I visited several areas around Dublin (a NW Columbus suburb) this morning and found scant winter residents and the first inklings of migrants, I stopped at Glacier Ridge MetroPark, as well as several nearby Dublin Parks, then finished along the Scioto Gorge at Donegal Cliffs and Kiwanis Parks. Still water was still mostly frozen (except large Lake Corazon), but the Scioto River was totally open. Notables included: Redhead- at least 1 pair was with Mallards & geese on Lake Corazon, a harbinger of bigger February #s Com.Goldeneye - 8 were on the Scioto River just below Kiwanis Com.Mergansers - 10 were on the Scioto River just below Kiwanis Hooded Mergansers - 30+ were on the Scioto River just below Kiwanis Sharp-shinned Hawk - one buzzed along the riparian strip at Kiwanis Cooper's Hawk - singles were at Donegal Cliffs and Brandon Rd Red-shouldered Hawk - an adults was circling above McKitrick Woods (corner of Hyland-Croy & McKitrick) E.Bluebirds - the only ones seen were 2 at Donegal Cliffs , where the river gorge was a windless refuge Brown Creeper - only 1 was seen, at Kiwanis Robins - flocks in many locations Tree Sparrows - scarce; the only 3 were along McKitrick Rd Rusty Blackbirds - at least 5 were hanging around the vernal pools in the woodlot NW of the main parking area at Glacier Ridge. This woodlot is becoming a fairly reliable place for them, usually in February. ______________________________________________________________________ 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]