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3 Jul Roseate Spoonbill continues, July 3 [Rob Hilton ] 2 Jul Brown Pelican [Dennis Brezina ] 2 Jul Roseate Spoonbill, Sandwich Tern [Maurice Barnhill ] 2 Jul Roseate Spoonbill continues, July 2 [Rob Hilton ] 2 Jul Roseate Spoonbill in DE [Sandra Spence ] 1 Jul Re: de-birds Digest - 29 Jun 2009 to 30 Jun 2009 (#2009-171) [Sandra Spence ] 1 Jul White-winged Dove ["Roger J. Masse" ] 1 Jul Milford Neck & Fleatown Rd [Chuck Fullmer ] 1 Jul Delaware Valley RBA, 1 July 2009 [Stephen E Kacir ] 30 Jun Cuckoos, Hummers, and Middle Runners [Derek Stoner ] 30 Jun Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) Upcoming Meeting (7/2/09) [Bert Filemyr ] 30 Jun Roseate Spoonbill [Dan Haas ] 30 Jun Re: Roseate Spoonbill [Bert Filemyr ] 30 Jun Re: Roseate Spoonbill [James Tyler Bell ] 30 Jun Re: Roseate Spoonbill [Albert Guarente ] 29 Jun Roseate Spoonbill [Bill Stewart ] 29 Jun Bombay Hook NWR Yesterday Had Lots of Birds Including Great Crested Flycatchers (Photos) ["Howard B. Eskin" ] 29 Jun Monthly Pea Patch Island Evening Heron Survey ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 29 Jun Great Crested Flycatcher ? [Marsh Zellhoefer ] 29 Jun OT- VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD-VA, Roseate Spoonbill- DE (Photos) [Jeffery Davis ] 28 Jun Roseate Spoonbill ["Roger J. Masse" ] 27 Jun Spoonbill at Sunset ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 27 Jun Roseate Spoonbill, Friday 6/26 [James Tyler Bell ] 27 Jun Re: Eastern Towhee mimicing Carolina Wren, w/ recording [Maurice Barnhill ] 27 Jun Eastern Towhee mimicing Carolina Wren, w/ recording [Alex Zorach ] 27 Jun Roseate Spoonbill 7am 6/27/09 ["Collins,Steven D" ] 26 Jun RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 26th, 2009 [Andy Ednie ] 26 Jun Roseate Spoonbill [Phil Davis ] 26 Jun Roseate Spoonbill Today 6/26 [Frank Marenghi ] 26 Jun Middle Run Atlasing Re-Run, 6/27 [Derek Stoner ] 26 Jun Roseate Spoonbill details - 6/25 pm DE only [Phil Davis ] 25 Jun Brandywine Creek State Park Monthly Bird Walk [Andy Ednie ] 25 Jun Bonaparte's Gull [Fran and Ken Bass ] 25 Jun More on Delaware's First Reported Roseate Spoonbill. [Andy Ednie ] 25 Jun Roseate Spoonbill [Maurice Barnhill ] 24 Jun Roseate Spoonbill [Colin Campbell ] 24 Jun Delaware Valley RBA, 24 JUNE 2009 [Stephen E Kacir ] 24 Jun [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 24 Jun [Fwd: Re: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line] [Maurice Barnhill ] 24 Jun Thousand Acre Marsh [Maryanne Dolan ] 24 Jun Results of the 2009 Delaware Bird-A-Thon [Bill Stewart ] 24 Jun report of Roseate Spoonbill in Fenwick Island [James Tyler Bell ] 20 Jun Wet Atlasing at Middle Run [Derek Stoner ] 20 Jun Delmarva Ornithological Society Bird-a-thon piece posted to BirdFellow.com online journal [David Irons ] 19 Jun RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 19th, 2009 [Andy Ednie ] 18 Jun Assawoman SWA and James Farm Preserve, Ocean View, DE Field Trip [John Janowski ] 18 Jun Middle Run Atlasing Field Trip, 6/20 [Derek Stoner ] 17 Jun DOS Picnic: What rain? [Derek Stoner ] 17 Jun Delaware Valley RBA, 17 JUNE 2009 [Stephen E Kacir ] 15 Jun Thousand Acre Marsh [John Janowski ] 15 Jun DOS Picnic and Bird-A-Thon Ceremony, 6/17 [Derek Stoner ] 15 Jun Re: Dickcissels again ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 15 Jun Ches Co. Bucktoe Bird Walk [Joe Sebastiani ] 13 Jun Atlasing Field Trip [Joe Sebastiani ] 12 Jun RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 12th, 2009 [Andy Ednie ] 12 Jun Iron Hill Park + eBird [Alex Zorach ] 12 Jun Dickcissels again [Colin Campbell ] 12 Jun Ruby-crowned Kinglet ["Roger J. Masse" ] 11 Jun No Subject [Calandra Daby ] 11 Jun Re: [Extralimital] Sprague's Pipit aboard DE's Tallshipl [Matthew Sarver ] 11 Jun [Extralimital] Sprague's Pipit aboard DE's Tallshipl [Matthew Sarver ] 10 Jun Delaware Valley RBA, 10 JUNE 2009 [Stephen E Kacir ] 10 Jun Birding around Lincoln, DE 19960 ["Fees David F. (DNREC)" ] 10 Jun June shorebirds ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 10 Jun ABbott's Mill and areas South [Jason Beale ] 9 Jun Dick bank [Colin Campbell ] 9 Jun Ruby invasion [Chuck Fullmer ] 9 Jun Birding around Lincoln, DE 19960 [Fran and Ken Bass ] 9 Jun Shorebirds season a success [Jean Woods ] 8 Jun Brandywine [Jill Constantine ] 8 Jun Bucktoe Preserve walk ["sally o'byrne" ] 8 Jun June 7 DOS Dragon Run canoe/kayak trip ["sally o'byrne" ] 8 Jun June 7 DOS Dragon Run canoe/kayak trip [sally o'byrne ] 8 Jun Milford Neck WA 6/7/09 [Chuck Fullmer ] 7 Jun Blackbird Forest - Dulaney Manor Tract [Frank Marenghi ] 7 Jun Bucktoe Bird Walk [Joe Sebastiani ] Subject: Roseate Spoonbill continues, July 3 From: Rob Hilton <aimophila10 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:29:35 -0700 Lisa Shannon and I saw the Roseate Spoonbill this morning between approximately 9 and 10, at the end of Madison Avenue in Fenwick Island. Also present was a birder whose name I did not get, who pointed the bird out to us. Good birding and happy Fourth of July to all. Rob HiltonSilver Spring, MarylandSubject: Brown Pelican From: Dennis Brezina <alumanon AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:57:37 -0400 Brown Pelican off bathing beaches at Cape Henlopen State Park today... Dennis Brezina Chesapeake City, MDSubject: Roseate Spoonbill, Sandwich Tern From: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT UDEL.EDU> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:51:49 -0400 Joe spotted the Spoonbill well out 1n the marsh at the Catch 54 Restaurant about 9:45 today. Something put the birds in that area up, and the Spoonbill flew to its usual spot opposite the condos and went to sleep. We then worked our way to Cape Henlopen (via the Black-bellied Whistling Duck on the north shore of Silver Lake) and went out to the point. There was a small group of Terns on one of the nearer sandbars (looking north), and I found one Sandwich Tern among them. It was with Forster's and Royal Terns which gave a good size comparison, had a long, narrow black bill, and had the white forward, dark rearward cap with a bit of a ragged crest on the back. We then went north to Fleatown Road to see the Dickcissels, which were properly cooperative. We then road around Bombay Hook, with the tide at Shearness pretty much at dead low, to see if there were any shorebirds in already. We found 1 Willet and 1 Greater Yellowlegs, so I guess they aren't. We had one "interesting" Glossy Ibis, which unfortunately flushed before I could get a good look with my scope. The white on the face was impressive, but the legs were not especially reddish compared to the Glossies in the flock. We did not see the color of the facial skin and iris, which suggests that they were not reddish, but without a look through the scope it is difficult to be sure. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu [Use ReplyTo, not From] [bellatlantic.net is reserved for spam only] Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716Subject: Roseate Spoonbill continues, July 2 From: Rob Hilton <aimophila10 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:29:57 -0700 Hi, Paul Pisano saw the Roseate Spoonbill in Sussex County, an hour or two ago. It is in the general area where it has been reported. Good birding, Rob Hilton Silver Spring, MarylandSubject: Roseate Spoonbill in DE From: Sandra Spence <sandyspence325 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:49:52 -0400 You can see my photos of the Roseate Spoonbill taken July 1 from 7-7:20 pm at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyinde/sets/. Sandy Spence Lewes, DESubject: Re: de-birds Digest - 29 Jun 2009 to 30 Jun 2009 (#2009-171) From: Sandra Spence <sandyspence325 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:58:38 -0400 My husband, sister and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Catch 54 tonight (July 1) and from the back of the restaurant saw the Roseate Spoonbill appearing to be asleep in the yard in front of the shed at the private property between 6-7 p.m. Then, we drove into the parking lot at the condo behind the restaurant and were able to get a good close-up view and some good photos that I will post tomorrow. About 7:15 p.m. a man from the private residence began to mow the grass on a riding mower. The bird awoke, looked around for a few minutes and when the noisy mower got too close, flew off to a large field beyond the private house where there were lots of Canada Geese. Sandy Spence Lewes, DESubject: White-winged Dove From: "Roger J. Masse" <rmasse08 AT STUDENTS.DESU.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:05:36 -0400 This a.m. around 8:30 a White-winged Dove flushed from Route 9 as I drove past. The bird was about 1/2 mile south of the Route 6 and Route 9 intersection in Smyrna and flew in the direction of the spruce treeline (west) near the private residence along Route 9. The white bars on the wings and the white in the tail were very obvious as the bird flushed, even at 45 m.p.h. I stopped to try to get a better look, but could not relocate the bird. I only had a short time (~10 min.) to check though. Folks traveling by this spot should keep their eyes open. Take care, RogerSubject: Milford Neck & Fleatown Rd From: Chuck Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:38:38 -0400 On the way up to Milford Neck, I stopped at Fleatown Rd and observed 2 Dickcissels in different locations in the pasture along with Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper sparrows. In MNWA, the flys outnumbered the birds 10:1 but we did see: Green heron Indigo Bunting Blue Grosbeak GC Flycatcher EW Pewee YB Chat YB Cuckoo RT Hummingbird Common Yellowthroat Marsh Wren Wood Duck Orchard Oriole Chuck FullmerSubject: Delaware Valley RBA, 1 July 2009 From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:00:18 -0700 - RBA
* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0907.01
* July 1, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Neotropic Cormorant (MD)
Anhinga (NJ)+
White Ibis (NJ)+
Roseate Spoonbill (DE)+
Black-bellied Whistling-duck (DE)+
Eurasian Collared-dove (DE)+
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (VA)
(NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
(PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Common Loon
Cory's Shearwater
Greater Shearwater
Wilson's Storm-petrel
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Least Bittern
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Snow Goose
Brant
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
Mississippi Kite
Cooper's Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Wild Turkey
Black Rail
Clapper Rail
King Rail
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Red Knot
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Nelson's Gull (Glaucous X Herring Hybrid)
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-winged Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Grasshopper Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Blue Grosbeak
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
- Transcript
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern & Win Shafer
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Welcome to the July 1, 2009 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare
Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of
Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia
Region. This week, we highlight reports of ANHINGA and WHITE IBIS
in Cape May County, NJ; ROSEATE SPOONBILL, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-
DUCK and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Sussex County, DE. Remember to
check out our website for additional content and information:
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR NEW JERSEY:
Cape May County:
An ANHINGA was spotted from the Rea Farm on June 27, and it was
spotted over The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge on June 28. An adult WHITE IBIS was found off the west path
of the refuge on June 28, and a KING RAIL was heard from the same
path on June 27-28. The BLACK RAIL at the TNC Cape May Migratory
Bird Refuge was heard and seen through June 30. The bird has been
seen somewhat reliably as it crosses the path that cuts through a
weedy area near the visitor center kiosk. After parking at the
refuge lot, proceed to the kiosk then take the right hand path
until the T-intersection. This intersection has been a somewhat
reliable place to see the BLACK RAIL, and the bird has called from
either side of the path leading from the intersection to the beach.
The rail has been seen at the intersection in the early morning and
in the afternoon to early evening.
On June 27, a SANDWICH TERN was at the Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge. That evening the SANDWICH TERN and a BLACK-HEADED GULL
were at the second plover pond at Cape May Point State Park. The
BLACK-HEADED GULL was once again at that plover pond on June 28,
and it was seen at TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on June 30.
Two SANDWICH TERNS flew over the second plover pond on June 30. A
NORTHERN GANNET and 2 PARASITIC JAEGERS were spotted from the
refuge's beach on June 24. On June 26, a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was
seen offshore from the TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and a
NELSON'S GULL (HERRING GULL X GLAUCOUS GULL hybrid) was on the
beach. On June 30, a CORY'S SHEARWATER was spotted from the beach,
and an immature BLACK TERN flew in to roost on the beach. Other
sightings from the TNC property included LEAST BITTERNS, PIPING
PLOVERS, GULL-BILLED TERNS, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO and BLUE GROSBEAK.
On June 26, a CORY'S SHEARWATER flew past Cape May Point State
Park, and a flock of 17 BROWN PELICANS flew over the park's parking
lot on June 25. The park's bunker pond had an adult BLACK TERN on
June 29, and the BLACK-HEADED GULL was spotted there on June 30.
