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14 Mar Formatting Problems [Matthew Sarver ] 14 Mar OT: Sally O'byrne to Speak on Wilmington Waterfront History [Matthew Sarver ] 14 Mar DOS Meeting Wed 3/17: Birding Colombia's Northern Andes [Matthew Sarver ] 14 Mar DOS Meeting Wed 3/17: Birding Colombia's Northern Andes [Matthew Sarver ] 15 Mar DOS Peregrine Webcam Site [Andrew Homsey ] 14 Mar ADMIN: virus infected computers [James Tyler Bell ] 14 Mar No Subject [Bill Stewart ] 14 Mar No Subject [Maurice Barnhill ] 14 Mar B Hook Bobwhite [Rodney Murray ] 13 Mar Re: Mystery Sonagram #1 [Andrew Albright ] 13 Mar No Subject [Maurice Barnhill ] 13 Mar No Subject [Jim Lenhard ] 13 Mar RBA: Birdline Delaware, March 12th, 2010 [Andy Ednie ] 13 Mar Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve [Joe Sebastiani ] 12 Mar Eastern Red Bat... [bentebbens ] 12 Mar CANCELLED: DOS Field trip to Stone Harbor [Bill Stewart ] 11 Mar GREG [Colin Campbell ] 11 Mar Ashland Bird Walk: Woodpeckers and Waterfowl [Derek Stoner ] 11 Mar Osprey report [Susan Gruver ] 11 Mar Copy of Sibley found at Fowler's Beach [] 10 Mar Mystery Sonagram #1 [Andrew Albright ] 10 Mar Egyptian Geese and Winterthur [John Barczewski ] 10 Mar Ashland Bird Walk, 3/11 [Derek Stoner ] 10 Mar Delaware Valley RBA, 10 MARCH 2010 [Stephen E Kacir ] 10 Mar Abbott's Mill - Woodcocks [Jason Beale ] 10 Mar Exodus: Movement of the the Geese(a) [Derek Stoner ] 9 Mar Aural stuff [Colin Campbell ] 9 Mar erratic flight [Charles Fullmer ] 9 Mar HUGE Scoter raft at the Cape [Judy Montgomery ] 9 Mar Tuesday trip [Maurice Barnhill ] 9 Mar American Woodcocks in Rehoboth Beach [Sharon Lynn ] 9 Mar jinxes [Mary Ann Levan ] 9 Mar Chris Bennett vs. Ruth Draper Jinx [Bob Strahorn ] 9 Mar Waterfowl along Rt 9 [Maryanne Dolan ] 9 Mar Re: DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 8 Mar Re: Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight [Doug Sutherland ] 8 Mar Red-winged Blackbird Preening Brown-headed Cowbird [Bob Strahorn ] 8 Mar South Indian River Inlet this afternoon [Sharon Lynn ] 8 Mar Re: DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon [Bill Stewart ] 8 Mar Re: Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 8 Mar Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight [Chuck Brandt ] 8 Mar Delaware Duck Day, 3/7 [Derek Stoner ] 8 Mar DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon [Bill Stewart ] 8 Mar Laughing Gull [Sharon Lynn ] 7 Mar Shrike out [Charles Fullmer ] 7 Mar Loggerhead Shrike - NO ["Michael C. Moore" ] 7 Mar Southern Finest BBQ and Soul Food! [Mary Ann Levan ] 7 Mar Local Notes [Colin Campbell ] 6 Mar Cancel subscription [Laura Shelton ] 6 Mar Waterfowl in New Castle County [Derek Stoner ] 6 Mar Canada and Snow Geese [AMROE ] 6 Mar Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve Walks [Joe Sebastiani ] 6 Mar Loggerhead Shrike ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 5 Mar RBA: Birdline Delaware, March 5th, 2010 [Andy Ednie ] 5 Mar Re: Northern Shrike on Bennett's Pier Road, Milford Neck ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 5 Mar Eurasian Wigeon Continues at Ted Harvey [] 5 Mar Northern Shrike on Bennett's Pier Road, Milford Neck [] 4 Mar DOS Chesapeake Farms trip (3/13): scouting report [Derek Stoner ] 4 Mar Re: Exotic Geese [kds ] 4 Mar Eurasian Green-winged Teal ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 4 Mar Sharp-shinned Hawks [joe sebastiani ] 3 Mar Wood Ducks in Wilmington [Derek Stoner ] 3 Mar Pine Siskin [Dennis Brezina ] 3 Mar Delaware Valley RBA, 3 MARCH 2010 [Stephen E Kacir ] 3 Mar final reminder about the Peregrine web cam event ["sally o'byrne" ] 3 Mar Re: FW: [de-birds] Exotic Geese [Bob Strahorn ] 3 Mar Ashland Thursday Walk and recent birds [joe sebastiani ] 3 Mar FW: [de-birds] Exotic Geese [Bob Strahorn ] 3 Mar Exotic Geese [Meta Little ] 3 Mar A Factual Account of Birding in Delaware City ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 3 Mar Large Snow Goose flocks? [Susan Guiteras ] 3 Mar MISTAKE in a previous POST ["Bennett Chris (DNREC)" ] 2 Mar Re: Hot Time in the City ["F.Arthur McMorris" ] 2 Mar Re: Hot Time in the City [Dan Haas ] 2 Mar Eurasian Wigeon inter alia [Colin Campbell ] 2 Mar Hot Time in the City [Bill Stewart ] Subject: Formatting Problems From: Matthew Sarver <ammodram AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:00:18 -0700 All - I apologize for the formatting problems and broken links in my previous emails. For some reason, the de-birds listserv does not play nice with my messages sent from Yahoo mail. The same emails sent to the DOS Members list do not have the same problems. If anyone has a solution to this problem, please let me know. In the meantime, if you would like more information on Sally's Tuesday lecture, or on Wednesday's DOS meeting, please email me off-list, and I will forward you a clean copy of the email. Good birding, Matt Matt Sarver New Castle, DE Subject: OT: Sally O'byrne to Speak on Wilmington Waterfront History From: Matthew Sarver <ammodram AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:52:30 -0700 This isn't a bird topic, but I thought some of you may Hi All - This isn't a bird topic, but I thought some of you may be interested in this upcoming talk by our own Sally O'Byrne on the history of the Wilmington Waterfront. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and can be purchased from the following link: http://events. constantcontact. com/register/ event?oeidk= a07e2qopn3w9c601 e40&oseq=a021adfr57he0j. Proceeds benefit the education programs of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. Best, Matt Matt Sarver New Castle, DE The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Presents 2010 Lecture Series: “Keeping Delaware ’s History Alive” ChaseCenteron the Riverfront Dravo Auditorium Wilmington, DE 6:00-8:30pm Wilmington , Delaware , February 19, 2010 – The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, in keeping with its educational mission to enrich the lives of students of all ages, announces its Lecture Series for 2010, entitled “Keeping Delaware’s History Alive.” March 16, 2010 Tuesday evening, 6:00-8:30 pm Click here for Tickets “Wilmington’s Waterfront,” Sally O’Byrne, co-author of Images of America: Wilmington’s Waterfront and Wilmington ’s celebrated naturalist and conservationist. Since the KalmarNyckel’s arrival at “the Rocks” in March, 1638, bringing Peter Minuit and the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley , “ Wilmington ’s Waterfront” has shaped the city’s history and explains its location. Sited at the confluence of the Christina and Brandywine Rivers , Wilmington ’s place in our history and lives has been no accident. Peter Minuit knew what he was doing in 1638 when he chose “the Rocks” as the site for Fort Christina on what is today’s 7th Street Peninsula . “Sally O’Byrne knows what she’s doing, too,” comments Samuel Heed, Director of Education for the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. “Sally is an exquisite tour guide, and she has invited us all for an unforgettable excursion along the history of ‘ Wilmington ’s Waterfront’.” Co-author with Priscilla Thompson of the best-selling book by the same name, “Sally O’Byrne will take us through the images of the two rivers that have been the city’s lifeblood since the arrival of the first Swedish settlers,” Heed said. It’s a story that ebbs and flows like the tide of the Christina, and, like the Brandywine’s timeless power, it’s one that cascades with the people and industries that have called Wilmington home.” The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is delighted to present Sally O’Byrne for a pictorial tour d’horizon of Wilmington’s waterfront, where she will engage her audience with a vast collection of photographs and lithographs, helping us rediscover the shipbuilding companies, railroad car manufacturers, steamboat excursions, America’s Cup winners, parks and bridge dedications, and all the landmarks and activities that are of part of Wilmington’s waterfront past. A lifelong Delawarean, Sally has lived in the City of Wilmington since 1977, when she and her husband Terry were awarded an urban homesteading house in the Cool Springs Neighborhood. After earning a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania , Sally became interested in urban issues, becoming President of Cityside, Inc., an organization dedicated to living in the city. Her interest in the rivers of the city go back to that time, when, in 1979, Cityside was awarded a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation under their Maritime Preservation funds, to do an inventory of waterfront properties. Still living in downtown Wilmington , Sally has also pursued her lifelong interest in natural history as a teacher and naturalist for the Delaware Nature Society. She coordinated the 2000 avian survey for the Russell Peterson Wildlife Refuge and is presently President of the Delmarva Ornithological Society. Sally is also a board member of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Delaware Nature Society, and Christina Conservancy. Subject: DOS Meeting Wed 3/17: Birding Colombia's Northern Andes From: Matthew Sarver <ammodram AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:41:27 -0700 Please join the Delmarva Ornithological Society for our Greetings all, Please join the Delmarva Ornithological Society for our monthly meeting this Wednesday (2/17) at Ashland Nature Centernear Hockessin, DE. The meeting will begin at7:00 PM with a social half-hour, followed by Society business at 7:30. Our main program will begin at approximately 8:15. Speakers: Matt Sarver & Lauren Morgens Topic:Birding Colombia's Northern Andes DOS Vice President Matt Sarver and his fianc�e Lauren Morgens will recount their recent birding trip to Colombia in the company of Delaware hawk-counters Forrest Rowland and Cyrus Moqtaderi. The group flew into Medell�n, the former home of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, and spent two weeks roaming the Andes in search of rare Colombian endemics. In cooperation with Fundaci�n ProAves, and armed with notebooks, binoculars, cameras, and sound recording gear, the group visited several bird preserves and traveled into a few areas never before explored by modern ornithologists. Join us for an evening of adventures in the Andes! I hope to see all of you there so we can share what we've learned about bird conservation and birding in this beautiful country! Matt Sarver Vice President and Program Chair Delmarva Ornithological Society Google Location for Ashland Nature Center: http://maps. google.com/ maps?oe=utf- 8&client=firefox- a&ie=UTF8&q=Ashland+Nature+ Center+Lodge&fb=1&gl=us&hq=ashland+nature+ center&hnear=Wilmington, +DE&cid=568523258684526 8662&ei=cnh1S9iZG4qXtge1 pMWhCg&ved=0CCAQnwIwBA&z=16&iwloc=A Subject: DOS Meeting Wed 3/17: Birding Colombia's Northern Andes From: Matthew Sarver <ammodram AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:41:27 -0700 (PDT) Greetings all, Please join the Delmarva Ornithological Society for our monthly meeting this Wednesday (2/17) at Ashland Nature Centernear Hockessin, DE. The meeting will begin at7:00 PM with a social half-hour, followed by Society business at 7:30. Our main program will begin at approximately 8:15. Speakers: Matt Sarver & Lauren Morgens Topic:Birding Colombia's Northern Andes DOS Vice President Matt Sarver and his fianc�e Lauren Morgens will recount their recent birding trip to Colombia in the company of Delaware hawk-counters Forrest Rowland and Cyrus Moqtaderi. The group flew into Medell�n, the former home of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, and spent two weeks roaming the Andes in search of rare Colombian endemics. In cooperation with Fundaci�n ProAves, and armed with notebooks, binoculars, cameras, and sound recording gear, the group visited several bird preserves and traveled into a few areas never before explored by modern ornithologists. Join us for an evening of adventures in the Andes! I hope to see all of you there so we can share what we've learned about bird conservation and birding in this beautiful country! Matt Sarver Vice President and Program Chair Delmarva Ornithological Society Google Location for Ashland Nature Center: http://maps. google.com/ maps?oe=utf- 8&client=firefox- a&ie=UTF8&q=Ashland+Nature+ Center+Lodge&fb=1&gl=us&hq=ashland+nature+ center&hnear=Wilmington, +DE&cid=568523258684526 8662&ei=cnh1S9iZG4qXtge1 pMWhCg&ved=0CCAQnwIwBA&z=16&iwloc=A Subject: DOS Peregrine Webcam Site From: Andrew Homsey <homsey AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:19:20 +0000 Hi all, It has been reported that a user who tried to access the DOS Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam was alerted by his browser that the site installs viruses and/or trojans, and he subsequently found an infection on his computer. However, we find it very unlikely, given the nature and text of the message received, that the Webcam page itself is the culprit. We have investigated the page on a clean and patched computer, and have so far found no problems. It is possible that the user's computer was already compromised, and that the nature of the compromise is to falsely report (presumably nonexistent) dangers. We have taken the Falcon Webcam temporarily off-line out of caution, until the true nature of this issue has been determined. We will work with the hosts of the camera and the DOS site to ensure the page and the site's integrity. If you have received similar warnings about the site or any of its pages, please contact me right away. Thank you, Andrew Homsey DOS Website Manager Subject: ADMIN: virus infected computers From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:15:05 -0700 DE-Birders: Jim Lenhard's computer was/is afflicted with a virus that sent out spam which apparently points you to web site that will dump a virus on an unprotected computer thus spreading the infection. I set his subscription to review status which means that when he posts, it has to be reviewed by the listowner, me. I'm not singling him out, this is the SOP for this type of event. After a while, if�there is no persistent issue with a subscriber who has such an affliction, their account will be set back to normal status. They still receive emails from the list so they won't be�missing anything. Sadly, this is an unfortunate byproduct of people with evil on their minds and nothing better to do with their computer skills. Tyler Bell DE-Birds Listowner ----- Original Message ---- From: Maurice Barnhill To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 6:44:32 PM Subject: [de-birds] Maurice Barnhill wrote: > Jim Lenhard wrote: >> [url] >>� > Be careful with this reference.� Firefox 3.6 reports that it is a site that installs viruses and trojan horses. > Jim Lenhard has written me that the message was sent by a virus his machine picked up on the web, and he was unaware that it had even been sent.� He asked me to pass along the following message "Tyler just deactivated me - it appears that I have been infected with a high tech virus. Ironically, I think I got infected at the DOS peregrine cam site. I got a note saying the site was infected when I entered, and immediately signed off, but I guess it was too late. I hope I didn't further the spread, or inconvenience anyone." I hope that he will shortly have his machine cleaned out and be active on DE-birds again. If you did go to the site he mentioned, you should probably do a careful virus check.� This is apparently one of the type that gets installed on your machine without any action on your part, other than visiting the site in the first place. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu� Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Subject: No Subject From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:00:56 -0400 To all, I am sure Andrew Homsey, DOS webmaster, will research any connection of the virus and link to the falcon webcam site. I will be in contact with EarthCam first thing tomorrow morning and relay their results. This is the first I have heard of ANY such problem with visiting the DOS website. I would like more information from Jim Lenhard and the note he received regarding the virus. Bill Stewart Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Project Coordinator On Mar 14, 2010, at 6:44 PM, Maurice Barnhill wrote: Maurice Barnhill wrote: > Jim Lenhard wrote: >> [url] >> > Be careful with this reference. Firefox 3.6 reports that it is a > site that installs viruses and trojan horses. > Jim Lenhard has written me that the message was sent by a virus his machine picked up on the web, and he was unaware that it had even been sent. He asked me to pass along the following message "Tyler just deactivated me - it appears that I have been infected with a high tech virus. Ironically, I think I got infected at the DOS peregrine cam site. I got a note saying the site was infected when I entered, and immediately signed off, but I guess it was too late. I hope I didn't further the spread, or inconvenience anyone." I hope that he will shortly have his machine cleaned out and be active on DE-birds again. If you did go to the site he mentioned, you should probably do a careful virus check. This is apparently one of the type that gets installed on your machine without any action on your part, other than visiting the site in the first place. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Subject: No Subject From: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT udel.edu> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:44:32 -0400 Maurice Barnhill wrote: > Jim Lenhard wrote: >> [url] >> > Be careful with this reference. Firefox 3.6 reports that it is a site > that installs viruses and trojan horses. > Jim Lenhard has written me that the message was sent by a virus his machine picked up on the web, and he was unaware that it had even been sent. He asked me to pass along the following message "Tyler just deactivated me - it appears that I have been infected with a high tech virus. Ironically, I think I got infected at the DOS peregrine cam site. I got a note saying the site was infected when I entered, and immediately signed off, but I guess it was too late. I hope I didn't further the spread, or inconvenience anyone." I hope that he will shortly have his machine cleaned out and be active on DE-birds again. If you did go to the site he mentioned, you should probably do a careful virus check. This is apparently one of the type that gets installed on your machine without any action on your part, other than visiting the site in the first place. