Date: 1/19/26 4:26 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] WCC Results for 01/15/2026
Here's the results of the weekly bird census at White Clay Creek State Park from Thursday, Jan. 15th. It was a beautiful day walking in the valley and out of the wind.
https://ebird.org/tripreport/464196The survey is all ready begining to produce prodigious results. The cumulative list is at 50 species. We added a new species that was not recorded on the previous census 50 years ago, Common Raven. Of course, Ravens were unknown in Delaware until 2010. We are also see lots of Pileated Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Purple Finches, more than 5x the numbers seen previously. Thanks to everybody that 's been out in the field. The next census is Saturday, January 24th starting from the Hopkins Bridge Nature Center at 8 am. All birders are welcome, the walk takes 3-4 hours. Good birding, Andy
Andrew EdnieClaymont, DE
Date: 1/16/26 4:06 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 16th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * January 16, 2026 * DEST 26.01.16
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Ross’s Goose Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Tundra Swan Mute Swan Gadwall Canvasback HARLEQUIN DUCK Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter COMMON EIDER Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Virginia Rail Sora American Coot Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs American Woodcock Wilson’s Snipe Purple Sandpiper Razorbill Black Skimmer Forster’s Tern Black-headed Gull Iceland Gull Common Loon Rede=throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Northern Gannet American Bittern Black-crowned Night Heron Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker WESTERN KINGBIRD Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Marsh Wren American Pipit Evening Grosbeak Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Ipswich Savannah Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD Baltimore Oriole Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler WESTERN TANAGER PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 16, 2026 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For Friday, January 16th this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS). Statements made on the Birdline do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors. This is Andy Ednie, glad to be with you. The unofficial Delaware Annual List increased to 178 species with additions of AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK SKIMMER, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
It's been a Wild West Show at Little Creek this week! The WESTERN KINGBIRD that was found last Friday along the main entrance to Little Creek Wildlife Area east of Dover continues today. This bird was seen in the brush near the entrance off Bayshore Road (Route 9) back to the gray house on the right. The KINGBIRD has regularly been seen in the trees and on the wire behind the house, but please remember this is a private residence. Additionally, a female WESTERN TANAGER was seen on Wednesday, behind the maintenance yards and at the edge of the field behind the Hunter Education building. Both birds were seen in association to BLUEBIRDS and WAXWINGS in the area, there was also an immature WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. Unfortunately, there is a lot of construction going on along the entrance right now during the week. PIED-BILLED GREBE and AMERICAN COOT were seen from the central tower at the end of the main entrance road.
The previously reported PAINTED BUNTING continue to be seen in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This bird, believed to be an immature male was last seen at the tidal pond near the Parson’s Point Trail at the edge of the marsh. SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL was found at the bridge near the Bear Swamp tower along with AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at the Shearness Pool spillway. Waterfowl reported were CACKLING GOOSE, TUNDRA and MUTE SWAN, WOOD DUCK, plus COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER. The first AMERICAN AVOCETS along with WILSON’S SNIPE and 4 SANDHILL CRANES were found at Raymond and Shearness Pool. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen along Whitehall Neck Road. AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at Wick’s Potato Farm along Route 8.
An adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was photographed among the huge flock of blackbirds south of Leipsic, off Dyke Branch and Wheel of Fortune Roads. The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen in the north Smyrna area, off Route 13 at Duck Creek or just to the north off Joe Goldsborough Road. A ROSS’S GOOSE and a single BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK was seen on Wheatley’s Pond in Clayton. SHORT-EARED OWL, AMERICAN BITTERN and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON were reported at Port Mahon along with LONG-TAILED and RUDDY DUCK. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER continues to visit a feeder in Milford.
