Between fast-moving storms, I was able to visit these two venerable Columbus birding sites this morning.  The first wave of temperate migrants seems to have hit in the last few days, and it really had the feel of Spring at several points in the morning.  Notables included:

waterfowl - darn near nothing other than the expected pairs of gees and Mallards.  1 lonely Ring-necked Duck was in the new Whittier wetlands, while 2-3 cormorants were on the river here.

Great Horned Owl - no, she's really not around the cemetery nest, and I couldn't relocate her anywhere.  She has likely abandoned the nest.

woodpeckers - lots of residents drumming and, in the case of Flickers, calling.  No big push of sapsuckers yet, with only 1 lurking in the ravine area of the cemetery.

Brown Creeper - only 1 along the Whittier bikepath, but 4 were scattered around the cemetery, including 1 singing in the old oaks along the ridge northwest of the Pit.

Winter wren - single birds were along the bikepath at Whittier and in the ravine area of the cemetery

Golden-cr.kinglet - 3-4 at every location, so they seem to be on the move.

E.Towhee - a breakthrough morning, with 4 along the Whittier bikepath and 8 at the cemetery

Field Sparrows - singing birds at both Whittier and the cemetery

Chipping Sparrows - 3-4 birds at the cemetery, including 1 very accomodating bird around the feeders at the Pit

Fox Sparrows - 1 was singing along the Whittier bikepath, but 3 were lurking in the cemetery ravine

Juncos - flocks both around the Whittier boat launch (20+) and the cemetery Pit & oaks area (40+)

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