OLLI Field Trip May 8

I just checked the weather forecast, and we are a GO with only a 30% chance of showers. For field trip details, see the below post Olli 2019 Spring Birding Class.

OLLI 2019 Spring Birding Class

We will spend as much time as possible birding in the field. On any day when the weather does not permit a field trip we will cancel the class. For the latest information on class status see Bill’s blog at http://billfintel.blogspot.com/ . This will be updated by 6 am on any field trip day with questionable weather.

All classes begin at 8 am and are on Wednesday EXCEPT FOR MAY 14 which is on Tuesday.  The meeting locations are 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 no more than one mile. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water and a snack are recommended. Classes will end at the latest by 11 am.

Wed, April 24 - Prime Hook NWR Headquarters. We will bird all types of habitats, such as woodlands, fields, marshes, impoundments and bay beaches. Our target birds will be early shorebirds, and early woodland migrants. (Low tide 7:10 am)

Wed, May 1 - Cape Henlopen State Park Nature Center  (sticker required). Northbound raptor migration will be underway, some sea ducks should still be present and we will of course search for three resident specialties, the Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and Brown-headed Nuthatch. (High tide 7:06 am)

Wed, May 8 – Fintel’s Yard plus Roosevelt Inlet. Meet at the Fintel’s home, 31395 Point Cir, Lewes, at 8 am for a guided tour of their birding habitats, feeders and water features. Roosevelt Inlet is about ½ mile from the Fred Thomas building in Lewes, and many good birds are usually present in the inlet, plus Canary Creek and adjacent marshes and scrub habitat. (Low tide 5:49 am). We are all invited to have lunch with Janice Erich and Rob Morgan at their home in Cape Shores after the class.

TUESDAY, May 14 – Prime Hook NWR. Meet at Prime Hook HQ at 8 am. This date is usually about the peak of spring migration. We will search the woodlands for tanagers, vireos, warblers and thrushes, all of which should be in good song. Our favorites include Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler (beautiful but a difficult find) and our favorite local songster, the Wood Thrush.  (Hi tide 6:25 am)

Wed, May 22 - DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Inlet. Meet at Prime Hook at 8:00 am for carpooling. We will proceed directly to the Dupont Nature Center, arriving about 8:30 am. This is our annual spring pilgrimage to witness Horseshoe Crabs spawning and the thousands of shorebirds that feed on their eggs. It is also the best time and place to see the endangered Red Knot. We will bird our way south, stopping along the way at good birding spots, such as the new DE Nature Society Marvel Saltmarsh Preserve. We will arrive back at Prime Hook Headquarters before 11 am. (Low tide 5:56 am)

Tomorrow's Field Trip is a GO....regardless of the weather

Hi All,

Weather looks iffy for field birding tomorrow, but it will be fine for backyard birding from our screened-in porch, and also from our kitchen. If you want a fried egg sandwich, just bring the eggs. I am a pretty good cook

Warbler migration is at its peak. Today, we had conservatively 8 to 10 Parula Warblers, both  m & f Black-throated Blue, a Chestnut-sided with some chestnut still showing, 2 Black and Whites, a Redstart, and whatever warblers I nay have forgotten .
We also had at least 2 hummingbirds today, and a REV  (= Red-Eyed Vireo)

Whether we go on to Oyster Rocks Road will be decided after our backyard birding and fried egg sandwiches, plus weather considerations.

Bill

Field Trip Sept 12, 2018

Today's Field Trip is CANCELLED due to inclement weather.

Dense Fog has entered the picture, in addition to drizzle and potential thunderstorms. It was a tough decision, but birding in the fog is very difficult, and fog also makes getting to Gordon's Pond potentially hazardous. Next week we meet at Prime Hook NWR at 8 am.

OLLI Fall 2018 Field Birding Class Scgedule

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 Bill’s blog at http://billfintel.blogspot.com/ . This 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 are on Wednesday, and 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 5 - Prime Hook NWR. Meet at the Refuge Headquarters at 8:00 am. We will bird all types of habitats, such as woodlands, fields, marshes, impoundments and bay beaches. Some of our target birds will be shorebirds, and early woodland migrants. (Low tide 10:50 am)

Sep 12 – Gordon’s Pond -  Meet at 8 am at the Gordon’s Pond parking lot just north of Rehoboth Beach. We will walk the trail to the pond observation platform and hopefully see many good fall migrants along the way. (High tide 11:20 am)

Sep 19 – Prime Hook NWR. Meet at the Refuge Headquarters at 8:00 am. We will search the woodlands for migrant warblers, tanagers and thrushes. We will also check the impoundments for shorebirds. (Low tide 11:04 am)

Sep 26 – Fintel’s Yard and Oyster Rocks Road. Meet at the Fintel’s home at 8 am for a guided tour of their birding habitats, feeders and water features. Oyster Rocks Road is an excellent road that goes through marshland habitat to the Broadkill River. (High tide 10:07 am)

Oct 3 - Cape Henlopen State Park Nature Center  (sticker required). South bound raptor migration will be underway, some shorebirds will still be present, and we will of course search for three resident specialties, the Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and Brown-headed Nuthatch. (Low tide 9:30 am)

Tommorow's OLLI Field Trip to Mispillion

Wed, 5:45 am: The Field Trip is a GO. Fog looks to be the only weather issue. Dress warmly, as we will have a cool east wind.

