The late winter migrants are heating up here just as elsewhere in Ohio.  A few stops around Groveport (south of Columbus) found a mix of waterfowl, blackbirds, sparrows, and finches.  It's getting to be such that February is becoming the new March.  I stopped at Cruiser Park and the Groveport Blacklick Bikepath, but also skimmed by Elk Run Park and Winchester Lakes.  Notables included:

Waterfowl - Cruiser Pond had Mallards, Black Ducks, Pintail, and Hooded Mergs, while nearby fields had large flocks of geese.  Winchester Lakes had similar birds, plus Scaup

Raptors - not as many as expected, but there were a few Red-tails. Kestrels were at Cruiser Pond and Winchester Lake.  I didn't check the Bald Eagle nest off Bixby Road.

Kildeer - at least 2 were calling around Cruiser Pond, a true herald of Spring here.

Brown Creepers - 1-2 were lurking in the woods along the Groveport Blacklick bikepath

Blackbirds - 3 large mixed flocks (grackles & Redwings at least) of 300-400 birds each were flying out of 3-Creeks Park to the north-northeast in the morning. A few Redwings were at nearly every stop.

Sparrows - White-throated were at many stops; there were also lingering Tree and Swamp at Cruiser Pond

Finches - lots of House Finches and Goldfinches at all stops, but more interesting was a singing Purple Finch along the Groveport Blacklick Bikepath.  They're not very common hereabouts any more.

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