I was afield and "aforest" on our property between 11 AM and 1 PM today. Certainly the most startling encounter for me was a possible or probable yellow-billed cuckoo. I understand that this is early, since the species is a late spring migrant. I invite comments. My experience was thus: (Locations are my own names for places on our property, and I use them for my own later reference.) Around 11:30 I was trailblazing my way through last year's fallen trees (from the windstorm) and the multiflora rose encroachments on my trail just inside the southside edge of the Nibelheim Ravine. Several small warblers (palm and blue-winged) were foraging around the blooming deciduous canopy. While focused on the small birds, I saw a comparatively very large bird swoop through the mid-story, and come to a partially obscured (by intervening branches) perch 40 feet distant. I briefly had this bird in binocular view, and during this 2 or 3 second sighting I saw the underside of a partially-fanned, long, wedge-shaped tail, with multiple, large, flashy, lateral white patches. The effect was very striking and memorable. My footing was not good (muddy, with logs around my feet, and rose tentacles grabbing at my jacket) and as I shifted I stumbled. So it goes. When I regained my stance I had lost the bird. The next thing I saw was a pair of brown thrashers in the same vicinity, but the previous bird was hardly a brown thrasher (although fairly similar in size.) So, I hope I get some comments from those who might know if this sighting of *Coccyzus americanum* is plausible for April 28. The size, shape, behavior and field marks were right. I did not hear it vocalize. The date seems a bit off, and I don't recall seeing it reported yet this year. I do not have it on my "yard" list, although there is no reason why it should not occur here. I have heard vocalizations here before, in summer, but my own rules require a first twitch to be visual. This observer has been at this birdwatching thing for 51 years, although he has his clumsy moments. In other news, first-of-season palm warbler (see above), and yellow-breasted chat. Other warblers: Louisiana waterthrush, ovenbird, yellow, blue-winged, and Dendroica/Vermivora sp. First of season rose-breasted grosbeak, heard multiple times, seen once. I heard no white-throated or white-crowned sparrows today. Perhaps they have moved on through. A red-headed woodpecker was on the utility pole with our suet feeders this morning. This "bonus" made the woodpecker species count 6 today, along with downy, hairy, flicker, red-bellied, and pileated (the standard 5.) I tried to find a sapsucker, to get all 7, but alas to no avail. I'm going back out to look for the cuckoo... (now 3:28 PM) Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm 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]