I spent most of the cold morning around these 2 MetroParks south of Columbus, checking for waterfowl and hoping for early landbird migrants.  3Creeks had limited waterfowl, but PickeringtonPonds was humming, especially Mallard Marsh east of the observation deck at the Wood Duck picnic area. Notables included

MuteSwans - 3 were in Mallard Marsh
Greenwinged Teal - small groups in many places, with the high# being 100+ at Mallard Marsh
N.Shoveler - 12+ at Mallard Marsh
Gadwall - an eye-popping 80+ at Mallard Marsh
N.Pintail - 4 at the Borrow Pits of 3Creeks, 20+ at Mallard Marsh
Am.Wigeon - 8 at Mallard Marsh
Redhead - small groups in many locations, but the big # was 200+ at Mallard Marsh
Lesser Scaup - groups at many locations, with the high# being 50+ at Teal Pond at Pick Ponds
Ring-necked Ducks - flocks at several wetlands in Pick Ponds
Ruddy Ducks - small flocks at the 3Creeks Borrow Pits and at Teal Pond in Pick Ponds
Common Mergansers - 6 were still on Ellis Pond at Pick Ponds
Hooded Mergansers - small #s at several locations both at 3Creeks and PickPonds
Horned Grebes - 2 at Ellis Pond
Pied-billed Grebes - 4 at Ellis Pond
Kildeer - widespread at both parks
Ring-billed Gulls - small numbers in many locations, with the most around shopping centers
N.Harrier - at least 2 females were still hunting the fields at Pick Ponds
BaldEagle - a subadult was hanging around Ellis Pond
Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was drumming around the Confluence woods at 3Creeks
Mockingbird - a single bird was around the Glacier Knoll picnic area feeder at Pick Ponds
Tree Sparrows - a few were at both 3Creeks Confluence area and the feeder at the Wood Duck picnic area,PickPonds
Fox Sparrows - singles were at the Confluence area and Borrow Pits area at 3Creeks
White-throated Sparrows - not common, with only a few flocks
Redwings - not so many calling singles, as birds seemed to gather back into flocks with the cold weather
Grackles - small #s at virtually every stop
Cowbirds - only a few, mostly at 3Creeks

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