April 22, 2012 Grand Vue

Today's walk yielded many birds. First, blue bird boxes have one nest of 5 young birds and another box has 5 eggs. A coopers hawk flew through staying low to the ground as he came up over the hill toward the large area of mowed grass. Had I not been there I think he would have continued the path toward the area that holds 20 robins consistently. I remember posting last year about the pile of bluebird feathers. Anyway, todays birds: coopers and red tailed hawk, black throated green warbler, white throated sparrows, field, song, and chipping sparrows,cowbirds, white-eyed vereo, heard a turkey, blue birds, jays, crows, robins, cardinals (many nesting sites), towhees, red bellied, downy, and many flickers, maybe a sapsucker, and a bunch more.

April 19, 2012 Coopers Rock

While at the PLA conference at Lakeview I made two stops at Coopers Rock. I did not find the stand of virgin pines that Bill Beatty spoke of but I do need to find that location in hopes of seeing a black burnian warbler. Oh well, another day. I was able to see black throated greens and a black throated blue. Also on the list today was black and white warbler and brown creeper. I identified all by sound before making a visual except the brown creeper. Coopers rock is a good warbler spot and I plan more attempts at seeing a variety of warblers especially the curilean warbler.

March 28,2012 Grandvue

Just a quick note to record two nest sitings. First the nest box now has two bluebird eggs. Two other boxes have bluebird nest activity. Also I located a flicker nest. I will try to make breeding bird atlas entries this week. Chipping sparrows are also back along with all the usuals listed previously.

March 15, 2012 Grand Vue WARM

We have had nice weather. Summer-like temperatures and sunny days prevail. The forecast calls for more of the same with record highs a good possibility. This early start to spring is leading to some early bird activity. One box at Grand Vue already has a nearly completed nest. I will monitor for eggs. Todays walk resulted in at least five male bluebird sitings. Also I'm now seeing many field sparrows, Towhees, and other typical birds. Grandvue has an abundance of wood peckers that I hope to observe in nesting behavior this year. In addition I saw my first Northern Flicker of the year today.

Grand Vue March 3, 2012 short hike

Though the sun was shining and temperatures were up near 50 degrees, the wind was prohibitive today. I did mange to se three singing bluebirds. Also I want to note that last week I saw 6 or more field sparrows. That is the first time I can recall seeing this bird in February. Not much more to report today.

February 20, 2012 Grand Vue long hike

Two days ago I hiked, hung my repaired bird house, and observed much spring like behavior in birds. So I blocked in some time for Monday beginning at 9:30.I took a long hike on this Presidents Day. It was a bright sunny day and temperatures in the high 40s, maybe even 50s. My extended hike lasted more than 4 hours this time as I went off trail and off the banquet hall ridge ending up all the way down by Sun Valley. There is a stream there at the base of the ravine, a very steep one at that. I followed the stream and varying elevations around the back side of the ridge. First, I noted bluebirds which are a constant at Grand Vue now. As I walked the rough hillside many birds were active. Infact they were singing and making every effort to bring Spring on at a rapid pace. Pileated, Downy, Hairy, RB Woodpeckers, WB Nuthatches, song sparrows, Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, Titmice, all reacted to the audio from my ipad. I hoped to see Kinglets again but did not. The best birds today were the Turkeys. I was well above them about half way up the hillside when I spooked a bunch of Turkeys. They were probably 100 yards away. My first reaction to their burst into the trees was, "Wow thats a lot of birds". Even in the trees they were still below me. They echoed through the ravine. I guessed 30 or 40 at the time but second guessed myself on that number. I sat and observed them in the trees. Through binoculars I counted nearly 20 birds. I watched them make their calls and one by one return to the ground. I advanced and the Turkeys remained behind, so I thought. At one point I sat and called in the pileated and other woodpeckers as well as a carolina wren. The turkeys moved up the ridgeline and were maybe 30 or 40 yards below me moving up from behind rocks and logs. I simply sat and watched 55 birds go by pretty much in single file. Impressive birds and an impressive sight. Maybe this will be a good year for Turkeys.
The bluebirds were plentiful. When I returned to the top of the ridge near the banquet hall I watched 6 or 7 birds at a time. The males already in bight colors and the audio from the ipad made them very active. I think there are more bluebirds than ever. I wonder how many fledged from my boxes.

