Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Delaware Birds > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, February 3 at 11:00 PM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Pintado Petrels,©Tony Disley

3 Feb Snowy Owls triage [Colin Campbell ] 4 Feb Reedy Point Bridge Temporary Closure ["sally o'byrne" ] 3 Feb Update on Snowy Owl [Sharon ] 3 Feb Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Update [Bill Stewart ] 3 Feb Hooded Mergansers [Edward Crawford ] 3 Feb SNOWY OWL at Old Landing golf course [Sharon ] 2 Feb Abbott's Mill - Woodcocks [Jason Beale ] 30 Jan Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve - Redpoll [joe sebastiani ] 30 Jan Oak Grove area 1/29 ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 30 Jan Re: Brandywine Creek Report, 01/28/2012 ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 30 Jan Flintwoods Preserve bird walk (2/1) [Jared Judy ] 29 Jan Greater White Fronted Goose [Kar DeGeiso ] 29 Jan Brandywine Creek Report, 01/28/2012 [Andrew Ednie ] 29 Jan Western Grebe at Cape Henlopen [Susan Gruver ] 28 Jan Today's Downstate Delaware Highlights - Redux [Michael A Smith ] 28 Jan Today's Downstate Delaware Highlights [Colin Campbell ] 28 Jan Not roadkill Eagle [Charles Fullmer ] 28 Jan Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve [Joe Sebastiani ] 28 Jan Dead Bald Eagle [Mary Lukaszewski ] 27 Jan RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 27, 2012 [Andrew Ednie ] 27 Jan Wilmington Gulls [Colin Campbell ] 27 Jan Great Egret at Big Pond, White Clay Creek State Park [Derek Stoner ] 26 Jan Brandywine Bird Walk [Andrew Ednie ] 27 Jan FW: [PABIRDS] NJ - Common Chaffinch probable departure [Barbara Hiebsch ] 26 Jan A Cherry Island Alternative? [Colin Campbell ] 26 Jan White Clay Veery study featured in Birding magazine [Derek Stoner ] 25 Jan Bombay Hook Barred Owl Picture [Bob Strahorn ] 25 Jan Bombay Hook [Bob Strahorn ] 25 Jan Bombay Hook to Pickering Beach this Afternoon ["cpb2564 AT gmail.com" ] 25 Jan Big Stone Beach [Christopher Heckscher ] 25 Jan Oak Grove dusk birding 1/24 ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 23 Jan Re: Snow Geese at Oak Grove ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 23 Jan Winter Marsh Raptor Survey - Ted Harvey ["Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" ] 23 Jan Status of Selbyville's Eurasian Collared-Doves et al [] 22 Jan Oyster Rocks Marsh Survey [Susan Gruver ] 22 Jan Bombay hook NWR marsh raptor watch [Kevin Oxenrider ] 22 Jan Lighthouse Road Raptor Survey [Christopher Bennett ] 22 Jan Re: de-birds Digest - 20 Jan 2012 to 21 Jan 2012 (#2012-22) [Rachael Shapiro ] 22 Jan Hoopes - Lesser Black-backed Gull [Bill Stewart ] 22 Jan NZ fingerless gloves for birders..... ["sally o'byrne" ] 21 Jan Listing [Colin Campbell ] 20 Jan RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 20th, 2012 [Andrew Ednie ] 20 Jan Fw: Re: OWL LANDING RIGHT AT CAMERA [Debi Jarrell ] 20 Jan Along Rt. 579 [Mary Lukaszewski ] 20 Jan More on yesterday's odd loon [Michael Moore ] 19 Jan Red-necked Grebe, Razorbill and more [Michael Moore ] 19 Jan Silver Lake DOVER not Rehoboth ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 19 Jan Re: Eurasian Wigeons - yes [Chris Wright ] 19 Jan Re: Eurasian Wigeons - yes [Chris Wright ] 19 Jan Snow Geese at Oak Grove ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 18 Jan Ferris Bald Eagle [Rodney Murray ] 18 Jan Delaware Today [Colin Campbell ] 18 Jan Ferris Bald Eagle [Rodney Murray ] 17 Jan Tomorrow's DOS meeting [Jim White ] 17 Jan Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve [Joe Sebastiani ] 17 Jan Re: Sub-freezing Tree Swallow ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 17 Jan Black-necked Stilt continues at Bombay Hook ["Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" ] 16 Jan No Subject [Rodney Murray ] 16 Jan Brandywine Creek State Park 1-16-12 [Hank Davis ] 15 Jan Sub-freezing Tree Swallow [Derek Stoner ] 15 Jan Eurasian Wigeon continues, Prime Hook Rd [Frank Marenghi ] 15 Jan Prime Hook, Cape Henolopen and Indian River Inlet, 15 Jan 12 [Kurt Gaskill ] 15 Jan Orange-crowned Warbler, Port Penn [Christopher Heckscher ] 15 Jan Hoopes' Reservoir [Andrew Ednie ] 15 Jan Wilmington Merlin [Mike Moore ] 14 Jan swans... [bentebbens ] 14 Jan Sussex birds - Eurasian Wigeon, Common Merganser, Brown Pelican [Michael Bowen ] 13 Jan RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 13, 2012 [Andrew Ednie ] 13 Jan Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve walks [Joe Sebastiani ] 13 Jan DOS Meeting Next Wednesday [Joe Sebastiani ] 12 Jan Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers - Winter Marsh Raptor Surveys ["Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" ] 11 Jan satellite tracked Bald Eagle at Hoopes [joe sebastiani ] 10 Jan Greater White fronted Goose - Bombay Hook [Maryanne Dolan ] 10 Jan Oak Grove Area 1/8/12 ["Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" ] 10 Jan DOS Seawatch II - Sunday, January 15, 8am-12pm ["Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" ] 10 Jan THREE and 20 Blackbirds ["Fees David F. (DNREC)" ] Subject: Snowy Owls triage From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 22:51:07 -0500 With DE's first Snowy Owl for some time being reported, this message (below) from Nebraska might be of interest to those chasing the Lewes bird. The obvious place to call should you see the signs of emaciation etc. depicted below is Tristate Bird Rescue 302-737-9543. Colin Campbell. *Subject: Snowy Owl Triage* From: Jeanine Lackey Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 11:04:53 -0600 Although this may be a moot point at this juncture, I thought that, as a volunteer raptor rehabilitator and a birdwatcher, I would forward some information to those who are most likely to observe injured or weak snowies. Typical Snowy Owl behavior makes it difficult to ascertain the physical condition of a bird. A healthy female Snowy Owl should weigh 5 lbs, males 3, not that you can tell how much they weigh just be looking at them, the large number of feathers makes them seem very robust, even if they are ill. They normally sit in the open and often perch with eyes closed and the majority "look" quite healthy. However, If you see a Snowy Owl showing signs of sickness or injury such as difficulty breathing, bleeding, stumbling, fractures or other trauma, or drooping a wing(s) (emaciated), the animal needs medical attention. It is importance to get in touch with a licensed wildlife rehabiliator as soon as possible. This is in the interest of any wildlife you find and can mean the difference between life and death. If you observe a Snowy Owl in the same location for several hours (or days) or the animal is approachable, this bird likely needs medical attention. No healthy raptor should let a human approach it. If you are unsure about assessing the condition make a phone call and ask questions. Rehabilitators work with many other rehab centers across the country especially the Minnesota Raptor Center and combine their knowledge to find solutions for caring and treating snowies. Nebraska is not the only state dealing with and treating sick and injured Snowy Owls. Please do not attempt capture or rehabilitation of raptors on your own. Communication with experienced, licensed rehabilitators is key to providing the best care for sick or injured owls (or any raptor). Licensed rehabilitators have been specially trained for triage, convalescence and paliative care of wild animals once they arrive in our care. And we have the medication and equipment on hand to treat birds quickly...it's our job. Since December, Raptor Recovery Nebraska has received 17 Snowy Owls into the treatment center, each suffering from starvation, disease, crawling with feather lice, and/or injured from a collision, and these are just the birds that make it to the center. Of the 17 birds, 13 were emaciated weighing 1- 1.5 lbs, and none of those birds have survived. One bird with a severely broken humerus was kept in a box for two days by prior to arriving at the treatment center and had to be euthanized since by the time the bird came to us, the bone was dead and not repairable. The take home message is, someone at one of the numbers below should be able to help or provide answers to questions. Obviously, rehabilitators may not have an answer or explanation for every scenerio or situation. For birders who are out frequently keeping the numbers handy may be worthwhile. For more information or to find a RRN volunteer near you visit Raptor Recovery Nebraska?s website. Raptorrecoverynebr.org and open the latest newsletter. *Central Nebraska Triage Treatment Center (Dannebrog) * Vicki Orr 308-750-3816 Blake Hatfield 308-383-1875 Jeanine Lackey 402-499-9872 *Raptor Recovery Headquarters (Elmwood) *402-994-2009 Thanks and good birding Jeanine Doniphan Subject: Reedy Point Bridge Temporary Closure From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 10:16:28 +0700 This news regarding the closing of the Reedy Point Bridge from April till Fall 2012 may be of interest to folks birding in that area. Sally O'Byrne > > For Immediate Release > Contact: Sarah M. Rivette > Phone: 215-656-6515 > E-mail: sarah.m.rivette AT usace.army.mil > > Corps to temporarily close Reedy Point Bridge; preventive safety > repairs to > be completed > > Philadelphia, Pa. (February 3, 2012) - The U.S. Army Corps Engineers' > Philadelphia District will begin preventive safety repairs on the > Reedy > Point Bridge, a cantilever truss bridge that carries two lanes of > Delaware > Route 9 over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, in April 2012. > > In order to complete the necessary repairs, the bridge will > temporarily > close in April and is expected to reopen in fall 2012. > > "For safety reasons, we need to close both lanes of the bridge. This > will > also expedite the construction, which would have taken over a year to > complete if we closed only one lane at a time," said Timothy Kelly, > the > Chesapeake & Delaware Canal project manager. "There is a procedure > in place > to allow emergency vehicles and responders to cross the bridge > during the > construction period." > > Steel repairs to welds, other deteriorated steel members and the wind > linkage (metal connecting the approach span to the main span of the > bridge) > will be made. The closure will also allow for lead paint to be > removed and > for new corrosion protection to be put in place. The project is > estimated to > cost $8 million, awarded to Corcon Construction, Lowellville, Ohio. > > Traffic from the north will be directed to DE Route 1 southbound to > US Route > 13 southbound via Exit 148. Once on US Route 13 southbound, traffic > will be > directed to turn left at Pole Bridge Road which becomes Port Penn > Road. The > detour ends on Port Penn Road at the intersection with Liberty > Street (DE > Route 9). > > Traffic from the south will be directed to US Route 13 via Port Penn > Road. > Traffic will turn right onto northbound US Route 13 from Port Penn > Road, > turn left at the next traffic signal to enter onto northbound DE > Route 1. > Once on northbound DE Route 1, traffic will exit at DE Route 72 > (Exit 152). > Traffic will turn right at the top of the ramp and proceed straight > through > the next signalized intersection (US Route 13). The detour ends on > DE Route > 72 at the intersection with River Road (DE Route 9). > > Local traffic within Delaware City will be detoured out of the town > via Cox > Neck Road. Traffic will turn right onto northbound US Route 13 and > then turn > left onto DE Route 72 and then turn left to enter DE Route 1 > southbound. > Traffic will follow the detour for southbound traffic from this point. > > All businesses within Delaware City will be open during the project > and > signs along the detour route will note that all businesses are open. > > The Philadelphia District maintains the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal > navigation channel that connects the Delaware River to the > Chesapeake Bay. > Additionally, the District has the responsibility to maintain and > operate > five high-level highway crossings (Chesapeake City Bridge, Summit > Bridge, > Senator Roth Bridge, St. George's Bridge and Reedy Point Bridge) and > one > street bridge in Delaware City. > > The District is also home to the North Atlantic Regional Center of > Expertise > for Bridge Inspection and Evaluation. This center is comprised of > Army Corps > structural experts who complete hands-on inspections of all the canal > crossings every two years. The Reedy Point Bridge was last inspected > in July > 2010, at which point the needed repairs were identified. > > Construction on the Reedy Point Bridge was last done in 1999 when > $888,000 > was spent on miscellaneous steel repairs. In 1995, $2.5 million was > spent on > anchor and deck span repairs and painting. The bridge was originally > constructed in 1969. > > For more information on the Philadelphia District's work at the > Chesapeake & > Delaware Canal, visit the Facebook page: > https://www.facebook.com/CandDCanal. > > ********************************************************************** > > Subject: Update on Snowy Owl From: Sharon <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:48:48 -0500 I just want to send out an update on the possible Snowy Owl. My friend saw the owl 2 times today. Once in the morning at the edge of the Old Landing Golf Course as you are driving towards Rehoboth. He then saw it at 4 Pm on the grounds of the North entrance of Sawgrass. There are 3 entrances to Sawgrass. As you are coming down Old Landing Rd , the north entrance would be the first one you come to, on the left. My friend described the bird perfectly. I will be flying to Guatemala from DC at 8:30 AM, so cannot look for it. I look forward to postings. I hope you find it! Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Sent from my iPhone Subject: Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Update From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 18:35:46 -0500 Good Evening, As of this writing, the Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Project team is working on establishing a new partner to supply our internet connection so we can once again provide real-time looks into the lives of the falcons. Our previous partner, Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, has supplied the feed from their 18th Floor offices but the law firm has moved to a new location. Citibank has stepped up to the plate and have agreed to try and partner with the project and provide the internet connection. We are in the process of dealing with the technical aspects of the webcam with Citibank so we can continue to live stream the daily activities onto your computer screen. Currently, the camera broadcast is down. Hopefully, we will announce that the live stream is up and running by February 15th. Thank you for your patience, Bill Stewart Project Coordinator Subject: Hooded Mergansers From: Edward Crawford <coastalcoaster AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 14:15:46 -0500 As of yesterday, Feb 2, 2012, there were about 30 feeding Hooded Mergansers on Herring Creek, Angola Neck. To locate them, from Route 1 go about 5 miles west on Route 24 until you pass Burton Pond. Just past Burton Pond, turn left on Sloan Road, which passes close to the water. The Mergansers, mixed with a few Buffleheads were just off the docks about 30 feet. Subject: SNOWY OWL at Old Landing golf course From: Sharon <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:40:18 -0500 I just got a call that there is a Snowy Owl at Old landing Golf Course right across from my house!!!! I am not able to leave work to verify this. Could someone please go over and see it?????? Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Old Landing Rd is the rd between Wal Mart. and Atlantic Liquors. Sent from my iPhone Subject: Abbott's Mill - Woodcocks From: Jason Beale <jaybirdbeale AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:46:38 -0500 Greetings, Along with other 'typical' February 1st happenings like Red Maples in flower, 60 degree days, basking Painted Turtles, and Skunk Cabbage flowers long faded, we had our first American Woodcocks of the year. 3 in fact. I went out on Jan.31st and didn't have any at the same location, so yesterday appears to be the first display day here. Starting at 5:40pm, they did some "orientation flights" around the meadow perimeter before settling into the field and "peenting." They were done by 5:55pm. The display flights were brief and the whole affair seemed to lack the intensity of a typical (there's that word again) Woodcock display, giving the impression of a dress rehearsal. It's the earliest date that I've had them displaying here. If anyone is interested in observing the display, you can register for our Woodcock Walks by calling 302-422-0847 or emailing me back off of the listserve. Other birds around yesterday included: American Wigeon Gadwall American Coot Belted Kingfisher Bald Eagle Winter Wren Hermit Thrush Barred Owl Eastern Towhee Cooper's Hawk Golden-crowned Kinglet Good birding, Jason Beale Abbott's Mill Nature Center Milford, DE Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve - Redpoll From: joe sebastiani <joe AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:04:25 -0500 This morning on the Bucktoe Creek Preserve bird walk, we had the wintering Red-headed Woodpecker, but it was a Common Redpoll that stole the show. First sighted by Bob Strahorn and Becky Meister, this bird came down to a small creek for a drink, perched up right in front of us, then flew off. We could not relocate the bird afterwards. I guess this bird didn't read the Winter Finch Report! Joe Sebastiani Joe Sebastiani Seasonal Programs Team Leader Delaware Nature Society P.O. Box 700 Hockessin, DE 19707 (302) 239-2334 ext. 115 fax (302) 239-2473 joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org web: www.delawarenaturesociety.org The Nature of Delaware Blog: www.delawarenaturesociety.org/blog Subject: Oak Grove area 1/29 From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:54:05 +0000 Hello All, I began the morning by re-finding the Tree Sparrow in my stickpile and food plot (DE). The other sparrows were very uncooperative, though I did later find FOY Chipping Sparrows at the back of the farm (MD). 6 Wood Duck flushed from the small pond on Oak Grove Rd (MD). At dusk, 6 Woodies flew by as I scanned from Kinder Rd, presumably the same group. These are the first January record here. Also, FOY Red-Shouldered Hawk, Black Vulture, House Sparrow (I tried to avoid them). 58 species for the month. That is fairly ordinary, but I did have quality with 4 new January birds. The continuing Snow Goose flock was on the ground today on Briar Hook Rd at Hensley Rd. As this is outside of my 'home' circle, I did not concentrate on finding rarities. Instead, I looked for banded geese, finding 9. On interest was KC12 that was originally banded in 2002 and had never been reported outside of Canada. Several others were banded this year and this was their first return of the winter. No repeats from other bands collected on 1/19 and 1/22. Maybe they are not the same geese each day. In the other direction, there was a collection of 300 Tundra Swan on Oak Grove Rd in Dorchester Co. Good birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE Subject: Re: Brandywine Creek Report, 01/28/2012 From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:06:23 +0000 Just wanted everyone to know that the trail along the river side of Freshwater Marsh is still open and will remain open to the public when the cattle are present in the marsh. The usable trail junction between the two trails is the one that is approximately 100 yards north of the cattle enclosure. As Andy mentioned in his post two belted Galloways will be brought in for a few months to graze on a number of invasive plant species that are currently replacing the native plant species in the marsh. The primary invasive is reed canary grass - but there is also European sweetflag, purple loosestrife and a few others. Chris Bennett Natural Resource Planner 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 Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Andrew Ednie Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 7:45 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Brandywine Creek Report, 01/28/2012 We had excellent weather for the walk on Saturday. It was a "Bluebird Day", clear skies and above freezing temps. I guess that's why we had a high count of Bluebirds! We also had a CHIPPING SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and some great looks at HERMIT THRUSH. We were unable to see much of the river to the new cattle fencing at the Freshwater Marsh Preserve. Next summer, the park will bring in two Belted Galloway's to eat the invasive plant species and open up the marsh. Here's the list from e-birds: Brandywine Creek SP, New Castle, US-DE Jan 28, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: Monthly walk at BCSP 26 species Canada Goose 75 Ring-billed Gull 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 5 Blue Jay 15 American Crow 5 Fish Crow 2 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 7 Carolina Wren 3 Eastern Bluebird 14 Hermit Thrush 3 American Robin 4 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 21 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Eastern Towhee 8 Chipping Sparrow 1 winter plumaged adult bird Song Sparrow 7 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 34 Dark-eyed Junco 12 Northern Cardinal 5 House Finch 3 American Goldfinch 2 Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Flintwoods Preserve bird walk (2/1) From: Jared Judy <jjudy AT FLINTWOODS.COM> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:04:09 -0500 There will be a bird walk at Flintwoods Preserve this Wednesday, February 1st. We will be meeting in front of the shop at 8:00 a.m. If you have any questions or need directions, please e-mail me directly AT jjudy AT flintwoods.com or you can reach me at the numbers listed below. Jared Judy Cell: (302) 381-3824 Land Manager Office: (302) 652-4148 Flintwoods Preserve Fax: (302) 652-4148 Subject: Greater White Fronted Goose From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:57:30 -0500 Today at 9:30am, I was at Woodland Beach Wildlife Center. I located a Greater White Fronted Goose among a group of Canada Geese. Turn onto the road that goes into the Wildlife Center. The group of geese were on the left after the second pond. Across from the sign that says to remain in your car to watch the wildlife. Nice views of the Goose. Subject: Brandywine Creek Report, 01/28/2012 From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:45:14 -0500 We had excellent weather for the walk on Saturday. It was a "Bluebird Day", clear skies and above freezing temps. I guess that's why we had a high count of Bluebirds! We also had a CHIPPING SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and some great looks at HERMIT THRUSH. We were unable to see much of the river to the new cattle fencing at the Freshwater Marsh Preserve. Next summer, the park will bring in two Belted Galloway's to eat the invasive plant species and open up the marsh. Here's the list from e-birds: Brandywine Creek SP, New Castle, US-DE Jan 28, 2012 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: Monthly walk at BCSP 26 species Canada Goose 75 Ring-billed Gull 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Downy Woodpecker 5 Blue Jay 15 American Crow 5 Fish Crow 2 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 7 Carolina Wren 3 Eastern Bluebird 14 Hermit Thrush 3 American Robin 4 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 21 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Eastern Towhee 8 Chipping Sparrow 1 winter plumaged adult bird Song Sparrow 7 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 34 Dark-eyed Junco 12 Northern Cardinal 5 House Finch 3 American Goldfinch 2 Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Western Grebe at Cape Henlopen From: Susan Gruver <Srgruver AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:47:14 -0500 I just received a call from Bill Fintel. He,Sally and Bruce Peterjohn saw a Western Grebe off the Point parking lot around 11:15. The bird was last seen drifting/swimming North West around noon. Also seen was a Razorbill. Sue Gruver Subject: Today's Downstate Delaware Highlights - Redux From: Michael A Smith <michael.a.smith AT VILLANOVA.EDU> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:32:31 -0500 1) Helen's? The thought did occur to me, but I punted. Belly too full from last night's beer. 2) Rehobeth Bay from Tower Rd: - 1 drake Goldeneye. No, not Barrow's - 30+ Horned Grebe - Eared Grebe notable by their absence 3) Indian River Inlet - So just were all those Boat-tailed grackles thinking, hanging out on the jetty like Turnstone and Purple sands? - Ya! RAZO. 4) Cape Henelopen SP - Nada. Zip. Zilch. ZERO. But mein Hundchen had a good walk. 5) Fowler Beach: - 1 im Gannet - 1 1st year Iceland Gull - 1 3rd year LBBG...lots of gulls to sort through. Made me wistful for the CI landfill. 6) Mispillion lighthouse Road at dusk - 1 American Bittern - Short -eared owls and N Harriers notable by their absence. But who cares. A great day of LSD birding. Michael Smith Assistant Professor Department of Chemical Engineering Villanova University PS: LSD = Lower Slower Delaware, of course. What did you think it meant?!? Subject: Today's Downstate Delaware Highlights From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:27:44 -0500 1. Helen's Sausage House 2. Indian River Inlet - Razorbill feeding just off the north jetty - 2 Purple Sands, tons of Turnstones and Sanderling - 30+ Red-throated Loons and the usual others - Pacific Loons notable by their absence 3. Cape Henlopen SP - ca 150 Snow Buntings at the Point 4. Prime Hook Beach Road - 1 drake Eurasian Wigeon - at least 24 Long-billed Dowitcher - Herr Professor Michael Schmidt und seiner Hundchen - the finder of the RAZO (Mike, not the dogs ..... I think) 5. Bombay Hook NWR - the amazing Stilt - 2 Great Horned Owls interacting in the distant bayside trees from Raymond Pool Colin Campbell Claymont, DE Subject: Not roadkill Eagle From: Charles Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:47:42 -0500 The previously reported road kill Eagle is in fact a Turkey Vulture. I stopped and inspected the carrion just minutes ago. Chuck Fullmer Georgetown Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:42:24 -0500 Attend the Bucktoe Bird Walks this Sunday and Monday at 8am. Holly Merker will lead the walk on Sunday and I will lead the walk Monday. Sorry, no coffee and tea this time. The Bucktoe Creek Preserve is located near Kennett Square, PA in southern Chester County and directions can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. Joe Sebastiani Delaware Nature Society Subject: Dead Bald Eagle From: Mary Lukaszewski <mlukas AT SPRINTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:25:38 -0500 Sad to report the death of a bald eagle whose remains I passed just beyond the intersection of Mr. Joy Rd & Hollyville Rd in Millsboro. Bird was lying in Mt. Joy road right near carcass of a deer that was on the edge of the road. Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 27, 2012 From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:51:31 -0500 RBA * Delaware * Statewide *January 27, 2012 * DEST1201.27 *Birds mentioned Cackling Goose Snow Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Greater Scaup Ring-necked Duck Surf Scoter Black SCOTER Bufflehead Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-Throated Loon Pied-Billed Grebe American Bittern Great Egret Black-Crowned Night Heron Bald Eagle Northern Harrier American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Clapper Rail American Coot BLACK-NECKED STILT Greater Yellowlegs MARBLED GODWIT SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Iceland Gull Lesser Black -Backed Gull Eurasian Collared Dove Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Short-Eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker American Pipit Winter Wren Eastern Towhee Salt Marsh Sparrow Seaside Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 27, 2012 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 January, 27th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The Delaware state annual list for 2012 is now up to 159 species this week. MARBLED GODWITS and the BLACK-NECKED STILT continue to be seen at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna this week. The STILT was seen feeding at Raymond Pool as it was icing over on the weekend. Also seen were 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. 