OHIO-BIRDS Archives

February 2007

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From:
Rob Thorn <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Fri, 2 Feb 2007 15:22:48 -0500
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While birding around Alum Lake this morning, I found both a female SURF SCOTER and a female BLACK SCOTER south of the Cheshire causeway.  The best place to search for both is from the end of the Summer Ridge access, which is roughly across from Summer Ridge rd where it intersects Africa Rd (along the east side of the reservoir about .75 mile south of Cheshire).  The reservoir is surprisingly open, with ice covering only the calmer inlets and most of the reservoir north of Berlin Station.  There is also a shelf of ice just south of the Cheshire causeway.  Other waterbirds in the area included 14-15 Common Goldeneye, 5 Bufflehead, 3 Redhead, 7-8 Ring-necked Ducks, and 4 Lesser Scaup, along with the requisite flocks of Mallards and Canada Geese.

This is now the most likely spot for many 'sea waterfowl' in central Ohio.  It is easily the most reliable spot for Goldeneye, and their numbers can reach 50-80 here in February.  It is also usually very reliable for Horned Grebes and loons, although I didn't find any today.   It has also produced a steady trickle of surf scoter records over the last 3 winters (1 was here on the Hoover CBC earlier this winter).  It's probably not a coincidence that Alum Lake is the only lake in central Ohio with a heavy infestation of Zebra mussels.  The goldeneye, bufflehead, scaup, and scoters were all diving this morning, presumably feeding on this bounty.  No telling how long these conditions will last, however, since the frigid weather due this weekend might freeze over most of the reservoir.


Rob Thorn
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EarthLink Revolves Around You.

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