Waterbird migration was starting to pulse at these 2 reservoirs north of Columbus today, and a Columbus Audubon field trip was lucky enough to experience some of it.  We started at New Galena boat launch, then went over to Wiese Rd mudflats and Area MN at Hoover, before making a stop at Char-Mar Preserve.  I finished with a quick stop at Oxbow Island. Almost every stop yielded interesting birds, mostly waterbirds, but a few late landbird migrants.  Included among the haul were:

Tundra Swans - a flock of 10 circled high above Area M before flying off to the east
Dabbling Ducks - a nice surprise was a good assortment of dabblers at CharMar Pond, including 30+ Gadwalls, 24 N.Shovelers, 12 Green-winged Teal, 6 Wood Ducks, and 4 American Wigeon
BlackScoters - a flock of 22 birds was out in the south end of Alum Creek Lake, including 1 male and 22 females, diving practically in unison to search the bottom for zebra mussels
DivingDucks - small #s of Lesser Scaup, a Bufflehead, and Ruddy Ducks were also found
HoodedMergansers - a large flock of 75+ birds was feeding in the shallows off the Wiese Rd mudflats
CommonLoons - 2 were at Alum Creek Lake, off both New Galena and Plumb Rd accesses
Grebes - small flocks of 6-7 Horned Grebes were off New Galena and Oxbow Island, while a Pied-billed was at Oxbow.
Cormorants - still 6 of them perched on a snag in the bay at Wiese Rd mudflats
Shorebirds - aside from the expected Kildeer, there was a small cluster of 5-6 Dunlin feeding around the gull flock at the Wiese Rd mudflats.
Gulls - a burst of Bonaparte's at Hoover, with 75+ off Wiese Rd and 150= off Oxbow Island
Vultures - large #s of Turkey Vultures at Wiese Rd (20+) and Sunbury Causeway (65+) were joined by 1 Black Vulture at Wiese Rd
Merlin - 1 bird perched briefly at New Galena before flying south over the dam
Red-headed Woodpeckers - an adult was around the feeder at CharMar, while a juvie was still around the mainland parking lot at Oxbow Island.
CedarWaxwings - small flocks were at many locations
Pipits - flyovers were at both New Galena and the Wiese Rd mudflats
TreeSparrows - a small flock of 6 was at the east end of Oxbow Island, stranded migrants no doubt
Blackbirds - modest flocks of Redwings were flying south at New Galena (30+) and Area N (40+)

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