A Columbus Audubon trip plus some pre- and post-trip scouting to Whittier peninsula, Berliner Park, Marble Cliff, and the Greenlawn cemetery found a very cold morning with fewer birds than have graced these spots in the last week.  The White-winged Crossbills could not be relocated in the cemetery, despite an intensive search, but no telling if they will re-appear there as the cone crop still looks terrific.  Birds of note included:

Waterfowl - mostly in the few remaining open-water areas, either at the Watermark quarry (along Dublin Rd.) or on the Scioto River below Greenlawn dam.  The former site had 25+ Hooded Mergansers, 20 Coots, 8 Gadwall, and a Pied-billed Grebe, while the nearby open stretches of river had flocks of Mallards and Geese.  The latter also had big flocks of Mallards & Canada Geese along with 10 Black Ducks, 1 Ring-neck, and 12 Hooded Mergansers.

Raptors - scarce, including a Red-tail in the cemetery and a Cooper's at Whittier

Woodpeckers - 1 Sapsucker still in the cemetery, while Hairy Woodpeckers were at Berliner & Marble Cliff

Brown Creepers, Nuthatches - widespread, with 2 at the cemetery, 3 at Berliner, and 1 at Marble Cliff.  Plenty of White-br. but no red-br. Nuthatches at the cemetery.

Thrushes,Mimids - Robins were still flocking in honeysuckles along the river at Whittier, Marble Cliff, and Berliner (all still have lots of berries), but numbers in the cemetery were far below last week.  2-3 Mockingbirds were still easily found in the cemetery.

Finches - no crossbills or siskins at any spot, although Goldfinches were widespread (at every stop).

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