Scott & all-- The Ottawa vermilion flycatcher, a young male (the photos I've seen of the Headlands bird look like a female), was known to be around from 4 November to 12 December 2001. It was Ohio's third record (other records in 1958 and 1973). Photographers Brian Zwiebel and Sharon Cummings were the first to report it, and as it happened the latest public report came from Kent Miller. If anyone knows of earlier or later dates--both quite possible--please let us know. This period coincided with Ohio's only brown-headed nuthatch record, several rufous hummingbirds, lots of northern finches and snowy owls, and five pomarine jaegers passing some time in Rocky River. The discovery of this bird posed some novel challenges for ONWR staff: it was widely known to be present, and only 150 yards north of a closed gate. Some of us talked with them about how to handle the whole thing. Mindful of the fact that it was the season for hunting, some taking place close by, they scheduled open periods for observers to park outside the gate and walk in, as well as an auto route from the HQ marked by orange cones, during three days of the first week of the bird's stay. They provided supervision. I had the privilege of spending most of a day waiting for the bird with the future manager of ONWR, Doug Brewer, who was good company and a good sport about our peculiar hobby. The open period didn't last long enough for many observers, though, and when it was announced that the ONWR census team had refound the bird much later on 2 December, with its molt into adult plumage well advanced, birders clamored for more access, but it was not granted, partly in view of continued hunting. It turned out that some folks associated with the Refuge were strewing mealworms in the area to accommodate the bird during this period. Some were able to get a look at the bird, via spotting scopes, from the gate. While there were many birders who couldn't get a look, this event encouraged a new spirit of cooperation between non-hunters and the Refuge which is evident today, and I feel sure if such a rarity appears again more generous access will be available. Bill Whan Columbus p.s. historical details like this are available in back issues of the Ohio Cardinal, and on line via archives of this list. For the latter, some of the links on the OOS site are dead, but you can revive them via services like the Wayback Machine (q.v.). ______________________________________________________________________ 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]