Did our last Hike the Dike walk for 2009 this morning. And what a beautiful morning it was! Thirteen people came out to enjoy the marsh. We drove to our location in the east marsh and walked from there. Saw huge flocks of mallards. Nice looks at wood ducks, who will soon be leaving. Also had gadwall and wigeon and coots. A couple of trumpeter swans flew over. Three eagles perched in a tree for all to admire. Tree swallows are still passing through and looked gorgeous in the morning sun. Saw deer and even a Gartner snake was out sunning. Lots of LBJ's flitting about...............could ID swamp, song, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows. Thought we had tree sparrows already, but never did get a good look. Just a reminder that the road beyond the Bird Center will be closed beginning Oct. 13 through November 28. It will be open on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays. The Bird Center, tower, and walking trails behind the Bird Center remain open all year. We are doing our monthly bird census on Thursday, Oct. 15th. Will report more at that time. Our next marsh walk will be held on Wooden Feather Day, November 29 at 1 pm. Happy Birding! Mary L. Warren Wildlife Communications Specialist Magee Marsh Wildlife Area 13229 W. State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449 419-898-0960 #31 FAX: 419-898-4017 [log in to unmask] "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." John Burroughs ______________________________________________________________________ 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]