BLUE GROSBEAKS were reported from the State Park and the Rea Farm.
The rips off Cape May Point attracted a BLACK TERN, CASPIAN TERN
and 7 GREATER SHEARWATERS on June 29. On June 30, two BLACK TERNS
were seen from Cape May Point, and a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL was seen
off the St Peter's jetty. A BRANT was off the St Mary's jetty on
June 27. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was over the Rea Farm on June 27, and
three MISSISSIPPI KITES flew from over the Rea Farm to the TNC Cape
May Migratory Bird Refuge on June 28. Three WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS
were spotted off Sunset Beach on June 26. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-
HERON was spotted from a kayak at the back bays behind Wildwood. A
WHITE IBIS was spotted from the Osprey tour boat on June 30; the
IBIS was seen flying from the Sunset Lake heronry. A LITTLE BLUE
HERON and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON were on Nummy Island on June
25.
Cumberland County:
Two lingering RED KNOTS were at East Point on June 25.
Atlantic County:
A boat trip out of Somer's Point noted YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS,
BROWN PELICAN, SURF SCOTER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. A
SNOW GOOSE was still at the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe
NWR.
Monmouth County:
Conaskonk Point had SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW.
Mercer County:
The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain had two KENTUCKY
WARBLERS on June 27. One was behind the springhouse near the
bottom of the driveway, and the other was in a dense thicket near
the edge of the estate grounds. Other birds at the preserve
included BLUE GROSBEAK, WORM-EATING WARBLERS and YELLOW-BREASTED
CHAT.
Somerset County:
Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve had WILD TURKEY and
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on June 27. That day, PRAIRIE WARBLERS and
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were at the South Middlebush Rd entrance of
Six Mile Run Park. The Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve had
PRAIRIE WARBLERS and BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS.
Hunterdon County:
A PINE SISKIN visited a feeder in the Califon area on June 28.
Morris County:
The Wildcat Ridge area had PRAIRIE WARBLER and NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:
New Castle County:
Middle Run Natural Area north of Newark had BLUE GROSBEAK, BLUE-
WINGED WARBLER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Middle Run Natural Area
north of Newark had SCARLET TANAGER, BLUE GROSBEAK, PRAIRIE WARBLER
and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Kent County:
Recent reports from Bombay Hook NWR included SNOW GOOSE, YELLOW-
CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and BLUE GROSBEAK.
Sussex County:
A ROSEATE SPOONBILL has been seen around the Catch 54 restaurant in
the town of Fenwick Island on June 21-30. To see the SPOONBILL,
take Route 54 west from Fenwick Island, cross over the bridge in
half a mile and, just after the Catch 54 restaurant on the north
side of the road, turn right onto Bennett Rd. In 100 yards, turn
right onto Madison Ave and park -- you cannot go straight ahead as
this is private property. The bird has been seen low down in tidal
channels on private property to the north across the grass, where
there have been many Canada Geese. Be patient and be respectful of
property owners. Other birds in the area included CLAPPER RAILS
and ROYAL TERNS. A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was at the Sussex Eye
Center on Route 54 in Selbyville on June 25, and one was heard in
pine trees on private property off Route 54 on June 26. The BLACK-
BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was with Mallards under a magnolia tree on
the north side of Rehoboth's Silver Lake on June 26. An adult
BONAPARTE'S GULL was at Fowler Beach on June 25. A BROWN PELICAN
flew over Rehoboth Bay on June 27. A COMMON LOON was in South
Bethany at the end of Alda Lane.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:
Chester County:
Two immature BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were at Struble Lake on June 24.
A BARRED OWL called from Skelp Level Rd in Downingtown on June 24.
Montgomery County:
Riverbend Environmental Education Center had ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS,
AMERICAN REDSTARTS and SCARLET TANAGERS on June 28.
Bucks County:
A PINE SISKIN was at a feeder in Levittown on June 26.
Northampton County:
A new development towards the end of Jacktown Rd had a BLUE
GROSBEAK and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on June 28. An ACADIAN
FLYCATCHER and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER were at the Bethlehem Boat
Club on June 27. A GREAT EGRET was at Green Pond, and a young
SPOTTED SANDPIPER was at Gremar Rd. A PRAIRIE WARBLER was singing
at the Valley View Restaurant. On June 24, a hike along the
Appalachian Trail revealed several CERULEAN WARBLERS. National
Park Drive had a HOODED WARBLER and WORM-EATING WARBLERS. A pair
of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS is on territory near Bangor. A BARRED OWL,
ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH were at the Bear
Swamp Recreation Area, and an ALDER FLYCATCHER pipped along the
power line area.
Lehigh County:
A PINE SISKIN visited a feeder in Fountain Hill on June 27.
Schuylkill County:
Four immature COOPER'S HAWKS were at a nest at Sweet Arrow Lake.
Berks County:
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew over a yard in Boyertown on June 24.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were in grassland habitat near Centerport. On
June 29, eleven young BARN OWLS were banded at two sites in the
county. The turnpike pond off Route 10 had a LESSER SCAUP on June
30.
Lebanon County:
The SANDHILL CRANE was still at Lake Duffy in SGL 145 through June
28.
Carbon County:
The Hell Creek/Wild Creek area had RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, MAGNOLIA
WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and LEAST FLYCATCHER. Breeding DARK-
EYED JUNCOS were reported from the Lake Harmony area.
Monroe County:
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was singing at Brodhead Creek south of
Canadensis.
--------------------------------------------------------------
EXTRALIMITAL REPORTS:
MARYLAND:
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT has been seen on the Potomac River at Riley's
Lock and Violette's Lock in Montgomery County on June 17-27.
VIRGINIA:
On June 25-29, a VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD has been at the Huffman
House at Creekside Farm, 16 Old Huffman Store Rd, Newport (Zip
Code: 24128) in Craig County.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On July 18, Lynn Jackson will lead a DVOC field trip to Bombay Hook
NWR. Please contact Lynn for additional details if you plan on
attending. Additional information and contact information for the
trip leader are on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on July 2, 2009. This is an
informal meeting at the Palmyra Cove Nature Center, featuring short
programs by Frank Windfelder & Debbie Beer. The DVOC potluck
picnic will be on Aug 1 at Jan Gordon's house. The next informal
meeting will take place at Palmyra on Aug 6. Details are on the
website; nonmembers and guests are always welcome.
While there is construction going on at the new visitor center of
the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR, access to the
Wildlife Drive is available near the side exit with the tire
spikes. A gate has been opened allowing entrance into the refuge
via a drive behind the Akers area, which is usually closed but can
be a productive area for songbirds.
Stafford Ave, the dirt road running through Manahawkin WMA and
Edwin B Forsythe NWR is currently closed to vehicles due to
construction. Parking is available at a small lot farther south
near Bay Ave or near the road closure sign on Stafford Ave.
DVOC member Tony Croasdale has started a blog to chronicle his
adventures in Alaska at http://radicalnaturalist.blogspot.com
The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding
in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and
New Jersey. To report birds or significant birding events and
planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org. This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.
- End Transcript
Steve Kacir
rba AT dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia, PA
Subject: Cuckoos, Hummers, and Middle RunnersFrom: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:38:31 -0400 As the skies cleared after this afternoon's rain shower, a pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos sounded off at Ashland Nature Center, living up to their nickname of "rain crow." It's always interesting how quiet these birds are during the summer, and yet a good rain makes them sing loud and proud. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird family is busy at the Ashland feeders, with the expected breakdown: adult male, adult female, and two juveniles. As the summer days go by, we can expect more hummingbirds to show up as they expand their territories and begin migration. The tough question to answer is always: exactly how many hummingbirds are visiting the feeders? My estimate last August was 20 hummingbirds at once. We may find out a bit of the answer during a special hummingbird banding program on August 21, led by professional bander Bruce Peterjohn. If interested in taking part in this program, visit the website (www.delawarenaturesociety.org). Atlassing at Middle Run this past Saturday afternoon was very productive, with juvenile Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, and Wood Thrush observed. Our group of six enjoyed scope looks at singing Prairie Warbler, but could not get a visual on the Yellow-breasted Chat. A family of Ovenbirds, a singing Scarlet Tanager, and Blue Grosbeaks were other highlights. I've created a Google map of the new birding trail at Middle Run, and you can email me off-list if you'd like a copy. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DESubject: Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) Upcoming Meeting (7/2/09) From: Bert Filemyr <afilemyr AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:36:00 -0400 The next meeting of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) is an Informal Summer Meeting, this Thursday July 2nd, 2009 7:30 pm. Held at the Palmyra Cove Nature Center, Palmyra NJ Directions to the Meeting are at http://www.palmyracove.org/directions/index.asp Informal Pre-meeting Dinner Penn Queen Diner 7349 N. Crescent Blvd. Pennsauken, NJ 08110-1517 6:00 PM Short Programs Frank Windfelder, "ID of Great, Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants, plus Anhinga" Debbie Beer, "East African Safari Adventure" Everyone (both members and non-members) is welcome at this meeting ------------------------------------------------------------ Bert Filemyr Meadowbrook, PASubject: Roseate Spoonbill From: Dan Haas <nervousbirds AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:14:51 -0400 After missing this bird 5 times last week in various NC locations, it is with much delight that I report that the Roseate Spoonbill just flew from behind the restaurant. 1pm. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm about to enjoy my chicken sandwich. Best, Dan Haas West Annap, MD Nervousbirds AT gmail.com On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, Bert FilemyrSubject: Re: Roseate Spoonbill From: Bert Filemyr <afilemyr AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:48:48 +0000 The spoonbill appeared at 10:45 am (Tuesday) behind the Catch 54 Resturant <Subject: Re: Roseate Spoonbill From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:41:57 -0700 There have been daily updates on the Roseate Spoonbill on both DE-Birds and MDOsprey. If you're not subscribed to MDOsprey, you can look at it, and pretty much any state bird discussion list, at: http://birdingonthe.net/birdmail.html BTW, the ROSP was seen in MD on two occasions the latest being at 0800 on 6/26. It was seen in tidal marshes at the south end of Madison Avenue. D'oh. Tyler Bell jtylerbell AT yahoo.com California, Maryland Subject: Re: Roseate Spoonbill From: Albert GuarenteSubject: Re: Roseate Spoonbill From: Albert Guarente <owlguarente AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:11:05 -0700 Hi all
Does anyone know if the Roseate Spoonbill is still present in lower DE. I
haven't seen any reports lately.
