I visited these 2 MetroParks south of Columbus this morning in a
winter-like chill, with winter-like birds to show for it.  Though the
temperatures stayed in the 20s and low 30s, no ponds or creeks were frozen,
and waterfowl were fairly interesting.  Notables included:

swans - 6 Mutes were scattered around Pick Ponds, but 3-Creeks had a single
confused Trumpeter on Heron Pond

Dabblers - the northern pools of Pick Ponds (Greenwing, MallardMarsh,
ArrowheadMarsh) had decent flocks of Mallards and Shovelers, along with a
few Green-winged Teal and Gadwalls

Divers - small groups of Scaup and RingNecks were around Pick Ponds, with
35 Scaup at Ellis Pond the high

Mergansers - only Hoodies, but they were in many places.  35 on Ellis Pond
was the high.

Other Waterfowl - Coots were the most common waterbird at Pick Ponds, and a
few were at 3-Creeks as well.  Heron Pond there also had 4 Pied-billed
Grebes.

Sandhill Cranes - 3 at Pick Ponds, with a single at Mallard Marsh and a
pair at Arrowhead

Raptors - Cooper's and Red-tails at many locations.  Arrowhead Marsh also
had an adult Bald Eagle

Sapsucker - 1 was around the Confluence area of 3-Creeks

E.Phoebes - 4 were scattered around several areas at 3-Creeks; another was
at Portman Park north of Pick Ponds

TreeSwallows - a few were at Cruiser Pond near 3-Creeks and around Mallard
Marsh at Pick Ponds

Tree Sparrows - still quite a few lingering at Pick Ponds, with 10+ hanging
around the Glacier Knoll feeder, and 1-2 at several other areas.

Fox Sparrow - 1 was singing near the Alum Creek Trail footbridge at Heron
Pond in 3-Creeks

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