I worked the areas around and along the Dublin gorge stretch of the Scioto River, starting up around Traphagen Nature Preserve, then working south to O'Shaughnessy Dam, Brandon Woods, Coventry Woods, and Kiwanis Park. The deep snow & cold temperatures seem to have driven most ground-feeders elsewhere, but there were still plenty of other landbirds and waterfowl. The reservoir above the dam is wholly frozen, but the river below is mostly open all the way down to Kiwanis. There were waterfowl along the entire stretch, but the most interesting stuff was further down near Kiwanis. Notables included:
Great Blue Heron - 18-20 were roosting along the channel just below the dam, which is a traditional roost spot. Numbers can get much higher if the freeze persists.
Canada Goose - flocks all along the River, with the biggest some 280+ at Kiwanis
Black Ducks - a few at most spots, among the more common Mallards
Pintail - a gorgeous male spotted by Ken Davis at Kiwanis
C.Goldeneye - 12+ at Kiwanis, with many of the males displaying.
Red-tailed Hawks - seemed very common for a snowy day, with birds at every stop. An obvious pair was in the small woods of the Sawmill Preserve, a regular nesting spot.
Yellow-bell.Sapsucker - 1 lurking at Kiwanis
resident woodpeckers - lots of Downies and Red-bellieds over the course of the morning, including drumming Downies at several stops. Hairies were also at 3 different stops.
Brown Creeper - single birds at O'Shaughnessy Dam (Frink Park) and Coventry Woods
E.Bluebirds - small flocks of 3-4 at Brandon Woods and at Scioto Ridge Park
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