Today, I had an ordinary trip turned into a super trip. I started by visiting Pearson Metropark. Saw the usual Chickadees, WB Nuthatches, Juncos (1 was an Oregon), Goldfinches, Downy Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmice, Lots of Cardinals, House Finches, & lots of House Sparrows. Spotting a White-throated Sparrow with the trees pleased me. As I was getting ready to leave, a Sharp-shinned Hawk shot down & nailed a female Cardinal, feeding on the ground, next to a feeder. As I reached in my pocket for my camera, he left with his prize. Then, as I headed towards the door, a couple of Blue Jays brightened up the side feeders. Not too bad! I drove over to the Bayshore Power Plant to see what was in the cooling water. I soon noted that there were large numbers of Herring Gulls & Ring-billed Gulls. Then a flock of about 20 Mallards took off. One was pure white. Since he easily flew with the others, I assume he was an albino. He was only about 100 feet away. Always like to see something like that. Also, saw Scaup, mostly Lesser, a small number of Canada Geese, 1 Great Blue Heron, a Coot swam by me & 2 Red-breasted Mergansers flew by me. Have to get me a new telescope, would probably have gotten a few more. I drove to the NW corner of Maumee SP, where I have seen Long-eared Owls roosting this time of year. Didn't see any birds of any kind, this time. Then I drove to the Nature Building, also at Maumee Bay SP. At first there was almost nothing. Then the Naturalist came over & showed me where the Red-breasted Nuthatch hung out. He was there, all right. While we were looking a Kestrel shot over, chasing almost everything. Soon afterward, the birds started returning. Evidently, they knew he was there. About 30 Tree Sparrows showed up, along with a few House Sparrows, Goldfinches, White-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Junco & 1 Starling. As I drove away, I noticed my pickup was slipping a little in the snow. Time to go home. No sense spoiling a good day. V. Lee Grover ______________________________________________________________________ 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]