I spent the morning looking for unusual birds pushed into these urban areas by the extended cold.  Despite the low temperatures, however, large sections of the Scioto River remain open, even if surrounding ponds and lakes are frozen.  Here, as in other parts of the city, large flocks of Robins & Starlings are feasting on berry bushes and fruit trees.  Other highlights included:

Dabbling Ducks - nothing but Mallards & Black Ducks, but lots of them (500+) below Griggs dam (where almost all of them were Mallards).

Diving Ducks - scarce, with a few Ring-necked Ducks at both Griggs (2) and Marble Cliff (18).  Hooded Mergansers were also present, in similar numbers.

Other waterbirds - a lone Pied-billed Grebe was below Griggs

Herons - Great Blues were scattered all along the river, with 7 below Griggs tops.

Raptors - Red-tails at many locations, often along the river.  The only Coopers Hawk was patrolling through Grandview.

Sapsucker - 1 was at a traditional spot in Grandview, along Goodale Drive.

Brown Creepers - several were below the dam at Griggs, while another was in Grandview.

Hermit Thrush - 1 was lurking in berry bushes along the bikepath at Marble Cliff, one of the few places not visited by swarms of Robins & Starlings.

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