Feb 5 2012 Grandview hike

Nest box report: I observed all boxes noting one had been vandalized. I took the pieces home to be repaired. Also deer mice now have a tight nest in box number 4.

I enjoyed a two hour hike at grandvue in 48 degree temperatures. Now that's winter! The bird of the day was the golden crowned kinglet. The location was the exact sme spot I noted seeing them last winter. I heard them before I saw them.
Other birds: pileated, red bellied, hairy, Downey, bluejay, crow, bluebirds, Carolina wren, titmouse, cardinal, Song sparrow, And other commons. I hiked all the way to the bottom and noted good habitat for waterthrush to be checked in may or June.

Saturday, Oct 1 Warbler Weekend at Grand Vue

At 8:00 Grand Vue is hosting for the first time an opportunity for birders to get together for some birding. Fall warblers should be enough of a challenge!! Hopefully someone shows up.

September 2011 Grand Vue

Many moons since my last post so here is a catch up for the month of September. I walked Grand Vue at least one time each week this month. Indigo buntings, towhees, cardinals, red tailed hawks were common sightings. Flickers are in abundance every week. I see as many as 20 birds within a 50 yard radius. Blue birds did well this year. Three of the boxes fledged young multiple times. Also today I saw song and field sparrows, Downy, Hairy, Pileated Woodpeckers, Jays, carolina wrens, cedar waxwings in large numbers, and other relatively commoners.
My ipad has been a great birding tool. Though a bit big it has everything at my fingertips.

The best birds today were oven bird, yellow billed cuckoo, and an other warbler that I saw briefly but did not identify. My best guess is a blue winged warbler. The eye stripe was the best field mark. The i-pad audio helped with the cuckoo ID. We called back and forth and he stayed low and in the open. I did not get a response from the warbler which makes me question the identification. It was a nice, sunny, 75 degree day.

Backpacking Trip to Savage River St Park

I enjoyed a 3+ mile backpacking/camping/fishing trip this past week. My brother, Oren and I packed into Poplar Lick which is a tributary of the upper savage river in Garrett Counyt Maryland. Birds galore. I observered more Louisiana Waterthrush and was much better at identifying these birds. The best bird was the Winter Wren which was heard repeatedly throughout the day. Nesting wrens were all around us. They are very alusive however and I was not able to see a wren sitting for very long. Most were in flight leaving thick cover.

Winter Wren, Lousiana Waterthrush, Waxwings, Least, Acadian, Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood and Veery Thrush, Warblers: Blue Winged, Yellow, Yellow Throat, Black throated Green, Towhees, all apparently nested in the area.

Fishing was good on that small stream. We both caught a good number of fish. My highlight came on day 2 when within two hours I caught two ten inch brooke trout and saw a black bear (my first). He stepped into the water in front of me about 50 feet. He came to about my waist at his shoulders. I spotted him first and when alerted to my presence he bolted. FUN.

Chickadee nest in back yard

June 20, 2011. I almost forgot to post my observations on the chickadees that nested in a nestbox under my deck. Two young birds came out of the box a little early. I was easily able to pick them up, take some pictures, and put them back in the box. I will try to upload some pictures to this site. Since June 20 I have not seen any activity in the nestbox.

July 2011 summary post

Many hikes and observations have taken place since the last post. A follow up to the Norther Waterthrushes at Nauvoo. My last visit in June yielded two Waterthrushes that stayed within a 20 foot radius of me when I positioned myself in the small stream bed. I had to be right on top of their nest but they never went back on the nest. I did not have time wait them out. More hooded warblers and verios and many blue birds. The orchard orioles definitely nested at nauvoo.

In early July I picked berries at Nauvoo and noted the following:
Red Tail Hawk that I scared away for a near by powerline.
White Eyed Verio
Yellow throated? verio
Hooded Warblers
Common Yellow Throats
Red eyed verios
Blue birds
Barn, Tree,swallows
and many other sitings.

