Nov 5 Osher Birding Class at Indian River Inlet

Weather Update, 6 am Wed: West winds, 10 to 15, partly sunny, high 68 deg F.
Birds observed in our area recently include: Horned Grebes, N. Gannets, Common and Red-throated Loons, Bonaparte's Gulls, Black and Surf Scoters, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Pine Siskens.

DIRECTIONS:
As a reminder from the schedule, we will meet at the south side ocean front parking lot at 8 am.

Weather looks great right now, so hope you can make the field trip. I will make a Nov 5, 6 am update just in case there are any last minute adjustments or recommendations. The ocean front is usually cool, so bring wind-breaker jackets and a few more layers underneath.

Indian River Inlet is one of my favorite places in Sussex County DE to bird from November through March. We are on the early side of the best birds, but I will take time to describe some of the specialties you can see in the-dead-of-winter, and how and where to search for them.

Below is a Black-legged Kittiwake (im) which can on occassion be seen in winter at Indian River Inlet.

Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, Big Island of Hawaii

If you are a birder, and you plan to visit any of the Hawaiian Islands, I would strongly recommend including the Big Island in your visit, and signing up with Hawaii Forest and Trail to visit Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge. It is a NWR, as is Prime Hook in Delaware, but Hakalau is in a far more unique environment, and dealing with far different challenges (see last pic below).

Hawaii has such a powerful message about what humans can do to seriously degrade a once magnificent environment. But now, there is also the message that with strong efforts from those in charge (our GOV'T), further degradation can be halted, and even better, some significant restoration can be achieved. This is happening at Hakalau. Following are a few pics from our visit there. The bird is the endemic honeycreeper, the I'iwi, and is a magnificent bird. (click on pics for a larger image)

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.

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