This morning I visited several sections of the preserve to check the
condition of my nest boxes (PROW's back in about a month). The nest  boxes
wintered fairly well so my spring work will be light. While there I  looked to see
what else was stirring with decent success. The Bald Eagle's nest  is doing
well with one adult on the nest and the other nearby. The nest is new  and
I worried about its stability. The nest appears to be okay but the adult on
it was getting a ride with the wind gusts coming off the reservoir. It kept
low  in the nest with just the top of its head and the tip of the tail
visible.


The greatest activity this morning was at Oxbow Road. The Black-crowned
Night Heron I discovered last week is still present and roosting almost in the
 exact same spot. He was turned into the wind and gripping the limb for all
he  was worth with his white plumes flowing behind him.


On Oxbow Island I observed many Yellow-rumped Warblers, the most I  have
seen in one area lately. They seem to be less plentiful this winter as are
the White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows. Several Fox Sparrows were in
the  scrub on the island and at the edges of the parking lot. March is their
month to  strut their stuff. The plumage of those I saw today was gorgeous.


In the water around the Oxbow causeway and island I found Pied-billed and
Horned Grebes, the Horned being the more abundant with 12. Ducks of better
interest than Mallards included Wood Duck (in the marshy area beside the
road),  American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded
 Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser (the most common duck this morning), and
Ruddy  Duck.


Along Old Sunbury Road I spotted a Barred Owl in the pine grove. Other
birds of interest at Old Sunbury were Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet and
 a possible Winter Wren. It dropped into cover before I could get a decent
look  and with the distance I didn't get a good size perspective. There are
usually  numerous Carolina Wrens in this area, but it has always been a good
location for  Winter Wrens.


Charlie Bombaci

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