Greetings birders - A birding tour group had a successful day on the lakefront seeking "white-winged gulls." Overcast lighting conditions and relatively warm weather was great for observation, but as far as species diversity and presence of large numbers of gulls, we really could use a deep freeze to instigate typical January numbers. The warm water outflow from Cleveland Public Power at East 72nd street is always a fantastic location to observe gulls and waterfowl at this time of the year, and Eastlake Power Plant provides the same opportunity. Both locations held good diversity today, with highlights of Iceland and Glaucous Gulls. On a clear day, waterfowl photo opportunities at 72nd are currently prime, as numerous species of divers are in close. East 72nd Street/Cleveland Lakefront State Park Five gull species, with Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed in abundance Iceland Gull - single first-winter bird observed very briefly as it took to the air from immediately below the power plant Glaucous Gull - distant views of a single adult on a far ice shelf Snow Goose - single "blue goose" in flight with group of 20+ Canadas Peregrine Falcon - pair atop power plant stacks Waterfowl: Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Mallard Eastlake Power Plant Iceland Gull - single lightly-"fawn-colored" first-winter bird studied well and extensively at good range Waterfowl: Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Mallard, Bufflehead Bald Eagle: single adult best of birding Jen Jen Brumfield Medina, OH _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390707/direct/01/ ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]