Al Guarente
Media, Delaware County, Pa 19063
610-566-8266
Subject: Roseate SpoonbillFrom: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:29:15 -0400 Posting upon request from Sharon Lynn, Jeff & Liz Gordon and Sally O'byrne: As of 3:25, the spoonbill was resting comfortably in the yard at the private residence along Madison Ave. Very close for great photo opportunities. Guess I'll have to wait until the photos come across to see this Delaware rarity :( Bill StewartSubject: Bombay Hook NWR Yesterday Had Lots of Birds Including Great Crested Flycatchers (Photos) From: "Howard B. Eskin" <hbeskin AT VOICENET.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:52:48 -0400 *Bombay Hook NWR had lots of birds yesterday. Species seen were: **Snow Goose (1) Canada Goose Mallard Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Great Egret (100+) Snowy Egret (50+) Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Willet Forster's Tern Black Skimmer Rock Dove Mourning Dove Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher (Entrance to Bear Swamp) Eastern Kingbird Blue Jay Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Marsh Wren Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird European Starling Prothonotary Warbler (Finis Pool) Common Yellowthroat Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird (Many staking out territories all over the Refuge) Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole American Goldfinch House Sparrow Some of yesterday's photos can be seen at the following link: http://www.howardsview.com/BombayHookJune27_09/BombayHookJune27_09.html Howard B. Eskin Harleysville, PA ** *Subject: Monthly Pea Patch Island Evening Heron Survey From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:20:43 -0400 Tomorrow night I will once again be stationed at the east end of Clinton Street in Delaware City counting the Herons, Egrets and Ibises flying to and from the heronry on Pea Patch Island. The survey starts at 6:34 pm and ends at 9:04 pm. Everyone is welcome to come and help count, record data or just set up a scope and enjoy the show. We especially need one or two people willing to record birds to allow counters to spend all of their time identifying and counting birds. Unlike the counts in February, March and April the birds often fly to the Island in large mixed species flocks in May and June (we had several flocks last month with 30 - 50 birds each). The highest survey total recorded was in June of 2004 when 2588 birds were counted - so it could be a fairly busy evening. Since the last count in May (when we counted 2179 birds) I flew over the heronry to see how things are shaping up and the colony in the Phragmites is the largest we have seen during any of aerial flights. If you would like to come out and join the fun we meet in the Park at the east end of Clinton Street. We count from the sea wall in front of the flag pole. I should be there by 6:15 pm. I hope to see you there. Chris Bennett Natural Resource Management Specialist Environmental Stewardship Program Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 739-9230 Fax: (302) 739-3817 "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County AlmanacSubject: Great Crested Flycatcher ? From: Marsh Zellhoefer <marshz AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:54:26 -0400 This afternoon I sighted 2 great crested flycatchers in my backyard.?Can anyone tell me if?these birds are commonly seen in DE and/or mid-Atlantic? Thanks for any responses. Marsh Zellhoefer marshz AT aol.com Lewes, DESubject: OT- VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD-VA, Roseate Spoonbill- DE (Photos) From: Jeffery Davis <jwdjwd67 AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:27:40 -0400 It was quite a busy weekend. Amy and I spent the entire afternoon Saturday basking in the company of the ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Photos) which was being extemely agreeable in the back yard of a private residence near the Catch 54 (the bird was easily viewable from the road). He posed for a lot of photos and provided exceptional looks. When we returned home around 10:00pm and I began scanning the emails from the 20+ birds lists I belong to (It might be 30+ by now actually. I'm seriously mentally ill.), when I found the amazing post about the Violet-crowned Hummer in VA! 3 hours of sleep and we were back on the road headed for Ron and Carol Baker's lovely B&B- THE HUFFMAN HOUSE AT CREEKSIDE FARM (16 Old Huffman Store Road • Newport, VA • 24128) http://www.thehuffmanhousebandb.com/. A little over 7 and a half hours of driving (with stops) and we were enjoying tremendous looks at this SE-AZ specialty. This gorgeous VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Photos. I have only had time to put up a couple shots but I hope to get a few more up soon. ) was a lifer for us both so we stayed nearly all day to enjoy it. In fact, we were the last of the surprisingly small crowd (surprising considering it may well be the first documented record East of TX) to leave. Being last to go we were lucky enough to be treated to extended views of the bird preening on the tree across from the feeder. It was an amazing day. If you haven't already picked this beauty up in AZ or if you just need a pretty good bird for your VA state list ;) it is well worth the trip. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffamy/ regards, jeff Downingtown, PA Checkout our bird photos at the link below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffamy/ "Birding Like I Have Six Months To Live"Subject: Roseate Spoonbill From: "Roger J. Masse" <rmasse08 AT STUDENTS.DESU.EDU> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:08:40 -0400 My fiance and I traveled south to see the Roseate Spoonbill this a.m. We first saw the bird around 8:45 flying towards Catch 54 from the west thanks to a gentleman who pointed it out as we were scanning the marsh. The bird landed very near Catch 54 and we quickly made our way back to the car. We viewed the bird from about 9:00-9:45 at less than 100 yards! It was resting on the rocks along the waters edge just behind the private residence on Madison Ave. Take care, RogerSubject: Spoonbill at Sunset From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:28:25 -0400 I drove down to Fenwick this evening once the Sox-Braves game was over to look for the Spoonbill. I drove to the end of Bennett Rd. (Nice Name) but the bird was not in any of the small pannes that were visible from there. I walked to the center of the bridge east of the restaurant and finall spotted the bird in a distance panne/creek quite a ways out in the marsh to the north and west (about 10 o'clock if looking north from the bridge) actively feeding in the company of a Snowy Egret. I watched it for about 1 minute before it dispeared from sight. I waited a few minutes but it did not reappear. I tried again with no luck from the east end of the bridge west of the restaurant with no luck as the light faded. It may have been visible from farther out along this bridge. Other birds seen or heard in the area included Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Royal Tern, Black Skimmer and I heard at least one Eastern Meadowlark. I also saw a single Brown Pelican over Rehoboth Bay on the way down. Chris Bennett Milford, DESubject: Roseate Spoonbill, Friday 6/26 From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:39:42 -0700 Jane Kostenko and I did a Delaware/Maryland twitch yesterday (Friday, 6/26). We
arrived at Silver Lake around 2pm and checked waterfowl from the west side of
the lake. Not seeing the duck, we drove around to the north side of the lake
and found the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck sitting with a bunch of Mallards and
Canada Geese under a large magnolia. Tick.
Next, we headed south to Fenwick Island. We pulled in behind Catch 54 around
3pm and parked in the overflow parking lot after seeing the Roseate Spoonbill
sitting on some rip-rapping near the private residence. We hoped that the
spooner would fly into Maryland airspace but it seemed quite content to stay
put and after an hour, we headed out. Tick 2.
We went west on 54 to Selbeyville and found the Sussex Eye Center on the north
side of the road. We pulled in and parked but didn't see or hear any EUCDs. So,
we drove through the adjacent neighborhood and still whiffed. So, we stopped at
the stop sign to the neighborhood, right next to the eye center and shut off
the engine. Immediately we heard a Eurasian Collared Dove calling from one of
the large pines in the private residence across 54. Tick 3.
Just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the technicians from the eye
center came out and asked what everyone had been looking at/for lately. We
showed her the EUCD in the National Geographic guide and they were happy to
know why people had been stopping there. Then we told her about the spoonbill
and showed her that in the book and she said she lived in Fenwick Island so we
told her the spooner's haunts and she knew all of them and said she'd like to
see it. Anyway, a little PR goes a long way. Even non-birders are often
interested in exotic stuff like a Roseate Spoonbill. Who knows, she might get
hooked on the birding bug if she sees it!
Then we went to Elliott Island Rd. in Maryland to listen for Black Rails. Got
chewed alive by mosquitos and never heard a kiki kerr to save our lives.
Delaware 3, Maryland 0.
Tyler Bell
jtylerbell AT yahoo.com
California, Maryland
Subject: Re: Eastern Towhee mimicing Carolina Wren, w/ recordingFrom: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT UDEL.EDU> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:47:51 -0400 Thanks for the notice and the compliment. Note though that while the one in the paper version of the News Journal is mine, the one on the online version (delawareonline) is not and is in fact not a picture of our Spoonbill at all. Alex Zorach wrote: > Also seen this morning, the Roseate Spoonbill--in a photo published in > the Wilmington News Journal--front page of the local section, thanks > to Maurice Barnhill for the great photograph! > > Alex Zorach > Newark, DE > cazort AT gmail.com > > -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu [Use ReplyTo, not From] [bellatlantic.net is reserved for spam only] Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716Subject: Eastern Towhee mimicing Carolina Wren, w/ recording From: Alex Zorach <cazort AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:50:14 -0400 Hello! This morning I birded Iron Hill again, this time walking much of the perimeter along I-95. Although I only saw and heard common birds, on the far east side of the park, near 896, I encountered something rather amusing, a male Eastern Towhee mimicking the song of a Carolina Wren. I made a blurry video, but the sound is clear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVnji4i0rAA The song starts with the familiar "Drink" of "Drink your tea" but "your tea" has been replaced by one of two common units of a Carolina Wren's song...repeated exactly twice. I tracked the bird down after something didn't sound right--I've never heard a Carolina Wren make as few as two repetitions. Interestingly, I did some research and found that Eastern Towhees have been documented mimicking all sorts of birds, including thrashers and jays: http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v110n03/p0431-p0434.pdf Also seen this morning, the Roseate Spoonbill--in a photo published in the Wilmington News Journal--front page of the local section, thanks to Maurice Barnhill for the great photograph! Alex Zorach Newark, DE cazort AT gmail.comSubject: Roseate Spoonbill 7am 6/27/09 From: "Collins,Steven D" <dcollins AT UFL.EDU> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:16:01 -0400 The Roseate Spoonbill could be seen from the bridge west of the Catch 54 restaurant in Fenwick at 7am. Cheers, Steve Collins Towson, MDSubject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 26th, 2009 From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:47:43 -0400 RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* June 26, 2009
* DEST0906.26
*Birds mentioned
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Brown Pelican
Little Blue Heron
Green Heron
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Black-bellied Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
Royal Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Black Skimmer
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-winged Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
American Redstart
Kentucky Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: June 26, 2009
Number: 302-658-2747
To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
For Friday, June 26th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List
is now at 290 species, with a new addition to the state list.
A ROSEATE SPOONBILL was found this week in Fenwick Island, in the extreme
southeast corner of the state. The bird is being seen along the canal
between Big Assawoman Bay in Maryland and Little Assawoman Bay in Delaware.
Here are the directions: Take Delaware Rt 1 into Fenwick, Turn west at the
light to Rt 54 (Lighthouse Rd). as you cross the bridge, turn right at the
first road (Bennett Rd.). Follow that to the Catch 54 Restaurant and park.
The SPOONBILL has been seen in the marsh north of the restaurant or across
the canal. The bird has also been seen in the marshes further west on Rt 54,
across from the Cape Windsor development.
This is an immature SPOONBILL by the lack of dark coloration in the head,
and constitutes Delaware's first state record. There was another bird seen 2
years ago in New Jersey at the Forsythe NWR (aka Brigantine). This bird is
also on a quarter mile to the Maryland line, and many anxious Maryland state
listers are waiting.
Lots of other good birds have been reported in the area, ROYAL, COMMON,
FORSTER'S TERNS, BLACK SKIMMERS, GREEN HERONS, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS with
young, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and BROWN PELICAN. Landbirds seen include PINE
WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK SEASIDE SPARROW, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK. EURASIAN
COLLARED DOVES were reported about 8 miles west on Rt 54 in Selbyville at
the Sussex Eye Care Center. SPOONBILLS, COLLARED DOVES and PELICANS! Shades
of Florida! What next: MANGROVE CUCKOO?
Elsewhere in Delaware, the BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues to be seen
at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. A COMMON LOON was seen offshore at South
Bethany. A BONAPARTE'S GULL in full breeding plumage was reported at Fowlers
beach. BANK SWALLOWS were reported in the fields opposite the John Dickinson
Mansion off the Kitts hummock Rd near Dover, and CLIFF SWALLOWS are still
being seen over the Rt 9 Appoquinmink Bridge.
BLACK-NECKED STILTS with young were seen at Bombay Hook NWR this past week.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER is still being reported at Finis Pool.
A VIRGINIA RAIL was reported at the Grassdale Center at Ft duPont State Park
in Delaware City, LITTLE BLUE HERON, GLOSSY IBIS, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and
YELLOW WARBLER was also reported. A single BLACK SKIMMER remains at thousand
Acre Marsh.
The PEREGRINE FALCONS at the Reedy Point Bridge had their chick fledge this
week. The FALCONS on the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington didn't
fare as well. They lost all 4 chicks this year. AMERICAN KESTRELS at
Brandywine Creek State park are getting their chicks ready to leave the
nest.
A pair of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were calling at Ashland nature Center this
week. PINE WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK, WHITE-EYED VIREO, YELLOW WARBLER,
AMERICAN REDSTART, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, WARBLING VIREO (still very vocal),
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and WILLOW FLYCATCHER are all still being reported.
RED-SHOULDERED and COOPER'S HAWK were reported by the Hockessin Athletic
Club off Valley Road.
Middle Run Natural Area near Newark had 5 species of warbler including:
BLUE-WINGED, PRAIRIE, KENTUCKY WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, plus BLUE
GROSBEAK and SCARLET TANAGER.
In southern Delaware at Trap Pond State Park, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was
found in the campground there. Lots of PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen along
with RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and BLUE GROSBEAK along the
Loblolly trail.
Now for this week's special feature from WILM News Radio:
High up in the canopy, a bird song is heard. (Scarlet Tanager SFX). It
sounds like a Robin with a sore throat, dysphonia: harsh and raspy. It is
the song of the SCARLET TANAGER, one of eastern North America's most
beautiful songbirds.
Tanagers are tree top experts, rarely coming down. They feed on caterpillars
and insects high above. When you do get to see one coming down to drink or
bathe; they are a brilliant red with black wings and yellow bill.
A large family of tropical birds, ornithologists believe there are over 200
different species of tanager. Found in every color of the rainbow, metallic
greens and yellow to blue and purple. Every year, new species are found in
the tropics of this diverse family.
In Delaware, the SCARLET TANAGER is joined by its southern cousin the SUMMER
TANAGER. This later species is our only truly all red bird, a breath-taking
pinkish red from head to tail. SUMMER TANAGERS are bee experts. Their
favorite foods are wasps and bees taken in partially cleared forests.
Listen to their song (Summer Tanager SFx). The best way to tell the two
species apart is by their chip note. SCARLET TANAGER call "Check bur"
(Scarlet Tanager SFx) while the SUMMER TANAGER'S distress note is "Check bur
burr" (Summer Tanager call note SFx).
Very special thanks to Richard Woods for his discovery of the ROSEATE
SPOONBILL for a new state record. Also thanks to Derek Stoner, Kim
Steininger, Ken Bass, and Maryanne Dolan. Please call your reports to
302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Until next week, good birding.
-end transcript
Andy Ednie
Claymont, Delaware
Subject: Roseate SpoonbillFrom: Phil Davis <pdavis AT IX.NETCOM.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:39:29 -0400 I got a call from Tyler Bell at 3:05 pm this afternoon (6/26) saying
that he and Jane were just leaving the area after finding the bird
near the Catch 54 restaurant around 2:45 pm this afternoon. He said
it looked pretty comfortable, sitting in DE. (Sorry the delay in
posting this, the trip home from a client's location in Reston was
about 3-1/4 hours this afternoon ... yuk!)
BTW, for MD Ospreyers, here's a link to a map that was posted by
Tyler on DE-Birds the other day ...
http://tinyurl.com/kn9laj
The location is in Fenwick, DE about 1/2 mile west of Rt 1 and about
100-200 yards north of the MD/DE state boundary which runs along
146th Street, just south of Delaware Rt 54. Harpoon Hannah's is
immediately north of the boundary.
Hope this helps ...
