May 7, 2016 Another Big Day at Grand Vue

After the best day on May 1, we followed that up with another very good day and some people returning for more birding.  In fact, I had two groups, 9:00 and 11:00.  Today held more tanagers, rose breasted grosbeaks, and bluebirds. Also, Indigo Buntings, Carolina and House Wrens, Orioles, Wood Thrush, Towhees, White-Crowned, Field, Chipping, and Song Sparrows all were popular.  I enjoyed some warblers: common yellow throat, yellow throated, red starts, and I await the return of a hooded warbler.  It is interesting to be able to predict birds at certain locations on our short walks.  When you know what to expect and you hear them before you see them, identification is simplified.  My first group had 5 and my second group had 2 individuals.  Both were enjoyable groups and all were captivated by the birds.  I return on May 21 at 9:00 for yet another eventful walk.  Note the picture and the caption, "When the Orioles have our attention".
GOOD BIRDING.

May 1, 2016 Great Birding at Grand Vue

One of the best birding days happened on May first.  It began with four individuals meeting me at Grand Vue on this nice Saturday morning.  We began at the feeding stations with quick introductions and a statement about the red headed woodpecker that had been seen during the week.  Within a minute the bird paid us a visit, multiple times.  Next we were greeted by a rose breasted grosbeak and a scarlet tanager, almost side by side, in a tree. So we stayed by the feeding station and observed the grosbeak and downy, red bellied, hairy, and I saw a pileated at the park entrance.  So we had pretty much all of the woodpeckers on this day.  It just seemed like the birds were most accommodating as we set out for what turned out to be a slow walk.  Slow walks are a sign of good birding as we continually stopped to observe.  Bluebird nest boxes and hatched chicks were noted.  Then Northern Oriole, yellow-billed cuckoos, yellow throats, and a yellow throated verios were observed.  A group of 4 redstarts made them selves available right in front of us.   House wrens, brown thrasher, and other more commons were everywhere.  The place was full of great birds and we got good looks at all of them.  And these are all newly arrived resident birds that will remain here for the summer.  But on this day, with bright skies, and NO LEAVES it was an opportunity for which I was most thankful. Hopefully this Saturday will be equally rewarding.  Hope to see some warblers too.  Everyone enjoyed and I anticipate the return of these four, and probably some new guests as well. See you at 9:00 on Saturday.

April 16, 2016 Grand View

Well, it's been a long time since I posted to this blog.  Today marks the first official birding morning at Grand Vue.  It was a beautiful day at the busy park.  At about 9:30 I walked to several nest boxes and found most to have nest material inside.  One nestbox had 5 bluebird eggs, so I expect a very active week or two.  I walked with Sam down the eastern point.  I call it Pileated Point as I always have those woodpeckers in that area.  We continued all the way down to the "cliffs" which is a nice area with a pretty significant rock face.  I noted that someone made some steps from rocks and also, cut some steps with a shovel.  Once we arrived we found a nice Phoebe nest inside a big overhang.  I will try to post the picture, which looked great.  Moss, mud, sticks, and other vegetation sort of glued to the liken and moss covered rocks.  There was about a 2 inch space between nest and ceiling, which allowed me room for a very close up picture of 5 white eggs.  On the way out, I saw and heard a Louisiana Waterthrush in the adjacent ravine.  I will be back to check on this bird, hopefully nesting.  He did not really respond to my bird app vocals, must be a little early for that.  Between waterthrush, phoebe nest, and multiple nest boxes with bluebird eggs, I don't know which was best.

In addition, on recent walks, I have seen several Cooper's hawks, red-tailed Hawks, and a sharp shinned hawk.  I hope to find a nest location for all of these birds.  In March I also had a brown creeper, which was good to see.  Maybe I will get my first warbler in the up and coming week, or an oriole.

The day was a near perfect day, with sunshine, temperatures at around 80 degrees, and low humidity.  High adventure ropes course, swing, bungee drop, trampoline, and zip lining opened and made for a very active park.  And we ate at the trail head grill where I enjoyed mason Dixon barbecue with Ann, Sarabeth, Logan, and Emily.  It just doesn't get much better than that!