I spent a few hours this morning nosing around the area of Hoover Reservoir between Oxbow Island and Galena, stopping at Oxbow Island, Area I, Char-Mar Preserve, Wiese Road bikepath, and Areas M&N, where I ran into Jason S. on the boardwalk. I also scoped out the woods behind Big Walnut High School up in Sunbury. The periodic drizzle and breeze kept the air cool, and seemed to encourage a long period of bird activity. Highlights included: COMMON LOON - spotted south of the boardwalk by Jason, this basic-plumaged bird eventually flew down-reservoir Cormorants - small squads were off both Oxbow Island and the boardwalk Wood Ducks - hens with chicks or juveniles at many locations, especially the pond at Char-Mar, which had 20+ birds Ospreys - 5 birds were around the bay at Galena, including 2 on the south nest; we watched one chase off a Bald Eagle Great Egret - 1 bird was foraging in the few shallows on the peninsula across from the boardwalk Green Herons - single birds were foraging at the flood-pool at Oxbow Island and at the Char-Mar Pond Gulls - hardly any, with only 2 Ring-bills (at Oxbow) and 1 Herring (boardwalk) Red-headed Woodpeckers - 2 were around a snag along the shore west of the boardwalk, across Little Walnut Creek Pileated Woodpecker - 1 was calling in the woods at Char-Mar Preserve Flycatchers - widespread WoodPewees and Great Cresteds; Acadians were calling in the woods at Char-Mar and at Area N Swallows - loads of Tree fledglings & adults over the reservoir, including an estimated 50+ around the boardwalk. Cliff Swallow colonies still strong at Area I and the Galena bridge. A few BANKS off the boardwalk were unusual. Vireos - Warblings common around reservoir shore (Oxbow, Wiese, Galena). Red-eyed more abundant in upland woods (Char-Mar, Big Walnut High School). Yellow-throateds were singing at Wiese and BWHS. Thrushes - no calling Wood Thrushes anywhere, but lots of Robins with juveniles. Cedar Waxwings - small groups of 2-4 at many locations, mostly near mulberry trees Prothontary Warblers - lots of them still singing at Oxbow, Wiese, and Galena. 1-2 males have taken up the appealing habit of foraging on the boardwalk for spiders and bugs, so don't be startled by singing from the railing or under the deck! Black&White Warblers - the invasion continues, with singing birds at both Oxbow Island and Wiese Rd. Other Warblers - Yellow-throateds were singing at Area I and Galena, while the only Parula was at BWHS. 2 pairs of Yellow Warblers were feeding fledglings along the Wiese Rd bikepath. Common Yellowthroats were at Char-Mar and BWHS Tanagers - had singing Scarlets at Wiese Rd. and at BWHS Orioles - Baltimores were calling or attending nestlings at many locations along reservoir (Oxbow, Wiese Rd, Galena). ______________________________________________________________________ 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]