We launched the H.M.S. Hoover this morning from Oxbow Road. Our objective was to survey for Prothonotary Warblers in the sector between Oxbow Island and the Sunbury Road Causeway. We located 24 new territories as we sailed about the area, bringing our count to 92 territories for our first three surveys with the boat. I have confirmed an additional 44 territories by land routes bringing the overall total thus far to 136 Prothonotary Warbler territories. We still need to survey the east side of Hoover from the Sunbury Causeway south by boat and three sectors by land. The water levels have been ideal for the Prothonotary Warblers this year and looking forward from our present total it looks like another terrific year for the Golden Swamp Warbler at Hoover.

The Prothonotary Warblers were not camera shy today. They kept providing our camera armed crew opportunity after opportunity for photos. They came out and flitted in buttonbushes, posing in the sunlight as if saying "shot me, Im handsome." The cameras on board obliged and memory cards were filled with new images. As beautiful as the males are in direct sunlight, I think my favorite of the day was a male coming to a cavity nest in a tree that had fallen. The entry was on the underside of the fallen tree and the male had to hover as he made his approach, then cling upside-down looking more like a nuthatch than a warbler.

The day provided many other interesting observations. We had a pair of Osprey in an area where a pair's nest tree had gone down in a storm. It appeared that they were on territory and we saw what may be a nest in the foliage of a tall nearby tree. If we can confirm this it will make three active Osprey nests on Hoover Reservoir to go along with the Bald Eagles' nest. We ran into an immature Pied-billed Grebe. I haven't known of nesting grebes here but it would appear that the grebes have landed. Our Bald Eagles are doing great. The eaglets are getting really big and their fledge date is close at hand. A list of the day's observations follows. A great day spend with friends and nature.

Charlie Bombaci

Species:
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Mallard
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch

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