I had a lot of errands to run in Licking County this morning, so decided to take back roads at a slow pace with my windows down and my car heater on. En route between Alexandria and Pataskala, I heard and then saw a flock of White-winged Crossbills in spruce trees along Jersey Mill Road, about ½ mile east of State Road 310. There are many conifers along this stretch of road, so the birds may stick around for awhile. The new State Route 161 is not yet on internet map sites, but it is open from Columbus to the exit for 310; Jersey Mill is ¼ mile north of the exit. At the intersection of Jersey Mill and Jug Streets, where the creek goes under the road, there is a pair of Belted Kingfishers. They’re there year-round, and today was no exception. Watch the cornfields for horned larks. Also check out any vultures that fly over, since this site is within flying distance for Granville’s “famous” vultures. You can usually find a few Black Vultures – sometimes hundreds – with the Turkey Vultures in and around Granville. On Watkins Road between Hollow and Wesleyan Chapel, where the road goes through swampy woods, I came upon a flock of about 40 Tufted Titmice in the road. I’ve never seen so many titmice at once – especially without any chickadees mixed in. Good Birding! Heather Nagy ______________________________________________________________________ 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]