Following-up on Rebecca's posting ... I stopped at Ottawa Monday afternoon at 4pm on my way to Detroit and saw 75 - 100 swans. Here are a few pictures from my car window through the spotting scope - no tripod! http://picasaweb.google.com/mvalencic/SwansOfOttawaNWRNov2009# This is the first time I could clearly see the yellow mark at the base of the swans bill. The first-year birds were fascinating! Matt Valencic Chagrin Falls, OH (Geauga County) -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rebecca Hinkle Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 1:32 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Ottawa NWR Update, tundra swans and trail closures Tundra swans and even a few snow geese have arrived at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. Many tundra swans have been seen in the entrance pool along the road to the trail parking lot. They are present most mornings but do leave periodically to feed in the surrounding area. The snow geese have been seen sporadically around the refuge, most often in flight, twice over the visitor center. That being said the trails and all access beyond the visitor center will be CLOSED on Saturday and Sunday, November 21st and 22nd, and Monday, November 30 - Thursday, December 3rd. These trail closures are for visitor safety during the refuge controlled deer hunt. Rebecca E. Hinkle Visitor Services Manager Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 14000 West State Route 2 Oak Harbor, OH 43449 419-898-0014 ext. 17 ______________________________________________________________________ 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] No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.425 / Virus Database: 270.14.71/2510 - Release Date: 11/17/09 19:26:00 ______________________________________________________________________ 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]