Date: 1/10/25 4:47 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 10th, 2025
* Delaware * Statewide * January 10, 2025 * DEST 2025.01.10
*Birds mentioned BRANACLE GOOSE Brant Cackling Goose Mute Swan Tundra Swan Blue-winged Teal Gadwall American Wigeon Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Long-tailed Duck Common Eider Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter HARLEQUIN DUCK Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruby-throated Hummingbird Sandhill Crane Virginia Rail Clapper Rail American Coot American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Least Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe American Woodcock Black-headed Gull Bonaparte’s Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Horned Grebe Great Cormorant White Ibis Great Egret Short-eared Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch LAPLAND LONGSPUR Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Black and White Warbler Common Yellowthroat Pine Warbler PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 10, 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 January 10th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List is currently at 157 species. Delaware had its first snow storm in 2 years on Monday, pushing birds to feeders throughout the state. Wilmington received only an inch but downstate was hit with 6-8 inches at the beach.
The previously reported male PAINTED BUNTING was seen last weekend in the West Rehoboth Beach area near the Rehoboth Elementary School from Schoolhouse Lane. Viewing is only from the street as this is a private residential area. The snow storm on Monday brought a female PAINTED BUNTING to a feeder near Magnolia, but again this is restricted access.
The Christmas Counts downstate produced numerous interesting sightings. A pair of female HARLEQUIN DUCKS were at Indian River inlet, along with BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and all three SCOTERS, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED. PURPLE SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, GREAT CORMORANT, BONAPARTES and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen on the jetty. WHITE IBIS were seen at Savages Ditch and Fresh Pond in Delaware Seashore State Park. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was found at 3R’s Road near Bethany Beach. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, MUTE SWAN and VIRGINIA RAIL was reported at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL with several BONAPARTE’S GULLS and a CACKLING GOOSE was seen at the Wolfe’s Neck Water Treatment Plant at Midway from the Junction and Breakwater Trail. Back in Rehoboth, at Silver Lake there was a raft of 150 CANVASBACK and a few HOODED MERGANSERS. Three different ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were reported near Rehoboth, at the Indian River Life Saving Station Museum, Bayside Tower Road south of Dewey Beach, and Mulberry Hill Road near Old Landing. PINE WARBLER and a PINE SISKIN were at a feeder on Angola Neck today.
A boat trip to the outer breakwater in Lewes found 3 female HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 10 COMMON EIDER, HORNED GREBE, GREAT CORMORANT plus PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE. Another PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen on the jetty at Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park on Sunday. BRANT, CANVASBACK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and all three species of SCOTER plus SNOW BUNTING and “IPSWICH” SAVANNAH SPARROW were seen at Henlopen Point. Three species of NUTHATCH, RED-BREASTED, BROWN-HEADED and WHITE-BREASTED were seen at the Seaside Nature Center, along with CHIPPING SPARROW. A total of 9 PINE WARBLERS were found at Cape Henlopen on the Christmas count. WHITE IBIS, GREAT EGRET, VIRGINIA and CLAPPER RAIL were found at Gordon’s Pond. Three more ORANGE-CROWNS were found at Lewes, near the Seaside nature center, along the Gordon’s Pond trail, and at Red Mill Pond. The pair of overwintering RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were also at this latter location. A pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen at a f! eeder near Love Creek.
The previously reported female HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen again at Mispillion Inlet from the Dupont Nature Center. Shorebirds seen included AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS. WILLET and AMERICAN WOODCOCK were seen at Prime Hook National Wildlife refuge. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and 14 TREE SWALLOWS were seen at Prime Hook Beach Road. A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was seen along the Dike Trail. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and PURPLE FINCH was seen at Little Neck Road. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was reported at Fowlers Beach and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was reported near Milton. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET and SHORT-EARED OWL were reported at Prime Hook.
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was found along the Big Stone Beach Road in Milford Neck Wildlife Area. A BLACK AND WHITE and another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were seen in a yard in Milford. That makes 9 ORANGE-CROWNS reported in Delaware this week, 20 years ago we didn’t get that many ORANGE-CROWNS per decade. PURPLE FINCHES and a female BALTIMORE ORIOLE was found coming to a feeder at Bryant’s Corner Road near Camden-Wyoming. A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at Port Mahon. LAPLAND LONGSPURS with SNOW BUNTINGS and AMERICAN PIPIT were seen on Savannah Road north of the intersection with Silver Leaf Road south of Leipsic. COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen at the Port Mahon impoundment and CANVASBACK were seen at Pickering Beach.
The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE and CACKLING GOOSE continues to be seen on Duck Creek north of Smyrna form the Route 13 bridge along with a COMMON RAVEN. SNOW BUNTING was reported along Whitehall Neck Road. SANDHILL CRANES continue to be seen at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-BELLIED, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LEAST SANDPIPER, and WILSON’S SNIPE were seen this week in the refuge. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was photographed by Shearness Pool and PINE WARBLER was found near the visitor’s center.
