Greetings: I just got back from a day of birding locations around Sandusky with Brad Sparks and Paul Gardner. Stops included Magee Marsh, Medusa Marsh, Willow Point Fish Work Station, and the TR 292 ponds near Bellevue. We had 20 species of shorebirds and 10 species of warblers among the birds seen today. HIGHLIGHTS: Marbled Godwit, Wilson's Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Western Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Philadelphia Vireo Our first stop was Magee Marsh, to scan the beaches for Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings, neither of which were present. We did see Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and two Forster's Terns, along with Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers. Three Bald Eagles were also present on the beach near the boardwalk. There was a nice flock of migratory songbirds at the entrance to the boardwalk, including the following warblers: Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Canada, Prothonotary, American Redstart, Wilson's, and Chestnut-sided. Brad Sparks observed a Philadelphia Vireo here as well. The boardwalk itself was quiet, with at least one Ovenbird observed along with singing Warbling Vireos and Eastern Wood-Pewees. We ran into a couple on the boardwalk that had observed an American Woodcock and a Mourning Warbler, but we could not relocate either of these birds. Other Magee Marsh birds observed included: Gray Catbird, Hermit Thrush, House Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Tree Swallow, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing and Northern Flicker. Our next stop was at Medusa Marsh to try for the Tri-colored Heron, which was not observed. However, its relatives were out in force, with approximately 120 Great Egrets, 10 Snowy Egrets, 50 Great Blue Herons, and 1 Green Heron observed. Numerous shorebirds were present at the portion of the marsh northeast of the route 2/route 269 interchange, but most were far too distant to identify, apart from a single Black-bellied Plover and a few Stilt Sandpiper. Willow Point Fish Work Station was much better for shorebird viewing conditions. We were there around noon and the light was perfect. The best birds was a group of 5 or 6 Western Sandpipers, observed carefully for several minutes and compared against other peeps nearby. The Westerns were slightly larger and exhibited long, droopy bills, along with rufous highlights on the crown and upper scapulars. The birds also held themselves up at about a 40-degree angle while moving, unlike the nearly horizontal posture of nearby Semipalmated Sandpipers. I'd estimate at least 75 Short-billed Dowitchers were also present, all of which appeared to be juveniles. One dowitcher showed signs of molt, but also had the shortest bill of all the dowitchers - we thought at first the molt indicated a Long-billed Dowitcher, but now I myself am not so sure, since I personally did not observe other plumage characteristics associated with Long-billed Dowitcher. Perhaps others with better knowledge of the two species can weigh in about this matter. At least 30 Stilt Sandpipers were observed as well, along with numerous Killdeer, Semipalmated Sandpipers, a couple of Least Sandpipers, several Lesser Yellowlegs, a Wilson's Snipe, a Dunlin, and a single Baird's Sandpiper. Our last stop of the day was at TR292, the now-famous "railroad tracks" pond near Bellevue. The Marbled Godwit reported earlier was present and feeding about 50 feet out from the road in a small puddle that had concentrated some fish in it as a result of the receding waters. The godwit was competing for the fish and other prey animals with Lesser Yellowlegs. A single Buff-Breasted Sandpiper was present near the puddle with the godwit, and American Golden-Plovers were present in good numbers. Across the tracks from the main pond are a set of three smaller ponds, one of which had two Wilson's Phalaropes and one Red-necked Phalaropes. At least 6 Baird's Sandpipers were present here as well, along with 4 Short-billed Dowitchers, Stilt Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and hordes of Lesser Yellowlegs. Also present were a few Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes and lots of Canada Geese and Great Egrets. Two Caspian Terns and a Common Tern were seen, but no Black Terns. Also noticeable absent were Greater Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers. For those who have yet to bird the Bellevue area, the ponds are rapidly drying, so don't waste any more time and get up there! Who knows what else might show up? Good birding, Andy Sewell Columbus, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ 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]