Birders- Maumee Bay State Park is a great place for owls and right around the corner from where I live. I had five species of owls there in early spring. It is sixteen miles northwest of Magee Marsh. From Magee, take Rt.2 west to Curtice Road and head north until it dead ends into the park. Saw-whets like to roost in the thick tangles that line the paved bike path between the campground and sledding hill. This is a two mile loop that starts by the sledding hill or can be accessed from the beach area parking lot. There are several grass lined paths that intersect with the paved bike path where the birds also may be found. You can see these trails if you zoom in on the satellite view of Google Maps. Bring waterproof boots if you intend on walking the grass paths. The owls have also been heard and seen on the Toledo CBC at the far east end of the park near Mallard Club Marsh. Drive east between the cabins until the road dead ends. Park and walk north toward the lake. I have not had any yet this fall/winter season, but I do scan the tangles thoroughly when I am walking the path. Long-eared Owls can be found roosting in the far northwest corner of the paved bike path near Bayshore Road. I've also had them at the southwest corner of the campground. These birds are very skittish and will flush easily if you try to get too close. I have not come across any yet this season, but that is not to say they aren't there. Short-eared Owls were seen in early spring over the golf course. These birds are usually spotted above the grassy area near the sledding hill at dusk. Northern Harriers can also be seen in this area on occasion. Great Horned & Screech owls can be found just about anywhere in the park in the wooded areas. I had a Great Horned a few days ago in the southwest corner of the campground and a Screech behind the nature center. The beach area is a good spot to checkout gulls, ducks, and geese as well as shorebirds in the fall. This area is also the spot to check for Snow Buntings and a possible Snowy Owl. Also check for Purple Sandpipers on the breakwall and/or possible flyby Cave Swallows. I had two Great Black-backed Gulls on the inland beach a few days ago. That beach is also good for a lingering Dunlin or Killdeer. There has been a Northern Shrike hanging out in the campground just north of the pond. I had a Northern Mockingbird and late Catbird along the paved bike path this fall. Good Birding! Sherrie Duris 2012 Vice President Field Trip Coordinator/Webmaster Toledo Naturalists' Association www.toledonaturalist.org ______________________________________________________________________ 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]