I spent about an hour in the area below Griggs Dam in Columbus on Friday.  The river above the dam is for the most part frozen over while the more rapidly moving water below the dam is still mostly clear.  I found some very beautiful sights including

Mallards (perhaps 100 or so)
Canada geese (perhaps 40 or so)
Pied billed grebe (2-3 individuals, diving)
Hooded merganser (several males and at least one female)
Common goldeneye (several males and females)
American black duck (I think about 6-7 individuals)

The hooded mergansers and goldeneyes are just beautiful!
I also saw one or two other ducks (Too far away to ID by eye.   I'll have to review my pictures to be sure what they were.)

and........  Bald Eagle!!

The bald eagle was being deviled by three crows .   Once they had had their fun, the eagle could settle into a tree breifly before flying off to the south.  Would that it had been closer for some better shots but I'm was excited to see it!

All in all, the best hour I've spent in the cold since I went sledding with my kids!

I also spent an hour taking some shots of birds coming to my feeders.  These included

Carolina wren
Black-capped chickadee
Dark-eye junco
Lots of house sparrows

Then yesterday I saw the same as above coming to the feeders as well as

Tufted titmouse
Cardinal

It was a joy to hear the titmouse calling.  I think the sun must have brought out some spring fever.

Tim Hutson


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