During this morning's hike around our property, while I was trimming with pruning shears along the southern part of our raspberry trail (edge habitat,) I heard a rapid-fire clucking that reminded me of a cuckoo. A few more steps and I heard it again, quite close. I spished, and the bird popped down from the treetops into the heavily shaded understory. I got a very good look, actually the best sighting I have ever had at a black-billed cuckoo, with binoculars from less than 10 meters. Very satisfying indeed! I have heard their calls here before, but I have always been reluctant to count the species on the yard list until I could get a decent sighting. This makes 139 species I have tallied here since the summer of 2000, on this average piece of Appalachian Ohio. Our "yard," Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm, is 57 acres of hilltop pastures and fields, bordered and dissected by three forested ravines. No wetlands to speak of, although there are numerous springs and seeps. It is located along the eastern part of Flint Ridge, in western Muskingum County. The raspberries are doing very well. There were a lot of blooms a couple weeks ago, pollination appears to have gone well, and if we get enough rain in June it promises a lot of berries, for us, the birds, and the other wildlife. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County ______________________________________________________________________ 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]