Castalia Pond today was full of ducks and Canada Geese this afternoon.

The sun was bright and reflected off the snow along the banks of the pond.

I couldn't believe it, but the geese were in the shade on the bank with the
large evergreen trees.

Here is a list of the birds seen around and in the pond today.



1.      Mute Swan - 1
2.      Gadwall - one pair feeding near the edge.
3.      American Wigeon - many pairs with some sleeping on the banks.
4.      American Black Duck - several pairs together floating around.
5.      Mallard - many were feeding along the edges in the shallow water.
6.      Northern Shoveler - in large numbers also feeding along the edges of
the pond.
7.      Northern Pintail - one beautiful male just floating near the bank of
large evergreens.
8.      Canvasback - were in small groups and many were diving for food.
9.      Redhead - several pairs together with some sleeping out in the
water.
10.     Ring-necked Duck - saw only 2 in open water.
11.     Bufflehead - 4 +pairs diving pretty consistently.
12.     Common Goldeneye - all were females and they were diving often.
13.     Hooded Merganser - 1 female hanging out with the lady Goldeneyes.
14.     Canada Geese - 200+ on the Evergreen tree bank sleeping in the
shade.
15.     Ring-billed Gull - 3 floating out in the middle.
16.     Red-tailed Hawk - 1 immature soaring near the pond.
17.     Belted Kingfisher - 1 female on the creek-side bank up in a tree
over hanging the water.
18.     Red-breasted Nuthatch - one calling from the Evergreen tree bank.



Norwalk Reservoir was full of Canada Geese again. The sun was getting low in
the sky and the color was perfect.

Most of the waterfowl was sitting on the ice while a few Mallards and one
grebe swam in the icy waters.

Here is what I saw late in the afternoon around 4:00 pm.



1.      HORNED GREBE - 1 diving for food quite often. You could get so close
that the red line from the eye down to the base of the bill was easy to see
with bino's.
2.      GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE - 7 on the ice edge to the far right of
the lake. They are very easy to see with bino's and one has a silver leg
band.
3.      American Black Duck - several sleeping on the ice edge.
4.      Mallards - most were also sleeping on the ice.
5.      Ring-necked Duck - 1 male on the ice edge too.
6.      Ring-billed Gull - 1 on the ice by itself.



Woodlawn Cemetery across from the Norwalk Reservoir has some nice evergreen
trees so I went in for a walk.

Here is what I saw today late in the afternoon.



1.      PINE SISKIN - several singing high-up on a Blue Spruce tree.
2.      House Finches - saw 3 males singing, but no Purple finches with
them.
3.      Sharp-shinned hawk - one adult circled around and then disappeared.
4.      Northern Flicker - saw a nice pair together. They would fly from
tree to tree together.
5.      Red-bellied woodpecker - 1 nice male singing.
6.      Downy woodpecker - again, 1 male singing.
7.      N. Cardinal - again, 1 nice male singing his heart out.
8.      American Crows - one small flock sitting together and being very
vocal.
9.      White-breasted nuthatch - 1 male singing.
10.     Slate-colored Juncos - several seen today.



Good Luck to the OYBC- (Ohio Young Birders Club) I Hope they see lots of
birds and ducks tomorrow.



Good birding everyone,





Christopher J. Knoll

Education Director

Black Swamp Bird Observatory

13551 West State Route 2

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

Phone: 419-898-4070

Fax: 419-898-1363




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