The Naval Division of The Hoover Nature Preserve set to sea this morning on the season's first Prothonotary Warbler territory search. Captain Shaune Skinner launched the SS Birdwatch at 10:00 hours. First Mate Jim Skinner (Shaune’ s dad) kept the crew, Lynn Solomon and myself in sharp bird sighting alert mode. This is the first of several forays to areas that can not be accessed by land and it was a successful journey. Sixteen new 2007 Prothonotary Warbler territories were GPS’d today bringing the current total to 108. I still have 3 land accessible areas and the rest of the areas we survey by boat, especially along the lower eastern shore to go. If activity holds steady we look to have very good odds to equal or exceed the 141 territories we located in 2006. Including the Prothonotary Warblers that I had already recorded and pairs (male and female together) we encountered about 39 for the trip. We did take time to actually pay attention to some of the other birds. Some of the other observations for the day were: Great Blue Heron They were everywhere and active Green Heron Moderate numbers but cooperative and giving us great views Great Egret Just one which did a fly-by Osprey Four were observed although one may have been a repeat Spotted Sandpiper Red-shouldered Hawk Being harassed by a crow Cliff Swallows Nesting in good numbers under all the bridges Cedar Waxwings Groups atop numerous dead trees at the north end Also seen: Kayaks Julie Davis and about 10 intrepid paddlers enjoying themselves and the Prothonotaries Charlie Bombaci Hoover Nature Preserve Delorme 58 C (2) & (3) ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]