Chance of rain looks limited, so I feel confident we have a GO. Check this blog just after 6 am in case NOAA is totally wrong with this evening's forecast for Mispillion Inlet:

Wednesday

A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 75. East wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

We will meet at Prime Hook NWR Headquarters at 8am to car pool to Mispillion. If you wish to go directly to Mispillion on you own, please email me or Sally.

Do bring a rain repellent jacket, and be assured that at Mispillion we have some shelter outdoors, and and an indoor retreat with good Horseshoe Crab/Red Knot videos. Now per their web site, they do not open the Nature Center until 10 am, but they like me and Sally, so maybe earlier for our group. With all the recent heavy rains, mosquitoes are out in "swarms" so long pants and long sleeves are also recommended.

This is a highlight trip for us every year. Horseshoe Crabs date back to well before the age of dinosaurs, and Red Knots typically migrate over 9,000 miles a year from southern South America to the Arctic, stopping in the Delaware Bay to refuel on Horseshoe Crab eggs.

Links:
http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs/facts/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_knot

Cape Henlopen about 1985

Weather is looking OK for tomorrow's OLLI class

Weather looks even a bit better, so we have a GO for this morning's OLLI class.

Here is the 4:54 am forecast:

Wednesday

Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 9 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

From Tuesday, here is this afternoon's 3:54 pm NOAA forecast:
Wednesday

A chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 9 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. 

I will of course check before 6 am in case NOAA is "off-track"....as they were last week. I think we have a GO even with some rain after 8 am, as we can bird from the cars for a bit until any rain moves on.

Looking forward to birding with our OLLI class tomorrow......Bill and Sally 

PS - Reminder....We meet at Prime Hook NWR Headquarters at 8 am. Our focus tomorrow will be woodland migrants early, then shorebirds.....which are moving through in great numbers.

Today's Class is CANCELLED

Here is the latest NOAA Forecast:

Last update 16 May 4:54 am EDT 

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy fog before 10am. High near 71. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. 

 

Birding in the rain and fog is at best difficult. There is also the possibility that some areas we were planning to visit could be flooded by the heavy rains last night. 

Here's hoping for good weather next week when we visit Prime Hook NWR.

Best Birds from our OLLI class at Prime Hook on 5/2/2018....and tomorrow's plans

In summary we saw 44 species, and heard another 13, for a very respectable total of 57 species in 3 hrs. I am just going to list the highlight birds (which are all new birds for our class):

Osprey
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Forester's Tern
Pileated Woodpecker
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - building a nest
Hermit Thrush - seen by all through scope on road to Fleetwood Pond
Wood Thrush heard very well - and our musicians recognized the flute-like quality of its song
Warblers heard - Northern Parula, Yellow, Yellow-throated, Prothonotory, and Ovenbird
Warblers seen - Yellow-rumped, Pine, Black-and-White, and Common Yellowthroat.
Scarlet Tanager was heard....and is high on our want-to-see list
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow

Weather for tomorrow's class looks excellent. Remember we meet at Bill and Sally's yard in Mill Pond Acres and will bird it plus we will analyze some of the special bird feeders, water features, and plantings. Then we will travel to the nearby Nature Conservancy McCabe Preserve. We will be back at Bill and Sally's by 10:45 am as several of us have an 11:30 commitment.

Best birds we observed at Cape Henlopen on 4/25/18

If you were on this field trip, you no doubt recall the cool, foggy and windy weather. My notes say a high of 55 degrees, and SE winds of 20+ mph. But we still saw some excellent birds:
Piping Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Willet
Sanderling
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Field Sparrow

Tomorrow's weather looks excellent and migrants are moving. We had 3 Baltimore Orioles in our yard on Sunday, and today had a Parula and a Yellow Warbler. As a reminder, tomorrow we meet at Prime Hook NWR headquarters just off Route 16, east of Route 1 at 8 am.
Best, Bill and Sally

Field Trip Wed, April 25, 2018

Our field trip today is a GO. Heavy rain has passed, although a few showers are still about, so do bring a water repellent jack and foot ware. In the event of a significant shower we will seek out temporary shelter. Meet at the Cape Henlopen Nature Center at 8 am. Remember a park pass is required.

