Sun and warmer temperatures have allowed many openings to form in the
ice/snow blanket over the farm fields in my area. good for the birds, bad
for the birder.  Nevertheless, there were numerous good sights to be found,
when they were visible through the dense morning fog!  Along Campbell Rd.,
where the flock of Snow Buntings was on Friday, there were dozens of Horned
Larks, one American Pipit, and one Lapland Longspur.  The lake at A.W.
Marion State Park had a sizeable hole in the ice, occupied by Canada Geese
(125), Hooded Mergansers (11), Common Goldeneyes (6), Ring-necked Ducks
(40), Lesser Scaups (probably - too distant and bad light) (10), and one
unidentified sleeping swan.  Island Road, north of Circleville (along the
northern section off U.S. 23), had more Horned Larks, 3 Snow Buntings
(including 1 male that was mostly molted into breeding plumage. beautiful!),
and 4 SAVANNAH SPARROWS.  The quarries on Island Rd. had open water but
nothing exciting on it.

Our feeders have also been exciting to watch this weekend, with season-high
numbers of many species.  Here's that list:

Cooper's Hawk - 1 or 2

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 (killed a male Cardinal at the feeders!)

Mourning Dove - 39

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2

Downy Woodpecker - 3

Blue Jay - 8

Carolina Chickadee - 3

Tufted Titmouse - 1

White-breasted Nuthatch - 1

Am. Robin - 1

E. Starling - 30

Am. Tree Sparrow - 18

Song Sparrow - 4

White-throated Sparrow - 3

Dark-eyed Junco - 6

N. Cardinal - 34

Red-winged Blackbird - 5

Brown-headed Cowbird - 3

Rusty Blackbird - 3

Common Grackle - 2

House Finch - 18

Am. Goldfinch - 5

House Sparrow - 12

Of notable absence were Red-breasted Nuthatch and Carolina Wren, each of
whom usually make a brief appearance.

Happy Birding!



Eric Reiner

Ashville, OH


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