Several stops along the Scioto River in Marble Cliff and Upper Arlington produced 2 more Pine Siskins this morning, 1 at Marble Cliff, another upriver at Griggs dam.  The rest of the morning list included more-expected temperate migrants.  Highlights were:

Ring-necked Ducks - 7 at Marble Cliff are the forerunners of big flocks usually found there by Bob Royce

Cormorant - several were on both the Dublin Rd quarry and the Scioto River above Griggs dam

Sharpie - 1 lurking along the bikepath at Marble Cliff marks the 3rd straight morning that I've seen this species.

Sapsucker - none along the the Scioto, but 1 was lurking in the ravine at Redick Park, just west of the river.  This isolated patch of scrubby forest is often good for strays.

Brown Creeper - 1-2 were at every stop, marking their first widespread appearance here.

Hermit Thrush - 2 were in the dense honeysuckle along the Marble Cliff bikepath

Winter Wren - singles were at Griggs and Redick Park

Kinglets - both species were common at every stop, with Golden-cr. outnumbering Ruby-cr. about 2:1

Warblers - only Yellow-rumped, but they were ubiquitous.

Sparrows - flocks of 10-20 White-throated Sparrows were at every stop, while several Chippings were flyovers at Griggs.  I didn't have enough time to stop at nearby Sullivant Trace, which has a great isolated field that might have bolstered sparrow species #s.

Blackbirds - small numbers flying south overhead at every stop.  Usually there's a big roost at nearby Campbell Mound Quarry, but I wasn't there early to see the outflight.  I did stop by the Cremeans Water Plant in NE Columbus during the evening and had a roosting flock of around 2500 birds.  Are there other reliable blackbird roosts in central Ohio?  This is the time to visit them.

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