While continuing my fence de-construction project and burning huge heaps of ice storm fallout today - I had two Woodcocks calling and flying around the property (old Delorme 70 D2) this evening right before dark for about 15 minutes. This is two weeks earlier than the past three years in a row when they typically arrive timely on Feb. 27 or 28. Last week a friend of mine reported hearing one in east central Athens County as well. Also of note was one Pine Siskin at the feeders and the neighborhood Screech Owl singing in the middle of the day. I haven't seen the group of Purple Finches since the ice melted I was hosting up to 7 or 8 birds each day during that cold icy weather. Red-shouldered Hawks are courting or at least hinting of such interest. I have a noisy pair that have been hanging out quite a bit together and flying erratically at one another for the past week. It's blatantly spring as far as I am concerned - may the new season begin! Good February birding to you all... Glen Crippen Burr Oak Lake ______________________________________________________________________ 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]