The previously reported WESTERN TANAGER continues at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was last seen on Wednesday behind the maintenance sheds at the headquarters building. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found along the Black Farm Trail. A single BLACK SKIMMER, FORSTER’S TERN, BLACK-BELLIED and AMERICAN AVOCET, plus GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen from the Dike Trail. AMERICAN WOODCOCK was reported at Foord’s Landing. SNOW BUNTINGS, and SHORT-EARED OWL were found at Fowler’s Beach
RAZORBILL was seen off Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park. AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BRANT, and NORTHERN GANNET were seen at Cape Henlopen Point along with LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, and “IPSWICH” SAVANNAH SPARROW. WHITE-BREASTED, RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. GREAT CORMORANT and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at Gordon’s Pond Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was visiting a feeder near Lewes along with a BALTIMORE ORIOLE. There was a flock of 130 CANVASBACK and 4 ROSS’S GEESE on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach.
RAZORBILL was also seen at Indian River Inlet along with the female HARLEQUIN DUCK and a 10 COMMON EIDERS. Other waterfowl included BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. A PALM WARBLER was reported on Long Neck at the Peninsula Beach and Pier. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the Peninsula Gold Course. Three ICELAND GULLS were found at the Jones Crossroad landfill near Hardscrabble. EVENING GROSBEAKS continues to be seen at Trap Pond State Park. These birds were seen along the Bob Trail about a half mile south of the nature center along the western side of the pond. There is an interpretive sign for “Hidden Forest” in the vicinity where the GROSBEAKS were found.
MUTE and TUNDRA SWAN, AMERICAN WIGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER were seen at Canal Pond off Cox Neck Road near Delaware City.. SANDHILL CRANE was reported flying over Dragon Run. WOOD DUCK was seen at Clark’s Corner Road. MARSH WREN was found at Thousand Acre Marsh. The spillway along the Augustine Creek Causeway along Route 9 south of Port Penn had an interesting collection of diving ducks including LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER plus RED-THROATED and COMMON LOON. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and EASTERN MEADOWLARK were found along Collins Beach Road in Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was found along the entrance road to Brandywine Creek State Park. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at the First State south of Ramsey Road. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at a feeder in Newport. A male Baltimore Oriole visited a feeder in Hockessin during the snowstorm. Gadwall was seen on the pond in Carousel County Park. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported at Phillips Park in Newark. BARRED OWL was reported at Christiana Manor in Newark. The weekly White Clay Creek State Park bird census added a new species this week not found on the previous census 50 years ago, COMMON RAVEN. Also. This must be the year of the SAPSUCKER, the White Clay census from 1977 found only 1-2 birds intermittently in the winter, while this year the average is 15 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS per census. Also, 6-7 PILEATED WOODPECKERS are being seen now, compared to 1-2 birds during the last census.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Steve Licata, Marshall Brown, Jenna Christy, Chase Wilkinson, Ed Patten, David Thomas, Ellie McDonald, Peter Schyler, Debbie Blair, Will Krohn, Chris Rankin, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Kent Raymond, Lynn Jackson, Martin Selzer, Jason Horn, Carolyn Holland, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Phil Misseldine, Steve McInnis, Rob Blye, Richard Julian, Alice Mohrman, Nancy Cunningham, Anthony and Kayla Gonzon, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Jean-Marie Gauthier, Walt Blackwell, Frank Rohrbacher, Sheila Smith, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Special thanks to Joe Tricarico for list distribution to DOS members. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-463-0113 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding!
Date: 1/9/26 5:15 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 9th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * January 9, 2026 * DEST 26.01.09
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Ross’s Goose Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Tundra Swan Mute Swan Northern Pintail American Wigeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup HARLEQUIN DUCK Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter COMMON EIDER Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Virginia Rail Sora King Rail American Coot Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher American Woodcock Dunlin Western Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Razorbill Black-headed Gull Iceland Gull Common Loon Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Northern Gannet Black-crowned Night Heron Barn Owl Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe WESTERN KINGBIRD Common Raven Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Chipping Sparrow American Tree Sparrow Seaside Sparrow Nelson’s Sparrow LARK SPARROW Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Prairie Warbler WESTERN TANAGER PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 9, 2026 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For Friday, January 9th this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS). Statements made on the Birdline do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors. This is Andy Ednie, glad to be with you. The unofficial Delaware Annual List increased to 164 species.
This afternoon, a WESTERN KINGBIRD was found along the main entrance to Little Creek Wildlife Area east of Dover. This bird was seen in brush near the entrance off Bayshore Road (Route 9). This is before you get to the DNREC Fisheries office on the north side of the road.
