The Columbus Audubon trip in search of shorebirds struck out on mudflats, but did score well on raptors, woodpeckers, and some landbird migrants. Both Hoover and Alum Creek Lake continue to have very high water, so we found no mudflats and only tallied some kildeer and a spotted sandpiper for shorebirds. We started at hoover dam, then worked through Oxbow Island and the Galena Boardwalk, before jumping west to upper Alum Creek Lake to visit Hogback Preserve and Hogback basin. Notables included
Cormorants - small numbers everywhere on the water of both reservoirs
Great Egrets - 1 along the shore west of the Galena Boardwalk, and another 2 at Hogback basin
Green Herons - 2 were along the Boardwalk, while 2 were also at Hogback basin
Osprey - they were everywhere, with at least 1 at each stop. Hogback basin had 3 adults and 2 very querulous juveniles
Bald Eagle - at least one adult was pursuing a fish-laden Osprey north of Hoover dam.
Caspian Terns - 2 adults were sitting on a driftwood log at Hogback basin
Hummingbirds - 1-2 were on Oxbow Island, while another 2 were hanging around the feeders at Hogback Preserve
Red-headed Woodpeckers - good day, with 2 at Oxbow, 2 at the Boardwalk, and another at Hogback Basin
Other Woodpeckers - N.Flickers were abundant, topped by 6-7 at Oxbow Island. Downies & Red-bellies were also common.
E.Kingbirds - at least 4 were still flying around Oxbow Island, but none were at Hogback basin
Swallows - no big flocks except for 30+ Barn Swallows along Oxbow Rd. Also saw a few Tree Swallows and Purple Martins over Oxbow, and 2 Cliff Swallows at the Galena Boardwalk.
Mimids - good day, with Catbirds everywhere and Mockingbirds & Brown Thrashers at Oxbow Island
Warblers - not much , but the stars were 2 Prothonotaries still hanging around Oxbow Island, and a Parula at the Hogback Preserve Visitor's Center
Orioles - one Baltimore was at Oxbow, while another was calling at Hogback Preserve
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