DECEMBER 15, 2012 Grand Vue Birds

Before hanging nest boxes I saw a red tail hawk flying very low to the ground coming over the ridge directly behind the conference center. He was definitely on the hunt. After hanging nest boxes I took note of the activity at the feeding stations. There were so many birds it was difficult to get a count but here is my best effort at most counted in a single count by species at 2:50: House Finch (58 some could have been purple finches), Carolina Chickadee (15), Titmouse (12), Gold Finch (21), House Sparrows (8), WB Nuthatch (6), Mourning Dove (8), Junco (2), Red Bellied Woodpecker (2), Downey Woodpecker (1), Cardinal (4), Blue Jay (3),

December 30 2010 Oglebay and Grandvue

I walked the trail at Oglebay again looking for the winter wren. After an icy morning on the 29th I rescheduled the walk for the 30th. I did not see the wren but many other more common birds. I was also hoping for a kinglet or two, but that did not happen either. Good to report that the new hiking boots did a nice job!

On the way home the sun came out and I decided on a hike at Grandvue. All boxes are up and I hope to make a few more this winter. I hiked off of the muddy trails and down the point toward Glen Dale Creek which is my breeding bird block. I noted several old Oriole nests and several old hawk nests as well.

I did see multiple times a mature Red Tailed Hawk which flew and screemed from one side of the valley to the other. I had good close visuals of the bird from my vantage point above. Also, a pileated woodpecker within 25 feet was a good bird to see.