We found limited shorebird habitat at Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area this afternoon, but water levels look promising for shorebird migration. Funk Bottoms is in Wayne County west of Wooster. This spring there was extensive flooding in this area and much of the wildlife area was under water for most of the spring and early summer. The water level has dropped and all the roads are now open, including the road to the observation tower. The pond near the tower was lower than some years and we found 5 Spotted Sandpipers around the edge. There were many Great Blue Heron out in the marsh and we were able to find a gathering of Sandhill Cranes looking south of the tower -- nice to see the Cranes as we wondered if the high water would have discouraged them this year. Wilderness Road on the south side of the wildlife area is always worth checking if you are in the area. There is a pond near Elyria Road where the water level fluctuates with the season. This pool is beginning to show mud flats on the edges and should attract shorebirds in migration. There were about 40 Killdeer there this afternoon and one Spotted Sandpiper. When we arrived there were 10 Bald Eagles in the air at one time, north of Wilderness Road and over the marsh. Ken Ostermiller Westfield Center Medina 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]