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.