May 11, 2011 Grandvue

The walk today yielded Northern Orioles, scarlet tanagers, rose breasted grossbeaks, many woodthrush, flickers, and a coopers hawk. Bluebird boxes had a nest with eggs moved outside of nest pocket. An other box had young birds. A great walk at dusk.

Saturday, May 7 2011 Nauvoo

I traveled to Nauvoo to walk the same path previously taken in hopes to confirm the Northern Waterthrush. This walk in the morning gave a better chance to hear the song. Anyway, about half way through the walk I did spot them. This time however, they did not stick around. One flew off immediately and the other popped up on a branch and then slipped out of site. I did have a good view of the bird. Again tail bobs were straight up and down. Eventually I did hear the waterthrush and noted three beginning notes but they were not the slurred notes of the Louisiana. Emphasis on the end of the song confirms Northern Waterthrush. I may be able to enter this into the breeding bird atlas.
Other birds included Turkeys, Roughed Grouse, Black Throated Green Warblers, Ovenbirds, Red eyed verios, yellow throat, wood thrush, scarlet tanager, rose breasted grossbeak, Red tailed hawk, yellow warbler, Red Starts, Phoebe, Bluebirds, Chipping and Field Sparrows, Pileated, Hairy, Red Bellied woodpeckers and catbirds.
The good warbler day was highlighted by three or four hooded warblers.

April 25, 2011 Nauvoo

Walked Nauvoo today and saw some good birds. First I observed one bluebird box with 5 eggs. Another next was in a tree cavity. Other boxes that usually hold house wrens currently are not occupied.
The wak in the woods along the stream that passes behind the house yeilded good views of the following:
Hooded Warbler, Northern Water Thrushes, Yellow Throated Vereo, and Yellow Rumped Warblers were all seen within 50 yards of eachother. In addition I saw scarlet tanagers, a wood thrush, and many more common birds. In a 2 hour span I probably saw 25-30 species. Weather was warm with partly cloudy skies. It was a great walk.

April 23, 2011 Middle Creek

I just wanted to note the first warbler of the spring. I went to Middle Creek Elementary to see the Blue Haron nesting site. Observed at least 27 active nests. Other birds included mallard ducks, song sparrows, chipping sparrows and a yellow warbler. At first I thought I was hearing a water thrush. I could not make a visual. It turned out to be a yellow warbler. I was a little confused by the longer slurring of the first three notes and the elusivness. I never have problems spotting a yellow warbler. This is the same location where I saw the Lousiana water thrush last year. Anyway, I pulled up the water thrush on birding by ear and got no response. When I played the yellow warbler immediately the bird flew into view.

April 2011 Bald Eagles

Two notes on bald eagles:
1. Nesting on Fish Creek Island on the Ohio River near the AEP power plant and in Jefferson County OH on the ohio river.
2. Eagle cams becoming very popular in many of our schools. Kids journaling and classroom discussion is great.

Spring 2011 April Notes

April 22, 2011 I walked Grandvue. Of the 5 bluebird boxes I now have three nests. One nest holds 4 eggs and the others have no eggs as of this date. Of the other three smaller boxes I have one house wren nest.
This mornings walk yielded mostly typical birds. Brown Thrasher, Cowbirds, Pileated, Red-bellied, many Towhees, chipping, field and song sparrows, cardinals, jays, etc. were all observed.
I did hear what I thought was a coo-coo (black billed). As is often the case this bird was elusive....... he sounded close by but I did not get a visual. I am investigating if other birds sound similar. I'm sure it was a coo-coo.

The flicker is nesting in her usual cavity. This bird flushes from the nest as I walk the bend on the trail. I can usually get a glimpse of her exit as I get within 20-30 yards. Seldom does she allow me to get closer than that before she flushes. The nest site is an old tree with fungae acting as a "porch roof" above a perfectly circular hole.

two or three weeks ago I saw two phoebes in an opening at Grandvue. It was a great chance to see their behavior for 15 minutes or so. Constant tail "bops" as they fed in the clearing. I hope they nest.

