The Columbus Audubon trip to Darby Creek found Spring-like weather, if not Spring-like birds. The trip started at the Darby Bend Lakes area of Prairie Oaks MetroPark, then moved to the new Darby Creek Drive wetlands and Greenway Trail of Battelle-Darby MetroPark about 4-6 miles further south. The mild temperatures made for completely open water, and there were quite a few migrant waterfowl at Prairie Oaks, with less at the new Darby Drive wetlands. Landbirds were mostly residents, with only a few early migrants. Notables included: Canada Geese - many everywhere, but especially at Darby Bend Lakes Snow Goose - 1 flyby with Canadas at Darby Bend lakes Wood Ducks - 3-4 were flying along Darby Creek at Darby Bend lakes Mallards - less common than expected Black Ducks - a few at Darby Drive wetlands Green-winged teal - 16 flew off of the pond off Beach Rd early in the morning N.Shoveler - 1 pair was flying around Darby Bend lakes N.Pintail - 2 were flyovers at Beach Rd Redhead - a large flock of 60-70 was on Darby Bend lakes early, before flying off north Lesser Scaup - 4-5 were flying around Darby Bend lakes Ring-necked Duck - 1 was with the Rehead at darby bend lakes Kildeer - calling and displaying at Darby Bend Lakes and at the Darby Creek Drive wetlands Horned Grebes - 2 were at Darby Bend Lakes Ring-billed Gulls - only a few at each spot Red-tailed Hawks - 1 at Darby Bend Lakes (near a likely nest), 2-3 along the Darby Greenbelt trail Great Horned Owl - occupying a Red-tail nest along the Ripple Rock trail at Darby Bend Lakes Pileated Woodpecker - 1 continually calling in the riparian strip along Darby Creek at Darby Bend Tree Sparrows - flocks at several locations; so odd to see them with such warm weather! Meadowlarks - several at DBL, as well at Amity Rd fields, and along Darby Creek Drive Redwinged Blackbirds - displaying males at many locations, small flyover flocks common as well ______________________________________________________________________ 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]