Held close to home, I visited several sites in the 'Jefferson Highlands', an area of upland forests & swamps in Jefferson Township (NE of Columbus) that includes Gahanna Woods Preserve, Blacklick Ridge Park, Jefferson Township Park, Hannah Farms Park, and Bryn Mawr park.  Most of these are near one of the big creeks that flows through the area - either Rocky Fork or Blacklick Creek - , and the area can often attract early forest migrants.  Not so this morning, but still an interesting morning.  Highlights included:

Cooper's Hawk - calling birds at Gahanna Woods and Jefferson Township Park, both likely nesting locations

Red-headed Woodpecker - birds persist at Jefferson Township Park, and further north at Swickard Woods in New Albany (yesterday).  Could they be thinking of staying and nesting?

Pileated Woodpecker - calling birds at Gahanna Woods and Bryn Mawr park, spots where they have nested in the past.

E.Phoebe - 2 birds calling and flycatching around the vernal pools at Gahanna Woods was a nice sign of Spring.  Another was along Blacklick Creek at Blacklick Ridge Park.

Brown Creeper - singing birds at Gahanna Woods and Bryn Mawr park

Golden-cr.Kinglet - small #s at most stops, the major migrant of the morning

E.Bluebird - pairs on territory at Gahanna Woods and Bryn Mawr park

E.Towhee - singing birds at Gahanna Woods and Jefferson Township Park

Sparrows - Song Sparrows everywhere, along with a few White-throated.  A pair of Juncos was lingering at Jefferson Township Park.

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