The Visual Meaning of Raptor

Raptor, comes from Latin "to grasp". Watch this video as if you are a little mouse.....or even a big rat. Be sure to click on the full screen icon for max effect.

Fall 2012 Birds Seen

Check list 
Please let me know if this link works for you. You may also want to hit the magnifying symbol to make it larger. My cumulative total was 106 species seen by someone on at least one of our field trips. Bill

Gannets Diving for Fish

From National Geographic comes "Missile Birds". This amazing video was taken off South Africa of Cape Gannets. The Gannets we saw today are very similar Northern Gannets.

2 pm Report - Nov 7 Field Trip Cancelled, but.....

OK, you don't know unless you go. Weather was windy, but very little rain for the one hour I stayed. Unfortunately wind was more out of north than east, so no good pelagic birds were blown in. Did have many flocks of southbound scoters, several close in gannetts, passing loons, Brant on the point, and a few Royal Terns. My favorite bird was a very confiding Hermit Thrush that allowed me to get within 5 ft of him. Here's hoping that next week's weather permits us to visit Indian River Inlet. Bill
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Rain has subsided, so I am headed to Cape Henlopen Point. Bill, 7:30 am

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It is raining pretty hard right now, but radar looks like it will be abating in next two hours. If it does, I will be at the point at Cape Henlopen by 8 am. If rain continues steady or worsens, I will not be there. Questions? Call my cell: 302-236-5675. Bill at 5:40 am on Nov 7.

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No doubt you are all aware of the nor'easter headed our way for tomorrow, Nov 7.

From NOAA for Cape Henlopen State Park:
Wednesday - Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 48. Windy, with a north wind 32 to 37 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. 

So officially, tomorrow's field trip is cancelled.

Now, if you want to see some pelagic birds rarely seen from shore, tomorrow may be a good birding day for you at Cape Henlopen. Possibilities are Parasitic and Pomarine Jaeger, Black-legged Kittiwake, Red Phalarope, and more.

If this interests you and you feel up to braving the elements, I will be at the Cape Henlopen point parking lot by 8 am assuming the rain is not torrential. Do not go to the Nature Center, go to the Point parking lot (just keep bearing left from the Nature Center).

I will make a last minute post tomorrow morning before 6 am.

Bill

PS - Want to get your own weather details, see NOAA.

Oct 31 Class Field Trip

As of 2 pm on Oct 30, I can find no place to bird that is accessible. All roads through Prime Hook are closed. My backup, Cape Henlopen State Park, is closed through Oct 31. So officially tomorrow's field trip is cancelled.

There have been some good birds blown in by Sandy, but one needs to get to a Bay or ocean view point to see them. Birds I have heard about include: Pomarine Jaeger, Black-legged Kittiwake, Leach's Storm-Petrel, and Cave Swallow. They were seen way up the Delaware Bay, or from the ferry terminal at Cape May.

Bill

Recent Bird Observations

Since I know many of you are not signed on to receive posts from DE-birds, I wanted to add some recent special observations from DE-birds.

• First, from me:   

Peregrine friend to Osprey in need

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 Of my many experiences with raptors, today was certainly one of the most amazing. While in my boat the Kittiwake, fishing along the Lewes inner breakwater, just north of the Cape May-Lewes ferry terminal, I observed an adult Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey trying to steal its fish.

OK, I have seen this before, and as expected, the eagle was getting closer and more threatening to the Osprey. Then literally out of the blue appeared a Peregrine Falcon. It relentlessly dove upon the eagle, and quickly forced it to abandon its Osprey chase. The Osprey went south, the eagle went north, and the Peregrine flew west right over me as if to say: “See, I am friends with some birds.”

• Second, from Andy Ednie's weekly report:   

RBA: Birdline Delaware, 10/19/12:

This has been the year of a PINE SISKINS invasion; one feeder in Bear reported 66 PINE SISKINS plus 8 PURPLE FINCH, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS."

Bottom-line message: Be alert for many unusual and even rare birds this winter, at your feeder, and almost anywhere.

Looking forward to a great field trip to Gordon's Pond this coming Wed, Oct 24. 

Bill

Oct 17 Field Trip Report

More Yellow-rumped Warblers than you have probably ever seen in a whole year, and also some very good birds seen very well, like Swamp Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Kestrel, Horned Grebe, Northern Shovellar and Belted Kingfisher.

Weather today was amazing, and fall colors were peaking. Plus I know from overheard discussions, that the social aspect of OLLI was also being fulfilled.

Sparrows? They were not evident in any numbers yet, but we will keep tracking them. Our next field trip is to Gordon's Pond. The trail there goes through a maritime forrest, and the pond usually holds good shorebirds and waterfowl.

Sally and I look forward to good birding with you next Wed.

