The area around Pickerington Ponds was jumping this morning.  I stopped at the Wood Duck picnic area and Bowen Road access, as well as nearby Portman Park. Greenwing Pond was low, with lots of shorebirds and teal, while other marshes were largely dry; Ellis Pond, in contrast, was nearly full.  Away from the water, warblers were spotty, but many other migrants were in evidence.  Notables included:

Sandhill Cranes - a pair flew over Greenwing Pond early, settling in the fields by Glacier Knoll
Teals - Greenwing Pond had flocks of both Green-wings (17) and Blue-wings (8).
Great Egrets - 4 were at Greewnwing Pond and another 4 were at Ellis Pond
Green Herons - 2 were fishing the receding water of Greenwing Pond
Plovers - aside from the ubiquitous Killdeer, Greenwing Pond also had 1-2 Semipalmated Plovers
Sandpipers - Greenwing pond had 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 4 Least Sandpipers, 5 Semipalmated Sandpipers, and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers

Flycatchers - a Pewee was still around Portman, while Pick Ponds had 3 E.Phoebes
Vireos - a Blue-headed Vireo was along the Yellowlegs Trail near Ellis Pond, while a Red-eyed was at Portman
BlueJays - small groups were in many places, which is surprising here given the paucity of forest cover
Swallows - 30+ Rough-wings were foraging around Glacier Knoll & Greenwing Pond
Thrushes - single Swainson's were at Portman and along the Yellowlegs Trail, while small Robin flocks were everywhere
Warblers - few, with Magnolias, Redstarts, and CommonYellowthroats widespread
Sparrows - still plenty of Field & Song Sparrows, but Ellis Pond also had a Lincoln's Sparrow
Blackbirds - an early flock of 170+ Red-wings flew out of Mallard Marsh at Pick Ponds

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