A Pic of our Rufous or Allen's Hummingbird visitor

RE the video, I will try again, but I am guessing the video file was too large. So for now here is the latest pic after I set up a mister to get her bathing and fanning her tail.

Previous - Many of you saw this Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird on the field trip to our house about 2 weeks ago. Hopefully the below linked video of this little darling taken today works for you. She really does bring a smile to Sally every time she arrives.

OLLI Birding Field Trip, Nov 8, 2017

The current radar looks good. The chance of rain is listed as 40% by NOAA. So our field trip is ON and I will be at Gordon's Pond parking lot just north of Rehoboth at 8 am. Rob Blye will be assisting me. Sally will be home recovering under the care of a Cadbury home caregiver.

It will be cool and windy, with perhaps a sprinkle, so dress appropriately.

Summary of Oct 18 field trip to Fintel's yard, Oster Rocks Rd, and the Cape Henlopen Hawk watch

On this field trip we observed 45 species, including a few notables such as a Rufous/Allen's type Hummingbird, and a Golden Eagle. The eagle came by the hawk watch late, so most class members had already left. Two other lesser highlights were a Red-breasted Nuthatch at the hawk watch, and a very close and cooperative Ruby-crowned Kinglet on Oyster Rocks Rd.

In the Fintel's yard we had several questions about feeders, so following are a few links:

The Wood Bark Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder is available through Amazon. (click for link)

The Droll Yankee Domed Cage Feeder is also available through Amazon. Remember that the dome on this feeder is not squirrel proof, so it should be protected by a squirrel baffle. Good squirrel baffles are available locally at Ace hardware, etc.

The Humzinger Hummingbird Feeder is also available through Amazon, as is the Ant Trap.

Our favorite suet recipe is:

No Melt Bird Suet –

Sally Fintel and  WildBird Magazine,  Dec. 1994

18 oz. crunchy peanut butter

2 cups (1 lb.) lard – no substitutions

4 cups quick oats

4 cups yellow corn meal

2 cups white flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter together over low heat. Remove from heat and thoroughly mix in remaining ingredients. Transfer to shallow Styrofoam veggie or meat containers. Cover & store in refridge or freeze. Slice and use to fill suet stick, as needed. Birds love this all year round.

Summary, Oct 11, 2017 Field Trip to Cape Henlopen State Park

In spite of the forecast of showers, we had 12 hardy birders meet us at 8 am at the Nature Center. It did rain some, but everyone was prepared....or hardy. Following are the highlight birds from today:
American Oystercatcher
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Great Blue Heron 
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Eastern Towhee
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
Our total species count was 23 species, which is low, but okay for the weather we had. I will compile a combined checklist for our 5 field trips, and we will review it in our last class.

The major highlight today was a second Peregrine Falcon flying by us at Herring Point with a bird in its talons. Incredibly, this bird escaped letting out a shriek, and it turned out to be a Merlin. The Merlin was VERY mad, and started attacking the Peregrine. Both birds eventually departed looking healthy, although with a few ruffled feathers. The Peregrine was an immature. Below is a picture of an adult Peregrine taken by John Long on a Sussex Bird Club field trip at Cape Henlopen in 2015.

As promised, the link to Delaware Birds
You can access the postings without becoming a member. If you join, the postings arrive in the email address you provide. I have set up a separate email address to receive these, as they are quite numerous.

This is the link to the Wedge-tailed Eagle attacking drones in Australia

6 am - Status of this mornings OLLI Birding Field Trip

Showers are definite. Heavy rain will likely hold off until after noon. So Sally and I will be at Cape Henlopen with rain resistant clothing at 8 am. Class participants are welcome to join us, or to sleep in at home. Bill

NOAA F'cast
Radar Loop

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.

Fall 2017 plans are about to be unveiled