Phil
==================================
Phil Davis Davidsonville, Maryland USA
mailto:PDavis AT ix.netcom.com
==================================
Subject: Roseate Spoonbill Today 6/26From: Frank Marenghi <frank_marenghi AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:41:58 -0400 Fortunately for me, I am doing a good bit of field work in the Inland Bays area this summer. I was in Fenwick Island today for work and decided to stop by the Spoonbill spot during my lunch break. I parked at corner of Bennett and Madison on the Northwest corner of Catch 54, thanks to the post earlier in the week. After about 1 minute of scanning, the ROSEATE SPOONBILL came flying in from the north east side of Catch 54, around the building, did a circle over the field of Geese and lighted on the marsh edge nearest the field. It was initially obscured by vegetation but after another couple minutes the bird could be seen very well, foraging in the open water of the tidal creek, close to the edge of the field. Two other pairs of birders also enjoyed this view as the bird periodically switched from foraging, preening, and bathing (splashing around and flapping). We all probably watched it from about 1:30 PM to 1:50 PM, after which we had great looks at it flying back towards the east side of Catch 54. Very nice. Also had a Clapper Rail at this spot (seen and heard), along with the more obvious Royal Terns, Willets, Osprey, etc. Also of note, while I was working at a spot in South Bethany, a non-breeding COMMON LOON took me by surprise. I noticed it at the end of Alda Lane, part of the Bayview Park devlopment, in South Bethany. It was sitting on the water close to the shore of that small unihabitated island (don't know the name). The first and probably the last time I'll ever see Roseate Spoonbill and Common Loon on the same day in summertime. Good Birding, Frank Frank Marenghi Dover, DE frank_marenghi AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009Subject: Middle Run Atlasing Re-Run, 6/27 From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:21:08 -0400 Due to being rained-out last Saturday, I will lead another breeding bird atlasing field trip tomorrow, Saturday, June 27, from 3:00 to 6:00pm at Middle Run Natural Area. Yesterday I spent the late afternoon mowing a birding trail(as land manager for this property) through the early-successional thicket, to invite more folks to explore this excellent habitat. Singing Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak, and Blue-winged Warbler all could be heard(with the mower shut off!). To get to the meeting location, turn onto Possum Hollow Road from Possum Park Road. Follow Possum Hollow 1/2 mile, then turn left into the gravel driveway marked with large white "Middle Run" sign. Follow gravel driveway to parking lot at the end. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DESubject: Roseate Spoonbill details - 6/25 pm DE only From: Phil Davis <pdavis AT IX.NETCOM.COM> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:12:00 -0400 MD OSprey, DE-Birds:
I arrived at the Catch 54 restaurant around 5 pm (6/25) and did not
find the bird there. I drove around, south of Harpoon Hannah's
restaurant, as suggested by Joe Hanfman, and then pulled in behind
the Happy Harry's pharmacy on the north side of Rt 54, just east of
the bridge, and found the bird in the wetlands around 5:15. At 5:30
the bird flew and I lost sight of it behind the phrag about one
minute before Bill Hubick, Jim Brighton, and Stan Arnold arrived. A
few minutes later it flew back to the same spot, behind the pharmacy.
The four of us then moved to the top of the bridge when we could see
it and also see into Maryland in case it flew south. We watched it
until 9:15 pm but it stayed in DE, north of Rt 54, the entire time.
Sometimes it was out of sight in the wetlands behind taller
vegatation. Later in the evening it flew to the west side of the
river, immediately north of the Catch 54 restaurant and landed on the
grass with some Canada Geese and Mallards. It wandered to the edge of
the water (still just north of the restaurant) and took a nap. Next
it flew a short distance to the flats right next to the restaurant.
Around 9:05 pm it settled in for the evening. We left around 9:15. I
ran an errand (purchased some Harpoon Hannah's coconut muffins to
take home ... ummm!) and checked the bird one more time at 9:35 pm
from the Catch 54 restaurant ... it was still there, asleep!
I have some photos of it DE that I will forward to the DE Records
Committee. Bill Hubick has lots of good pix.
We hoped it was going to head south to roost in a tree somewhere in
MD, but it seemed content to sleep al fresco on the sandbar last night.
Good luck!
Phil
==================================
Phil Davis Davidsonville, Maryland USA
mailto:PDavis AT ix.netcom.com
==================================
Subject: Brandywine Creek State Park Monthly Bird WalkFrom: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:47:25 -0400 There will be a bird walk at Brandywine Creek from 8-11 am this Saturday, June 27. This is sponsored by DNREC state parks and meets at the nature center. State Park fees are in effect, $3/day for in-state and $6 for out of state vehicles. We'll be looking for rare resident species for the Breeding Bird Atlas. Andy Ednie Claymont, DelawareSubject: Bonaparte's Gull From: Fran and Ken Bass <frankenbee AT LIVE.COM> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:14:06 -0400 Early this evening we observed an adult Bonaparte's Gull in alternate plumage feeding along the shoreline at Fowler Beach very near to the parking area. We watched it for some time feeding and flying short distances up and down the beach. It allowed approach to within 15 feet or so. Ken and Fran Bass Lincoln, De _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that’s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290Subject: More on Delaware's First Reported Roseate Spoonbill. From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:39:26 -0400 Here are some notes on finding Delaware's first reported Roseate Spoonbill. I went down early, arriving at 7:30 am. The bird was roosting and feeding in the ponds on the north side of Rt. 54, west of Bennett Rd and the Catch 54 Restaurant. I was able to pick the bird out with the unaided eye along the elevated roadway past the bridge. I came back, turning at the light for the Cape Windsor development (formerly trailer park). I was able to park here along the remains of old Rt 54 and walk across the street to observe the bird and not be run-over. About 8:00 am the bird picked up and flew back into the marsh behind some pine trees. It remained hidden despite trying to get several different angles to see where it landed. I even got permission to enter the Treasure Island campground just west of the marsh. Everything was unsuccessful, even after joined by Maurice and Jen. After 3 hours we decided to break for lunch at Catch 54, also a boat rental, Jet Ski area. All day was foggy until the clouds lifted at noon, and then boat activity picked up on the canal between Little Assawoman Bay (De) and Big Assawoman Bay (Md). As I watched the jet skis and eco kayaks go where I saw the bird fly into in the morning, I eventually saw the spoonbill flying back towards the canal. After a couple attempts to feed, it flew into roost at the one spot where it wouldn't be disturbed, right by the farmhouse. The locals said the bird has been there since Saturday. I guess even bird-sympathizing, presby-optic locals can't miss a pink bird. If you go down early, look for the bird along Rt 54 west of the bridge. As traffic picks up, the bird will fly away. If you get to Fenwick in late morning, wait by the restaurant for it to come into roost. I showed pictures and the bird to several staff members, including the bartender. His bar looks out over the marsh and he seemed interested in wildlife. Special thanks to Richard Wood for his initial report! Strong work! Other birds seen: Eurasian Collared Dove (Sussex Eye Center on Rt 54 in Selbyville), Brown Pelican, American Oystercatcher with young (nest record Anthony!), Purple Martin, Blue Grosbeak, Seaside Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark. Good birding, Andy Andy Ednie Claymont, DelawareSubject: Roseate Spoonbill From: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT UDEL.EDU> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:24:32 -0400 Andy Ednie had the Spoonbill from the other end of the bridge to the west of the Catch 54 restaurant. The bird flew around behind some pine trees on an island in the marsh and disappeared. By the time I got there Andy had gone to Selbyville to get the Dove and returned to the bridge (Thanks, Andy). Two-and-a-half to three hours later, having worked the west end of the bridge, the east end of the bridge to the east of the restaurant, and having wandered around the restaurant (with permission) a lot, we and Jen from Maryland decided to go inside to get lunch. There is a counter-like thing at the back of the restaurant where you can look out in the direction of the farm where the bird had been seen yesterday. Just before our cheesburgers arrived, Andy spotted the bird flying. It later flew a bit back toward where it had started, and both times disappeared on landing. As we were finishing lunch it got up and flew towards us, and towards, and towards, .... It ended up on the other side of a fairly narrow gut between the Motel just west of the restaurant and the farm. I abandoned the remains of my cheeseburger to go take pictures. Some of them should be good once I have got them properly cropped, and I will submit a few of the best to the DOS member photo gallery when I am done with them. The bird is light, although obviously pink. Judging from Sibley's illustrations, it cannot be an adult but is most likely a second-year bird. It is unbanded. I recommend the Catch 54 Restaurant both for its food and its extraordinary ability to generate good luck for its patrons. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu [Use ReplyTo, not From] [bellatlantic.net is reserved for spam only] Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716Subject: Roseate Spoonbill From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:07:44 -0400 Frank Rohrbacher and I have just returned from seeing the Spoonbill. It apparently arrived Sunday (21st) evening (MD birders). It took at least two hours to show this evening, but seems to be faithful to one spot: take 54 west from Fenwick Island, cross over the bridge in half a mile and just after the Catch 54 restaurant (N side of road) turn right onto Bennett Rd. In 100yds turn right (Madison) - you cannot go straight - private property - and park. The bird is low down in tidal channels to the north (private) across the grass which had lots of Canada Geese. Be patient. Colin CampbellSubject: Delaware Valley RBA, 24 JUNE 2009 From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:58:02 -0700 - RBA * PA, NJ, DE * Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE * PADV0906.24 * June 24, 2009 - Birds Mentioned Roseate Spoonbill (DE)+ Scissor-tailed FlycatcherSubject: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:53:09 -0400 Hello All, If you read the Voice of the Naturalist posted yesterday, it noted that that the Roseate Spoonbill from Waynesboro, VA was last seen on the 19th. The VA listserve has negative postings from the 20th, but I saw nothing further. It also had a photo link http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/RoseateSpoonbillVA1_Link.html The VA bird looks quite pale so I wonder if it could be recognizable as the same bird or not. I am off to chase it after work. Good Birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU]On Behalf Of Maurice Barnhill Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 2:05 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] [Fwd: Re: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line] For those who don't read MD-Osprey: -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:56:38 -0400 From: Ronald GutberletSubject: [Fwd: Re: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line] From: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT UDEL.EDU> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:05:28 -0400 For those who don't read MD-Osprey: -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:56:38 -0400 From: Ronald GutberletSubject: Thousand Acre Marsh From: Maryanne Dolan <maryanne.dolan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:02:05 -0400 The Reedy Point Bridge Peregrine chick has fledged. It was chasing the adult screaming for food on Monday, June 23rd. The adult appeared to take no notice. Also at Thousand Acre Marsh, a lone Black Skimmer and a Little Blue Heron. The Little Blue was relocated to a pond on the house to the right of Thousand Acre Marsh. Maryanne Dolan Chesapeake City, MDSubject: Results of the 2009 Delaware Bird-A-Thon From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:44:49 -0400 Hello De-Birders, At the 2009 DOS Annual Picnic and Bird-A-Thon Awards ceremony held one week ago, the final results and winners were announced in front of an enthusiastic crowd of participants and newly elected Fellow Members of DOS in rainy conditions, continuing the general theme from the DBAT week afield! First, a few fun facts from this year's 2009 Delaware Bird-A-Thon: OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS -1st entry received was from 5 year old Sarah Dixon with 30 species! CONTRIBUTIONS FROM 23 STATES, 3 COUNTRIES 21 BUSINESS SPONSORS 4 DIFFERENT ORNITHOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTRIBUTED OVER 3464 EFFORT HOURS PRE-EVENT WERE LOGGED FOR 2009 DBAT - EQUATING to 144 DAYS (conservative number!) WINNERS INCLUDED 9 YOUTH BIRDERS 25 OF 27 DELAWARE BIRDING TRAIL SITES WERE VISITED DURING THE DBAT 243 DIFFERENT SPECIES TALLIED And now for the winners and total: Most Funds Raised by an Individual: Joe Sebastiani- $616.00 Most Funds Raised by a School: Tatnall Middle School Birdbrains Top Youth Team: The Friends of Red Knot, a youth conservation group based in Baltimore, MD - $1274.00 + 117 species = 1391 pts. Top Adult Team: Matt Sarver and Lauren Morgens $8092.00 (that's correct folks, $8092!!!!!!!) + 157 species = 8249 pts. Lead Sponsor: DUPONT's "Clear into the Future" - $5000.00 Best Bird: Any bird that was DRY and not rain soaked!! The total funds collected for the 2009 Delaware Bird-A-Thon = $48,257.84.00! Due to the tremendous support, effort and creative talents from participants over the past three Bird-A-Thons, the cumulative total is now over $120,000.00 for habitat acquisition and migratory raptor research! All of us on the Bird-A-Thon Committee and Conservation Committee want to extend a huge THANK YOU to all who participated or otherwise supported this major conservation effort. This year's event could have suffered from our national economic crisis, but because of many, many dedicated individuals designing some extremely unique fund- raising concepts, the bar has been raised and new precedents in citizen-based conservation efforts have been set. With much gratitude and still in awe, Bill Stewart DOS Conservation ChairSubject: report of Roseate Spoonbill in Fenwick Island From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:54:21 -0700 Not sure why this hasn't shown up yet on DE-Birds. See the map in the link
below for the exact location:
http://tinyurl.com/kn9laj
Tyler Bell
jtylerbell AT yahoo.com
California, Maryland
From: Ronald Gutberlet
To: MDOSPREY AT HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:05:32 AM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Roseate Spoonbill report from DE, close to MD state line
Hi Everyone,
This just in from Andy Ednie, passed on by Glen Lovelace:
"I just received a note that a Roseate Spoonbill was seen by the Catch 54
Restaurant off Rt 54 near Fenwick Island. I don't know the reporter or have any
other details yet. If you go down that way would you please let me know if you
find anything."
