I took advantage of a few free hours and the rising temperatures to bike around several areas in this sprawling park in south Columbus today.  In the morning, I rode along the Alum Creek bikeway between Heron Pond and the Oxbow area, while in the late afternoon I rode the Groveport Blacklick BikePath between Cruiser Pond and Winchester Lake. All of the lakes and ponds were still frozen, so only the creeks had open water.   The prolonged snow period has driven many of the birds to feeders or south; both areas were very deficient in ground feeders (Robins, blackbirds, sparrows) and raptors,  But there were still some interesting things around, including:

Snow Goose - 1 is hanging out with a flock of 80-100 Canadas in the Smith Farm area (along Watkins Rd)
Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers - no shortage of either along both routes.  Emerald Ash Borer is being very good to them.
Brown Creeper - surprisingly few, with only singles at Oxbow and along the GBBP
Golden-cr.Kinglets - similar pattern to creepers, but we expect them to be scarce.
Tree Sparrows - small #s just about everywhere; clearly having an invasion winter here.
Swamp Sparrow - 1 was in the slough next to Winchester Lake
Brown-headed Cowbirds - single juveniles were along the GBBP and at Cruiser Pond

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