First I saw the previously reported 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS fairly close in off the Harveysburg Rd ramp. Lots of Mallards, a few Black Ducks, & 1 Horned Grebe also observed here. Then I noticed a dark-mantled gull sitting out in the middle of the lake. Upon inspection I found it to be a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. I observed it for a good 10 mins before it took up & flew to the far side of the lake to join a group of Ring-billed & Herring Gulls standing on ice bordering the water. Even from this distance I could pick out the darker-mantled bird. Next I checked the Youth Pond & Swimming Beach. There was a group of Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, & a male Purple Finch by the Youth Pond & a PINE SISKIN sitting with some Robins up in the top of a tree by the Beach. Finally I checked the North Boat Ramp & upon arrival found a MERLIN perched in a tree right by the ramp which then flew across the lake. Also found 1 Ruddy Duck, about 60 American Coot, & 6 BLACK SCOTERS (4 males & 2 females) out on the lake. Add a Belted Kingfisher fishing the cove there & it was an excellent morning! ______________________________________________________________________ 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]