A first winter Franklin's Gull was at the dam today around noon. Best vantage is at the Corps of Engineer's Visitor Center. Walk out on the dam. It was near the shoreline below the visitor center. Bonaparte's Gull in large numbers everywhere on the lake, a few Ring-billed and Herring seen. A few Killdeer and Dunlins in the upper reaches of the lake (Miller Road Picnic area). Lots of Hooded Mergansers today (I counted 53 in one raft), Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, only 6 Common Loons seen. 14 Great Blue Herons seen together. Saw a few Gadwall, Mallards, and Scaup. 30 Am. Coots were at the dam. A mature Bald Eagle cruised above the beach and a Peregrine Falcon was perched in the trees at the end of Park Road #4 which overlooks the dam. 4 crows watched it warily and one made a feeble attempt to rout it. I was able to sit in my car and watch. Good news - There was no blockade of Park Road 5. The barrier has been totally removed. Melanie Shuter Circleville - Pickaway County ______________________________________________________________________ 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.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]