10 COMMON MERGANSERS were seen on the bayside at Sheerness Pool. PIED-BILLED GREBES, AMERICAN COOT, and WILSON'S SNIPE were seen at Bear Swamp Pool. A BARRED OWL was seen on the back end of Finis Pool sitting on the gate and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at the southeast side of Raymond Pool at dusk. A flock of 34 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen along Whitehall Neck Road going to the entrance to the refuge. The REDHEAD continues to be seen at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach among the thousands of CANVASBACK there. GREAT EGRETS were seen along Cods Road at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Three EURASIAN COLLARED DOVES were seen in Selbyville this week. And finally, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found at Redden State Forest off of W. Robbins Rd. Another GREAT EGRET was seen in northern Delaware at the Great Pond in White Clay Preserve off Paper Mill Road near the intersection with Poly Drummond Road. Also seen there were a pair of GADWALL. At the nearby Middle Run Reserve were YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, WINTER WREN, and a winter flock of 13 EASTERN TOWHEES. A pair of immature ICELAND GULLS were seen in downtown Wilmington at the Wilmington Organic Recycling Center of Christiana Drive on the south side of the Christiana River. Also in downtown Wilmington, the PEREGRINE FALCONS that nest on the Brandywine Building have been seen starting their courtship rituals. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found at Hoopes' Reservoir this weekend along the Route 82 Causeway. Other birds seen at Hoopes' included 3 AMERICAN WIGEON at the Hillside Mill Cove, plus COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, 10 PIED BILLED GREBES, and 300 RING-NECKED DUCK. A flock of 25 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen along the Pickering Beach Road at Little Creek Wildlife Management Area. Also seen there was a FOX SPARROW by the parking lot. The winter raptor survey along Pickering Beach Road missed SHORT-EARED OWL, but did find four BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, WILSON'S SNIPE, and a calling GREAT HORNED OWL. A total of 90 HOODED MERGANSERS were seen flying into the refuge. A raft of 250 GREATER SCAUPS were seen on Delaware Bay off the south side of Pickering Beach. 3 to 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen off of Lighthouse Road near Mispillion Inlet east of Milford on the raptor survey. Other birds seen it there included an AMERICAN BITTERN, 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, CLAPPER RAIL, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK. Also seen among the spartina grass were SEASIDE and SALT MARSH SPARROWS. The survey also recorded WILSON'S SNIPE at GREAT EGRET at Port Mahon, a big flock of 150 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS and 50,000 COMMON GRACKLES plus SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER at Kitts Hummock, and an AMERICAN KESTREL, 3 BALD EAGLES, and 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS at Oyster Rocks Road in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Waterfowl at Big Stone Beach in Milford Neck Wildlife area included about 10 RED-THROATED LOONS and a big flock of scoters. Those scoters included 60-80 SURF and a few BLACK SCOTERS plus a couple of BUFFLEHEADS. Three CACKLING GEESE were seen at Oak Grove in Sussex Co. this weekend, among the big flocks of SNOW GEESE there. Also found besides the calling GREAT HORNED OWLS were AMERICAN WOODCOCK flying by. Special thanks this week to Anthony Gonzon, Chris Bennett, Kitt Heckscher, Derek Stoner, Bill Stewart, Matt Sarver, Kim Steininger, Kevin Oxenrider, Colin Campbell, Nick Bolgiano, Bob Strahorn, Frank Rohrbacher, Sue Gruver, Glen Lovelace, and Lynn Smith for sharing their sightings. Please call your reports to me at 302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Until next time, good birding! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Wilmington Gulls From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:04:49 -0500 Just a note of warning to anyone thinking of going to study gulls at the Recycling Center on Christiana Avenue in Wilmington this weekend (re: my post from yesterday). Today, all the compost material had been covered with tarps and there were no gulls. This might have been (a) they don't like gulls (b) it was very windy and stuff was flying about (c) that's how they usually do the composting or (d) all of the above and more besides. I'll try to get a handle on this later; stay tuned. Colin Campbell Claymont, DE Subject: Great Egret at Big Pond, White Clay Creek State Park From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:11:13 -0500 Yesterday I spotted and photographed a Great Egret at Big Pond, north of Newark. This is a very interesting record for New Castle County in the winter, as the vast majority of Delaware's records of Great Egret come from Kent or Sussex counties. As it turns out, this particular egret has been observed at this location for at least the past 8 weeks, according to a nearby resident. The mild weather has allowed the bird to keep on finding fish in the pond. Other birds of note on the pond were two drake Gadwall and a pair of Black Ducks. Big Pond is part of the Possum Hill section of White Clay Creek State Park. This pond is located between the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and Corner Ketch Road, on the west side of Paper Mill Road (Route 72). The pond is formed by damming the east branch of Middle Run, and the water then flows out of the pond, under Paper Mill Road and through Middle Run Natural Area. A good view of Big Pond comes from Pleasant Hill Road, where recent bridge construction has created a viewing corridor looking east into the pond. The best location for parking access would be from Paper Mill Park on the other side of Paper Mill Road. This map shows the pond and the parking location well (in the upper right corner): http://www.destateparks.com/downloads/maps/white-clay-creek/white-clay-c reek.pdf Birds along the Middle Run Birding Trail yesterday include Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and an unusual amount of Eastern Towhees in one flock- 9 males and 4 females. Also of note is a Green Frog I found hopping around in a tributary stream. An odd animal to see out in January. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Brandywine Bird Walk From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:14:55 -0500 The first walk of 2012 at Brandywine Creek State Park will be this Saturday starting at 8 am at the park nature center. There are no park fees until March, so this month's walk is absolutely free to the public! Come on out and enjoy a winter walk, where views are not obstructed by leaves. We'll check out the creek for waterfowl, meadows for larks, and ridges for raptors. Good birding, Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: FW: [PABIRDS] NJ - Common Chaffinch probable departure From: Barbara Hiebsch <redsquirrelgirl AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:14:36 +0000 Hi all, Pa. was asked to pass on this message re: c. chaffinch. Please read to the bottom. If anyone is on any other listserves besides the tri-state area. Would you kindly forward this on. We should'nt have to remind anyone who hasn't already passed on their thanks, to do so now. This was a joy that the Rehman family was so generous with their property and privacy! Good birding , Barb Hiebsch Norristown, Pa > Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:24:08 -0500 > From: info AT BIRDTREKS.COM > Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] NJ - Common Chaffinch probable departure > To: PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG > > Dear PABirders, > > It appears that Michael's e-mail address should be Michael Rehman > instead of the way that it is printed at the bottom of > the attached message. > > Sincerely, > BOB SCHUTSKY > > Web Site: www.birdtreks.com > -- > BIRD TREKS--Quality Worldwide Birding Tours > 216 Spring Lane > Peach Bottom, PA USA 17563-4008 > VOICE: 717-548-3303 FAX: 717-548-3327 > E-MAIL: info AT birdtreks.com > > > It looks as though the Common Chaffinch visiting Micheal Rehman's > > feeders in Hunterdon County, NJ > > since 12/20 was last sighted by Michael on 1/21 and hasn't been seen since. > > This is a good opportunity to thank him and his family for hosting hundreds > > of birders. If you haven't had a chance to sign the visitor's book please > > send him your particulars on when you were there and where you came from. > > His email is at the bottom of the copied message. From his note you can see > > that this bird caused quite a stir in the birding community and it will be > > really interesting to see what the final tally is. The bird has > > questionable origins, but that didn't deter people coming from multiple > > states traveling hundreds sometimes thousands of miles to enjoy the bird. > > If your reading this and are subscribed to other state listserves please > > pass this message along. > > > > "The Chaffinch has not been seen, as far as I know, since I observed him > > this past Saturday. We've had a few people visit this week with no success > > so perhaps he has moved on. The latest tally of visitors is ~650 with 17 > > states, Washington D.C. and Ontario, Canada. Only Rhode Island, South > > Carolina and Georgia are missing from the eastern seaboard and we've had > > three visits from individuals residing in California. The Pocono Record > > also did an article on the 22nd of January about the Chaffinch and > > the February issue of "*Birding Community E-Bulletin" *put out by the > > National Wildlife Refuge Association is covering the Chaffinch as well. We > > are quite fortuitous to live at a location where we could enable people to > > visit without any real liability issues due to the safe and ample > > parking on a quiet street as well as large enough lot sizes so our > > neighbors, outside of the cars all over the place, really had no idea what > > was going on and the few who stopped to talk to me were amazed that a bird > > could draw such attention!! > > > > Michael Rehmanmcr16 AT msn.com > > " Subject: A Cherry Island Alternative? From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:46:59 -0500 Today I continued my unceasing quest to find North America's first Mediterranean Gull. With the major gulleries in northern New Castle County (Cherry Island landfill, Wilmington Docks ..... ) off limits to larophiles, I started at the Sewage Works - er, sorry, the City of Wilmington Water Pollution Control Facility - on Hay Road, heretofore a site for winter Black-headed Gulls for several years (Med Gulls often associate with BHGUs). Only Ring-billed today. My peregrinations then took me to Christiana Avenue which runs in a straight line from Rt 13 at the bridge over the Christina River southwest to the entrance gate to Wilmington Docks. On the south side of this road is a facility called Wilmington Organic Recycling Center. It had about a thousand gulls feeding on whatever that conical pile of brown stuff was, circling overhead and perching on neighboring buildings and equipment. There were also many Starlings and Fish Crows - in fact, like a miniature Cherry Island (which is visible in the background to the north). Sitting on the roof of a big blue-sided shed (with a white band around the top) were two 1w Iceland Gulls. It may well be worth checking this place out over the next couple of months if you're interested in gulls. Two points to bear in mind. First, I don't know whether the cloud of gulls is always there or just when the next truckload of brown stuff is delivered. Secondly, Christiana Avenue might not be in the most salubrious part of town but it is a very busy road during the day with many heavy trucks; however, there are quite a few places to pull off the road safely to view the action. If reports come in that it is producing some interesting birds, it might be worth asking the site owners for permission to enter the property to view from a closer, but safe, point. Colin Campbell Claymont, DE. Subject: White Clay Veery study featured in Birding magazine From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:52:01 -0500 Congratulations to Kitt Heckscher and Matthew Halley for being featured in this month's issue of issue of Birding magazine, the publication of the American Birding Association. A nice feather in the cap for Delaware birds and birding! The "News and Notes" section features an article about "Veery's Winter Range" and chronicles the fascinating discoveries made by following the movement of Veeries on their wintering grounds in South America. Matt's photo of a Veery (tagged with a geolocator) from White Clay Creek State Park is shown to demonstrate how Kitt's long-term study of the White Clay Veery population is helping to solve an interesting puzzle concerning the wintering ecology of this neo-tropical thrush. The story helps to put together some of the pieces of this puzzle, and also presents more questions to be answered by the researchers. Kitt's recent presentation to the Delmarva Ornithological Society highlighted the amazing discoveries made by monitoring these tagged Veeries, and I am sure we can look forward to more reports as these birds return to nest along White Clay Creek just a few short months from now. