3/26-- Here is my hopefully succinct account of what I saw (or often what I didn't see) in several locations between Old Lyme and Pawcatuck today: Dodge Pond, Niantic: all ducks gone, 2 pied billed grebes in almost full breeding plumage, 2 Am. coots Four Mile River boat launch, O. Lyme -- a few hooded mergs, no herons or egrets, osprey platform empty, song sparrows singing Smith Neck Rd, O. Lyme -- many ospreys visible from the boat launch at the end of the road; also: along the road-- a mixed flock of common grackles, brown headed cowbirds, and r w blackbirds in with a zillion robins and lots of singing juncos DEP headquarters, O. Lyme -- no sight or sound of my imaginary least bittern. I even tried imitating its call (if Pat Dugan were to have heard me, he would have shed real tears). But I did get a quick response -- a Carolina wren! Anyway, it was a great place to relax and have my lunch! Tantamorantum Rd, Lyme- in the pond on the right of the road -- several eastern bluebirds chattering 1 eastern phoebe singing 8 ring necked ducks a courting... 1 great blue heron a... Smith Cove, Waterford -- 20 hooded mergansers, no sign of the black vultures that have roosted here this winter several farm fields in Stonington/Pawcatuck area -- I was looking for Wilson's snipe but found none mainly because the puddles in the fields are mostly dried up. A North Anguilla Rd field had a huge mixed flock of blackbirds similar to the one I mentioned above on Smith Neck Rd, with esp. large numbers of cowbirds St. Mary's Cemetery in Stonington on RT 1 -- all ducks gone Barn Island, Stonington -- it was approaching dusk, but I still managed to see 1 northern harrier, 1 great blue heron and two osprey platforms occupied. Later this week I hope to get over to Conn College Arboretum to see if the tree swallows are back. Carolyn Cimino, Waterford ************** Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom00030000000001)