A cold but productive morning today with 50 species along the trail. I walked 5.6 miles round trip (3 hours 40 minutes). Several local species were seen carrying nesting material or food, so breeding season has definitely begun. Some of the local birds (Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow and Swamp Sparrow) were well-represented and singing like crazy. Tufted Titmouse numbers seemed a little low, but they were very quiet. I'm guessing that is due to them being involved in nesting activities. (I saw two taking nesting material from a cavity and flying away with it). Highlights include: Greater Yellowlegs (19); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (15); Golden-crowned Kinglet (4); Broad-winged Hawk (1); Gray-cheeked Thrush (1), Hermit Thrush (2), Lincoln's Sparrow (1) and possible Slate-colored Fox Sparrows (2 - see notes below). Judy *Notes on possible Slate-colored Fox Sparrows*:* Two birds seen about 1 mile apart from each other Gray head, no distinct markings, just plain gray, which extended to the back Dark chocolate brown streaks, which were fine but prominent, on white chest Rusty tail, wings somewhat rusty Heavy, sparrow-type beak (lower mandible seemed yellowish or paler, hard to see with the lighting - could have been the sun reflecting on it) Song-sparrow sized but a bit larger (no other birds nearby for comparison) Seen in tangles of vines and branches, then flew to brushy area ** If anyone has insight regarding the identification of these two birds, please let me know/comment about it. They were very different.* *The list, in alphabetical order:* American Crow several American Robin numerous American Goldfinch 2 Barn Swallow 3 Belted Kingfisher 1 Black-capped Chickadee 29 Blue Jay numerous Blue-winged Teal 3 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Brown-headed Cowbird several Canada Goose several Carolina Wren 1 Chipping Sparrow 1 Common Grackle numerous Downy Woodpecker 14 Eastern Phoebe 1 Eastern Towhee 3 European Starling several Fox Sparrow (Slate-colored?) 2 Gadwall 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Green-winged Teal 2 Greater Yellowlegs 19 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Hermit Thrush 2 House Finch 2 House Sparrow 5 Killdeer 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Mallard 13 Mourning Dove 2 Northern Cardinal 34 Northern Flicker 1 Northern Pintail 7 Northern Shoveler 2 Pied-billed Grebe 2 Purple Martin 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker 5 Redhead 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-winged Blackbird numerous Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 Song Sparrow 16 Swamp Sparrow 8 Tree Swallow 7 Tufted Titmouse 11 Turkey Vulture 5 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 ______________________________________________________________________ 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]