This morning after farm chores Jane and I departed on the morning walk without my going back to the house to retrieve my binoculars. It turned into mostly a fitness walk around the farm, but I heard some new sounds. As we were climbing the hill through the horse pasture I heard multiple mewings from what sounded all the world like the first of season catbird. That completes the local mimids on the year list. The first yellow warbler of the year sounded forth from the forest edge as we crested the hilltop. Later, in the woods at the northeast corner, I heard the raspy singing of the first scarlet tanager. Wood thrushes are gaining in numbers and song. Early this afternoon I stole an hour from computer work and slipped out to clear multiflora rose from a seldom visited trail. This trail is very good next month for hooded warblers, if what has happened for the past few years is anything to go on, but they haven't arrived yet. When I finished that trail work (what we call the ARA Trail) I walked around the successional field on the tributary ridge. A cheery "feee - bzzzzz" greeted me as I turned for home. First blue-winged warbler of the season. Today the weather seems to be mostly to the northwest. We have warm southwest winds, lots of humidity. The spring beauties and Virginia bluebells are at their spectacular peak. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County ______________________________________________________________________ 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]