The Columbus Audubon trip to open water areas along the Scioto River near downtown met with cold temperatures and sporadically-good birding.  The trip started at Scioto Audubon (where the river was mostly frozen), then moved to Berliner Park, Confluence Park, Long St. dam, Watermark Lake, Marble Cliff, and Griggs dam.  All of these sites had some open water, so the waterbirds were not wanting for choices.  I also stopped early at Haul Rd ponds and Hart Rd, quarry, but both of these were largely frozen over.  Notable birds for the morning included:

Dabbling Ducks - lots of Mallards and little else.  A few Black Ducks were at Nerliner, Marble Cliff, and Griggs.
Diving Ducks - 6 Ring-necks were at Marble Cliff, while a lone female Lesser Scaup was below Giggs dam
Goldeneye - a pair were on the open Scioto at Marble Cliff
Mergansers - only Hooded, but they were everywhere.  Highs were 20 were below Greenlawn dam and 40 at Long St. Dam
Other waterfowl - Pied-billed Grebes were at Greenlawn dam (3) and Watermark Lake (4).  The latter site also had 50 American Coots.  Cormorants were below the Greenlawn dam (6) and at Marble Cliff (1).

Herons - no Night Herons at either Scioto Audubon or the Confluence Park colonies.  Great Blues were at many locations, with the high being 7 along the Scioto in Berliner Park.

Gulls - no great flocks , and all were Ring-billed.  Most were 200 resting on the frozen Haul Rd. Ponds

Raptors - An adult Bald Eagle flwe by the Haul Rd ponds, but the old nest there looks unused.  A Cooper's Hawk was stalking feeder birds at Scioto Adubon, while Red-tailed Hawks were at Long St. dam and Watermark Lake.
Woodpeckers - nothing unusual at all
Brown Creepers - only around 5 were along the Berliner bikepath
Golden-cr.Kinglets - a startling 7-8 were along the bikepath in Berliner Park
Mockingbird - one was at Confluence Park
Tree Sparrows - small groups everywhere; the largest were flocks of 10 at Scioto Audubon & 15 at Griggs dam
Finches - nothing unusual, but there were large numbers of House Finches at the Scioto Audubon feeders

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