January 17 2011 Grandvue Hike

Off on MLK day and enjoyed a nice afternoon hike at Grandvue (26 degrees and sunny). In addition to the more common birds including many woodpeckers I was happy to see a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker and several Golden Crowned Kinglet. The sapsucker was an adult male with full red under the beak. 3 or 4 Kinglets moved through the trees as I hiked the West ridge all the way down to Sun Valley. I was able to get a great view of all of these birds.
I also saw several Pileated Woodpeckers and a hawk that flew ahead of my trail. I did hear the Red Tail at another location.
Expecting a wintery mix tonight. If tomorrow is a snow day I hope to get out again.

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.

December 2010 Bird Count and Hikes

Long time between blog entries. After the spring flurry of birding opportunities I did get out some for autumn hikes but it is more difficult to make entries regarding what I saw as they became more common place. I am discovering however that there is a lot to see in the winter as well so, after purchasing some good insulated and waterproof hiking boots maybe I will get into the winter birding and early nesters.

Dec 18: I participated in the Christmas Bird Count at Oglebay along with Jim A. I was happy to see in our company Bill Beaty and his wife along with ____ Pendelton. Bill and Nancy(?) started the bird count at midnight with 27 screech owls counted (and one visit from a policeman). Mr. Pendelton talked about his birding in the Cadiz area and his up and comming visit to The Wilds in Ohio. I would like to make the short trip to locations that would allow me to see grassland birds and western birds uncommon to much of the Ohio Valley. Though I did not see too many notable birds we did have pretty good numbers and unfortunately we had to leave early for some family Christmas plans. Most notable for me was hearing the WINTER WREN. This was a first for me...... I should have taken more time to make a visual. My plan was to visit the location again. I look forward to the Bird Count magazine that will give final tallies.

Summer Months 2010

Observations of the nest boxes indicate that every box at Nauvoo was used as an active nesting box. I was somewhat surprised to see most of the boxes were packed with "stick nests" indicating wrens as the primary user of the boxes.

Grandvue boxes were more sparcely utilized and predators seemed to be the primary obstacle. I did however have successful nests with bluebirds, wrens, and tree swallows.

Plans this year include a large box for common meganzers on Fish Creek.

May 21 nauvoo

After my Sunday School group hike I went to Nauvoo. This sunday afternoon we had our graduation picnic for Sarah Beth. One Blue bird box now holds a second clutch of 5 eggs. I also found a cavity in a vertical limb of an old walnut tree and observed male and female bringing food to the nest. One box held a few sticks and what I think were two carolina wren primary feathers and some sticks but no nest. The last box put up held no indication of nesting. House wrens are occupying at least three boxes in the yard area and front field. Boxes that were easily opened proved to be packed tight with sticks. One also held a colony of ants. Here too I saw many waxwings. I don't know why the waxwing population seems so high this spring. Kingbirds, kestrel, red eyed and yellow throated verios, yellow throats, yellow warblers, and woodpeckers all were seen or heard.
*A special note is high activity of orchard orioles. I saw many times the male maintaing position in one of three locations within a 30 yard square. I believe I saw the female on several occassions as well coming from one of those locations. I believe they are nesting and will have to confirm. If they are in safe dates its definitly a nest site.
The rest of the party had a quick veiw of a bobcat moving through.

May 21 Grandvue

Took the sunday school group of kids to Grandvue and walked part of the trail. Tree swallow in nest box would not flush. In fact I moved feathers and pretty much touch the bird. She remained on eggs so any day we should see young. Also flushed the flicker from her hole and the sparrow nest still has no eggs. It may have been abandoned as a mower came within 6 inches of the nest.
I counted 32 cedar waxwings in one small berry tree. A yellow throat, indigo bunting, baltimore oriole, red eyed and yellow throated verios, and blue birds were good birds on this day. We heard a turkey and many wood thrush.

