I spent the morning biking around 3-Creeks Park in south Columbus, going from Heron Pond west through the Confluence area, Cruiser Pond, the Groveport Blacklick Bikepath, Winchester Lake, and the Chatterton greenbelt. Waterfowl were fewer here than at Darby or Pick Ponds, probably since most of these ponds are artificial. Landbirds were more interesting, with quite a few very early 'migrants'. Notables included: Wood Duck - a pair were in a slough near Winchester Lake American Wigeon - 4-5 were at Cruiser Pond, near Groveport Bald Eagle - 1 adult was soaring over Winchester Lake Am.Kestrels - a pair was along the entrance road for the Confluence area; this would be a great spot to install a nestbox Turkey Vulture - surprisingly scarce, with only 1 bird all morning Kildeer - 1-2 at nearly every stop, for a total of 14 on the morning Pileated Woodpecker - singles were at the Confluence area and the Groveport Blacklick Bikepath other Woodpeckers - LOTS of Red-bellies (17+) and Downies (26+) along the trail, with much calling and drumming Brown Creeper - still scarce here, with only single birds at the Confluence area and Winchester lake Amer.Robins - surprisingly common, with 5-10 at every stop E.Towhee - 1 female was near a feeder along the Groveport Blacklick Bikepath Tree Sparrows - 3 were at Cruiser Pond Field Sparrow - 1 early-ish bird was at Cruiser Pond, a reliable early spot for them Chipping Sparrow - 1 juvenile was at a feeder along the Groveport Blacklick Bikepath Swamp Sparrow - 1 was still in the marshy fring of Winchester Lake, where one has been all winter. Redwing Blackbirds - steady movement of small # to the north and northeast, with roughly 140 in 4 hours Com.Grackle - less common than Redwings, with only 15 total for the morning Almost as interesting was what I couldn't find: there were no Horned Larks - despite being in or near good habitat all morning Red-br.Nuthatch - the 2 birds wintering around the Park seem to have departed winter finches - no remnant Siskins or Purple Finches here, despite it being a good location for them. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]