Class 4 Field Trip to PH State Wildlife Mgt Area

On this May 6, 2015 field trip, I recorded 68 species, so it was our most productive field trip so far, and not unexpected, since we have entered peak migration time. This coming Wednesday's trip to Milford Neck should also produce migrants seen only briefly in spring and fall.

Highlights from our May 6 field trip include: Glossy Ibis - a flock flying over the Grasshopper Sparrow field, 3 Flycatchers: E. Wood Pewee, Acadian and Great Crested........Horned Lark, and best of all, a good variety of "wood warblers": N. Parula, Black-throated Blue, Yel-rumped, Yel-throated, Pine, Blackpoll, B&W, Prothonotary, Ovenbird, and Com Yelthroat.

Probably our best highlights were excellent views of the drop dead gorgeous Scarlet Tanager, and the super elusive Grasshopper Sparrow. We also had many fantastic views of the "Blue guys"....Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting.

Looking forward to this upcoming field trip to Milford Neck.....It is back woods Sussex at its best, and warbler plus shorebird migrations should still be near peak.......

Hope to see you Wed,
Bill

OLLI Field Trip to Milford Neck, May 6, 2014

We all enjoyed great weather and some great birds. I think I am safe in saying that the male Scarlet Tanager was the highlight bird for most. The above picture of a Scarlet Tanager was taken by friend and professional photographer, Kevin Karlson of Cape May, NJ.

We also enjoyed good looks at other colorful migrant birds, such as Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, White-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird and Prairie Warbler. All these birds are categorized as "neo-tropical migrants", which means they come here to breed and raise their young, and then they return to the new world tropics to spend roughly the other 8 months of the year.

As I mentioned in class, for a link to a detailed map of the Milford Neck area, see the Sussex Bird Club web page on Travel and scroll down under "Maps for birding the DE Coast" to the 2 Milford neck links (many thanks to Chris Bennett for providing this detailed information).

Our next field trip is at Gordon's Pond, 8 am Tue, May 13. Go northeast out of Rehoboth along the road closest to the Atlantic Ocean and you will dead end at the Gordon's Pond parking area.