The previously reported WESTERN TANAGER continues at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The bird is seen behind the maintenance sheds at the headquarters building along the Black Farm Trail. BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, plus GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen from the Dike Trail. AMERICAN WOODCOCK was reported at Foord’s Landing and the Prime Hook entrance road. SANDHILL CRANES were heard calling along Cods Road. WILLET, WESTERN SANDPIPER, SNOW BUNTINGS, and SHORT-EARED OWL were found at Fowler’s Beach. SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were reported off Broadkill Beach. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen at the Marvel Salt Marsh Preserve in north Slaughters Beach
A flock of 6 COMMON EIDERS were seen off Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park. CLAPPER RAIL was reported off the Salt Marsh Spur Nature Trail. SNOW BUNTING, BRANT, RUDDY TURNSTONE and NORTHERN GANNET were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. A flock of Warblers in the dunes at the Point included an ORANGE-CROWN and PRAIRIE WARBLER. PINE WARBLER was found in the Cape Henlopen campground. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. An ICELAND GULL was seen on the bay shore at Cape Henlopen State Park and from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. COMMON EIDER, RAZORBILL, GREAT CORMORANT and 30 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen on the Lewes outer breakwater. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at Gordon’s Pond along with PINE SISKIN and TREE SWALLOW. There was a high count of 5 BLACK-HEADED GULLS at the Wolfe’s Neck Wastewater Treatment Plant but unfortunately this is restricted access. There was a flock of 120 CANVASBACK on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach.
A RAZORBILL was seen at Indian River Inlet along with HARLEQUIN DUCK and a peak count of 12 COMMON EIDERS. Other waterfowl included BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. RUDDY TURNSTONE and PURPLE SANDPIPER were seen on the jetty. SEASIDE and NELSON’S SPARROW were found in the marsh by the south campground. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and COMMON GOLDENEYE were seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. BLUE-WINGED TEALS and over 200 AMERICAN WIGEON with SORA and KING RAIL were found at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
A LARK SPARROW was seen in the front lawn of the University of Delaware Marine School off Pilottown Road near Canary Creek Nature Preserve. NASHVILLE and PALM WARBLERS were found at the McCabe Nature Preserve near Milton. NELSON’S SPARROW along with RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported at Ridgewood Road near Long Neck. EVENING GROSBEAKS continues to be seen at Trap Pond State Park. These birds were seen along the Bob Trail about a half mile south of the nature center along the western side of the pond. There is an interpretive sign for “Hidden Forest” in the vicinity where the GROSBEAKS were found. Also seen in that area was CHIPPING SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH, and all three species of NUTHATCH, RED-BREASTED, BROWN-HEADED and WHITE-BREASTED. A pair of ICELAND GULLS were also found at the Jones Crossroad landfill near Hardscrabble.
The previously reported PAINTED BUNTING continue to be seen at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This bird, believed to be an immature male was seen at the southeast side of the auto-tour just past the Bear Swamp tower parking area at the edge of the marsh. SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL was found at the bridge near the Bear Swamp tower along with CHIPPING and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at the Shearness Pool spillway. Waterfowl reported were CACKLING GOOSE, TUNDRA and MUTE SWAN, plus COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER. GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were found at Bear Swamp. EASTERN PHOEBE was seen near Cottman Pool along the Raymond auto-tour. Seven SANDHILL CRANES were found along Raymond Neck Road. BARRED and BARN OWLS were reported at the refuge this week.
The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen in the north Smyrna area, off Massey’s Church Road or at Wheatley’s Pond off Route 300 in Clayton. A ROSS’S GOOSE was also seen at Masseys Church Road this week. The flock of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS on Wheatley’s Pond is now down to a single immature individual. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen at the Aquatic Center along Route 9 at Woodland Beach. Park in open lot across from the construction. SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported at Port Mahon along with LONG-TAILED and RUDDY DUCK. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN were seen at the Port Mahon impoundments of Little Creek Wildlife Area.
