I spent a few hours working parks along this central Columbus river, looking for interesting winter strays with some success. I made stops at the OSU wetlands, Whetstone Park, the Adena Ravine, and Highbanks MetroPark. The weather was cold, but reasonable (compared to the past week), so a lot of birds were out and active. Highlights included Black-cr.Night Heron - the small colony of 8-10 birds is still at the OSU footbridge near the stadium Canada Geese - a big flock of 350+ birds was jammed into an opening in the ice above the dam north of Dodridge Rd, and more were further south around OSU Raptors - Red-tails were at several places along the river, and a Kestrel was at the OSU wetlands, but I couldn't find the Merlin or the Peregrine reported from that vicinity woodpeckers - all the common species, as well as winter-resident sapsuckers at both OSU wetlands and Adena ravine nuthatches, creeper - lots of White-br.nuthatches at all stops, as well as a Red-breasted along Overbrook Rd (at the eastern end of Adena ravine). Brown Creepers were at both the OSu wetland and Whetstone Park thrushes - a few Robins at every stop (despite a virtual lack of fruit) were supplemented by an E.Bluebird at Highbanks and a Hermit Thrush at Whetstone Park Sparrows - Song Sparrows at all stops, but in no great numbers. Tree Sparrows at both the OSu wetlands and the Highbanks Nature Center feeders. A Swamp sparrow was the highlight at the OSU wetlands Finches - House finches common to abundant at all stops. Goldfinch flocks at OSU wetlands and Whetstone, and the group at OSU wetlands contained a Pine siskin. ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]