I stopped at several points around lower Alum Creek Lake this morning, and found large shelves of ice at most shores.  Although the conditions seemed more appropriate for Ivory Gull, that elusive beauty remains a no-show.  Stops at the beach, Visitor's Center, east Dam, New Galena, SummerRidge access, and Cheshire causeway found many interesting birds, including

Tundra Swans - 3 of them were snoozing at the ice edge off the beach
LesserScaup - small groups were off the beach and New Galena
Bufflehead - 4 were off the beach, while 22 were off New Galena
ComGoldeneye - 4 females were off New Galena
Common Loon - 1 was flying south early, heading over the dam, perhaps looking for more open water
AmerCoots - a large flock of 200+ birds was huddled off New Galena
BaldEagles - an immature chased off waterfowl along the beach, while 2 adults & 1 juvnile were on the ice shelf off Cheshire boat launch.
Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was calling around the Visitor's Center woods
E.Bluebirds - a small group of 4 was foraging along the wood's edge near the Visitor's Center
Yellow-rumped Warblers - small #s were at most stops, wherever there were poison ivy berries

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