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Subject: B Hook Bobwhite From: Rodney Murray <rodmurray_1999 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:45:10 -0700 Got to the ag field before Raymond Pool to hear the peenting and serenading of at least 3 Am Woodcocks�from 6:30 to 7 AM.� Neat.� Also heard a GH Owl hooting above the din of the Snow Geese, Robins, peepers, etc.�In the�flooded fields before the Allee House and the pool beyond the turnoff to Finis were many G Yellowlegs, Dunlin, 4 H Mergansers, 4 Wood Ducks, and 4 Ring-necked Ducks along with a host of other waterfowl.� (Also at least 60 Ring-neckeds in Taylor's Gut).� But the highlight of the morning was watching 16 Northern Bobwhite running all over the road just after the corn crib...most I have ever seen in one spot in DE.�� Also on the bay side of Shearness, I lost count after seeing 30 homeless muskrats, some of which were ridiculously close to the road. I guess the�other rodents were searching out dry diggings, too, as I saw a Harrier snatch one and a Greater Black-backed Gull actually fly off with one still kicking in its beak.� Never saw a gull catch a mouse before.�� Interesting day. � Rodney Murray, Middletown Subject: Re: Mystery Sonagram #1 From: Andrew Albright <albrigh_1999 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:53:31 -0800 Nobody got the right answer! Maybe this is too hard. Here is the audio file from which I made the sonagram: http://soundcloud.com/user3781125/mystery1 If after listening to the audio, you still can't get it, here are two more clues: 1) the second part of the call has the same quality as many of this species calls/songs. 2) If you don't recognize a bird call/song, then this species is always a good guess. I put a link to the answer on the blog: http://trash-birder.blogspot.com/2010/03/mystery-sonogram-1.html Andrew Albright Lafayette Hill, PA albrigh_1999 AT yahoo.com --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Andrew Albright wrote: > From: Andrew Albright > Subject: Mystery Sonagram #1 > To: PABIRDS AT LIST.AUDUBON.ORG, DE-Birds AT princeton.edu, naturerecordists AT yahoogroups.com > Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 10:40 PM > I'm not sure if this will be of > interest to anyone, but I put together a mystery sonogram > from a recording I made in Philadelphia on March 1st.� > It took me a while to figure out that these two sounds were > from the same bird. > > Spring is in the air, and many species are starting to > set-up their territories. > > http://trash-birder.blogspot.com/2010/03/mystery-sonogram-1.html > > I can post the actual audio clip in a few days. > > Andrew Albright > Lafayette Hill, PA > albrigh_1999 AT yahoo.com > > > > > � � � > Subject: No Subject From: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT udel.edu> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:00:34 -0500 Jim Lenhard wrote: > [url] > Be careful with this reference. Firefox 3.6 reports that it is a site that installs viruses and trojan horses. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Subject: No Subject From: Jim Lenhard <dmdcde AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:44:37 -0500 http://florex.by.ru/HkQcCwkGlL.htm Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, March 12th, 2010 From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:58:41 -0500 RBA * Delaware * Statewide * March 12, 2010 * DEST1003.12 *Birds mentioned Snow Goose Brant Canada Goose Egyptian Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal Green-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Gadwall American Wigeon Eurasian Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Lesser Scaup Ring-necked Duck Long-tailed Duck Common Eider Black Scoter Surf Scoter Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Common Loon Red-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Northern Gannet Great Cormorant Great Egret Black Vulture Bald Eagle Osprey Peregrine Falcon American Avocet Greater Yellowlegs Purple Sandpiper American Woodcock Bonaparte's Gull Laughing Gull Glaucous Gull Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Hermit Thrush Brown Thrasher American Pipit Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: March 12, 2010 Number: 302-658-2747 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) For Friday, March 12th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2010 Unofficial Delaware State Year List now stands at 167 species. The drake EURASIAN WIGEON at the North Pond in the Logan Tract off the Kitts Hummock Rd. continues to be seen this week. There were also 12 AMERICAN AVOCETS seen flying over the pond on Sunday. Other species seen there included WOOD DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN COOT, and all three MERGANSERS, COMMON, HOODED, and RED-BREASTED. 20+ BONAPARTE'S GULLS were also present. Another EURASIAN WIGEON was also found at the Pickering Beach side of Little Creek WMA this week. That bird was on the west side of the dike 2 drake REDHEADS were also seen at the west pool, along with LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, 20+ HOODED MERGANSERS, RUDDY DUCK and 300-400 AMERICAN WIGEON. You can access Pickering Beach by parking along the road and walking in. 30+ BONAPARTE'S GULLS were flying off Kitts Hummock. Other birds reported round Kitts included 6 BLACK VULTURES, BALD EAGLE, RING-NECKED DUCK, TUNDRA SWAN, all three species of MERGANSERS, and AMERICAN PIPIT. Signs of spring included a GREAT EGRET seen flying over I-95 at Churchman's Marsh this yesterday. The same day, another was seen at Prime Hook. OSPREYS have returned to the Delaware beaches, with a pair occupying the nest at Bay Vista. The first LAUGHING GULL of the season was reported Gordon's Pond. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen flying over bear swamp at Bombay Hook NWR near Smyrna on Tuesday. HORNED GREBE continues to be reported intermittently at the refuge. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS continue to be seen at the feeders there. BLUE-WINGED TEAL was reported at Greer's Pond at Thousand Acre Marsh. WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and AMERICAN WIGEON were also seen at Thousand Acre Marsh. PEREGRINE FALCON and BALD EAGLE were also reported. One COMMON EIDER still remains at Indian River Inlet. 3 GREATER SCAUP and a couple of BRANT were among the LONG-TAILED DUCKS at the inlet. Large numbers of RED-THROATED and COMMON LOONS were present, plus 2 GREAT CORMORANTS. 15 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen on the jetty. PIED-BILLED GREBE and COMMON GOLDENEYE were seen from the Burton's Island causeway. 15 RING-NECKED DUCKS were among the CANVASBACK on Silver Lake this week. FOX SPARROW and HERMIT THRUSH were reported at Thompson's Island. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and EASTERN TOWHEE are still coming to a feeder at Bay Vista. A huge flock of SCOTERS were seen off Cape Henlopen State Park this week, only SURF and BLACK SCOTER were reported. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen on the bay side of the point, NORTHERN GANNETS and LOONS were seen offshore. A dozen BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen in the Youth Camp area behind the Seaside Nature Center. A GLAUCOUS GULL was reported at Fowler's Beach at Prime Hook NWR. 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were reported along the Prime Hook Beach Rd. A GREAT HORNED OWL nesting on an Osprey platform can be seen along the Broadkill Beach Rd. EASTERN PHOEBE and BROWN THRASHER were seen at the Prime hook headquarters. TUNDRA SWAN and TREE SWALLOW were also reported. EGYPTIAN GEESE continue to be seen at the University of Delaware Ag farm in Newark. You can see these birds from the backside of Ag Hall off Rt. 896 (South College Ave.). AMERICAN WOODCOCK were peenting at several locations this week. Reports include Old Landing near Rehoboth Beach, Georgetown, and at Abbott's Mill near Milford. A half dozen courting males were heard this week behind the Aquatic Center off Rt. 9 near Woodland Beach. The safe date for calling WOODCOCKS is after March 20th for the Breeding Bird Atlas. A BARRED OWL was reported calling in the evening at Ashland Nature Center this week. There was also a flyover BALD EAGLE. SNOW and CANADA GEESE have been going overhead at Ashland. PILEATED WOODPECKER has also been reported. PILEATED WOODPECKER was also reported at Winterthur Museum. And now for this week's special feature from 1450 WILM News Radio. Every St. Paddy's Day brings the first harbingers of spring to Delaware, as the EASTERN PHOEBE arrives back on its nesting territory. Along creeks and streams, near bridges under which they nest, comes their call, "Dear me, Phoebe", which means that springtime is just around the corner. The PHOEBE belongs to the family of tyrant flycatchers found only in the New World. This is one of the largest, most diverse, family of birds in the world. Mostly tropical, there are over 400 different species and growing. The group includes the KINGBIRDS, PEWEES, CRESTED, and EMPIDOMAX FLYCATCHERS. Many birds in this group look similar, having to find a mate by song. In most species song is learned, but recent studies show that in flycatcher's, song is inherited. A PHOEBE will sit on a snag over a stream, pumping its tail downward. They have a dark gray back, black head that looks like a cap with a small crest, and white belly. What differentiates the PHOEBE from other flycatchers is the lack of an eye ring or wing bars. One of the first banding experiments done in the New World was documented on the EASTERN PHOEBE. Audubon, from his childhood home in Mill Grove: Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania just north of Valley Forge, tied yarn to the legs of the local PHOEBES. That way, each spring he was able to demonstrate that the same birds came back to nest in the rocky crags on his property over the Perkiomen Creek. And now, just as in Audubon's time, Phoebes are returning to their nest sites. Special hanks this week to Lynn Smith, Sharon Lynn, Anthony Gonzon, Maurice Barnhill, Jim white, Andrew Bogush, Derek Stoner, Judy Montgomery, Brian McCaffery, and Colin Campbell for their reports. You can report your sightings or add to the Delaware Year List by calling 302-792-9591 or email ednieap AT verizon.net. Thanks for calling and until next time, good birding! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:59:38 -0500 Attend the free bird walks at Bucktoe Creek Preserve near Kennett Square, PA this Sunday and Monday at 8am. On Sunday, Holly Merker will lead the walk, and on Monday, Sally O'Byrne will lead. Directions can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. If this program is cancelled because of weather on Sunday, a message will appear at http://bucktoecreekpreserve.org/. We saw two fly-by Woodcocks on our walk last Monday evening the 8th, but they didn't display, so we will return for another try this Monday evening the 15th. If you are interested in attending, please email me off-list. Joe Sebastiani, Delaware Nature Society Subject: Eastern Red Bat... From: bentebbens <bentebbens AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:11:44 -0500 Saw what mom has probably correctly identified as an Eastern Red Bat swooping and diving around our back yard earlier in the week. I'd never seen a bat that looked like that, almost a yellow sunshiny head. So cool, lots of "no see um's" around as warmer weather moved in. A few shots uploaded onto flickr if you'd like to see it. Kind regards, Ben Tebbens of Lincoln, De. http://www.flickr.com/photos/21183284 AT N05/4428144214/ Subject: CANCELLED: DOS Field trip to Stone Harbor From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:34:21 -0500 Good rainy morning, As much as I do not want to do it, I have decided to cancel the DOS Stone Harbor/Avalon field trip that is scheduled for tomorrow. The National Weather Service has issued Flood Warnings, High Wind Advisory (45 mph or more) and Hazardous Weather Outlook for Saturday the 13th! In light of that impending explosion of several low pressure systems, birding would be close to impossible. I have included the latest report from NOAA pertaining to the storms. Guess we will just have to wait until next year. Bill Stewart PERIODS OF RAIN FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE FLOODING ON STREAMS, RIVERS AND IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. EVENT TOTAL PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES ARE 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN SHOULD OCCUR ON THE CALENDAR DAY ON SATURDAY. IN ADDITION, AT LEAST MINOR TIDAL FLOODING MAY OCCUR OVER THE WEEKEND ALONG WITH SOME STRONG ONSHORE WINDS AND BEACH EROSION. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FORMING OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST WILL INTENSIFY AS IT SLOWLY DRIFTS NORTH TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. MEANWHILE A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BUILD INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES. BOTH WILL COMBINE TO INCREASE THE EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS ACROSS THE REGION LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. PEAK WIND GUSTS SHOULD AVERAGE AROUND 45 MPH. THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR WEAK TREES, TREE LIMBS AND WIRES TO BE KNOCKED DOWN. SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES SHOULD OCCUR Subject: GREG From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:36:37 -0500 A Great Egret was at Fowler Beach Road today. Ducks in the ascendancy, geese in the descendancy (along with the rain). Colin Campbell. Subject: Ashland Bird Walk: Woodpeckers and Waterfowl From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:31:50 -0500 The morning walk at Ashland had a distinct flavor of waterfowl and woodpeckers. Migrant flocks of Canada and Snow Geese filtered overhead throughout the morning, while a quartet of Wood Ducks put on a show on the creek as they perched and preened on logs. Territorial battles and displays among the Downy and Hairy tribes indicated that the woodpecker nesting season is upon us. A Red-bellied Woodpecker battling a European Starling for a nest cavity was an all-too-common reminder of the starling's competition with native bird species. On cherry and sassafras trees we examined the recent and extensive excavations of Pileated Woodpeckers. A chattering pair of Belted Kingfishers flew upstream, followed shortly by another pair of kingfishers. The waterfront real estate market is very hot right now! At Middle Run Natural Area later in the morning, I observed the following: a crow(probably an American) carrying nesting material, a Killdeer calling loudly, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler fly-catching gnats from a red maple. No phoebes, swallows or Palm Warblers- yet. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Osprey report From: Susan Gruver <Srgruver AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:44:20 EST Hi all, Lynn Smith just called(12:30pm) me, she is at Bay Vista Island, Rehoboth and she has two Osprey sitting on the platform. Oh boy, a real great harbinger of Spring. Sue Gruver Subject: Copy of Sibley found at Fowler's Beach From: fintel AT CE.NET Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:08:44 -0500 A well used copy of Sibley was found by a friend on Monday, March 1, 2010 at Fowler's Beach, Prime Hook Refuge. To retrieve it, please contact me off-line. Sally Fintel Lewes, DE Subject: Mystery Sonagram #1 From: Andrew Albright <albrigh_1999 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:40:02 -0800 I'm not sure if this will be of interest to anyone, but I put together a mystery sonogram from a recording I made in Philadelphia on March 1st. It took me a while to figure out that these two sounds were from the same bird. Spring is in the air, and many species are starting to set-up their territories. http://trash-birder.blogspot.com/2010/03/mystery-sonogram-1.html I can post the actual audio clip in a few days. Andrew Albright Lafayette Hill, PA albrigh_1999 AT yahoo.com Subject: Egyptian Geese and Winterthur From: John Barczewski <cosmo123 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:40:29 -0500 Two Egyptian Geese are still hanging around the U of D Ag Hall Campus. I found them in the cow pasture today. Though they flock with Canada Geese, they seem to walk to their own beat, straying from the group. Beautiful birds. Yesterday, I walked the grounds of Winterthur and watched their resident Pileated WP. Winterthur is open to the public again and the March Bank is glowing in yellow and white with aconites and snow drops. Purples and pinks should be popping soon. More beauty. Subject: Ashland Bird Walk, 3/11 From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:40:21 -0500 Tomorrow morning I will lead the weekly bird walk at the Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin. We will meet at 8:00am in the parking lot. Directions to the nature center may be found at: http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html Birds seen today include Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Towhee, and Wood Ducks. There is lots of singing going on and the woodpeckers are checking out their nest cavities. