Things were slow at this MetroPark SE of Columbus yesterday.  Water levels are very high in most of the ponds & impoundments and is spreading into surrounding vegetation, giving waterbirds plenty of hiding places.  Landbirds there were middling, but some migrants were at nearby Portman park.  Highlights (such as they were) included:

Herons - GBH colony at Ellis Pond is in full-swing, with lots of commuting birds.  A Green Heron was around the boardwalk on the Bowen Rd side, but later flew across the road to Georges Creek.

Waterfowl - surprisingly scant, except for honking pairs of geese that were everywhere.  A pair of Shovelers on Arrowhead marsh were notable, as was a flock of 25 Ruddy Ducks in the middle of Ellis Pond.

Raptors - 10+ Turkey Vultures, a few Red-tails, and a kestrel, about what you would expect here.  One Osprey appeared to be incubating on the platform nest in Arrowhead Marsh, while another was perched in a nearby tree.

Shorebirds - despite the high water, I was able to find some Kildeer, a few Yellowlegs of both varieties, and a Solitary Sandpiper.  Arrowhead Marsh has the most inviting shoreline for them.

Migrant landbirds - early migrants were everywhere, but more common at Portman than at Pick Ponds, and included Phoebes, Ruby-cr.Kinglets, Brown Thrashers, Warbling Vireos, White-eyed Vireos, Yellow Warblers, Yellow-throated Warblers, Yellow-rumped warblers, and Common Yellowthroats.  Both places also had plenty of singing Field Sparrow pairs, but Portman also had small flocks of White-throated sparrows.

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