The Columbus Audubon trip to Darby Creek focused on the traps around Prairie Oaks MetroPark, spending lots of time at Darby Bend lakes and Sycamore Plains forest trail.  The result was a list strong on unusual residents, with some added spice of migrant landbirds and even some shorebirds.  Notables included:

Cormorants - small groups of 1-4 were flying around & over Darby bend Lakes continuously
Osprey - at least 1 was flying over Darby bend Lakes
Shorebirds - aside from the resident Kildeer and Spotted Sandpipers, we also found a Dunlin (in beautiful Spring plumage) and a Least Sandpiper.

Woodpeckers - no Red-headed, but most of the others, including Pileated at Sycamore Plains
Flycatchers - Pewees, Willows, and Gr.Crested were common.  We also had several Acadians in the forest at Sycamore Plains, and an Olive-sided on a snag at Darby Bend Lakes.

Vireos - loads of Warbling at Darby Bend Lakes, while Sycamore Plains had 1 Yellow-throated, 1 White-eyed, and 3-4 Red-eyed.
Swallows - Tree, Rough-winged, and Barns were widespread.  A few Cliffs seem to be nest-building on the Beach Rd bridge.
Thrushes - a Wood was singing at Sycamore Plains, but Swainson's were almost absent (except 1 at the north Canoe launch)
Mimids - Catbirds were common, but we also had Brown Thrashers at Darby Bend lakes
Warblers - resident Yellows and Yellowthroats were common; we also had resident Yellow-throated & Parulas at Sycamore Plains.  Migrants included Blackpolls (2 at DBL), Blackburnians (2 at Sycamore Plains), Redstarts, Wilson's, and Mourning (1 singing at Sycamore Plains)

Sparrows - nothing other than the expected Songs, Chipping, and Fields at Prairie Oaks.  A singing Vesper was at Heritage Trail on the way home.  The open fields here are one of their last strongholds in Franklin County.

Buntings & Grosbeaks - Indigo Buntings were widespread, but no grosbeaks were found
Icterids - Meadowlarks were calling at both Darby Bend Lakes and Sycamore Plains.  Both sites also had Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, though they were more common at Darby Bend Lakes.  We had males of both species in the same small tree there (being harassed by a territorial Yellow Warbler, no less!).

Birds weren't the only stars.  We had great looks at Map Turtles and swimming Banded Water Snakes at Darby Bend Lakes, and also had calling Cricket Frogs and Green frogs.

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