I took a little walk today to check up on local breeders. A previous
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest near the end of the Haul Road peninsula appears
to have been destroyed, but these little guys are all over the place and I
found an active nest at the bend in the dogleg on Haul Road. Both Baltimore
and Orchard Orioles are present in good numbers with nearly a dozen
representatives of each species. At least 5 Warbling Vireos were singing in
the picnic area and the Haul Road peninsula. Many will stay to breed. A
Tree Swallow gathered nesting material in the marina and grackles were
transporting food to unseen nestlings. Ospreys are quite settled in to
their nesting duties. The highlight was an initially heard and then seen
singing Summer Tanager along the Haul Road south of Dead Beaver Beach. They
are not Dyke Marsh breeders and we don't see them all that much at Dyke
Marsh, so the bird was a pleasure to see. Another surprise possibly awaits
for those who attend the walk I am leading at Dyke Marsh this Sunday.
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:prowarbler@xxxxxxxxxxx>
