Atlasing and censusing took me to several blocks around this southern suburb of Columbus, producing some good finds.  I stopped at several spots in 3-Creeks Park, the Old Canal towpath trail between Groveport & Canal Winchester, and Walnut Woods Park.  Water levels are quite high here, with many flooded fields and pools; even the old canal trace had lots of water.  The surprise of the morning was the old Richardson Road parkland, now the western unit of Walnut Woods Park.  This location always had interesting habitats - acres of old, semi-wild plantings from when it was a nursery - but it now has a great new paved path that accesses most of the area. I'll be writing up a description of it for the Columbus Audubon website.  Notable birds on the morning included:

Herons - The Great Blue Heron colonies near Rager Road (20+ nests) and at Cruiser Park (2 nests) had large juveniles.  A Green Heron was fishing in one of the Old Canal pools along the Groveport-Canal Winchester towpath.

Cuckoos - calling Yellow-billed were at several places, including the Confluence area of 3-Creeks and Walnut Woods.  An unusual singing BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was at Walnut Woods; there are very few summer records of this elusive species near Columbus.

Woodpeckers - an adult Red-headed was flycatching at Cruiser Pond, but gave no obvious indication of nesting.  A pair of Pileateds were calling and flying around the Confluence area of 3-Creeks, while another was along the Groveport-Blacklick bikepath.

Flycatchers - plenty of expected species, including territorial or nest-building Acadians & Willows at many locations.  Pewees were also widespread, being especially noticeable in the narrow strip of forest along the old canal towpath.

Vireos - a singing BELL'S VIREO was along the bikepath at Walnut Woods.  Found earlier by MetroParks' John Watts, the bird was singing intermittently along the southern loop of the bikepath, about halfway back to the parking area.  Strangely, there were no White-eyed Vireos in the vicinity, despite good habitat that has hosted them in the past.

Mimids - singing Brown Thrashers were surprisingly widespread & vocal, despite the heat, with birds at all stops; 2 were at both the towpath and Walnut Woods.  Mockingbirds were at their traditional locations along the entrance road to the Confluence Area and at Cruiser Pond.

Warblers - nothing unexpected, but good numbers of Parulas and Yellow-throateds at the Confluence area, while singing Yellow-breasted Chats were at Walnut Woods (2-3) and the Groveport-Blacklick bikepath (1).  Yellow Warblers & Common Yellowthroats were widespread and common at most stops.  A Prothonotary has taken up residence at Turtle Pond at the Confluence area; it was singing steadily this morning, and another birder mentioned it having been there for a week.

Grosbeaks - singing Rose-br.Grosbeaks were unusually noticeable, with birds at the Confluence & Borrow Pits areas of 3-Creeks, the Groveport-Blacklick bikepath (2), and the old canal towpath.

Sparrows - aside from the expected trio (Field,Chipping, & Song), there were also singing Savannah (in the fields of Walnut Woods Park along Richardson Road) and Vesper (north of the old Canal towpath).

Meadowlarks,Dickcissels - both were singing in the fields to the east of Richardson Road at Walnut Woods

Orioles - Baltimores had nests in several locations along the trails at 3-Creeks, while singing Orchards were at the Borrow Pits area of 3-Creeks and along the Walnut Woods bikepath.

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