The fluctuating temperatures seem to be allowing the ice at local reservoirs to break, if Alum Creek Lake and Hoover Reservoir are any indication. I stopped at the former this afternoon, and found open areas at the east end of the dam, and near the Cheshire causeway bridge. On the way back, I noticed a large opening above Hoover Dam as well, but didn't have time to stop and survey it. At Alum, these leads have already attracted some waterfowl. The dam had Redheads, Scaup, Bufflehead, and Goldeneye. The Cheshire hole had Swans (7 Mute, 2 tucked in & unspecified), Canada Geese, and mallards. Both will probably change in size and waterfowl composition as the weather continues to show some warming cycles. Two other spots along the Alum Lake shore - Plumb Rd access and SummerRidge access - were still mostly iced in, as was the area around Baldridge Boat ramp at Hoover, but this too may change over the coming weekend. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]