I made several stops in and around Pickerington Ponds MetroPark over the last two afternoons to see if the thaw was luring back waterfowl.  Unfortunately, nearly all of the water areas there are still frozen, although there are goose and duck flocks lurking around Blacklick Creek (which is mostly ice-free now) and in farm fields along Gender and Brice Roads just south of the creek.  I couldn't find any odd geese here, but there were LOTS of geese spread over several fields, including many that gave me only distant views.  Some of the flocks may roost on the ice of some of the ponds at the MetroPark according to several observers I talked with.

Landbirds were also not as interesting as I had hoped.  The feeder at the Wood Duck picnic area had attracted a swarm of sparrows and mourning doves, but 15 Tree Sparrows was the only notable species.  Portmann Park also has its typical mixed sparrow flock along the bikepath, including Tree, Swamp, Song, White-crowned, White-throated, and Junco.  No Field or Fox Sparrows in either location, but they should be here.  The only raptors of note were Red-tailed Hawks at Wood Duck picnic area and Portman, and a beautiful male Northern Harrier cruising around the northern parts of the MetroPark.

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