Well the late winter/early spring transition has provided some interesting birding here in eastern Mahoning Co. over the last week.  Nothing rare seen, but a welcome relief from the depths of winter!  I found waterfowl at Arrowhead L., a Beaver Twp. pond, and the Mahoning R.  Some ducks are moving already.  Seen on 2/13 were 28 Am. black ducks, a hen n. pintail, ring-necked duck, an imm. greater scaup, 7 buffleheads, 5 c. goldeneyes, 19 hooded mergansers, 3 common mergansers, and 3 Am. coots.   Red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, and great horned owl are in early breeding mode.  Some of the half-hardy spp. are now either more conspicuous or more numerous or both--n. flicker, e. bluebird, Am. robin, n. mockingbird, white-throated sparrow, red-winged blackbird, and c. grackle.  No turkey vultures yet.  Killdeers should be hitting the area soon.  Craig Holt, Lowellville




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