The Columbus Audubon trip to areas along Darby Creek found the area still frozen in late winter, figuratively and literally.  All of the ponds along the creek, including the big former quarry lakes at Darby Bend Lakes were frozen.  Even most of the Hilliard ponds stretching between Spindler Park and the Heritage bikepath were also frozen.  Only the creek was open, and it had only small flocks of Canada Geese and Mallards.  We stopped at Darby Bend Lakes and Sycamore Plains in Prairie Oaks MetroPark and the Darby Dan wetlands and Cedar Ridge in Battelle-Darby MetroPark.  The notable birds were:

Turkey Vulture - 1 was soaring over Cedar Ridge, slowly heading north

Kildeer - 4 were calling forlornly from the icy pond edges at Darby Bend Lakes, probably wondering if they were at the right spot

Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was calling in the old riparian woods at Sycamore Plains

Horned Larks - a few were flying over at every stop.  Their migration is proceeding apace.

Blackbirds - small numbers of Redwings were around the Prairie Oaks sites, while a flock of Grackles was foraging around the entrance to Darby Bend Lakes.

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