I visited several wetlands scattered across south Columbus and suburbs, starting with 3-Creeks metroPark, then Wlanut Woods, and finishing at Pickerington Ponds. Water levels, not surprisingly, were high at every one of them, so shorebirds were absent. Also, the long, mild summer has allowed most of these wetlands to 'grow in', so vegetation covers much of them. Still there were interesting birds, including Trumpeter Swans - the duo at Ellis Pond in Pick Ponds is still there, best seen along Wright Road. Great Egrets - 3 were at the Borrow Pit wetland at 3-Creeks, while 4 were at Mallard Marsh at Pick Ponds Osprey - 1 was at the Walnut Wood wetlands, while another was sitting south of Arrowhead Marsh at Pick ponds Bald Eagle - an immature bird flew past Ellis Pond at Pick Ponds Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 adult was calling near the Borrow Pit wetlands in 3-Creeks Kestrels - singles were at the Walnut Woods wetland and near Arrowhead Marsh at Pick Ponds E.Kingbirds - still 1-2 were hanging out around Walnut Woods wetlands Swallows - no big flocks, but small numbers of Barn & Rough-winged at most spots, topped by 30 at Arrowhead Marsh Blue-winged Warbler - a male was foraging along the Meadowlark Trail at Pick Ponds, an unusual location for one. ______________________________________________________________________ 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.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]