Northern Wheatear

If by chance anyone locally is itching to chase... pm me!   Looks like 2 1/2- 3 hour drive from Toledo.

John Habig, Shane Eggleston and I arrived at the Yoder residence between 5:30 and 5:45 pm last night, Saturday, 09/12/09, after hectic changes in plans yesterday after Rick Asamoto called Shane, Shane called John and John called me!  Whew!   John had been at Acton Lake and headed back to the Dayton area to pick up Shane.  We met in and left from Carlisle at a little past 2:00 pm and headed to Holmes county carefully skirting Columbus to miss the football traffic.  I have included my best photos when the bird got close enough without pushing it, because other birders were on the way.  The light was not optimum, and I feel lucky to have obtained what I did.   At about 7:00 pm, we left the Yoders, but not before getting instructions on how to find a nearby farm to look for Barn Owls.  We finally did have a Barn Owl fly over us "screeching/screaming" after 9:00 pm and then it gave a bill clacking noise and flew over again screaming.  It was a great way to end an eventful day under brilliant stars and a clear sky, and vsiting with the friendly owners of the farm and a neighbor.  For those of us who live in or near metropolitan areas in Ohio, those brilliant stars weer a special treat!  Shane added two life birds, Northern Wheatear and Barn Own, John added one life bird Northern Wheater,and I added a fantastic new species to my Ohio list.