It's getting just plain DUCKY up here at Killdeer and Big Island. IF you are heading up this way, the ponds are still frozen pretty well, but the fields are flooded, so concentrate on them. Pond 27(1) had a few Tundra Swans hiding in it way in the back along with Geese, Mallards and Pintails. But there were more across the street in the flooded field. Herr Rd down in Big Island had the typical spring flooded field right by the road. The flooded area right behind it that is along 95 had nothing but Ring-necked Ducks...and Tundra Swans...There are so many flooded areas, I keep thinking that Snipe and Yellowlegs are around the corner. The turnover from Winter to Spring has begun! Regarding my list below, I was happy to see a LEOW today (I had forgotten how small overall they were), and also to be able to show my wife (who has still not been able to get the Saw-whet that is here) I won't disclose where it is...There are enough signs on the ground to point the observant where to look up...I leave the decision to go looking for it, and showing to others up to the discretion of each birder. I do have a documentation shot if needed by Cardinal or some other publication...but I won't post it yet so as to keep it's location as hidden as possible...maybe later in the Spring, when we are sick of Warblers, and it has flown back to Canada, I'll post it on Facebook. :-) We did collect a pellet so that my daughter and I can dissect it later...any pointers...I have rubber gloves. :-D Lists below. Happy Birding, and God Bless! Steve J Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area, Wyandot, US-OH Mar 13, 2015 9:45 AM - 11:15 AM Protocol: Traveling 1.0 mile(s) 30 species Canada Goose 200 Trumpeter Swan 2 Tundra Swan 30 Gadwall 6 American Wigeon 12 Mallard 30 Northern Pintail 30 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Rough-legged Hawk 1 Killdeer 20 Ring-billed Gull 6 Mourning Dove 10 Long-eared Owl 1 Well hidden, saw pellets on ground....well fed. Location will not be disclosed. Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 American Kestrel 4 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 8 Horned Lark 29 American Robin 14 European Starling 15 American Tree Sparrow 35 Song Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed Junco 8 Northern Cardinal 6 Red-winged Blackbird 50 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22328744 Big Island Wildlife Area--Herr Rd., Marion, US-OH Mar 13, 2015 11:45 AM - 12:05 PM Protocol: Stationary 19 species Canada Goose 50 Tundra Swan 20 American Wigeon 10 Mallard 20 Northern Pintail 20 Canvasback 12 Redhead 30 Ring-necked Duck 100 Lesser Scaup 20 Northern Harrier 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Killdeer 20 Mourning Dove 4 American Kestrel 2 American Crow 2 Tree Swallow 5 American Robin 2 European Starling 20 Red-winged Blackbird 8 View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S22328912 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]