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

Osher Fall 2014 Bird Class Summary

We observed a very respectable total of 113 species on our eight field trips. The check list can be found HERE. There is one additional write-in of Purple Sandpiper not shown on this list.

Some highlight birds were Hudsonian Godwit at Gordons Pond, Great Cormorant at Indian River Inlet, and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Fowler Beach. Have a good winter of birding, and try to join at least one of the 4 local Christmas Bird Counts listed below along with the contact information:

Milford - 28 Dec - Chris Bennett   cpb2564@gmail.com   302-424-1126
Seaford -  2 Jan - Glen Lovelace  glenlovelace@verizon.net   302-628-3978
Rehoboth - 3 Jan - Sally O'Byrne   salobyrne@gmail.com   302-945-3236
Prime Hook/Cape Henlopen - Jan 4  Fran Rohrbacher  rhorbaf@aol.com  302-475-5771

Bird List for Spring Osher Birding Class

Just wanted you to know that Sally and I are finalizing this list, and I will post here shortly.

Bill

Fall Class Check List and Pileated WP Pics

The following pics are from Bob Edelen, whose yard we visited in Harbeson, and who had the the magnificent Black Gum tree with lots of birds feeding on its berries. Later in the fall, he had this pair of Pileated Woodpeckers feeding on the last of the berries. Note the different amount of red on the head (less on the female). Click on pic to view full size.

Our cumulative total birds observed this fall was 105 species, plus we did hear a Pileated Woodpecker while in the Fintel's backyard. We could not find it, but Bill later saw it after the class was over.

To view our check list on Google Drive, click OLLI Fall 2013 Bird Check List.

5/29/13 Mispillion FT, and 2013 Spring Check List

Spawning Horseshoe Crabs, Red Knot, Dunlin and Semipalmated Sandpipers 

Bill Fintel Photo, click on photo to enlarge

Well it took some perseverance, but in the end, I believe everyone had good looks at Red Knots through one of the spotting scopes. Most of the time they were distant on the other side of the Mispillion River in front of the DuPont Nature Center, but periodically some did rest on an exposed bar about 1/2 way across the river, and thus twice as close. My estimate was that we could see at least 100 Red Knots from the deck of the nature center.

Other good birds we observed well were Clapper Rails, Seaside Sparrows, and Black Skimmers. My species count for the day was 47. A non-avian highlight was a female Diamond-backed Terrapin digging a hole to lay her eggs in the sand parking lot at Yerkes Road. In our presence, she seemed to think twice about the advisability of doing that at this location, and moved on. We all agreed, that was probably a good move.

My cumulative list for our eight birding classes this spring was a very respectable 135 species. You can find our class check list on Google Docs, as a pdf, or as an Excel file.

Road Scholar FT to Gordon's Pond and Rehoboth Woods, 5/3/13, Plus Summary Checklist

Red-headed Woodpecker, Bill Fintel photo

The last morning we started at the Gordon’s Pond area of Cape Henlopen State Park. It was cold and blowing about 20 mph out of the East, so land birding was next to impossible. Also, for unknown reasons, shorebirds were scarce, and waterfowl were non-existent. Thus, we promptly returned to the bus and went into Rehoboth to a small wooded park there.

This proved to be a good move, as we encountered a very cooperative (and rare for this region) Red-headed Woodpecker, as well as a Blue-headed Vireo. Also seen by many who tried for it was a colorful Parula Warbler.

Our tally for 3 and ½ days of birding was 120 species. This is about average for visiting the locations we visited, and actually is good considering the unusually cool spring. The following link is to a pdf of our summary checklist for 4/30 to 5/4/13. (Use the + tab to enlarge if needed for readability.)

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

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