Date: 3/13/26 4:54 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, March 13th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * March 13, 2026 * DEST 26.03.13
*Birds mentioned Brant Ross’s Goose Snow Goose BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Mute Swan Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal EURASIAN WIGEON EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED “COMMON” TEAL Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup 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 Common Gallinule American Coot Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher American Woodcock Wilson’s Snipe Purple Sandpiper Razorbill Caspian Tern Forster’s Tern Black-headed Gull Bonaparte’s Gull Laughing Gull Iceland Gull Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe RED-NECKED GREBE Common Loon Red-throated Loon Great Cormorant American Bittern Black-crowned Night Heron Snowy Egret Great Egret Barn Owl Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Eastern Pheobe Common Raven Purple Martin Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Northern House Wren Marsh Wren Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Purple Finch American Tree Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: March 13, 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 March, on Friday the 13th 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 remained at 197 species this week. The beaches are now closed at Cape Henlopen and Fowlers Beach for beachnesters.
Spring arrivals are here; new this week were COMMON GALLINULE, PIPING PLOVER, CASPIAN TERN, SNOWY EGRET, PURPLE MARTIN, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, and VESPER SPARROW. Birds seen regularly this week in increasing numbers were WOOD DUCK, LAUGHING GULL, EASTERN PHOEBE, and PINE WARBLER.
The previously reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER along with RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at First State National Historical Park south of Ramsey Road. A MARSH WREN was seen at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge at the Wilmington Waterfront. COMMON RAVEN was reported at White Clay Creek State Park in Newark. BARRED OWL was found at Lums Pond State Park. Four ROSS’S GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE were seen in flocks of SNOW GEESE flying upriver at Battery Park in New Castle along with TUNDRA SWAN, REDHEAD, GREAT CORMORANT, RED-THROATED LOON, and all three species of MERGANSER: COMMON, HOODED, and RED-BREASTED. The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen along Duck Creek Road near Smyrna.
The first COMMON GALLINULE of the season was heard calling at Dragon Run from along Cox Neck Road in Delaware City. A EURASIAN WIGEON was seen on Dragon Run along Route 9 and then later re-found on Canal Pond along Cox Neck Road. Other waterfowl reported on Canal Pond included MUTE and TUNDRA SWAN, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, LESSER and GREATER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE and RUDDY DUCK. AMERICAN WOODCOCK and SANDHILL CRANE were heard from the Canal Pond dike. AMERICAN COOT, GREAT EGRET, and BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen this week at Thousand Acre Marsh near Delaware City. SANDHILL CRANE was found at the Ashton Tract and the Augustine Creek causeway. AMERICAN WOODCOCK were reported doing courtship display, at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area plus BARN and BARRED OWL.
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, WILSON’S SNIPE, plus CASPIAN and FORSTER’S TERNS was seen at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The previously reported EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED “COMMON” TEAL continues at Bear Swamp along with SANDHILL CRANES and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Other waterfowl reported included TUNDRA SWAN, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, AMERICAN COOT and PIED-BILLED GREBE. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was reported along the entrance road. BARRED, SHORT-EARED and BARN OWL were found in the refuge at dusk.
The was a high count of 6 AMERICAN BITTERNS seen or heard at Little Creek Wildlife Area on Sunday, from Port Mahon, the Central Tower/Main Tract and Pickering Beach Road. AMERICAN AVOCET, SHORT-EARED OWL, and 300 AMERICAN COOTS were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area–Mahon impoundment. A flock of WILD TURKEYS were seen at the Davey Crockett Tract. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was coming to a feeder near Milford again this week. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was seen along the Big Stone Beach Road in Milford Neck Wildlife Area.
Waterbirds on the move included a high count of 64 HORNED GREBES at Bennett’s Pier in Delaware WildLands. A big flock of 100 BONAPARTE’S GULLS contained a single BLACK-HEADED GULL at Mispillion Inlet from the duPont Nature Center. Shorebirds seen at Mispillion included AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER and AMERICAN AVOCET. WILLET with GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS continues to be seen at the Dike Trail in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. RED-NECKED GREBE, 106 RED-THROATED and 123 COMMON LOONS were seen flying past Cape Henlopen State Park.
