I spent a few hours this morning visiting some accesses around the Hoover Nature Preserve, in the upper part of this reservoir NE of Columbus.  I stopped at Sunbury Causeway, Twin Bridges, Oxbow Island, and Area M&N baordwalk & forest.  Despite the unsettled weather, there was nothing very unusual.  Water levels are still very high, which bodes ill for Hoover shorebirding, at least until September.  Notables included:

Cormorants - some at every stop, the highest #s being 20 off Oxbow Island and off the Boardwalk
Green Herons - singles at every stop, so they may be dispersing from nesting
Osprey - had 6 in two-and-a-half hours.  The Boardwalk nest platforms were empty, but 3 birds were hanging around the bay.
Barred Owl - 1 was calling in the swamp forest at Area M
E.Kingbirds - 2-4 at every stop, so they are likely staging to go.  Folks south of us should look for flocks over the next week or two.

Swallows - flocks at Oxbow and the Boardwalk, mostly of Tree and Barn.  Many of the Trees were immatures; there were even some still in their nest holes along the old Redbank Rd in Area N.  The Cliff Swallow colonies at Twin Bridges, Sunbury Causeway, and Galena were empty, but there were 10+ Cliffs in the flock at Galena.  There were also small #s of Banks and Rough-wings there as well.

Vireos - Warbling and Red-eyed were still singing in many locations

Cedar Waxwings - pairs and small flocks were numerous & widespread.

Warblers - slow day.  Yellows were at most stops, but in low #s.  A Parula and a Prothonotary were still singing in the swamp forest at Area M

Baltimore Orioles - surprisingly scarce, with only 1 calling at Galena, and none at Oxbow.

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