On Friday, 01/09/09, I left work early and arrived at Armeleder Park at about 4:00 pm. I was looking for Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark and Short-eared Owl. I walked the trails between the picnic pavilion opposite the entrance and the south trail head. I met Kirk Westendorf there, who was also looking for the Short-eared Owls. A Northern Harrier was hunting the area, which was fun to watch, but not new for my January list. First, I found a flock of 16 Eastern Meadowlark in the short grassy area across from and east of the dog park. Then at about 5:15 - 5:20 pm, a Short-eared Owl flew south in front of me, roughly opposite the pavilion at the south trail head. The bird continued south and then soared up over the trees to the west and the river until I lost it. Kirk had seen it fly south from north in the park. Kirk gave me a tip on where to find White-crowned Sparrows, so I hustled north to the path to the observation point that overlooks the river. There on the north side I found three White-crowned Sparrows in the gathering dusk. On my way back to my van parked in the south lot at the trail head, I saw another (?) Short-eared Owl. It could have been another one or the same one that returned. It was east of the dog park in the short grass area between the main road south and the interior paths in the park. It was circling low over the grass and then landed in the north-east corner of the dark grass. I ended Friday with a list of 76, adding Eastern Meadowlark, Short-eared Owl and White-crowned Sparrow. Saturday morning, started very dreary with heavy rain. I started the day near home at Rowe Arboretum, hoping for Red-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Siskin, but without success. Then I returned to Armeleder Park, where I found a Savannah Sparrow. Then I went to Camp Dennison to look for the Horned Grebes reported there, but without success. However, I did find quite a few Pied-billed Grebes, and most of the other waterfowl that have been there recently, including Northern Shoveler and one Common Golden-eye. A flock of Cedar waxwings flew over. Next I visited Spring Grove Cemetery, hoping for Red-breasted Nuthatch (RBNU) and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and arriving rather late at about 1:30 pm. I found two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers near the woodland, but no RBNU. Even though it was a dreary day, there was a lot of bird activity with relatively large mixed flocks of Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers and with a few Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Near the feeder area, I found a female Purple Finch. I also found a single Hairy Woodpecker, one Brown Creeper and one Eastern Towhee. There were several flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos with White-throated Sparrows mixed in. East of the cemetery office, I found a flock of about 15 Cedar Waxwings. At about 3:15 pm I headed to Old St Joseph's Cemetery to look for the Merlin reported there recently. I found one Merlin at the top of the hill almost directly up from the entrance. This Merlin was being harassed by the crows, that were chasing it and dive-bombing it on it perches. I left St Joe's Cemetery at about 4:00 pm. There was just enough time to visit camp Dennison again. I found both Lesser Scaup (1 m, 1 f together) and nearby three male Greater Scaup for a good comparison. Again, I found no Horned Grebes. During this evening visit, there were about 30 hooded mergansers present, but I saw only 1 in the morning visit. I ended Saturday with three new birds, Savannah Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Merlin and a January list of 79. Not bad for about 4 full days of birding, mostly in SW Ohio. Jay Jay G. Lehman Cincinnati, OH [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ 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]