2012-06-02 Hoover Nature Preserve This morning we launched the SS Hoover with Captain Shaune Skinner at the helm. We were joined by Andy Schneider and the three of us had as a primary goal to locate Prothonotary Warbler territories by boat that I would not be able to by land. The other birds were pure gravy for us although we were heavy on the gravy today. We covered areas along Big Walnut Creek and Little Walnut Creek locating 25 new Prothonotary Warbler territories. Some of the male Prothonotaries came in close and provided us with terrific views. To date it looks to be an excellent year for the Prothonotaries at Hoover Reservoir. In the gravy department we tallied 57 species. The list was highlighted by watching one adult Bald eagle on the nest and the second soaring overhead and then landing close to the nest. It appeared that the adult on the nest was occupied with feeding chores. We observed 5-6 Ospreys at different areas including the pair at Platform #2 at Area M, a pair near White-tailed Deer Island and several single birds as we sailed along. Could there be a third nest lurking on Hoover this year? Overhead we counted 3 Broad-winged Hawks and 2 Red-shouldered Hawks. Waterfowl included 6 male Wood Ducks. Great Blue Heron numbers were lower than expected but we managed to locate 4 Green Herons. Shaune was pleased when one of the two Yellow-billed Cuckoos we located was cooperative and provided us with excellent views out in the open. When it tucked back into the greenery I did my take on a Yellow-billed Cuckoo call. It brought the cuckoo back into the open but some nearby fishermen probably thought that I completely lost it. We located 4 separate Red-headed Woodpecker nest sites in the Area N area to go along with the additional site I located earlier in an area far from the creek. They seem to be having a very good year at the preserve. Cliff Swallow numbers are good under the bridge on Old 3-C Highway as it enters Galena Square. We estimated the current number at about 25-30. The colony is building back up after the old bridge was torn down and replaced just a couple of years ago. In addition to the Prothonotary Warblers we only located 3-4 Northern Parula on territory and we heard but one Yellow Warbler. The latter wasn’t unexpected as the habitat is really not right for them along the two creeks. I was surprised not to find any Yellow-throated Warblers or Louisiana Waterthrush. Both are usually present along Big Walnut Creek. Baltimore Orioles were abundant and their colors were rich when they perched in the sunlight. It was really nice weather to sail in, especially after the brutal heat of last weekend. Shaune and Andy made for great company while leisurely birding by boat. A complete list of the birds located by boat today follows. Charlie Bombaci Hoover Nature Preserve, Delaware County SPECIES LIST Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Acadian Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird European Starling Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow ______________________________________________________________________ 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]