Alex Hughes and I birded the mudflats on the northern portion of Hoover
reservoir around Galena this afternoon, visiting the boardwalk and the
mudflats off Weise Rd.  The water levels are extremely low, so prime
shorebird viewing is very distant from the boardwalk, a contrast from some
past years when the best mudflats were very close to the boardwalk.  

The best shorebird viewing was off of Weise Rd.  To reach this site from the
boardwalk, go west out of Galena on old 3-C over the bridge, and turn left
onto Weise Rd. shortly after crossing the bridge.  Weise Rd. dead-ends at
the Ohio-Erie bikepath.  Park here, and walk along the path for a bit before
bushwhacking to the mudflats.  The mud is mostly firm, and provides good
views of the shorebirds from a short (but respectful) distance. A scope is
certainly helpful. 

The highlights from the Boardwalk:

American Golden Plover - Foraging in the channel between the 2 Osprey
platforms.  This bird was not completely molted into winter plumage, and had
a few flecks of gold feathers on its back.

The highlights from Weise Rd.:

Buff Breasted Sandpiper - Seen in the grassy area of the mudflats
Short-billed Dowitcher 
Stilt Sandpiper

At both sites, there were good numbers of Killdeer, Pectoral, Least, and
Semipalmated Sandpipers, and lower numbers of Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted and
Solitary Sandpipers.  

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