This morning, as we took our walk around the property a little later than usual (10:30,) I heard my first-of-season field sparrow singing along the center fencerow at the top of our pasture hill, a high spot along Flint Ridge. I'll admit that I haven't been paying much attention to the sparrow, at least visually. Field sparrows may have been around already, just not vocal. The singing field sparrow is earlier than usual by a week or two, not surprising, since it is 64 degrees F. The unseasonably warm weather has activated plenty of singers: song sparrows, house finches, cardinals, of course Carolina wrens (who seem to sing all winter.) Flickers are flickering, and woodpeckers have begun to drum. Screaming killdeer are frequent overhead. Plenty of worm castings are in emerging grass and on the soil surface, indicating a food source, but I have not heard or seen woodcocks here yet. Our sheep are trying to graze. 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]