I squeezed out some time the past 2 days to visit two close-by riparian strips here in central Ohio: the Big Walnut greenbelt between Academy and McCorkle Parks here in Gahanna, and the Alum Creek Greenbelt around Innis & Mock Parks in Columbus. Both showed good #s of early migrants, though nothing unusual. The list included: TurkeyVultures - 2-3 along each greenbelt Red-shouldered Hawks - calling birds at Academy Park and Innis park (a pair), as these raptors reclaim urban parklands here Killdeer - good numbers in both locations, anywhere with open fields Sapsuckers - single birds at Woodside Green park (Big Walnut) and Innis Park (Alum Creek) E.Phoebes - almost common, with 3-4 along Big Walnut and 6 along Alum Creek BrownCreepers - not large #s, with only 2 in 2 hours along each creek greenbelt Kinglets - good #s of Golden-crowns along both; Alum had a single Ruby-crown near Mock Park E.Bluebirds - pairs prospecting for nest sites in meadow along both creeks Mockingbirds - 3 were along the Alum Creek greenbelt, where some probably winter BrownThrashers - none, despite good habitat in both locations E.Towhees - almost common, with 5+ along Big Walnut and 7+ along Alum Creek ChippingSparrows - 2 singing birds along each greenbelt Fox Sparrow - a single bird in a scrubby area of McCorkle Park in Gahanna White-throated Sparrows - common, with small flocks of 5-7 birds in many locations Blackbirds - Red-wings and cowbirds widespread, grackles not so much; no Rusties ______________________________________________________________________ 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]