Between snow flurries, I hiked around Hoover dam this morning looking for wind-blown waterfowl & landbirds.  Ducks, Geese, and gulls were out in good #s despite the frigid, blustery weather, and some landbirds were tucked in the wind-shadow down by the spillway.  I was apparently too early in the day for the flight of Sandhill Cranes that appears to have passed over most of central & western Ohio after the clouds cleared.  Morning notables included:

Waterfowl - the expected big flocks of Canada Geese and Mallards were joined by a N.Shoveler pair & Hooded Merganser (below the dam) and a mixed flock of Lesser Scaup & Bufflehead (above the dam).

Gulls - many flocks of Ring-bills (400+ birds total), some of which appeared to be in passage.  The flocks were resting on the water, then soared up to height before heading south over the dam.  Two small flocks of Bonapartes didn't even pause to rest, but flew steadily south.

Fruit-eaters - a good crop of honeysuckle berries below the dam had attracted good #s of Robins (150+), Starlings (200+), and Cedar Waxwings (50+).  No Bluebirds, however.

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