A couple of early arrivals at Cape Henlopen State Park were BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, NORTERN HOUSE WREN, and VESPER SPARROW. The first PIPING PLOVER of the season was seen at Cape Henlopen Point along with AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER and ICELAND GULL. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. A RAZORBILL was seen at the Lewes Harbor Breakwaters. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE were seen on the harbor jetty. The first SNOWY EGRET of the year was seen at Gordon’s Pond. A COMMON RAVEN was seen north of Lewes at Canary Creek.
A flock of 50 CANVASBACKS and a COMMON GOLDENEYE were on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. The previously reported pair of HARLEQUIN DUCKS, COMMON EIDERS and RAZORBIL were at the Indian River Inlet plus BRANT, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER were seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club on Long Neck near Millsboro. The first PURPLE MARTIN of the year was seen off Saw Mill Road near Milton.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Laura Wolf, Anna Champagne, Walt Blackwell, Andy Jenkins, Gary Griffith, Gerry Teig, Linda Houghton, Randy Vickers, Will Krohn, Eli Hevalow, David Thomas, Frank Lenik, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson, Jason Horn, Rod Murray, Chris Rankin, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Richard Julian, Kelly White, Logan Parr, Kevin Bronson, Isaiah Craft, Audrey Hughes, Kim Steininger, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Jim and Amy White, Frank Rohrbacher, John and Andy Dunn, Karen Barker, Wendy Cesario, Sam VanHorne, 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: 3/10/26 7:33 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] White Clay Bird Census Postponed
The Thursday Bird Census at White Clay Creek State Park has been postponed due to potential rain. We will try to do the survey on Friday the 13th. The bird walk will start from the Hopkins Nature Center at 8 am. New arrivals are appearing daily, Phoebe, Pine Warbler, and Osprey were seen this week. Hopefully we'll have better weather!
Good birding, Andy
Date: 3/6/26 4:26 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, March 6th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * March 6, 2026 * DEST 26.03.06
*Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Brant Ross’s Goose Snow Goose BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED “COMMON” TEAL Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup 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 King Rail American Coot Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher American Woodcock Wilson’s Snipe Purple Sandpiper Iceland Gull Horned Grebe Great Cormorant American Bittern Great Egret Northern Harrier Barn Owl Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Red-headed Woodpecker American Kestrel Eastern Pheobe Common Raven Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Purple Finch Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Lark Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat Pine Warbler
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: March 6, 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, March 6th 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 remained at 187 species this week.
Lots of geese were seen this week. The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE was re-found along Massey’s Church Road north of Smyrna. The BARNACLE GOOSE was seen in the same field as last year, near the Church of Latter-Day Saints. BARNACLE and CACKLING GOOSE was seen today in the same area along Duck Creek Road. A ROSS’S GOOSE was seen in the Odessa area, at Stave’s Landing Road and along Old State Road at the intersection with Route 299. Another ROSS’S GOOSE was seen along Slaughters Beach Road at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen near the Pennel Tract in Milford Neck Wildlife Area. Another CACKLING GOOSE was reported in the area of Summit Marina near Lums Pond State Park
A flock of 6 REDHEADS with RING-NECKED DUCK and COMMON MERGANSER were seen on Harry’s Pond in the Brandywine Town Center today. The previously reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen at First State National Historical Park south of Ramsey Road. This area is now open again after police activity earlier in the week. Lots of WOOD DUCKS and COMMON MERGANSERS are being seen around the state right now along with a few HOODED MERGANSERS. NORTHERN HARRIER and AMERICAN KESTREL were seen at Brandywine Creek State Park. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge at the Wilmington Waterfront. COMMON RAVEN was reported at Rittenhouse Park off Chestnut Hill Road in Newark. BARRED OWL was calling at Christiana Manor west of Newark. PINE WARBLER is still visiting a feeder in Hockessin. An EASTERN PHOEBE was found at Lums Pond State Park.
An immature ICELAND GULL was seen at the Delaware City waterfront from Veteran’s Park. WILSON’S SNIPE, GREAT EGRET, and BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen this week at Thousand Acre Marsh near Delaware City. SANDHILL CRANE was found at the Augustine Creek causeway. AMERICAN WOODCOCK were reported doing courtship display, at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, and Fowlers Beach. A NORTHERN SAW WHET OWL was heard calling, along with BARN and BARRED OWL at Cedar Swamp.
The previously reported EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED “COMMON” TEAL continues at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge along with SANDHILL CRANES and a flock of 6 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW. Waterfowl reported included TUNDRA SWAN, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER plus RUDDY DUCK. Some early arrivals included GREAT EGRET, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD. BARRED, SHORT-EARED and SAW-WHET OWL were found in the refuge at dusk.