Lots of sparrows, including WHITE-CROWNED and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW were seen at the maintenance sheds at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area along with PURPLE FINCH. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was found in Middletown off Carter Drive. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen flying over the Delaware River at the Green Tract in Augustine Wildlife Area. AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN COOT, MUTE and TUNDRA SWAN were seen at the Canal Pond near Delaware City.
In northern Delaware, the bird survey at First State National Historical Park off Ramsey Road found GADWALL, COMMON MERGANSER, and COMMON RAVEN along the creek. AMERICAN PIPIT and CHIPPING SPARROW were seen in the fields near the parking lot. A WILSON’S SNIPE was found there today along the Brandywine Creek. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH continues to be found at the Top of the Hill Apartments off Priory Road near Silverside in Brandywine Hundred. RING-NECKED DUCKS were found at the pond along Clubhouse Road next to the Brandywine Town Center. ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULL were seen along the Christiana River at Cherry Island Landfill. HOODED and COMMON MERGANSER were seen along the creek at Brandywine Park in downtown Wilmington. A HOODED MERGANSERS were seen on the Red Clay Creek at Auburn Valley State Park. An AMERICAN TREE SPAROW was seen from the bird blind at Ashland Nature center.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible including, Holly Kirkland, Ian Stewart, Ellie Gonzalaz Morales, Hank Davis, Ben Firies, Chris Hinkle, Art Zdancewic, Ken Bass, Brian McCaffrey, Sharon Dounce, Jay Mengel, Carter Chambers, Frank Rohrbacher, Jeff Climie, Karen Hockgraf, Karen and Chris Bennett, Anthony Gonzon, Andrew Albright, David Fees, Russ Kovach, Greg Gough, Sue Gruver, Richard Jullian, Alice Mohrman, Sally Fintel, Rob and Carol Blye, Ashley and Quinton Durden, Carolyn Holland, Declan and Amy O’Neil, Jim and Amy White, Jeff Gordon, Rod Murray, Kevin Bronson, Melissa Lafferty, Scott Northey, Wil and genie Martens, Alissa Kegelman, Mike Smith, Megan Kasprzak, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding.
Date: 1/10/25 2:18 pm From: Rob Blye <rwblye...> Subject: [de-birds] Feeder watching in snowy January
We continue to have some interesting birds in our southern Sussex County yard, mostly visiting feeders in the front and back yards.
Our best observation, to me, was a bright yellow pine warbler at a suet feeder. Also welcome was a single pine siskin among a flock of goldfinches. A single hermit thrush, several American robins, three brown-headed nuthatches, white-throated sparrows, swamp sparrow, rufous-sided towhee, a blue jay were among the birds that caught my attention.
*better living through birds* *Rob* Robert W. Blye 34603 Doe Run Lewes DE 19958-3332 302 945-8618 610 213-2413 mobile
Date: 1/8/25 7:23 am From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] First State Bird Survey
The very first First State National Historical Park survey found 37 species, including Bufflehead, Common Merganser and Pileated Woodpecker, plus there were over 300 crows at Ramsey's Farm. After birding, we went to explore the only cave in the entire state! The next bird survey will be tomorrow, Thursday, Jan 9th. We'll start at the Ramsey Road parking lot at 8 am, finish by noon. The next weekend survey will be Sat., Jan. 18th.
Good birding, Andy
Andrew EdnieClaymont, DE
Date: 1/6/25 8:08 am From: Rob Blye <rwblye...> Subject: [de-birds] Birds in the snow
Carol and I are still thawing out from two Christmas Bird Counts back to back (Rehoboth and Prime Hook/Cape Henlopen).
Sunday's Cape Henlopen CBC ended with a 2-hr boat trip to the ice breakers, inner wall and outer wall in the Lewes Harbor of Refuge. The captain of the Katydid debated about departing but we did depart with 8 intrepid birders and got soaked on the way out from wind blown waves. Since we had all been birding since 7 AM in the cold and wind, we were chilly to start and it went downhill from there. We got large numbers of scoter including several well seen white-winged and many hundreds of surf and common. No gulls of particular note and only two seals.
Back on land and having warmed up overnight, we were anticipating the snow and were not disappointed. We often get our best birds in the worst weather and today was no exception. We must be in a heavy band of snow as Carol measured 8.5 inches and it is still snowing hard. We are in southern Sussex County between Midway on the coastal highway and Rt 24 in Longneck.
Our shy hermit thrush came out for a drink while a fox sparrow and a swamp sparrow joined the juncos and the white-throated sparrows at the mixed seed we spread on the snow . Red -winged blackbirds seldom visit the feeders but they were here in force today. Mourning doves do visit frequently and so they did this morning.
We are hoping for our winter warblers to show at the suet (orange-crowned, pine and yellow-rumped) but not that we could see. Maybe later.