A GREAT EGRET was seen at Canal Pond off Cox Neck Road near Delaware City. Waterfowl reported included AMERICAN WIGEON, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER plus AMERICAN COOT. The spillway along the Augustine Creek Causeway along Route 9 south of Port Penn had an interesting collection of diving ducks including LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and COMMON LOON. SANDHILL CRANE was reported from Augustine Creek. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found at the maintenance yards along Collins Beach Road in Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and EASTERN MEADOWLARK were seen at Charles Price Park in Middletown.
The previously reported drake REDHEAD found at Brandywine Creek State Park was last reported on Saturday, further north up the creek towards First State National Historical Park. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at the First State south of Ramsey Road. COMMON MERGASNSERS and a NORTHERN PINTAIL were seen along the creek. A COMMON RAVEN at Harry’s Pond at the Brandywine Town Center, along with RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, and NORTHERN PINTAIL. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported at Phillips Park in Newark.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Samantha Stetzer, Al Guarente, Peter Schuyler, Debbie Blair, Lisa Smith, Will Krohn, Erin Betancourt, Chris Rankin, Glen Lovelace, Terry Villanueva, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Kent Raymond, Natalie Cavallieri, Lynn Jackson, Martin Selzer, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Phil Misseldine, Steve McInnis, Rob Blye, Richard Julian, Alice Mohrman, Nancy Cunningham, Anthony Gonzon, Chris and Karen Bennett, Sean O’Conner, Jim and Amy White, Ryleigh Sweet, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Walt Blackwell, Andy Jenkins, Frank Rohrbacher, Sheila Smith, Amy and Declan O’Neil, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Special thanks to Joe Tricarico for list distribution to DOS members. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-463-0113 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding and Ha! ppy New Year!
Date: 1/8/26 2:53 am From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] White Clay Creek Bird Census this Weekend
The weekly bird census at White Clay Creek State Park has been postponed to Sunday due to weather. The forecast is calling for heavy rains on Saturday but Sunday looks dry, cold, and breezy. The next census will be January 11th, starting 8 am from the Hopkins Bridge parking lot. The survey takes about 3-4 hours and covers about 3 miles. That will still give you time to go birding and then watch "the Birds" playoff game against the 49'ers at 4:30 (Go Eagles!).
Good birding, Andy
Andrew EdnieClaymont, DE
Date: 1/2/26 4:19 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 2nd, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * January 2, 2026 * DEST 26.01.02
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Ross’s Goose Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Tundra Swan Mute Swan Gadwall American Wigeon EURASIAN WIGEON Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup HARLEQUIN DUCK Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter COMMON EIDER Long-tailed Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet American Woodcock Purple Sandpiper Forester’s Tern Bonaparte’s Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Northern Gannet Brown Pelican Black-crowned Night Heron Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Blue-headed Vireo Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Northern House Wren Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch American Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler WESTERN TANAGER PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 2, 2026 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
Welcome to 2026! For Friday, January 2nd this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS). Statements made on the Birdline do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors. This is Andy Ednie, glad to be with you. The unofficial Delaware Annual List is already at 143 species.
Today, a drake REDHEAD was found at Brandywine Creek State Park. This bird was seen on the river north of Thompson’s Bridge hanging out with the MALLARDS. You can see this bird from the Thompson’s Bridge parking lot if you look upriver under the bridge. The previously reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at the First State National Historical Park, Brandywine Unit south of Ramsey Road. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen New Years Eve at Harry’s Pond at the Brandywine Town Center, along with RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, and GADWALL A flock of 25 PURPLE FINCHES were seen visiting the feeders at Ashland Nature Center, An EASTERN PHOEBE was found today at the pump house between Wedgewood and Hopkins Bridge Roads in White Clay Creek State Park. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported at Phillips Park in Newark.
Lots of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS and HERMIT THRUSH are being seen this year and there are good numbers of FOX SPARROWS around, especially downstate. There were five reports of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS this week, as birds visited feeders throughout the state after the snow. ORANGE-CROWNS were seen in Newport, Port Penn, Milford and two in Lewes. There was a scattering of PINE WARBLERS reported in Sussex Co. but the furthest north was a PINE WARBLER coming to a feeder near Port Penn.
