I visited these 2 south Columbus MetroParks this morning, looking for temperate migrants and early waterfowl. There was a spate of migrant activity in the early morning, but much of it died down after 10 AM. Migrants have definitely shifted to mostly temperate migrants, and I was hard-pressed to find many neotropical migrants here. The Borrow Pits at 3-Creeks, as well as Ellis and Teal ponds at Pickerington Ponds still have lots of water and little mudflats. Notables of the morning included Waterfowl - not much for early migrants. 3-Creeks had 10 Green-winged Teal, while Pick Ponds had 2 Pied-billed Grebes - 1 was at Heron Pond (3-Cr), while 8 were at Teal Pond (PickP) Coots - 10 were at Teal Pond in Pickerington Ponds Sandhill Cranes - 2 birds were foraging in the grassflats next to Mallard Marsh at Pick Ponds Great Egrets - still 3 at Pick Ponds: 1 at Ellis and 2 at Teal Pond Green Heron - a late bird was foraging in the small remnant pool at Mallard Marsh Shorebirds - Kildeer were widespread, while the 3-Creeks Borrow Pits had 1 Greater and 6 Lesser Yellowlegs (plus 25 Kildeer) Turkey Vultures - the migrant roost at Heron Pond (3-Cr) held 24 birds Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 bird was calling along the Confluence Trail in 3-Creeks Flycatchers - only had a few E.Phoebes, 1 at each park Swallows - a flock of 120+ Tree Swallows was working the area around Teal Pond at Pick Ponds, while 2 Rough-wings were at nearby Ellis Pond Vireo - 1 Blue-headed was at Pickerington Ponds Wrens - House Wrens were still noticeable with 4 in meadows at 3-Creeks. A Winter Wren was also in the riparian area there. Kinglets - 8+ Golden-crowns and 1 Ruby-crowned were scattered between the Confleunce and Borrow Pits in 3-Creeks E.Bluebirds - a small flock of 8 birds flew over the Tuertle Pond area at 3-Creeks AmerRobins - lost of small flocks at all locations; they've arrived in large numbers here Gray Catbirds - 3 were still lurking in berrybushes along the Confluence Trail at 3-Creeks Cedar Waxwings - small flocks were around the Confluence and Borrow Pits areas of 3-Creeks Warblers - Yellow-rumps were everywhere; other species included a Tennessee at the main footbridge and a Palm at Heron Pond E.Towhees - a big influx, with 12 at 3-Creeks and another 3 at Pick Ponds Sparrows - a flock of Chipping were still around Turle Pond at 3-Creeks, while flocks of Fields were at many locations. 4 Swamp Sparrows were in the marshes around Teal Pond, while a White-crowned Sparrow was at the blind there. Small flocks of White-throated were at many locations, and Song Sparrows were more numerous in many meadow areas Blackbirds - flocks of Redwings were at both parks, with the largest a groups of 250 at Teal Pond. Smaller numbers of grackles and cowbirds were also at both parks Finches - not much other than the expected House Finches and Goldfinches. ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]