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Delaware Valley RBA, 10 MARCH 2010 From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:32:50 -0800 - RBA * PA, NJ, DE * Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE * PADV1003.10 * March 10, 2010 - Birds Mentioned Western Grebe (NJ)+ Common Teal (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) (DE)+ Gyrfalcon (PA)+ -Extralimital- Loggerhead Shrike (DE)+ (NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC) (PA)+ (Details requested by PORC) (DE)+ (Details requested by DERC) Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Northern Gannet Great Cormorant Black-crowned Night-heron Greater White-fronted Goose Snow Goose Ross's Goose X Snow Goose Ross's Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Eurasian Wigeon Blue-winged Teal Northern Pintail Canvasback Redhead King Eider Common Eider Harlequin Duck Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Red-shouldered Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Peregrine Falcon Ring-necked Pheasant Sandhill Crane Purple Sandpiper American Woodcock Laughing Gull Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Forster's Tern Razorbill Snowy Owl Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Fish Crow Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch American Pipit Nashville Warbler Clay-colored Sparrow Ipswich Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Rusty Blackbird Purple Finch - Transcript Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Phone: (215) 240-7547 Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Mike Lyman URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm Welcome to the March 10, 2010 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia Region. This week, we highlight reports of WESTERN GREBE in Monmouth County, NJ; COMMON TEALS (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) in Kent and Sussex Counties, DE and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Sussex County, DE. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR NEW JERSEY: Cape May County: The immature drake KING EIDER was spotted from Poverty Beach through March 7. A drake COMMON EIDER was seen at the St Mary's jetty on March 6-7. At Cape May Point State Park, the drake REDHEAD and 2 drake EURASIAN WIGEONS were on Lighthouse Pond through March 6, and the six TUNDRA SWANS were on the Bunker Pond through March 6 as well. A LAUGHING GULL in NJ waters was spotted from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on March 8. That day, a dozen FORSTER'S TERNS were on the flats off the Villas, and 170 BONAPARTE'S GULLS fed at a tidal pool. The BLACK-HEADED GULL was south of the terns and BONAPARTE'S GULLS that day. The BLACK-HEADED GULL spent some time off Elwood Ave in North Cape May on March 6. Later it was seen with BONAPARTE'S GULLS following a returning ferry at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the northern bayshore of the Villas on March 8. A BRANT was the pond at The Villas WMA on March 6. Miami Beach at the Villas had FORSTER'S TERNS and 2 LAUGHING GULLS on March 9. On March 6, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Kimbles Beach Rd and at The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. On March 8, a Harbor Seal was on the beach near the Convention Center in Cape May. Beaver Swamp had a hen COMMON GOLDENEYE on March 9. Cumberland County: On March 7, a juvenile GOLDEN EAGLE and AMERICAN PIPITS were at Turkey Point in the Glades Wildlife Refuge. That day, a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK over Money Island was seen from Newport Landing Rd that day. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Turkey Point. On March 5, fifty CANVASBACKS were on Delaware Bay off Bays Point. Atlantic County: Three IPSWICH SPARROWS were reported from the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR on March 7. Ocean County: Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had COMMON EIDERS through March 7, and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was there on March 5. Other reports from Barnegat Inlet included RED-THROATED LOON, GREAT CORMORANTS, BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. Huddy Park in Toms River had 8 CANVASBACKS. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Manahawkin WMA. Monmouth County: On March 9, the North Shore WESTERN GREBE was spotted off Marine Place in Deal. The WESTERN GREBE was just north of Shark River Inlet on March 6, and COMMON EIDERS were at the North Shore that day. On March 9, a RAZORBILL and 5 COMMON EIDERS were reported off Marine Ave. Recent reports from Sandy Hook included HORNED GREBES, BARRED OWL, BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and Harbor Seals. On March 5, the drake REDHEAD, a COMMON GOLDENEYE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were seen from the boat launch at Assunpink WMA. A RING-NECKED PHEASANT was at Assunpink on March 7. Burlington County: On March 5, two GREAT CORMORANTS at the Delaware River were spotted from Palmyra Cove Nature Park. The waterfront at Florence had 9 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and an ICELAND GULL, with the best birding taking place at the exposed mud flats north of the turnpike bridge. Gloucester County: On March 5, the Pedricktown Marsh causeway, which is still closed to vehicles, had 1350 NORTHERN PINTAILS. Middlesex County: On March 2, two SNOW BUNTINGS were at the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park in South Amboy. Mercer County: An AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed in Princeton and Hamilton. Hunterdon County: On March 6, Spruce Run State Park had 24 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. That day, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was at Round Valley Reservoir. Three PURPLE FINCHES visited a feeder in Kingwood Twp. Warren County: On March 4, Oberly Rd at the Alpha Grasslands had 10 SNOW BUNTINGS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. On March 9, Merrill Creek Reservoir had over 100,000 SNOW GEESE, a REDHEAD, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and COMMON GOLDENEYES. Morris County: A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at Mount Hope Lake in Rockaway Twp on March 9-10. The old Hanover Airport had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 6. NJ Extralimitals: The NORTHERN SHRIKE at DeKorte Park's Disposal Rd was reported as recently as March 6. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR DELAWARE: New Castle County: Returning WOOD DUCKS were reported from the DuPont Environmental Education Center and Dragon Run Park. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was at Dragon Run Park on March 7. South of Newark on Route 896, some EGYPTIAN GEESE were seen near the north end of the University of Delaware Agriculture Building. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK caught a snake at Harry's Pond in the Brandywine Town Center. On March 6, nearly 3,000 NORTHERN PINTAILS were at the Thousand Acre Marsh, and the PEREGRINE FALCONS nesting under the Reedy Point Bridge snacked on a cowbird. GREAT CORMORANTS were at the channel marker on the Delaware River at Claymont. Kent County: A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at the North Pond of Ted Harvey WA through March 9. A third hand report mentioned COMMON TEAL (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) at the North Pond on March 7. Several BONAPARTE'S GULLS were at the North Pond of Ted Harvey on March 9. On March 9, a GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR. A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted at Little Creek WA on March 9. Sussex County: On March 5-6, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was at the end of Bennett's Pier Rd in Milford Neck. On March 7, thirty-one TUNDRA SWANS flew over this area. On March 4, a COMMON TEAL (EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) was at the last field on the north side of Broadkill Rd between the impoundments and Prime Hook NWR's Refuge Entrance Rd. On March 9, Prime Hook had 130 TUNDRA SWANS. On March 8, Indian River Inlet had 50 RED-THROATED LOONS, 30 COMMON LOONS, GREAT CORMORANTS, BLACK SCOTERS, SURF SCOTERS, a COMMON EIDER, a BONAPARTE'S GULL, 15 PURPLE SANDPIPERS and a Harbor Seal. Hundreds of CANVASBACKS were on Silver Lake in Rehoboth, and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Rehoboth Beach. Thousands of SURF SCOTERS and BLACK SCOTERS rafted off the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Point overlook at Cape Henlopen State Park on March 9. That day, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were at Cape Henlopen's Youth Campground, and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from the park. A LAUGHING GULL was on the beach near Gordon's Pond on March 8. On March 9, three AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Lee Meadow behind the nature center at Abbott's Mill Nature Center. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR PENNSYLVANIA: Chester County: On March 8-9, Chambers Lake had six GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE. Other birds at Chambers Lake included TUNDRA SWANS, CACKLING GOOSE, COMMON GOLDENEYES and WOOD DUCKS. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Chambers Lake on March 9. On March 9, Westtown Lake had a drake REDHEAD and WOOD DUCKS. Montgomery County: On March 6, two COMMON RAVENS soared over the quarry on Route 309 near the 309 Cinema. On March 6, four LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a FISH CROW were at the Church Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir. Five WOOD DUCKS were on Knight Lake that day. PURPLE FINCHES visited feeders in Green Lane. Bucks County: A COMMON RAVEN flew over Route 663 near the PA Turnpike Interchange on March 6. On March 3, two COMMON GOLDENEYES, an ICELAND GULL and a PEREGRINE FALCON were spotted from the Morrisville Levee. Peace Valley Park's Lake Galena has had as many as 584 COMMON MERGANSERS through March 6. Peace Valley's high count for LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS was 63 gulls on March 2. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Silver Lake Park on March 7. Churchville Nature Center reported LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Northampton County: The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the Koch property through March 7. A GREAT CORMORANT was at the Martins Creek Quarry on March 7. On March 9, Lake Minsi had 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 45 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Bear Swamp had AMERICAN WOODCOCK and PILEATED WOODPECKERS. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been displaying in Plainfield Twp. Lehigh County: On March 3, a PEREGRINE FALCON was at the 8th St bridge in Allentown. On March 7, a PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted from the Prairie Warbler Trail at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. On March 8, three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Dorney Pond in Allentown. Schuylkill County: Sweet Arrow Lake had PILEATED WOODPECKER, FISH CROW and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Berks County: On March 10, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was on a pole in Northern Heidelberg Twp. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Lake Ontelaunee on March 6. On March 8, Ontelaunee had 2 REDHEADS, 4 CANVASBACKS and 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES. A ROSS'S GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were at Lake Ontelaunee on March 9. The high count for SNOW GEESE at Lake Ontelaunee was 12,000 geese on March 9. Blue Marsh National Recreation Area had 8 TUNDRA SWANS on March 10. Lancaster County: The wildlife drive at Middle Creek WMA is open, and the waterfowl numbers are building. A possible blue morph ROSS'S GOOSE was at Middle Creek on March 5 & 9. A probable ROSS'S GOOSE X SNOW GOOSE hybrid was at Middle Creek on March 5-6. Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and 3 drake REDHEADS were there on March 6. On March 5, Middle Creek had 2 CACKLING GEESE. The March 9 high counts from Middle Creek were 100,000 SNOW GEESE and around 2,000 TUNDRA SWANS. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen from Stop #3 on the tour loop on March 6-7. Other sightings from Middle Creek included WOOD DUCKS, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, FISH CROW and AMERICAN PIPIT. The Greenfield Estates pond attracted a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 8 CACKLING GEESE on March 7. That day, the NASHVILLE WARBLER was at the LASA Susquehanna Water Pollution Control Plant in Washington Boro. Reports from the Conejohela Flats mentioned TUNDRA SWANS and WOOD DUCKS. On March 9, a flight of 2,500 TUNDRA SWANS flew over Columbia. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK visited a yard in Holtwood on March 8. Lebanon County: The SANDHILL CRANE at Lake Duffy in SGL 145 was seen as recently as March 9. That day, SGL 145 also had thousands of SNOW GEESE, a ROSS'S GOOSE and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. Memorial Lake State Park had COMMON GOLDENEYE on March 7. On March 8, Memorial Lake had 58 TUNDRA SWANS. That day, Mount Pleasant Rd had an AMERICAN PIPIT. Carbon County: On March 7-9, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was in a hedgerow across from Pohopoco Dr and Beltzville Dr at Beltzville State Park. Other reports from Beltzville included CANVASBACKS, RING-NECKED PHEASANT and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. PA Extralimitals: On March 3, a GYRFALCON was reported from Butler County at Route 173 north of Slippery Rock. The Crawford County SNOWY OWL at the Miller Farm (10734 Shadeland Rd, Springboro) was last reported on March 6 and not seen since. A SNOWY OWL was reported from the Johnstown Campus of the University of Pittsburgh on March 7. The drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was reported from Presque Isle State Park in Erie County through March 7. -------------------------------------------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENTS: On March 13, Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field trip to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County, NJ. This half-day trip is well suited to students and new members, but open to anyone interested in attending. The trip will meet at 9:00AM at the lighthouse parking lot. Please contact Chris if you plan on attending. On March 14, Connie Goldman will lead a DVOC field trip to Middle Creek WMA in Lancaster & Lebanon Counties, PA. The trip will meet at the Middle Creek WMA Visitor's Center on Museum Rd at 1:00PM. Please contact Connie if you plan on attending. Additional information, including past trip reports and contact information for the trip leaders can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is on March 18, 2010, featuring a program by Win Shafer, entitled "Birds of the Appalachian Trail." The meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on April 1. More details are available on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. To report birds or significant birding events and planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org. This is Steve Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting. - End Transcript Steve Kacir rba AT dvoc.org DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair Academy of Natural Sciences Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Philadelphia Subject: Abbott's Mill - Woodcocks From: Jason Beale <jaybirdbeale AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:34:03 -0500 Hello, 3 Woodcocks were displaying in the Lee Meadow (behind the Nature Center, off of Griffith Drive) from 6:10-6:45 last night. There were a nice mix of behaviors, including the "grunt" call and some intense flight chases. Abbott's Pond is drawn down about a foot due for planned repair of the road which has now collapsed in a section. There is no access to the center from the Rt. 36 side (east), though access is still available from the west (Lindale, Griffith's, etc.) Tomorrow's walk will have a delayed start, 8:45 instead of 8:00am. We're about due for some Pine Warbler singing and Carl Swanson of Milford showed me some Pileated and Red-bellied Woodpecker nests that he and his wife, Helen, have found, so should be a good opportunity to see some breeding behavior. Good birding, Jason Beale Abbot's Mill Nature Center Milford, DE Subject: Exodus: Movement of the the Geese(a) From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:55:38 -0500 Just had to appropriate that Bob Marley tune for a headline. The bottom is dropping out of the Snow Goose stock market here, as the mad rush to trade winter digs for spring breeding grounds is compelling the hordes of white geese to cash in their corn chips and head for the sparse grasses of the Arctic tundra. The past three mornings I've watched flocks of a few thousand Snow Geese flying northwest over Hockessin in their classic undulating motion that gives them the apt nickname of "Wavies." Even at night, you can hear the barks and grunts of snowies trickling down from on high. Since many of these geese are headed to their staging area at Middle Creek in northern Lancaster County, it should be interesting to see what the peak goose count is this weekend. As of yesterday, the Snow Goose estimate at Middle Creek stands at 90,000+. Rain or not, it is going to be another great weekend of waterfowl watching in the region. - Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Aural stuff From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:48:24 -0500 Today should have been called a local holiday. They have snow days and storm days, so why not sun days? I was out looking for local Spring stuff, but the only things which really caught my senses were noises. Above the hum of the Valero plant from Dragon Run Park at Delaware City (and tinnitus) was the initial whistling of Wood Ducks, followed by the nasal burping of the numerous Gadwall pairs and the hiccuping then a rising, snoring crescendo of Pickerel Frogs. Colin Campbell. Subject: erratic flight From: Charles Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:06:08 -0500 This evening I had the distinct pleasure of watching my FOY Little Brown Bats cruise the yard in search of fresh food. Not as interesting as Sharon�s Woodcocks, but another harbinger of longer warmer days. This morning the Pileateds, Flickers, and Red Bellies were very busy drumming their snags. Chuck Fullmer Georgetown Subject: HUGE Scoter raft at the Cape From: Judy Montgomery <judithann AT ZOOMINTERNET.