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.

Susex Bird Club Check List for Prime Hook, Oct 30, 2016

About 20 members of the Sussex Bird Club visited Prime Hook NWR on Oct 30, 2016. Leaders were Bill Fintel and Rob Blye. The group observed 57 species, with some highlights being White-crowned and Saltmarsh Sparrow, Winter Wren, Tree Swallows, 9 species of shorebirds, several Bald Eagles, a late Osprey, and a Peregrine Falcon. The complete list can be accessed HERE.

OLLI Fall 2016 Birding Checklist - Update after 11/2/16 Class

The 11/2 class went to Gordon's Pond. We added 12 species to our cumulative class list for a current total of 51 species. Highlights were 4 juvenile White Ibis, Northern Shoveler, Royal Tern, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, and Swamp Sparrow. We also had distant views of a Northern Gannet, and a quick look at a Northern Harrier at the very end of the trip. Our next class begins at Holt's Landing State Park and then goes to the Delaware Botanic Gardens. See the 11/4/16 posting for details.

HERE is the link to the updated check list.

OLLI Fall 2016 Birding Schedule, Revised 11/4/16 to include Delaware Botannic Gardens

OLLI Fall 2016 Birding Schedule – Revised 10/21/16 and 11/4/16

Bill Fintel, cell 302-727-3273

Sally Fintel, cell 302-682-0300

Their home 302-645-5561

General – Wear comfortable walking shoes as we may walk on level ground up to 1.5 miles. Bring sun screen, 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.

Oct 19 – Assawoman Wildlife Management Area (completed class)

We met at 8 am at the Ocean View Town Hall and Community Center and decided to go to Assawoman because of the favorable weather. We observed 34 species. The check list is available on Bill’s Blog (link above).

Oct 26 – James Farm and Assawoman Canal Trail

Meet at 8 am at the Ocean View Town Hall and Community Center. See the map on the back of an OLLI Catalog, or visit lifelonglearning.udel.edu/lewes/locations. From this location we will walk to the Assawoman Canal Trail and spend about an hour walking the trail. We will then drive to the James Farm. The James Farm has several trails through a mix of woods and fields, plus several overlooks on Indian River Bay.

Nov 2 – Gordon’s Pond (a part of Cape Henlopen State Park)

Meet at the main parking lot for Gordon’s Pond. This is accessed by going north through the town of Rehoboth Beach at the end of Ocean Drive.  See this link from Google maps  https://goo.gl/maps/y38z8QYaDEq  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.

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.

Nov 16 – Indian River Inlet, Burton’s Island and Silver Lake in Rehoboth

Meet at Indian River Inlet parking lot just southeast of the inlet. Park as close to the inlet and the ocean as you can. This is one of my favorite destinations for winter birding, BUT it can be cold and windy so come dressed warmly. We will be looking for seaducks, loons and Gannets.

Tomorrow's Field Trip for OLLI

As per a recent email from Renee/Anna, please meet at the old Ocean View Town Hall and Community Center at 8 am.

AND as an update, we may not go to the James Farm....as we are looking at going to Assawoman Wildlife Management Area (WMA) because it has been dry recently, and the area can be closed after heavy rains.

So bottom line, we will work out the details at the old Ocean View Town Hall at 8 am Wed.

The weather looks good, waterfowl have arrived in good numbers, so it should be a good trip.

And do bring insect repellent, sun screen and water plus a snack.