Before dragging visiting relatives off on a 'field trip' to Ohio Caverns, I spent a few hours hiking around Blendon Woods this morning, enjoying the snow and the bird activity it engendered. Blendon was hopping, and not all of it was around the feeders. There were lots of waterfowl on Thoreau Lake, birds in the meadows, and woodpeckers in the forest. Oddly, no creepers or kinglets were seen. Notables included: Canada Geese - a big flock of 450+ birds was still hanging around Thoreau Lake early Dabbling Ducks - Mallards & Black Ducks up (120, 130) in #s on Thoreau Lake, which also had 8 Gadwall and 5 Wigeon Barred Owl - 1 was being harassed by jays along the Lake Trail N.Flickers - high #s, with 24 all over the park Red-headed Woodpecker - at least 1 still calling along the Lake Trail other Woodpeckers - good #s of expected woodpeckers, including a Pileated on the Streamside trail and 3 Hairies Winter Wrens - singles were along the Lake Trail and the Streamside Trail E.Bluebirds - small flocks in several parts of the park Hermit Thrush - 1 was calling down near the Cherrybottom picnic area Cedar Waxwings - a flock of 25+ was hanging around the Cherrybottom picnic area E.Towhees - 3 in different regions of the park Tree Sparrows - 4 scattered as singles around the park Field Sparrow - 1 was still around the Goldenrod Trail Fox Sparrows - at least 2 were foraging along the edges of the Lake Trail White-throated Sparrows - small flocks everywhere, totalling 50+ in 2 hours ______________________________________________________________________ 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]