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:11:46 -0500 Standing AT Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Point overlook today - I witnessed something I had never seen. An enormous raft of scoters that seemed to stretch without end! They were well off shore & hard to see until I used my scope. Thousands and thousands (ten thousand??) surf & black scoters feeding like crazy! A huge number of birds!!!!!! Other good sightings at the Cape on this goreous day - dozen Red-breasted Mergansers in the bay, lots of Brown-headed Nuthatches in Youth Campground, Gannet, scores of Loons. (Hoped for Osprey - has anyone spotted one yet?) Prime Hook was thick with Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Canada Geese, Tundra Swan (130), even a Yellowlegs! The Great-horned Owl was sunning herself from her Osprey platform nest. Wood Frogs and Yellow-rumps were both "chupping" near headquarters. I tried for S-E Owls at Port Mahon - 3 Harriers were hunting, but no owls. Judy Montgomery Subject: Tuesday trip From: Maurice Barnhill <mvb AT UDEL.EDU> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:59:56 -0500 Joe Russell and I spent the day along the Bay coast from Gunning-Bedford Park in Delaware City to the Ted Harvey Wildlife Area. Our targets were field birds, which didn't show up much, and waterfowl. The most interesting were the ducks, which were present in large numbers in 1000 Acre, the southern part of Little Creek WA, and the North Pond in Ted Harvey. In particular, we refound the REDHEAD and EURASIAN WIGEON that were found on the DOS Wildfowl Trip, and an additional EURASIAN WIGEON previously reported from Ted Harvey. A lot of Snow Geese were moving northward in the morning, leaving very few on the ground except opposite Shearness Pool in Bombay Hook. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Bear Swamp Pool around mid-afternoon. Other interesting species were Mute Swan, 2 at 1000 Acre Marsh Wood Duck, several locations Bald Eagle, 3 Peregrine Falcon, 1 in the central part of Little Creek (distant) Killdeer, 4 at one spot along route 9 Bonaparte's Gull, several at North Pond in Ted Harvey White-crowned Sparrow, 3 at Visitor Center in Bombay Hook Sparrows and Carolina Wren were very low, perhaps because of the heavy snow we had this winter. -- Maurice Barnhill mvb AT udel.edu Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Subject: American Woodcocks in Rehoboth Beach From: Sharon Lynn <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:45:45 -0500 I was very happy to have at least 4 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS calling and displaying in the field by my house off Old Landing Rd tonight, with music by the Spring Peepers. Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Subject: jinxes From: Mary Ann Levan <levanma AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:19:49 -0500 You folks are really funny- sounds like us all last summer we spent trying to figure out just who was jinxing our trips to Citizens Bank Park- my son began to be viewed very darkly by our partial season ticket plan section as he seemed to have the evil touch; our ticket plan lost 12 of the 17 games on the plan, and 3 of the games they won, he didn't attend! Good thing he had left for college before the playoffs! Subject: Chris Bennett vs. Ruth Draper Jinx From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 08:56:57 -0500 A more recent statistic on Ruth Draper. I was on the DNS waterfowl trip Sunday led by Derek Stoner. We crossed paths with Anthony Gonzon's (delayed) DOS waterfowl trip at Burtons Island. Ruth was with Anthony. So, with a chance to ruin two all day birding field trips, Ruth blessed us with perfect weather - or at least did not invoke the jinx. Since Chris was not on a field trip Sunday that I know of . . . Bob Strahorn Newark, DE -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bennett Chris (DNREC) Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 8:10 AM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: Re: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Hey Bill, I take no responsibility for the weather for the following reasons. 1. I was not involved in the planning for your trip, nor (and this is important) had I planned a fieldtrip of my own on the same date 2. I was not planning to attend your trip and only became involved to let downstaters know that if they wanted to really enjoy the fieldtrip in its entirety that the Ferry was really not an option 3. I am not convinced that I am the cursed individual - since not all of my trips coincide with inclement weather. The recent Inlet to Inlet trip being a prime example - with weather that I think can only be described as PERFECT! I'm beginning to suspect that Ruth Draper is the rain maker. She has come on every rain-soaked fieldtrip that I've ever led AND she was not on the recent PERFECT weather trip. I would check to see if Ruth was planning on joining your trip before you start blaming ME. Have fun on your trip on Saturday! Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Bill Stewart [mailto:hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET] Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 5:55 PM To: Bennett Chris (DNREC) Subject: Re: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Hey Chris, A couple of interesting items and a bit of history is warranted here. As I watched the weather for the upcoming field trip over the past few days, things were looking manageable with temps in the 50's, possible showers but no real threat. Then, Mr. Chris Bennett started to vaguely become involved with the field trip through a post on De-Birds and as I sit here, the latest weather forecast for Saturday is, and I quote......"an explosion of rain as two low's collide on Saturday along the Mid-Atlantic coast"............Thanks Dude! The Bennett curse lives on!!!! I really didn't know it was contagious, but I suspect we might need an antibiotic! I remember a few occasions that we had the opportunity to talk about your time in Stone Harbor and the Wetlands Institute and thought back that I probably ran into you a few times during your employment there. I wondered how fascinating that stint must have been and quite envious. I began my journey with Stone Harbor Point way back in 1968 on a surfing adventure. Back then, the Point provided some great breaks, no crowds in the lineup and a feeling of remoteness. Since that time, it remains one of my most favorite spots on earth. I, too, have watched and marveled at the changes it has endured, from not being a point, to stretching to what seemed like two miles. I visit the Point probably more than my beloved Delaware spots, it has a charm and possession of me all on it's own. One of my favorite times of the year are the days I park at the Point, strap on my backpack loaded with Sibley's and Peterson's, lunch, water, scope and make the trek to the very end and sit in the beach chair to view Champagne Island. Studying the terns, gulls and listening to the chorus of all the activity takes up more than a full day. I'll hesitate on commenting about the rejuvenation of the sanctuary, I am not privy to their mission or vision. One thing I know is that the nightly flights of herons coming and going into that wonderful 21.5 acres will never be like it was in the 1980's and before. Best, Bill On Mar 8, 2010, at 3:55 PM, Bennett Chris (DNREC) wrote: Hey Bill, Unfortunately I won't be able to join you - though I love birding that part of NJ. I worked at the Wetlands Institute for a little over 5 years in the early 90s. I saw the trail work that had been done at the Sanctuary when Anthony and I were there for the Ivory Gull. I hope that they haven't done irreparable damage to the site. I was there when the Sanctuary was abandoned and the City decided that the birds left because the trees were covered with grape, greenbrier and other vines and went in and cleared large areas of understory vegetation. Herons and egrets don't usually respond well to disturbance and trails through the old nesting areas certainly isn't the best way to make the site more inviting to them. The point has really changed as well. When Karen and I lived there the point ended at the southernmost groin and the shoreline actually curved northward and then straight towards the bridge out to Nummy Island. She used to tell me how far it extended when she went there with her family as a kid and it was hard to imagine then. Champaign Island out in the middle of Hereford Inlet was huge and was that was where the skimmers nested then. I'm always amazed by how dynamic the coastal environment is!!! Chris Bennett Natural Resource Management Specialist Environmental Stewardship Program Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 739-9230 Fax: (302) 739-3817 "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill Stewart Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 3:24 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: Re: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Good afternoon, Thank you to Chris for posting the ferry times, very helpful. With that information shared, I'll mention that we will be adding a new and exciting stop this year at the newly rejuvenated Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. This 21.5 acre sanctuary sits within Stone Harbor town limits and has undergone a tremendous and beneficial rejuvenation since 2007. Along with habitat enhancement, invasive species removal, additional waterflow to the sanctuary, they have added walking trails to access the freshwater pond and meadow, old growth maritime forest and saltwater marsh. This will be the second stop on the field trip and the timing might just be perfect for any ferry riders. Established in 1947, the trails were open to the public for the first time in 2009. If you plan on meeting us at any time or point, just give my cell phone (610 864 0370) a ring. Bill Stewart On Mar 8, 2010, at 11:34 AM, Bennett Chris (DNREC) wrote: Just a note for those planning on taking the ferry from Southern DE to meet Bill's group at Stone Harbor. The earliest ferry leaving Lewes is 9:15 am and it arrives at Cape May at 10:40. It is at least a 25 - 30 minute drive (if you plan on not getting a speeding ticket) from the Cape May terminal to the parking lot at Stone Harbor point - putting you there at 11:10 at the earliest. Might be better to just bite the bullet and leave southern Delaware before the sun comes up and then take the ferry back home after the trip in the afternoon! I can't eat sausage anymore, but if they are half as good as Colin makes them sound - leave a wee bit earlier and stop by Helen's on the way up to the Bridge!! For those that can't get enough of the Ferry I will be leading a field trip for the Sussex Bird Club on Saturday, 20 March on the Ferry to and back from Cape May with hopes of seeing Scoters (there were big flocks of them flying north off of Cape Henlopen yesterday), loons, gannets, gulls and with luck other rare birds as well. I will be posting about this again as we get closer to the 20th. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill Stewart Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 11:17 AM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Good Morning, I will be leading a field trip to Stone Harbor-Avalon, NJ this coming Saturday, March 13th. We will be meeting, 7:00 am, at the Delaware Swim Club next to Mike's Famous, just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Exit at Rt. 9/South-New Castle and the parking lot is on your right just before the traffic signal at the end of the exit. In year's past, we have had some participants from southern Delaware take the Ferry and meet us at Stone Harbor Point AT 9:00 am. Either way, I plan on being in the parking lot of the point (123rd St.) at 9:15 and start birding from there. This is a full day field trip, so pack a lunch and plenty of liquids, we will be back at the swim club around 4:00. Carpooling will be available. If you are planning on attending, please reply to this post so I know who to expect where. My cell number is 610 864 0370 in case you are running late. The two hour ride to the point is very birdy and we will have good looks at a Bald Eagle nest with eagle on eggs, flocks of wild turkey strutting and numerous ponds with waterfowl. In the previous two years, we have had over eighty species combined and great looks at the newly arrived Piping Plovers. This year, the Avalon Seawall holds a male and female Harlequin duck (personally seen yesterday), eiders and other staging waterfowl. Hope you can make it! Good birding, Bill Stewart Subject: Waterfowl along Rt 9 From: Maryanne Dolan <maryanne.dolan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 08:24:40 -0500 Monday was a great day to be birding in Delaware THOUSAND ACRE MARSH held very large numbers of Norther Pintail and Green-winged Teal, along with smaller numbers of Common Mergansers and Northern Shovelers. I thought I saw several American Widgeons, but I was on the causeway where No Stopping, Standing or Parking signs are located every few feet so didn't have the courage to do more than scan quickly. Still large numbers of snow geese in the fields along Rt 9, as well as in Bombay Hook. BOMBAY HOOK also had very large numbers of Pintails and Green-winged Teal, along with Bufflehead, Common Mergs, Northern Shovelers, and Grebes (Eared, I think, but the two drakes were not yet in full plumage and Grebes always confuse me.) There was a also a nice little flock of Yellow-rumped warblers on the road at the entrance to the Boardwalk Trail. TED HARVEY continued the Pintail and Green-winged Teal saga, along with Common Mergs, Hooded Mergs, and a nice collection of American Widgeon. No sight of the Eurasian widgeon, but all the widgeons were distant making it unlikely I could pinpint a Eurasian. Now I know why the Cecil County Bird Club couldn't find ducks at Eastern Neck NWR. They were all in Delaware! maryanne dolan elkton, md Subject: Re: DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 08:09:53 -0500 Hey Bill, I take no responsibility for the weather for the following reasons. 1. I was not involved in the planning for your trip, nor (and this is important) had I planned a fieldtrip of my own on the same date 2. I was not planning to attend your trip and only became involved to let downstaters know that if they wanted to really enjoy the fieldtrip in its entirety that the Ferry was really not an option 3. I am not convinced that I am the cursed individual - since not all of my trips coincide with inclement weather. The recent Inlet to Inlet trip being a prime example - with weather that I think can only be described as PERFECT! I'm beginning to suspect that Ruth Draper is the rain maker. She has come on every rain-soaked fieldtrip that I've ever led AND she was not on the recent PERFECT weather trip. I would check to see if Ruth was planning on joining your trip before you start blaming ME. Have fun on your trip on Saturday! Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Bill Stewart [mailto:hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET] Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 5:55 PM To: Bennett Chris (DNREC) Subject: Re: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Hey Chris, A couple of interesting items and a bit of history is warranted here. As I watched the weather for the upcoming field trip over the past few days, things were looking manageable with temps in the 50's, possible showers but no real threat. Then, Mr. Chris Bennett started to vaguely become involved with the field trip through a post on De-Birds and as I sit here, the latest weather forecast for Saturday is, and I quote......"an explosion of rain as two low's collide on Saturday along the Mid-Atlantic coast"............Thanks Dude! The Bennett curse lives on!!!! I really didn't know it was contagious, but I suspect we might need an antibiotic! I remember a few occasions that we had the opportunity to talk about your time in Stone Harbor and the Wetlands Institute and thought back that I probably ran into you a few times during your employment there. I wondered how fascinating that stint must have been and quite envious. I began my journey with Stone Harbor Point way back in 1968 on a surfing adventure. Back then, the Point provided some great breaks, no crowds in the lineup and a feeling of remoteness. Since that time, it remains one of my most favorite spots on earth. I, too, have watched and marveled at the changes it has endured, from not being a point, to stretching to what seemed like two miles. I visit the Point probably more than my beloved Delaware spots, it has a charm and possession of me all on it's own. One of my favorite times of the year are the days I park at the Point, strap on my backpack loaded with Sibley's and Peterson's, lunch, water, scope and make the trek to the very end and sit in the beach chair to view Champagne Island. Studying the terns, gulls and listening to the chorus of all the activity takes up more than a full day. I'll hesitate on commenting about the rejuvenation of the sanctuary, I am not privy to their mission or vision. One thing I know is that the nightly flights of herons coming and going into that wonderful 21.5 acres will never be like it was in the 1980's and before. Best, Bill On Mar 8, 2010, at 3:55 PM, Bennett Chris (DNREC) wrote: Hey Bill, Unfortunately I won't be able to join you - though I love birding that part of NJ. I worked at the Wetlands Institute for a little over 5 years in the early 90s. I saw the trail work that had been done at the Sanctuary when Anthony and I were there for the Ivory Gull. I hope that they haven't done irreparable damage to the site. I was there when the Sanctuary was abandoned and the City decided that the birds left because the trees were covered with grape, greenbrier and other vines and went in and cleared large areas of understory vegetation. Herons and egrets don't usually respond well to disturbance and trails through the old nesting areas certainly isn't