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19 Jun Celebrate the Longest day of the year on an owl prowl: [Jessica Provinski ] 19 Jun 17 in a tree... [BenTebbens ] 18 Jun Juvenile peregines returned to nest on St. Georges Bridge [Bob Bryant ] 18 Jun CORRECTION - Re: [de-birds] Annual DOS Picnic this WEDNESDAY [Bill Stewart ] 17 Jun Kent County June Challenge Update [Christopher Bennett ] 17 Jun Annual DOS Picnic this weekend [Bill Stewart ] 17 Jun 17 egrets.... [BenTebbens ] 17 Jun Birds Today [Dave & Joy Peters ] 17 Jun egrets at the hook... [BenTebbens ] 17 Jun Re: Ruby throated Hummingbird jewelry [Charles Vaughn ] 17 Jun Cedar Swamp Road ["sally o'byrne" ] 16 Jun Nice Morning at Prime Hook NWR [Sharon ] 16 Jun Black Necked Stilt Chicks and Tree Swallow Feeding [Jerry am Ende ] 15 Jun Photo Study Of Dicksissels And Other Birds At Bombay Hook NWR (Kent County), 6/15/13 ["Howard B. Eskin" ] 15 Jun Ruby throated Hummingbird jewelry [Chuck Fullmer ] 15 Jun tickled blue... [ ] 15 Jun RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 14th, 2013 [Andrew Ednie ] 15 Jun Newark Reservoir & WCC Possum Hill [Kar DeGeiso ] 14 Jun deal... [BenTebbens ] 14 Jun Black Tern s Multiplied ["cpb2564 AT gmail.com" ] 14 Jun Black Tern at Little Creek WA ["cpb2564 AT gmail.com" ] 14 Jun OT: [JERSEYBI] Mississippi Kites (15), Belleplain [Bill Stewart ] 13 Jun Beginner DOS bird walk [Joe Sebastiani ] 13 Jun Action Alert Senate Bills on Tongass NF and Cape Hatteras [Kurt Schwarz ] 13 Jun Falcon Photos [Jerry am Ende ] 12 Jun Middletown and Rte 9 [Kar DeGeiso ] 12 Jun Mispillion Inlet - Kent County side ["cpb2564 AT gmail.com" ] 12 Jun REMINDER: 6th Annual Peregrine FalconWatch - June 12th [Bill Stewart ] 11 Jun mystery bird - orchard oriole [] 12 Jun Off topic: Using tablet for birding photo backup? [Denise Bittle ] 11 Jun June Challenge-WCC II error, please read [Kar DeGeiso ] 11 Jun June Challenge- WCC II [Kar DeGeiso ] 11 Jun June Challenge- White Clay Creek [Kar DeGeiso ] 10 Jun Re: Red-shouldered Hawk Nest Activity Report [Lloyd ] 10 Jun Red-shouldered Hawk Nest Activity Report [Derek Stoner ] 10 Jun Delaware Bird-A-Thon Pledges [Bill Stewart ] 9 Jun Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest [Dennis Barrowclough ] 9 Jun June Challenge - the first nine days [Christopher Bennett ] 9 Jun Dickcissels [Joe Sebastiani ] 9 Jun i-pods [Kar DeGeiso ] 9 Jun Red-shouldered Hawks [Kar DeGeiso ] 9 Jun Fw: [de-birds] Bombay Hook Dickcissel [Jerry am Ende ] 9 Jun Bombay Hook Dickcissel [Jerry am Ende ] 8 Jun Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve walks [Joe Sebastiani ] 8 Jun Alder Flycatcher et al [] 8 Jun RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 7th, 2013 [Andrew Ednie ] 8 Jun Little Blue Heron at Dennison Ridge [Debra Chiczewski ] 6 Jun Re: Bird Photography [John Hoyt ] 6 Jun Hooded Warblers - White Clay Creek [Hank Davis ] 6 Jun Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Background and Update [Derek Stoner ] 6 Jun Re: Found Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Thanks [Sharon Comcast ] 6 Jun Dickcissel still at Bombay Hook [Brian McCaffrey ] 6 Jun Alder Flycatcher still present on Lighthouse Road ["Gonzon, Anthony T. (DNREC)" ] 6 Jun Bird Photography [Dave & Joy Peters ] 6 Jun Found Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Thanks [Dennis Barrowclough ] 6 Jun Bombay Hook this morning [Christopher Bennett ] 5 Jun Mothing Events : National Moth Week [Dan Haas ] 6 Jun Common Loons at Newark Reservoir [Amy White ] 5 Jun egrets... [BenTebbens ] 5 Jun Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest - Where [Dennis Barrowclough ] 5 Jun Dickcissel near the Allee House at Bombay Hook NWR [] 5 Jun Re: Nice morning at Prime Hook NWR ["Bennett, Chris (DNREC)" ] 5 Jun Re: Egrets... [MaryLou Schoff ] 5 Jun Egrets... [ ] 4 Jun Nice morning at Prime Hook NWR [Sharon Lynn ] 4 Jun Getting alder [Colin Campbell ] 4 Jun Port Penn, 1,000 Acre Marsh, Dragon Run [Kar DeGeiso ] 4 Jun Re: hummers.. [MaryLou Schoff ] 4 Jun Re: hummers.. [Patricia Valdata ] 3 Jun hummers.. [BenTebbens ] 3 Jun Gallinules at Bombay Hook Yesterday [Christopher Bennett ] 3 Jun Ruby-throated Humming and ... [Chuck Fullmer ] 3 Jun Horsehoe Crabs, Turtles, and Frogs [Gina Sheridan ] 3 Jun Bird-A-Thon reminder ["sally o'byrne" ] 3 Jun Re: Continuing Alder Flycatcher at Lighthouse Road ["Bennett, Chris (DNREC)" ] 3 Jun Continuing Alder Flycatcher at Lighthouse Road [Christopher Bennett ] Subject: Celebrate the Longest day of the year on an owl prowl: From: Jessica Provinski <stewardship AT TLCFORSCC.ORG> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:00:56 -0400 With The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County Summer Solstice Celebration Friday June 21, 2013 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Location: Stateline Woods Preserve; 814 Merrybell Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Join The Land Conservancy for the changing of seasons and the longest day of the year at our Stateline Woods Preserve. Venture through the woodlands in search for OWLS and other creatures of the night. Barred, Screech and Great-horned owls are known to roam the preserve. Light refreshments will be provided. Click here to register for this program or call 610-347-0347 ext 104. Jessica Moore Provinski The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County Land Stewardship Coordinator -Sponsorship Coordinator WE HAVE A NEW LOOK: www.tlcforscc.org 610-347-0347 ext 103 Connect with us: Facebook Twitter TLC BLOG Subject: 17 in a tree... From: BenTebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:12:18 -0400 Well, just a follow up on the amazing egret sight I saw two days ago up at Bombay Hook. Well, layed there in bed Tuesday morning about 3:30am and thought why not, I've seen some amazing shots with what I guess is the sun, a great big red ball and red filled sky behind them, egrets that is. So I headed back up, well before sunrise from Lincoln;) and guess what...nodda;) Nothing at all, well there ended up three in the same spot/tree but that's it. Lots of fly by's as they rose from the marshy floor but just seemed to have no need to stop by that little grove Tuesday morning. I got wondering if they had gotten the de-birds e-mail post and said I'll teach him;) Oh well, got some nice shots of what I believe are a couple types of "flycatchers" but need to find out what kind they are before saying...a blue and white, could have been maybe black but seemed to have a dark blue sheen to it and a yellow and tan looking fellow, kind of bushy all over, kind of like when I need to just trim it up a bit;) I saw several sightings of each of these and maybe a pair of the yellow and tan ones but maybe they were two males...so much to learn. Before I forget, as I was pulling in, while it was still a bit dark, all I could see almost every twenty feet were blue flashes darting off or across the dirt road. They looked like Indigo Buntings and do believe I saw quite a few latter on that morning but they seemed to be everywhere unless the same one kept moving up the path? Of course lots of blue grosbeaks and barn swallows as well. Just a thought about the egrets massive roost, the one thing that I thought may have happened the night before the fest, it had rained pretty heavely...those gals, probably guys too, don't kill me, preened themselves for what seemed an hour or more. Maybe the overnight rain had them get themselves cleaned up a bit before heading out for their morning snack?? On that note this morning probably would have been a good one to maybe prove my theory but alas I've got things to do and gas doesn't grow on tree's and back to work for a few days tomorrow;) Thanks all for letting me share my wonderful day with you and some thoughts on such amazingly beautiful creatures. If anyone else has some idea's or thoughts on why the roost when they do please don't hesitate to drop me/us a line, it would be so much appreciated. Wishing everyone the best, God bless, Ben. p.s, in case you didn't get a chance to see the "roosting" sight I'm writing about feel free to check out the link below. Thanks for everyone who has and does from time to time. It means so much;) 17 egrets in a tree: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21183284 AT N05/9072561770/ Subject: Juvenile peregines returned to nest on St. Georges Bridge From: Bob Bryant <bryantbob AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:09:15 -0400 DNREC News Release: "A winning combination of citizen awareness, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service collaborated recently to rescue and subsequently return a pair of juvenile peregrine falcons to their nesting location on the St. Georges Bridge over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal after they had “crash-landed” on the bridge’s roadway while attempting their first flight." Subject: CORRECTION - Re: [de-birds] Annual DOS Picnic this WEDNESDAY From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:40:59 -0400 CORRECTION: The previous post had 'weekend' in the Subject line, it should have said WEDNESDAY. On Jun 17, 2013, at 8:53 PM, Bill Stewart wrote: Good Evening, As a reminder, the Annual DOS Picnic & Bird-A-Thon Awards will be held this WEDNESDAY at the Flint Woods Preserve AT 5:30. Members and non-members are welcomed to attend and enjoy this end of the year social gathering and celebration where we will also award the newly elected DOS Fellows and Honorary Members. Hamburgers & hotdogs will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring a summer themed side dish or dessert and should bring a beverage of their choice. Entrance to the Flint Woods Preserve is off of Center Meeting Rd. directly opposite Pyle's Ford Rd. in Centerville, DE. The entrance is an unmarked driveway. Proceed down the driveway until you see the parking area and barn on your left. Hope to see many of you there, the weather is predicted to be wonderful. Bill Stewart Subject: Kent County June Challenge Update From: Christopher Bennett <cpb2564 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:40:04 -0400 Hello, With the halfway point just past and a report of a Common Loon just a short ride on the tide from Kent County I headed out to Mispillion Inlet tonight to see if it was still around. The harbor was loonless – but there were tons of gulls, 6 Caspian Terns (including a begging juvenile – post breeders up from down south most likely), lots of Willets, two Black Bellied Plovers, a bunch of American Black Ducks and Mallards and a few Clapper Rails in the tidal creek behind back beach – all in Kent County – but alas all already on my list. There were also now 2 immature Brown Pelicans on the sandbar on the south (Sussex County) side of the inlet. So with 13 days left until the end of the month I have seen 141 species in Kent County. There are still a few relatively common birds that I have yet to bag – and a few less common species that could show up. So for those interested my list to date is below. And keeping with the pledge I made to Kar – I have IDed 108 species with the naked eye, 27 species with the aid of binocs (135 species scopeless) and 6 species with the aid of a spotting scope. And in addition to the species I’ve seen there are five species that I have heard but not seen – Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great Horned Owl, Hooded Warbler and Kentucky Warbler. The complete list of seen birds is below. CANADA GOOSE TUNDRA SWAN WOOD DUCK GREEN-WINGED TEAL AMERICAN BLACK DUCK MALLARD GADWALL BLACK SCOTER RUDDY DUCK WILD TURKEY NORTHERN BOBWHITE HORNED GREBE BROWN PELICAN DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT LEAST BITTERN GREAT BLUE HERON GREAT EGRET SNOWY EGRET GREEN HERON BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON GLOSSY IBIS TURKEY VULTURE BLACK VULTURE OSPREY BALD EAGLE NORTHERN HARRIER COOPER'S HAWK RED-TAILED HAWK AMERICAN KESTREL CLAPPER RAIL VIRGINIA RAIL COMMON GALLINULE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER SEMIPALMATED PLOVER KILLDEER AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER BLACK-NECKED STILT AMERICAN AVOCET GREATER YELLOWLEGS LESSER YELLOWLEGS WILLET RUDDY TURNSTONE RED KNOT SANDERLING SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER LEAST SANDPIPER WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER DUNLIN SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER RED-NECKED PHALAROPE LAUGHING GULL RING-BILLED GULL HERRING GULL LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL CASPIAN TERN ROYAL TERN BLACK TERN LEAST TERN COMMON TERN FORSTER'S TERN BLACK SKIMMER ROCK DOVE MOURNING DOVE EASTERN SCREECH OWL BARRED OWL CHIMNEY SWIFT RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD