Scouting for tomorrow's Hoover CBC, I birded several areas around the lower portion of Hoover Reservoir (NE of Columbus), and found mixed success.  Nothing has frozen yet other than the shallowest puddles, so waterbirds still have many options.  The reservoir below County Line Bridge had few waterfowl, but there were flock of mergansers north of the bridge, up thorugh the Maxtown launch and beyond.  Landbirds seem more restricted, with very spotty fruit crops.  Notables included:

American Wigeon - not along the reservoir, ther was a flock of 14 at the large pond at Hoof Woods Park
Redhead - 4 were with the duck flock at the Hoof Woods Pond
Red-br. Mergansers - at least 4 were along the east shore of the Reservoir above the dam
Hooded mergansers - over 300+ in flocks between Maxtown boat launch and the County Line Bridge; only 4 below the bridge.
Horned Grebes - 3 were above the dam
Gulls - hardly any, with only a few Bonapartes and Ring-bills around the entire lower Reservoir
Red-shouldered Hawk - at least 1 adult was calling in Walnut Creek Ravine at Area S access
Flickers - good numbers, with 2-3 at nearly every stop on both days
E.Bluebirds - at least 4 were foraging along the spillway edge below the dam; another 2 were at the Walnut St. Launch
Yellow-rumped Warblers - small flocks at several stops, the largest being 6 along the Disc Golf Course east of the dam.
Tree Sparrows - a small flock of 10 birds was in weeds around the parking area off Central College Rd below the dam.

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