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Bombay Hook Barred Owl Picture From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:07:19 -0500 A photo of the Barred Owl we saw is on the DOS photo gallery. Select the click on URL below, and then under Bird Name select Barred Owl. The picture is by Becky Meister. http://www.dosbirds.org/photogallery Bob Strahorn Newark, DE From: Bob Strahorn [mailto:bstrahor AT comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 6:14 PM To: DE-birds Subject: Bombay Hook Becky Meister and I were at Bombay Hook this morning. We did not find the Marbled Godwits and the Black-necked Stilt that Chris did. (Hopefully that was later in the day.) On the way into the refuge, as we came past the gate, a Barred Owl flew towards us along the road. It perched on the gate and surveyed the brush from there for about five minutes while we sat in the truck about ten yards away taking pictures. On the way out, we saw two Horned Larks along Whitehall Neck Road. Bob Strahorn Newark, DE Subject: Bombay Hook From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:13:44 -0500 Becky Meister and I were at Bombay Hook this morning. We did not find the Marbled Godwits and the Black-necked Stilt that Chris did. (Hopefully that was later in the day.) On the way into the refuge, as we came past the gate, a Barred Owl flew towards us along the road. It perched on the gate and surveyed the brush from there for about five minutes while we sat in the truck about ten yards away taking pictures. On the way out, we saw two Horned Larks along Whitehall Neck Road. Bob Strahorn Newark, DE Subject: Bombay Hook to Pickering Beach this Afternoon From: "cpb2564 AT gmail.com" <cpb2564@GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:15:12 -0500 I took some vacation time to enjoy today's unseasonably nice weather to get in some birding. At BHNWR I had 2 Marbled Godwits, the Black-necked Stilt and 200+ Dunlin in Raymond Pool, 6 Greater Yellowlegs in Shearness Pool and at least 15 Wilson's Snipe at Bear Swamp. All the usual waterfowl were present including at least 10 Common Mergansers in the marsh opposite Shearness. There was a flock of at least 25 Rusty Blackbirds in the wet woods on the east side of RT 9 just south of Pickering Beach Rd. And finally among the throngs of songbirds around the gravel F&W lot on Pickering Beach Rd was a Fox Sparrow and a flock of 25+ Cedar Waxwings. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Phone Subject: Big Stone Beach From: Christopher Heckscher <checkscher AT DESU.EDU> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:41:10 -0500 Matthew Halley and I made a quick ten minute stop at Big Stone Beach this afternoon. There were good numbers of birds nearshore including at least 10 Red-throated Loons, 60 - 70 Surf Scoters, a few Black Scoters, several Buffleheads, and numerous distant scaup. Kitt Heckscher Newark Subject: Oak Grove dusk birding 1/24 From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:16:35 +0000 Hello all, Being a warm night last night, I thought it would be a good time to make my first attempt of the year for Woodcock. My daughter and I tallied 5 species, not bad for starting our birding near the end of twilight. We heard the twittering wings of one Woodcock flying, but it never called. A GB Heron flew into our pond for a little fishing in the dark. 24 Canada Goose flew over, then reversed course and went back where they came from. 3 Great Horneds chatted with each other. And the continuing Snow Goose flock kept up a pretty good racket from ľ mile away with many Vs departing to the west. Good birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE Subject: Re: Snow Geese at Oak Grove From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:31:21 +0000 The Snow Goose flock was still in the area over the weekend, but more like 25000 birds instead of the enormous flock from Thursday. Saturday afternoon it was near the intersection of North Oak Grove Rd and Neals School Rd. They were very skittish with 3 eagles nearby. I picked out 2 Cackling candidates from the swirling mass and lucked into one as it landed. But it landed on the far edge of the flock and soon disappeared. On Sunday morning, the flock was first on Wild Turkey Rd where I picked out 1 definite Cackling. They relocated to the above location and this time they were very close to the road. I was able to pick out 3 Cackling Geese and a number of neck-banded Snows, including one repeat from Thursday. Also a large grackle flock in the area with small numbers of the usual blackbirds. Tried, but could not find anything unusual. At one point, they briefly invaded our yard. Sophia comes downstairs yelling "There are Starlings in our yard!". I say "Honey, they are grackles." Sophia - "There are grackles in our yard! There are grackles in our yard!" by which time they had move on.... From: Lovelace Glen (DelDOT) Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 10:32 AM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: Snow Geese at Oak Grove Hello, There is an enormous Snow Goose flock frequenting the Oak Grove area this week. They have been occupying the farm between Wild Turkey, North Oak Grove and Neals School Rds, best seen from Wild Turkey or Neals School. On Sunday, I estimated them at 30-40k. This morning it was more like 80-100k. On Sunday, there was one small Canada Goose - an inch or two shorter than the Snows, but with a long tapered bill. Today I got a just-the-right angle, just-the-right posture, just-enough gap between Snows view of a Ross' Goose deep within the flock. Also 6 neck bands. Hopefully they will still be around Saturday and bring a Cackling with them. Good birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE Subject: Winter Marsh Raptor Survey - Ted Harvey From: "Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" <Anthony.Gonzon AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:48:06 +0000 Hi all, My survey point was on the south end of the Ted Harvey Conservation Area. Although I didn't have any Short-eared Owls, I did have some pretty interesting observations. Aside from the 10 Northern Harriers I observed, other raptors included two adult Bald Eagles and a pair of dueting Great Horned Owls (that will be entered into the Breeding Bird Atlas). Two of the harriers spent almost the entire 1.5 hours survey period on the ground feeding on something. Another harrier (one of 3 different males observed), flushed a flock of about 150 Eastern Meadowlarks out of the marsh. There were several waterfowl species present including Canada Goose, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, American Black Duck, Mallard, Gadwall (50+), and Hooded Mergansers, not including the numerous Snow Geese roosting on the Delaware Bay just off of Ted Harvey. Multiple Great Blue Herons ringed the marsh edge and remained until well after sunset. Two observations of particular note included a dowitcher (presumably a Short-billed Dowitcher) in with about 300 Dunlin. Eventually, the dowitcher followed the Dunlin to a small mudflat where they appeared to be roosting for the evening. More exciting was the number of blackbirds. Beginning at about 4:40, thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles began streaming over the survey point, heading north. As it darkened, the birds began to fly lower to the ground and sound of thousands of small wings beating was impressive. A small group of 400-500 descended into the marsh right next to me and disappeared, even as a walked by, capping a great evening in a Delaware coastal marsh! Good birding, Ant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anthony T. Gonzon, Jr. Middletown, DE Visit Delaware's Breeding Bird Atlas online: www.fw.delaware.gov/bba Subject: Status of Selbyville's Eurasian Collared-Doves et al From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:18:15 -0500 Sunday morning, I went to Selbyville to tick off Eurasian Collared-Dove for my 2012 Delaware bird list. I arrived at about 8:30 AM and parked at the Eye Clinic on Rte 54. From the car, I walked to and down South William's Street. About half way to Rte 17 - between W. 2nd and W. 3rd Streets, I heard a Eurasian Collared-Dove calling from behind the houses. At that point, the home owner, who has been feeding these birds for the past ten years, saw me and asked if I was looking for the Eurasian Collared-Doves. We talked about the status of the birds and he told me that the most birds that he has seen in the past year has been three either at his feeder or in the cornfield across Rte 54 from South William's Road. I stayed a few more minutes and heard the Eurasian Collared-Dove call several more times from a thick pine tree, saw him moving around in there and left. On the way, to Selbyville, I stopped at West Robbins Road and picked up Red-headed Woodpecker. After Selbyville, my best birds were an adult male Redhead at Silver Lake, ten Great Egrets at Thirteen Curves Road, 34 American Pipits on Whitehall Neck Road into Bombay Hook NWR and finally the bazaar sight of the Black-necked Stilt standing on the ice at Raymonds Pool and sticking its head into the small areas of open water searching for food. Frank Rohrbacher Wilmington, Delaware Subject: Oyster Rocks Marsh Survey From: Susan Gruver <Srgruver AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:23:16 -0500 Lynn Smith and I did the survey on Oyster Rocks Road. On the way in we had one Kestrel ( just before start time) fly across the road. During the count we had three Female/Juv. Harriers and one adult male. One Red-tailed Hawk and three adult Bald Eagles and one Juv. B. Eagle. Sue Gruver Lewes, DE Subject: Bombay hook NWR marsh raptor watch From: Kevin Oxenrider <koxenrider0 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:41:12 -0500 Had a great time surveying marsh raptors today at bombay. The black-necked stilt was hanging out on the ice for a good portion of the survey. We had 9 northern harriers and 2 short-eared owls flying over the marsh at the bend right after the boardwalk trail. One of the short-eareds even decided to capture and consume a rodent (vole maybe) 20 yards from us. We also had 3 great horned owls calling, 2 of which seemed to be a mating pair and continually called back and forth to one another. The other surveyors (positioned at bear swamp) also had many harriers and a vocal great horned owl. They also had 3 calling clapper rails! Overall it was a great time had by all. Happy birding, Kevin Oxenrider Subject: Lighthouse Road Raptor Survey From: Christopher Bennett <cpb2564 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:24:50 -0500 Karen and I took part in the mid-winter raptor survey at Lighthouse Road this evening between 4:10 and 5:40. On the way out we had a group of 130 Tundra Swans along RT 36. During the survey we had great views of 3 (possibly 4) Short-eared Owls, 4 Bald Eagles, 11 Northern Harriers, 1 American Bittern, 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons and (Karen saw) a single Eastern Meadowlark. In addtion we heard a single Clapper Rail and had a Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrow pop up out of the marsh and pose in the Spartina about 1 foot from each other. It was a fantastic evening. Can't wait for the second survey in February. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Subject: Re: de-birds Digest - 20 Jan 2012 to 21 Jan 2012 (#2012-22) From: Rachael Shapiro <rshapiro AT AWOUS.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:48:18 -0500 Lovely posting, Colin. More stories. :-) Glide In, Hang Out, Rachael On 1/22/12 12:09 AM, "de-birds automatic digest system" wrote: > There is 1 message totalling 39 lines in this issue. > > Topics of the day: > > 1. Listing > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:06:04 -0500 > From: Colin Campbell > Subject: Listing > > I love listing. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not a fan of Italian cruise > liners. For some odd reason, I was born to make lists. As a childnerd, I > made lists of the countries of the world, their capital cities, > populations, longest rivers, highest mountains ........ backed up by > stamp collecting. As a teenager, I was an avid trainspotter in the UK, > travelling by whatever means finances would allow to list numbers and > names of steam locomotives. I lost interest when diesel and electric > took over in 1960 or so. But the lure of steam persisted and I > nostalgically returned to the UK just last year with my brother and a > birding friend to visit and ride on preserved steam-hauled trains in the > UK. God, it was fun! > > I digress. With a couple of inches of snow in my yard this morning, I > knew it was going to be a good day for yardbird listing. And so it > transpired. By far the most birds I'd had in the yard for many weeks, > the first appearance of Grackles and Red-wings for the year, and I tried > to get to the hallowed twenty species for the day in winter in my yard. > Which meant getting all but the Red-tailed Hawk, the Cooper's Hawk and > the Great Horned Owl which were on my Year Yardlist already. This target > was duly achieved just before sundown with the extremely late arrival of > the usually very cooperative Downy pecker. Nothing unusual though. > > Really very odd how satisfying that was as I raised my glass to > celebrate. I'd like to see a psychologists report on this phenomenon - > is listing better than avianopram or featheramine to alleviate cabin > fever? Oh, yes, I did get other really boring stuff done too, just in > case you're questioning my mental state. > > Colin Campbell > > ------------------------------ > > End of de-birds Digest - 20 Jan 2012 to 21 Jan 2012 (#2012-22) > ************************************************************** > -- ATTENTION: NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: rshapiro AT awous.com Rachael Shapiro, President A Woman of Uncommon Scents, Inc. P.O. Box 103 Roxbury, PA 17251 1-800-377-3685 1-800-ESSENTL Subject: Hoopes - Lesser Black-backed Gull From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:57:02 -0500 Reporting for Matt Sarver & Lauren Morgens: Both Matt and Lauren observed an adult Lesser Black-backed gull alongside the causeway at Hoopes Reservoir at 10:30 this morning. The gull was about halfway down the causeway and very close to the road on the south side. I was over there much earlier this morning and did not see any gulls anywhere, lots of great duck numbers including the lingering wigeons and one Andy Ednie. Bill Stewart Subject: NZ fingerless gloves for birders..... From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:56:45 +0700 Just in case anyone has been wishing they had a pair of the nifty NZ possum/merino fingerless gloves, I'll be bringing back quite a few pairs from Christchurch. The possum is a problem exotic mammal in NZ, and there are a few factories here trying to make a market for items made from their wool. I know the owner of Weft Industries, and even though it was hit hard by liquifaction in the quakes of the last year, it is still operational I've ordered them in the past and have sold them at DOS meeting, and there will be some for sale at the February meeting. Any profit on the sale of these gloves goes to DOS. Meanwhile, my target bird this week is the Bar-tailed Godwit. Sally O'Byrne Subject: Listing From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:06:04 -0500 I love listing. