I spent a few hours this morning nosing around the area of Hoover Reservoir between Oxbow Island and Galena, stopping at Oxbow Island, Area I, Char-Mar Preserve, Wiese Road bikepath, and Areas M&N, where I ran into Jason S. on the boardwalk. I also scoped out the woods behind Big Walnut High School up in Sunbury.  The periodic drizzle and breeze kept the air cool, and seemed to encourage a long period of bird activity.  Highlights included:

COMMON LOON - spotted south of the boardwalk by Jason, this basic-plumaged bird eventually flew down-reservoir
Cormorants - small squads were off both Oxbow Island and the boardwalk
Wood Ducks - hens with chicks or juveniles at many locations, especially the pond at Char-Mar, which had 20+ birds
Ospreys - 5 birds were around the bay at Galena, including 2 on the south nest; we watched one chase off a Bald Eagle
Great Egret - 1 bird was foraging in the few shallows on the peninsula across from the boardwalk
Green Herons - single birds were foraging at the flood-pool at Oxbow Island and at the Char-Mar Pond
Gulls - hardly any, with only 2 Ring-bills (at Oxbow) and 1 Herring (boardwalk)
Red-headed Woodpeckers - 2 were around a snag along the shore west of the boardwalk, across Little Walnut Creek
Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was calling in the woods at Char-Mar Preserve

Flycatchers - widespread WoodPewees and Great Cresteds; Acadians were calling in the woods at Char-Mar and at Area N

Swallows - loads of Tree fledglings & adults over the reservoir, including an estimated 50+ around the boardwalk.  Cliff Swallow colonies still strong at Area I and the Galena bridge.  A few BANKS off the boardwalk were unusual.

Vireos - Warblings common around reservoir shore (Oxbow, Wiese, Galena).  Red-eyed more abundant in upland woods (Char-Mar, Big Walnut High School).  Yellow-throateds were singing at Wiese and BWHS.

Thrushes - no calling Wood Thrushes anywhere, but lots of Robins with juveniles.

Cedar Waxwings - small groups of 2-4 at many locations, mostly near mulberry trees

Prothontary Warblers - lots of them still singing at Oxbow, Wiese, and Galena.  1-2 males have taken up the appealing habit of foraging on the boardwalk for spiders and bugs, so don't be startled by singing from the railing or under the deck!

Black&White Warblers - the invasion continues, with singing birds at both Oxbow Island and Wiese Rd.

Other Warblers - Yellow-throateds were singing at Area I and Galena, while the only Parula was at BWHS.  2 pairs of Yellow Warblers were feeding fledglings along the Wiese Rd bikepath.  Common Yellowthroats were at Char-Mar and BWHS

Tanagers - had singing Scarlets at Wiese Rd. and at BWHS

Orioles - Baltimores were calling or attending nestlings at many locations along reservoir (Oxbow, Wiese Rd, Galena).

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