I hadn't visited many of these sites since before the big snowfall & cold snap, and it was instructive to see how things have changed. I stopped along the Clover-Groff greenbelt at Spindler Road park, Franks Park and Reynolds Park along the edge of Hilliard, then moved further west to stop at Darby Bend lakes and Sycamore Plains, both in Prairie Oaks Metropark. There was very little open water, but some waterfowl could still be found. The deep snow put a definite damper on landbirds, however. Notables for the morning included:
Swans - my personal highlight was both Tundra & Trumpeter Swans at Darby Bend Lakes, sitting out on the frozen south lake with a flock of Canada Geese. They were calling and walking around, so you could separate the two species both by voice and by body size.
Geese -- only Canadas, though I looked a lot for Cackling. The only flocks were along the Darby, either sitting around the ice at Darby Bend Lake or flying over at Sycamore Plains
Dabbling Ducks -- lots of Mallards along the Clover Groff Greenbelt, with big flocks at Spindler Road and Franks Park. The only break in that was a pair of Gadwall at Darby Bend lakes
Raptors -- not as many as I expected, but Red-tails were at several spots, and a Bald Eagle was soaring along the Clover Groff stream restoration near Reynolds Park, as was a hunting Harrier. Definitely unexpected was a Black Vulture soaring over Darby Bend lakes.
Sapsuckers -- still a big story this year, I had them at Reynolds Park and at Sycamore Plains
Horned larks - small flocks were along the edge of snow-covered fields on Patterson Road. Hermit Thrush -- only found 1, at Sycamore Plains Robins -- small numbers at nearly every stop, despite a paucity of fruit Sparrows -- not much other than Songs, White-throats, and a few Juncos, though a flock of Tree Sparrows was around the entrance to Darby Bend lakes. Finches -- nothing other than the expected House Finches and Goldfinches.
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