Activity was very good, though widely distributed, at the upper end of Hoover Reservoir today (Friday). With the reservoir free of ice the waterfowl are not concentrated at any particular location. We made stops at the East Walnut Boat Launch, Redbank Boat Launch, Baldridge Boat Launch, Oxbow Road and the Twin Bridges area. Common Loon – 1 or 2 Common Loons were located at every stop. Off Oxbow Road and Oxbow Island there were several in full breeding plumage. Grebes – Pied-billed Grebes and Horned Grebes were at every stop, ranging from 1 or 2 to 10 or more. A lone Red-necked Grebe was off the north end of Oxbow Island. Double-crested Cormorant – Their numbers are still low but the numbers are building near Pelican Island. Great Blue Heron – A few at Oxbow Road. Turkey Vulture – The numbers are building fast. They have roosts at both the north and south end of Hoover Reservoir. This is a remnant of one-time rendering plants at both sites. Waterfowl – The migration is growing in strength daily with a diverse variety on the reservoir. The birds are almost everywhere you stop. Species observed today included Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck Mallard, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, and Ruddy Duck. Osprey – Individuals have been observed at the platforms at Area M in Galena (Tuttle) Bald Eagle – The Hoover pair are back at the nest site and on the nest. Hawks – Only a lone Red-tailed Hawk. Killdeer – A lone bird at Oxbow Road. Gulls – Many Bonaparte's Gulls (FOY), Ring-billed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. The Ring-billed are enjoying the Area M boardwalk while it is closed. They were on the railing from end to end. Big clean up job ahead. Belted Kingfisher – One each at Redbank and Oxbow. Charlie Bombaci ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]