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not a fan of Italian cruise liners. For some odd reason, I was born to make lists. As a childnerd, I made lists of the countries of the world, their capital cities, populations, longest rivers, highest mountains ........ backed up by stamp collecting. As a teenager, I was an avid trainspotter in the UK, travelling by whatever means finances would allow to list numbers and names of steam locomotives. I lost interest when diesel and electric took over in 1960 or so. But the lure of steam persisted and I nostalgically returned to the UK just last year with my brother and a birding friend to visit and ride on preserved steam-hauled trains in the UK. God, it was fun! I digress. With a couple of inches of snow in my yard this morning, I knew it was going to be a good day for yardbird listing. And so it transpired. By far the most birds I'd had in the yard for many weeks, the first appearance of Grackles and Red-wings for the year, and I tried to get to the hallowed twenty species for the day in winter in my yard. Which meant getting all but the Red-tailed Hawk, the Cooper's Hawk and the Great Horned Owl which were on my Year Yardlist already. This target was duly achieved just before sundown with the extremely late arrival of the usually very cooperative Downy pecker. Nothing unusual though. Really very odd how satisfying that was as I raised my glass to celebrate. I'd like to see a psychologists report on this phenomenon - is listing better than avianopram or featheramine to alleviate cabin fever? Oh, yes, I did get other really boring stuff done too, just in case you're questioning my mental state. Colin Campbell Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 20th, 2012 From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:48:35 -0500 RBA * Delaware * Statewide *January 20, 2012 * DEST1201.20 *Birds mentioned Snow Goose ROSS'S GOOSE Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Mute Swan American Wigeon EURASIAN WIGEON Canvasback Redhead Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Ruddy Duck YELLOW-BILLED LOON Pied-billed Grebe Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Brown Pelican Great Cormorant Great Egret Little Blue Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Bald Eagle Merlin American Kestrel American Coot Black-bellied Plover Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Ruddy Turnstone Purple Sandpiper Wilson's Snipe BLACK-HEADED GULL Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Forster's Tern Razorbill Black-capped Chickadee Brown-headed Nuthatch Orange-crowned Warbler Snow Bunting Eastern Meadowlark House Finch Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 20, 2012 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, January 20th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The Delaware state annual list for 2012 jumped to 155 species this week. This is been a big week for birds at the beach. One of the best birds seen was a RED-NECKED GREBE at Holts Landing State Park on the south side of Indian River Bay. Seen in the same area was an immature loon, suspected to be a possible YELLOW-BILLED LOON which would be a new record for Delaware. At nearby Quillen's Point off Cedar Neck Road, approximately 400 BRANT were seen along with 14 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER'S feeding on the sandbar in the bay. A strange doubleheader this week was a RAZORBILL, along with up to 5 BROWN PELICANS was at Indian River Inlet. A flock of LONG-TAILED DUCK there has increased to 75 bird. There were 2 GREAT CORMORANTS on the tower at the end of the jetty. Also seen were PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE, BONAPARTE'S GULL, and FORSTER'S TERN. A sizable flock of 15 COMMON GOLDENEYES were reported north of the bridge at Bottom Hills Drain. Nine BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were seen in the marsh by the North Marina on Monday. A lone TREE SWALLOW was seen at the bridge over the Lewis-Rehoboth canal off Route 1 above Dewey Beach. A REDHEAD was seen among the flock of over 2000 CANVASBACK at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach this week. Also seen was RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, HOODED MERGANSER, and RUDDY DUCK. The previously reported BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen again today at the Wolfe's Point sewage treatment plant behind Midway. A lone ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER continues to come to a feeder in Lewes intermittently. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES and a leucistic HOUSE FINCH were seen at the Seaside Nature Center Feeders at Cape Henlopen State Park. A peak count of 6 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS was seen at Herring Point. Also seen was a flock of over 100 SNOW BUNTINGS. A flight of over 100 NORTHERN GANNETS were seen offshore, scoters seen included 5 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. Birding from the Cape May- Lewes ferry on Sunday produced NORTHERN GANNETS and lots of scoters. Peak count was 150 BLACK, 100 SURF and3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS seen from the ferry. The waterfowl show at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge continues to be spectacular, highlighted by 3 EURASIAN WIGEON along Prime Hook Road. These birds were seen along the west side of the marsh as you drive towards the beach. MUTE SWAN and CACKLING GOOSE were also reported here, along with a single COMMON MERGANSER. A raft of GREATER SCAUP off Prime Hook Beach included 2 REDHEADS and a single CANVASBACK. Over 100,000 SNOW GEESE were being seen at Broadkill Beach impoundments, included in that flock were 2 ROSS'S GEESE last weekend. Also reported at Prime Hook were a GLOSSY IBIS at Oyster Rock Road and 3 GREAT EGRETS at Cods Road. And AMERICAN KESTREL was seen at Thirteen Curves Road. There was a peak count of 20 BLACK BELLIED PLOVERS at Fowler's Beach. A big flock of SNOW GEESE was also seen at Oak Grove near Seaford this week. Among the flock were 2 ROSS'S GEESE. A BALD EAGLE was seen north of Georgetown along W. Robbins Rd. The long staying BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen again this week at Raymond Pool in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen at the refuge last week stopping in and then flying right out. Also seen were AMERICAN AVOCET, TUNDRA SWAN, BLACK VULTURE, BALD EAGLE, PIED-BILLED GREBE and AMERICAN COOT. Four AMERICAN AVOCETS were also reported at the North Pond at the Logan Lane Tract this week. Silver Lake in Dover had a nice collection of 150 COMMON MERGANSERS and 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES. A BALD EAGLE was also seen flying over the pond. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was reported this week at the Augustine Wildlife Area, north of Port Penn. That bird was seen on Sunday along the Wetlands Boardwalk. Also reported were 3 LITTLE BLUE HERONS were at the south end of the Reedy Point Bridge along with 2 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS. A total of five BALD EAGLES were reported over Thousand Acre Marsh. A MERLIN was seen in downtown Wilmington, by the Elsmere VA Hospital. A possible BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was heard calling near Glasgow this week. A pair of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were frequenting a backyard in Bear. A FOX SPARROW is coming to a feeder north of Newark. A BALD EAGLE reported flying over Ferris School near Lancaster Pike. Two EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were seen at Brandywine Creek State Park. A pair of WILSON'S SNIPE were in the marshy area by the entrance booth to the park. A single drake CANVASBACK was seen among a raft of over 200 RING-NECKED DUCKS at Hoopes' Reservoir this weekend. Also reported were 10 PIED-BILLED GREBE, good numbers of both COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS were seen, and a single female BUFFLEHEAD. Special thanks this week to Andrew Bogush, Joe Russell, Colin Campbell, Frank Meranghi, Kurt Gaskill, Mike Bowens, Sue Gruver, Derek Stoner, Glen Lovelace, Joan Wheeler, Joelle Borzik, Mary Lukaszewski, Mike Moore, Chris Bennett, Rod Murray, Anthony Gonzon, Hank Davis, Kitt Heckscher, Alex Lamoreaux, and Lynn Smith for sharing their sightings. Please call your reports to me at 302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Until next time, good birding! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Fw: Re: OWL LANDING RIGHT AT CAMERA From: Debi Jarrell <debiannj AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:00:11 -0500 This was shared by my niece. It's the last thing a mouse will ever see! If you don't want to click the link, type in the URL. Debi OWL LANDING RIGHT AT CAMERA FANTASTIC!! Owl coming right at Raytheon security camera. A hypnotic piece of film slowed for your pleasure. The last two or three seconds are phenomenal. Click on link below. http://www.dogwork.com/owfo8/ Subject: Along Rt. 579 From: Mary Lukaszewski <mlukas AT SPRINTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:24:17 -0500 On our way home from Milford took Rt 579. At the intersection of Maple Branch Rd & W. Robbins saw a Bald Eagle sitting in a tree right on the corner. Watched it for a few minutes. It seemed to be very interested in the chicken houses across the street. Further down the road, a red-bellied woodpecked few across the road and landed on a tree trunk just off the road. This was just above the intersection with State Foresr Rd. There was a lot of activity all along the road put was under pressure to get home and collect dogs for a vets appointment. Mary Lukaszewski Subject: More on yesterday's odd loon From: Michael Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:58:00 -0500 After I read my post from yesterday on the loon, I thought I would try again to actually make sense now that I have had some sleep! I saw a first year loon yesterday at Holt's Landing State Park that I thought was a possible first year Yellow-billed. Points in favor of this: 1) Overall pale color, especially on the head and face, with an overall brownish cast. 2) Very prominent post-auricular spot 3) Pale bill that appeared to lack black borders 4) Asymmetrical bill, straight on top, curved on the bottom Points not in favor: 1) Bill not massive enough. The bill appeared to be longer than nearby adult Common Loons, but I think this could have been an illusion from its paleness. Yellow-billed Loon takes several years to develop it massive adult bill, but even first year Yellow-bills have a bill that is obviously more massive than a Common. 2) Bill wrong color. Although distant, the bird appeared to have a uniformly silvery gray bill. In my experience, the bill of first year Yellow-billed Loon is usually grayish at the base becoming obviously ivory, horn or straw colored at the tip. The bird was just too far away for me to come to a firm conclusion. It slept most of the time and did not move in the hour I watched it. The critical ID point is the extent of black on the upper mandible. In Common, the top of the upper mandible is black from base to tip of the bill. In first-year Yellow-billed, the bill is only black on top at the base and the entire tip of the bill is pale. I could easily see the black borders and symmetrical shape on the bills of nearby adult Common Loons. In comparison, the color and shape of this bird's bill were different, but it was too far away for me to be sure if it just had reduced black borders on the bill or they were absent. Was it just a pale first year Common? It could be, but I still think it is worth checking out, especially if someone had a kayak or other boat to get help get close views. I got one really poor extreme distance digiscoped shot that at least show the post-auricular spot and gives an impression of the bill: https://picasaweb.google.com/108870652087302737257/OddLoon?authuser=0 &feat=directlink I also threw in a shot of the Razorbill for fun! Mike Moore Newark, DE mcmoore32 AT gmail.com Subject: Red-necked Grebe, Razorbill and more From: Michael Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:11:54 -0500 Hi, Today I birded mostly Cape Henlopen State Park and Indian River Inlet. Major highlights: Red-necked Grebe: winter adult from the Hawk Watch Tower at Cape Henlopen Razorbill: Winter adult well inside Indian River Inlet floating in the center channel. Seen from the last parking lot on S Inlet Road just before the gated condos. Great looks. Can't believe this is my second Razorbill this year from land (I found one on the Cape Henlopen CBC too). Odd Loon: Spent a long time with a very pale 1st year Common-type Loon at Holts Landing State Park. The bird was very intriguing. Very pale, especially on the head and face with a pronounced post-auricular spot. Bill very pale gray, curved below but almost straight above. Much less black on the bill (I could not see any) than the adult Common Loons it was with. The bird was quite distant (300 yds?). It was mostly sleeping. In the end I decided it probably was just a pale 1st year Common Loon with reduced black on the bill that I could not see and not a 1st year Yellow-billed, because the bill, while suggestive, was just not as large as on the few 1st year Yellow-bills I have seen and was too uniformly gray, rather than ivory or straw colored at the tip. Still I would really like a closer look to be sure (extent of black on the bill is the key character to see). Might be worth chasing since winter loons are often sedentary, especially if you had a kayak or boat to get close. The bird was too far even for digiscoping and I managed only a couple of very poor photos. Other notables: Cape Henlopen: 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 2 Great Cormorants 3 Long-tailed Ducks White-winged Scoter 40 Forster's Terns Hundreds of Gannets plunge diving on the horizon in the afternoon 95% albino White-tailed Deer in the herd on the parade grounds Rehoboth Bay: Common Goldeneye 11 Horned Grebes Indian River Inlet: Continuing adult Brown Pelican (who looks kind of listless to me) 5 Purple Sandpipers 8 Great Cormorants 68 Long-tailed Ducks 50 Forester's Terns NO Eiders Holts Landing State Park: 41 Horned Grebes Hundreds of Buffleheads Common Goldeneye Mike Moore Newark, DE Mcmoore32 AT gmail.com Subject: Silver Lake DOVER not Rehoboth From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:32:25 +0000 On my way back to the office after attending a meeting at Bombay Hook today (Black-necked Stilt was present at Raymond Pool) I stopped to check out Silver Lake from the parking lot at McGlynn's Pub on North State Street in Dover and had 150 Common Mergansers (80 on the west side of State St. and 70 on the east side), 2 Pied-billed Grebes, 1 Great Blue Heron, 10 Ring-billed Gulls and about 10 Mallards. I then checked the south end of the lake from the parking lot at the beach in Silver Lake Park and had 100 Ring-billed Gulls, 1 Great Blue Heron, 5 Mallards and a fly-over immature Bald Eagle And as I'm writing this a young Red-tailed Hawk swooped down from over the roof line of our building past my window and landed on the roof of the Verizon offices a couple doors down. And as I was watching the RTHA a Sharp-shinned Hawk passed by 30 feet overhead and headed towards the Dover Post Office. