The Columbus Audubon Duck Drop-in trip turned into a duck drop-off tally, as low numbers of waterfowl greeted the field trip to these two reservoirs.  The high numbers of loons and grebes and flocks of waterfowl of the prior weeks gave way to fewer birds, although there were still some good finds.  Highlights included:

Dabblers - mostly absent or hidden, with very few small flocks anywhere on the 2 lakes.  25 Shovelers at Oxbow Island was noteworthy.
Divers - a flock of scaup at Alum, along with 2 small groups of Bufflehead (1 at Alum the other in central Hoover)
Mergansers - modest numbers of Hoodeds (30-40) around Oxbow Island at Hoover, along with 5 Red-breasteds off Walnut St.Ramp
Loons - all Common, but not numerous: 4 at Alum, 10 at Hoover, with no site having more than 3
Grebes - Pied-billed at several locations on both lakes; 8-10 Horned on Hoover, no Eared off the Boardwalk at Hoover Area N
Gulls - small flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls at most stops, including 100-140 off Oxbow Island; Ring-bills were much less common
Raptors - adult Bald Eagles north of Cheshire causeway at Alum and off Oxbow Island at Hoover, while 2 juveniles were soaring over the County Line Bridge at Hoover.
Bluebirds - small high-flying flocks at several stops, indicating that they're probably still moving through.

The wild berry crop seemed extraordinary in the lower reaches of each reservoir.  The honeysuckle berries in some areas of Hoover, like the dam, were so thick as to seem like a scarlet haze around the bushes from a distance.  Despite this, Robins and other fruit-eaters were scarce here.  Most of them seem to be flocking in more urban suburbs of Columbus, feasing on the strong Bradford Pear crop there.

Rob Thorn
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EarthLink Revolves Around You.

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