The Columbus Audubon trip to these two reservoirs north of Columbus found blustery conditions, but there were still some interesting birds.  The wind was stiff enough to put whitecaps on most of the open sections of Alum & Hoover, but some waterbirds were still lurking in the lees of islands, causeways, and dams.  Landbird migration was essentially over, but some winter residents were starting to show up.  Highlights included

Diving Ducks - Alum had none (at least in the southern end), but Hoover had several flocks in the lee of Oxbow Island, including 100 Scaup, 40 Ring-necks, and 60+ Ruddies

Loons & Grebes - a Common Loon was fishing off the Alum Creek Lake beach, while several Horned & Pied-billed Grebes were in the lee of Alum Creek Lake dam and around Oxbow Island at Hoover

Shorebirds - nothing but Kildeer, but they were very widespread, topped by 15+ around the ALum lake beach.  The level of Alum Lake is startlingly low, with acres of sandflats exposed, but little in the way of shorebirds other than Kildeer.

Gulls - Alum had the usual big flock on the beach; it had 200+ Ring-bills, 20+ Bonapartes, and 10 Herring, but nothing rarer.  Hoover had several fair-sized flocks of foraging Bonapartes, including 60+ off Oxbow Island and 80+ off the County Line Bridge

Raptors - very little despite the windy conditions.  Only 6-7 Turkey Vultures remained at Hoover; a big flock of 60+ birds over Gahanna on Saturday may have signaled the last big push of TV migrants.

Landbirds - Horned Larks were at several spots around the sandbars of Alum Creek Lake.  The Visitors Center fields there held Tree Sparrows and 1 Field Sparrow, along with 2 Mockingbirds.  Oxbow, Sunbury causeway, & Maxtown at Hoover had nothing unusual.

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