I visited several areas on both of these reservoirs this morning, working up the east shore of Alum, then down the west shore of nearby Hoover.  Although the wind could be strong & cold at times, the sky was never worse than cloudy and birds were easily found in windless areas.  Waterfowl numbers were low at both lakes, but Hoover still had some shorebirds.  Highlights included:

White Pelican - 1 remains in upper Hoover; could be best seen on a rockbar off the east end of Oxbow Island

Cormorants - 50 were on this same rockbar, with fewer at other locations on Hoover

Ducks - only unusual ones were a flock of 6 Lesser Scaup in the lower reaches of Alum Lake

Shorebirds -  huge mudlfats at upper end of Hoover have left the boardwalk 1/2 mile from the edge of the water, where 30+ Kildeer, 1 Gr.Yellowlegs, and 5 Dunlin were feeding.  Best seen from Plumb Rd.

Gulls - 200+ at Alum and 500+ at Hoover signaled an influx of Ring-bills.  30+ Bonapartes were also present in the northern reaches of Hoover.

Tree Swallow - 1 was bravely flying in the cold wind over Oxbow Island

Winter Wrens - 2 were lurking at both New Galena (Alum) and Wiese Rd (Hoover)

Cedar Waxwings - a small flock of 8 was hiding rom the wind at the tip of Oxbow Island

Warblers - only Yellow-rumps, but they were in good #s, possibly near their migration peak

Sparrows - flocks of White-throateds at every stop, topped by 50 at New Galena; my first FOX Sparrow of the season was also there.

Blackbirds - very small #s of Redwings flying south (compared to prior week), but a RUSTY was at SummerRidge access at Alum, while grackles were common, led by a flock of 150 at Plumb access on Alum.

Finches - no siskins, but Goldfinches were at every stop, though not in great #s.  Highest were 25 flying south past New Galena.

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