As some readers of this list are aware - Morgan County in SE Ohio is sparsely populated and contains vast mature forests fragmented by farms and other cleared properties. The majority of Burr Oak Lake (or reservoir) exists in the southeast portions of the county. The entire north end of Burr Oak over the past 5 years has been inundated with lotus plants, and this plant has literally consumed several square miles of lake. This area has exhibited excellent dabbling duck, wader and shorebird habitat, but if one desires to glimpse into this area now, you have to check it out before the lotus takes over. I did just that last night and set the scope far into an area that in a couple weeks will be invisible until late fall. This same exact area has hosted Glossy ibis, night herons, and 4 tern species in the past during migration. Last night I found a very vocal and mobile American Wigeon drake calling incessantly as it weaved in and out of the vegetation in this area. A Solitary sandpiper made its lonesome way around this same water's edge. Then, 24 cormorants flew in and tried to land in some massive oak trees that hang over the water. Some were successful, some were not and the rest moved on. This is the largest group of this species I have seen in these parts, with my previous high being 11 in 2008. Not a common species here. A distant thunderstorm rolling in and an otherwise very calm atmosphere (low atmospheric pressure) made for unique ability to hear this wigeon calling. As I started to drive away, I spooked 12 Spotted sandpipers off the rocky shoreline. Most local breeders (not all) are back on territory and setting up shop. Hooded and Kentucky warbler, Worm-eating, White-eyed Vireo, Common yellowthroat, Cerulean. I have yet to hear a chat though - they should be here soon. Blue-winged and Prairie warbler have already become quiet where as last week they were both singing all the time. Both of these species nest on the property here. Song sparrows, phoebes and bluebird babies are ready to leave the nest. 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]