Forwarding this for Jack Stenger. BW "Yesterday afternoon (April 23) I birded Big Island Wildlife Area in Marion County. Big Island is loaded with shorebirds and other water birds. Highlights include large numbers of common shorebirds, 2 WILLETS, 1 American Golden-Plover, 2 Common Moorhens, and Virginia Rail, Sora, and multiple lingering ducks. Below is a list of the best shorebird locations. - The Conservation Reserve Program property half a mile north of the SR 203 and SR 739 intersection. The habitat consists of one small pool that held 2 pectorals, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, and the golden plover. - The impoundments along the north side of Larue Prospect Rd. Viewing was difficult here, but there were many shorebirds tucked throughout in the wet grass. They were easiest to count when they flew. Here there were 21 Greater Yellowlegs, 15 Lesser Yellowlegs, 7 Least Sandpipers, and 15 Pectoral sandpipers. The pair of moorhens and 45 Ring-necked Ducks were also here. - The impoundment along the north side of SR 95 1.5 miles east of New Bloomington. to see this park in a pull-off on the south side of the road. You can walk up towards the railroad tracks to see above the levy. This was the best shorebird habitat as there's a lot of mud exposed. There were 120 pectorals present, 1 Dunlin, 12 Greater Yellowlegs, and 8 Lesser Yellowlegs. - The skypools at the intersection of Herr Rd and SR 95. Close views of 45 pectorals, but not much diversity. Habitat is extensive, though. Jack Stenger Delaware, OH" P.S. Recently I posted that the Franklin County record for American golden-plovers was 500+. I have since found out that Milton Trautman found 2000+ (and an equal number of pectoral sandpipers) near Galloway SW of town on 7-8 April 1956; large flocks were noted elsewhere that spring. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ 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]