BELTED KINGFISHER RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER DOWNY WOODPECKER HAIRY WOODPECKER NORTHERN FLICKER PILEATED WOODPECKER EASTERN WOOD PEWEE ACADIAN FLYCATCHER WILLOW FLYCATCHER ALDER FLYCATCHER EASTERN PHOEBE GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER EASTERN KINGBIRD WHITE-EYED VIREO YELLOW-THROATED VIREO RED-EYED VIREO BLUE JAY AMERICAN CROW FISH CROW HORNED LARK PURPLE MARTIN TREE SWALLOW BANK SWALLOW CLIFF SWALLOW BARN SWALLOW CAROLINA CHICKADEE TUFTED TITMOUSE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH CAROLINA WREN HOUSE WREN MARSH WREN BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER EASTERN BLUEBIRD WOOD THRUSH AMERICAN ROBIN GRAY CATBIRD NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD BROWN THRASHER EUROPEAN STARLING CEDAR WAXWING YELLOW WARBLER YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER PINE WARBLER BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER PROTHONOTARY WARBLER WORM-EATING WARBLER OVENBIRD LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH COMMON YELLOWTHROAT YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT SCARLET TANAGER NORTHERN CARDINAL BLUE GROSBEAK INDIGO BUNTING DICKCISSEL EASTERN TOWHEE CHIPPING SPARROW FIELD SPARROW GRASSHOPPER SPARROW SEASIDE SPARROW SONG SPARROW SWAMP SPARROW RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD EASTERN MEADOWLARK BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE COMMON GRACKLE BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD ORCHARD ORIOLE HOUSE FINCH AMERICAN GOLDFINCH HOUSE SPARROW Chris Bennett Milford, DE Subject: Annual DOS Picnic this weekend From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:53:32 -0400 Good Evening, As a reminder, the Annual DOS Picnic & Bird-A-Thon Awards will be held this Wednesday at the Flint Woods Preserve AT 5:30. Members and non-members are welcomed to attend and enjoy this end of the year social gathering and celebration where we will also award the newly elected DOS Fellows and Honorary Members. Hamburgers & hotdogs will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring a summer themed side dish or dessert and should bring a beverage of their choice. Entrance to the Flint Woods Preserve is off of Center Meeting Rd. directly opposite Pyle's Ford Rd. in Centerville, DE. The entrance is an unmarked driveway. Proceed down the driveway until you see the parking area and barn on your left. Hope to see many of you there, the weather is predicted to be wonderful. Bill Stewart Subject: 17 egrets.... From: BenTebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:35:18 -0400 Wow, I've just have never had a good a day like this one was. Of course probably just haven't been looking at the right places or the right time...but thank God today...I got it right;) The most amazing day. I ventured up north again in search of some more photo ops of those gorgeous Egrets. I asked Glenda to check the weather just before retiring last night and I was actually tickled and "hopeful" when I saw partly cloudy with a chance of "rain" in the afternoon. Those white egrets give me fits getting them exposed right with the glaring sun shinning down on them, so I was hoping the clouds would help limit that a bit. Well, as I rounded the "Raymond Pool", I couldn't believe it....a handful of egrets resting/preening themselves in those glorious dead trees just beyond the curve!! Then they just kept coming in!! At one point, as you can see in the picture that I tried to take just to show the event...I count 17 egrets and of course a lovely heron;) I've just never seen anything like this...I'm sure most of you guys have but, please don't mind my enthusiasm;) I just couldn't have asked for "anything" better. I'm sure I'll be working on the tons of shots I got over the next few months...well, probably years but if you'd like to see the wide angle, well zoom version of the amazing scene, please feel free to check out the flickr link or facebook link below;) Wishing everyone the very very best. Thanks again for bearing with me, God bless, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21183284 AT N05/9072561770/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=610235708994089&set=a.102625589755106.5924.100000229952258&type=1&theater Subject: Birds Today From: Dave & Joy Peters <trogon1000 AT MSN.COM> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:36:42 -0400 Birding was quite good today. We went to Bombay Hook in the morning and had the pleasure of seeing the dickcissel singing its heart out along the road to the Allee House. First it was about 30 feet up in a tree on the left and then it flew and perched on a tall blade of grass in the right hand meadow. Two clapper rails chased each other across the road at Raymond Pool, and a northern bobwhite was foraging along the road near Finis woods. We saw seaside sparrows along Port Mahon Road, at Mispillion and again at Fowler’s Beach. It was a surprise to also see a common loon paddling about and preening at Mispillion. It was in the channel that parallels the entry road. Fowler’s Beach was fun because of the quantity of black skimmers, clapper rails and various terns – Caspian, Forster’s, common and least. We were also pleased to see an American avocet and about a dozen red knots – maybe more. All in all, we enjoyed our day. Joy Peters Dover, Delaware trogon1000 AT msn.com ______________________________________________ Joy & Dave Peters 115 Waters Edge Drive Dover, DE 19904-1252 Subject: egrets at the hook... From: BenTebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:43:39 -0400 Wow, just a gorgeous morning today at Bombay Hook!! Think I counted 15 egrets preening in one little grove...amazing...never seen it like that, don't get here that much I guess. Got some shots...maybe a few turned out...I hope. Thanks all, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln:) Subject: Re: Ruby throated Hummingbird jewelry From: Charles Vaughn <charlesvaughn08 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:10:57 -0400 Amazing, is this April 1st :) Charlie Vaughn Seaford On 6/15/2013 11:10 PM, Chuck Fullmer wrote: > This evening, I had at least 8 banded RTHUs at my home. Excellent light > and cooperative birds made it easy to clearly photograph partial band > codes. I hope Bruce Peterjohn can pull a banding location from his data > with the few digits visible. > http://www.flickr.com/photos/allseasonshooter/9053057531/in/photostrea > m/ > > > > Chuck Fullmer > > Georgetown > Subject: Cedar Swamp Road From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:45:55 -0400 Yesterday while driving home from Rehoboth up Rt 9, I diverted to drive down Cedar Swamp Road about 4 pm. It is the right turn by the black navigational light at Taylor's Bridge. On this one stretch of road, I got 2 N. Bobwhite, 2 Meadowlark, and 3 Kestrel. One Bobwhite crossed the road in front of the car, and the other was singing up a storm, sitting at the top of a broken corn stalk. We also saw a fox cross the road, so I wonder how the ground nesting birds will fare....... Sally O'Byrne Subject: Nice Morning at Prime Hook NWR From: Sharon <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:48:29 -0400 Sally O'Byrne and I went to Prime Hook Beach Rd and Fowler Beach this morning. It was lovely, and no insects were biting. Highlights were TRI-COLORED HERON, BLACK-NECKED STILT, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and LESSER YELLOWLEGS on Prime Hook Beach Rd, and at least 100 RED KNOTS, 2 DUNLIN, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and LEAST SANDPIPERS and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS at Fowler Beach. CASPIAN, LEAST, FORSTER'S, COMMON, and BLACK SKIMMER TERNS WERE everywhere. AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, GADWALL were also nice to see for the June Challenge. On the way out, we saw a CATTLE EGRET at the retention pond area next to the church by Ouster Rocks Rd. Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Sent from my iPhone Subject: Black Necked Stilt Chicks and Tree Swallow Feeding From: Jerry am Ende <alal19808 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:29:10 -0700 From yesterday's visit to Bombay Hook NWR.   First the Stilt Chicks:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/34185009 AT N02/9051549395/   Next the Tree Swallows:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/34185009 AT N02/9051687081/   ...Jerry Subject: Photo Study Of Dicksissels And Other Birds At Bombay Hook NWR (Kent County), 6/15/13 From: "Howard B. Eskin" <hbeskin AT VOICENET.COM> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:11:24 -0400 Congressman Jim Greenwood and I visited Bombay Hook NWR today and were not disappointed. We saw and photographed the previously reported Dicksissels in the field on the road to Allee House. The Willets were putting on "courting displays" and the bright sunshine gave us many photo ops with the other birds. To see the Photo Study and a list of species seen today, please click on the following link: http://www.howardsview.com/BombayHookJune15th_13/BombayHookJune15_13.html Regards, Howard Howard B. Eskin, Ph.D, P.E. Harleysville (Montco), PA Subject: Ruby throated Hummingbird jewelry From: Chuck Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:10:09 -0400 This evening, I had at least 8 banded RTHUs at my home. Excellent light and cooperative birds made it easy to clearly photograph partial band codes. I hope Bruce Peterjohn can pull a banding location from his data with the few digits visible. http://www.flickr.com/photos/allseasonshooter/9053057531/in/photostrea m/ Chuck Fullmer Georgetown Subject: tickled blue... From: bentebbens AT comcast.net <bentebbens@COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:34:28 -0400 So so glad, looks like second batch of Eastern Blue Birds on their way:) Yeah...not sure if feeding or just starting new nest...good box activity but I'm watching the hummers right now:) Thank God, looks like there...almost back as well:) Some very bright males, just gorgeous. Will try and keep you posted on the blues, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln:) Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 14th, 2013 From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:39:23 -0400 RBA * Delaware * Statewide * June 14, 2013 * DEST1306.14 *Birds mentioned Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall Northern Shoveler Black Scoter Surf Scoter Ruddy Duck Northern Bobwhite Common Loon Brown Pelican Least Bittern Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron Glossy Ibis Osprey Bald Eagle Broad-winged Hawk Peregrine Falcon American Kestrel Virginia Rail Clapper Rail Common Gallinule Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot White-rumped Sandpiper Lesser Black-backed Gull Least Tern Caspian Tern Black Tern Common Tern Royal Tern Black Skimmer Yellow-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Whippoorwill Red-headed Woodpecker Willow Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Brown-headed Nuthatch Marsh Wren Worm-eating Warbler American Redstart Louisiana Waterthrush Kentucky Warbler Northern Parula Prairie Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Summer Tanager Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Saltmarsh Sparrow Dickcissel Eastern Meadowlark Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: June 14, 2013 Number: 302-658-2747 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) For Friday, June 14th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2013 Delaware state annual list remains at 295 species. The DICKCISSEL reported last week at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge continues to be seen along the Alle House Road. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS was also reported in the fields around the Alle House. As many as five COMMON GALLINULES were reported at the refuge, along with LEAST BITTERN, BLACK-CROWNED, and a single YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Remaining shorebirds included SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, AMERICAN AVOCET and nesting BLACK-NECKED STILT. BLACK SKIMMER and CASPIAN TERN were seen at Sheerness Pool. TUNDRA SWAN and RUDDY DUCK also remain. A CLIFF SWALLOW was also reported this week. This is been exceptional year for CLIFF SWALLOWS. Birds at been seen nesting at the Leipsic Bridge and at Flemings Landing along Route 9. A census along the Appoquinimink Creek near Odessa found 21 nests with over 50 birds at the north bridge on Route 9. There was only one active nest at the south bridge. There were approximately 10 active nests with over 20 CLIFF SWALLOWS on the Route 1 Bridge just south of Odessa. Those birds were seen from Route 13. The previous reported ALDER FLYCATCHER at Lighthouse Road, just north of Woodland Beach Wildlife Area was heard on Saturday but has not been reported since Six BLACK TERNS, three of them in breeding plumage were reported at Little Creek Wildlife Management Area today. Also reported there was to calling VIRGINIA RAIL and LEAST BITTERN. A BLACK SCOTER was seen on the Delaware Bay from the Port Mahon Road. Also reported was SALTMARSH SPARROW. LEAST TERN and NORTHERN BOBWHITE were reported at the Logan Tract. BROWN PELICAN and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were reported at Mispillion Inlet those birds were seen on the Kent County side. Also seen were 5 to 6 BLACK SKIMMER, 2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, and a CLAPPER RAIL BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RED KNOT and RUDDY TURNSTONE are still being seen at Fowler's Beach in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Nesting BLACK-NECKED STILTS were reported along the Prime Hook Beach Road. Also seen at Fowler's was a flock of 125 BLACK SKIMMERS plus LEAST and 3 ROYAL TERNS. CASPIAN and COMMON TERN were also reported at Prime Hook Beach Road. CATTLE EGRET was found in a yard along Cods Road. BROWN PELICAN and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, with PIPING PLOVERS were reported at The Point in Cape Henlopen State Park. BLACK and SURF SCOTER were seen along the breakwater. COMMON NIGHTHAWK and WHIPPOORWILL were found at the park in the evening. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES with two juveniles reported coming to a feeder in Dewey Beach. Four VESPER SPARROWS plus GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were reported along Ponders Road, north of Ellendale. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at Redden State Forest. Also reported there were SUMMER TANAGER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, KENTUCKY, and PRAIRIE WARBLER. DICKCISSEL was also found at the Charles Price Memorial Park in Middletown, along with EASTERN MEADOWLARK, GRASSHOPPER, and nesting SAVANNAH SPARROWS. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was found at Blackbird State Forest. WORM-EATING and KENTUCKY WARBLERS were also reported. Cedar Swamp Road in southeastern New Castle County had NORTHERN BOBWHITE, MEADOWLARK, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, and AMERICAN KESTREL. COMMON GALLINULES continue to be seen along the boardwalk at Augustine Beach Wildlife Area, north of Port Penn. A small raft of RUDDY DUCKS was reported at Thousand Acre Marsh. Waders seen flying from the heronry at Pea Patch Island in Delaware City included LITTLE BLUE HERON, CATTLE EGRET, and GLOSSY IBIS. Several BALD EAGLES and OSPREY were also seen. LITTLE BLUE HERONS were also found this week, ranging further north into Hockessin and at Brandywine Creek State Park. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was also reported at Brandywine Creek. The field along the entrance road there had WILLOW FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, PRAIRIE WARBLER, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and a pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS. A late COMMON LOON was reported at Newark Reservoir. VEERY was found at White Clay Creek State Park, north of Newark, along with LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, AMERICAN REDSTART, and NORTHERN PARULA. A pair of KESTRELS were also seen at the University of Delaware's Ag Farm. Waterfowl at the Veolia Water Treatment plant at Cherry Island included GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and a breeding plumaged RUDDY DUCK. GREEN HERON and 12 WOOD DUCKS were also reported there. This is private property without public access. WOOD DUCK was also reported at the Russell Peterson Wildlife Refuge in downtown Wilmington. Two rarities there were VIRGINIA RAIL and MARSH WREN. The PEREGRINE FALCONS put on quite a show in downtown Wilmington this week. 170 people observed the birds, ariel feeding their young from atop the parking garage across from the Brandywine Building on Wednesday. Many thanks to those people that helped put together the Birdline this week including, Michael Bowen, Alan Kneidel, Frank Rohrbacher, Todd Fellenbaum, Jerry am Ende, Anthony Gonzon, Bill Stewart, Beverly Corelle, Sue Gruver, Derek Stoner, Brian Henderson, Sally O'Byrne, Chris Bennett, Gina Sheridan, Kar DeGesio, , Lynn Smith and Mason Sieges,. If you want to get your report mentioned, please call me at 302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Until next time, good birding!!! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Newark Reservoir & WCC Possum Hill From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:43:26 -0400 Yesterday, right after work, I went to the Newark Library for some research. While I was there, I decided to go to the Reservoir for the Loon and White Clay Creek Possum Hill for the Bobolink. Still in my WaWa "black" shirt and pants, I started up the hill to the reservoir. There's always a wind there, so it wasn't so bad. I felt like a ninja while everyone else was in shorts and tees. I checked out the pond next to the parking lot as I was going up and found a Green Heron, hanging out next to the rocks. Fish were jumping all around him. There were also Fish Crows, Cedar Waxwings, Song sparrows. At the top, I saw the Loon. He was on the other side. The sun was in my face, so I started around the reservoir to the other side. I saw Mallards with their babies, heard a Great Crested Flycatcher. I got to the other side, raised my glasses.... and found that he had moved across the reservoir to where I had started. UGHHHHH! OK, back around again. I kept checking on him, every few minutes. I finally did get a chance to ID him. Common Loon. Next up to Possum Hill and Silent Knights field for the Bobolink. I started walking across the field, toward the ponds. I could hear American Crows, Red- eyed Vireos. Suddenly, I heard the Bobolink. I turned my head, and there he was, flying, in lazy circles. You could see his jet black wings and white patches on his back. He circled about 3 times and then slowly settled into the high grass..... Wow. Another "Here I am" moment. I may not win this Challenge, but I sure have some awesome sightings of birds. My count now stands at 75. I have 3 days off next week. Can't wait to see what I can find. Kar DeGeiso Newark "One bird at a time" Subject: deal... From: BenTebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:10:01 -0400 Hope you guys and gals don't mind this little off topic post. I just left Wal-Mart in Milford and found an incredible deal on a 40 lb bag of "Black Oil Sunflower" seed for only $20.00. I'll probably be trying to get another bag this weekend if I can. I know this is a bit unusual and sure hope you all don't mind but just thought this was "almost" to good to not share. p.s, our store didn't have the price listed but an associate scanned it and sure enough $20 dollars;) I haven't opened it yet and of course hoping it's of good quality. It's in a green bag. God bless, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. Subject: Black Tern s Multiplied From: "cpb2564 AT gmail.com" <cpb2564@GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:55:53 -0400 Shortly after earlier post I started seeing more terns, and it wasn't due to aging eyes (it's my near vision that's declining). It took a few minutes to determine exactly how many individuals there were. It turned out to be 3 alternate plumage birds, o e fading adult and 2 basic plumage birds - 6 in all. I also had at least 2 calling Virginia Rails and 1 Least Bittern. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID Subject: Black Tern at Little Creek WA From: "cpb2564 AT gmail.com" <cpb2564@GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:42:12 -0400 There is a single alternate plumage adult Black Tern hunting over the impoundment in front of the tower at Little Creek. Also three Black-necked Stilt nests visible. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID Subject: OT: [JERSEYBI] Mississippi Kites (15), Belleplain From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:23:13 -0400 Hello all, Thought this post by Tom Reed from JerseyBirds on 6/12 was of interest and certainly close enough for some interested DE birders. Latest report from a few minutes ago was that there are still 12 MIKI at the location mentioned in the post below. Good birding, Bill Hi all, Following several recent reports in the area, Michael O'Brien found 15 Mississippi Kites in Belleplain State Forest this morning. These birds appeared to all be immatures, and were most easily viewed from the North Shore Campground, which is located along the northeast end of Lake Nummy. I'm not sure that parking in the campsites is the most fantastic idea ever, but this does tend to be a quiet corner of the park. Be sensible and respect guests' privacy. Best viewing this morning was from the area of campsite #23. Across the lake from this spot is a prominent bare tree where the birds spent a decent amount of time hanging out. Please also keep in mind that there is a fee (NJ residents $5, non-residents $10-- twice as much on weekends) to access the Lake Nummy area. A map of the area: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/maps/bellplainwhole.pdf Michael's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75795935 AT N08/9026347767/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/75795935 AT N08/9026968895/in/photostream/ I believe this total represents a state high count for the species-- and hopefully the cicada buffet will keep them around for a while! Folks in other areas where cicadas are present should keep an eye out for kites... seems like a good year to find a pair nesting somewhere. good birding tr -- Tom Reed Reed's Beach NJ coturnicops at gmail dot com List archives: https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=jerseybi How to report NJ bird sightings: Subject: Beginner DOS bird walk From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:34:42 -0400 This Saturday at 8am, I will be leading a beginner birding walk at Valley Garden Park. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. We will look for birds that are nesting in the park to get good views and learn identification tips and try to recognize some nesting breeding behaviors of common birds. This is a child-friendly event. Valley Garden Park is located on Route 82 north of Route 52. From Wilmington, take Route 52 north and go through the village of Greenville. At the light at the intersection of Route 82 and 52, make a left. Follow Route 82 for approximately 1 mile to Valley Garden Park on the left. We will take about a 2 hour walk around the park. Joe Sebastiani Subject: Action Alert Senate Bills on Tongass NF and Cape Hatteras From: Kurt Schwarz <goawaybird AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:57:06 -0400 The National Audubon Society has issued an alert regarding logging of old growth trees in Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Northern Goshawks and Marbled Murrelets would be at risk, as well as other species. Also there is a bill that would inhibit protection of nesting birds at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, specifically Piping Plover and Least Tern. Please see below and consider taking action. It's simple, click on the link, fill your name, send. Key Senate Votes Threaten Birds Two bills in Congress threaten birds on our public lands, like this Least Tern with its chick at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Photo by Walker Golder/AudubonTwo bad bills threaten two of the most vulnerable bird habitats in the country. Send one message to stop both in their tracks. Both bills target protected public lands that birds depend on‹Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina and the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. We expect the votes to be extremely close, so every letter matters. Please urge your Senator to stand up for wildlife on our public lands.You can send the sample letter below, or edit it with your own words for even greater impact. NOTE: Dear [Decision Maker] will be replaced with your Senator's name, and your name and address will automatically be added to the bottom of the letter. https://secure3.convio.net/nasaud/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=User Action&id=1465&autologin=true You will have to copy and past the above link in your browser. Kurt Schwarz Conservation Chair Maryland Ornithological Society goawaybird AT verizon.net Subject: Falcon Photos From: Jerry am Ende <alal19808 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:44:42 -0700 Here's a three photo slideshow from yesterday's Sixth Annual Wilmington Peregrine FalconWatch.  