CANVASBACK, SHORT-EAREED OWL, and AMERICAN COOT were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area–Mahon impoundment. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in the North Dover area. An adult LARK SPARROW was photographed at a private yard near Camden-Wyoming. There was a big flock of PURPLE FINCHES coming to a feeder near Milford.
KING RAIL, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, SHORT-EARED OWL, and AMERICAN BITTERN were seen at Fowlers Beach in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge along with TREE SWALLOWS and SNOW BUNTING, WILLET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen along the Dike Trail at Prime Hook Headquarters. WILSON’S SNIPE was seen at Oyster Rocks Road.
BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, BLACK, SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. RED-BREASTED MERGANER and HORNED GREBE were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE were seen on the breakwaters. PINE WARBLER was seen coming to a feeder near Long Neck.
ICELAND GULL and a flock of 250 CANVASBACKS were on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. The previously reported drake and hen HARLEQUIN DUCKS and COMMON EIDERS were at the Indian River Inlet plus BRANT, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. AMERICAN WIGEON, LESSER and GREATER SCAUP, were seen at Assawoman Wildlife Area, along with AMERICAN BITTERN, AMERICAN COOT, and PINE WARBLER.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Carter Chambers, Kees de Mooy, Nancy Goggin, Bodo Stern, Cole Tiemann, Randy Vickers, Will Krohn, Eli Hevalow, David Thomas, Jackie Tench, Kai Victor, Frank Lenik, Grace Muench, Brody Ritter, Chris Rankin, Carolyn Holland, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Richard Julian, Andrew Albright, Nancy Cunningham, Jen Driscoll, Jessica Shahan, Kim Steininger, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Jim and Amy White, Joe Sebastiani, Laureen Eick-Benson, Frank Rohrbacher, John and Andy Dunn, Karen Barker, Wendy Caserio, Sam VanHorne, 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: 3/5/26 1:26 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] White Clay Bird Census this Saturday, 03/07/2026
It looks like this weekend might have some nice weather finally. Let's get that ice out of here! The bird census will start at 8 am from the Hopkin Nature Center parking lot. Special efforts will be made to find those early spring migrants like Phoebe and Pine Warbler. Last week we had 100+ Purple Finches along the creek. Hope to see you on the census!
Good birding,Andy
Date: 2/27/26 4:54 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, February 27th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * February 27, 2026 * DEST 26.02.27
*Birds mentioned Brant Ross’s Goose Snow Goose Cackling Goose Tundra Swan Mute Swan Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED “COMMON” TEAL Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup 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 American Coot Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher American Woodcock Dunlin Purple Sandpiper Bonaparte’s Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Great Cormorant American Bittern Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Eastern Pheobe YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch American Pipit Purple Finch Pine Siskin American Tree Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: February 27, 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, February 27th 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 remained at 187 species this week. A major snowstorm hit Delaware on Monday, February 23rd. Northern Delaware received about 8 inches, but Sussex County was plummeted with 20+ inches. Additionally, the wet snow caused extensive tree damage. While Cape Henlopen and Indian River Inlet are open, most areas in the county are inaccessible right now.
The previously reported YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA was last reported on Saturday, February 21st from Delaware City. It was photographed in a back yard but not seen since. In the Milford location, the CARACARA was last seen February 18th along Holly Hill Road. Keep an eye out if you’re traveling down Route 9 towards the canal!
Waterfowl is on the move! In northern Delaware, A pair of ROSS’S GOOSE was seen in the skeins of SNOW GEESE flying over at White Clay Creek State Park. Additionally, COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS, RING NECKED, and RUDDY DUCKS are returning. WOOD DUCKS have arrived with sightings at White Clay Creek, Brandywine Park, Winterthur Museum, Bombay Hook, Burton’s Pond near Lewes, and Assawoman Wildlife Area. REDHEADS are still being seen at Burton Pond, CVS Pond in Lewes, and at Canal Pond off Cox Neck Road near Delaware City. CACKLING GOOSE was seen today on Harry’s Pond in the Brandywine Town Center.
There was a big flight of 120 PURPLE FINCH at White Clay yesterday. A single PINE SISKIN was reported off Weldin Road in Brandywine Hundred. A PINE WARBLER was seen coming to a feeder in Hockessin. COMMON RAVEN was seen at the Alapocos Run State Park, Ashland Nature Center, and White Clay Creek State Park. A BARRED OWL was reported in Auburn Valley State Park near Yorklyn. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen at the University of Delaware Ag Farm. A MARSH WREN was calling at Collins Beach in Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area.