May 18, 2010 Grandvue

Saw three nests: Tree swallows have 5 eggs in box #2, Flicker flushed twice from hole over hill from box #3 - hole has "roof" of fungus above, sparrow flushed from nest in clearing by box #5 (4 eggs with tan specks)- I will return to site to ID the species.
Started with a female cowbird, Baltimore Orioles, I think I heard an Orchard Oriole, watched a female Rose Breasted Grossbeak for several minutes, 10+ Cedar Waxwings, red eyed verios -several had fledged young to feed, Indigo Buntings, heard many wood thrush, Flickers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy, Towhees, song, chipping, field sparrows.
2 hours

May 16, 2010 Grantsville, MD and High Point PA

Gary and I took a 4 1/2 hour stop and go birding drive from Grantsville to highpoint PA continuing through Niverton (Amish School) to river road. It was a great day for warblers on this highest point in PA. Most common warblers were Chestnut Sided and Ovenbirds. We got good looks at the Chestnut Sided Warblers many times and I had an extended look at the ovenbird. Other birds seen included: Black Throated Blue, Red Start, Parula, yellow throat, Yellow.
Also saw Juncos, Red Eye Verios, Blue Headed Verios, Phoebes, Blue Gray Knatcatcher, Towhee.
As we drove farmland we saw the following: bobolink, Meadowlarks,Cowbirds,Redwing Blackbirds, Kingbird, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows,and a cliff swallow COLONY OF 40+ NESTS, Blue Birds, Savannah Sparrows, Chipping, Field, Song Sparrows, Purple Finch, Killdeer, solitary sandpiper, kestrel.

Many birds were identified by sound including: Black Throated Green, Magnolia, Hooded, Black and White, Canada Warbler (1),
Also heard Great Crested Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Pewee, Yellow Throated Verio, catbird, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Pileated, Downy, Hairy Woodpeckers, Flickers, and nuthatches.

Hoping for specific birds in areas that have yielded birds this year but did not see blue winged warblers, Red Headed Woodpeckers nesting sights, maybe next time.

Counting commoners we probably saw close to 70 species on this AM birding experience. Next time maybe an earlier start and we will hear the chorus of birds. I can only imagine how many warblers could be counted.
Gary, comment if I missed a few!

May 15, 2010 GRANDVUE

Did a birding hike in the AM before heading to Maryland. Tree Swallows are on nest. I opened the box (#2) and the female would not flush. The male did several dive bombs so I think eggs are being incubated. I will check again to see young. Birds observed: Baltimore Orioles in abundance and one female building. I saw what appeared to be an immature oriole with a nervous parent. I thought this to be a bit early, but could not account for any other reason to see such behavior. Also had yellow warblers, wood thrush, bluebirds, indigo buntings, and a long look at a hooded warbler singing repeatedly. Heard rose breasted grossbeak, scarlet tanagers, red starts, veery thrush, and many more. good bright day.

Oglebay Saturday 5/8/10

A group gathered at Oglebay with Dr. Shalaway. It was windy and cool and this affected the oriole turn out that we typically see at Oglebay in May. Before we arrived they had a red breasted nuthatch. We did hear orioles but I had better visuals at Grandvue earlier in the week.

Did see yellow rumpted warbler and a yellow throated warbler.
On the way home we spotted a turkey "fanning" in the field on Waddels Run. The saw the hen as well.

Grandvue 5/5/10

7:00-8:30 PM I went to Grandvue to do a quick check on the nest boxes and warbler check. More feathers in box #2 but still no eggs in any boxes. Orioles everywhere, thrashers still on territory, Wood Thrush, Red-eyes, did not see a blue bird. It was fairly windy on the ridge.
Back in the clearing I did hear a warbler and my first thought was a redstart. The first 3 or 4 notes where consistent and the last note always trailed down. It did not vary its song but the constant song allowed me to walk a straight line toward it. That bird was impossible to see until it moved and then the quick movements made it hard to track. when I saw a pale breast and olive brown/dark brown warbler I ruled out a singing male red start. Further observation yielded a small yellow patch by the shoulder and an unusually long tail the underside of which was light/pale down toward the end where it abruptly turned black. I also noticed the face seemed to be darker especially toward the beak which was black. I checked my small peterson field guide but could not place. I even looked at flycatchers. I was stumped for a good 45 min. I walked back to my car and on the way observed a rose breasted gross beak, first sighting of the year.
When I got to the car I checked the Sibley's guide again and after some searching in other areas came to the redstart page hoping to read "similar species". But the answer was on the page. I saw a 1st year plummage male redstart. I had no Idea it takes a year for the redstart to get its adult plummage..... now I know! It was a nice evening but I'm sure to the non birder I looked like an idiot following a sound through the trees.

