I made a quick check of Hoover Reservoir in Columbus late this afternoon on
the way home from work.



At the Red Bank Harbor boat launch, at the intersection of Sunbury Road and
Maxtown Road (dead ends into the boat launch), there is a small area of open
water to the North and West that can be observed from the boat ramp.



I made the following observation but unfortunately, I only had my binos.  I
observed a small white goose that was walking with some Canada Geese.  It
was dwarfed by the Canada's and at first I thought it might be a domestic
duck.  However, I could see the black folded wingtips, short neck and small
rounded head.  Eventually, it moved into a group of mallards and was
virtually the same size.  It made a quick flight into the open water and I
was able to observe the narrow wings with extensive black wing tips.  So, I
am certain it was a Ross's Goose but without a scope, I was not able to
distinguish any characteristics of the bill other than it appeared smaller
than the Mallards.  Anyone in the area may want to check this bird out as I
think the water is being kept open here by the numerous geese\ducks.



For the rest of the reservoir, starting below the dam, there were American
Wigeon, Northern Shovelers and Hooded Mergansers.  Above the dam, there was
some open water up to the Smothers Road bridge, but the only ducks observed
were Hooded Mergansers.  Gull numbers seem way down with only about 20
Ring-billed Gulls scattered below Smothers Road.  There was one juvenile
Bald Eagle sitting on the ice near the Walnut Street boat ramp.



I ran out of time and did not get all the way to the North end of the
reservoir.



Happy January Birding,



Ken Davis

Westerville, OH


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