the best way to make the site more inviting to them. The point has really changed as well. When Karen and I lived there the point ended at the southernmost groin and the shoreline actually curved northward and then straight towards the bridge out to Nummy Island. She used to tell me how far it extended when she went there with her family as a kid and it was hard to imagine then. Champaign Island out in the middle of Hereford Inlet was huge and was that was where the skimmers nested then. I'm always amazed by how dynamic the coastal environment is!!! Chris Bennett Natural Resource Management Specialist Environmental Stewardship Program Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 739-9230 Fax: (302) 739-3817 "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill Stewart Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 3:24 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: Re: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Good afternoon, Thank you to Chris for posting the ferry times, very helpful. With that information shared, I'll mention that we will be adding a new and exciting stop this year at the newly rejuvenated Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. This 21.5 acre sanctuary sits within Stone Harbor town limits and has undergone a tremendous and beneficial rejuvenation since 2007. Along with habitat enhancement, invasive species removal, additional waterflow to the sanctuary, they have added walking trails to access the freshwater pond and meadow, old growth maritime forest and saltwater marsh. This will be the second stop on the field trip and the timing might just be perfect for any ferry riders. Established in 1947, the trails were open to the public for the first time in 2009. If you plan on meeting us at any time or point, just give my cell phone (610 864 0370) a ring. Bill Stewart On Mar 8, 2010, at 11:34 AM, Bennett Chris (DNREC) wrote: Just a note for those planning on taking the ferry from Southern DE to meet Bill's group at Stone Harbor. The earliest ferry leaving Lewes is 9:15 am and it arrives at Cape May at 10:40. It is at least a 25 - 30 minute drive (if you plan on not getting a speeding ticket) from the Cape May terminal to the parking lot at Stone Harbor point - putting you there at 11:10 at the earliest. Might be better to just bite the bullet and leave southern Delaware before the sun comes up and then take the ferry back home after the trip in the afternoon! I can't eat sausage anymore, but if they are half as good as Colin makes them sound - leave a wee bit earlier and stop by Helen's on the way up to the Bridge!! For those that can't get enough of the Ferry I will be leading a field trip for the Sussex Bird Club on Saturday, 20 March on the Ferry to and back from Cape May with hopes of seeing Scoters (there were big flocks of them flying north off of Cape Henlopen yesterday), loons, gannets, gulls and with luck other rare birds as well. I will be posting about this again as we get closer to the 20th. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill Stewart Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 11:17 AM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Good Morning, I will be leading a field trip to Stone Harbor-Avalon, NJ this coming Saturday, March 13th. We will be meeting, 7:00 am, at the Delaware Swim Club next to Mike's Famous, just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Exit at Rt. 9/South-New Castle and the parking lot is on your right just before the traffic signal at the end of the exit. In year's past, we have had some participants from southern Delaware take the Ferry and meet us at Stone Harbor Point AT 9:00 am. Either way, I plan on being in the parking lot of the point (123rd St.) at 9:15 and start birding from there. This is a full day field trip, so pack a lunch and plenty of liquids, we will be back at the swim club around 4:00. Carpooling will be available. If you are planning on attending, please reply to this post so I know who to expect where. My cell number is 610 864 0370 in case you are running late. The two hour ride to the point is very birdy and we will have good looks at a Bald Eagle nest with eagle on eggs, flocks of wild turkey strutting and numerous ponds with waterfowl. In the previous two years, we have had over eighty species combined and great looks at the newly arrived Piping Plovers. This year, the Avalon Seawall holds a male and female Harlequin duck (personally seen yesterday), eiders and other staging waterfowl. Hope you can make it! Good birding, Bill Stewart Subject: Re: Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight From: Doug Sutherland <djsland AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 17:45:24 -0500 Chuck and Chris - for what its worth, this past Saturday, 3/6, while waiting to lead a Saturday morning Birdwalk, I thought I had Sandhills flying over Trap Pond. It was about 0800, I did not get a visual on them but thought I heard them high overhead. I believe their flight direction was towards the north or northeast. My only exposure to them has been in central Florida, in the winter, but I thought the calls I heard were Sandhills. Doug Sutherland Laurel, De Subject: Red-winged Blackbird Preening Brown-headed Cowbird From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 16:39:41 -0500 Today on the Bucktoe Preserve bird walk south of Kennett Square, PA we saw some male Brown-headed Cowbirds perched with male and female Red-winged Blackbirds. The recent posting from Sharon Lynn (with references to an article in The Auk by Chris Bennett and Fred Atwood), came to mind. I scanned the mixed flock and found a male Brown-headed Cowbird presenting itself with the head-bowed posture to a female Red-winged Blackbird. I pointed this out to Sally O'Byrne and some others on the walk. After about a minute the female Red-winged Blackbird tentatively preened the cowbird then moved away. The cowbird followed, and presented again. More tentative preening. The moving then presenting and preening happened one more time, then the flock dispersed. Thanks to Sharon for alerting us to this behavior. It is exciting to see what you can observe when you take the time to study some of the more common birds. Bob Strahorn Newark, DE Subject: South Indian River Inlet this afternoon From: Sharon Lynn <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 16:04:26 -0500 South Indian River Inlet was full of birds this afternoon. The water was amazingly calm. Highlights were- Approx 300 scoters, black and surf 50 Red throated Loons 30 Common Loons 1 Common Eider 3 Greater Scaup 50 Long Tailed Ducks 1 Bonaparte's Gull 2 Great Cormorants( one wrestled with a fish more than half its size) 15 Purple Sandpipers 1 Harbor Seal at very close range I swung by Silver Lake on the way home, and there were 15 RING NECKED DUCKS in with the hundreds of CANVASBACKS and other expected ducks. Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Subject: Re: DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 15:24:02 -0500 Good afternoon, Thank you to Chris for posting the ferry times, very helpful. With that information shared, I'll mention that we will be adding a new and exciting stop this year at the newly rejuvenated Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary. This 21.5 acre sanctuary sits within Stone Harbor town limits and has undergone a tremendous and beneficial rejuvenation since 2007. Along with habitat enhancement, invasive species removal, additional waterflow to the sanctuary, they have added walking trails to access the freshwater pond and meadow, old growth maritime forest and saltwater marsh. This will be the second stop on the field trip and the timing might just be perfect for any ferry riders. Established in 1947, the trails were open to the public for the first time in 2009. If you plan on meeting us at any time or point, just give my cell phone (610 864 0370) a ring. Bill Stewart On Mar 8, 2010, at 11:34 AM, Bennett Chris (DNREC) wrote: Just a note for those planning on taking the ferry from Southern DE to meet Bill's group at Stone Harbor. The earliest ferry leaving Lewes is 9:15 am and it arrives at Cape May at 10:40. It is at least a 25 - 30 minute drive (if you plan on not getting a speeding ticket) from the Cape May terminal to the parking lot at Stone Harbor point - putting you there at 11:10 at the earliest. Might be better to just bite the bullet and leave southern Delaware before the sun comes up and then take the ferry back home after the trip in the afternoon! I can't eat sausage anymore, but if they are half as good as Colin makes them sound - leave a wee bit earlier and stop by Helen's on the way up to the Bridge!! For those that can't get enough of the Ferry I will be leading a field trip for the Sussex Bird Club on Saturday, 20 March on the Ferry to and back from Cape May with hopes of seeing Scoters (there were big flocks of them flying north off of Cape Henlopen yesterday), loons, gannets, gulls and with luck other rare birds as well. I will be posting about this again as we get closer to the 20th. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill Stewart Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 11:17 AM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon Good Morning, I will be leading a field trip to Stone Harbor-Avalon, NJ this coming Saturday, March 13th. We will be meeting, 7:00 am, at the Delaware Swim Club next to Mike's Famous, just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Exit at Rt. 9/South-New Castle and the parking lot is on your right just before the traffic signal at the end of the exit. In year's past, we have had some participants from southern Delaware take the Ferry and meet us at Stone Harbor Point AT 9:00 am. Either way, I plan on being in the parking lot of the point (123rd St.) at 9:15 and start birding from there. This is a full day field trip, so pack a lunch and plenty of liquids, we will be back at the swim club around 4:00. Carpooling will be available. If you are planning on attending, please reply to this post so I know who to expect where. My cell number is 610 864 0370 in case you are running late. The two hour ride to the point is very birdy and we will have good looks at a Bald Eagle nest with eagle on eggs, flocks of wild turkey strutting and numerous ponds with waterfowl. In the previous two years, we have had over eighty species combined and great looks at the newly arrived Piping Plovers. This year, the Avalon Seawall holds a male and female Harlequin duck (personally seen yesterday), eiders and other staging waterfowl. Hope you can make it! Good birding, Bill Stewart Subject: Re: Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 13:17:23 -0500 Hey Chuck, While Sandhill Crane is certainly possible at Lums (Anthony Gonzon had two fly over Grassdale at Fort Dupont last spring) and I'm not saying that isn't what you saw this morning - Great Blue Herons do occasionally fly with their necks extended - especially when chasing other Great Blues and when coming in to land - and I've seen then do so over distances up to a hundred yards or so. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Chuck Brandt Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 12:59 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight A possible pair of Sandhill Cranes were seen�over Lums Pond State Park (dog/horse area; not the main park)�this morning (roughly 10:30-10:45).� They came in�from a poor sun angle�so were hard to see clearly.� Based on the wings and trailing legs, I just assumed they were a pair of Great Blue Herons.� A bit later, I noticed they were almost overhead and much better lit.� I gave them another look and noticed then that the necks were extended, not coiled.� My Sibley book mentioned that Great Blue Herons always fly with coiled necks.� With limited alternatives, I am assuming they were Sandhills.� Suggestions for other possibilities are welcome. On a different, unrelated�note, the Hop Merchants are out.��Had one land on my leg and try to sun itself.��� Subject: Best guess id: Lum's Pond, Sandhill Crane pair, overflight From: Chuck Brandt <cbrandt AT BRANDTBEACH.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 09:58:39 -0800 A possible pair of Sandhill Cranes were seen�over Lums Pond State Park (dog/horse area; not the main park)�this morning (roughly 10:30-10:45).� They came in�from a poor sun angle�so were hard to see clearly.� Based on the wings and trailing legs, I just assumed they were a pair of Great Blue Herons.� A bit later, I noticed they were almost overhead and much better lit.� I gave them another look and noticed then that the necks were extended, not coiled.� My Sibley book mentioned that Great Blue Herons always fly with coiled necks.� With limited alternatives, I am assuming they were Sandhills.� Suggestions for other possibilities are welcome. On a different, unrelated�note, the Hop Merchants are out.��Had one land on my leg and try to sun itself.��� Subject: Delaware Duck Day, 3/7 From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:42:07 -0500 The Delaware Nature Society's Delaware Duck Day trip had outstanding success yesterday in our quest to see the variety and spectacle of waterfowl during spring migration. The great warm weather went along well with signs of spring like newly-arrived Killdeer, Tree Swallows, and mating Canvasbacks, Painted Turtles, honeybees, blooming daffodils and crocus made for a memorable day. We enjoyed the excellent light and photography conditions, as our group of nine captured nice images of a wide variety of waterfowl, raptors, and other sights along the journey from Dragon Run down to Indian River Inlet. A full report and photos will be posted later this week on the "Nature of Delaware" blog. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: DOS Field Trip/Stone Harbor-Avalon From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:17:12 -0500 Good Morning, I will be leading a field trip to Stone Harbor-Avalon, NJ this coming Saturday, March 13th. We will be meeting, 7:00 am, at the Delaware Swim Club next to Mike's Famous, just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Exit at Rt. 9/South-New Castle and the parking lot is on your right just before the traffic signal at the end of the exit. In year's past, we have had some participants from southern Delaware take the Ferry and meet us at Stone Harbor Point AT 9:00 am. Either way, I plan on being in the parking lot of the point (123rd St.) at 9:15 and start birding from there. This is a full day field trip, so pack a lunch and plenty of liquids, we will be back at the swim club around 4:00. Carpooling will be available. If you are planning on attending, please reply to this post so I know who to expect where. My cell number is 610 864 0370 in case you are running late. The two hour ride to the point is very birdy and we will have good looks at a Bald Eagle nest with eagle on eggs, flocks of wild turkey strutting and numerous ponds with waterfowl. In the previous two years, we have had over eighty species combined and great looks at the newly arrived Piping Plovers. This year, the Avalon Seawall holds a male and female Harlequin duck (personally seen yesterday), eiders and other staging waterfowl. Hope you can make it! Good birding, Bill Stewart Subject: Laughing Gull From: Sharon Lynn <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 10:56:23 -0500 I had my FOY LAUGHING GULL on the beach near Gordon's Pond this morning. Lovely sunrise! Sharon Lynn Rehoboth Beach Subject: Shrike out From: Charles Fullmer <cmfullmer AT MCHSI.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 20:25:32 -0500 I also started the day along Bennets Pier watching the sun rise under formations of passing Snow geese. A Northern Harrier worked the fields and I was hoping it would flush the Loggerhead from its overnight Motel 6 but to no avail. Michael Moore added a second set of eyes in the search and he hit it right, � Think we�re a day late?