There were numerous reports of AMERICAN WOODCOCK after the snowstorm this week. One was flushed along the paths at Brandywine Creek State Park Another WOODCOCK was found in a yard off Apple Road in Newark. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were reported doing courtship display, known as the “Timberdoodle Dance”, at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Milford Neck Wildlife Area, Fowlers Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge at the headquarters area.
A EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED “COMMON” TEAL with the horizontal wing strip was found at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge along with SANDHILL CRANES. Some early arriving shore included LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, DUNLIN, plus GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, Waterfowl reported included TUNDRA SWAN, RING-NECKED DUCK, and HOODED MERGANSER. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continue to found along the auto tour road.
AMERICAN AVOCET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BONAPARTE’S GULL and AMERICAN COOT were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area–Mahon impoundment. AMERICAN BITTERN and SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at Port Mahon. PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen at the David Small’s central tower. ROSS’S GOOSE, CAVASBACK, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF SCOTER and HORNED GREBE were seen at Bower’s Beach. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were found north of Bowers at the St. Jones River inlet plus a single BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE
TREE SWALLOWS were reported from Mispillion Inlet to Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. GREATER SCAUP and LONG-TAILED DUCK were seen at Fowlers Beach along with SHORT-EARED OWL and AMERICAN BITTERN. Landbirds at Fowlers Beach included EASTERN PHOEBE, AMERICAN PIPIT, EASTERN MEADOWLARK and PINE WARBLER.
BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF SCOTER and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE were seen on the breakwaters from the bayshore. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was coming to a feeder at Angola Neck in the snow. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at a feeder near Red Mill Pond in Lewes and a PINE WARBLER was in a yard near Redden State Forest at Georgetown.
An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER and ICELAND GULL were seen at Indian River Inlet, along with PURPLE SANDPIPER on the jetty. The previously reported drake and hen HARLEQUIN DUCKS plus 10 COMMON EIDERS were at the inlet, plus BRANT, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, MUTE SWAN, RING-NECKED DUCK, and HOODED MERGANSER were seen this week at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Doug Norton, Jeff Gordon, Evan Jarman, Carter Chambers, Kees de Mooy, Nancy Goggin, Blair Ferguson, Paul Beckman, Ashley Norton, Ed Crow, David Hunter, Bodo Stern, Barbara Jones, Brian Moyer, Will Krohn, Chris Rankin, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Richard Julian, Steve McInnis, Will Martens, Kelly White, Ed Wrzesniewski, Ryan von Hilst, Kim Steininger, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Don Stockly, Jim and Amy White, Sally O’Byrne, Laureen Eick-Benson, Frank Rohrbacher, John and Andy Dunn, Karen Barker, Wendy Caserio, Sam VanHorne, 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: 2/20/26 5:35 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, February 20th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * February 20, 2026 * DEST 26.02.20
*Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Brant Ross’s Goose Tundra Swan Mute Swan Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal 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 Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Purple Sandpiper Razorbill COMMON MURRE DOVEKIE ATLANTIC PUFFIN Bonaparte’s Gull Black-headed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Forster’s Tern Horned Grebe RED-NECKED GREBE Great Cormorant American Bittern Osprey Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Merlin YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Lark Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: February 20, 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, February 20th 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 jumped up to 187 species this week with several additions from this weekend’s boat trips.
The previously reported YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA in Milford was last reported on Wednesday, February 18th along Holly Hill Road, across from Airport Road and Route 14 which is a little west of its original sighting. Last week, the CARACARA was found on private property at #2009 Milford-Harrington Hwy. The homeowners, Carol and Bob, are allowed birders to walk down the driveway to look for the bird, just be sure to sign the guest book. Please park along the highway and be aware that Route 14 is a very busy road. Also, be aware that Airport Road (DE Route 15) is closed near Route 14 for construction of a rotary, best to find an alternate route. Some other birds in the area included a pair of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE along the S. Bower’s Beach Road yesterday, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH along Big Stone Beach Road, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH plus PINE WARBLER were reported at Killen’s Pond State Park.
