Thank you to Clyde Witt for posting about the prothonotary warblers seen
Wednesday evening at CVNP Station Rd (north on railroad tracks) and also for
updating me that this particular birding hotspot has been officially
reopened due to failure of the bald eagle nest in the area. Bummer for the
eagles, but yippee for those who have missed birding this area in spring.

I birded the area Thursday evening and was treated to the mother of all
life-bird sightings. I had awesome views of two male prothonotaries as they
sat and posed, preened, chased and circled me for 5 minutes, never more than
40 feet away, and at one point swooped low over the tracks in front of me
within 8 feet. These gorgeous birds really put on a show that I will not
forget!

One of the bald eagles flew in and perched on a snag, then never budged
again for the entire hour I spent there. The nest that I believe had been
the bald eagle nest had a heron standing on it. Of course there were many,
many great blue herons nesting in this rookery.

A couple first of season sightings were:
3-4 green herons - first I have ever heard them vocalizing
7-8 palm warblers

Other highlights:
2 nashville warblers
numerous yellow rumped warblers
many blue gray gnatcatchers
2 yellow warblers
heard cerulean warbler song but could not find bird or confirm i.d.
several flickers
3 pairs wood duck
1 great egret
heard great crested flycatcher
many tree and rough winged swallows
3 baltimore orioles
red bellied and downy woodpeckers
white throated sparrows
gray catbird
rusty blackbirds

Karen Gray
Summit Co.

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