This afternoon I visited Bridge 3 and Bridge 1 to see how the nest building had progressed.

Bridge 3: No dippers in sight from Pioneer St. up to Bridge 3. A look from below the bridge revealed that the pair has nearly completed the nest in the original plywood box.   Because of the high and fast water it was difficult to get a good angle. Here is one photo:

Bridge 1: A look under the bridge showed a completed moss dome in the nest box.  With no dippers in sight I walked up the creek past the reservoir . While there were marked rocks I saw no dippers. On my return down the road I saw the unbanded male swimming near the spillway in the reservoir.  As I watched he called and flew toward the roadside bank near where I was standing .  Just beyond the blackberry tangle on the bank in the reservoir the banded female was standing on a rock.   The male flew in and mounted her for 10-12 seconds. They then moved just a few meters up the reservoir staying close to the bank near where I was and mated again another 2 or 3 times .

fdl