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Scraping By

I had another split run so I took advantage of the 4.5 hour break that I had before I had to be back to work. Spring Grove Cemetery was open today (closed yesterday due to icy roads). I did not add anything new. Red-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Siskin are proving more elusive than I anticipated. I will check Mitchell Memorial Forest sometime later in the month.

I went to Miami-Whitewater Wetlands only to find most of the lake frozen, although four American Black Ducks were noteworthy but not new (got them at Camp Dennison last Saturday). Hundreds upon hundreds of geese flying over caused some excitement as I checked each flock carefully for Greater White-fronted, Snow and Ross. Depending on what work I get tomorrow at Metro, I'm hoping to have enough birding time to visit Lost Bridge and Mt. Nebo Gravel Pits near Shawnee Lookout County Park to go on a wild goose chase where all three of these species were reported yesterday. Only bird added at the wetlands was a much needed Swamp Sparrow!

I was hoping to add several species in the park, including Barred Owl, Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers, Winter Wren, Purple Finch and others. I was disappointed to find many of my target areas closed due to icy roads.

Next I drove some back roads looking for Wild Turkey and American Pipit (recently reported in New Baltimore) but came up empty. On to Fernald to see what may have come in. I ran into Alan Claybon who was gracious enough to point out an American Wigeon in the rafts of ducks. Hundreds more ducks went unidentified as they flew in the distance with hundreds of geese. Those goose flocks were checked also. Also saw a Mink at Lodge Pond. I didn't know they could swim. I had misidentified it as a River Otter which would have been a life mammal.

Birds added today: Swamp Sparrow and American Wigeon, bringing total to 73.
Mammals added today: Mink, bringing county year mammal list to 5.
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