Have fun,
Ron Gutberlet
Salisbury, MD
rlgutberlet AT salisbury.edu
Subject: Wet Atlasing at Middle RunFrom: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:00:34 -0400 As our group of eight atlasers gathered this morning at Middle Run, we all glanced westward at the darkening sky. We saw the signals but did our best to ignore them in favor of getting in some birding! In the short hour we birded before being overtaken by a drenching rain, we saw a pair of White-eyed Vireos, several singing male Eastern Towhees, and a tantalizing-close but not-satisfying look at a Blue-winged Warbler. Prairie Warblers, Indigo Buntings, and Wood Thrush were singin' in the rain. Due to being rained-out, I will offer another walk next Saturday, June 27, from 3:00 to 6:00pm. We will try our luck in the afternoon. Meet in the Middle Run parking lot for a sun-drenched, glorious afternoon of breeding bird atlasing! Good (dry) birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DESubject: Delmarva Ornithological Society Bird-a-thon piece posted to BirdFellow.com online journal From: David Irons <llsdirons AT MSN.COM> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:02:39 +0000 Greetings all, Derek Stoner, president of the Delmarva Ornithological Society, has kindly written a nice piece about the efforts of team of young birders during the recent DOS Bird-a-thon, which aims to raise funds for the purchase of critical shorebird/horseshoe crab habitat on Delaware Bay. We encourage you to read this piece (www.birdfellow.com) and most importantly, offer your financial support to this most worthy cause. Good birding, Dave Irons Content Editor BirdFellow.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 19th, 2009 From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:55:49 -0400 RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* June 12, 2009
* DEST0906.12
*Birds mentioned
Snow Goose
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Northern Gannet
Least Bittern
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Northern Bobwhite
Piping Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
Red Knot
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Bank Swallow
Brown-headed Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Parula
Prairie Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Dickcissel
Grasshopper Sparrow
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: June 12, 2009
Number: 302-658-2747
To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
For Friday, June 12th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List
remains at 289 species.
This week BANKS SWALLOWS were found nesting in gravel pits near Tybout's
Corner below New Castle. 61 nests were counted, always a hard nester to find
in the state due to lack of habitat. The biggest colony was nearby at the
C&D Canal, but became overgrown. Some other good finds above the canal were
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COOPER'S HAWK, and
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Below the canal, 4 BLACK SKIMMERS were found loafing at Thousand Acre Marsh
below Delaware City. Pennsylvania birders should be on the lookout since
this only 25 miles from Marcus Hook.
More BLACK SKIMMERS were seen at Bombay Hook this week. 8 were seen opposite
Shearness Pool. Numerous BOBWHITES were reported in the refuge. BLACK-NECKED
STILTS with 8 chicks were also counted. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, OVENBIRD, and
NORTHERN PARULA were reported at Finis Pool. 2 SNOW GEESE and LEAST BITTERN
were reported at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area.
Four more BLACK SKIMMERS were seen at Mispillion Inlet. AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHER was also seen there.
Another DICKCISSEL colony was announced in Sussex Co. This one was in the
southwest corner near Seaford. The bird was singing near an organic farm
west of Woodland Ferry headed toward Reliance. Birds were again reported
near Milford off Fleatown Rd. and near Harrington at Hunting Quarter Road.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues to be seen along Lake Dr. at
Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. A BROWN PELICAN and NORTHERN GANNET were seen
from the Rehoboth boardwalk this week. A COOPER'S HAWK nest was discovered
in South Bethany.
A pair of RED KNOT remain at Cape Henlopen State Park. PIPING PLOVER, LEAST
TERN, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and PRAIRIE WARBLER were also reported there.
A Red-shouldered Hawk nest was found near Marshyhope. SUMMER TANAGER, BLACK
AND WHITE and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER were also reported.
Another RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was found near Hartley at Ford's Corner.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were also found there.
Now for this week's special feature from WILM News Radio:
Along the edge of the wooded vernal pool comes a high pitched whistle
(Prothonotary Warbler SFx). A flash of golden yellow reveals the songster,
one of the most stunning nesters in Delaware, the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.
Also known as the southern golden swamp warbler, it is named after the
clerks of the Catholic Church that wear yellow robes. The PROTHONOTARY
WARBLER is unique as the only cavity nester among the eastern wood warblers.
It preferred habitat is along flooded river bottoms, cypress swamps and
Carolina Bays called "whale wallows" throughout southern Delaware.
This bird is at the northern edge of its range in the border state of
Delaware. Most nesting is in Sussex Co. The Breeding Bird Atlas shows it
does make it into New Castle Co. at Blackbird State Forrest near Townsend
and as far north as the White Clay Creek Valley.
This brilliant little yellow bird has a golden head and blue-gray wings. It
skirts the pond edge foraging for aquatic insects. Its monotone song sounds
like "sweet-sweet-sweet" (Prothonotary SFx). This is different from another
Delaware warbler, the OVENBIRD, (Ovenbird SFx). That sings with a rising
inflection.
Placing song into the proper habitat will help you with identification.
A special note about AMERICAN REDSTARTS: I was reminded that a pair was nest
building two years ago at Brandywine Creek State Park. That would make
nesting at Mt Cuba the second nesting recorded away from the White Clay
Creek Valley. This is still an extremely rare nester on Delmarva and needs
to be watched.
Special thanks this week to Janet Anderson, Kitt Heckscher, John Janowski,
Joe Sebastiani and Anthony Gonzon for their reports. You can reports your
sightings, or add to the state year list by calling 302-792-9591, or email
me at ednieap AT verizon.net. Thanks for calling and until next week, good
birding.
-end transcript
Andy Ednie
Claymont, Delaware
Subject: Assawoman SWA and James Farm Preserve, Ocean View, DE Field TripFrom: John Janowski <jsbirders AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:07:45 -0400 This Saturday, June 20, I will lead a field trip to several locations in the Ocean View area in Sussex County, Delaware. Being that it's the second year of the Breeding Bird Atlas Project, we can focus on bird identification and breeding traits. If there are atlas block owners from this area that want to include their area in this trip, please join us. Meet me at 6:30 AM at the McDonald's parking lot on SR 1 just south of Bethany. It should be a half day trip. John JanowskiSubject: Middle Run Atlasing Field Trip, 6/20 From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:49:57 -0400 On Saturday, June 20, I will lead a breeding bird atlasing field trip to Middle
Run Natural Area north of Newark, DE. We will met at 7:30 am and bird until
approximately 10:30am.
Middle Run's early-successional habitat is home to breeding birds like
Blue-winged Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Indigo Bunting.
Notable mature woodland species include Kentucky Warbler, Veery, and
Yellow-throated Vireo. We will focus on trying to observe breeding evidence of
these birds in particular, helping to add to the survey effort in Block 11.
To get to the meeting location, turn onto Possum Hollow Road from Possum Park
Road. Follow Possum Hollow 1/2 mile, then turn left into the gravel driveway
marked with large white "Middle Run" sign. Follow gravel driveway to parking
lot at the end.
If you plan on attending, please contact me by email or phone(302-893-8426).
Thanks!
-- Derek Stoner
Hockessin, DE
Subject: DOS Picnic: What rain?From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:57:55 -0400 Greetings: Yes, there may be a few pesky showers in the area, but the DOS Picnic this evening will not be affected. We have indoor accommodations for the picnic and awards ceremony, so fear not the rain. Bill Haldeman and Mike Weaver are cooking up a feast on the grill: chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs. There will be plenty of food for all! The picnic begins at 5:30pm. Call me at 302-893-8426 for questions or directions. Thanks, --- Derek StonerSubject: Delaware Valley RBA, 17 JUNE 2009 From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:57:41 -0700 - RBA
* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0906.17
* June 17, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
White-faced Ibis (NJ)+
Mississippi Kite (PA)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
(PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Cory's Shearwater
Greater Shearwater
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Turkey Vulture
Snow Goose
Mississippi Kite
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Bobwhite
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
White-rumped Sandpiper
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Nelson's Gull (Glaucous X Herring Hybrid)
Gull-billed Tern
Royal Tern
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chuck-will's-widow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Brown Creeper
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brewster's Warbler
Northern Parula
Prothonotary Warbler
Ovenbird
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
- Transcript
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern & Win Shafer
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Welcome to the June 17, 2009 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare
Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of
Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia
Region. This week, we highlight reports of CORY'S SHEARWATERS,
GREATER SHEARWATER, WHITE-FACED IBIS and MISSISSIPPI KITES in Cape
May County, NJ and MISSISSIPPI KITE in Berks County, PA. Remember
to check out our website for additional content and information:
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR NEW JERSEY:
Cape May County:
On June 16, strong east winds brought shearwaters and NORTHERN
GANNETS offshore of Cape May. That day, over 25 CORY'S SHEARWATERS
were spotted from Cape May Point, with birds seen from the Cape May
Convention Center and the St Mary's jetty. A GREATER SHEARWATER
and 5 CORY'S SHEARWATERS were seen from the beach at The Nature
Conservancy (TNC) Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and a CORY'S
SHEARWATER and 54 NORTHERN GANNETS were spotted from the 8th St
Jetty in Avalon. On June 14, a nonbreeding-plumaged WHITE-FACED
IBIS was at a small pond off Bayberry Rd and a marshy area past the
first produce stand on Stone Harbor Blvd. On June 13 & 14, a
MISSISSIPPI KITE was at the Rea Farm, with other sightings from the
Rea Farm including BLUE GROSBEAKS. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was over
Cape May Point on June 15. On June 13, five MISSISSIPPI KITES were
seen at Mount Zion Cemetery off Shunpike Rd in West Cape May.
Three LEAST BITTERNS were at TNC Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on
June 15, and another LEAST BITTERN was there on June 12. Two
COMMON MOORHENS were mating at the refuge's east pool on the
evening of June 16, and a NELSON'S GULL (GLAUCOUS X HERRING GULL)
and 1-4 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS have been on the beach at the TNC
property through June 16. Other birds at the refuge included
PIPING PLOVERS, CLIFF SWALLOW, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and BLUE
GROSBEAKS. Four BROWN PELICANS were well offshore of Cape May
Point State Park on June 17, and the park had BLUE GROSBEAK and
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. The Villas WMA had LITTLE BLUE HERON,
PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS and BLUE GROSBEAKS. Reed's Beach had a BROWN
PELICAN on June 13-14, and a CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW called from the
forest edge at Reed's Beach on the evening of June 15. PIPING
PLOVERS were at Stone Harbor Point. Stone Harbor had a flyby BROWN
PELICAN and a lingering WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was there on June
13.
Cumberland County:
Recent sightings from Heislerville WMA included GULL-BILLED TERN,
SUMMER TANAGERS and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.
Atlantic County:
The Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe had a SNOW GOOSE.
Ocean County:
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reportedly at Mashipacong Bogs
Preserve on June 13.
Burlington County:
On June 15, a BROWN CREEPER was singing at the Shinns Branch cedar
grove of Brendan T Byrne State Forest.
Salem County:
On June 14, five LEAST BITTERNS were at Mannington Marsh, and a
COMMON MOORHEN called from the middle bridge. Featherbed Lane had
BOBOLINKS.
Middlesex County:
On June 10, a nearly completely white RED-TAILED HAWK was at the
Busch Campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:
New Castle County:
On June 12, a KENTUCKY WARBLER was near the most northeastern
parking lot Iron Hill Park in Newark. This KENTUCKY WARBLER was
between the two paths going north into the woods. Other birds at
Iron Hill Park included ACADIAN FLYCATCHER and HOODED WARBLER. The
Thousand Acre Marsh had BLACK SKIMMERS on June 15.
Kent County:
On June 12, Hunting Quarter Rd had 2 male DICKCISSELS around house
#413. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was heard from the Upper Blackbird
Creek Component of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve
(DNERR) on June 12. Sightings from Bombay Hook NWR included
NORTHERN BOBWHITES, BLACK-NECKED STILTS with chicks, BLACK
SKIMMERS, ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS, BLUE GROSBEAKS, PROTHONOTARY
WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA and OVENBIRDS. Port Mahon Wildlife Area
had ROYAL TERNS. Ted Harvey WA had OVENBIRDS, BLUE GROSBEAK and
LEAST TERNS.
Sussex County:
On June 12, three DICKCISSELS, a VESPER SPARROW, GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS and BLUE GROSBEAKS were in the field at Clendaniel Pond Rd
and Fleatown Rd, which is south of Milford. A DICKCISSEL was
reported from Woodland Ferry Rd, one mile south of Reliance at an
organic cow farm with lush pasture.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:
Philadelphia County:
The Upper Wissahickon Valley had ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS.
Montgomery County:
On June 12, Prophecy Creek in Whitpain Twp had WILLOW FLYCATCHER
and BLUE GROSBEAK.
Bucks County:
PINE SISKINS were at feeders in Doylestown and Kintnersville. A
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at the Churchville Nature Center on
June 11.
Northampton County:
On June 12-13, a male BLUE GROSBEAK was at a new development along
Benders Church Rd. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was also in that area. A
KENTUCKY WARBLER was at Jacobsburg State Park on June 13.
Lehigh County:
On June 13, four WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO
were at a field edge at the southwest corner of SGL 205.
Berks County:
On June 10, a MISSISSIPPI KITE was spotted from SGL 106. Other
birds at SGL 106 that day included ALDER FLYCATCHER, KENTUCKY
WARBLER, BREWSTER'S WARBLER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. On June 12,
two CATTLE EGRETS were at a temporary pond outside of Topton off
Topton Rd.
Lancaster County:
A partially leucistic TURKEY VULTURE was over the Susquehanna River
on June 12, seen from Chickies Rock and the Breezyview Point
Overlook.
Lebanon County:
On June 15, a SANDHILL CRANE was at Lake Duffy in SGL 145.