Much thanks to Bill Stewart and the others involved in the organization of this event (I didn't even know it was being held until I read Bill's DE-Birds Invitation, yesterday.   http://www.flickr.com/photos/34185009 AT N02/sets/72157634097974983/show   ...Jerry Subject: Middletown and Rte 9 From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:46:10 -0400 Went down to Middletown to Charles Price Memorial Park on Levels road for the Grasshopper & Savannah sparrows, Eastern Meadow & Horned Larks. The Grasshopper Sparrows (a lifer for me) were on the right as you turned into the park. They were in the next field, but I was able to get a really good view with my binoculars at the split rail fence. You could really see their flat head. They were singing up a storm. Went back out onto rte 15 south to check out the field. Heard an Eastern Meadowlark, but there was no real place to park on the side. Went back into the park and drove to the other end. Was along the split rail fence, looking and listening for the Meadowlark when a Horned Lark landed 5 posts away from me. If that's not telling me "HERE I AM", I don't know what is. Went back out and onto 15 south. Found the Eastern Meadowlark in the field, singing across from the MOT Charter School. Went down Rte 9 to Cedar Swamp and Collins Beach (just before the county line ) to check it out. Got a Blue Grosbeak. Went down Cedar Swamp Rd. to check that area out. Made the mistake of getting out of my car. Within 2 seconds had about 5 fly bites. As I was leaving, a thrush flew up from the side of the road. Ain't no way I was going to get out of my car and find out what it was. No way. (after day 3, I think I'm getting a little tired). Went north on Rte 9 and got the Cliff Swallows at Appoquinimink Bridge. There were a lot flying around. You could really see the white spot on their forehead. (coming from Port Penn, Augustine Beach, it is the 3rd bridge on Rte 9. About a 5-10 minute drive.) It's going to rain tomorrow, but I have to go to work. Kar DeGeiso Newark "one bird at a time" Subject: Mispillion Inlet - Kent County side From: "cpb2564 AT gmail.com" <cpb2564@GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:39:39 -0400 The tide is going out exposing lots of intertidal habitat. Birds seen so far include an immature BROWN PELICAN sitting with gulls at the end of the north jetty, a third cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL resting with hundreds of the usual species, 5 or 6 Black Skimmers, 2 American Oystercatchers and a Clapper Rail. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID Subject: REMINDER: 6th Annual Peregrine FalconWatch - June 12th From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:32:00 -0400 Good Morning DE-Birders, Peregrine FalconWatch on Tonight - Wednesday, June 12th Everyone is invited to the free Sixth Annual Wilmington Peregrine FalconWatch Wednesday, June 12, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Parents and children are encouraged to attend. The free program focuses on the nesting pair of wild Peregrine Falcons and their four chicks that occupied a nest platform on the 19th floor of the Brandywine Building, in the heart of downtown Wilmington. Enjoy watching the fledglings as they learn to fly, hunt and navigate the downtown cityscape. For the latest photos of a recent aerial food exchange between mom and a fledgling, click here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.477682808975694.1073741840.256206214456689&type=1 The location is the City Center Parking Garage, 11th & Tatnall Streets, Wilmington, DE. Park either in the garage or along the street and take the elevator to the rooftop parking deck, where the event will be held. This event is hosted by the Delmarva Ornithological Society and DuPont's Clear into the Future. Free event T-shirts to all attendees and a catered buffet will be provided. Casual attire. Optical equipment will be available. For any questions, please contact Bill Stewart AT 610-864-0370. Bill Stewart Subject: mystery bird - orchard oriole From: weimies AT AOL.COM Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:18:08 -0400 Thanks to everyone who provided suggestions on my mystery bird. I'm pretty confident now that it's an orchard oriole. New yard bird for me this year and they must be nesting nearby. I'm very happy to have them! Andi Martin weimies AT aol.com Subject: Off topic: Using tablet for birding photo backup? From: Denise Bittle <djbittle AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:51:29 +0000 I'm going birding in South America soon and would like to leave the laptop at home. Thinking of buying a tablet for my travels on which to store/backup my photos. Need one that can access a USB and/or memory cards. Suggestions from tablet users? Others with different storage solutions? I'm retired, so price is an issue. Please reply off-list. Thanks, Denise Bittle Cherry Hill, NJ Subject: June Challenge-WCC II error, please read From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:24:09 -0400 Sorry, to get everyone all excited. I saw Louisiana Waterthrushes at WCC, not Northern. Please don't go out and look for the Northern ones, they are not there. I reread my stuff a few times, but that one slipped by. Kar DeGeiso Newark "one bird at a time" Subject: June Challenge- WCC II From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:17:48 -0400 Okay. I got things mixed up. Chris has only about 122 birds and I had 50, not 40, so at the end of Monday, I had 59. (I was probably one of the ONLY ones out in that terrible storm. Talk about dedication.) Tuesday morning. Wow, nice and sunny. I can't believe it! Went back down to WCC. Got a Red-eyed Vireo. Lots of them around. Also, lots of Wood Thrushes. PHOTO OP. For the past 2 days there has been a Wood Thrush singing at the Wedgewood parking lot. Park in there. Right at the beginning of the lot, there is a path that will take you down and across the creek. About 10 feet down the path from the lot, there is a snag on the left. He has been singing his little heart out at the TOP of that snag, both days AT 6:00am. The creek is very swollen and fast. As I was walking up the road, I had two Northern Waterthrushes feeding, right in the road. It's just before the waterfall. (one was still there at 9:00am when I came back). Up at the Nature Center, I got the Pheobe. There was a Pewee there, too, so it was nice to see the differences. Chipping sparrows were out. A house wren is back in the nesting box, back against the trees on the left, first entrance into the Nature area from the road. Went down along the creek, mainly to get the Rough-winged Swallow. They were there, but their nests either got washed out and/or they got eroded. All along the path, the sides of the creek were falling into the creek. I walked all the way to the rr trestle, but the trail was a stream itself. Got 3 Belted Kingfishers. They were also upset, along with the Swallows. An Osprey flew by with "something" in his talons. It was a very nice walk. So I am now up to 67. Chris, remember, the tortoise won the race!!! All in good fun. Kar DeGeiso Newark "One bird at a time" Subject: June Challenge- White Clay Creek From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:15:50 -0400 Monday. My second big day to find some birds. Chris Bennett has 170+ and I have.... 40. Gotta catch up. (just remember the Hare and the Tortoise story Chris). No sooner than I step outside my house and it starts to rain. Rats. I'm going anyway. It's pouring when I finally get to Wedgewood. I park my car and get out. A Wood Thrush!! Eventhough it's pouring, I can hear a lot of birds... Veery, Wood Thrush, Acadian Flycatcher,Louisiana Waterthrush... I head on out. It's easy to hear them, it's another to see them. I spent the next 4 hours birding mostly in the rain. I finally got the Wood Thrush. The Hooded Warblers (about 3 of them) were about 3 feet away from me!! Nice views. (Thanks, Hank). I also got some "twofers". Two birds in one. I was looking at an Eastern Wood Pewee and there was a Baltimore Oriole right behind it. At one time when I was looking at the Hoodeds, an Ovenbird was also in my binocular range. It's now Tuesday morning, 5:00am. It's my third big day of birding. Chris Bennett has 170+ and I have ..... 49!! Gotta catch up. I'm kind of afraid to step out of my house (rain), but I'm going. Can't wait to get back into the woods again. Going back to White Clay Creek to get the ones I couldn't get yesterday. Kar DeGeiso Newark Subject: Re: Red-shouldered Hawk Nest Activity Report From: Lloyd <patch10 AT MAIERASSOCIATES.COM> Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:58:42 -0400 I have seen 1-2 red-shouldered hawks circling and calling overhead a couple of times this week. I knew there was a nest somewhere, but this report confirms that. I am assuming I am seeing flight training. I am near the top of the hill on Graves Road, coming up from Mill Creek. Lloyd Derek Stoner wrote: > Between Kar's positive report of the three Red-shouldered Hawk > fledglings seen on Saturday at 5:00pm and Kathy's report of none > observed on Sunday at 2:00pm, I have three additional observations to > add: > > Saturday at dusk, between 8:30 and 8:45pm, I saw and heard no signs of > hawks around the nest tree. > > > > Sunday morning at 7:15am, I saw three fledglings at the tree, with one > sitting on the nest and two side-by-side on a limb. > > > > Monday morning(today) at 8:30am, I saw two fledglings perched on a limb > of the nest tree. > > > > Interpreting these observations is a challenge, as it may appear that > the fledglings are now using the nest tree as "home base" and returning > there at intervals throughout the day to be fed by the parents. But > they appear to not be spending the night roosting in the nest tree. > Observers have reported the adult hawks are bringing in a bounty of > fresh snake snacks for the fledglings to devour. > > > > Good birding, > > > > Derek Stoner > > > > Conservation Project Coordinator > > Delaware Nature Society > > derek AT delawarenaturesociety.org > > > Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk Nest Activity Report From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:30:33 -0400 Between Kar's positive report of the three Red-shouldered Hawk fledglings seen on Saturday at 5:00pm and Kathy's report of none observed on Sunday at 2:00pm, I have three additional observations to add: Saturday at dusk, between 8:30 and 8:45pm, I saw and heard no signs of hawks around the nest tree. Sunday morning at 7:15am, I saw three fledglings at the tree, with one sitting on the nest and two side-by-side on a limb. Monday morning(today) at 8:30am, I saw two fledglings perched on a limb of the nest tree. Interpreting these observations is a challenge, as it may appear that the fledglings are now using the nest tree as "home base" and returning there at intervals throughout the day to be fed by the parents. But they appear to not be spending the night roosting in the nest tree. Observers have reported the adult hawks are bringing in a bounty of fresh snake snacks for the fledglings to devour. Good birding, Derek Stoner Conservation Project Coordinator Delaware Nature Society derek AT delawarenaturesociety.org Subject: Delaware Bird-A-Thon Pledges From: Bill Stewart <bird-del AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:39:26 -0400 Good Morning, I am taking the opportunity to send out a reminder that all 2013 Delaware Bird-A-Thon pledges are due this week and must be received by this Saturday, June 15th, if you are mailing them to us AT PO Box 4247 Greenville, DE 19807. If you will be using our PayPal account AT https://www.dosbirds.org/birdathon2013 we need all pledges and donations completed by noon on Sunday, June 17th. All of us on the Delaware Bird-A-Thon Committee thank you for your continued support in this important conservation project! To date, the Delaware Bird-A-Thon funds have partnered with other organizations to help secure and purchase 1083 acres in Delaware. If you would like to join the growing number of supporters for this event, please click the link above and send in your donation today. Everyone is invited to: Annual DOS Picnic and Delaware Bird-A-Thon Awards Ceremony This year's Delaware Bird-A-Thon Awards Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the DOS Annual Picnic on June 19th, starting at 5:30 at the Flint Woods Preserve. All Bird-A-Thon participants, friends and family are encouraged and welcomed to attend. