I spent a few too-short hours running between these 2 reservoirs in southern Delaware County yesterday morning looking for late landbird migrants and early waterfowl.  I stopped at New Galena at Alum Creek State Park, then scurried over to OXbow ISalnd and Mudhen Marsh at Hoover.  Despite the look and feel of early winter, there were still some migrants around.  Notables included:

Waterfowl - much less than last week, with a few fly-by groups of Mallards at New Galena, and a flock of 15 Hooded Mergansers in the Mudhen Marsh slough.

Raptors - hardly any save for a few resident Red-tailed hawks.  There were still 10+ Turkey Vultures soaring over the shore of north Hoover.

Gulls - numbers of Ring-bills were up after a 2-week lull, with 250+ at Alum and 100+ at Hoover.  A handful of Bonapartes and Herrings were mixed in at both locations.

Thrushes - Robin migration was tapering, with only 40+ flying past New Galena, and even fewer at Hoover.  Bluebrids were also lower, with 12 flying by New Galena, and another 6 at Hoover.

Larks, Pipit - 3+ Horned Larks and 2 American Pipits were flying around New Galena, where the dramatic drop in water levels at Alum Lake has produced tons of exposed mudflats.  Most of that water was likely pumped over to Hoover (since the 2 are linked by pipeline) because water levels at Hoover are still abnormally high.

Sparrows - fair numbers, but down from prior weeks, with 20+ White-throateds and 2 Fox Sparrows the stars at New Galena, while Oxbow had a smaller flock of White-throateds and Song Sparrows.

Blackbirds - a late migrant push, with small flocks of Redwings and grackles heading south over New Galena.  Totals were 170 of the former, 90 of the latter.  Far fewer were moving over Hoover (which doesn't funnel daytime migrants as well. This might be a good time to check out local blackbird roosts.

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