I stopped at several areas southeast of Columbus, including Pickerington Ponds, Winchester Lake, and the Chatterton Greenbelt.  Water was open along the creeks, and in some of the larger ponds at Pick Ponds, and had attracted some good waterbirds.  Birds of note included:

Waterfowl - Pick Ponds had lots of dabblers, mostly Mallards, but also fair #s of Black Ducks (14), Green-winged Teal (40), and N.Shovelers (8).  Divers included 17 Ring-necked Ducks, 1 Canvasback, and 1 Common Goldeneye; there were also 7-8 Hooded Mergansers.  Two large swans at Teal Pond were quiet, but almost certainly Trumpeters.

Bald Eagles - 2 adults were perched in snags at Teal Pond, keeping the waterfowl on the alert
Red-tailedHawks - 4-5 along the Blacklick greenbelt bikepath, and another pair near Ellis Pond
GreatHornedOwl - 1 was wedged down into an old Red-tail nest along the Chatterton Greenbelt, one of the few regular nesting areas for them near Columbus.
Rock Doves - not normally notable, but a huge roost of 250 birds was at the Ebright Rd overpass over US33
Gray Catbird - 1 was calling from the tangle east of the Wright Rd parking area at Pick Ponds; later it flew off to the west.
Tree Sparrows - widespread, with flocks at Chatterton (30+) and the Meadowlark Trail at Pick Ponds (15+)
E.Towhees - a pair were along the Chatterton Greenbelt, a good wintering spot for them

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