May 3-4, 2014 GRAND VUE

    May starts with good birding.  Our first Grand Vue birding day began with John and myself noting the birds at the feeding stations.  In particular, the rose-breasted grosbeak was a good bird to see.  It appears they have had a good year.  I have heard from many people stating they have grosbeaks.  I think they all arrived at the same time in big numbers.
    The bird of the day however, was the SUMMER TANAGER.  This was a first for me.  It was a first year, spring male so it had a red head, patches of orange, olive green, and yellow over the rest of the body.  I observed on three seperate occassions and within 20 feet, from trees to mulch under the feeding stations, to the grass, this bird moved slowly foraging for insects.  I asked Bill if he has seen one in the Ohio Valley.  He replied that over the years he has seen three including a nesting pair but for the most part it was years ago and years apart.
   The walk continued with many other birds observed.  A kingbird, nesting bluebirds and tree swallow, red start, also a close encounter with a red tailed hawk, and an aggressive house wren all made for a good day.  Also noted a coopers hawk and white throated sparrow.
   May 4 was also good.  Today I saw a willow flycatcher and yellow throated verio on my walk through the east ravine.  I did not see any waterthrush which was my goal.  But the walk was great with many many birds.  Wood thrush, woodpeckers, redstart, and many more.  I also observed a phoebe on nest near the location where waterthrush nested last year.