� I decided to call it and head home to work on prepping for the coming Martin season. The backyard offered some consolation with: Pine Warbler YS Flicker RT Hawk Pileated WP Hairy & Downey Red Shouldered Hawk calling Yellow-rumped Warbler Chuck Fullmer Georgetown Subject: Loggerhead Shrike - NO From: "Michael C. Moore" <michael.moore AT ASU.EDU> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:01:21 -0500 Greetings, I spend this morning from about 7:15 - 10:00 looking for the Loggerhead Shrike at Bennett's Pier Rd with no luck. There is a great deal of habitat where the bird could still be. If anyone sees it again, I would appreciate a report. Consolation prizes were a nice Red Fox hunting the marsh and 31 Tundra Swans flying north. Several thousand Snow Geese in small flocks of a few hundred birds also passed continuously. Off the beach were only about 20 scaup (probably Greaters) and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers. I heard that the Eurasian Wigeon continues at Ted Harvey and also a third-hand report of a Common (Green-winged) Teal there as well. Mike Moore Newark, DE mcmoore32 AT gmail.com Michael C. Moore Professor Department of Biological Science University of Delaware Newark, DE 19716 Phone: (302)-831-2290 Email: mcmoore AT udel.edu Home Page: <http://www.public.asu.edu/~aomcm/> "If the road to excellence were not so difficult, it would not be travelled by so few" Spinoza Subject: Southern Finest BBQ and Soul Food! From: Mary Ann Levan <levanma AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 18:49:46 -0500 My husband and I and our spaniel drove down to Trap Pond today to walk, enjoy the sun, and birdwatch. On our way home we spotted a BBQ smoker going at a spot on the east side of the road just south of Dover. (The Southern Finest BBQ and Soul Food) We are always on the lookout for authentic BBQ, and ate pulled pork and ribs and raved about them to the staff. I told them I would post this review to the Listserv and the proprietor said that anyone coming in and identifying themself as a birder would get a 10% discount on their food! It's a real start up project and the folks are heartwarming and the food is homemade, cheap, and great. It's just south of the intersection of 13 and 1 (just south of Dover) on the east side of the road. The diner is a converted Hardee's or something with a smoker out front. Mary Ann Levan btw, Trap Pond was pretty quiet and we saw very few birds! got there pretty late in the day, though Subject: Local Notes From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 17:00:29 -0500 This morning, a beautiful adult Red-shouldered Hawk took what appeared to be a 5" snake from the edge of Harry's Pond (Brandywine Town Center) and headed off into the neighbouring trees. First time I've seen a RSHA here. The usual gang of 20 Ring-necked Duck were still there. Three Killdeer cavorted over the Dupont Tioxide plant at Edgemoor this afternoon. Six Great Cormorant, resplendent with white thigh flashes and throat, were on the 'usual' channel marker on the Delaware River at Claymont today (opposite Mt Vernon Dr on Govr Printz Blvd). A NJ birder reported a pair of Blue-winged Teal at Dragon Run Park in Delaware City late afternoon yesterday. Colin Campbell Subject: Cancel subscription From: Laura Shelton <laura3232 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:12:58 -0800 Thank you Subject: Waterfowl in New Castle County From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 20:16:00 -0500 While out scouting this afternoon for the waterfowl trip I am leading tomorrow for the Delaware Nature Society, my father and I enjoyed some good waterfowl in the Delaware City/Port Penn Area. Dragon Run Park had six Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Black Duck, and American Coot. Thousand Acre Marsh looked like it held at least 50 acres of Northern Pintails, spread out in vast flocks totaling at least 3,000 individuals. The handsome males are courting females and engaging in the classic nuptial flights, fluttering about the females and trying to win their favor of companionship. Common Mergansers and Green-winged Teal are also quite numerous on the marsh, under the watchful eye of the male Bald Eagle from the nearby nest. From 4:30 to 4:45pm, a massive skein of 8,000+ Snow Geese flew over, heading northwest towards the friendly refuges of Middle Creek in PA. The Peregrine Falcon pair at Reedy Point Bridge gave an excellent performance, with the male zooming up to the nest box to present the female with a freshly-caught Brown-headed Cowbird(good choice!). The analysis of the prey item came from digital photos, which also revealed that the male is un-banded. Towards dusk, the ponds at Route 100 and 92 held a female Bufflehead. Hoopes Reservoir still plays host to hundreds of Common Mergansers and a few newly-arrived Wood Ducks. We'll see what tomorrow holds...lots of waterfowl for sure and perhaps the season's first Osprey, Piping Plover or Great Egret. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Canada and Snow Geese From: AMROE <amroe AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 12:12:17 -0500 At 8:30 am today, several flights of Snow Geese flew over to feed a bit north of my house in Mendenhall. One flight caught up with a flight of Canadas, joined them, and both species continued on together in a single formation. Subject: Chester Co., Bucktoe Creek Preserve Walks From: Joe Sebastiani <bunker17 AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 09:19:20 -0500 Larry Lewis will be conducting the free bird walks at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve this Sunday and Monday mornings. Walks begin at 8am and directions can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. This 300-acre property, near Kennett Square, is a private nature reserve with access limited to guided walks. Highlights from the walk on 2/28 are below. If you are interested, I will be leading a Woodcock Walk on the property on Monday evening. See the above website for registration details. Joe Sebastiani, Delaware Nature Society Location: Bucktoe Creek Preserve Observation date: 2/28/10 Notes: Sunday Bird Walk - Larry Lewis Number of species: 38 Canada Goose 12 Black Vulture 7 Turkey Vulture 20 Cooper's Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Ring-billed Gull 15 Herring Gull 6 Great Black-backed Gull 2 Mourning Dove 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Downy Woodpecker 4 Hairy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 10 American Crow 30 Carolina Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 12 White-breasted Nuthatch 6 Carolina Wren 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Eastern Bluebird 4 American Robin 15 Northern Mockingbird 2 European Starling 5 Eastern Towhee 3 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 16 White-throated Sparrow 20 Dark-eyed Junco 1 Northern Cardinal 12 Red-winged Blackbird 100 Common Grackle 300 House Finch 5 American Goldfinch 5 House Sparrow 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Loggerhead Shrike From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 08:48:07 -0500 Frank Rhorbacher just called me a few minutes ago to tell me that the Loggerhead Shrike at Bennett's Pier had just popped into view. He (and it sounded like others) have been out there since about 7:30 Chris Bennett Milford, DE Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, March 5th, 2010 From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 22:12:41 -0500 RBA * Delaware * Statewide * March 5, 2010 * DEST1003.05 *Birds mentioned Snow Goose Cackling Goose Egyptian Goose Tundra Swan Mute Swan Wood Duck Green-winged Teal Eurasian Green-winged Teal Gadwall Northern Shoveler American Wigeon Eurasian Wigeon Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Horned Grebe American Bittern Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Peregrine Falcon American Kestrel American Oystercatcher Dunlin American Woodcock Bonaparte's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Eastern Screech Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Loggerhead Shrike American Pipit Pine Warbler American Tree Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: March 5, 2010 Number: 302-658-2747 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net) For Friday, March 5th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2010 Unofficial Delaware State Year List now stands at 162 species. Today, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was reported along Bennett's Pier Rd by Chris Bennett (no relation). That bird was seen at the edge of the marsh, west of the ditch before reaching the Delaware Bay. The bird was seen hunting in the scrub pines on the south side of the road. The bird was originally identified as a NORTHERN SHRIKE but later confirmed as a LOGGERHEAD as the bird approached the road. This is the second report of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Delaware in three years. A dozen TUNDRA SWANS were also seen in a field along Bennett's Pier Road. Bennett's Pier is near Milford, just south of Bower's Beach. To reach this location, turn east onto Thompsonville Road off US 113 north of Milford. At the South Bower's Fire Station, bear right onto Bennett Pier. The Spring Thaw is underway! Skeins of SNOW GEESE were seen flying over I-95 at Churchman's Marsh this morning. WOOD DUCKS were seen in several locations in the state this week, including the Port Mahon impoundments of Little Creek Wildlife Area, Dragon Run in Delaware City, the Rt 100 ponds at Winterthur Museum, and in downtown Wilmington, at the Russell Peterson Wildlife Refuge. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was seen found this week at the North Pond in the Logan Tract off the Kitts Hummock Rd. Look through the large raft of AMERICAN WIGEON to find this bird. Other species seen there included WOOD DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN COOT, and all three MERGANSERS, COMMON, HOODED, and RED-BREASTED. 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were also present. A SNOW BUNTING has been present along Cartanza Road, north of Little Creek. 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were by Boondocks off Lighthouse Rd. near Smyrna. AMERICAN PIPITS continue be seen in a number of areas also. A PINE WARBLER was reported coming to a feeder in Wyoming, Delaware. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen in a warehouse in downtown Dover. AMERICAN BITTERN was seen along the Port Mahon Road. Several large rafts of RUDDY DUCKS were reported in Delaware Bay at Audubon Inlet. A drake "Eurasian" GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen at Prime Hook NWR off Broadkill Beach Rd. this week. That bird was in the field on the left before the marsh. TUNDRA SWANS and SNOW GEESE were seen in several locations. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Fowler's Beach and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen off Sugar Hill and Draper Rd. at Prime Hook. 4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were reported at Mispillion Inlet this week. In northern Delaware, 3 EGYPTIAN GEESE were found on the University of Delaware Ag Farm between South College (Rt 896) and Chapel Hill (Rt 72) Rd. These birds were seen from the north end of Ag Hall. Several feeders reported SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS this week. A pair has returned to the pine woods at Ashland Nature Center were they have nested the last two years. Also at Ashland were HERMIT THRUSH and SWAMP SPARROW. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found at Burrow's Run Nature Preserve. Besides the WOOD DUCKS at the Rt. 100 ponds, there were also a dozen HOODED MERGANSERS, a drake AMERICAN WIGEON, COOT, and RING-NECKED DUCKS. The feeders at Brandywine Creek State Park still have AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS. PILEATED WOODPECKER and EASTERN BLUEBIRD were also reported. 3 adult BALD EAGLES were seen together at the intersection of Rt 82 and Rt 52 last weekend. There has been a flurry of hawk reports in downtown Wilmington, including the pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS on the Brandywine Building. Those birds even made a guest appearance on Channel 6 Action News. A light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen over Canby Park, which also reported PEREGRINE, RED-TAIL, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS and 2 BALD EAGLES. The Russell Peterson Wildlife Center also had COMMON MERGANSER and KILLDEER this week. RING-NECKED DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, and NORTHERN SHOVELER were seen at Dragon Run in Delaware City. 6 MUTE SWANS were seen on the Delaware River during the heron census on Tuesday. The only herons reported were 30 GREAT BLUES going to Pea Patch Island, but COMMON MERGANSER, BALD EAGLE, and a MERLIN were also seen. The BALD EAGLE nest off the Reedy Point Bridge continues to have adults incubating eggs there. A WOODCOCK was also heard calling at Pine Valley Farms near Port Penn this week. 3 CANVASBACKS were seen on the Delaware at Woodland Beach. COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS were seen at Taylor's Gut and BUFFLEHEAD and SHOVELER were seen at Tony Florio's. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS continue to be seen at the Bombay Hook NWR visitor center feeders. A HORNED GREBE was seen at the refuge this week, along with DUNLIN, TUNDRA SWAN, AMERICAN COOT and RUDDY DUCK. AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at Bear Swamp. An EASTERN SCREECH OWL was at Shearness Pool. At Bay Vista in Rehoboth Beach, the previously reported RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continues to be seen, now joined by a pair of BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS are seen at nest boxes there. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was also reported. KILLDEER was seen along Bald Eagle Creek there, along with BUFFLEHEAD, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and RUDDY DUCK. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN CREEPER, and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were also reported. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were also reported in Seaford this week. And now for this week's special feature from WILM News Radio: It may be cold outside, but the days are getting longer and the first signs of Spring Migration are upon us. Waterfowl are staging along the Delaware Bay for their flight to northern breeding grounds. One species to look for during this time of year is the HORNED GREBE. Grebes are diving marsh birds, related to loons. They have long thin bodies with short pointed bills. We see HORNED GREBES usually in their winter plumage; with black body and white neck, and big white cheek marks. In spring, they molt into their alternate breeding plumage, velvety black with golden ear crests that they erect for courtship. They congregate into large rafts at the head of Rehoboth Bay, where you hear their eerie call (SFx Horned Grebe). In migration, you can see HORNED GREBES on any large body of water, creeks or ponds, like Hoopes' Reservoir. You might even see their smaller western cousin, the EARED GREBE, with smaller ear tuffs. In Great Britain, the HORNED GREBE is called the SLAVONIAN GREBE, an exotic name for our common bird. Once common, HORNED GREBE numbers are dwindling. A winter oil spill on the Chesapeake Bay in 1976 killed 20,000 birds, mostly HORNED GREBES and OLDSQUAW. Their population never recovered. Protection of these staging areas is vitally important. Rosalie Edge, founder of Hawk Mountain said, "The time to protect a species is when it is still common". Special thanks this week to a host of observers: Brian McCaffery, Bill Stewart, Kim Steininger, Derek Stoner, Joe Sebastiani, Rick Cheicant, Chris Bennett, Colin Campbell, Bob Strahorn, Mike Smith, Meta Little, Lynn Smith, Jim White, Charles Vaughn, and Jay Young. You can report your sightings or add to the Delaware Year List by calling 302-792-9591 or email ednieap AT verizon.net. Thanks for calling and until next time, good birding! -end transcript Andy Ednie Claymont, Delaware Subject: Re: Northern Shrike on Bennett's Pier Road, Milford Neck From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:49:10 -0500 After I talked to Frank I got better closer looks at the bird. The bird had a white breast that appeared to have a faint gray cast from a distance - but up close did not have any markings of any kind. It had a fairly broad black mask that continued above the eye and over the top of the bill. The bill was not overly large and did not have a very pronounced hook. Size was hard to estimate since the bird was alone and for what its worth it appeared fairly chunky. The bird was an adult Loggerhead Shrike and not as I first reported to Frank a Northern Shrike. I watched the bird work an area about the size of a football field - moving around from leafless shrubs (mostly marsh elder) to the surface of the marsh - for just over an hour before it disappeard. I waited for about 20 minutes to see if it would pop back up - but I never saw it again. For anyone trying for this bird tomorrow - it was hanging in a roughly rectangular area bounded by shrubs starting on the south side of Bennett's Pier Road, from the west bank of the ditch that runs under the road to the thick growth of shrubs to the west. Chris Bennett, Milford, DE ________________________________________ From: Delaware Birding [de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM [ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM] Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 1:22 PM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Northern Shrike on Bennett's Pier Road, Milford Neck Chris Bennett just called at 1:15 PM and said he has a Northern Shrike at the end of Bennett's Pier Road about 300 yards before the bay at a ditch under the road. Frank Rohrbacher Wilmington, Delaware Subject: Eurasian Wigeon Continues at Ted Harvey From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:42:37 EST I went to Ted Harvey this morning to search for the Eurasian Wigeon that Colin reported a couple of days ago. After an hour of searching the north pond in vain, I went to the pond off of the bay road. No luck. I returned to the North Pond, the sun came out and the drake came out and showed off. However, the time waiting for this late riser was well spent. Both ponds I visited were filled with a great variety of waterfowl. Snow Geese, Canada Geese,Wood Duck, Gadwall, Eurasion Wigeon, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck and American Coot. Frank Rohrbacher Wilmington, Delaware Subject: Northern Shrike on Bennett's Pier Road, Milford Neck From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:22:41 EST Chris Bennett just called at 1:15 PM and said he has a Northern Shrike at the end of Bennett's Pier Road about 300 yards before the bay at a ditch under the road. Frank Rohrbacher Wilmington, Delaware Subject: DOS Chesapeake Farms trip (3/13): scouting report From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:32:52 -0500 In preparation for the DOS trip to Chesapeake Farms(Maryland) and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge this Saturday, I joined Clyde Roberts today in scouting the areas. The focus of the trip is waterfowl and eagles, and we saw plenty of both! Of the total of 17 species of waterfowl, the following are most noteworthy: Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Canvasback,Greater Scaup, and Common Goldeneye. Large rafts of diving ducks are gathered on the rivers, and excellent photo opportunities are likely for a variety of waterfowl. Around seemingly every turn, there would be another eagle sighting. I conservatively counted 22 Bald Eagles, including an adult on nest and juveniles of all three flavors(ages 1, 2, and 3). This trip presents wonderful opportunity to study and learn more about eagle plumages. The big bird that stole the show, though, is a prize of the Eastern Shore in winter: a Golden Eagle. We watched the juvenile Golden cruise over the treetops, circling several times before disappearing Eastern Neck did not have any Tundra Swans(when we were looking) but there were plenty of swans to see at Chesapeake Farms. The next two nights have favorable south winds, so more waterfowl should be moving through the region. The trip meets at Chesapeake Farm headquarters at 8:15am on Saturday. Directions may be found here: http://www.dosbirds.org/chesapeakeFarms The trip will be led by Clyde Roberts and Jim White. Please contact Jim(302-593-9622) if you plan to attend. The trip is a full day,with a half-day option if you choose not to visit Eastern Neck. Good birding, Derek Stoner Hockessin, DE Subject: Re: Exotic Geese From: kds <sny AT BEE.NET> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:47:47 -0500 Sorry for late post: the Egyptian Geese were still there this morning. Had never seen one before - they're beautiful! Thanks, Meta and Bob, for the directions. Photo submitted to DOS. Good birding, H&K Snyder www.moonbeampublishing.com Subject: Eurasian Green-winged Teal From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 14:30:41 -0500 Just got a call from a birder named Jeff Climie who wanted me to report that he had a Eurasian Green-winged Teal (Common Teal) in the last field on the left side of Broadkill Beach Road between the Refuge entrance and the impoundments. He also had Lesser Scaup off the beach at the end of Broadkill Beach Road, Wood Ducks along the Boardwalk Trail along with all the expected waterfowl in the impoundments. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac Subject: Sharp-shinned Hawks From: joe sebastiani <joe AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 11:44:35 -0500 This morning on the Ashland Bird walk, we had fairly typical birds for this time of year. A few flocks of Snow Geese and some Canadas ware heading north. A very dark Red-tailed Hawk, which has been here for several months was along Red Clay Creek. We walked through the Sharp-shinned Hawk nesting ground from the past three summers. In the last few years, an adult male was present there consistently starting in January. This year, I have not seen one in the nesting area until this morning. Our birding group walked through the quiet woods and at first did not see any activity. After exiting the woods, we paused and quietly looked around. A male Sharp-shinned Hawk flew into a tree from the pine forest, then flew off. A few moments later, a female Sharp-shinned Hawk flew past, following the first bird. Are these the birds that have nested here? It is possible, but they could also be wintering birds from elsewhere. The pine forest where they nest took a hit from the recent winter storms, with several large trees down and lots of limbs felled by heavy snow. The pine plantation looking a lot thinner now, and Sharp-shinned Hawks prefer dense canopy, so we will see if the 4-acre pine forest is still suits their needs for nesting. These birds won't start building a nest until April, but we will keep an eye out to see if the pair sticks around between now and then. Joe Sebastiani Members Program Team Leader Delaware Nature Society P.O. Box 700 Hockessin, DE 19707 (302) 239-2334 ext. 115 fax (302) 239-2473 joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org web: www.delawarenaturesociety.org The Nature of Delaware Blog: www.delawarenaturesociety.org/blog Subject: Wood Ducks in Wilmington From: Derek Stoner <derekstoner AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 22:46:18 -0500 A late afternoon trip to the DuPont Environmental Education Center(DEEC) today was rewarded with looks at a group of four Wood Ducks winging along the Christina River. The birds were headed straight towards downtown Wilmington, where perhaps a sharp-eyed Peregrine Falcon could live up to its nickname of "duck hawk" by snatching one of these migrants. I've seen a Peregrine catch a speedy teal before, so why not a woodie? The ice on the Wilmington Marsh is quickly melting, and the pair behavior of dozens of Canada Geese is a promising sign that nesting will begin soon. It would be no underestimate to say that at least 200,000 blackbirds(mostly Red-winged and Common Grackle) were flying in to roost in the marshes along the Christina-- always a great spectacle. Good birding, Derek Stoner Subject: Pine Siskin From: Dennis Brezina <alumanon AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 21:37:39 -0500 There was a pine siskin at my feeder yesterday... Dennis Brezina Chesapeake City, MD Subject: Delaware Valley RBA, 3 MARCH 2010 From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 12:43:27 -0800 - RBA * PA, NJ, DE * Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE * PADV1003.03 * March 3, 2010 - Birds Mentioned Pacific Loon (NJ)+ (NJ)+ (Details requested by NJBRC) (PA)+ (Details requested by PORC) (DE)+ (Details requested by DERC) Common Loon Horned Grebe Northern Gannet American Bittern Black-crowned Night-heron Snow Goose Cackling Goose Egyptian Goose Tundra Swan Eurasian Wigeon Canvasback Redhead King Eider Common Eider Harlequin Duck White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Rough-legged Hawk Merlin Sandhill Crane Killdeer American Oystercatcher Purple Sandpiper American Woodcock Black-headed Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Razorbill Monk Parakeet Snowy Owl Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Shrike Sp. Fish Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Hermit Thrush American Pipit American Tree Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Fox Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Dickcissel - Transcript Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org Compiler: Steve Kacir, Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Phone: (215) 240-7547 Voice of the Delaware Valley RBA: Cindy Ahern & Win Shafer URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm Welcome to the March 3, 2010 edition of the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Region of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia Region. This week, we highlight reports of Pacific Loon in Monmouth County, NJ. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR NEW JERSEY: Cape May County: On Feb 28, one of the BLACK-HEADED GULLS was seen where Racetrack Ave meets Delaware Bay in North Cape May. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the end of Miami Ave in the Villas on March 3. On Feb 25, a RAZORBILL was spotted off the pilings at the Coast Guard Base, which can be viewed from Poverty Beach. Other birds seen from Poverty Beach that day included the subadult drake KING EIDER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER and HORNED GREBE. Two drake EURASIAN WIGEONS and a REDHEAD were on the Lighthouse Pond through March 3. On Feb 28, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen off Ocean Dr. About two thousand SCOTERS were at the mouth of Delaware Bay off Cape May Point. Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flew past Two Mile Beach on March 2. On Feb 28, Avalon had a flyby AMERICAN BITTERN along with HARLEQUIN DUCKS, COMMON EIDERS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. Cumberland County: A SHRIKE (probably NORTHERN SHRIKE) was seen at the Natural Lands Trust's Peek Preserve on March 3. The SHRIKE was seen near the building right along the Maurice River. On Feb 28, Turkey Point Rd in the Glades Wildlife Refuge had 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a PEREGRINE FALCON. A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Husted Landing Rd on Feb 28. Atlantic County: Reports from the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR included TUNDRA SWANS and HERMIT THRUSH. Monmouth County: A PACIFIC LOON was photographed across from Spring Lake on Feb 28. The PACIFIC LOON was associating with COMMON LOONS off Pennsylvania Ave and the Essex Hotel, which is under renovation. Both of these locations are a few blocks north of Wreck Pond. On March 1, the PACIFIC LOON was off Massachusetts Ave/Ocean Ave in Spring Lake, last seen drifting south towards the Essex Hotel. On Feb 27-28, two SANDHILL CRANES were at Osbourne's Mills Pond in Wall Twp. The pond is off Route 524/Allaire Rd west of New Bedford Rd. A GLAUCOUS GULL was on Silver Lake in Belmar on Feb 27. On Feb 28, fifteen WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and 5 COMMON EIDERS were off B Lot at Sandy Hook. That day, Sandy Hook also had SNOW BUNTINGS near the old officer's quarters and over 60 Harbor Seals hauled out opposite the visitor center. On March 2, a GLAUCOUS GULL and an ICELAND GULL were on the beach north of the jetties at Shark River Inlet. That day, two SNOW BUNTINGS were in the vegetation along the southern jetty at Shark River Inlet. On March 3, twelve COMMON EIDERS and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen off Marine Pl in Deal. Mercer County: A drake REDHEAD was on Assunpink Lake on Feb 28. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was at the pole farm in Mercer County Park NW. On March 2, a Coyote was at Mercer County Park NW at Blackwell Rd. Somerset County: On Feb 26, two COMMON RAVENS flew over I-287 just south of the NJ Transit railroad tracks in Basking Ridge. NJ Extralimitals: In Bergen County, the NORTHERN SHRIKE at DeKorte State Park's Disposal Rd was reported as recently as Feb 27. Two MONK PARAKEETS visited a suet feeder in Englewood, Bergen County on Feb 27 & March 3. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR DELAWARE: New Castle County: Brandywine Creek State Park had PILEATED WOODPECKER and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. On March 1, an AMERICAN WOODCOCK called from private property near Port Penn. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was at Burrows Run Preserve on March 2. Ashland Nature Center had HERMIT THRUSH and SWAMP SPARROWS. South of Newark on Route 896, some EGYPTIAN GEESE were seen near the north end of the University of Delaware Agriculture Building. Kent County: A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was at the North Pond of Ted Harvey WA on March 2. That day, two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were in a field near the Boondocks restaurant on Lighthouse Rd, and AMERICAN PIPITS were found farther west on Lighthouse Rd. Three CANVASBACKS were at Woodland Beach village. A PEREGRINE FALCON was at the intersection of Route 9 and Route 6 on Feb 28. The fields before the entrance to Bombay Hook NWR attracted TUNDRA SWANS. On March 2, Cartanza Rd had a female SNOW BUNTING. On Feb 28, an AMERICAN BITTERN was at Little Creek WA across from Port Mahon Rd. Sussex County: On Feb 28, three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were in a flooded field near the intersection of Sugar Hill Rd and Draper Rd. That day, the marsh along Fowler Beach Rd had thousands of SNOW GEESE, a CACKLING GOOSE and a PEREGRINE FALCON. Four AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were at Mispillion Inlet on Feb 28. On Feb 27, a flock of 24 TUNDRA SWANS was at a field on the south side of Concord Rd/Route 20, about a mile west of Route 9. That day, six more TUNDRA SWANS were in a field on the south side of Hardscrabble Rd/Route 20, about a quarter mile west of Governor Stockley Rd. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited a feeder in Seaford. -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR PENNSYLVANIA: Chester County: The DICKCISSEL at Gail Dillon's home in Cochranville was seen as recently as Feb 27. Contact information for Gail can be found on the Pennsylvania Birding List archives at: http://list.audubon.org/archives/pabirds.html Bucks County: A BARRED OWL was heard near Lake Towhee Park on March 2. The possible BARROW'S GOLDENEYE reported from the Morrisville Levee appears to be a first year hen COMMON GOLDENEYE, and up to 90 COMMON GOLDENEYES continued to be seen from the Morrisville Levee this week. An ICELAND GULL was at Peace Valley Park on Feb 24, and fifty-five LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the park that day. The Churchville Nature Center reported LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and FOX SPARROW. On March 2, three TREE SWALLOWS fed on Snow Fleas at Maple Knoll Farms in New Hope. Northampton County: The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Koch property was reported as recently as Feb 26. On Feb 26, five thousand SNOW GEESE flew north over Seemsville. Lehigh County: Three COMMON RAVENS flew over Fountain Hill on Feb 26. On Feb 25, HORNED LARKS in Heidelberg Twp were noted at Bullhead Rd, Sawmill Rd, Handwerk Rd, Bake Oven Rd and Hawk View Rd. That day, Handwerk Rd also had 10 SNOW BUNTINGS. Schuylkill County: Sweet Arrow Lark had PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and FISH CROW. Berks County: Lake Ontelaunee had COMMON GOLDENEYES through Feb 28. That day, farm country east of Robesonia had 1600 SNOW GEESE and 300 HORNED LARKS. Lancaster County: On Feb 28, sightings from the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Washington Boro included 250 TUNDRA SWANS, 185 COMMON GOLDENEYES, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at Avocet Point and TREE SWALLOWS. That day, a PEREGRINE FALCON was perched at the middle of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, and a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was at the Blue Rock Rd boat launch. East of Lancaster, off Greenfield Rd, the main pond at Greenfield Estates had 125 SNOW GEESE. The Heritage Center boat ramp at the end of Blue Rock Rd had 8 TUNDRA SWANS on Feb 27. The interior roads of Middle Creek WMA are still closed due to snow cover as of March 2, and will remain closed this week. Sightings from Middle Creek on March 2 included thousands of SNOW GEESE, 500 TUNDRA SWANS and 2 REDHEADS. Lebanon County: The SANDHILL CRANE at SGL 145 was seen flying north from Lake Duffy on March 2. Carbon County: On March 2, Beltzville State Park had a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 2 CANVASBACKS and 5 COMMON GOLDENEYES. Monroe County: Cherry Valley NWR had a KILLDEER and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH on Feb 24. Pike County: On Feb 27, the Pocono Environmental Education Center had 2 COMMON RAVENS and 4 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. PA Extralimitals: The Crawford County SNOWY OWL at the Miller Farm (10734 Shadeland Rd, Springboro) was seen through March 2. The drake HARLEQUIN DUCK was reported from Presque Isle State Park in Erie County through March 2. -------------------------------------------------------------- ANNOUNCEMENTS: On March 13, Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field trip to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County, NJ. This half-day trip is well suited to students and new members, but open to anyone interested in attending. The trip will meet at 9:00AM at the lighthouse parking lot. Please contact Chris if you plan on attending. On March 14, Connie Goldman will lead a DVOC field trip to Middle Creek WMA in Lancaster & Lebanon Counties, PA. The trip will meet at the Middle Creek WMA Visitor's Center on Museum Rd at 1:00PM. Please contact Connie if you plan on attending. Additional information, including past trip reports and contact information for the trip leaders can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is on March 4, 2010, featuring a program by Julie Hagelin, entitled "Tales from a Tangerine-Scented Seabird: Sex, Perfume and Parasites of Crested Auklets." The meeting takes place at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia at 7:30PM. The meeting after that will take place on March 18. More details are available on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. To report birds or significant birding events and planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org. This is Steve Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting. - End Transcript Steve Kacir rba AT dvoc.org DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair Academy of Natural Sciences Delaware Valley Ornithological Club Philadelphia PSOC-FACULTY LISTSERV MESSAGE Subject: final reminder about the Peregrine web cam event From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 15:33:05 -0500 Tomorrow, March 4, is the rescheduled event celebrating the premiere of the Peregrine Falcon Web cam. This event and the webcam are joint efforts by DOS and the DuPont initiative, Clear Into The Future. It will be at the Wilmington Library from 5:30 to 7:30. A live peregrine falcon will be there as well as Kim Steininger's photo exhibit. If you are planning to attend, but have not yet sent your RSVP, would you please do so to Tim Ireland. Timothy.Ireland AT usa.dupont.com If you would like to see the full pdf invitation, please let me know. This listserv doesn't allow me to include it in this email. Thanks and hope to see you there, Sally O'Byrne PSOC-ALL-TEAM LISTSERV MESSAGE Subject: Re: FW: [de-birds] Exotic Geese From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 14:03:14 -0500 Meta thought they were probably escapees (although no leg bands). They are native to Africa, but were introduced to Great Britain in the 18th century, and added to the British list in 1971. Since taking the pictures, I did find where there are small feral populations in California and New Jersey, but not the state lists. Bob Strahorn From: Lorraine Fleming [mailto:lorrainelmf AT comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 1:02 PM To: Bob Strahorn Subject: Re: [de-birds] FW: [de-birds] Exotic Geese Hi Bob! Great photo! Do you think they are zoo escapes? Lorraine Subject: Ashland Thursday Walk and recent birds From: joe sebastiani <joe AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 11:57:35 -0500 Join me tomorrow for the free bird walk at Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin. We will meet at 8am in the parking lot and it will be pretty muddy. Recently, we've seen a few noteworthy birds including a Bald Eagle on Monday as well as a few Swamp Sparrows in the marsh (Derek Stoner), a Hermit Thrush yesterday next to the parking lot (me), and an American Woodcock at the nearby Burrows Run Preserve last evening (flushed by Michele Wales). If you need directions to Ashland, they can be found at http://www.delawarenaturesociety.org/dns_sites.html. Joe Sebastiani Members Program Team Leader Delaware Nature Society P.O. Box 700 Hockessin, DE 19707 (302) 239-2334 ext. 115 fax (302) 