Sherrard Middle School 5/4/10

6-8PM Birding at the middle school trail to help cover some of Jim's breeding bird block. Most notable was the large number of Indigo Buntings. We have observed many in the late summer after nests empty but this time we got to see males on territory. I think we saw at least 5 different males. On several occassions I noticed a bird song that was not familiar. Part was similar to a portion of the chipping sparrow trill. I was sure it was a sparrow song but I could not ID.... should have taken more time to get a visual. Also a nest box held five young blue birds which were observed feeding the nest.

At about 8:00 I noticed a sparrow near the blue bird nest. I had maybe a 10 second look at the sparrow from about 30-40 feet through binoculars so it was a good view. I could only see half the bird but my first impression of the distinctly colored and streaked face resembled a whitethroated sparrow without the yellow marking by the beak. It may have been a little heavier and bigger as well. Again I should have persued but did not and I did not relate it to the earlier birds I heard. After looking at my Sibleys guide I think it may have been a Lark Sparrow. I also see the notation that at one point they nested east to WV and PA but no longer extend their range that far east. It could be a good bird that I need to revisit!

Grandvue 5/3/10

Spent a couple hours in the evening at the park. Northern Orioles, many yellow rumped warblers, 3 male blue birds, tree swallows (feathers in nest box 2)Red eyes, scarlet tanagers and I heard rose breasted gross beaks, brown thrasher still on same territory.

Middle Creek Rookery 5/1

7AM went to Middle Creek Elementary in Ohio County to observe the much talked about Blue Heron Rookery. Jim and I both went and after a quick scan of the heron nests began to observe other birds. My first birds included Yellow warblers, Red Eye Vereos and a Yellow Thorated Vereo. The a new song got my attention. I studied for at least 10 minutes with no ID........ I had never seen or heard the bird before. When Scott Shallaway arrived he took some time and then made the identification of Lousiana Waterthrush... so add that to the life list.
We then proceded to the middle creek damn where we saw phoebe, wood duck, heard scarlett tanagers, tree swallows, and a hawk that we did not ID, probably a sharp shinned.

Fishing Fish Creek 4/29

3:30-7:00 Ended my day with fishing and birding. Yellow throats in abundance, observed multible yellow warblers fighting their territorial battles. As I stood on the bend in the river a duck flew low past me, maybe a 4 second look. It had a lot of white and it was much too big for a buffle head so my first thought was a golden-eye. After discussing with Scott Shalaway I now know this to be a common merganzer which he has indicated nest on that part of fish creek. The large amount of white, some white on the head, the wing pattern deffinitely confirm the ID. I will return to confirm a next or clutch of young for breeding bird atlas.
Red Eye Verios, Green Herons, Carolina Wrens and many commoners ended the evening.

Nauvoo 4/29

12:00-3:00: I continued my day off with a trip out to Nauvoo, near fish creek. Blue bird boxes produced one nest of 5 eggs. House wren also using one or two boxes. Heard scarlett tanagers, saw barn swallows, tree swallows, sarp-shinned (could I ID a merlin??)heard an oven bird but could not locate. He seemed to be up a bit too high in a tree so I question this ID.

Grandvue 4/29

10:00 AM Took the day off and did a day of "outside". Doesn't get better than that! It was Oriole day. I saw Baltimores and orchards.
Saw Orchard Orioles first thing as I walked behind the conference center. Observed one on a tree top and hear several around me, all in close proximity. Then when a group of 4 flew off, my bird joined. I would say of the 5 or 6 birds 3 or 4 were mails so I think they may have just come into town. Also saw a phoebe, sharp shinned hawk, Brown Thrasher (same location as before) heard scarlet tanagers, heard a Red Start (?), field sparrows, flickers and more.