Pike County:
The Pocono Environmental Education Center had COMMON RAVENS.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On July 18, Lynn Jackson will lead a DVOC field trip to Bombay Hook
NWR. Please contact Lynn for additional details if you plan on
attending. Additional information and contact information for the
trip leader are on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on July 2, 2009. This is an
informal meeting at the Palmyra Cove Nature Center, featuring short
programs by Frank Windfelder & Debbie Beer. Details are on the
website; nonmembers and guests are always welcome.
While there is construction going on at the new visitor center of
the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR, access to the
Wildlife Drive is available near the side exit with the tire
spikes. A gate has been opened allowing entrance into the refuge
via a drive behind the Akers area, which is usually closed but can
be a productive area for songbirds.
The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding
in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and
New Jersey. To report birds or significant birding events and
planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org. This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.
- End Transcript
Steve Kacir
rba AT dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia, PA
Subject: Thousand Acre MarshFrom: John Janowski <jsbirders AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:41:38 -0400 Not your typical sighting for this species this far north in New Castle County but I had a 1/2 dozen Black Skimmers working the marsh along with Forster's Terns close to dusk tonight. John Janowski Port PennSubject: DOS Picnic and Bird-A-Thon Ceremony, 6/17 From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:07:07 -0400 The annual Delmarva Ornithological Society picnic will be held this Wednesday
evening(6/17) at Flint Woods Preserve in Centerville, Delaware, beginning at
5:30 pm and lasting until dusk.
Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided, and a grill available for use if you
choose to bring your own food to grill. Please bring a dish to share with the
group and a lawn chair to sit in. Drinks and dessert will be provided.
After dinner, an awards ceremony will be held to celebrate the success of the
Third Annual Delaware Bird-A-Thon and to honor sponsors, supporters, and
participants. Following the ceremony we will take a hike through the preserve
to listen and look for woodland breeding birds like Wood Thrush, Scarlet
Tanager, Ovenbird, and Indigo Bunting.
Hope to see you there!
-- Derek Stoner
DOS President
Directions to Flint Woods Preserve:
From Route 52 North, coming from the Wilmington area, turn right onto Center
Meeting Road, just before you enter the town of Centerville.
From Route 52 South, coming from Pennsylvania or points north, turn left onto
Center Meeting Road, just after leaving the town of Centerville.
After turning onto Center Meeting Road, travel ½ mile and turn into driveway on
the left.
The driveway is directly across from the end of Pyles Ford Road.
*** Look for a sign saying “DOS Picnic.”
Proceed down gravel driveway and park near the barn on the left side of the
drive
Subject: Re: Dickcissels againFrom: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:04:13 -0400 Hello all, It has been my contention for years that there are a lot more Dickcissels out there to be found. The problem is that they are off the beaten path, meaning west of Rt 1/113 and even moreso,Subject: Ches Co. Bucktoe Bird Walk From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:36:28 -0400 Sorry about the late notice. Yes, the Bucktoe Creek Preserve bird walk will be held this morning at 8am, led by Bob Strahorn. The preserve is in s. Chester County, near Kennett Square, PA. Directions can be found at www.delawarenaturesociety.org, on the "our locations" page. Joe SebastianiSubject: Atlasing Field Trip From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:13:10 -0400 This morning, I led a DOS atlasing field trip to atlas in a block that has not been covered much for the BBA. Four birders joined me on the hunt for breeding birds in block 26, near Red Lion and Tybouts Corner, New Castle County. The block has virtually no public land, so a lot of birding was done safely from roadsides, always within earshot of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and the looming refinery. Despite all of this, it was a very productive morning with lots of high-five highlights. Thanks to those of you that attended. I really enjoyed the birding and appreciate your help. Joe Sebastiani Highlights included: a.. a singing Grasshopper Sparrow at 15 feet b.. Cooper's Hawk with prey in its talons c.. Killdeer nest with 4 eggs d.. Horned Lark with a fledgling e.. White-breasted Nuthatch (hey...this is the coastal plain!!) f.. Cedar Waxwing nest g.. Yellow-breasted Chat in full view, unprovoked! h.. female Indigo Bunting building a nest i.. and best of all....tracking Bank Swallows to a nesting cliff with 61 nests. Below is the complete list with breeding status for this morning. Canada Goose - Confirmed Mallard - Probable Double-crested Cormorant - Observed Great Blue Heron - Observed Great Egret - Observed Little Blue Heron - Observed Cattle Egret - Observed Green Heron - Possible Glossy Ibis - Observed Black Vulture - Observed Turkey Vulture - Observed Osprey - Observed Cooper's Hawk - Possible Red-tailed Hawk - Possible Killdeer - Confirmed Rock Pigeon - Possible Mourning Dove - Possible Red-bellied Woodpecker - Possible Downy Woodpecker - Possible Northern Flicker - Possible Eastern Wood-pewee - Possible Acadian Flycatcher - Possible Willow Flycatcher - Possible Eastern Kingbird - Confirmed White-eyed Vireo - Possible Red-eyed Vireo - Possible Blue Jay - Possible American Crow - Possible Fish Crow - Possible Horned Lark - Confirmed Tree Swallow - Possible N. Rough-winged Swallow - Possible Bank Swallow - Confirmed Barn Swallow - Possible Carolina Chickadee - Possible Tufted Titmouse - Possible White-breasted Nuthatch - Possible Carolina Wren - Possible House Wren - Possible Wood Thrush - Possible American Robin - Confirmed Gray Catbird - Confirmed Northern Mockingbird - Probable Brown Thrasher - Confirmed European Starling - Confirmed Cedar Waxwing - Confirmed Yellow Warbler - Possible Ovenbird - Probable Common Yellowthroat - Confirmed Yellow-breasted Chat - Possible Eastern Towhee - Possible Field Sparrow - Possible Grasshopper Sparrow - Possible Song Sparrow - Possible Northern Cardinal - Possible Indigo Bunting - Confirmed Red-winged Blackbird - Probable Common Grackle - Confirmed Brown-headed Cowbird - Possible Orchard Oriole - Probable House Finch - Probable American Goldfinch - Possible House Sparrow - PossibleSubject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 12th, 2009 From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:17:51 -0400 RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* June 12, 2009
* DEST0906.12
*Birds mentioned
Snow Goose
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black Vulture
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Clapper Rail
Black-bellied Plover
Piping Plover
American Oystercatcher
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Red Knot
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Gull-billed Tern
Least Tern
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Barred Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Horned Lark
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Prairie Warbler
American Redstart
Louisiana Waterthrush
Worm-eating Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Dickcissel
Indigo Bunting
Blue Grosbeak
Grasshopper Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: June 12, 2009
Number: 302-658-2747
To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
For Friday, June 12th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List
increased to 289 species.
Even though the shorebird season is over, there are still lots of birds to
see in the state. This weekend, a pair of GULL-BILLED TERNS were found in a
field along Cedar Creek Beach Road (Rt 36), heading towards Slaughter's
Beach. That field also contained 76 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS.
2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS and 10 CLAPPER RAILS were reported at Mispillion
Inlet on Sunday, along with a few remaining shorebirds: 150 RUDDY
TURNSTONES, 19 RED KNOTS, 2 DUNLIN, and 50 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. 7 BLACK
SKIMMERS were also seen feeding.
West of Milford, 3 DICKCISSELS were found in a follow field at the
intersection of Fleatown Road and Clendening Pond Road. That field also
contained HORNED LARK, VESPER and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, INDIGO BUNTING and
BLUE GROSBEAK. 2 more DICKCISSELS were found singing along Hunting Quarter
Road near Harrington. Abbott's Mill Nature Center reported a COOPER'S HAWK
and BLACK VULTURE on nest. Also reported were GREEN HERON, PILEATED
WOODPECKER, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
This past week, a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was heard singing at Blackbird
Wildlife Area near Taylor's Bridge. A SNOW GOOSE with 38 GREAT EGRETS was
reported at Taylor's Gut. (Actually, these two areas are not even related
being in two separate counties in the state). Blackbird State Forrest near
Townsend had WORM-EATING WARBLER, BARRED OWL, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
The previously reported BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK and RUDDY DUCK at
Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach were not found last Sunday. RUDDY TURNSTONES
and LEAST TERNS were seen along Rehoboth Bay. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was
found at the Cape Henlopen State Park campground. PIPING PLOVER, SANDERLING,
and 3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Point. No sign of the EARED
GREBE released there last week was reported. An INDIGO BUNTING was reported
coming to a feeder off Savannah Road in Lewes.
A drake RING-NECKED DUCK was reported at Harry's Pond behind the Brandywine
Town Center off the Concord Pike (Rt 202). A fledgling LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
was found at Brandywine Creek State Park. 3 NORTHERN PARULAS were singing
near Thompson's Bridge there, a species not reported in the park during the
previous Breeding Bird Atlas. Also reported were PRAIRIE WARBLER and
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH attending young.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON continues to be seen in Brandywine Park in
Wilmington. That bird is north of the Josephine Gardens by the swinging
bridge.
A KENTUCKY WARBLER was reported at Iron Hill Park near Glasgow. Breeding
Birds at Ashland Nature Center include BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK,
and WILLOW FLYCATCHER. GREAT EGRET and a blue form LITTLE BLUE HERON were
seen along the Red Clay Creek. Nearby, an AMERICAN REDSTART was found on
nest at Mt. Cuba. The first reported nesting away from the White Clay Creek
valley for the state.
More Shorebirds include 8 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS in a field near Seaford at
Oak Grove. 6 BLACK-BELLIES were in the field by Dover AFB. 48 ROYAL TERNS
were reported on the stakes off the Port Mahon Road. Most of these birds
were banded, probably from Hogg Island, off Virginia's eastern shore. The
only birds reported at Bombay Hook this week were NORTHERN HARRIER and
LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
Now for this week's special feature from WILM News Radio:
High above downtown Wilmington is a chanting call (Peregrine Sfx). That is
the sound that the alpha predator of the avian world is on territory, the
PEREGRINE FALCON. This is the fastest animal in the word, with swoops of
over 200 miles per hour. It will circle overhead, fold its wings back and
plummet, hitting its prey and pulling out of the stoop all at the same time.
PEREGRINES nest right in downtown Wilmington. Their nest box is located on
the north side of the Brandywine Building, facing the Brandywine Creek. The
adults are about the size of a crow, with a white barred belly and a steel
blue-gray back. The best field mark is the black mustache that comes down
their eye onto the side of their face.
PEREGRINES prefer nesting on cliff faces and rocky crags, but have adapted
to buildings and bridges in our area. This year they successfully nested on
City Hall in Philadelphia. The PEREGRINES in Wilmington will be featured on
a field trip from the top of parking garage across the street from the nest
box on June 24th, You can watch the aerial display, as they feed their
young. And maybe get on local news!
Three of the baby PEREGRINES died this year, either a result of not enough
food or something more insidious? Toxins collect at the top of the food
chain where the PEREGRINES sit. Their numbers were decimated by DDT in the
past. Next year, there will be a web camera recording the family's nesting
season. You'll be able to watch a live feed at www.dosbirds.org.
Special thanks this week to Jason Beale, Frank Marenghi, Roger Masse, Steve
Collins, Ken Bass, Colin Campbell, Bill Stewart and Derek Stoner for their
reports. You can reports your sightings, or add to the state year list by
calling 302-792-9591, or email me at ednieap AT verizon.net. Thanks for calling
and until next week, good birding.
-end transcript
Andy Ednie
Claymont, Delaware
Subject: Iron Hill Park + eBirdFrom: Alex Zorach <cazort AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:54:16 -0400 I have been sporadically birding Iron Hill Park in Newark. This morning, as usual, there was a Kentucky warbler very near the northeastern-most parking lot, between the two paths going north into the woods--it could be heard singing from the parking lot. There were great-crested flycatcher, acadian flycatcher, 4+ scarlet tanagers, and a bunch of the common woodland birds, including large numbers of ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, wood thrush. Also a thrush I could not ID, probably an unusually-heavily-spotted veery but it could have possibly been something more interesting. I had heard two singing hooded warblers mid-may, in the northwest part of the park, and the birds had remained singing in the same place for several days, so I keep returning to see if I can find any breeding in the park but I have not had any luck so far. I use eBird (ebird.org) and Iron Hill was fairly recently added as a shared location, and there is very little data on it. Only 47 species are listed and I know there must be much more in there. If anyone uses eBird and has any checklists from Iron Hill, consider merging them into the shared location. Anyone who birds Iron Hill and does not use eBird may want to look at it--this would be an easy way to contribute your data to a shared database that others can view and that can benefit science. Alex Zorach Newark, DE cazort AT gmail.comSubject: Dickcissels again From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:17:19 -0400 A friend from NJ who is approaching 600 on his ABA list, asked me to show him a 'needed' Dickcissel, so I took him this morning to the field south of Milford mentioned by Ken Bass last Tuesday. What a fabulous fallow field, even without the alliteration! We started at the junction of Clendaniel Pond Road (Rt 38) and Fleatown Road (Rt 224) and walked along the edge of the field which has a broad border of knapweed. Grasshopper Sparrows were everywhere, singing from weed stalks. Masses of Goldfinch, lots of Purple Martins from the nearby gourds and birdhouses and a Horned Lark singing from the roof of a house. Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bald Eagle, Flicker and many other common species were seen and heard before we got to the southwestern half of the field where both Dickcissels and a Vesper Sparrow were singing close to the road. We counted three Dickcissels, a female and two males, one apparently a duller first-year (?) male with a slightly different song from that of the spectacular full-bloodied male. "It's even prettier than Sibley painted it". Being close to Hunting Quarter Road (Rt 429) we headed over there also and were rewarded with two male Dickcissels competing for the American Idol first prize. One on the wire and one on the top of the small pines to the right of the house #413. I wonder how many Dickcissels there are in the state this year? The five today were more than twice the number I'd seen before on one day in DE. Worth checking all fallow fields and alfalfa fields whenever you come across them. Colin CampbellSubject: Ruby-crowned Kinglet From: "Roger J. Masse" <rmasse08 AT STUDENTS.DESU.EDU> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:00:19 -0400 Heard singing this a.m. in the Upper Blackbird Creek forest of the DNERR property near Townsend, DE. I tried to get a look at the bird, but it was moving about frequently and I was unable to. It sang persistantly though (at least 10-12 times) and all parts of its song were audible. A few high, thin, 'see' notes followed by a weak sounding jumble, and then clearer, louder rolling notes. Needless to say I was surprised to encounter this species in DE near mid-June. Take care, RogerSubject: No Subject From: Calandra Daby <calandradawn AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:54:35 -0400 Where are the best places in Delaware to bird watch? _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009Subject: Re: [Extralimital] Sprague's Pipit aboard DE's Tallshipl From: Matthew Sarver <ammodram AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:47:55 -0700 Sorry, I misspelled the link. It should be themodernnaturalist.com Matt ________________________________ From: Matthew SarverSubject: [Extralimital] Sprague's Pipit aboard DE's Tallshipl From: Matthew Sarver <ammodram AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:46:28 -0700 Hi all -
I thought some of you might be interested in a post I just put up on my new
blog, themodernaturalist.com, featuring an unusual (and unusually late) bird
that was found and photographed by Lauren while sailing aboard the Kalmar
Nyckel off the coast of North Carolina last week.
