4/22 Field Trip Report, and 4/28 Field Trip Reminder

First the reminder: The next field trip will be on MONDAY, April 28, 8 am at Prime Hook NWR Headquarters.

Now for the 4/22 report. Our primary target bird, the federally endangered Piping Plover (above) was seen well by all participants. There were at least 4 of them on the bay side of the point at Cape Henlopen. Also observed there were 2 American Oystercatchers, a flock of 20+ Brant, and about 10+ Osprey, many carrying Menhaden fish back to shore to eat or feed their mate.

We also birded the pine woods behind the Nature Center where we had Brown-headed Nuthatches, a Pine Warbler, and a very obliging Eastern Towhee singing from the top of a tall pine. Our species total for the morning was 37 species observed.

On Wednesday, Sally had her wrist operation. It was successful, but now the long recovery period begins. She will probably not be on the 4/28 field trip, but should be on the rest.

First OLLI Birding Class, Tue, April 22

Hello Class Members,

I just wanted to confirm that we will be meeting at the Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park at 8 am Tuesday, April 22. Current weather forecast for the morning looks good, but do keep checking this blog for any updates, and bring rain resistant jackets for any showers.

Our target bird species for this field trip is the Piping Plover. It is a federally endangered species, and with protection provided by DE Fish and Wildlife, it has been reliably reproducing at Cape Henlopen.

I know many of you know Sally Fintel, my partner in this class, and you may have heard that she had a fall resulting in a broken wrist on 4/13. She is doing well, and should be with us Tue. We were on a whale watching and birding trip offshore Baja Mexico when the fall occurred in rough seas.

Below pics:
top - Gray Whale baby, bottom - Marbled Godwit (click on pics for an enlarged view).

Hummingbirds and Spring 2014 OLLI Birding Class

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are arriving in Sussex County, DE, so it is definitely time to put up your hummingbird feeders.

Sally and I are just back from Peru where we marveled over 30+ species of hummingbirds in the Andean cloud forests. Most remarkable of these was the Marvelous Spatuletail (below). Note the extremely long outer tail feathers which terminate as 2 spatula shaped feathers.

We are very much looking forward to this spring's class, which begins 8 am, April 22, at the Cape Henlopen Nature Center. Remember to check this blog site for last minute updates, especially if the weather looks questionable. For your convenience, the full schedule is posted below.

Bill

OLLI Spring 2014 Birding 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 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 Tuesday, EXCEPT for April 28. 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.

Apr 22 (Tue) - 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 two resident specialties, the Piping Plover and Brown-headed Nuthatch.

Apr 28 (Mon) - 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 like Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Ovenbird.

May 6 (Tue)– Milford Neck Wildlife Management Area. Meet at Prime Hook Headquarters for carpooling to Milford Neck. 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. We may also try for the elusive Virginia Rail and Marsh Wren where the road crosses some extensive marshland.

May 13 (Tue)- Gordon’s Pond (access from Rehoboth Beach going north up coast, sticker required) - This area hosts a small but productive maritime forest, and excellent mud flats for shorebirds and terns. We will take an easy walk to an elevated overlook of the pond, and if the trail extension is open, we will explore further.

May 20 (Tue)  – Prime Hook State Wildlife Management Area. Meet at Prime Hook Headquarters for carpooling to the State Area. Walking is easy and tick-free along a gravel road through some very old forest. This is an excellent woods for resident and migrant warblers, plus Yellow-throated Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Pileated Woodpecker and Barred Owl.

May 27 (Tue)- Prime Hook to Mispillion Nature Center. Meet at Prime Hook at 8:00 am for carpooling. High tide is 8:47 am at Mispillion, and best birding is 1 ½ to 2 hrs after high tide, so we will bird our way to Mispillion, arriving about 10 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.

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)

Arizona Hummingbird Haven - The Patons Home

Sally and I visited the Paton's home many years ago, and it was amazing, so when friend Sue Gruver sent us the linked article, we were delighted to see that even though the Patons are no longer with us, their hummingbird haven is being preserved for the hummingbirds, and for the many birders who so love hummingbirds. If you are headed to the Southwest, we highly recommend working in a stop by the Paton's Home. 
(Above photo is of a Green Violet Ear by Bill Fintel).

Snowy Owls in DE, and one north of IR Inlet

Sally and I got to see one of 2 or more near Indian River Inlet this past Monday, 12/2/13. Directions, thanks to Anthony Gonzon, are to park at the Savages Ditch parking lot on the west side of Rt 1 about 2 miles before the Indian River Inlet bridge. Then carefully cross Rt 1 to the surf fishing access road, and walk it to the beach. One owl has been just north of there, and we saw it very well this past Monday. A really neat bird that only gets this far south every 5 years or more.

For the Molly Murray's article in DE online.

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.