Birding was rather slow and uneventful at The Wilds and surrounding areas today but the weather was stunning. Now that they are closed for the season - I was able to access to the Visitor's Center and Johnson Center. When the Wilds is open - parking is $5 at the bottom of the hill and private access to the top of the hill where the visitor's center is - is prohibited. On the contrary when they close for the season, if the access gates are open at the entrance to the Visitor's center, it's usually not a problem to go up and have a scope around. Be advised though that during the off season Wilds security will know you are there. This area allows excellent vantage points over a large portion of the interior of The Wilds - I had no luck in locating any Golden Eagles. I also searched fruitlessly in the Coal Haul/Coal Hill area with no luck. I was there for three hours before I saw the first and only Northern Harrier of the entire day. I did see one Rough-legged hawk though, the first of the season for me at this location. Ring-necked ducks (three different locations with 50-60 birds each) and Turkey vultures numbered in the hundreds. Everywhere you looked, Turkey vultures floated around lazily in thermals. One can only cover so much of this area in one day - many parts go unvisited during a whole day of birding so it's hard to imagine there are no Northern Shrikes in the area but I was unsuccessful in locating one. The weather has to get worse. Perhaps the highlight of the day was getting great looks at a Bobcat on SR 284 while heading South between International Road and SR 340. A very graceful and healthy looking an animal - it didn't allow me to watch it too long as it disappeared into nearby woods. Glen Crippen Burr Oak Lake ______________________________________________________________________ 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]