It was a wild goose chase to start the new year. The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen in the north Smyrna area, off Clark Farm or Massey’s Church Road. ROSS’S, CACKLING, and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED were seen at Charles Price Park in Middletown. A female COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen with COMMON MERGANSERS on Noxontown Pond near Middletown. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was flushed in Blackbird State Forest near Townsend. The flock of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were re-found on Wheatley’s Pond off Route 300 in Clayton, along with CACKLING GOOSE and the previously reported escape RINGED TEAL.
The previously reported female PAINTED BUNTING was photographed at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge yesterday. This bird was seen just past the parking area to the Bear Swamp tower at the edge of the marsh. A SORA was found at the bridge near the Bear Swamp tower along with AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Waterfowl reported were CACKLING GOOSE, TUNDRA and MUTE SWAN, plus COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER. Seven SANDHILL CRANES were found along Whitehall Neck Road. A single WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen at the Aquatic Center along Route 9 at Woodland Beach.
SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported at Port Mahon and at Dover Air Force Base. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen along the Big Stone Beach Road in Milford Neck Wildlife Area. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen at Bennett’s Pier. GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, and RED-THROATED LOON was found at Big Stone Beach. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen at the Marvel Salt Marsh Preserve in north Slaughters Beach.
The previously reported WESTERN TANAGER continues at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was seen behind the maintenance sheds at the headquarters building along the Black Farm Trail. WOODCOCK was reported at Foord’s Landing. An EASTERN PHOEBE was seen along Prime Hook Beach Road prior to the intersection with Cods Road. WILLET, SNOW BUNTINGS, and SHORT-EARED OWL were found at Fowler’s Beach.
An ICELAND GULL was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. GLAUCOUS GULL along with RUDDY TURNSTONE and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen on the bayshore at Cape Henlopen State Park. SNOW BUNTING, BRANT, BROWN PELICAN and NORTHERN GANNET were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. There was a flock of 130 CANVASBACK on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach.
HARLEQUIN DUCK with COMMON EIDERS continues to be seen at Indian River Inlet along with BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. FORSTER’S TERN, BONAPARTE’S and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, RUDDY TURNSTONE and PURPLE SANDPIPER were seen on the jetty. A single TREE SWALLOW was seen at the inlet yesterday. EURASIAN WIGEON with about 500 AMERICAN WIGEON was found at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
A flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS was discovered at Trap Pond State Park. These birds were seen along the Bob Trail about a half mile south of the nature center along the western side of the pond. There is an interpretive sign for “Hidden Forest” in the vicinity where the GROSBEAKS were found. Also seen in that area was BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE FINCH, and all three species of NUTHATCH, RED-BREASTED, BROWN-HEADED and WHITE-BREASTED. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen at the Peninsula Nature Center in Millsboro, along with a NORTHERN HOUSE WREN was in a yard nearby. A big flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS was seen at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including David Bridge, Chris Rankin, Megan Kasprazak, Glen Lovelace, Terry Villaneauva, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Kent Raymond, Alan Belford, Michael O’Brien, Brian Henderson, Kerry FitzPatrick, Cole Tiamman, Ken Rosenthal, Andrew Albright, Martha Eisenhour, Natalie Cavallieri, Peter DeGennero, Teddy Burke, Martha Frost, Don Holcomb, Ian Teall, Greg Darone, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Rob Blye, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Phil Misseldine, Steve McInnis, Richard Julian, Alice Mohrman, Nancy Cunningham, Anthony Gonzon, Chirs and Karen Bennett, Sean O’Conner, Hannah Small, Jim and Amy White, Ryleigh Sweet, Melissa Lafferty, Jean-Marie Gauthier, Alison Ellicott, Walt Blackwell, Andy Jenkins, Frank Rohrbacher, Jennifer Christy, Sheila Smith, Amy and Declan O’Neil, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Special thanks to Joe Tricarico for list distribution to DOS members. Bir! dline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-463-0113 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding and Happy New Year!
Date: 1/1/26 10:47 am From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] First White Clay Creek census tomorrow
The first DOS census of White Clay Creek will be tomorrow, January 2nd. We'll start at 8 am from the Hopkin's Bridge nature center. We'll go over some protocols and review maps for coverage. Looking forward to seeing everybody out in the field.
