First, my two-cents worth on the fish crows. (I can't quite resist a good discussion, rare on this list as noted by Bill.) Dr. Andy Jones's audio recording brought back memories. Fish Crows were dirt common in the Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach, Florida area, when I spent inordinate amounts of time there back during the heavily nautical portion of my strange career, in the late 80s - early 90s. Thanks for the memories! I have no real desire to visit the eastern suburbs of Cleveland to join the state-list twitching frenzy, if that indeed is the nature of what transpires. As the discussion meandered into other species, it touched on some of those seen or unseen on the morning walk around my property that I just finished. I saw several American crows, and heard many more. Since Jane left early this morning to process some wool at a fiber mill in Indiana, my morning walk following the farm chores turned into a true nature observation walk, instead of a fitness walk. A brief Gahanna area digression - I got my fill of fitness yesterday constructing a bridge across a ditch in my brother's back yard in Blacklick, an eastern Columbus suburb very near to Gahanna Woods. Speaking of which, has anyone seen Merlins in that area? Around 6PM a pair of smallish falcons swooped swiftly overhead as I was gathering up my tools. They seemed slightly larger and darker that kestrels, but smaller than peregrines, which I suppose they might have been. Anyway, something to watch out for. They seemed out of place... Back to my place, common yellowthroats have indeed arrived. I heard one singing at dusk on Monday evening, but failed to spot it. This morning I found two separate territories actively serenaded by perky, vocal males. I pished once to bring out the second of the two, and he popped out only five feet from my nose. Welcome back! My first of season catbird was trading fours with a mockingbird this morning in the edge above the "yellow bucket" ravine, offering a nice comparison of song styles. I didn't hear a brown thrasher this morning, even though I hung out for a time at two locations where I have seen and heard them earlier this season. An ovenbird continues to call from the east bank deep hollow somewhere near the southern property line. The Louisiana waterthrush was silent this morning while I was in the vicinity near Valhalla Falls. On the "bluebird" trail, four actual live bluebird nestlings have hatched from the eggs I found in Box #6 a couple weeks ago, in both instances confirmed by quick and hopefully non-disruptive examination. The female returned five minutes after my intrusion (the last I will do,) to a chorus of cheeping. There are a few tree swallows swooping around the hilltop, although I haven't managed to figure out if and where they might be nesting. Field sparrows are displaying all sorts of mating behavior. A bluejay perched in a shrub looked watchful for potential meals. I didn't hear a blue-winged warbler where I located one last week, near Box #7, but I heard one up on the edge above the spring hollow by the north property line. Numbers of white-throated sparrows flitted about the sticks in the fallen locust grove. Another large black locust has fallen in the recent winds, adding to the tangles. Wildflowers continue an impressive display. It has been a great season for golden ragwort, not only in their usual patches but a few others as well. The Virginia bluebells are about finished with blooming, and settling into the early fruiting stage. Showy orchis is popping up in many places. The usual cast of others, spring cress, violets, wild geranium, blue phlox, Greek valerian, etc. certainly make for a nice "garden." Beautiful morning! Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County The Flint Ridge upland and forested ravines ______________________________________________________________________ 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]