were 6 or 7 going all at once...) and the 2 Prairie Warblers. I can kind of give directions if you want to check it out/verify/debunk: Heading towards the Ceasar Creek Dam, if you turn off towards the Observation tower, it's that little picnic area off on the little tangential road. When in the parking area, there, the pond is to your right and the trail is straight ahead. Follow that in for about 4 or 5 minutes (distance was maybe 1/4 mile...), and they (there were 2 calling) were right in that area, almost tailing the Prairie Warblers. Anyway, that's my excitement. Well, that and almost stepping on a Northern Bobwhite beside the observation tower... Location: Ceasar Creek Observation Tower Observation date: 4/27/08 Notes: Dickcissel was heard but not completely seen back in the wooded section between the picnic area and observation tower at Ceasar Creek. It was calling between the Prairie Warbler and Towhees, repeatedly, for probably 10 minutes. Canada Goose Northern Bobwhite Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Mourning Dove Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Carolina Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Prairie Warbler Common Yellowthroat Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal Dickcissel Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch House Sparrow Location: Spring Valley Wildlife Area Observation date: 4/27/08 Canada Goose Mute Swan Wood Duck Turkey Vulture Red-shouldered Hawk Sora Killdeer Mourning Dove Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Palm Warbler Field Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch Peace, Phil --------------------- Philip M. Ware [log in to unmask] http://pmwdesigns.fototime.com/ http://www.pmwdesigns.net http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/free/gallery.asp?mem=117474 http://www.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=79253 --------------------- "I've never been so insulted in all my life." "It's early, yet." - G. Marx. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]