Good birding, Andy
Date: 12/31/25 7:12 am From: Ian Stewart <istew...> Subject: [de-birds] Screech owl color morphs
Hi everyone,
Screech owls occur in two color morphs (red and gray) and I am interested in which morph is most common in Delaware (and if the most common morph varies across the state). On theory is that red morphs are more common in pine woods as they blend in with the bark of those trees so daytime predators are less likely to find them, while gray morphs are are more common in hardwoods/deciduous trees.
I thought this could be a great community science project given how many Delaware birders report their sightings through eBird. If you use eBird and get lucky enough to see a screech owl, could you please note in the comments whether it was a red or gray morph, and whether it was in a pine tree, deciduous tree, or a nestbox? That way I can later filter all eBird records with screech owl comments (or even photos). I realize there are some complications (the same owl may be seen by several people and in more than one year, and some red morphs may be the rarer brown morph) but I think this would be an interesting first step. If there is enough data I could publish it in the Delaware Ornithologist so everyone gets to find out the results.
If you posted a screech owl sighting to eBird recently and can remember whether it was a red or gray morph it would be great if you could go back and edit the report with that detail!
If you aren't sure of the owl's color or type of tree it is in then there is no need to get closer and risk disturbing the owl, so skip entering comments for these (and adding comments is always totally voluntary anyway). I am just trying to extract even more value from passive eBird sightings, and hope people enjoy contributing extra data on any screech owls they come across.
Date: 12/27/25 8:34 am From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, December 26th. 2025
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * December 26, 2025 * DEST 25.12.26
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Ross’s Goose Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Tundra Swan Mute Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon EURASIAN WIGEON Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Lesser Scaup HARLEQUIN DUCK Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter COMMON EIDER Long-tailed Duck Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Wild Turkey American Coot Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Wilson’s Snipe American Woodcock Dunlin Least Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Forester’s Tern Bonaparte’s Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Glaucous Gull Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Northern Gannet Brown Pelican Black-crowned Night Heron Great Egret Osprey Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-headed Woodpecker Merlin Peregrine Falcon Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Horned Lark Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Northern House Wren Marsh Wren American Pipit Purple Finch American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler WESTERN TANAGER PAINTED BUMTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: December 26, 2025 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For Friday, December 26th this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society (DOS). Statements made on the Birdline do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors. This is Andy Ednie, glad to be with you. The unofficial Delaware Annual List remains at 339 species this week. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everybody out there. Remember, this is Christmas Count season!
New this week is a WESTERN TANAGER seen at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This bird was found on Monday along the Black Farm Trail and seen again today. The TANAGER has been very elusive in the area where the trail bends toward the marsh. Also reported was NORTHERN HOUSE WREN and EASTERN PHEOBE by the Prime Hook Headquarters. SEMIPALMATED and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were seen along the Dike Trail. MARSH WREN, SNOW BUNTINGS, and SHORT-EARED OWL were found at Fowler’s Beach. SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen offshore on the Delaware Bay at Prime Hook Beach.
A female HARLEQUIN DUCK with COMMON EIDERS continues to be seen at Indian River Inlet along with BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. A flock of AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen flying past the inlet this week. FORESTER’S TERN, BONAPARTE’S and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, plus PURPLE SANDPIPER were seen on the jetty. BROWN PELICAN and NORTHERN GANNET were seen flying up the coast. A lingering PALM WARBLER was seen at the inlet this week. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. A flock of 130 CANVASBACKS along with HOODED MERGANSER were seen on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. An OSPREY was photographed flying over a lake near Millville and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported coming to a feeder in Ocean View.
There was a triple play of WHITE-BREASTED, BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Cape Henlopen State Park. SNOW BUNTING, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BRANT, and HORNED GREBE were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. LONG-TAILED DUCK and a MERLIN were seen at the hawk watch.
