The Columbus Audubon trip to these two reservoir north of Columbus found a strong shift to temperate migrants this morning.  We stopped at the beach and New Galena at ALum Creek Lake, and them moved east to Hoover, stopping at Oxbow Island, the Boardwalk area, and (by myself) Hoover Meadows.  The good news is that the bridge into Galena is finished, so you don't have to take the long detour to get to the Boardwalk.  The bird story is that shorebirds were way down, but waterfowl and temperate landbirds were on the rise.  Notables included:

Herons & Egrets - Great Egrets were still around: 1 was off Oxbow Island, while another was off the Boardwalk.  Great Blue Herons seemed more numerous, with 20 off the Boardwalk the high for the morning.

Waterfowl - large flocks of Canada Geese were all over the northern portion of Hoover (partly driven there by a massive crew regatta in the southern portion), but there were also a few Shovelers and Green-winged Teal.  2 Pied-billed Grebes and a few Coot were off Oxbow Island.

Shorebirds - very few, despite expansive mudflats in the northern end of Hoover.  Off the Boardwalk we noted Kildeer (10), Semipalmated Plovers (8), Semipalmated Sandpipers (6-8), Least Sanpipers (2), and Pectoral Sandpipers (5+)

Gulls - large numbers of Ring-bills at the Alum Creek Lake beach (300+), and lesser numbers around the northern end of Hoover.  1 juvenile Herring was the only other gull noted.

Raptors - not much other than 2 Osprey off Oxbow Island, and 30+ Turkey Vultures scattered around the upper portions of Hoover.  A small hawk eluded us on Oxbow.

Woodpeckers - good numbers, with plenty of Red-bellies, Downies, and Flickers at all stops.  We heard a Pileated from the Hoover Boardwalk, and saw a sapsucker on Oxbow Island.  No Red-headed were found, even at Hoover Meadows.

Flycatchers, Swallows, Swifts - the only flycatcher was a Phoebe at Hoover Meadows, while small groups of Tree Swallows were seen at several places along the Hoover shore. Small flocks of Chimney swifts were at New Galena, Oxbow, and off the Boardwalk.

Vireo, Kinglets, Wrens - a Blue-headed Vireo was at New Galena, while Golden-crowned and Ruby-cr.Kinglets were at several stops, though not in great numbers. House Wrens were still widespread, being found at most stops, while 2 Winter Wrens were at New Galena.

BlueJays - fairly good movement, with 100+ in an hour at New Galena, and smaller numbers at the other spots.

Thrushes,Mimids - rather scarce, with single Swainsons at New Galena and Oxbow Island, and 1 Hermit at New Galena. For mimids, even Catbirds were low in number, with only a few at New Galena and Oxbow (both of which normally harbor many).

Warblers - Yellow-rumps ascendant, with good numbers at most stops.  Black-throated Greens were also widespread, with individuals at New Galena, Oxbow, and Area N.  Others found were Nashville (1 at Oxbow), Tennessee (1 at Oxbow, another at Area N), Cape May (1 at Oxbow), and Palm (1 at Sunbury causeway).

Sparrows - diversity on the rise, with Chipping (several spots), Field (several locations), Song (all locations), Swamp (4 at Hoover Meadows), Lincolns (1 at Hoover Meadows), and White-throated (small numbers at New Galena and Oxbow).

Blackbirds - still waiting for big numbers.  1 Cowbird was at New Galena, while 40+ Redwings graced Hoover Meadows

Grosbeaks,Finches -  A single Rose-br.grosbeak flew by New Galena early.  No stray winter finches yet, but plenty of House Finches and Goldfinches at several sites.

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