best,
Matt
Matt Sarver
New Castle, DE
Subject: Delaware Valley RBA, 10 JUNE 2009From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:25:14 -0700 - RBA
* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0906.10
* June 10, 2009
- Birds Mentioned
Black-bellied Whistling-duck (DE)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
(PA)+ (Details requested by PORC)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Common Loon
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Snow Goose
Black Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Northern Bobwhite
Virginia Rail
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Whimbrel
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
White-rumped Sandpiper
Dunlin
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Least Tern
Black Tern
Black Skimmer
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Cliff Swallow
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Golden-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Pine Siskin
- Transcript
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern & Win Shafer
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Welcome to the June 10, 2009 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare
Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley
Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of
Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia
Region. This week, we highlight the continued presence of a BLACK-
BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK in Sussex County, DE. Remember to check out
our website for additional content and information:
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR NEW JERSEY:
Cape May County:
Highlights from the Rea Farm this week included BLUE GROSBEAK and
WILLOW FLYCATCHER. Cape May Point State Park had PIPING PLOVERS,
with eleven nests on the beach from the park to the city. A hen
BLACK SCOTER was on the beach at Cape May Point State Park on June
4, and 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were at the plover ponds on June
3. A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was at the park's first dune crossover on
June 10. Other sightings from the state park included BLUE
GROSBEAKS and YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. Two LEAST BITTERNS were at
the back of the east path at The Nature Conservancy's Cape May
Migratory Bird Refuge on June 8. Some lingering RED KNOTS were at
Reed's Beach on June 8, and 30 RED KNOTS were on the bay shore at
the Villas on June 9. BLACK SKIMMERS are nesting at Stone Harbor
Point. Other birds in the area include ROYAL TERNS and PIPING
PLOVERS.
Cumberland County:
Edward G Bevan WMA had 8 WHIP-POOR-WILLS, 1 CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW and
VIRGINIA RAILS calling on the evening of June 7. On June 8, Bevan
WMA had SUMMER TANAGER and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. Bear Swamp had a
BROAD-WINGED HAWK, WHIP-POOR-WILL, SUMMER TANAGERS, KENTUCKY
WARBLERS and WORM-EATING WARBLERS. A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was at
Strawberry Ave on June 6, and other birds in that area included
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BLUE GROSBEAK and PRAIRIE WARBLER.
Atlantic County:
On June 6-8, a BLACK-NECKED STILT was at the Brigantine Division of
Edwin B Forsythe NWR. A first year YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was
at Brigantine on June 6. Other Brigantine sightings included
WHIMBREL, CASPIAN TERNS, LEAST TERN and GULL-BILLED TERNS. Great
Bay Boulevard WMA had SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. Malibu
Beach WMA had YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on June 3.
Burlington County:
On the evening of June 6, the Carranza Memorial area of Wharton
State Forest had many displaying COMMON NIGHTHAWKS and calling
WHIP-POOR-WILLS. The Carranza Rd area of Wharton also has a good
diversity of breeding warblers including PRAIRIE WARBLERS, BLACK-
AND-WHITE WARBLERS, OVENBIRDS and NORTHERN PARULAS. A NORTHERN
BOBWHITE was at Palmyra Cove Nature Park on June 8.
Salem County:
On June 8, Featherbed Lane had NORTHERN BOBWHITE, GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS and BOBOLINKS.
Gloucester County:
A COMMON LOON was at the cove at the National Park dredge spoils on
June 4.
Warren County:
A pair of MAGNOLIA WARBLERS was seen from the short driveway
between Van Campen's Glen and Old Mine Rd on June 4. Other reports
from Old Mine Rd included CERULEAN WARBLERS and WORM-EATING
WARBLERS.
Morris County:
On June 9, COMMON RAVENS were at the Holland Mountain Cemetery in
Jefferson.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR DELAWARE:
New Castle County:
Blackbird State Forest had BARRED OWLS, YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS,
WORM-EATING WARBLER and SCARLET TANAGER. Dragon Run Marsh had
LITTLE BLUE HERONS and LEAST BITTERNS.
Kent County:
DICKCISSELS were in the tall alfalfa at Hunting Quarter Rd on June
9-10. One DICKCISSEL was on a power line that runs to house #413,
and another was in the alfalfa to the left of the house at the edge
of the shorter alfalfa field. Hunting Quarter Rd and Lindale Rd
both have GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and HORNED LARKS as well. ROYAL
TERNS were at Port Mahon. A SNOW GOOSE was at Taylor's Gut.
Sussex County:
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK and RUDDY DUCK were still at
Silver Lake in Rehoboth through June 3. On June 7, an OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER was at the dog-training area of Milford Neck WA. Other
birds at Milford Neck included BLUE GROSBEAK, SCARLET TANAGER and
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. On June 3, two RED KNOTS were at Cape
Henlopen State Park. Other sightings from Cape Henlopen included
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, PIPING PLOVERS and ROYAL TERNS.
Mispillion Inlet had 150 RED KNOTS on June 3. Prime Hook NWR had
NORTHERN BOBWHITES, BLUE GROSBEAK and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. BLACK-
NECKED STILTS were at Fowler Beach on June 3. The regenerating
clear-cut on Century Farm Rd had YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and PRAIRIE
WARBLERS. Abbott's Mill Nature Center had SCARLET TANAGER and
PILEATED WOODPECKER. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS have been reported at
Blueberry Dr in the LaCrosse homes development. Two pairs of
DICKCISSELS are nesting in a field along Fleatown Rd just southwest
of Clendaniel Pond Rd. The field is private property, but the
DICKCISSELS may be observed from the road.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FOR PENNSYLVANIA:
Philadelphia County:
A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was at the corner of Wissahickon Ave and
Kitchens Lane in Mount Airy on June 7. A HOODED WARBLER was at the
pine grove area of the "Warbler Woods" at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
on June 9.
Chester County:
A juvenile BLUE GROSBEAK was at Bucktoe Creek Preserve on June 8.
Chambers Lake had YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and RUDDY DUCK.
Montgomery County:
PINE SISKINS were still in Huntingdon Valley this week.
Bucks County:
An immature male BLUE GROSBEAK was near the dam at Churchville
Nature Center on June 6. A flock of 143 RUDDY TURNSTONES migrated
over Peace Valley Park on June 1. Two PURPLE MARTINS were at Peace
Valley on June 5-6. Other birds at Peace Valley included RED-
SHOULDERED HAWK, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CLIFF SWALLOWS, PRAIRIE
WARBLERS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.
Northampton County:
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at Bear Swamp Recreation Area on June 3.
BLUE GROSBEAKS were at the GCS Landfill on June 9.
Lehigh County:
Bake Oven Road had CERULEAN WARBLERS, WORM-EATING WARBLERS, HOODED
WARBLERS and YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS. On June 6, a field along
Church Rd near Harter Rd had GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW,
SAVANNAH SPARROW, HORNED LARK and BOBOLINK.
Schuylkill County:
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was in the Tremont area on June 10.
Berks County:
The Stony Creek area of SGL 110 had BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, CHESTNUT-
SIDED WARBLERS, PRAIRIE WARBLERS, HOODED WARBLERS and WORM-EATING
WARBLER.
Lancaster County:
On June 10, two BLACK-NECKED STILTS were at Avocet Point at the
Conejohela Flats. A LEAST TERN was seen near Gull Island and
Avocet Point at the Conejohela Flats on June 7. Two BLACK TERNS
were at the flats on June 6. Other birds at the flats included
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, DUNLINS and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS. A COMMON
GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were at "the rocks" across
from Blue Lane on June 6. Two YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS were at
Conoy Canal on June 6. Middle Creek WMA had 10 singing GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on June 3.
Lebanon County:
A HOODED WARBLER was at Swatara State Park.
Carbon County:
On June 7, NASHVILLE WARBLERS sang from a boggy area along a
pipeline cut at the eastern end of Hickory Run State Park, and a
CANADA WARBLER was nearby. That day, 5 COMMON RAVENS were at that
same pipeline cut.
Monroe County:
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and LEAST FLYCATCHERS were at Brodhead
Creek south of Canadensis.
Pike County:
Six GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS were at the power line cut off High-Line
Rd about 2 miles up from the intersection of High-Line Rd and Pine
Flats Rd.
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On June 13, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC field trip to Bombay Hook
NWR in Kent County, DE. A major thrust of this field trip will be
to accumulate data for the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas. The trip
will meet at the refuge headquarters at 7:30AM. Please contact
Steve if you plan on attending. Additional information and contact
information for the trip leader are on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on July 2, 2009. This is an
informal meeting at the Palmyra Cove Nature Center, featuring short
programs by Frank Windfelder & Debbie Beer. Details are on the
website; nonmembers and guests are always welcome.
The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding
in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and
New Jersey. To report birds or significant birding events and
planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org. This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.