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac Subject: Re: Eurasian Wigeons - yes From: Chris Wright <chriswright6 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:41:48 -0500 Sorry. I meant Thursday. Sent from my iPhone On Jan 19, 2012, at 12:02 PM, Chris Wright wrote: > Two drake Eurasian Wigeon seen in beautiful light Friday noon at same location in Prime Hook reported below. > > Chris Wright > Chevy Chase MD > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jan 18, 2012, at 6:51 PM, Colin Campbell wrote: > >> After satisfying my gustatory desires at HSH (Her Serene Highness, aka Helen's Sausage House) I headed down to Indian River Inlet, looking for Pacific Loon amongst the many loons and Barrow's Goldeneye amongst the few goldeneyes on the whatever-you-call-it pond. As someone once told Noah, "Someone's gotta do it". >> >> I worked north from there and most of what I saw had been reported in the last few days. Here's a few extras. An adult Brown Pelican flew into the Inlet and sat on the water for half an hour before heading west. The amazing flock of Forster's Terns (50+) is still there, along with the more expected, inc. 5 Purple Sands. One of the three Great Cormorants on the south jetty light had already assumed its white flank patch. >> >> I scoped the big duck flock on Prime Hook Road (as Frank M said, first pull off to the right after reaching the marsh and look north) and there were THREE drake Eurasian Wigeons (don't put a 'd' in there, please), really standing out in the sunshine. May be more but I can't tell a female Eurasian from an American (we're still talking wigeons here). Still plenty of G. Yellowlegs and just one Lesser. A Kestrel on 13 Curves Road - and there are 13 if you only go from Cods Road to Draper road, but there's another 4/5 between Draper and Prime Hook Road. Someone needs to do some local history research. I just did it because I was still in the CBC counting mode. 3 Great Egrets at the Cods Road Bridge, 20+ Black-bellied Plovers at Fowler Beach and 4 Avocets at Ted Harvey North Pond rounded out the day. 73 Species total. >> >> Colin Campbell >> Claymont, DE. Subject: Re: Eurasian Wigeons - yes From: Chris Wright <chriswright6 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:02:52 -0500 Two drake Eurasian Wigeon seen in beautiful light Friday noon at same location in Prime Hook reported below. Chris Wright Chevy Chase MD Sent from my iPhone On Jan 18, 2012, at 6:51 PM, Colin Campbell wrote: > After satisfying my gustatory desires at HSH (Her Serene Highness, aka Helen's Sausage House) I headed down to Indian River Inlet, looking for Pacific Loon amongst the many loons and Barrow's Goldeneye amongst the few goldeneyes on the whatever-you-call-it pond. As someone once told Noah, "Someone's gotta do it". > > I worked north from there and most of what I saw had been reported in the last few days. Here's a few extras. An adult Brown Pelican flew into the Inlet and sat on the water for half an hour before heading west. The amazing flock of Forster's Terns (50+) is still there, along with the more expected, inc. 5 Purple Sands. One of the three Great Cormorants on the south jetty light had already assumed its white flank patch. > > I scoped the big duck flock on Prime Hook Road (as Frank M said, first pull off to the right after reaching the marsh and look north) and there were THREE drake Eurasian Wigeons (don't put a 'd' in there, please), really standing out in the sunshine. May be more but I can't tell a female Eurasian from an American (we're still talking wigeons here). Still plenty of G. Yellowlegs and just one Lesser. A Kestrel on 13 Curves Road - and there are 13 if you only go from Cods Road to Draper road, but there's another 4/5 between Draper and Prime Hook Road. Someone needs to do some local history research. I just did it because I was still in the CBC counting mode. 3 Great Egrets at the Cods Road Bridge, 20+ Black-bellied Plovers at Fowler Beach and 4 Avocets at Ted Harvey North Pond rounded out the day. 73 Species total. > > Colin Campbell > Claymont, DE. Subject: Snow Geese at Oak Grove From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:32:18 +0000 Hello, There is an enormous Snow Goose flock frequenting the Oak Grove area this week. They have been occupying the farm between Wild Turkey, North Oak Grove and Neals School Rds, best seen from Wild Turkey or Neals School. On Sunday, I estimated them at 30-40k. This morning it was more like 80-100k. On Sunday, there was one small Canada Goose - an inch or two shorter than the Snows, but with a long tapered bill. Today I got a just-the-right angle, just-the-right posture, just-enough gap between Snows view of a Ross' Goose deep within the flock. Also 6 neck bands. Hopefully they will still be around Saturday and bring a Cackling with them. Good birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE Subject: Ferris Bald Eagle From: Rodney Murray <rodmurray_1999 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:47:38 -0800 Thanks to all of you who responded off-line to my posting about the Bald Eagle.  I appreciate your kind words.  It really was a  pretty cool sight....   RM Subject: Delaware Today From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:51:29 -0500 After satisfying my gustatory desires at HSH (Her Serene Highness, aka Helen's Sausage House) I headed down to Indian River Inlet, looking for Pacific Loon amongst the many loons and Barrow's Goldeneye amongst the few goldeneyes on the whatever-you-call-it pond. As someone once told Noah, "Someone's gotta do it". I worked north from there and most of what I saw had been reported in the last few days. Here's a few extras. An adult Brown Pelican flew into the Inlet and sat on the water for half an hour before heading west. The amazing flock of Forster's Terns (50+) is still there, along with the more expected, inc. 5 Purple Sands. One of the three Great Cormorants on the south jetty light had already assumed its white flank patch. I scoped the big duck flock on Prime Hook Road (as Frank M said, first pull off to the right after reaching the marsh and look north) and there were THREE drake Eurasian Wigeons (don't put a 'd' in there, please), really standing out in the sunshine. May be more but I can't tell a female Eurasian from an American (we're still talking wigeons here). Still plenty of G. Yellowlegs and just one Lesser. A Kestrel on 13 Curves Road - and there are 13 if you only go from Cods Road to Draper road, but there's another 4/5 between Draper and Prime Hook Road. Someone needs to do some local history research. I just did it because I was still in the CBC counting mode. 3 Great Egrets at the Cods Road Bridge, 20+ Black-bellied Plovers at Fowler Beach and 4 Avocets at Ted Harvey North Pond rounded out the day. 73 Species total. Colin Campbell Claymont, DE. Subject: Ferris Bald Eagle From: Rodney Murray <rodmurray_1999 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:18:00 -0800 While leading my first period students through the rigors of learning various Latin and Greek word parts today, I glanced out through my bullet-proof window and announced to my class that an adult Bald Eagle is soaring over somewhere near Lancaster Ave.   They rushed to my window and stood slack-jawed as they watched it soar out of sight.  It was, I can assure you, the first time any of these young men had ever seen one.  Watching them watch the eagle was a birding experience I shall not soon forget.   Regards, Rod Murray                 Middletown   Subject: Tomorrow's DOS meeting From: Jim White <hylajwhite AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:31:05 -0500 Join us tomorrow evening at the Ashland Nature Center for our annual chili feast. In addition we will also present a recap of this year's Delaware Christmas Bird Counts. Let me know if you would like to bring chili or anything else to supplement the fare. So far the menu stands at:   Sharon Helmerich - buttermilk cornbread and brownies Jean Woods – Drinks Chris and Karen Bennett – Turkey Chili Amy White – Venison Chili Judy Montgomery – Vegetarian chili Thanks, Jim White Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:08:04 -0500 The Red-headed Woodpecker continues at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve near Kennett Square, PA and was found on the bird walks this past Sunday and Monday. This coming Sunday and Monday, the walks begin at 8am and everyone is welcome to attend. Carol Majors will lead the walk on Sunday and Larry Lewis and Kathleen Pileggi will lead the walk on Monday. Directions can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. This 300-acre private nature reserve is open only during guided walks. Coffee and tea are served. Be the first to see a Black Vulture and feast on a brownie, your prize. Guess the species totals for the walk and have a chance to win a gift certificate for Wild Birds Unlimited. Purchase a 1/2 price membership in the Delaware Nature Society just by attending a walk on the property. Joe Sebastiani, Delaware Nature Society Subject: Re: Sub-freezing Tree Swallow From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:04:37 +0000 Hey Derek, et. al., Sounds like you had a great day in Sussex. But I wanted to make one correction to your post. The cove located in DSSP between RT 1 and the Marina is officially known as Bottom Hills Drain. Prior to the new inlet bridge construction there was an access road to a small parking lot and unimproved boat launch called Haven Road. However, as far as I know that body of water has never been called Haven Lake. Also, I received a report today from a friend who had a Glossy Ibis fly north past Oyster Rocks Road on Sunday. Chris Bennett Milford, DE -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Derek Stoner Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2012 11:10 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Sub-freezing Tree Swallow Greetings: Though the thermometer did not break the freezing mark and high winds did their best to scour optics with air-borne sand, there were plenty of good birds to be found in Sussex County today. Frank and Kurt's reports covered most of the same observations I made, and here are a few additional sighting of note: A major surprise came in the form of a Tree Swallow being bounced by the wind above the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal on Route 1 South. I know that these swallows can survive in winter by eating bayberries and other fruit, but that's got to be a tough way to earn a living at this time of year. Tucked in among the 1,155 Canvasbacks on Rehoboth's Silver Lake, there was a prime drake Redhead. He spent a lot of time preening and showing off his orange eye and spiffy powder blue beak. Amidst the bobbing Buffleheads on Haven Lake, there were 16 Common Goldeneyes-- a good count for this traditional Goldeneye hangout. Haven Lake is the little alcove of Rehoboth Bay on the west side of Route 1 just before you cross over the Indian River Inlet Bridge, right at the entrance to the North Indian River Marina. Dusk at Broadkill Beach Road brought the sight of seemingly all the Snow Geese on Delmarva packing into the south impoundment to roost for the night. Whether it is 50,000 birds or 100,000, it is just a whole lot of whiteness and a whole lot of noise. And picking out a Ross's Goose in fading light is always a treat! Two Ross's revealed themselves, but likely a few more were hidden in the midst of the feathered blizzard. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Black-necked Stilt continues at Bombay Hook From: "Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" <Anthony.Gonzon AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:11:58 +0000 Greetings all, I just received a report that the Black-necked Stilt was observed at Raymond Pool this weekend. According to Birds of Delaware, this is the earliest (latest?) date of occurrence on record! Although most leave by mid-fall, this bird has been present for several months. Good birding, Ant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anthony T. Gonzon, Jr. DE Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program DE Division of Fish and Wildlife, DNREC 4876 Hay Point Landing Road Smyrna, DE 19977 Phone: 302-735-8673 Visit Delaware's Breeding Bird Atlas online: www.fw.delaware.gov/bba Subject: No Subject From: Rodney Murray <rodmurray_1999 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:09:45 -0800 Thanks to MLK Day, I could roam the roads all over the coast.  I got some of the previously mentioned cool birds, but I missed others.  The Com Goldeneyes were there in Haven Lake (never knew it was called that, tx DS), and in the cedars between the lake and the large warehouse at N Indian River Marina were 2 adult BC Night-Herons and approx. 7 juveniles.  They barked at me a few times and scattered.  The only other time I have seen BCNH in Jan in DE was last year at Bombay Hook.  The snow geese show continues...at about 3:00, snow geese were all over the bay stretching from south of Shorts Beach Rd to well north of Fowler Beach, and someone I met there who had come from Bowers Beach said they were all over the bay stretching south as far as they could see!  I wouldn't dare to guess how many geese that line held.  That's gotta be at least a 10 mile distance, isn't it?    Also, for anyone interested in how the Middletown Auto Park has been lately...not much there except H Larks.  