I spent most of the cold morning around these 2 MetroParks south of Columbus, checking for waterfowl and hoping for early landbird migrants. 3Creeks had limited waterfowl, but PickeringtonPonds was humming, especially Mallard Marsh east of the observation deck at the Wood Duck picnic area. Notables included MuteSwans - 3 were in Mallard Marsh Greenwinged Teal - small groups in many places, with the high# being 100+ at Mallard Marsh N.Shoveler - 12+ at Mallard Marsh Gadwall - an eye-popping 80+ at Mallard Marsh N.Pintail - 4 at the Borrow Pits of 3Creeks, 20+ at Mallard Marsh Am.Wigeon - 8 at Mallard Marsh Redhead - small groups in many locations, but the big # was 200+ at Mallard Marsh Lesser Scaup - groups at many locations, with the high# being 50+ at Teal Pond at Pick Ponds Ring-necked Ducks - flocks at several wetlands in Pick Ponds Ruddy Ducks - small flocks at the 3Creeks Borrow Pits and at Teal Pond in Pick Ponds Common Mergansers - 6 were still on Ellis Pond at Pick Ponds Hooded Mergansers - small #s at several locations both at 3Creeks and PickPonds Horned Grebes - 2 at Ellis Pond Pied-billed Grebes - 4 at Ellis Pond Kildeer - widespread at both parks Ring-billed Gulls - small numbers in many locations, with the most around shopping centers N.Harrier - at least 2 females were still hunting the fields at Pick Ponds BaldEagle - a subadult was hanging around Ellis Pond Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was drumming around the Confluence woods at 3Creeks Mockingbird - a single bird was around the Glacier Knoll picnic area feeder at Pick Ponds Tree Sparrows - a few were at both 3Creeks Confluence area and the feeder at the Wood Duck picnic area,PickPonds Fox Sparrows - singles were at the Confluence area and Borrow Pits area at 3Creeks White-throated Sparrows - not common, with only a few flocks Redwings - not so many calling singles, as birds seemed to gather back into flocks with the cold weather Grackles - small #s at virtually every stop Cowbirds - only a few, mostly at 3Creeks ______________________________________________________________________ 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]