- End Transcript
Steve Kacir
rba AT dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia
Subject: Birding around Lincoln, DE 19960From: "Fees David F. (DNREC)" <David.Fees AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:35:24 -0400 Ken, First of all, welcome to Delaware and glad that you have discovered Delaware's amazing avian diversity. Also, thanks for volunteering for the atlas project. If you tire of surveying blocks near Lincoln, we could always use the help in Region 6 (western Sussex County):) You mentioned that you have two pairs of Dickcissels and nests with eggs. Dickcissel, as far as I know, has never had a nest found or described in Delaware. The first year of atlasing only attained probable breeding in three or four blocks. Your findings are very important. Did you happen to photograph either of the nests that you observed? I would imagine the project coordinator, Anthony Gonzon, or your regional compiler may be contacting you about your sightings. Do you know the status of farming of the fields that contain the Dickcissel nests? I don't know if there is a possibility of conservation measures to ensure these breeding attempts are successful. I have observed several Eastern Meadowlarks, Vesper Sparrows, and Grasshopper Sparrows lose their home to mowing or plowing. What block or blocks are you surveying? Good birding and atlasing, Dave Fees Seaford, DESubject: June shorebirds From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:23:54 -0400 Hello, Yesterday afternoon, I was very surprised to find 8 Black-bellied Plovers in a puddle in a field of newly sprouted corn near Oak Grove. It is the first shorebird species, other than Killdeer, that I have recorded on my home list in June. Typically, the fields are well into the year's crop, but all the rain delayed planting and has kept water in spots. Good Birding, Glen Glen Lovelace III Project Engineer, Bridge Design Delaware Dept. of Transportation Phone: (302)-760-2321 Fax: (302)-739-2217 email: glen.lovelace AT state.de.usSubject: ABbott's Mill and areas South From: Jason Beale <jaybirdbeale AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:33:23 -0400 Hello, As Colin reported yesterday, the Dickcissels are back singing along Hunting Quarter in the tall alfalfa. I had a single male yesterday around 5:30pm and this morning we had two males on our weekly bird outing. The first was singing from the powerline that runs to the house along the driveway (#413). The other was in the alfalfa to the left of the house at the edge of the shorter alfalfa field. This bird was perched on a weed stalk. Grasshopper Sparrows and Horned Larks are constant along the road as well as on Lindale Road near the Nature Center. Farther south, on Century Farm Road (RD 630 on the Delorme - right on the bottom of page 52) there is a regrowing clearcut. The area had a nice diversity of successional species including: Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Field Sparrow, and Prairie Warbler. Curiously, there was a "herd" of 10 squirrels in the road just past the cut. The Isaacs Tract had a distant Wood Thrush, multiple Acadian Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireo, and Eastern Wood-Pewee, including a presumed fledgling struggling to sing the "Peo-wee and wee-u" songs, fluttering to various perches. We had 3 separate Green Heron flyovers through the morning and a single wader along the wooded edge of a flooded field on Rt. 36. Birds around the center lately include Great-crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, and Pileated Woodpecker. Bob Strahorn had a Cooper's Hawk this morning along the Lee Meadow powerlines. Update on the Black Vulture barn nest in Block 126 - the single egg hatched about two weeks and the single chick is hissing at any interlopers. Jason Beale Abbott's Mill Nature Center Milford, DESubject: Dick bank From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 20:17:57 -0400 With a fresh crop of alfalfa reaching maturity in Hunting Quarter Road, SE of Harrington, "the" Dickcissel was belting out his seemingly unrequited song today from the wires leading from the road (Rt 429) to the house at # 413. Horned Lark and Chipping Sparrow acted as choristers. I remember years ago taking a photo of this species (DICK) in similar posture just off the Slaughter Beach road (before they built the little boxes on the fallow field) and got some clever geeks to superimpose it on top of my photo of an election poster of the time, exhorting voters to go for Dick Cecil, a candidate for Sussex County (I think) council. The result appeared in ABA's 'Birding' magazine, courtesy of my friend Shawneen Finnegan, then photo editor (with a wacky sense of humour). I was actually in that neck of the woods because I wanted to find a Bank Swallow colony, something I hadn't seen before in the state. Earlier this spring, I'd sussed out the sand quarry on Sandbox Road (Rt 398, NE of Harrington) and found a few flying around. Today there were at least six birds there, but I could not find their nest holes, though I think they must be in an old sand bank close to the road. This is a good site as it allows public access with a great overview of the whole, family operated, quarry. I'd previously met the owner and his manager (?) and told them of my interest, and today the latter recognized me and asked "You find your birds?". From that, I assume they're OK with birders looking over the workings, but I suspect that whomsoever is doing this area for the Breeding Bird Atlas already knows that. "Birds of Delaware" reported few sites for this species with most being inaccessible due to privately owned sand quarries, and the accessible C&D Canal site now overgrown and defunct (I think). Amongst other birds there were a pair of Brown Thrashers and a pair (?) of Green Herons. Ted Harvey Conservation Area again had the gates closed, prohibiting vehicular access to both the north and south ponds. According to state biologist Wayne Lehman, this is due to unauthorized use of ATVs in the areas close to the Bayshore and the impoundments. It's not too far to hump your scope in, and your pace may be quickened by the deer flies and skeeters (and soon the Greenheads) but it is a place where oddballs arrive in the summer ..... Whiskered Tern in August 1993, remember?? Nothing of note today, however. Port Mahon Road was alive with activity today. Unfortunately, 95% was human. An incongruous line of twelve huge military road tank trucks, with associated Humvees and bored-looking personnel were lined up at the entrance to the fuel depot, causing me to think that the pipeline to DAFB wasn't working. As I paused, reticently, to ask what that was all about, I was hooted by a fisherman from behind, and so never found out the true cause. At the bayside, the tide was high and trucks with trailers were being loaded with Horseshoe crabs, with family parties joining in. I was pleased to see the 'authorities' there, checking on permits and catches; I was even more pleased with Jean Woods's note earlier today that the Red Knots had all headed north fully-fed and had apparently not diminished in numbers from last year. The shoreline was gull city, a frightening proportion of which were Great Black-backs; however, the Royal Terns sitting on the posts by the extinct bait shop numbered 45, most in superb plumage and most banded with a F&W ring. Anyone know where these terns were banded? No shorebirds other than Willets and a few Diamondback Terrapins. Talking of shorebirds, a few malingering Black-bellied Plovers (6, actually) were in the flooded fields at the south end of DFAB, and a lone Lesser Yellowlegs was in Bear Swamp Pool in Bombay Hook, where a very attractive male Northern Harrier was patrolling the marshes. Taylor's Gut had a Snow Goose amongst 38 Great Egrets, but from the positioning of its wings, I think it was the result of a fender bender, or whatever the NRA calls it. Colin CampbellSubject: Ruby invasion From: Chuck Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 20:27:42 -0400 This afternoon and evening I have been inundated with Ruby throated Hummingbirds in great numbers. With 9 feeders in the backyard, 3-5 could be seen at any given moment. These types of numbers I usually see in August so maybe I am experiencing a big push via southerly weather pattern? Males were not dueling and were mostly feeding and exploring the landscape. Chuck FullmerSubject: Birding around Lincoln, DE 19960 From: Fran and Ken Bass <frankenbee AT LIVE.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 18:53:54 -0400 I’ve recently moved to Delaware and have been involved with the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas as well as a number of other Fish and Wildlife and Nature Conservancy projects in Sussex and Kent Counties. What I find most gratifying is finding close to 100 species of birds breeding close to home, in the Lincoln area. These include Northern Bobwhite, Green Heron, Black Vulture, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Chuck-Will’s Widow, Yellow-throated Vireo, Summer Tanager, Vesper Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark to name a few. If you are in the area and want to see Grasshopper Sparrows without getting out of your car drive from Route 113 and turn east onto Johnson Road to the LaCrosse homes development and turn left (Blueberry Hill); turn right on Blueberry Drive and follow the loop around. You can cross over Johnson into Logan’s Run development and check there also.I have found between 10–12 pairs nesting in the area. Check the tall weeds and lot number signs where the males perch to sing. Adults are now feeding young. Nearby, there are 2 pairs of Dickcissels nesting in the field along Fleatown Road just southwest of Clendaniel Pond Road. Both females have nests with eggs. Pull off the road on the grass next to the fence. This is private property, do not enter the field, but look for the birds on the wires along the road or on tall weeds in the field. Good Birding! Ken Bass Lincoln, DE Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. Check it out. Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. Check it out. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ SkyDrive™: Get 25 GB of free online storage. http://windowslive.com/online/skydrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_SD_25GB_062009Subject: Shorebirds season a success From: Jean Woods <JWoods AT DELMNH.ORG> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 13:49:39 -0400 Hi, As of late last week almost all the hundreds of thousands of shorebirds that visit Delaware Bay in May had left for their Arctic breeding grounds. The majority of the birds seem to have left about May 27, which is perhaps a few days earlier than usual. So even though we were a bit concerned that the birds arrived a bit later than usual, once here they seem to have gained weight rapidly and moved on to the Arctic on or ahead of schedule. In the few days leading up to their departure an estimated 20,000 Red Knot were seen in Mispillion Harbor alone. As usual, the Delaware Shorebird Project team caught a sample of birds (focus being Knot and Ruddy Turnstone) every 4-5 days during the season to monitor weight gain, and the early results show they fattened up as expected. The research team also spent a lot of time tracking the individually marked Knot, Turnstone, and Sanderling- we saw more than 2,000 different individual knot (many of them more than once) just on the Delaware side of the bay. Once our data is combined with that from the New Jersey side of the bay it will be used to assess survival rates, length of time birds are staying in the bay, and which beaches they are using. All in all the birds seem to have had a good season and preliminary impressions are that the population of Knot has remained at same level as the last few years. While everyone is, of course, hoping to see the population go up, a stable population is still good news. Once the numbers of total birds thinned out last week several White-rumped Sandpipers were much more in evidence (usually by detecting their squeaky call). A little bonus to compensate for the end of the research season. I hope many of you had a chance to come out and view the wonderful spectacle of spring shorebird migration through Delaware Bay. If you didn't get a chance, put it on your calendar for the 3rd week of May next year. The research team is also looking for volunteers to help with our research in the spring. Find out more at the project web page (below). Thanks to all the Bird-a-Thon participants who helped raise money to protect shorebird habitat! Happy Birding- Jean The Delaware Shorebird Project web page: http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Shorebirds/Pages/default.aspx Report color marked shorebirds: http://www.bandedbirds.org/ DuPont Nature Center (where you can "Adopt a Knot"): http://dupontnaturecenter.org/ Dr. Jean L. Woods Phone: 302-658-9111 x314 Curator of Birds Fax: 302-658-2610 Delaware Museum of Natural History e-mail: jwoods AT delmnh.org 4840 Kennett Pike, P.O. Box 3937 web: www.delmnh.org Wilmington, DE 19807Subject: Brandywine From: Jill Constantine <jilldaisy AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:56:08 -0400 Tonight while photographing along the Brandywine just south of the swinging bridge, I saw a great blue heron fishing at the dam. A few minutes later the great blue had moved on and was replaced by a black crowned night heron. Jill ConstantineSubject: Bucktoe Preserve walk From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:49:28 -0400 June 8, Bucktoe Preserve, Kennett Square A nice morning with many views of birds that are resident for the summer. We had particularly nice views of Ovenbird, Veery, Acadian and Willow Flycatcher, and an Orchard oriole feeding 3 chicks. The same tree with the Orchard Oriole had a very active Baltimore Oriole, but we were not able to find its nest. We had a mystery bird that was very creamy brown that we finally nailed when it sang - a juvenile male non-Blue Grosbeak, very rarely seen at Bucktoe. There were two of them seen by the pavilion. We had about 50 species seen for the day. This walk, sponsored by Delaware Nature Society, is every Monday morning a 8 am and is good for birders of all levels. We have beginners as well as experienced who attend, and this walk has also attracted a group of avid bird photographers.Subject: June 7 DOS Dragon Run canoe/kayak trip From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:23:09 -0400 June 7th DOS trip, Canoeing at Dragon Run 7:30 am to 11am 3 participants (3 cancellations at the last minute) - As we headed out on the water, fog was lifting off the water and spider webs were visible with morning dew. We were greeted with the sounds of land birds from the nearby wooded shoreline and water birds from the fresh water marsh. Red-winged blackbirds, herons and egrets of all sizes, yellow warblers and common yellowthroats, and marsh wrens surrounded us. We saw several wren nest sets where the real nest was hard to pick out from the dummies surrounding it. This is just about the best place I know for watching little blue herons, both adult and juvenile, and we saw many both flying and roosting. Least bitterns were heard calling and we were able to call one in for ‘killer looks’. As it called and posed for us while sitting on a reed, another one flew in just behind. Sally O'Byrne Our bird list for the day: 40 species Wood duck Mallard Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Cuckoo sp (pair flying) Chimney Swift Red bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood Peewee Acadian Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Red-eyed Vireo American Crow Purple Martin Northern Rough winged Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wood Thrush Robin Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole American GoldfinchSubject: June 7 DOS Dragon Run canoe/kayak trip From: sally o'byrne <salobyrne AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:23:09 -0400 June 7th DOS trip, Canoeing at Dragon Run 7:30 am to 11am 3 participants (3 cancellations at the last minute) - As we headed out on the water, fog was lifting off the water and spider webs were visible with morning dew. We were greeted with the sounds of land birds from the nearby wooded shoreline and water birds from the fresh water marsh. Red-winged blackbirds, herons and egrets of all sizes, yellow warblers and common yellowthroats, and marsh wrens surrounded us. We saw several wren nest sets where the real nest was hard to pick out from the dummies surrounding it. This is just about the best place I know for watching little blue herons, both adult and juvenile, and we saw many both flying and roosting. Least bitterns were heard calling and we were able to call one in for ‘killer looks’. As it called and posed for us while sitting on a reed, another one flew in just behind. Sally O'Byrne Our bird list for the day: 40 species Wood duck Mallard Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Red-tailed Hawk Cuckoo sp (pair flying) Chimney Swift Red bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood Peewee Acadian Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Red-eyed Vireo American Crow Purple Martin Northern Rough winged Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Carolina Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wood Thrush Robin Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole American GoldfinchSubject: Milford Neck WA 6/7/09 From: Chuck Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 01:16:36 -0400 I spent Sunday afternoon scouring the dog training area of Milford Neck WA looking for Scarlet Tanagers as the target and found them and a few other surprises. All along the road YB Chats were singing as though I was on a parade route. Indigo Buntings were zipping across the gravel road in pairs and Kingbirds were fluttering from tree to tree. It was a stop and go affair as the birds were everywhere and I was lugging the cam in and out of the back seat numerous times. I covered the opposite end of the area last Sunday and I found this lower end much more abundant in numbers and a more diverse habitat. The most exciting moment was seeing the Olive-sided Flycatcher near the end of the day. I had a great look through my binoculars at the big head, dark striped flanks and hourglass white chest and it lit before I could get the cam on it but a juvi Orchard Oriole made up for the miss. Scarlet Tanager Orchard Oriole YB Chat Indigo Bunting Blue Grosbeak Green Heron E. Kingbird Pileated WP Wood Thrush Hermit Thrush defending nest from Indigo Bunting Brown Thrasher Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Common Yellowthroat *Olive-sided flycatcher Chuck FullmerSubject: Blackbird Forest - Dulaney Manor Tract From: Frank Marenghi <frank_marenghi AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 16:00:04 -0400 Birded here for a couple hours this morning, my first time to this tract. Mosquitos and ticks were pretty bad! Not horrendous, but made stopping to bird a challenge. Managed to see and hear some birds on territory though. A nice piece of woods with a winding blackwater stream. The short list is: Yellow-throated Vireo (2), Worm-eating Warbler (1), Ovenbird (many), Wood Thrush (several), Barred Owl (2), Scarlet Tanager (1), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), Acadian Flycatcher (many), Red-eyed Vireo (many), Tufted Titimouse (many), Carolina Chickadee (a few), Eastern Wood Peewee (several), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1). Also saw a Red Fox, large numbers of Fowler's Toad and several Wood Frogs. Indigo Bunting and Common Yellowthroat from the parking lot, also Turkey and Black Vultures. Good Birding, Frank Frank Marenghi Dover, DE frank_marenghi AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009Subject: Bucktoe Bird Walk From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 05:57:18 -0400 Join Derek Stoner on the weekly bird walk tomorrow at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve, near Kennett Square, Chester County, PA. The walk begins at 8am. Directions can be found at www.delawarenaturesociety.org. on the "Our Locations" page. Joe Sebastiani Delaware Nature Society |