OLLI Spring 2018 Birding Field Trip Schedule

Following is our schedule for Spring 2018. As mentioned in your course description, in case of possible inclement weather, be sure to check this blog anytime after 6 am on the day of the field trip. And yes tomorrow's weather does look iffy right now, but we will have a GO at it unless the 6am forecast is for torrential rain after 8 am. Cape Henlopen has easy to access several large pavilions where we can wait out a short cloud burst while we listen to bird songs.

OLLI Spring 2018 Birding Class

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 Bill’s blog at http://billfintel.blogspot.com/. This 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 are on Wednesday, and 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.

Apr 25 - Cape Henlopen State Park Nature Center  (sticker required). Northbound raptor migration will be underway, some sea ducks should still be present along with Northern Gannets, and we will of course search for three resident specialties, the Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher and Brown-headed Nuthatch. (Low tide 11:52 am)

May 2 - Prime Hook NWR Headquarters. We will bird all types of habitats, such as woodlands, fields, marshes, impoundments and bay beaches. Some of our target birds will be early shorebirds, and early woodland migrants. (Hi tide 11:05 am)

May 9 – Fintel’s Yard plus the McCabe Nature Preserve. Meet at the Fintel’s home at 8 am for a guided tour of their birding habitats, feeders and water features. The McCabe Preserve is a Nature Conservancy property with an extensive mature forest that is usually excellent for woodland migrants, like vireos, tanagers and warblers.

May 16 – Thompson Island Nature Preserve.  Meet at 8 am at Gerri Stephenson’s home. Her backyard borders on the Thompson Island nature preserve, and she has plenty of parking along her long driveway. Thompson Island is often an excellent woodland migrant fallout location.

May 23 – Prime Hook NWR. Meet at Prime Hook HQ at 8 am. We will search the woodlands for species like Scarlet Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Warbler, and several species of thrushes, all of which should be in full song.

May 30 - DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Inlet. Meet at Prime Hook Headquarters at 8:00 am for carpooling. High tide is 10:02 am at Mispillion, and the best  birding is about 2 hrs either side of high tide, so we will proceed directly to the Dupont Nature Center, arriving about 8:30 am. This is our annual spring pilgrimage to witness Horseshoe Crabs spawning and the thousands of shorebirds that feed on their eggs. It is also the best time and place to see the endangered Red Knot. We will bird our way south, stopping along Slaughter Beach and at Fowler Beach, and arriving back at Prime Hook Headquarters by 11 am.

Class Wed, Dec 13, is CANCELLED due extreme wind and cold

Winds Wed are forecast to be WNW 21 to 25 kt, with gusts as high as 40 kt. The High temp is forecast to be 33 deg F. As you probably know, Indian River Inlet is exposed, and usually feels much colder than anywhere else nearby. We wish all a Happy and Safe Holiday. Bill and Sally

OLLI Fall 2017 Birding Class Schedule

OLLI Fall 2017 Birding Class Schedule

General – Wear comfortable walking shoes as we may walk on level ground up to 1 mile. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a snack and something to drink. Also come prepared for windy cool weather and a shower. If significant rain is forecast the class will be cancelled. See http://billfintel.blogspot.com/ for any last minute notices. If the weather looks iffy, Bill will post the class status at the latest by 6 am on the day of the class.

All classes begin at 8 am at the location specified below. A State park sticker or entry fee is required for Cape Henlopen, Gordon’s Pond and Indian River Inlet.

Climate Change as it affects birds will be covered on our walks, plus Bill’s blog.

Oct 11 – Cape Henlopen State Park Seaside Nature Center

We will bird the feeders and trail at the Nature Center, then go to the Point parking lot, then the Hawk Watch, and if time permits, Herring Point.

Oct 18 – Fintel’s Home, Mill Pond Acres, Lewes

At the Fintel’s home we will review plantings for birds, water features for birds, and bird feeder designs, plus choosing birdseed and suet. Next we will go to Oyster Rocks Road, and perhaps one or more other seldom travelled back roads.

Oct 25 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters

This is a prime time for early waterfowl, late shorebirds, and sparrows.  All can be challenging, but also lots of fun, and a great beginning to winter.

Nov 1 – NO CLASS

Nov 8 – Gordon’s Pond

Meet at the Gordon’s Pond Pavilion. This is accessed by going north through the town of Rehoboth Beach at the end of Ocean Drive. There is about a one-mile long trail that borders the pond and ends at an elevated observation platform. The trail also passes through some unique maritime forest.

Dec 13 – Indian River Inlet, Main parking lot just south of the inlet.

Park as close to the inlet and the ocean as you can. This is one of our favorite destinations for winter birding, BUT it can be cold and windy so come dressed warmly. We will be looking for sea-ducks, loons, Gannets, Bonaparte’s Gulls, Purple Sandpipers, and others.

