A kestrel perched this morning around on the utility wire across from our place, Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm, on Flint Ridge Rd. in Hopewell Township, Muskingum County. I saw the same bird in the same place, probably, three days ago on November 30 as well. I should put up a box. This species has been an irregular visitor over the past 12 and a half years (since we moved in) and it seems that it would be suitable country for them. I heard the first hooting of a great horned owl shortly after dusk (5:50 PM) on November 30 as well, distant but distinct, off in the hollows somewhere to the northeast. I was filling the water trough for the sheep on the slope behind the barn. Every year I love to pause and mark this sign of the change of season. Charming... Saturday morning when Jane and I took our usual daily hike around our property, an owl swooped down and away from us as we were climbing the hill in the woods near the end of the field at the back end of the property. The look was too brief to tell if it was great horned or barred. While driving into Zanesville Saturday morning, December 1, I saw a kingfisher perched on the utility wire above Sycamore Creek along Rt. 40 near the Kimes Rd. intersection. I had seen (probably) the same bird on the 29th as well. I didn't slow down to check the gender, but if I see it again I may. We may have another over-wintering mockingbird, which was an annual occurrence 2001 - 2007, but which has been absent since. I saw one on the center fenceline at the top of the hill on yesterday (12/2) and again this morning in the evergreens at the Ebe's, our neighbors just to the south. Other than that. plenty of the usual winter residents, delightfully including a half dozen or more bluebirds hanging around the picnic site. Very vocal Carolina wrens and bluejays today in the 60 degree temperatures. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum 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]