I spent the cold morning birding sites along the Scioto River (and near by) west of downtown Columbus, starting at Long St. Dam and working upstream to Grandview, Watermark Lake, Sullivant Trace, Marble Cliff, and Griggs dam.  Despite the flurries and cold wind, there were plenty of birds out, although diversity was a bit dull.  The power of feeders was on full display, as the Grandview neighborhood (which has lots of feeders) had easily the most birds, while numbers were much lower in the riverside thickets.  Highlights included:

E.Phoebe - a calling bird was trying to forage along the Sullivant Trace trail south of Grandview
BrownCreepers - good numbers, with 1-2 at every stop; Grandview had 3
Golden-cr.Kinglets - scarce, with only a single bird, below the dam at Griggs Dam
Robins - not very common here, despite some decent berry crops; highest # was 30 in Grandview
CedarWaxwings - 5 were in a fruit tree in Grandview
Horned Larks - 2 were flyovers at Marble Cliff, perhaps fleeing the anticipated snow
White-throated Sparrows - small flocks in many locations; Grandview topped the list with 35+

Waterbirds were surprisingly scarce, with hardly any on the river, even around Griggs dam.  The only exception was Watermark Lake, where the Coot flock has grown to 150, and where there were also 4 Pied-billed Grebes, 10 Ring-necked Ducks, and 2 Ruddy Ducks.

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