Given that I'm busy this holiday, I at least can hold off yesterday's post until today (when it's more appropriate).  This reservoir northwest of Columbus (at the edge of the suburb of Dublin) is named for an early Columbus politico/engineer, and tends to get lost in the swarm of reports from other bigger reservoirs.  It was ice-covered as recent as a week ago, but now is virtually ice-free.  As a result, the big bolus of waterfowl that winter in the Scioto below the dam has spread up into the lake.  Add in migrant waterfowl and some early landbird migrants, and the day turned quite interesting.  Highlights included

Dabbling ducks - surprisingly few, mostly Mallards.  Green-winged teal were at Area P (Pylon Pt.) near the northern end.  A few Wood Ducks were at Twin Lakes.

Diving Ducks - this was the pot of gold.  A few Ring-necks & Scaup were scattered along most of the coves along the shore, but the bay at Area P was positively jammed with them:  Ring-neck - 260, L.Scaup - 120,  Redhead - 40,  Canvasback - 4.  This is a small marshy bay, so the density of ducks was dramatic.  No blarney!

Mergansers - Hoodeds were at many quiet coves, including 15 in Twin Lakes and another 12 at Area P.  6 Red-breasteds were in the mix at Area P

Grebes - small flocks of 2-3 Horned Grebes were at several spots.  Oddly, no Pied-bills were found (probably hiding from the wind).

Gulls - surprisingly scarce, with only a few Ring-bills at most stops, and 1 Herring at Area F.

Turkey Vultures - good numbers, with 90+ roosting below the dam, and another 40+ scattered along the shoreline just above it.

Other Raptors - the eagle nest across from Area F (at the mother of Twin Lakes creek) appears inactive.  A migrant Kestrel was winging north along the shore near here.

Other landbird migrants - a sapsucker was calling at Twin Lakes, and Phoebes were at several spots.  No Tree Swallows.     Fox Sparrows were at several stops, including a singing bird at the dam.  Grackles & redwings were widespread, but nowhere common.

Area P may be worth a check for the next few days, as the high water levels have flooded much of the marsh & low-lying woods around it.  It seems to be the duck magnet on this reservoir right now.

Rob Thorn
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EarthLink Revolves Around You.

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