Nothing REALLY spectacular this weekend. Woodcocks have returned to La Rue. I hear at least 5 or 6 peenting and flying out in the switch grass to the north west of town. A Blue-winged Teal was on the Marion County side of the road across from Pond 27 at Killdeer Plains(Wyandot) yesterday. Also had 130-140 Greater White-fronted Geese in Pond 27(a). Lots of ducks, and Harriers at most of the ponds and wet spots. The Reservoir is almost drained, and as a result there are not that many waterfowl. Still waiting on Wood Ducks. Lots of pipeline construction happening to the north of CH71, be careful and watch for crews along 71. No Long-eared Owls as far as I know. I have a theory that part of the "problem" for them is that the areas that are the traditional grounds are also hunted quite regularly,(Deer and Varmints) so maybe they just can't handle all the shooting, and are out looking for quieter spots. Not the complete reason, but certainly a factor. Big Island Wildlife Area (Marion) is kind of slow, but it is kind of birdy. Lots of ducks hiding in the grass, not much in the open waters. Eagles everywhere. Snipe out on Herr Road. Harriers are loving the wind, I imagine the Short-eared Owls are not. Lawrence Woods (Hardin) had 31 species. Basic migrants are returning Blackbirds setting up territory, Meadowlarks are as well. Killdeer are at every wet spot around the preserve. I took the opportunity to drive around the perimeter of Lawrence Woods and got a couple of raptors that were hiding out in the back. Barred Owls were calling all around the back side of the boardwalk. Red-headed Woodpeckers are starting to really shine again. Waiting for first wave of long distance migrants, hoping for Yellow-bellied Woodpeckers again. County lists below. Happy birding and God bless, Steve J 54 species over the past two days. Killdeer had 32 species: Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan Tundra Swan Gadwall American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Sandhill Crane Killdeer American Kestrel Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark American Robin European Starling American Tree Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird House Sparrow Big Island Wildlife Area had 15 species...although I am missing a checklist somewhere...I'm missing Ring-billed Gulls from the generated lists below. Canada Goose Trumpeter Swan American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Mourning Dove American Kestrel Lawrence Woods had 31 species: Canada Goose Ring-necked Pheasant Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Killdeer Mourning Dove Barred Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling American Tree Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle American Goldfinch House Sparrow And I finished the day here in La Rue with American Woodcock. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]