I haven't seen any Am Pipits or Snow Buntings there this fall/winter.  Now that the Johnson's Controls building is completed and the Amazon building is going up soon, the prospect of seeing them there again looks gloomy; much more traffic in the area.   Regards, Rod Murray M'town Subject: Brandywine Creek State Park 1-16-12 From: Hank Davis <gblkrum AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:52:36 -0500 This afternoon while birding at Brandywine Creek State Park, very slow birdwise, I did see a Snipe and 2 Meadowlarks. The Snipe was in the cattails on the left before the gatehouse. The Meadowlarks were in the lower half of the field looking out over Rt. 92. Also seen: Bald Eagle, Field Sparrows and some of the common stuff. Subject: Sub-freezing Tree Swallow From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:10:06 -0500 Greetings: Though the thermometer did not break the freezing mark and high winds did their best to scour optics with air-borne sand, there were plenty of good birds to be found in Sussex County today. Frank and Kurt's reports covered most of the same observations I made, and here are a few additional sighting of note: A major surprise came in the form of a Tree Swallow being bounced by the wind above the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal on Route 1 South. I know that these swallows can survive in winter by eating bayberries and other fruit, but that's got to be a tough way to earn a living at this time of year. Tucked in among the 1,155 Canvasbacks on Rehoboth's Silver Lake, there was a prime drake Redhead. He spent a lot of time preening and showing off his orange eye and spiffy powder blue beak. Amidst the bobbing Buffleheads on Haven Lake, there were 16 Common Goldeneyes-- a good count for this traditional Goldeneye hangout. Haven Lake is the little alcove of Rehoboth Bay on the west side of Route 1 just before you cross over the Indian River Inlet Bridge, right at the entrance to the North Indian River Marina. Dusk at Broadkill Beach Road brought the sight of seemingly all the Snow Geese on Delmarva packing into the south impoundment to roost for the night. Whether it is 50,000 birds or 100,000, it is just a whole lot of whiteness and a whole lot of noise. And picking out a Ross's Goose in fading light is always a treat! Two Ross's revealed themselves, but likely a few more were hidden in the midst of the feathered blizzard. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Eurasian Wigeon continues, Prime Hook Rd From: Frank Marenghi <frank_marenghi AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:45:03 -0500 I was able to relocate the stunningly bright drake Eurasian Wigeon this afternoon at about 2:30 pm on Prime Hook Rd. It was at quite a distance but seen well at 30x in the scope from the first gravel pull off on the right as you head towards the bay. It was associating with Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, Black Ducks, etc. along the northwestern edge of the marsh. Struck out on the previously reported Sedge Wren and Dicksissel at Cape Henlopen but still pulled out 60 species, including 22 species of ducks and geese for the day. Snow Goose flocks were elusive today, almost always seen in huge flocks flying overhead but did not locate any roosting / feeding areas. Good Birding, Frank Marenghi Annapolis, MD Subject: Prime Hook, Cape Henolopen and Indian River Inlet, 15 Jan 12 From: Kurt Gaskill <KurtCapt87 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:33:14 -0500 Delaware Birders, Marc Ribaudo and I planned a trip to Delaware today thinking the weather would be best. Hmmm...maybe we saw the wrong weather report! Winds and a sub-freezing day met us. We persevered and re-found a few species previously reported. Upon arriving in Delaware, we traveled east past Rt 13 at about 7 am and noted huge skeins of Snow Geese floating in blue skies brightened by streaks of reddish-orange all floating on a background of gray clouds hanging over Delaware Bay. At least 50,000 Snow Geese was my estimate - they kept coming and coming, from horizon north to horizon south. Even upon arriving at Prime Hook NWR via Prime Hook Beach Rd at about 730am, the Snow Geese continued to lift from the ice covered marsh. An awe-inspiring spectacle that should be seen by all nature lovers. The cold NNW wind coupled with 23F temperatures at Prime Hood Beach Rd tempered our search for the Eurasian Wigeon. Yet, Marc picked up the male EUWI after a few passes on a small mixed group that contained the most American Widgeon just to our north. It moved around a bit for a few minutes then tucked down, out of sight in the huddled mass surrounded by ice. Brrrr! Also mixed in was a Cackling Goose with the Canadas. Nearby, we noted a Mute Swan and a few Greater Yellowlegs. We went to the beach and observed a small group of ducks containing mostly Greater Scaup that included 2 Redheads and a Canvasback. Next was Cape Henlopen. I cannot begin to describe the wet eyes from the wind battering us as we walked the fishing pier deck. We managed 5 White-winged Scoters, a couple of good Great Cormorant candidates flying by, and the usual common birds for this wind-swept location. We headed to the Nature Center and got the standard feeder group (i.e., no Dickcissel but 2 Brown-headed Nuthatches) and then drove to the point overlooking the dunes. Marc insisted we take the trail to the ocean side. Here, diligent scoping produced both loons, the other scoters, bunches of Forster's Terns and a dozen-plus Northern Gannets. After a several minutes, the flock of ca. 100 Snow Buntings came by, nearly flying into us, and put down, then up, then down, then up, and then down....less than 50 yds from our location. It was like being back on St Paul! We headed down to Herring Point and noted a first year Lesser Black-backed flyby. Frozen, but not defeated, we made it back to our car and drove south, stopping at Silver Lake. I only have one question: why do Delawareans put nearly all their Canvasbacks on this small lake? Fortunately, there was a Pied-billed Grebe, which was new for the day. We high-tailed it to Indian River Inlet, stopping to check the inland bay at one nearby location and finding 2 Horned Grebes. Arriving at the inlet, we noted Boat-tailed Grackles under a very handsome new bridge a bit after noon. The Bonaparte's flock contained only about 20 Forster's Terns. We timed our arrival to be during high tide, which was seriously muted by the winds! We diligently searched the marsh edge for sparrows and were rewarded with - Song Sparrows. eeehhhh... There was this flock of 60-ish Dunlin. Next was viewing the inlet on the ocean side. We had wonderful Great Cormorant views, the Long-tailed Ducks were nice and the Red-throated Loons outnumbered Common Loons about 4 to 1. One loon had a very dusky neck and darker back - I still think it's a Red-throated but perhaps viewing during a less wind-swept day would be more useful? Sanderlings and a few Dunlin were on the jetty rocks and sandy beach - but no Purple Sandpipers for us. Sigh. That's it - we headed to a state to the south and added a few more species before heading back to Virginia which was, curiously, warmer and much less windy...at 7 pm! Wishing you all good birds, Kurt Gaskill Subject: Orange-crowned Warbler, Port Penn From: Christopher Heckscher <checkscher AT DESU.EDU> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:54:07 -0500 I located an Orange-crowned Warbler on the Port Penn Wetland trail this morning at Thousand Acre Marsh. The bird was just past the end of the wetland boardwalk on the right side of the trail. I located the bird at about 9:00 am but could not relocate it later in the day at about 1 pm. Two immature and three adult Bald Eagles, a Great-blue Heron, and a noisy Belted Kingfisher were seen from the boardwalk. Also notable were three juvenile Little Blue Herons huddled together on the edge of the ice near the south end of the Reedy Point Bridge along with two adult Lesser-black backed Gulls. Others: At the east end of Dutch Neck Road there was a large gathering of gulls on the rocks on the north side of the canal including about 60 - 70 Greater Black Backed Gulls. There were plenty of gulls to look through here but the strong wind made viewing difficult at that distance. At Augustine Beach I had Red-Breasted Mergansers and Ring-necked Ducks on the water along with the usual large numbers of Ring-billed Gulls. If anyone wants to try to relocate the Orange-crowned Warbler keep in mind the Port Penn Wetland Trail is posted as only open on Sundays until February. Kitt Heckscher Newark Subject: Hoopes' Reservoir From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:53:45 -0500 There was a drake Canvasback on the reservoir today. He was back in the group of 200 Ring-necked Ducks. Here are the other birds seen: Pied-billed Grebe 10 Bald Eagle 1 im. (no satellite antenna) Red-tailed Hawk Mallard 6 Ring-necked Duck 350 Lesser Scaup 2 females Bufflehead 1 female Hooded Merganser 35 Common Merganser 71 Ring-billed Gulls 2 Fish Crow White-breasted Nuthatch American Robin Cedar Waxwing Dark-eyed Junco Good birding, Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Wilmington Merlin From: Mike Moore <mcmoore32 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:34:23 -0500 Yesterday afternoon I was walking along Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington across from the VA Hospital and I was surprised to see an adult Merlin fly across the road over my head with a mouse in its talons! Mike Moore Newark, DE Subject: swans... From: bentebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:26:40 -0500 Have been trying to find the Swans I've heard about in the area but just couldn't get any eyes on them. Well finally after talking to mom (Kay Greene) about it she told me some had been spotted east of Ellendale. Well I did some early morning riding and as I rounded "Reynolds Pond" just west of Milton, oooh there they were!! They don't appear to stay in the water long at least in the morning until they seem to fly off to a near by field I would presume to feed on winter wheat or cover crop ect. I was able to get a few shots of them even though they seem pretty shy and don't come to close to the road. I also found a group in "Clendaniel's Pond" just out side of Lincoln but were very far off the road as well. I think there were Tundra's and Mute swans together. As you probably know by now I very well could be wrong and always appreciate the kind corrections;) If you care to take a look please visit the link below. Thanks as always for the visits. Wishing everyone a fabulous weekend, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. Photo's: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21183284 AT N05/6698520099/in/photostream Subject: Sussex birds - Eurasian Wigeon, Common Merganser, Brown Pelican From: Michael Bowen <dhmbowen AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:34:30 -0500 The previously reported drake EURASIAN WIGEON was seen again this morning (Jan. 14) on the North side of Prime Hook Beach Rd., in the company of hundreds of other ducks, mostly American Wigeon and Gadwall, with Pintail, Mallard and Black Duck in the mix. Behind the flock was a single drake COMMON MERGANSER, a species I seldom see in Southern Delaware. Bird of the day, though, was an adult BROWN PELICAN at the end of the North jetty at Indian River Inlet at about 2 p.m. The bird took off and flew west over the bridges, and I later saw it again at around 2:30 p.m.at the marina on the North side of the inlet. It just flew around, and I didn't see it land. Other interesting birds at the inlet were the usual, large Long-tailed Duck flock, a tremendous number of loons of both species (50?), a single drake Black Scoter and a large (100+) flock of Bonaparte's Gull, accompanied by a few Forster's Terns. No rare gulls in the flock, unfortunately. Boat-tailed Grackles were on the rock jetties with Sanderlings (70-+), Ruddy Turnstones (20) and a half dozen birds that I assumed would be Purple Sandpipers but that in fact turned out to be Dunlin. Michael Bowen Bethesda, MD, and Dewey Beach, DE D.H.Michael Bowen 8609 Ewing Drive Bethesda, MD 20817-3845 Telephone: (301) 530-5764 e-mail: dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 13, 2012 From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:56:45 -0500 RBA * Delaware * Statewide *January 13, 2012 * DEST1201.13 *Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Snow Goose ROSS'S GOOSE Cackling Goose Tundra Swan American Widgeon EURASIAN WIDGEON Canvasback Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter Common Eiders Long-tailed Duck Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Northern Gannet Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant American Bittern Great Egret Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Peregrine Falcon Killdeer Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Least Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Forster's Tern Eastern Screech Owl Great Horned Owl Rufous Hummingbird Horned Lark Brown-headed Nuthatch Sedge Wren American Pipit Yellow-rumped Warbler American Tree Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Snow Bunting Rusty Blackbird Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 13, 2012 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 January, Friday the 13th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The Delaware state annual list for 2012 is now up to 147 species this week. At Indian River Inlet, the previously reported pair of female COMMON EIDERS continues to be seen on the north side of the jetty. Also reported this week on the jetty along with the PURPLE SANDPIPERS and RUDDY TURNSTONES was a single LEAST SANDPIPER, new to the state list this year. LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF SCOTER, GREAT CORMORANT, NORTHERN GANNET, COMMON and RED-THROATED LOON, FORSTER'S TERN, and BONAPARTE'S GULL were also found at the inlet this week. Three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach on Saturday afternoon. The big flock of CANVASBACK continues on the lake, joined by 2 drake LESSER SCAUP. HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT also continue there. The previous reported RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD found at the Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club has not been seen since last Saturday. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER has been seen infrequently coming to a feeder in Lewis. The feeders at the Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park continue to have several BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES and a leucistic HOUSE FINCH. The previous reported 30+ SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be seen drinking water along the athletic field across from the nature center. The SEDGE WREN found on the Christmas count behind Herring Point along the nature trail by the picket fence was again found last weekend. Last week's reported drake EURASIAN WIDGEON was found again this weekend along the Prime Hook Beach Road among a flock of dabblers that included AMERICAN WIDGEON, NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL, and PINTAIL. A few TUNDRA SWANS were also seen there along with AMERICAN AVOCET, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. Two CACKLING GEESE were seen among SNOW GEESE at Prime Hook Beach. A ROSS'S GOOSE was seen at Broadkill Beach. Also at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge were 8 to 10 WOOD DUCK at Draper Road and 6 GREAT EGRETS at the creek along Cods Road. The MARBLED GODWIT returned to Raymond Pool at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge this week. 28 AMERICAN AVOCETS and the lone remaining BLACK-NECKED STILT continue to be seen at the refuge. Four LESSER and 18 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were also reported. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found at the refuge on Monday along with 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES. EASTERN SCREECH OWLS can be found at in several wood duck boxes along the auto tour. WHIT-CROWNED SPARROWS continue to be seen at the refuge visitor center. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen hunting along the road to Tony Florio's at Woodland Beach Wildlife Management Area. Also reported there was 2 WILSON'S SNIPE. Over 50,000 SNOW GEESE were on the Delaware Bay at Kitts Hummock south of Dover. GREAT EGRET, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were found at the Logan Lane tract along the Kitts Hummock Road. A flock of about two dozen RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported in Camden, Delaware along the Isaac Branch in Brecknock Park. 55 HORNED LARK were found along Cartanza Road near Little Creek on Saturday. AMERICAN PIPITS and 70 KILLDEER were found in fields around Oak Grove near Seaford in Sussex County. Also reported there were AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and CEDAR WAXWINGS. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and an immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were reported to the entrance booth to Brandywine Creek State Park. A male NORTHERN HARRIER, known as the "Gray Ghost" has been seen recently hunting the fields in front of the nature center. A FOX SPARROW was seen coming to a feeder in Newark. GREAT HORNED OWLS were heard calling in Bear, Delaware. A GREAT BLUE HERON was seen flying over an inland location along Walther's Road in Bear. There have not been many PEREGRINE FALCON reports the season, numbers seen decreased from previous years. But, there were two reports of PEREGRINE this last week: one was on the water control tower of Augustine Creek below Port Penn along Route 9 and the other was on the Osprey platform at Fowler's Beach in Prime Hook. Not many SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS have also been reported, but COOPER'S HAWKS were reported coming to feeders at Brandywine Creek State Park and near Arundel. BALD EAGLES have been getting more common in the state over the last 10 years, but where have all these birds but coming from? A BALD EAGLE that had previously been banded with a satellite transmitter at Merrill Creek Reservoir, across the river from Easton, Pennsylvania has been found moving between Hoopes' Reservoir in northern Delaware and Dragon Run Marsh near Delaware City. This juvenile went from Harrisburg along the Susquehanna River to Delaware City and has traveled up the Brandywine Creek into Chester County. You can find more information at the Merrill Creek website. Thanks to Joe Sebastiani for that update. Special thanks this week to Andrew Bogush, Joe Russell, Colin Campbell, Frank Rohrbacher, Sue Gruver, Gary and Judy Charles, Marie Gardner, Glen Lovelace, Sharon Lynn, David Fees, Joan Wheeler, Mariann Dolan, Catherine Kubo, Nathan Zalik, and Lynn Smith for sharing their sightings. Please call your reports to me at 302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Until next time, good birding! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve walks From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:43:44 -0500 Attend the Bucktoe Creek Preserve bird walks this Sunday and Monday, starting at 8am. Holly Merker will lead on Sunday, and Bill Stewart will lead on Monday. The 300-acre private nature preserve is closed to the public except during special programs like these. Guess how many species will be seen for a chance at a Wild Birds Unlimited gift certificate! Be the first to spot the Black Vulture and win a well-deserved brownie! Coffee and tea are served. Directions to the Bucktoe Creek Preserve, near Kennett Square, PA, can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. Joe Sebastiani Delaware Nature Society Subject: DOS Meeting Next Wednesday From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:39:18 -0500 The next DOS meeting will be at the Ashland Nature Center next Wednesday, January 18 at 7pm. It is the annual Christmas Bird Count wrap up meeting hosted by Jim White, DOS CBC organizer, with presentations about the Wilmington, Middletown, Bombay Hook, Rehoboth, and Cape Henlopen/Prime Hook CBCs. It is also chili night! Please let Jim White know if you will be bringing chili, bread, or drinks. Email him at hylajwhite AT aol.com. Directions to the center can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. Joe Sebastiani DOS Program Chair Subject: Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers - Winter Marsh Raptor Surveys From: "Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" <Anthony.Gonzon AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:22:07 +0000 Greetings all, Suffering from Hawkwatch withdrawl? Want to try a new survey? Ever see a Short-eared Owl glide effortlessly across the marsh at dusk? Read on, if I have your attention! Back in 2009, the Cape May Bird Observatory established a long-term survey of raptors wintering in the coastal marshes of southern New Jersey. Focus birds included Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers along with any other raptors that may occur in the coastal areas. This year, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife is joining that survey so we can have a Delaware Bay-wide snapshot of our wintering marsh raptors! Repeating this survey over several years will help us better understand the number of marsh raptors that use Delaware, identify the areas that are most important for them, and track how their winter populations may change due to weather or habitat conditions. On Saturday, January 21 and Saturday, February 18, we will join our friends across the bay to count winter raptors. Survey sites have been designated up and down the Delaware Bay coast to cover as much of our marshes as possible. These surveys are not very long, beginning one hour before sunset and ending a half hour after sunset. The January survey will begin at 4:10 PM and end at 5:40 PM. The February survey will begin at 4:42 PM and end at 6:12 PM. During that time, we scan the marsh every 15 minutes, counting every marsh raptor we see. Alternate weather dates are January 22 and February 19. If this is something that interests you, we can use your help! We are looking volunteers to man each of the survey points. If you are interested in participating, please contact me off-list for more detailed information, maps and directions. Good birding, Anthony ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anthony T. Gonzon, Jr. DE Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program DE Division of Fish and Wildlife, DNREC 4876 Hay Point Landing Road Smyrna, DE 19977 Phone: 302-735-8673 Visit Delaware's Breeding Bird Atlas online: www.fw.delaware.gov/bba Subject: satellite tracked Bald Eagle at Hoopes From: joe sebastiani <joe AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:13:37 -0500 I got a phone call from Jane Bullis this morning, a Naturalist at Merrill Creek Reservoir in Washington, NJ. She explained that a Bald Eagle that they banded and fitted with a satellite transmitter has been hanging around Hoopes Reservoir and Dragon Run Marsh for the last several days. The bird was banded as a nestling so it is a brown juvenile. If you bird either of these sites or practically anywhere in between in the near future, you may see the bird and the antenna sticking out of its back. Also, if you want to track its movements, go to this link, http://www.merrillcreek.com/eagletracking.html and look at the second map. This juvenile went to the Harrisburg area before coming to Delaware and spending time at Dragon Run Marsh. If you look at the points on the map, it appears that the eagle is going back and forth between Dragon Run and Hoopes Reservoir over the last week or so. Yesterday, it was at Hoopes and went up into Chester County along the Brandywine River. If you actually see this bird, feel free to report it to Jane Bullis at jbullis AT merrillcreek.com. Joe Sebastiani Seasonal Programs Team Leader Delaware Nature Society P.O. Box 700 Hockessin, DE 19707 (302) 239-2334 ext. 115 fax (302) 239-2473 joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org web: www.delawarenaturesociety.org The Nature of Delaware Blog: www.delawarenaturesociety.org/blog Subject: Greater White fronted Goose - Bombay Hook From: Maryanne Dolan <maryanne.dolan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:11:48 -0500 There is a beautiful adult Greater White-fronted Goose at Bombay Hook - Bear Swamp Pool. Richard Donham spotted the bird and we all (Pat Valdata, David Francis and I) got great looks. A life bird for me! The avocets continue, along with 1 Black necked stilt. We also had a screech owl sleeping in a wood duck box. Great views; great day at Bombay Hook. maryanne dolan elkton, md Subject: Oak Grove Area 1/8/12 From: "Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)" <Glen.Lovelace AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:13:48 +0000 Hello All, The frequency of my bird reports was severely lacking in 2011, so I will attempt to do better in 2012 (even if a couple days late). For those that forgot or are new the "Oak Grove Area" refers to my local patch the straddles the state line between Federalsburg, MD (Caroline Co) and Seaford, DE (Sussex Co.). I record the birds I find on my property and in a one-mile circle around the house. The area is split almost 50/50 between the states. Anyway, on Sunday, the best bird I found was a Tree Sparrow in my stickpile (DE). This only my 2nd record. The first was during the blizzards in Feb 1996. Other birds of interest were Cedar Waxwing (1st January record), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3rd Jan record - can be scarce inland) - both MD. Also a GBH and a flock of 70 Killdeer, both of which are absent in colder winters. A flock of 75 pipits was on Kinder Rd (MD) at the sharp bend. In all, 46 species was a very good start to the year list. Good birding, Glen Lovelace III Seaford, DE Subject: DOS Seawatch II - Sunday, January 15, 8am-12pm From: "Gonzon Anthony T. (DNREC)" <Anthony.Gonzon AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:21:18 +0000 Greetings all, This Sunday, from 8 AM until noon, Chris Bennett and I will be leading a DOS Seawatch at Indian River Inlet. This is the second of three planned Seawatch trips this winter. Recent reports from the inlet indicate that we may see all three species of scoters, long-tailed ducks, gannets, common eiders, common and red-throated loons, Bonaparte's gulls, Forster's terns, great cormorants and purple sandpipers. Black-headed and little gulls may be among the Bonaparte's if we are lucky. A king eider had been spotted on Dec. 20 at the Inlet and there have been regional reports of razorbills, king eiders, and harlequin ducks, so they are possibilities! The count will be conducted from the south side of the inlet. Meet at the south side ocean parking lot at 8:00. When coming from the north, you will have to cross over the bridge and make a U-turn and then head north to the entrance at the base of the bridge. Please dress appropriately. If the forecast is for colder temperatures, keep in mind it will feel a few degrees cooler along the ocean, especially if the wind is blowing in from the ocean. Gloves and a knit hat are highly recommended. You may also wish to bring a chair along with your regular birding equipment. If you would be interested in carpooling with me from Odessa, please let me know off list. I have room for two and may be able to recruit others to assist. If the weather forecast turns too foul, I may be forced to cancel. In that event, look for an announcement on de-birds on Saturday evening before 8 pm. Last month, twenty participants joined us for some excellent seawatching! Come join us for some great fun and the best chance to see wintering seabirds without being on the water! Good birding, Ant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anthony T. Gonzon, Jr. DE Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program DE Division of Fish and Wildlife, DNREC 4876 Hay Point Landing Road Smyrna, DE 19977 Phone: 302-735-8673 Visit Delaware's Breeding Bird Atlas online: www.fw.delaware.gov/bba Subject: THREE and 20 Blackbirds From: "Fees David F. (DNREC)" <David.Fees AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:16:12 +0000 Just as the snow started to fall yesterday evening (1/9), I came upon a flock of Rusty Blackbirds along Isaac Branch in Brecknock Park, Camden, DE. They were foraging in the wooded swamp not far upstream from the ball fields. Both males and females were observed, but none with the warm browns supposedly typical of winter plumage. I saw only 5-6 at a time, but was surprised that once they all flew up and into a nearby tree, they totaled 23. Seems the 24th was late to dinner. Dave