OLLI Fall 2013 Birding Class Schedule

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 this blog ( http://billfintel.blogspot.com/ ). It will be updated by 6 am on any field trip day with questionable weather. Also more detailed directions will be added as needed.

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 11 - Prime Hook NWR Headquarters. On this field trip we will focus primarily on shorebirds, terns, herons and other birds of the mud flats and marshes. We will bird the impoundments from Broadkill Beach to Fowler Beach.

Sep 18 – Fintel’s home at 31395 Point Circle, Mill Pond Acres, Lewes  (From Rt 1 just south of Red Mill Pond and across from the Surfing Crab, turn west onto Devon Rd. Take Devon until it T’s into Point Drive. Turn right and proceed about ¼ mile where Point Drive becomes point Circle. The Fintel’s home is on the right). We will spend some time searching for woodland migrants, and also reviewing water features, feeder designs, and types of seed used. After that, we may visit another yard, or some nearby wooded habitat. This is a peak time for woodland migrants. Over the years the Fintels have recorded over 140 species from their yard.

Sep 25 – Cape Henlopen Nature Center (park sticker required). On this field trip we will visit the hawk watch platform, and bird both the park woods and beaches.  Early raptors should be migrating south, and woodland migrants plus shorebirds should be present in good numbers.

Oct 2 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters.  On this field trip we will bird all the different types of habitats at Prime Hook. This will include mature woods, secondary growth, fields, mud flats, marshes and DE Bay beaches.

Oct 9 – Cape Henlopen Nature Center (park sticker required). The beach at the Point will now be open to walking, so we will plan to bird that beach (low tide is 5:51 am) and then proceed to the hawk watch platform. This is a peak time for numbers of raptors, and hopefully we will get good looks at some special ones, like the Peregrine Falcon. We will also do some “sea watching” for early sea ducks, and perhaps a Jaeger.

Oct 16 – Indian River Inlet south ocean front parking lot (park sticker required). From our meeting location we will walk to the inlet and ocean beach for birding. Then we will do some marsh birding. Sea ducks, gannets, terns, marsh sparrows and rails are all possible.