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be provided. Please consider bringing a summer-themed dish to share. The Flint Woods Preserve driveway is located off of Center Meeting Rd. directly opposite of Pyle's Ford Rd. in Centerville, DE Mark your calendars and hope to see another great turnout! Good birding, Bill Subject: Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest From: Dennis Barrowclough <barrowclough AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 21:49:41 -0400 About 2 p.m. today, no sign of the hawks on nest or limb at Millcreek. Did hear the hawk nearby, but no sign of the young. Kathy Subject: June Challenge - the first nine days From: Christopher Bennett <cpb2564 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 20:34:39 -0400 With nine days and two weekends gone in June I thought I'd provide an update of how my June Challenge is progressing in Kent County. The week started at Bombay Hook with the Sussex Bird Club fieldtrip last Saturday. In the following eight days I've visited Bombay Hook three more times along with trips to Milford Neck and South Bowers Beach, Norman G. Wilder, Little Creek, Ted Harvey and Woodland Beach Wildlife Areas, a beautiful forest along the border near Hartley, the Amish farm area west of Dover and Brecknock Park in Camden. So far I've seen several bird species that I did not see in either of the first two years. These include Black Scoter (seen today at Port Mahon - thanks Frank), Horned Grebe, Red-necked Phalarope, Eastern Screech-Owl (a nemesis bird that I've heard both times but never seen in June in Kent County) and Alder Flycatcher. In addition to the complete list of birds seen so far, I've also heard an additional six species - Red-shouldered Hawk, Virginia Rail, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Great Horned Owl, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, With 21 days left in the month I should be able to add a few of the breeders I've missed as well as a vagrant or two. So far the grand total is 135 species. I've identified 106 by naked eye, 25 additional birds with the aid of binoculars and 4 species that have required the aid of a spotting scope. The complete list is below. Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Black Duck Mallard Green-winged Teal Black Scoter Ruddy Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Horned Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Glossy Ibis Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Clapper Rail Common Gallinule Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Killdeer American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Dunlin Short-billed Dowitcher Red-necked Phalarope Laughing Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Least Tern Caspian Tern Black Tern Common Tern Forster's Tern Royal Tern Black Skimmer Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Eastern Screech-Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Acadian Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow Horned Lark Purple Martin Tree Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Carolina Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Yellow Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Pine Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Ovenbird Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Scarlet Tanager Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Seaside Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Northern Cardinal Blue Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Dickcissel Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Chris Bennett MIlford, DE Subject: Dickcissels From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 19:19:07 -0400 Brian Henderson and I spent the morning birding Blackbird State Forest and around Charles Price Memorial Park in Middletown. In the state forest, good birds were Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and a host of more common forest birds. From Blackbird, driving north on Rt. 15, just prior to Charles Price Memorial Park there is a small traffic circle with a few small ornamental trees and shrubs planted in the center of the circle. In one of these small trees was a singing Dickcissel. It was a "drive-up" bird and we got some good photos that I will put on the ebird list later. Also, in CPM Park itself, there was a second Dickcissel singing on the wooden fence beyond the bend that is after the "bark" park. A number of Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlark, Horned Lark, and a singing Savannah Sparrow were also at the park. Unfortunately, they have recently "hayed" the fields surrounding this park. This is a great place for grassland bird species. Joe Sebastiani Subject: i-pods From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 19:09:01 -0400 I am in the process of looking for an older model of i-pod. I don't have much money and would like to get one to put birding and other nature apps. (ie butterfly and wildflower id apps) on it for when I am out in the woods. Does anyone know of a good model?? It doesn't need to have all the bells and whistles. I was looking on Amazon.com, but was overwhelmed by all the different ones out there. (as you can tell, I am not very computer savvy.) Please e-mail me and let me know. I don't need one that has amps to call the birds in, just one that I can hear the songs, myself. Thanks, so much. Kar DeGeiso Newark Subject: Red-shouldered Hawks From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 19:01:54 -0400 As of Saturday around 5:00pm, the hawks were still at the nest. I saw 3 of them, sitting around the nest. Kar DeGeiso Newark Subject: Fw: [de-birds] Bombay Hook Dickcissel From: Jerry am Ende <alal19808 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 10:07:13 -0700 Whoops!  I thought I could send a linked URL in a message to DE-Birds (newbie error).  The photo can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34185009 AT N02/8997104087/    ...Jerry ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Jerry am Ende To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Sent: Sunday, June 9, 2013 1:01 PM Subject: [de-birds] Bombay Hook Dickcissel Here's a photo of the from Bombay Hook this morning: Allee Rd Dickcissel   ...Jerry Subject: Bombay Hook Dickcissel From: Jerry am Ende <alal19808 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2013 10:01:11 -0700 Here's a photo of the from Bombay Hook this morning: Allee Rd Dickcissel   ...Jerry Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve walks From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 18:53:31 -0400 Attend the free bird walks at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve this Sunday and Monday at 8am. Kelley Nunn will lead the Sunday walk and Hank Davis will lead the Monday walk. Directions to this private, 300-acre nature preserve near Kennett Square, PA can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. If you attend, consider joining the Delaware Nature Society, the organization who runs these walks. I was over there for a little while today checking bird boxes and we unexpectedly had an Mourning Warbler. Joe Sebastiani Subject: Alder Flycatcher et al From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 17:04:56 -0400 A great day today until it started to rain around noon. I started at 7:00 AM at Lighthouse Road nr. Mallard Lodge. When I arrived the Alder Flycatcher was singing from the pine trees in the marsh. I played a 15 second tape and it flew into the trees behind me. Rodney Murray joined me a little later and we watched it singing on a dead tree in the marsh. My first Alder Flycatcher in Delaware in five year - thanks Anthony. Rodney and I then made a pass through Bombay Hook NWR. The tide was high and Raymond Pool was bird-free. In Shearness, we got the Tundra Swan, a pair of American Black Ducks and at least five and probably six Common Gallinule on both side of the pulloff singing - Rodney saw two but I only heard the birds. At the Night-Heron roost, we had one, maybe two Yellow-crowned Night-Herons with a couple of Black-Crowned Night-Herons. Then on to the Dickcissel. We heard it sing a few times and finally tracked it down. It is much further away from the Allee House then reported originally. It is now near the end of the trees but it finally sat up and poise for us. I then went on to Ted Harvey WMA but didn't see anything exceptional. On the way home I drove out Port Mahon Road, and when I reached the bay, I saw an adult male Black Scoter 20 feet from shore right next to the road. I stopped at the Augustine WMA boardwalk and actually saw a couple of Common Gallinule. Finally, as I was driving the road between the C&D Canal and Thousand Acre Marsh about 1/4 mile west of the Reedy Point Bidge, I spotted a single Ruddy Duck which might be of interest to New Castle Co. June Challengers. Frank Rohrbacher Wilmington, Delaware Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 7th, 2013 From: Andrew Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 10:02:43 -0400 RBA * Delaware * Statewide * June 7, 2013 * DEST1305.31 *Birds mentioned Snow Goose Mute Swan Tundra Swan Black Scoter Surf Scoter Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Wilson's Storm-Petrel Brown Pelican Least Bittern Great Egret Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Glossy Ibis Peregrine Falcon American Kestrel Virginia Rail Common Gallinule American Coot Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Spotted Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Sanderling White-rumped Sandpiper RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Least Tern Caspian Tern Common Tern Royal Tern Black Skimmer Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chuck wills widow Whippoorwill Red-headed Woodpecker Acadian Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Purple Martin Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Brown-headed Nuthatch Swainson's Thrush Louisiana Waterthrush American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Kentucky Warbler Hooded Warbler Blue-winged Warbler Northern Parula Prairie Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Grasshopper Sparrow Dickcissel Eastern Meadowlark Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: June 7, 2013 Number: 302-658-2747 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) For Friday, June 7th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2013 Delaware state annual list now stands at 295 species; only one new bird was added last week. Not new but a great bird, was a female breeding plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Raymond Pool in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna on Saturday, seen again on Monday. Other shorebirds seen included up to 10 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, SANDERLING, BLACK-BELLIED, and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. A DICKCISSEL was found the roadway to the Alle House. TRICOLORED HERON, HORNED GREBE, TUNDRA SWAN, and COMMON GALLINULE were found at Shearness Pool, with LEAST BITTERN, AMERICAN COOT, and PIED-BILLED GREBE. NORTHERN BOBWHITE was found by Bear Swamp, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was found at Finis Pool. New this week was a WILSON'S STORM PETREL past the breakwaters from the Cape May - Lewes Ferry. Also seen from the ferry were 4 SURF and a single BLACK SCOTER, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, ROYAL and CASPIAN TERN. As many as 6 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS at The Point in Cape Henlopen State Park, along with PIPING PLOVER. Two RED KNOTS were also seen at Cape Henlopen. BONAPARTE'S GULL was reported from the Hawk watch. Terns reported included LEAST, COMMON, and CASPIAN. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH continues to be seen Seaside Nature Center and WILD TURKEY was reported at the ballfield. A BLACK SCOTER and COMMON LOON were also seen at Gordon's Pond, at the north and of Rehoboth Beach. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were also reported at a feeder in Dewey Beach. BROWN PELICANS were reported offshore at Dewey. