While stopping at Darby Bend Lakes (far western Franklin County) this morning, I sorted through a big flock of Canada Geese and found 6 Cackling Geese.  They were in the large pond to the north of the parking areas.  That pond and the large square one to the south remain open and largely ice-free, and hosted a good mix of other waterfowl including  90 Mallards, 4 Shovelers, 1 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Buffleheads, 1 Ruddy Duck, and 4 Coots.  There also was a vocal Kildeer along the shoreline of the northern pool.  Not much else however.
 Stops there and down at Sycamore Plains produced few landbirds.  This is one of the few MetroParks that pursues a No Feeders policy, and it results low numbers of chickadees, cardinals, and woodpeckers.  Other birds seemed less affected: Tree & White-throated Sparrows were in small flocks at both sites, and Sycamore plains sported a mockingbird and bluebird around the parking area.

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