Checked another possible spot for migrant marsh sparrows & wrens in this man-made wetlands complex south of Columbus.  This was Sunday morning, so it was blustery, but not as cold as today.  Despite the bluster, there were lots of birds around, just not the target species (Ammodramus sparrows, marsh & sedge wrens).  The wetlands here have lots of cattail margins and fewer areas of sedge-like habitat, so perhaps it's not all that surprising that they would be difficult to find (except perhaps the marsh wrens).  Still, the bird list had some highlights, including:
Waterfowl:  mostly Canada Geese & Coots, but lesser numbers of Wood Ducks, Green-winged Teal, and Gadwalls
Raptors: a respectable showing, with Cooper's, Red-tailed, N.Harrier, and 6-8 Turkey vultures soaring in the stiff breezes
Thrushes:  small flocks of Bluebirds and larger flocks of Robins, both around the wetland margins and at several nearby sites (Berger Rd and Pontius Rd)
Warblers : Yellow-rumps at many spots, but the wetlands also had 3 Palm warblers.
Sparrows:  several flocks of WHite-crowns and WHite-throats, along with a scattering of Field (10) and Swamp (15) sparrows.  Only a few Chippings (1) and Lincoln's (2), and no Savannahs despite likely habitat in several places.
Blackbirds: big mixed flocks of redwings, grackles and starlings near reliable roost sites off Berger Rd and Pontius Rd.  I didn't inspect them closely for other species, and would expect them to have cowbirds.  Could not find Rusty Blackbirds at several likely sites.

There are only a few places along the wetlands trail that look likely for sedge wrens/Ammodramus sparrows, and they are small in size, so they might not be good at retaining these rarities.  Large, open sedge fens were probably the original habitat for these species, and they've been augmented (or replaced) by wet farm fields (Ohio's modern equivalent to ephemeral prairie wetlands).

Rob Thorn
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EarthLink Revolves Around You.

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