I held off posting until I could check my records going back to 1987 to see if I had any record near this. Shaune Skinner and I were out with the U.S.S. Hoover checking activity around the Hoover Nature Preserve as I also checked how the nest boxes were doing after many summer storms and high water. Near the confluence of Big Walnut Creek and the reservoir we encountered a male Prothonotary Warbler. We watched it in the edge bushes and then he flew right over the boat into Area N. My previous latest sighting was in late August. Whether he was one of our locals or passing through from further north is unknown as he was not banded.

To me, pale in comparison, were the over 50 Great Egrets, about a dozen Green Herons, 9 Red-headed Woodpeckers, 5 Black Vultures and about 50 additional species observed while we were out. 

Now of course comes the fun part of the season, trudging through the mud and low water to clean and perform maintenance on my nest boxes. The season began with 258 in place but from damage noted during our scouting Sunday a minimum of 12 nest boxes are now history. 

Charlie BombaciHoover Nature Preserve

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