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

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