We heard an American woodcock at the Scheeff East Point Preserve on Monday night, February 25. There were also about 150 common goldeneye in the open water between the ice offshore. 

On Sunday, February 24, there were 12 red-breasted mergansers, 33 common goldeneye, 2 bufflehead, and 4 herring gull working the open water at the State Route 357 turnaround at Scheeff. At Chapmans point there were also 10 common goldeneye and 6 herring gulls in the small open water over the reef. At the South Bass Island Lighthouse, there was a mixed flock of 250 red-winged blackbirds and starlings on the ground as well as four horned larks. In the open water off Airline Drive, there were over 200 goldeneyes, 12 mallards, and 15 red-breasted mergansers.

Ice has closed back in again but small pockets of open water hold common goldeneye. Herring and greater-black-backed gulls and an occasional bald eagle are seen on the ice off the west shore of South Bass feeding on the fish guts left behind from ice fishermen.

Even with the red-winged blackbirds and woodcocks it still is very much winter here!

Lisa Brohl

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