Spent about 2 hours birding this morning along the Scioto looking for elusive (at least for me) winter wrens and hermits (of the thrush variety).  I wasn't able to add them to my January list, but I was treated to a close view of a rusty blackbird hanging out with some robins in a small outfall/spring fed stream (just north of the parking lot at Scioto Park in Dublin).  At first glance I thought it was a juvi or female red-winged, but then I saw the beautiful light eye staring back at me.  I think it was a female rusty (grayer overall, pale eyebrow, not as much "rust" as male).  A nice Ohio bird # 76 to my woefully behind list, which I hope to improve with a lake trip this weekend!  Also of note were two immature bald eagles flying just below the O'shaugh dam and a resplendent male bald eagle flying OVER MY CAR as I drove across the dam (great start to morning birding!).  I stopped by Kiwanis but could not locate the previously mentioned
 hermit, but I did find a swamp sparrow.  Also saw a lot of common goldeneye (beautiful ducks) in the rare open water areas of the Scioto.
 
For those interested in warmer weather birds, I posted some of my first digiscoped pics from a 1-day trip to the everglades: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=118240130036#/album.php?aid=12365&id=1396450923&ref=nf.  They are mostly common birds, but it was nice to see the florida subspecies of the red shouldered hawk (much paler than the eastern variety).  It was also wonderful hearing black and white warblers practicing their spring song (not much else singing, but it gave me hope for warmer warbler weather!).
 
Cheers,
Heather 




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