A few tidbits encountered on other states' mailing lists: (1) a molting black ruff was found at Bombay Hook the other day; I'll keep an eye out for photos, but the chances are not so bad that this is the bird many of us saw at Big Island WA in late April. This seems to be the only ruff in the public eye now; it is a decidedly rare species, withe very few if any reports in the east since April, and readily-recognizable males come in numerous color combinations. This one sounds like it could be the one we had. News on the Delaware list http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/DEBD.html Does anyone know of any research/responsible speculation on the origin of eastern NA ruffs, and have they ever bred here? (2) Overall depressing news about the number of oiled birds successfully cleaned and subsequently surviving. Radio text at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128320107 . Just another reason to contribute to NPR. (3) More detail on the phenomenal migratory capabilities of rufous hummingbirds, with some good links to scientific articles: http://www.burdr.com/2010/07/rufous-hummingbird-flies-from-florida-to-alaska/ (4) And just a reminder of the long-distance migrations just beginning: http://alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/shorebirds/barg_updates.html 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]