I played hokey from work this afternoon and spent my time in Blendon Woods Metro Park in Columbus.  Most of our time was spent in the blinds at Thoreau Lake.

What a nice afternoon.  A little sprinkle now and again but nice even light (albeit somewhat low at times) for photography.  We saw

Lesser scaup
Wood ducks (male and female)
Ring-necked ducks (male and female)
Coots
Northern shovelers (male and female)
Pied billed grebe
Buffelheads (male and female)
Mallards (male and female)
American black ducks (male and female)
Blue winged teal
American widgeon
Blue heron (perhaps 5-6)
Swallows galore 
Swan (I think a mute)
Lots of cranky Canadian geese
A goose that we didn't identify but has the biggest rear end of any bird I've ever seen.

On the Lake trail

2 (count 'em... TWO) pileated woodpeckers flying the woods together.  I've only ever seen one before and that was from 
        a long way off.  This was a thrill for me.  I was even able to capture one on chip (digital camera).
Red-bellied woodpeckers
Flickers
White breasted nuthatch
Yellow-rumped warblers
Crow
Plus lots of cardinals and blue jays

We heard but didn't see titmice in several places as well as many more red bellied woodpeckers.

I also noted what I thought was odd behavior in the Canadian geese.  Along about 3:00 or so everybody on the lake seemed to get a little frisky.  The geese ALL congregated in front of the west blind and then started diving.  I've never seen this before.  One would dive and then another facing that one would dive.  Then they'd do it again.  This kept up for like 5 minutes.  

What's up with that?

Tim Hutson
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