I spent a few hours yesterday afternoon scouring the shore of Hoover from Oxbow Island south through Mudhen Marsh, Sunbury causeway, Maxtown boat launch, Walnut St. Boat launch, & the dam.  The south wind made much of the southern reservoir choppy, and the best waterfowl concentrations were in the hidden bays around Oxbow and the Sunbury causeway.  No sign of the Long-tailed Ducks, but most of the other waterfowl were out aplenty, including

Lesser Scaup - 400+ birds scattered between Oxbow & Sunbury causeway
Ring-necked Ducks - a flock of 15 was in the bay off Mudhen Marsh
Bufflehead - only 2, a pair down near the dam
Common Goldeneye - 1 female still off Oxbow
Common Mergansers - 3 off Oxbow and another 2 in the bay off Mudhen marsh
Red-br.Mergansers - 250+ scattered over all sites
Hooded Mergansers - 50+ over all sites, with most in the still waters around Oxbow
Ruddy Ducks - a flock of 35+ off the Baldridge Boat ramp at the Sunbury causeway
Horned Grebes - 40+ over all sites, with many now in Spring plumage
Red-necked Grebes - singles off Oxbow Island and Maxtown boat ramp
Common Loons - 40+ over all sites, with 25 of those north & east of Oxbow Island
Cormorants - first big waves, with 350+ scattered between Oxbow & Sunbury causeway
Amer.Coots - small groups in bay at Mudhen Marsh and around the marina at the dam

Raptors also put on a good show with a Bald Eagle around the nest across from Oxbow Island, a Merlin fly-by over the dam, a Cooper's Hawk at Mudhen Marsh, perhaps 40 Turkey Vultures all along the reservoir, and several Red-tailed Hawks as well. The wind kept down most other land birds, but a few Tree Swallows and a Phoebe were in the protected area around Maxtown boat launch.

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