The Columbus Audubon trip to this reservoir north of Columbus, and nearby Alum Creek Lake, found very high water levels and no real shorebird habitat, so we hunted for other early migrants.   Oddly enough, Hoover Dam had exposed areas at its base, and we garnered a handful of shorebirds there!  We also stopped at Oxbow Island, as well as Plumb Rd access and Hogback Basin & Preserve on Alum Creek Lake.  Notables included:

Herons - Great Blues were at every stop; the dam had 7-8. Hogback had a Great Egret, and Green Herons were at the Dam (3) and Oxbow (2)

Vultures - small #s of Turkey Vultures were at every stop, while 3 Black Vultures were at Hoover Dam

Raptors - Osprey were at every stop, with Hogback Basin still having 2 large begging juveniles along with 4 adults.  Red-tailed Hawks were at Oxbow and Hogback

Shorebirds - the base of Hoover Dam had clumps of Zebra Mussels, and these attracted 1 Semipalmated and 4 Spotted  Sandpipers, while Kildeer were at the nearby marina.

Gulls&Terns - Ring-billed Gulls were widespread, but not numerous.  Caspian Terns were at the Dam (2) and Hogback Basin.

Swallows - migrant flocks were at the Dam (50+) and Oxbow (75+), with the Dam birds putting on a show of flying and landing on the dam face below us!  Most were Barns, but there were good #s of Cliffs among them, and a few Bank and Trees

Flycatchers - surprisingly few, with a Phoebe at the Dam and an Acadian and 2-3 Pewees at Hogback Preserve

Vireos - 6+ Warbling were likely migrants at Oxbow Island, while 1 red-eyed was calling at Hogback Preserve.

Warblers - early migrant Black&White and Cape May were at Oxbow Island near the east end, a good trap spot.

Orioles - the only oriole was a female Baltimore at Plumb Rd access

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