Yesterday there were 2 phoebes cavorting near the bridge over Pleasants Creek (and one in the Pony Pasture parking lot), and a barred owl keeping watch in the usual spot to the right as you approach the creek and nest hole. A red-shouldered hawk flew up out of the grass with a large frog between the bittern pool and the pond, and I got a great look at another pine warbler. No sign of great horned owl, so hopefully they are successfully nesting this year. This morning there was a barred owl above the trail and another to the right. Not sure if this means the nest failed or if they have not gotten started yet, but for awhile one of them was spending a lot of time in the hole and calling to the other one as dusk approached. On 3/18 Ron's photo showed the hole looking empty and I don't know that an owl has been seen in there since. I did think the nest failed in that hole one year (2005?), but if memory serves there was a fledgling at that location later in the spring. Seems awfully cold this morning for the young to be left to themselves. Yesterday there was a female hooded merg at Riverside and Stratford, but she did not stay long and no sign of her today. Few grebes seen, and the buffleheads that remain are all hanging out in the quiet water below the dead trees as the river runs high and fast with all the recent rain. Both kingfishers were flying in circles above the suspected burrows yesterday-only the male was seen this morning. A Coopers hawk soared above the location of the old nest, but not sure if there is a new net around this year. One was in those woods also during the winter count. Jan Richmond _____ From: va-richmond-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:va-richmond-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rachel Echols Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:37 PM To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [va-richmond-general] James River Park Wetlands, Richmond Today, Thursday, I visited the James River Park Wetlands for about an hour right after lunch. Notable birds were a juvenile red-shouldered hawk, a common yellowthroat singing, and a barred owl, calling loudly and perched in view for any observant birder to see. Rachel Echols Chester, VA