Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk

Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk is part of the Hoover Nature Preserve operated by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department. It is one of the best birding sites in central Ohio. In the fall the city lowers the water level in Hoover Reservoir, so it’s more hospitable to migrating shore birds. The area around the boardwalk is also used for fishing and launching kayaks, and I’ve seen crew teams training here. Beyond that, the site is just lovely.

Sunset

This is how it looks after the water level has been lowered for the migrating shore birds,

Bird watching during fall migration

A migrating shore bird
(a Greater or Lesser Yellow Legs)

Migrating egret

Migrating cormorants

Winter

Spring

Fishing in the rain

A storm approaching

Dramatic Clouds

Wispy clouds

Blue heron fish here all summer

Red-breasted Merganser migrating through in the spring

Migrating coot

Spider web between railings of boardwalk

Ring-billed gulls

One of the big, birding attractions of the summer is a mated pair of osprey who nest on a platform near the boardwalk. If you stop by to watch the osprey family, it helps to bring binoculars. Sadly the nesting platform is a bit too far away for me to be able to capture crisp photos of the family here, but here are a couple to just give you an idea of what you can see.

Osprey taking off

Osprey perching in tree

Location

The Hoover Mudflats Boardwalk is in Galena, Ohio. Nearby there are two dining establishments on Old 3C Hwy: the Galena Diner, and the Mudflats Bar and Grill. The diner is a nice place to stop by for breakfast. In the evening, the bar and grill periodically features live music.

Cyclists can ride most of the distance between Galena and Westerville on a dedicated bike path. From Galena, take Old 3C Hwy west to Wiese Road. Weise Road terminates at the northernmost end of the bike path. The bike path will take you to northern Westerville.