Looking for stray waterbirds, I visited the quarries and impoundments along the Scioto River in Columbus, starting at the Haul rd quarries, then visiting Hart Rd quarry, Whittier-Scioto Park, Confluence Park, the Watermark Quarries, Marble Cliff, the Hidden Lake Quarries, and Campbell Mound Quarry.  Waterfowl influx was surprisingly subdued, given the reports from northern Ohio.  Pied-billed Grebes and cormorants, both of which often winter in this area, were present in small numbers at several sites. The only unusual waterfowl were 2 Mute Swans and a small flock of 4 Bufflehead on the Watermark Quarry.

For landbirds, Robins were flocking around honeysuckle bushes in several locations, but never in large numbers. Whittier had a few Brown Creepers, Golden-cr. Kinglets, and the usual flocks of White-thropated Sparrows.  The most unusual landbirds were on the way home, where I viewed large flocks of Starlings at several locations, including a 3000 bird flock along I-670.  There's usually a 1-2 day period in November when these flocks first show up in Columbus, probably prompted by cold weather, and they'll stay around through January.  This appears to have been a 'Big Flock Day'.

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