There might not be many ALCIDS close to shore this winter, but the pelagic trip out of Lewes found good numbers offshore, including ATLANTIC PUFFINS, COMMON MURE, DOVEKIES and about 100 RAZORBILLS. Additionally, the Lewes Breakwater produced AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, PURPLE SANDPIPER, and GREAT CORMORANT. There were several sightings of RED-NECKED GREBES at the Lewes Harbor and Breakwater, the hawkwatch at Cape Henlopen State Park, and at Indian River Inlet.
An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park, Waterfowl offshore included BONAPARTE’S and BLACK-HEADED GULL, FORSTER’S TERN, LONG-TAILED DUCK, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP. AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BRANT and SNOW BUNTING plus SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES along with a reported BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. An ICELAND GULL was seen at Gordon’s Pond. An ORANGE-CROWNED and PINE WARBLER was visiting a feeder in Lewes.
At Indian River Inlet, there was a drake and female HARLEQUIN DUCKS plus 4 COMMON EIDERS. Other waterfowl included BRANT, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. PURPLE SANDPIPER, BONAPARTE’S and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen on the jetty. An ICELAND GULL was seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 450 AMERICAN WIGEON, MUTE SWAN, RING-NECKED DUCK, GOLDENEYE, and HOODED MERGANSER were seen this week at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
A LARK SPARROW, among a flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS visited a feeder west of Millsboro. Another immature ICELAND GULL was reported in a field near the Mountaire plant off Route 24 in Millsboro. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen at Peninsula Golf and Country Club near Oak Orchard. There is a plethora of REDHEADS being reported this week as the ponds begin to melt including, Millsboro Pond, Silver Dollar Pond near Ocean View, Nanticoke River in Seaford, and Swiggett’s Pond in Lincoln. REDHEAD and CANVASBACK were seen on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach and behind the CVS in Lewes, off Savanna Road near the intersection with Route 1.
A MERLIN was seen at Oyster Rocks Road in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. CANVASBACK, LESSER SCAUP, and LONG-TAILED DUCK were seen at Fowlers Beach along with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. SHORT-EARED OWL continues to be seen at dusk from Fowlers Beach. BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER plus RUDDY TURNSTONE were seen at Mispillion Inlet from the DuPont Nature Center. TREE SWALLOWS were reported at both Fowlers Beach and Mispillion.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was found at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge along with SANDHILL CRANES. Waterfowl reported included TUNDRA SWAN, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, RING-NECKED DUCK, and HOODED MERGANSER. ROSS’S GOOSE was seen among the SNOW GEESE and a SNOW BUNTING was seen with HORNED LARKS along Whitehall Neck Road, REDHEAD and CANVASBACK were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area–Mahon impoundment. AMERICAN BITTERN and SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at Port Mahon. A very early OSPREY was seen eating a fish on a light pole at Dover Aire Force Base.
LONG-TAILED DUCK and COMMON MERGANSER was seen at Battery Park in the Town of New Castle. REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER, and 93 MUTE SWANS were seen at Canal Pond along Cox Neck Road near Delaware City. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and RUSTY BLACKBIRD were seen on the Canal Pond dike. A SANDHILL CRANE was reported at Dragon Run and Augustine Beach near Port Penn. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen flying south at were seen at Augustine Beach along with RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and RUDDY DUCK. HORNED GREBE and WOOD DUCK were seen at the Augustine Creek causeway on the Delaware River.
The previously reported pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at the Brandywine Unit, First State National Historical Park south of Ramsey Road. WOOD DUCKS were seen in Brandywine Park in downtown Wilmington. A PINE WARBLER was seen coming to a feeder in Hockessin. COMMON RAVEN was seen at the Universite of Delaware Ag Farm. A BARRED OWL was reported in Newark off Paper Mill Road.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Zach Bear, Kurt Gaskill, Sherman Suter, Tim Carney, Sam Tillman, Lynn Gulla, Will Krohn, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson, Maddie Tiemann, Karen Hockgraf, Martha Frost, George Davis, Chris Machulski, Ellen Dickey, Linda Rosenberg, Erik Addams, Debbie Blair, Chris Rankin, Rod Murray, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Richard Julian, Chuck Mitchell, Steve McInnis, Ellen Kilmer, Kelly White, Ed Wrzesniewski, Ryan von Hilst, Kim Steininger, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, John Carter, Don Stockly, Laureen Eick-Benson, Frank Rohrbacher, John and Andy Dunn, Wendy Caserio, Sam VanHorne, 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!
