A quick run-through of many of the shore areas of southern Alum Creek Lake found most of the lake frozen, with the exception of two large open areas.  One was off Hollenback Marina, and contained a big flock of Canada Geese & Mallards, along with a few Black Ducks and Hooded Mergansers, plus single Common Goldeneye and Bufflehead.  The second one is off the southern shore of the Cheshire causeway (north of the causeway is completely frozen), and had far fewer birds: a small flock of Mallards and some gulls.

Landbirds at most stops were unexceptional except for Flickers, which were at every stop, and Yellow-rumped warbers, which had 4 birds foraging at the campground on the west end of the causeway and another 6 foraging around the woods at SummerRidge access.  Both sites had plenty of poison ivy berries, which were probably helping tide over these unusual warblers that can augment their diet with fruit in the winter.

Rob

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