A suspected Nelson's Sparrow was on my property in the early evening on Friday. It was about 15 feet above me in a tree, but it left before I could grab my binoculars so I don't feel completely comfortable saying it was certainly a Nelson's. Neither the flock or the sparrow returned yesterday. It was hanging out with a mixed flock of songbirds that has been visiting for the past week. The flock includes an Eastern Bluebird, A Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Tennessee Warbler and two Black-capped Chickadees. A few other small birds had joined them, but I couldn't get a good look at those either. If they reappear, I'll post it. No sign of them so far today. I've also had a Red-winged Blackbird singing here since October 1. Last evening another was counter-singing. An Eastern Meadowlark has been present and calling along my fence line for more than a week as well. While working on the property the past few weeks, I've seen several Bald Eagles heading south. One was flying in a kettle of 15 Turkey Vultures. A few days later, another flew (safely) above two small aircraft that were heading north. A friend reported an Osprey flying over the Mahoning River in the Newton Falls - Lake Milton area last week. On a non-birding note, I have iris blooming for the second time this year. In twelve years of growing iris, this is a first for me. It seems as though this weather has everything confused.... Judy Hochadel *Deacon Creek Farm Champion Twp., Trumbull 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]