Status - Osher Field Trip on Wed, May 24, to Mispillion Inlet

Wed 5:30 am - Radar shows the rain is mostly past so we are a GO this morning. The winds are pretty stiff from the northeast and temps will only be in the mid 60's so DRESS WARMLY..... and just in case, be prepared for a sprinkle.

Reminder, meet at the Prime Hook headquarters at 8 am. We will then carpool to Mispillion and the DuPont Nature Center. We will make a few stops along the way at Slaughter Beach.

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Tue 3:30 pm - Right now this trip looks like a GO. We are forecast to get a lot of rain overnight, and some may linger past 8 am, but since we will be in our cars a lot, and also have the shelter of the DuPont Nature Center, I really think we will be okay.....BUT please check this blog site just after 6:00 am tomorrow for the latest update in case the weather is not as forecast right now. Bill

The Dry Tortugas

First my good news. I recovered from pneumonia in time to take the last 10 days of our trip to Key West and the Dry Tortugas. Below is one of my best bird pics taken with an underwater camera. These Brown Noddy's were 3 ft over my head while I was snorkeling.

Looking forward to our first class May 3 at Prime Hook. For our class time we will focus on the challenges of bird migration, and why they do it anyway.

Osher Spring Birding in the Field and Classroom

All classes will begin at 8 am and end by 11 am. The meeting locations are shown below. We are trying to arrange for a suitable meeting room at the locations, but in some instances we may have the classroom session outdoors, and on some days we may not have a classroom session. Be sure to check Bill’s blog for any last minute instructions or change in plans. He will update it by 6 am on the day of a class.   https://billfintel.blogspot.com/

April 12 – Cape Henlopen Nature Center (park tag req’d)

April 19 and 26 – NO CLASS

May 3 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters

May 10 – Cape Henlopen Nature Center (park tag req’d)

May 17 – Gordon’s Pond Parking Lot (park tag req’d)

May 24 – Prime Hook NWR Headquarters. From there we will carpool to the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion . If you wish to join the group at Mispillion, please make prior arrangements with Sally.

Be sure to bring binoculars, a hat and rain repellent jacket. Water, a snack, insect repellent and long pants are all recommended.

If you are unable to attend a class, please contact Sally or Bill so we can contact someone on the Wait List.

Nov 16, 2016 Fall Birding OLLI Field Trip to Indian River and more

This trip is a GO....and it should be good. Just today I was out on the Chesapeake Bay fishing and saw lots of good winter waterfowl and seabirds. A few nice examples were Long-tailed Duck, Horned Grebe, N. Gannet, and Common Loon.

So I look forward to seeing all who can make tomorrow's trip. The weather looks great, and I expect many good birds.

Bill & Sally

And my apologies to those who missed my last weeks blog post that that trip was cancelled due to a forecast of all morning rain and drizzle.....which did happen, but not as severe as forecast.

Tomorrows OLLI Field trip to Holt's Landing and the Delaware Botanic Gardens

6 am Wed: The forecast has deteriorated, so we are CANCELLING today's field trip. 
From NOAA: Showers, mainly after 8am. High near 59. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. 

This decision is reinforced by the current radar image showing a large band of steady rain currently just west of the Chesapeake Bay and headed this way arriving between 8 and 9 am. Click Northeast Loop to see movement over the past hour.  http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/northeast.php

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From 5 pm Tue:
The weather does look a bit questionable, so please check back here after 6:00 am tomorrow to see if the class/field trip is still a go. If we just have to endure a few showers, we will do the class, BUT be sure to bring some water repellent clothing.

The NOAA forecast for Wed where we are going is:  
Showers, mainly after 11am. High near 60. Light west wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

With temps forecast to be warm, and winds light, a few showers should be no problem, BUT do check here just after 6 am in case there are any changes overnight.

Bill

Delaware Botanic Gardens, Nov 9, 2016

We have just recently worked out a plan to include birding at the Delaware Botanic Gardens, located just east of Dagsboro. Our visit will take place this coming Wed, Nov 9, AFTER we fist meet at Holt's Landing. The revised class description is:

Nov 9 – Holt’s Landing and the Delaware Botanic Gardens

Meet at Holt’s Landing at 8 am. See this link to Google Maps for directions 

https://goo.gl/maps/iqtX1XEfomk   We will bird Indian River Bay and adjacent woods for about 45 minutes and then depart for the Delaware Botanic Gardens (DBG),  which is about 15 minutes away just east of Dagsboro on Piney Neck Road.  At DBG, Gregg Tepper and Janet Point will give us a short presentation of what is planned, then we will bird the woods, fields and waterfront of this outstanding 37 acre property on Pepper Creek.