I hiked around this southeast Columbus MetroPark this morning, finding that winter birds have settled in, with lots of woodpeckers, creepers, and sparrows. I later stopped at parks along nearby Big Walnut Creek (Big Walnut Park, Whitehall Community Park), but had little that was new. Highlights included: Hawks - several Red-tails were lurking in Blacklick, but there was also an adult Red-shouldered around the overflow picnic area. Barred Owl - 1 bird was sunning itself on a snag along the eastern part of the Maple Trail loop Red-headed Woodpeckers - 4-5 birds continue to forage around the Buttonbush Trail at Blacklick, and I also found juvies at both Big Walnut and Whitehall Community park. There appears to be a big influx of them underway in Central Ohio. Sapsucker - at least 1 was around Ashton Pond area of Blacklick Woods Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was feeding along the Buttonbush Loop of Blacklick Woods Brown Creepers - good numbers, with 5 at Blacklick Woods and another 3 at Big Walnut Park Winter Wren - 2 were calling along Big Walnut creek in Big Walnut Park E.Bluebirds - small flocks were at most stops, including the picnic area at Blacklick and in Big Walnut Park Yellow-rumped Warblers - good #s (16-18) were along the Maple Loop in Blacklick Woods early E.Towhees - 7-8 were around the trails in Blacklick Woods, indicating a local influx of winter birds Tree Sparrow - at least 1 was around the Nature Center feeders at Blacklick Woods Fox Sparrow - 1 was actually singing in the scrub around Ashton Pond at Blacklick Woods White-throated Sparrows - small flocks were active and singing in many locations Juncos - small flocks were at most locations Finches - try as I might, I couldn't find any siskins or Purple Finches among lots of Goldfinches and House Finches ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]