I checked these 2 hotspots southeast of Columbus today, as well as several smaller sites in Pickerington, Etna, & Pataskala. Water level at Pick Ponds was very high, so no shorebirds, and even few herons. Blacklick Woods was very birdy, but had little out of the ordinary. Interesting finds included: Sandhill Cranes - 2 were calling in Arrowhead Marsh at Pick Ponds Great Egrets - only 3 were around Pick Ponds, far below the 20+ of several weeks past Osprey - 2 adults a a big juvenile were hanging out around the platform in Arrowhead marsh Kestrels - scarce, with 1 near Pick Ponds, and another along Smoke Rd in Etna Barred Owl - couldn't locate any in Blacklick Woods, but one was being harassed by small birds along the Conaway Trail in Pataskala's Evans Park E.Kingbirds - widespread, with the biggest #s 7-8 around the Wood Duck picnic area at Pick Ponds Purple Martins - also widespread, with the high of 20+ at Pick Ponds Other Swallows - Rough-winged & Barn also quite common, notably at Pick Ponds and along Cable Rd in Pataskala ______________________________________________________________________ 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]