The overcast skies didn't seem to have much effect on bird activity in these parks in south Columbus today. Most landbird migrants seem through, but winter residents and waterbird migrants seem in full swing. Highlights included Waterfowl - Pick Ponds still have good diversity, but the higher water levels have allowed them to spread out. I had N.Shovelers, Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebes, and Hooded Mergansers there, along with the expected geese and mallards Raptors - not much at 3-Creeks, but Pick Ponds had 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Cooper's Hawk, and a Red-tailed Hawk, all around the Wood Duck picnic area Sandhill Cranes - 2 were still hanging around Mallard marsh east of the Wood Duck picnic area Sapsuckers - finally appearing in numbers, with 3 at 3 different sites along the Blacklick greenbelt BrownCreepers - another winter resident finally showing itself, with birds at many locations Fruit-eaters - still flocks of Robins in many places in both parks and along the Blacklick Greenbelt between them. The only Cedar Waxwings were at Chatterton Greenbelt, and the only Mockingbird was at the Bowen Rd parking area by Ellis Pond at Pick Ponds. Golden-crowned Kinglets - still small #s at many locations; the Confluence area of 3-Creeks had 5 Sparrows - lots of White-throated flocks in many locations, along with good #s of Song Sparrows. Swamp Sparrows were at Cruiser Pond and several locations along the Blacklick Greenbelt, and White-cronws were at Pick Ponds; more unusual were Tree Sparrows at Chatterton greenbelt Blackbirds - conspicuous by their absence, with not a one around either park ______________________________________________________________________ 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]