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found at Assawoman Wildlife Area. Delaware's last remaining MUTE SWAN and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO were also seen. There has been an ALDER FLYCATCHER singing at Lighthouse Rd near Woodland Beach Wildlife Area for over a week now. That bird has been reported just north the Mallard Lodge on Rte. 9. WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were reported this week at Bombay Hook, Thousand Acre Marsh and Fowler' Beach Road in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONES and SANDERLINGS were reported at Fowler's Beach along with 2 VIRGINIA RAILS. BLACK SKIMMER and LEAST TERN were reported along Prime Hook Beach Road. A group on landbirds at Turkle's Pond inside the refuge included ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, plus PROTHONOTARY, YELLOW-THROATED and PINE WARBLER. Both CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW and WHIPPOORWILLS were reported Big Stone Beach Road in Milford Neck Wildlife Area. A late SPOTTED SANDPIPER was reported at Bennett's Pier. BANK SWALLOWS were seen at the Tilton sand pits at the intersection of Rte. 9 and Rte. 1 just south of the Dover AFB. There are an exceptional number of CLIFF SWALLOWS nesting this year. Several birds were seen at the Leipsic Bridge on Rte. 9. A peak count of 18 was reported from the Flemings Landing Bridge over the Smyrna River. Several birds were also seen at their traditional site at the Appoquinimink Bridge near Odessa. Near Middletown, DICKCISSEL, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were reported at the Levels Road Business Park on the west side of town. COMMON GALLINULES continue to be seen from the boardwalk at Augustine Beach Wildlife Area, north of Port Penn. There were 11 CASPIAN TERNS counted at Thousand Acre Marsh. Also reported there were CATTLE EGRETS and 2 late lingering SNOW GEESE. Four LEAST BITTERNS were seen by kayak on Dragon Run near Delaware City, along with LITTLE BLUE HERON, GREEN HERON and GLOSSY IBIS. A very late SWAINSON'S THRUSH was found on Tuesday at White Clay Creek State Park. YELLOW-THROATED and WARBLING VIREOS were also reported. Warblers found included HOODED, KENTUCKY, YELLOW-THROATED, NORTHERN PARULA, AMERICAN REDSTART and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH. BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT continues to be reported at Middle Run Natural Area near Newark. A pair of COMMON LOONS were seen on Newark Reservoir off Paper Mill Road. WILLOW FLYCATCHER, PRAIRIE WARBLER , and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were found at the entrance booth in Brandywine Creek State Park. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were singing in the fields and an AMERICAN KESTREL was at the nest tree along the stone wall. PEREGRINE FALCONS continue to be seen at the nest box in downtown Wilmington. Both BANK and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW were reported in Brandywine Park. PURPLE MARTINS were found using the new nest house in Fox Point State Park in Edgemoor. A single GREAT EGRET has been seen intermittently at the retention pond off Rte 7 and AAA Blvd. in Stanton. Many thanks to those people that helped put together the Birdline this week including, Marie Gardner, Michael Bowen, Ben Tebbens, Amy White, Alan Kneidel, Frank Rohrbacher, Anthony Gonzon, Bill Stewart, Nancy Goggin, Marilyn Henry, Beverly Corelle, Sue Gruver, Derek Stoner, Brian Henderson, Sally O'Byrne, Karen Guise, Samantha Christie, Rob Klarquist, Nickilas Paulson, Cyrus Moqtaderi, Chris Bennett, Gina Sheridan, Kar DeGesio, David Fees, Sharon Lynn, Lynn Smith, Hank Davis, and Colin Campbell. If you want to get your report mentioned, please call me at 302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Until next time, good birding!!! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Little Blue Heron at Dennison Ridge From: Debra Chiczewski <debchic AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:30:06 -0400 My husband and I just got a very good look at a Little Blue Heron at the retention pond at Dennison Ridge on Limestone Road. Debra Chiczewski Price Hockessin, DE Subject: Re: Bird Photography From: John Hoyt <jhoyt.webmail AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 17:45:55 -0400 Joy, I use Adobe Lightroom. This software lets you add keywords to your photos, so for example, I can pull up all of my bird photos taken in Delaware. However, you must type in the keywords. It is by no means automatic. Adobe does let you try the software for free. If you are interested, I'd suggest starting with the beta for Lightroom 5 as the current version 4 should be replaced in a few months. John Hoyt Lewes, DE Sent from my iPad On Jun 6, 2013, at 11:28 AM, Dave & Joy Peters wrote: > Hi, All > > I hope it is all right to ask a bird-related question here: Does anyone know of a software program that helps to store bird photos? Is there such a thing? I wish there was something that was like a database but would pull up pictures instead of data. > > For those of you who like taking bird photos, please let me know if there is a good way to store the many pictures that are generated from this “side” hobby to bird watching. > > Joy Peters > trogon1000 AT msn.com > Dover, Delaware > ______________________________________________ > Joy & Dave Peters > 115 Waters Edge Drive > Dover, DE 19904-1252 Subject: Hooded Warblers - White Clay Creek From: Hank Davis <gblkrum AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 16:10:15 -0400 Today I went to White Clay Creek in search of the Cerulean Warbler. No luck, so I ventured away from Hopkins rd. and found two Hooded Warblers. One was definitely a male as he was singing up a storm. Lots of Redstart's and Parula's to round out the morning. Here is a link below to a few photos. There are also a couple of shots of the 3 fledgling Red-shouldered Hawks that Derek mentioned earlier in the week. Hank Davis - Chadds Ford, PA http://www.flickr.com/photos/gblkrum1/with/8971275247/ Subject: Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Background and Update From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 15:32:36 -0400 DE-Birders: The Red-shouldered Hawk nest at the intersection of Brackenville Road and Mill Creek Road near Hockessin is a unique sight that I discovered back in mid-March when the adult hawks were building the nest. Driving by on my way back from working at Middle Run, I saw a Red-shouldered Hawk fly by carrying a stick and watched the bird land in a massive Red Oak tree where the nest was under construction. During the past two months I have kept an eye on the nest and shared my observations with a few local birders who have also kept tabs on the nesting activities. The four fledglings could barely be seen poking their downy white heads out of the nest during the Delaware Bird-A-Thon week (early May), when a number of teams were able to add this sometimes-elusive species to their Big Day list by stopping by to look at the nest. Now one month later, the young are "branching" and getting ready to leave the nest. It appears that at least one youngster has fledged in the past couple days, leaving three at the nest. Just a couple hours ago, one fledgling was resting on the nest while another perched on a branch several feet away (just like in Kathy B's photos she shared this morning on DE-Birds). Based upon how these young hawks are acting, it seems like only a short while (a few days perhaps) before they leave the nest. I saw one of the adult hawks flying nearby this morning with a large snake in its talons, and suspect it may have been taking the snake to one of the already-fledged young. These hawks will learn to hunt from their parents and follow them around the area until they can find food on their own. The Mill Creek valley is a rich riparian habitat with lots of snakes, meadow voles, frogs, toads, and other creatures that these hawks like to feed upon. I am be putting together a video of the young hawks testing their wings and flapping, and share this on DE-Birds soon. If anyone would like further specifics about the nest location please feel free to contact me off-list. As with all reports of raptor nests, we have been careful to minimize human activity near the nest and be considerate of the birds' welfare. After all, they are nesting directly above the road and could fall right into the path of a vehicle. A truly interesting nest location for a secretive raptors-- at a busy intersection! Good birding, Derek -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Sharon Comcast Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 3:13 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: Re: [de-birds] Found Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Thanks Does anyone know when they will be fully fledged? Sent from my iPhone Subject: Re: Found Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Thanks From: Sharon Comcast <sharonliebs AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 15:12:43 -0400 Does anyone know when they will be fully fledged? Sent from my iPhone On Jun 6, 2013, at 9:50 AM, Dennis Barrowclough wrote: > Derek and Meghan, > > Thanks for the great directions. Got those baby Red-shouldered hawks at the > corner of Millcreek and Brackenville Roads this morning. There are at least > 3 young still at the nest - walking along that huge limb and calling out - > no mom in sight while I was there. > > A link to some photos is below. Kathy > > > > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/creationsbykathy/sets/72157633968498258/ Subject: Dickcissel still at Bombay Hook From: Brian McCaffrey <DELRCHER AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 14:55:12 -0400 With the help of a friend (thanks Tom) I was able to get a look and a few photos of this beauty on the road back to the Allee House -- will post a pic or two on Flickr this evening Brian McCaffrey Kickin Chicken Photography Camden Wyoming, Delaware http://www.flickr.com/photos/delrcher/ Subject: Alder Flycatcher still present on Lighthouse Road From: "Gonzon, Anthony T. (DNREC)" <Anthony.Gonzon AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 17:07:41 +0000 Greetings all, Following up on Colin's eloquent note from his foray to see the Alder Flycatcher on Tuesday, I am pleased to report that the bird is still present on Lighthouse Road, east of Route 9 and Smyrna. I am a bit curious as to this bird's long stay, assuming it is the same bird that was located last Tuesday (May 28) when it was first reported. Each day that I have walked out there at lunch, I have heard the flycatcher and have seen it most days. Still present today, that makes ten days running with only a report lacking from last Saturday. It was a bit breezy today, but I had the bird calling almost immediately after arriving. I strongly suspect it's the same bird, given how uncommon it is to encounter them in Delaware in the spring. If anyone else goes looking for it, please let me know if you find it or not. Good birding, Anthony ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anthony T. Gonzon, Jr. Species Conservation and Research Program DE Division of Fish and Wildlife, DNREC 4876 Hay Point Landing Road Smyrna, DE  19977 Phone:  302-735-8673 Fax:  302-653-3431 Subject: Bird Photography From: Dave & Joy Peters <trogon1000 AT MSN.COM> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 11:28:56 -0400 Hi, All I hope it is all right to ask a bird-related question here: Does anyone know of a software program that helps to store bird photos? Is there such a thing? I wish there was something that was like a database but would pull up pictures instead of data. For those of you who like taking bird photos, please let me know if there is a good way to store the many pictures that are generated from this “side” hobby to bird watching. Joy Peters trogon1000 AT msn.com Dover, Delaware ______________________________________________ Joy & Dave Peters 115 Waters Edge Drive Dover, DE 19904-1252 Subject: Found Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest Thanks From: Dennis Barrowclough <barrowclough AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 09:50:53 -0400 Derek and Meghan, Thanks for the great directions. Got those baby Red-shouldered hawks at the corner of Millcreek and Brackenville Roads this morning. There are at least 3 young still at the nest - walking along that huge limb and calling out - no mom in sight while I was there. A link to some photos is below. Kathy http://www.flickr.com/photos/creationsbykathy/sets/72157633968498258/ Subject: Bombay Hook this morning From: Christopher Bennett <cpb2564 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 09:23:50 -0400 I got out a little early this morning and headed up to Bombay Hook before work. The dwindling flock of shorebirds in Raymond Pool (maybe 200 birds) contained 10 White-rumped Sandpipers - which are much easier to pick out with less Semis to get in the way. They were close to the dike so I was able to ID them with Binocs (a June Challenge thing). Other shorebirds seen there in the the other two pools included Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plover and Black-necked Stilt. I had a single Least Bittern fly across the marsh at the south end of Shearness Pool. The spit there had the continuing Tundra Swan and a single drake Green-winged Teal. Of course - just like in 2011 - I still have not seen the Yellow-crowned Night-Herons at Bear Swamp. I also did not see any Gallinules today. Northern Bobwhites have been easy to see at the refuge this year - with two males walking on the road from just before the first turn to Bear Swamp to just after the road out of Bear Swamp. I also saw the Dickcissel the Sue reported yesterday. It was singing from the tall INVASIVE ornamental grass in the field on the north side of the road to the Allee House. You can't miss the grass. And finally I have a Kestrel perched on the wires along Whitehall Neck Road ont eh way out. Karen and I had the same bird in roughly the same place on Sunday. