Sometimes you don't need a lake edge to concentrate migrants; just a bend in a corridor will do it.  One of the best central Ohio places to see this is 3-Creeks Park, where the Alum, Big Walnut, and Blacklick creeks twist their way through the flat farmland and suburbs south of Columbus to a junction just north of Groveport.  Three 'traps' here are Heron Pond (a twist in Alum Creek), the Confluence (where the 3 creeks merge), and the Bixby Blacklick Bikepath (a bend in Blacklick Creek).  I spent a few hours yesterday morning on the latter two.  The Confluence is a well-known trap, but lesser-known BBBP was the equal of it this morning.  Highlights included:

Egrets - BBBP had 2 Great Egrets, while the Confluence had 21 flying out to the east from some hidden roost

Raptors - nothing much at either site.  The Confluence had a Red-tail, while BBBP had a Cooper's, both likely residents.

Woodpeckers - both had a bevy of residents (Confluence even had a Pileated), but migrant Flickers were common at both, with 5 at Confluence and 10 at BBBP.

Flycatchers - just not their time anymore.  BBBP had a Phoebe.

Vireos - Confluence had 2 Red-eyeds; heard a Blue-headed at BBBP

BlueJays - no big #s at either place: Confluence had 6, BBBP had 10.

Nuthatches - lost of White-breasted at each site, but Confluence also had a Red-breasted.  The pine grove here is a very reliable spot for them.

Thrushes,Mimids - single Swainson's were at each site, but Robins were dominant, with 50 at Confl. and 170 at BBBP.  The latter has a scruffy edge with lots of fruiting cherries and grapevines. A few Catbirds were lurking at each site.

Waxwings - both had small flocks of Cedar Waxwings.

Warblers - Yellow-rumps were abundant at both sites (20 at Confl., 36 at BBBP), but other species were with them, including Tennessee (2 at each), Parula (1 at BBBP), Magnolia (1 at BBBP), Cape May (2 at each), Bl-thr.Green (2 at each), Ovenbird (1 at BBBP), and Com.Yellowthroat (2 at BBBP).

Sparrows - not much.  A few Chippings at each site, as well as some Songs and White-throats.

Blackbirds - small flocks of Redwings passing over both sites, along with a handful of Cowbirds and Grackles.

Both sites are well-protected against west wind, so even the blustery weather this morning had little impact upon them.  The best birding at most of these sites is along bikepaths, so watch for bikes and runners.  Heron Pond and the Confluence have established parking areas (off Williams Rd and W. Bixby Rd, respectively), while for BBBP, it's best to park at Groveport Cruiser Park and walk north to the bikepath (or Park along Old Bixby Rd, which is a half-block closer).  Cruiser Park has the advantage of a neat kettle pond, which had the Egrets and a few Wood Ducks and Mallards this morning.

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