239-2473 joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org web: www.delawarenaturesociety.org The Nature of Delaware Blog: www.delawarenaturesociety.org/blog Subject: FW: [de-birds] Exotic Geese From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 11:54:20 -0500 Meta called me about the Egyptian Geese. I met here behind the U of D Ag building (between greenhouses and silo behind north end of U of D Ag building (across from Chrysler plant - Rt. 896 south of Newark). I have posted a picture of the geese on the DOS Photo Gallery. Go to the link below and select Egyptian Goose under in the "Bird name" box: http://www.dosbirds.org/photogallery Bob Strahorn Newark, DE -----Original Message----- From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Meta Little Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 11:38 AM To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU Subject: [de-birds] Exotic Geese This morning Kate from the greenhouse at the University of Delaware called to tell me a pair of Egyptian Geese have been hanging out in the fields near the new wetland area and the cow fields for over a week. Sure enough, they are there today between Worrilow Hall and the silos if anyone is interested. The birds are unbanded. Meta Little Subject: Exotic Geese From: Meta Little <meta368 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 11:38:15 -0500 This morning Kate from the greenhouse at the University of Delaware called to tell me a pair of Egyptian Geese have been hanging out in the fields near the new wetland area and the cow fields for over a week. Sure enough, they are there today between Worrilow Hall and the silos if anyone is interested. The birds are unbanded. Meta Little Subject: A Factual Account of Birding in Delaware City From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 09:33:16 -0500 Bob Strahorn and I conducted the evening heronry survey in Delaware City last night. While it was a bit drizzly for most of the night - it was much warmer than last year. I don't have the numbers for Great Blues (I left the data sheets at home this morning) but we probably didn't count more than 30 in the 2.5 hours we were there. As expected Great Blue Herons were the only long-legged wading bird using the heronry at this early date. We did see a few other birds during the survey however. An adult Bald Eagle- first seen perched in the top of the Bald Cypress at the very north end of the Heronry later (I assume it was the same bird) moved a bit farther north on the island and settled in a small deciduous tree. It was still there when it finally got too dark to see herons flying at 6:16 pm. To add to the raptor list we had 1 Northern Harrier fly across the river to NJ. We also had an immature Red-tailed Hawk and an adult Merlin fly through the park form the north. The Red-tail flew off towards Fort Dupont - the Merlin, which was carrying something in its talons - swooped through the park and landed on top of a power pole in front of Crabby Dicks where we were able to watch it tear into the small bird carcass it had been carrying. We also had 6 Mute Swans swimming around the Island, flyby Mallards, Canada Geese and 1 Common Merganser. We also had Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls and Double-crested Cormorants. And finally lots and lots of Crows ( both American and Fish) passed by on their way to roost in New Jersey. I did count a few of the flocks - with groups of 25 - 40 coming over early in the evening and then massive lines - one of which contained more than 300 (I stopped counting at that point) towards sunset. Right around sunset the flow of birds slowed to a trickle - and pretty much ended before we concluded the survey. The next survey will be Tuesday, March 30. Last year we had 4 species of Herons and Egrets. The full moon rising over New Jersey will be an added bonus. Hope you can join us! Chris Bennett Natural Resource Management Specialist Environmental Stewardship Program Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901 Phone: (302) 739-9230 Fax: (302) 739-3817 "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac Subject: Large Snow Goose flocks? From: Susan Guiteras <Susan_Guiteras AT FWS.GOV> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:42:51 -0500 Hi everyone! A film maker from the UK contacted the refuge to see if we have large SNGO flocks on the marsh. They are filming a documentary that explores the world through the context of bird migration - sounds fascinating, actually. One last shot they are hoping for would require 50,000 SNGO or so (yet their equipment permits them to film from a higher altitude). I'm not here as early in the morning these days due to child care, but I have not been seeing large flocks on the refuge marshes lately. It's that time of the year where they seem more scattered into smaller flocks, and not using our marsh quite as much. I think he has missed his chance for prime filming in DE. Are there any consistent / predictable large SNGO flocks still around Delmarva these days? You can email me directly if you'd rather - Susan_Guiteras AT fws.gov Thanks! Susan Bombay Hook NWR Subject: MISTAKE in a previous POST From: "Bennett Chris (DNREC)" <Chris.Bennett AT STATE.DE.US> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 08:28:55 -0500 Hey, The post that I sent out Monday about my brief outing Sunday afternoon contained a GLARING mistake that I should have easily picked out and did not. I DID NOT SEE a Curlew Sandpiper. I cut and pasted the list at the end of my post from a Delaware Checklist and Curlew got dragged along for the ride with DUNLIN. I apologize. I'll try to be more careful in the future. Chris Bennett Milford, DE "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?'" Aldo Leopold A Sand County Almanac Subject: Re: Hot Time in the City From: "F.Arthur McMorris" <mcmorris AT MAC.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 22:20:06 -0500 Bill and DE Birders, Awesome spectacle! I wish I could have seen it. I work with peregrines, so I can provide a little bit of info. The color bands are not sex specific. We used to use black over red for peregrines in the northeast (for both males and females), but by now we've used up all the alphanumeric combinations, so we're now using black over green, for both sexes. You can't tell the sex of the bird by the color of the band. The spectacle you saw is probably more common than we think, but it often goes undetected. One way for peregrines to send lots of offspring out into the world is to find a great nest site and territory that's unoccupied, move in, and attract a mate. But another way is to find a territory that's already occupied, and challenge the same-sex member of the resident pair. Both males and females will do this. These battles usually don't end until one combatant gives up and flies away, or is killed. The winner then takes over the mate, nest site and territory. The mate just watches the battle without doing anything about it, and then accepts and mates with whoever wins. He/she has the best chance of passing his/her genes on to the next generation by mating with the strongest, most successful bird he/she can; and if that's the challenger and not the original mate, so be it. In the case of the Wilmington birds, it sounds like the intruder won. Peregrines mate for life, but when one member of an established pair dies, the survivor will try to attract a new mate. They usually succeed, but it can take a while. But sometimes one member of a pair is replaced almost instantaneously, and it's probably due to a battle such as you witnessed. If the challenger is the winner, we have a pretty good idea what happened, even if nobody saw the battle. But if the resident bird wins, and nobody saw the battle, nobody would know that anything happened. Nesting season is cranking up now: peregrines are conspicuously defending their territories, choosing their nest sites within the territory (usually the same site used previously), renewing pair bonds (if mated) or searching eagerly for mates (if not), and the hormones are really raging. It's the best time of year to be watching peregrines. Art F. Arthur McMorris Bala-Cynwyd, Montgomery Co., PA On Mar 2, 2010, at 6:41 PM, Bill Stewart wrote: > Good evening, > > Well, the skies over Wilmington and the Brandywine Building have seen quite a bit of action these past two days involving a third peregrine falcon! Greg Inskip reported some aerial battles occurring yesterday, here is part of his message. " I looked up at the top of the 1201 N. Market office building and saw two falcons streaking out of sight, very fast and very high. Another falcon circled into view much lower, close to and about as high (more than 200 feet) as the top of the building. The two other falcons came back in view in a breathtaking chase in three dimensions, diving very fast, one after the other high over the City." > > Trying to figure out this battle within nature and right above our eyes is no easy chore. Let me explain as best as I know. In an effort to distinguish between the falcons observed, both of the Wilmington falcons have black over red bands when the USFWS originally used the same colored bands for both sexes. They still band males with black over red bands but females are now banded with black over green bands. > > This morning at 7:57 AM, on the webcam, we saw a falcon with a green band, indicating an intruding female. At 12:05 the same bird, or another bird with a green band, was back in the nestbox. Around 2:00 a female intruder arriving with prey was seen eating as a male watched. Unfortunately, our original female mate has not been in view. > > To see the events as they happen, log onto http://www.dosbirds.org/wilmfalcons. For the daily blog of the happenings, go to http://www.wilmfalcons.com > > As a quick reminder, the Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Gala will be this Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Wilmington Library, all are welcome! > > Good birding, > > The Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Project Team Subject: Re: Hot Time in the City From: Dan Haas <nervousbirds AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 20:00:24 -0500 Bill et all, A similar event happened here in Annapolis back in 2008. The drama unfolded over the skies of our historic city on the Chesapeake. Two females battled it out, while the male followed close behind... all three falcons wildly screaming the entire time. It certainly was spectacular scene to have witnessed that late winter day. In the end, the unbanded tiercel welcomed his new female, a Virginia girl. She hatched on a bridge in the Southern part (VA) of the Bay, and fledged at the New River Gorge hack site. The previous female, MIA ever since that afternoon, was a New Yorker from the Tappan Zee Bridge (sp?). She had only one chick known to have fledged, and even that chick needed to be plucked from the waters below not once, but twice. What ever became of that little girl... who knows? No news as of yet. As for the new VA female, she didn't hatch any chicks last year, let alone move into the nest box that USFWS installed on the bridge. But hopes are high for 2010. I'll look forward to watching the story unfold. Thanks for the post Bill. Best, Dan Haas Annapolis, MD nervousbirds AT gmail.com wahzoh.blogspot.com On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, Bill Stewart wrote: > Good evening, > > Well, the skies over Wilmington and the Brandywine Building have seen quite a bit of action these past two days involving a third peregrine falcon! �Greg Inskip reported some aerial battles occurring yesterday, here is part of his message. " I looked up at the top of the 1201 N. Market office building and saw two falcons streaking out of sight, very fast and very high. � Another falcon circled into view much lower, close to and about as high (more than 200 feet) as the top of the building. �The two other falcons came back in view in a breathtaking chase in three dimensions, diving very fast, one after the other high over the City." > > Trying to figure out this battle within nature and right above our eyes is no easy chore. Let me explain as best as I know. �In an effort to distinguish between the falcons observed, both of the Wilmington falcons have black over red bands when the USFWS originally used the same colored bands for both sexes. �They still band males with black over red bands but females are now banded with black over green bands. > > This morning at 7:57 AM, on the webcam, we saw a falcon with a green band, indicating an intruding female. �At 12:05 the same bird, or another bird with a green band, was back in the nestbox. �Around 2:00 a female intruder arriving with prey was seen eating as a male watched. �Unfortunately, our original female mate has not been in view. > > To see the events as they happen, log onto http://www.dosbirds.org/wilmfalcons. �For the daily blog of the happenings, go to http://www.wilmfalcons.com > > As a quick reminder, the Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Gala will be this Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Wilmington Library, all are welcome! > > Good birding, > > The Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Project Team > Subject: Eurasian Wigeon inter alia From: Colin Campbell <delawaretwitcher AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 19:46:12 -0500 This morning I awoke to a familiar pang - the need for a Helen's Sausage and Egg. It's been a long time (over a month) and I was ecstatic reacquainting my taste buds with the peppery wursts. I headed to Woodland Beach WMA via Rt6 and then Lighthouse Road, munching happily, when a massive flock of Snow Geese caused me to stop just short of Boondocks 'restaurant'. What actually had caught my eye was movement in the field much closer to the road and a party of Horned Larks just demanded to be scanned for Mr. You-know-who. And sure enough, two Lapland Longspurs were amidst, one getting nice and black on the upper breast and beautifully chestnut on the nape. A pair of the breeding plumaged HOLAs were indulging in what I assume was springtime foreplay - heads down, tails up and 'bobbing' to each other, but they both looked the same with strongly contrasting facial and upper breast patterns ... aren't females supposed to be visibly duller? Oh, well. Further down the same road, a band of American Pipits cavorted and landed on the sodden corn fields. Taylor's Gut had Hooded and Common Mergansers (which seem to be everywhere in N. Del. at the moment) and Shoveler; Bufflehead were displaying on the pond at Tony Florio's. Woodland Beach village gave three Canvasbacks (two drakes) which was good to see this far north; the old flock at Augustine Beach has long since disappeared, apparently preferring the warm water outflow of the Salem Nuke Plant across the way. After reading some Snow Goose neck bands in another flock on Hawkey Branch Rd, just before a low-flying adult Bald Eagle put the whole flock up into a deafening blizzard, a quick stop at Bombay Hook gave the White-crowned, White-throated, Song and House Sparrows at the Center and a rufous Eastern Screech-Owl poking out of a Wood Duck box at the Sheerness Pool Tower parking lot. The vast majority of Tundra Swans were in the pond at the 'new hunters' place (?)' just outside the entrance gate. Cartanza Road indeed had a single female Snow Bunting as previously reported .... and no other passerine! I guess the adult Bald Eagle and the hunting Harriers were deterrents. My final stop was the North Pond at Ted Harvey where hundreds of ducks fled from near to far before I could even get out of my car. Shouldering the scope along the narrow raised 'walkway' to the best viewing position (care - water levels high, mud, burrowing animals holes, but scope essential) gave, on first scan, the main duck populations of Gadwall, American Wigeon, Hooded Merganser and Ring-necked Duck. Interspersed were Green-winged Teal, Shoveler, Mallard, Black Duck, Pintail and a gorgeous drake Red-breasted Merganser. Seeing so many AMWIs made me repeat the slow scan and, low and behold, a spectacular drake Eurasian Wigeon (none of these iffy female types or hybrids here!). Five Bonaparte's Gulls were a pleasant alternative to the myriads of Ring-bills. Colin Campbell Subject: Hot Time in the City From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:41:38 -0500 Good evening, Well, the skies over Wilmington and the Brandywine Building have seen quite a bit of action these past two days involving a third peregrine falcon! Greg Inskip reported some aerial battles occurring yesterday, here is part of his message. " I looked up at the top of the 1201 N. Market office building and saw two falcons streaking out of sight, very fast and very high. Another falcon circled into view much lower, close to and about as high (more than 200 feet) as the top of the building. The two other falcons came back in view in a breathtaking chase in three dimensions, diving very fast, one after the other high over the City." Trying to figure out this battle within nature and right above our eyes is no easy chore. Let me explain as best as I know. In an effort to distinguish between the falcons observed, both of the Wilmington falcons have black over red bands when the USFWS originally used the same colored bands for both sexes. They still band males with black over red bands but females are now banded with black over green bands. This morning at 7:57 AM, on the webcam, we saw a falcon with a green band, indicating an intruding female. At 12:05 the same bird, or another bird with a green band, was back in the nestbox. Around 2:00 a female intruder arriving with prey was seen eating as a male watched. Unfortunately, our original female mate has not been in view. To see the events as they happen, log onto http://www.dosbirds.org/wilmfalcons . For the daily blog of the happenings, go to http://www.wilmfalcons.com As a quick reminder, the Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Gala will be this Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Wilmington Library, all are welcome! Good birding, The Wilmington Peregrine Falcon Webcam Project Team