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Subject: Mothing Events : National Moth Week From: Dan Haas <nervousbirds AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 23:43:51 -0400 Though not exactly bird-related, they do have stunning colors, shapes and patterns and yes, even wings! But... I noticed that Delaware is one of the only states left in the country without an event scheduled for National Moth Week. I live in Annapolis, or else I would happily stick up a white sheet and some lights! ;) http://nationalmothweek.org/2013/06/05/nmw-events-across-the-us/ Good Birding (Mothing?), Dan Haas Annapolis, MD Sent from my iPhone Subject: Common Loons at Newark Reservoir From: Amy White <amywwhite AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2013 02:24:20 +0000 Around 8 pm this evening, Jim and I went for a walk around the Newark Reservoir off of Paper Mill Road . We saw two Common Loons in the water. Amy & Jim White Hockessin, DE Subject: egrets... From: BenTebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 21:04:42 -0400 Want to thank all those who gave me a quick reply this morning while I was driving in somewhat unfamiliar territory going north on route 9 looking for egrets;) Had a good look at one just south of Port Penn. Found lots off the road just north of there for as well but probably the tide had them out quite a ways. Went on up I believe it was Delaware City and found a nice little group of "cattle egrets" combing the grass' of the...well, "strange" looking facilities just before the boat ramp. Hope I didn't offend any one here...most of those buildings look abandoned something like from a scary sci-fi movie, oh well...the birds like it, the grass is kept!! Took a few back roads and just had a great time. Headed back to "Old Faithful", Bombay Hook!! Well, of course had quite a few good looks at some gorgeous Great Egret's fishing. You can almost always count on that perennial place for some kind of bird activity...so so good;) Went through a few of the shots and posted one of a fun little "cattle egret". They sure are some neat critters. If you'd like to take a peak at this little wonder, feel free to check out my link below;) Thank you again for all the great support, God bless, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. "Cattle Egret" pretty sure;) http://www.flickr.com/photos/21183284 AT N05/8963664947/ Subject: Red-Shouldered Hawk Nest - Where From: Dennis Barrowclough <barrowclough AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:42:24 -0400 Hi, Just looked for red-shouldered hawk nest along Mill Creek Road in Hockessin - unsuccessfully. Can anyone give me directions on finding the nest after parking along the road at Brackenville and Mill Creek? Thanks. Kathy Subject: Dickcissel near the Allee House at Bombay Hook NWR From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 11:44:40 -0400 Sue Gruver just called and reported that she and Rob Schroeder are watching a male Dickcissel singing its heart out from a small bush on the right side of the road to the Allee House. The bird is about 200 yards from the Allee House where the field is cut by a ditch. Frank Rohrbacher Wilmington, Delaware Subject: Re: Nice morning at Prime Hook NWR From: "Bennett, Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 13:16:18 +0000 Hey Sharon, Usually a mob seen like that means a predator has been located. Was probably either a snake - Black Rat Snakes will climb trees and raid nests if they find them - or an Owl. If the latter - too bad you didn't see it! You are doing the June Challenge right?? Chris -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Sharon Lynn Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 9:39 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Nice morning at Prime Hook NWR I had a really nice experience late this morning at Prime Hook NWR. I was on the Pinelands Trail off Turkle Pond Rd. There is an offshoot path that leads out to a dock on the water. About halfway out the trail, I heard a lot of commotion. TUFTED TITMIICE and CAROLINA CHICKADEES were calling loudly. 2 CAROLINA WRENS were joining in. All of a sudden, birds started streaming in, all calling. NORTHERN CARDINALS, DOWNY WOODPECKER, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, PROTHONATARY WARBLER, 2 WHITE-EYED VIREOS, RED-EYED VIREO,and GRAY CATBIRD were all at eye level, giving me fantastic views. I never did figure out what the commotion was all about, but I enjoyed the show. This is one of the many reasons I love to bird. Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Subject: Re: Egrets... From: MaryLou Schoff <matwellx AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 04:13:12 -0700 Port Penn for sure, and then of course by the Mallard Lodge -   ( I've seen them in both places while riding on the Motorcycle!) Good Luck  ________________________________ From: "bentebbens AT comcast.net" To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Sent: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 6:29 AM Subject: [de-birds] Egrets... On rt9 this am looking for egrets, any tips always appreciated:) Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. What a glorious day. Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone Subject: Egrets... From: bentebbens AT comcast.net <bentebbens@COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2013 06:29:26 -0400 On rt9 this am looking for egrets, any tips always appreciated:) Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. What a glorious day. Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone Subject: Nice morning at Prime Hook NWR From: Sharon Lynn <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 21:39:20 -0400 I had a really nice experience late this morning at Prime Hook NWR. I was on the Pinelands Trail off Turkle Pond Rd. There is an offshoot path that leads out to a dock on the water. About halfway out the trail, I heard a lot of commotion. TUFTED TITMIICE and CAROLINA CHICKADEES were calling loudly. 2 CAROLINA WRENS were joining in. All of a sudden, birds started streaming in, all calling. NORTHERN CARDINALS, DOWNY WOODPECKER, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, PROTHONATARY WARBLER, 2 WHITE-EYED VIREOS, RED-EYED VIREO,and GRAY CATBIRD were all at eye level, giving me fantastic views. I never did figure out what the commotion was all about, but I enjoyed the show. This is one of the many reasons I love to bird. Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Subject: Getting alder From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 17:47:35 -0500 The Prologue. A few weeks ago I celebrated my arrival in this country 25 years ago. I happened to be birding in Myanmar at the time, but the beer and wine were just as good as here and I was surrounded by applauding native-born Americans, so the conviviality was just as excellent. When asked if I ever thought of returning to live in the UK (or other English-speaking parts of the World) I responded (slightly slurred) by saying that Delaware was now my home and always will be. I love it. When asked (by some even more slurred inquisitors) why, I said that it had given me a good salary until I retired, close friends and wonderful birds (the last two adjectives could be swapped). And then they asked, as birders do, what's your DE species list? I responded immediately - 384 - one of the few numbers glued to my brain. Of course they didn't question the number, but I took on the unasked question anyway. How do you know you're sure of the identification of all those species? Well, in the early years, in order to keep a clean sheet, I used to go through my lists every 5 years or so (usually with the assistance of a 'wee refreshment' or two) and delete those species I wasn't 'happy' with - not a good view (BVDs), had to be told what it was, heard only, etc. Those where I was more than 99% sure were OK, I included an asterisk on its name in my list - to be removed when a definitive second sighting was obtained. There were a few, but over the years, all were seen better and by the turn of the millennium, only one asterisked bird remained, as it has until today. The History. My first - and only - Alder Flycatcher in Delaware was seen on a DOS trip to Brandywine State Park on 24 August 1991. We were playing a tape for a Least Flycatcher (which did respond eventually and flew in) when another Empidonax flew in and gave a call which those who knew these things in those days said 'Alder Flycatcher!' It seemed to have the requisite back colour and eyering and I duly ticked it off that day. Much later, I saw and heard ALFLs up north, as close as Trenton Marsh (in Spring) and it set in motion the thought that to REALLY get an Alder in DE, I had to see and hear one singing in Spring, in DE. So the Alder Fly has had an asterisk on my DE list for decades. Yes, I've heard the loud pips of Empis in September vs the whits of Willows, but the defining 100%er is seeing the bird singing in Spring. I've tried for years. It's a late migrant and now's the time ....... The More Recent History. Following a call from Derek S about a loud Alder Fly at Middle Run last week, I was late in retrieving the call and, procrastinator-in-chief that I am, I decided to leave it until the morning. A local climate change occurred overnight, and the most obvious thing about Empidonax flycatchers the next morning there was their complete absence. Without evidence that Anthony G's bird at Mallard Lodge had been resighted, I scouted locally without success. Then Chris B's note that he'd had the Lighthouse Rd bird at lunchtime yesterday forced me from my slumbers today. I don't have to go at lunchtime, I can go any bloody time I want. Today. Without even calling at Helen's Sausage House for breakfast, I headed straight for Lighthouse Road. I parked where the concrete barriers stop cars from going on the trail round the pond. I walked up the trail, played a tape. Nothing. I returned to the car and walked down the road towards the disused (except by Barn Swallows) house. Nothing. I returned to the car and walked eastwards to the barrier. Nothing. I walked back dejected ... then ... holy crap, the sneeze! I stopped and the Alder Flycatcher came into the low bushes by the road, sneezed again twice and disappeared. I hadn't played the tape for about 10 minutes. I got the camera but the bird was gone. The Epilogue. I saw other good birds at B. Hook (including singing Willow Flycatchers) but none as momentous as the Final Asterisk Remover. Acknowledgements. My thanks to the aforementioned Aldermen. Colin Campbell Claymont, DE. Subject: Port Penn, 1,000 Acre Marsh, Dragon Run From: Kar DeGeiso <kdegeiso AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:58:45 -0400 Finally, a day off for June. As usual it's raining. (it started raining everytime I got out of the car.) At the break of dawn, I was at Port Penn's Augustine Beach boardwalk to look for the Gallinule (Common Moorhen). They were right there on the right side of the boardwalk as soon as you stepped on it. 4 of them. Lots of egrets and herons were also flying in from Pea Patch Island. I went back to rte 1, via Port Penn rd, and accidentally took the first right which was Thorntown Rd. It took me back to rte 9. I turned right and headed up to Port Penn again. EGRET PICTURE OPPORTUNITY !!!At the bridge before the boardwalk on rte 9, hundreds of snowy and great egrets on the road, on the bridge and in the water. Awesome!! (there's a place on the left side before the bridge to park). They were catching and eating immature eels!! Finally found Cox Neck road and headed down to the marshy area before 1,000 acre. Caught a back end of a rail, but couldn't id it. Headed to 1,000 acre marsh. Lots of yellow warblers,marsh wrens, catbirds, mockingbirds. There were about 7 very large birds out in the marsh. I think they were immature bald eagles, but I didn't have a scope. (they were not vultures). Missed the snow geese that Sally picked up. Back of Dragon Run, I had a 1rst year orchard oriole and a flying black crowned night heron. Before the DNS volunteer picnic at Coverdale, I went to Brandywine Creek State Park to try to get the Eastern Meadowlark. No such luck. (wow, it wasn't raining!!!) I got a willow flycatcher, yellow breasted chat, chipping sparrow. In the nature center at the birdfeeders, I got a lot of the feeder birds... titmice, white breasted nuthatch, chickadee. My last bird of the day was a bluebird at Coverdale. My total is 45. It's o.k., but I had a lot of fun out in the woods trying to find the birds. My next day is Thursday........ hmmm, looks like rain. Kar DeGeiso Newark Subject: Re: hummers.. From: MaryLou Schoff <matwellx AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 07:09:21 -0700 maybe we should all plant blooming trees and plants then the state will be full of them!  ________________________________ From: Patricia Valdata To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 9:46 AM Subject: Re: [de-birds] hummers.. Don't forget that May is full of blooming plants--maybe the hummers have all been at the top of tulip poplars until now. I have a skittish female that comes to my feeder and two weeks ago saw a beautiful male at Finis Pool in Bombay Hook. Pat Valdata Just over the state line in Maryland -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of BenTebbens Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 10:18 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] hummers..     After speaking with a few great folks here a week or two ago about our dwindling hummers and the thoughts about their possible activity's...a co-worker of mine said his father-in-law in Connecticut told him a few days ago that they had so many all of a sudden that they emptied the feeder in just one day;) Maybe some of those we had here for a while were just passing through...sure show's the importance of the "banding" work or Mr. Bruce Peterjohn, what a job. Maybe we'll know a lot lot more one of these days about those amazing creatures. Wishing everyone the very best, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. Subject: Re: hummers.. From: Patricia Valdata <pvaldata AT ZOOMINTERNET.NET> Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2013 09:46:00 -0400 Don't forget that May is full of blooming plants--maybe the hummers have all been at the top of tulip poplars until now. I have a skittish female that comes to my feeder and two weeks ago saw a beautiful male at Finis Pool in Bombay Hook. Pat Valdata Just over the state line in Maryland -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of BenTebbens Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 10:18 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] hummers.. After speaking with a few great folks here a week or two ago about our dwindling hummers and the thoughts about their possible activity's...a co-worker of mine said his father-in-law in Connecticut told him a few days ago that they had so many all of a sudden that they emptied the feeder in just one day;) Maybe some of those we had here for a while were just passing through...sure show's the importance of the "banding" work or Mr. Bruce Peterjohn, what a job. Maybe we'll know a lot lot more one of these days about those amazing creatures. Wishing everyone the very best, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. Subject: hummers.. From: BenTebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 22:17:39 -0400 After speaking with a few great folks here a week or two ago about our dwindling hummers and the thoughts about their possible activity's...a co-worker of mine said his father-in-law in Connecticut told him a few days ago that they had so many all of a sudden that they emptied the feeder in just one day;) Maybe some of those we had here for a while were just passing through...sure show's the importance of the "banding" work or Mr. Bruce Peterjohn, what a job. Maybe we'll know a lot lot more one of these days about those amazing creatures. Wishing everyone the very best, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln. Subject: Gallinules at Bombay Hook Yesterday From: Christopher Bennett <cpb2564 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 22:13:21 -0400 Yesterday afternoon Karen and I drove around the wildlife drive at Bombay Hook in the afternoon. On our way back past Shearness Pool on the way back out Karen heard and then spotted a Common Gallinule in the channel along the dike north of the pull out. I spotted a second bird in the same channel just south of the pull out a few moments later. We heard but did not see a third bird halfway between the pull out and the turn that takes you back out to the Visitor Center. Karen repeatedly saw 2 Least Bitterns out a bit farther in Shearness from where the Gallinules were hanging out. I never got on them. We also had the Red-necked Phalarope in Raymond Pool. Chris Bennett MIlford, DE Subject: Ruby-throated Humming and ... From: Chuck Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 21:11:14 -0400 After a post migration thinning of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, I am beginning to see a healthy build the past couple days and this evening, I had front row seats to an erotic aerial display followed by a soft grounding and tender copulation with the males’ fluorescent gorget sparkling amidst the pine bark mulch. At first I thought it was a MMA brawl but quickly determined the headlock was more a sensual embrace lasting 10 – 15 seconds. The pair separated with the female disappearing and the male lit on a nearby Japanese Maple to have a brandy and a cigar. Chuck Fullmer Georgetown Subject: Horsehoe Crabs, Turtles, and Frogs From: Gina Sheridan <gsherida8502 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 17:19:43 -0700 On a glorious sunny Saturday (6/01/13), Dennis and I went herping and enjoyed the amazing spectacle of breeding Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs - Limulus polyphemus)  and Northern Diamondback Terrapins - Malaclemys terrapin (coastal salt water turtles) in Delaware Bay. Sections of Port Mahon were loaded with around a hundred terrapins mixed in with a plethora of horseshoe crabs. They were mating in the water, crawling across the beaches, etc.  Having briefly caught, photographed, and released a female terrapin, it practically raced back into the water and swam into the bay. The Diamondback Terrapin has such intricate and beautiful markings that it looks like it was hand painted by an artist. Some of the horseshoe crabs were on their backs and unable to right themselves. After we flipped the helpless horseshoe crabs back over so that they wouldn't perish in the sun, one of them scuttled back to the waterline. Remarkably, it then paused, turned, and approached us as if it wished to thank us! Later, Dennis and I visited Little Creek WMA and saw some nice freshwater turtles such as Eastern Painted Turtles, Eastern Mud Turtle, and an Eastern Snapping Turtle that was hanging out on the side of the dirt road. After dark that evening, we joined Jim White who is the author of "Amphibians and Reptiles of Delmarva", and visited a couple of Delmarva Bays (i.e. freshwater, shallow vernal ponds) in southern Sussex County. When we heard the chorus of calling frogs, we waded out into the swampy ponds. We found Cope's Gray Treefrogs (we caught a couple too), Green Treefrogs, Eastern Cricket Frog,  and the endangered Barking Treefrog (I was able to hold one). In addition, we heard Fowler's Toads and Southern Leopard Frogs calling.  This was the first time that I have waded into swamp with the water above my knees in the middle of the night! The stars were brilliant, the water temperature was pleasant, and chorusing frogs were wonderful. We were able to see them so well and of course their inflated vocal sacks were in full display.  BTW, the best bird species of the day were the BANK SWALLOWs that were flying around their colony at the junction of Route 1 & Hwy. 9. It was an incredible day! Gina Sheridan Milford, DE Subject: Bird-A-Thon reminder From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 15:26:35 -0400 If anyone was planning to contribute to the Delaware Bird-A-Thon and hasn't yet, please do so. We want all contributions and team lists of who saw what by June 15th. Make checks out to DOS and mail to our PO Box 4247, Greenville, DE 19807. Or use PayPal. There is a link at www.dosbirds.org Prizes will be awarded and the total collected will be announced at the DOS picnic on June 19th. Thanks to all who have participated! Sally O'Byrne - and the DBAT committee Subject: Re: Continuing Alder Flycatcher at Lighthouse Road From: "Bennett, Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 18:32:54 +0000 Just realized that I misstated the direction the bird flew when it disappeared. It flew EASTWARD towards the Delaware Bay - not westward. Clearly wet feet wreak havoc with your sense of direction!! Chris Bennett Milford, DE -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Christopher Bennett Sent: Monday, June 03, 2013 2:21 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Continuing Alder Flycatcher at Lighthouse Road After finally hearing and seeing the Alder Flycatcher along Lighthouse Road on Friday - in the same location, and more importantly time that Anthony discovered the bird last Tuesday - I tried unsuccessfully both Saturday and Sunday to add the bird to my June Challenge list. I took a run over there today at lunchtime, arriving at 12:20. The first five minutes were filled with the songs of other more common birds as well as the drone of hordes (not an exageration!) of biting flies (Black Deerflies, Greenhead Flies and others - actually quite a diversity of biting flies). I heard the first distinctive FEE-bee call of the Alder Flycatcher around 12:25. It made a circuit around the small section of marsh just south of the road - calling repeatedly and then pausing for a minute or more before calling again - usually from a new spot. I walked out into the marsh - learning the accuracy of the word WATERPROOF that is enblazoned on the side of my boots - and around12:40 finally saw the bird and watched it call several times before it took flight and disappreard over a line of young trees heading westward. It seems that the bird's daily circuit around the marsh has shifted and the bird is showing up a few minutes earlier than it was last week!! it will be interesting to see how long this bird lingers in Delaware. Other birds seen along Lighthouse Road inlcuded: Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Eastern Towhee Seaside Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Orchard Oriole On the drive back to Dover I got excellent naked-eye looks at several of the Cliff Swallows nesting under the Leipsic River bridge as they were flying around just below the bridge. Chris Bennett Milford, DE Subject: Continuing Alder Flycatcher at Lighthouse Road From: Christopher Bennett <cpb2564 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 14:20:53 -0400 After finally hearing and seeing the Alder Flycatcher along Lighthouse Road on Friday - in the same location, and more importantly time that Anthony discovered the bird last Tuesday - I tried unsuccessfully both Saturday and Sunday to add the bird to my June Challenge list. I took a run over there today at lunchtime, arriving at 12:20. The first five minutes were filled with the songs of other more common birds as well as the drone of hordes (not an exageration!) of biting flies (Black Deerflies, Greenhead Flies and others - actually quite a diversity of biting flies). I heard the first distinctive FEE-bee call of the Alder Flycatcher around 12:25. It made a circuit around the small section of marsh just south of the road - calling repeatedly and then pausing for a minute or more before calling again - usually from a new spot. I walked out into the marsh - learning the accuracy of the word WATERPROOF that is enblazoned on the side of my boots - and around12:40 finally saw the bird and watched it call several times before it took flight and disappreard over a line of young trees heading westward. It seems that the bird's daily circuit around the marsh has shifted and the bird is showing up a few minutes earlier than it was last week!! it will be interesting to see how long this bird lingers in Delaware. Other birds seen along Lighthouse Road inlcuded: Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Kingbird Purple Martin Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Eastern Towhee Seaside Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Orchard Oriole On the drive back to Dover I got excellent naked-eye looks at several of the Cliff Swallows nesting under the Leipsic River bridge as they were flying around just below the bridge. Chris Bennett Milford, DE