Date: 12/7/25 2:27 pm From: Robert Thorn <robthorn6...> Subject: [Ohio-birds] urban Scioto, Columbus, 12-07: some waterfowl, raptors
The Columbus Audubon trip to this corridor in Columbus found a better morning than predicted: cold, but no rain or snow, and partly cloudy sky. We started at Scioto Audubon where the river and bay were entirely frozen, then moved down to Berliner Park where the river was partly clear. Afterwards Istopped at a series of riverside parks upstream, including Long St, Dam, Marble Cliff bike path, 5th Ave bridge, Quarry Trails, and Griggs Dam, with side trips to a few quarry lakes. Perhaps it was the part sun, part warmer temperatures, but the snow cover was melting off and the river was mostly clear above Long St. Dam. Landbirds were a little thin (except at Berliner), but waterbirds and raptors kept the morning interesting. Notables included:
Waterfowl -- Mallards and Hooded Mergansers at many locations, but also had a hen Wood Duck at Marble Cliff, and Black Ducks & Gadwalls below Griggs Dam
Gulls - Ring-bills at most locations, with the iced river at Scioto Audubon holding the most. A few Herring Gulls were also found, but nothing else.
Raptors -- 2 gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawks were found -- 1 at Scioto Audubon and the other on the disc golf course at Griggs. A Red-tail was at McKinley quarry lake, while the only Bald Eagle was perched along the river north of the 5th Ave bridge. As a final gift, a Merlin was perched right next to the Griggs Dam parking area.
Woodpeckers -- quite few, with Downies the most common in most riverside woods Kinglets,Creeper -- 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets were at Berliner, which also had 3 Creepers Bluebirds - a few, with sightings at Quarry Trails and Griggs Dam Sparrows -- Songs, White-throats, and Juncos at many locations, but also had a Fox at Berliner Finches -- nothing but the expected Goldfinches and House Finches
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