A female PAINTED BUNTING continues at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday. This bird was seen just past the parking area to the Bear Swamp tower at the edge of the marsh. Waterfowl reported were CACKLING GOOSE, TUNDRA and MUTE SWAN, LESSER SCAUP, plus COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER. A single COMMON LOON was seen flying over Raymond Pool. Shorebirds seen included AMERICAN AVOCET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, DUNLIN, and WILSON’S SNIPE. SANDHILL CRANES were found at Shearness Pool. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW were found along the Auto Tour.
The flock of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were re-found on Wheatley’s Pond off Route 300 in Clayton. The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE was seen with a ROSS’S GOOSE at Massey’s Church Road north of Duck Creek in Smyrna. The previously reported adult drake CINNAMON TEAL has not been re-seen but the drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found off Pickering Beach along with NORTHERN GANNET. Lots of waterfowl are in the Mahon impoundment at Little Creek Wildlife Area including LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER, plus over 1000 AMERICAN COOTS. SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen this week from the Port Mahon Road. BARRED OWL was reported along the Big Stoen Beach Road. RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen on Tub Mill Pond near Milford.
A flock of 17 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were discovered on Canal Pond off Cox Neck Road near Delaware City with MUTE SWAN and PIED-BILLED GREBE. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found along the dike at Canal Pond. In Delaware City, a MERLIN was seen at the beginning of the Mike Castle Trail, WILD TURKEY was seen in Ft. Dupont. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was flushed along Clark’s-Corner Road and WOOD DUCKS were seen on Dragon Run at the canoe ramp. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on the St. George’s Bridge. GREAT EGRET was found on at Thousand Acre March from the Shilling Tract. A total of 31 SANDHILL CRANES were seen on the Augustine Creek south of Port Penn. CACKLING GOOSE, EASTERN MEADOWLARK and HORNED LARK were seen Charles Price Park near Middletown.
ICELAND, GLAUCOUS and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL plus a SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at Cherry Island in the Wilmington Landfill on Saturday. Another ICELAND GULL, along with LEAST SANDPIPER and PALM WARBLER was reported at the Veolia Water Treatment Plant. Waterfowl at the water treatment plant included a female COMMON GOLDENEYE, AMERICAN WIGEON, WOOD, RUDDY and RING-NECKED DUCK, LESSER SCAUP and COOT. Unfortunately, these two areas are private access. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were found along Hay Road in Edgemoor near the bridge over Shellpot Creek. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at Luken’s Industrial Park in New Castle. AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at the New Castle Elementary Schook baseball field. GREAT CORMORANT, LESSER SCAUP, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and RUDDY DUCK were seen at the wharf in Battery Park.
The previously reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at the First State Historical Park, Brandywine Unit south of Ramsey Road. RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, and COMMON RAVEN were found at Harry’s Pond at the Brandywine Town Center. FOX SPARROW was coming to a feeder in Brandywine Hundred. COMMON RAVEN, CHIPPING SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER were seen at Ashland Nature Center. HOODED MERGANSER was seen at Auburn Heights State Park. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was found at Banning Park in Newport. A pair of COMMON MERGANSERS were seen on Newark Reservoir. RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at Phillips Park in Newark. BARRED OWL was reported at Christiana Manor. An EASTERN PHOEBE and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were reported at Hopkins Bridge in White Clay Creek State Park. A third ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was visiting a yard near Glasgow.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Sharon Dounce, Kate Tullis, Phillip Liu, Martha Frost, Don Holcomb, Jonah Schwarz, Ian Teall, Greg Darone, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Rob Blye, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Phil Misseldine, Debbie Blair, Nancy Cunningham, Anthony Gonzon, Will Krohn, Jim and Amy White, Sally O’Byrne, Joe Sebastiani, David Thomas, Clay Chianese, Gary Griffith, Frank Lenik, Christian Scheibe, Wayne Longbottom, Ryleigh Sweet, Jessica Shahan, Melissa Lafferty, Jean-Marie Gauthier, Alison Ellicott, Laureen Eick-Benson, Walt Blackwell, Andy Jenkins, Sheila Smith, Amy and Declan O’Neil, John and Andy Dunn, Sam VanHorne, Joe Francis, Andrea Martin, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Special thanks to Joe Tricarico who recently completed his 200th list distribution to DOS members. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-463-0113 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie ! wishing you good birding!
