While on business today at this newly acquired state property (DeLorme 42D1), a flock of waterfowl caught my eye over a portion of the lake. It seemed an unusual leap-frogging movement of birds over the surface in a shallow embayment. When I glassed the area with binoculars I noticed a peregrine falcon perched atop a dead tree in the water. It almost immediately peeled off and flew over the ducks and then out of sight around the corner. Although these ducks at first appeared small, I couldn't find anything at this location other than 60 - 70 mallards. There were also approximately 300 Canada geese there but they were only mildly concerned by the peregrine. Elsewhere on the lake was a nice flock of 24 ruddy ducks and 16 buffleheads. Two bald eagles were soaring overhead. There is an active eagle's nest at this site and these were presumably the resident pair. A few words about this site: The former Wingfoot Lake Park, owned by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, is being purchased by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Actually the DOW has taken possession of some portions already although nothing is currently open to the public. The "park", consisting of day-use facilities such as picnic areas and playgrounds, is being transferred to the Division of Parks & Recreation and will become Wingfoot Lake State Park. This is tentatively scheduled to open to the public on Memorial Day, 2010. This will provide access for birders to Wingfoot Lake (approximately 500 acres) and the park itself consisting of +/- 80 acres of scattered mature oaks and manicured grounds. The balance of the property, approximately 150 acres, will become Wingfoot Lake Wildlife Area and is also tentatively scheduled to open to the public on Memorial Day, 2010. The wildlife area offers a little more birding potential with additional access to the lakeshore as well as some category 3 wetlands south of Wingfoot Road. Goodyear has retained the Blimp Base and will continue to launch and land the blimp there offering an added viewing bonus to visitors to the area. This portion is restricted access and is mostly fenced off. Please obey all signage currently present (e.g. No Trespassing Zone or Property of Goodyear Company) and look for future news releases on the opening of this new state land. Dan Kramer Dover <mailto:[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]