The Columbus Audubon field trip to Hoover Reservoir this morning encountered snow, rain, a little sleet, and even some sunshine (close to midday), as well as a few interesting birds.  We stopped at the dam, Walnut Street ramp, Inniswood MetroPark, Maxtown boat launch, Sunbury causeway, and Oxbow Island.  Hardly any ice is left on the reservoir, even in the northern end, but the cold wind made sure to remind us that winter was still very much alive.  With so much water in nearby fields, dabblers were scarce around the reservoir, and diving waterbirds also did a pretty good job of hiding as well.  Notables included

Geese - lots of small flocks of Canada Geese all around the reservoir; they were the only common waterfowl

Diving Birds - a few Hooded Mergansers were at several locations, while a cluster of 5 female Bufflehead were feeding in the spillway of Hoover dam.

Other Waterfowl - a Common Loon was off Walnut St. boat launch, a Pied-billed Grebe was off the dam, and Oxbow Island had a Coot

Bald Eagles - a juvenile was north of Maxtown launch, while another was soaring south of the Sunbury causeway, possibly the same bird.  The new nest along the northeast shore is clearly visible from Oxbow Island, though distant.

Other Raptors - read 'Red-tailed hawks', which were at several locations.  Inniswood Park woods actually had 2.

Gulls - plenty of Ring-bills all along the reservoir.  The dam spillway had a few feeding Bonapartes, while a few Herring were on the remaining floating docks north of the dam.

Landbirds - fairly dull.  The Inniswood feeders had the usual assortment of chickadees, titmice, and finches.  Oxbow was too wind-blown to have many landbirds, while a late stop below the dam found nothing different from Inniswood.

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