Oct 10 Cape Henlopen Field Trip Report

We had good weather and good birds on this field trip to Cape Henlopen State Park today. Bird highlights included many Red-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches, about 4 White-throated Sparrows, singles of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Purple Finch, a pair of Eastern Towhees in immaculate bright plumage and good light, and at the point, Osprey and Caspian Terns fishing successfully. We also visited the creek on the U of DE Lewes campus to try to see a Clapper Rail, and we were successful with one very cooperative preening rail less than 50 ft from the bridge. Non bird observations included many Bottle-nosed Dolphin, many migrating Monarch Butterflies, and great views of the Atlantic Ocean.

From this morning's weather update: For a unique look at Lewes weather see the UD web cam. When it is dark, wait for the cam to scan through the lit areas. On this UD page you can find links to wunderground weather forecasts, current winds and tides, plus lots more.

Oct 3 Boating on the Broadkill Field Trip Report

 

Our field trip today was on Cape Water Taxi’s boat the Mummichog, with Captain Dave and Captain Ryan. We boarded at Fisherman’s wharf and slowly cruised up the canal to Roosevelt Inlet, and then went on up the Broadkill River to where Oyster Rocks Road meets the river and Prime Hook NWR begins. Raptors were the highlight of the trip, with an adult Bald Eagle flying right across the river right in front of our boat early on. Other raptors included several close Osprey, a perched and later hunting Red-tailed Hawk, a distant Northern Harrier, an American Kestrel, and a perched Peregrine Falcon that everyone saw with binoculars, and most people even got to view it through a spotting scope. Other birding highlights were about 6 Belted Kingfishers, probably a dozen or more Great Blue Herons, some quite close, a couple of distant Caspian Terns, and two Seaside Sparrows. A marsh plant called Salicornia was in full fall colors of a rich red, and High Tide bushes with their soft white flowers were in bloom along the banks. Fortunately the weather also cooperated, so our outing was a very enjoyable experience for all 17 participants.

Sep 12 Prime Hook NWR Field Trip Report

Fantastic weather, good birds, but admittedly a lean morning for woodland migrants. Highlights were Yellow-throated and White-eyed Vireos, Solitary Sandpiper, Pileated Woodpecker seen well by most, 5 White Pelicans in flight, swimming, and then on the beach of a small island at Fowler's Beach. Also great side by side comparisons of Caspian and Royal Terns, about 50 Black Skimmers, adult and immature, and aggressive Bald Eagle activity on several occasions, much to the dismay of their targets, the smaller Osprey with a fish.

Our next trip is Oct 3 on the Cape Water Taxi, so be sure to sign up with Renee before Sept 19. If you have any questions, concerns, special needs, please feel free to contact me or Sally.

Bill - billfintel@gmail.com
Sally - sallyfintel@gmail.com

2012 Fall Field Birding Schedule

Fall 2012 Field Birding – OLLI

Bill Fintel, Sally Fintel, and David Weber (Bill’s cell is 302-236-5675).

We will spend as much time as possible birding in the field. On any day when the weather does not permit a field trip, the class will be cancelled. For the latest information on class status see http://billfintel.blogspot.com/ . This blog will be updated by 6 am on any field trip day with questionable weather.

All classes will begin at 8:00 am at the meeting locations noted below. Be sure to bring binoculars. Also check the weather forecast and dress appropriately with a rain resistant windbreaker and footwear suitable for walking about one mile. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water and a snack are recommended. Classes will end by 11 am at the meeting location.

Sep 12 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters. This is a good time of year for woodland migrants as well as shorebirds, so we will spend time searching for both groups.

Sep 19 and 26 – No class due to instructor’s other commitments.

Oct 3 – Cape Water Taxi at Fisherman’s Wharf, west side. Today we will take a 2 hr boat ride up the Broadkill River to bird the Lewes Great Marsh and adjacent mud flats and wooded hummocks. This trip will cost $23 per person which includes gratuity. Sign up with and pay Renee by September 19. Spouses can also sign up for this trip at $23. We will fill any vacancies by contacting those on the class waiting list.

Oct 10 – Cape Henlopen State Park Nature Center  (sticker required). Our main focus on this field trip will be migrating raptors.

Oct 17 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters.  Our focus today will be sparrows, those confusing little brown birds (LBJ’s) that love to hide in tall grasses.

Oct 24 - Gordon’s Pond (sticker required). Access through Rehoboth Beach. There is a ¾ mile trail around the west side of Gordon’s pond that provides good views of both the pond and maritime forest.

Oct 31 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters. Waterfowl will be our primary target, with the tens of thousands of Snow Geese being a highlight.

Nov 7 – Cape Henlopen State Park Nature Center  (sticker required). Raptor migration will still be underway, with some of the larger raptors, like Northern Harrier and Red-shouldered Hawk being more likely. Sea ducks and gannets should also be migrating now.

Nov 14 – Indian River Inlet. Sea ducks plus loons should be arriving by now, and if we are lucky perhaps we will find an American Bittern.