*better living through birds* *Rob* Robert W. Blye 34603 Doe Run Lewes DE 19958-3332 302 945-8618 610 213-2413 mobile
Date: 1/3/25 4:50 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 3rd, 2025
* Delaware * Statewide * January 3., 2025 * DEST 2025.01.03
*Birds mentioned Snow Goose Ross’s Goose BRANACLE GOOSE Brant Cackling Goose Canada Goose Mute Swan Blue-winged Teal American Wigeon Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Long-tailed Duck Common Eider Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter HARLEQUIN DUCK Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Ruby-throated Hummingbird Sandhill Crane Virginia Rail Clapper Rail American Coot American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher Least Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe Black-headed Gull Bonaparte’s Gull Laughing Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Razorbill Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Northern Gannet Brown Pelican Great Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron White Ibis Great Egret Tricolored Heron ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Eastern Pheobe Common Raven Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Sedge Wren Marsh Wren LAPLAND LONGSPUR Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Vesper Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Black and White Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 3., 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 the beginning of 2025, on January 3rd, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List is currently at 139 species.
New this week has been a male PAINTED BUNTING seen in the West Rehoboth Beach area near the Rehoboth Elementary School between Lee Street and Schoolhouse Lane. Viewing is from the street only as this is a private residential area; one home owner has already taken down his feeders due to crowds. Nearby at Silver Lake, there is a raft of 150 CANVASBACK and a few HOODED MERGANSERS. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen coming to a feeder near Dewey Beach.
A pair of female HARLEQUIN DUCKS along with COMMON EIDER, GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and all three SCOTERS, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED were seen at Indian River inlet. PURPLE SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, GREAT CORMORANT, BONAPARTES and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen on the jetty. PALM WARBLER and PEREGRINE FALCON were seen near the inlet parking lot. TRICOLORED and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, HORNED GREBE and BRANT were seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. MUTE SWAN and BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen at Assawoman Wildlife Area near Fenwick Island.
An immature GLAUCOUS GULL and 30 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen at The Point in Cape Henlopen State Park. A RAZORBILL was seen flying along the coast along with NORTHERN GANNET. Waterfowl seen included COMMON EIDER, LONG-TAILED DUCK, GREAT CORMORANT, plus SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. WHITE IBIS, GREAT EGRET and WILSON’S SNIPE were seen at Gordon’s Pond plus SEDGE and MARSH WREN. A LAUGHING GULL was photographed from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. A total of 3 BLACK-HEADED GULLS were seen at the Wolfe’s Neck Water Treatment Plant from the Breakwater and Junction Trail. A single ROSS’S GOOSE was with the SNOW GEESE along Wolfe’s Neck Road. A pair of BALTIMORE ORIOLES continue at a feeder in Lewes and a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD continues at a feeder by Red Mill Pond where a BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen this week.
There has been an outbreak of Avian (H5N1) flu among the SNOW GEESE at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. About 20-30 sick and dying geese were seen at Cods and Thirteen Curves Road. If you see sick birds reported it the refuge or Delaware Fish and Wildlife. In Prime Hook, TREE SWALLOW was seen at Oyster Rocks Road. WILLET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen from the Dike Trail. SHORT-EARED OWL and SNOW BUNTINGS were reported from Fowler’s Beach. The female HARLEQUIN DUCK continues to be seen at Mispillion Inlet from the duPont Nature Center. A COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen at north Slaughters Beach.
In western Sussex Co, a VESPER SPARROW was found Midlands Wildlife Area near Laurel off Samuel Hill Road. A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER was seen at Chipman’s Ponds. CHIPPING SPARROW, PINE WARBLER, EASTERN PHOEBE and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH were seen at Trap Pond State Park. Another BLACK AND WHITE and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were seen in a yard in Milford. EASTERN PHOEBE and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center. A CANVASBACK with RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER and 80 AMERICAN WIGEON was seen on Griffith Lake in Milford. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was reported on Tuesday in the west Milford area, near the intersection of Sandbox Road and Cloverfield Lane. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, SEDGE and MARSH WREN plus VIRGINIA and CLAPPER RAIL were seen along the Big Stone Beach Road in Milford Neck Wildlife Area.
The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE with CANADA and a CACKLING GOOSE continues to be seen on Duck Creek north of Smyrna form the Route 13 bridge. A better viewing area has been the trailer park just north of the bridge along southbound Route 13. There were 6 LAPLAND LONGSPURS with SNOW BUNTINGS and HORNED LARK reported on Savannah Road north of the intersection with Silver Leaf Road south of Leipsic. A SHORT-EARED OWL was also photographed at Port Mahon. AMERICAN COOT, MUTE SWAN, and RUDDY DUCK were reported at Little Creek Wildlife Area. A single WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen at the mouth of the St. Jones River in Bowers Beach.
SANDHILL CRANES continue to be seen at Ber Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPER were seen this week in the refuge. All three species of falcon, PEREGRINE, MERLIN and AMERICAN KESTREL were reported along with WILD TURKEYS.
Lots of sparrows, including WHITE-CROWNED and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW were seen at the maintenance sheds at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area along with NORTHERN BOBWHITE. A couple of the WHITE-CROWNS were of the GAMBEL’S subspecies. RED-THROATED LOON and SURF SCOTER was seen flying up the Delaware River from Collins Beach. Another CACKLING GOOSE was seen on the Bayberry North Ponds off Boyd’s Corner Road near Odessa.
In northern Delaware, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH continues to be found at the Top of the Hill Apartments off Priory Road near Silverside in Brandywine Hundred. COMMON RAVEN, PIED-BILLED GREBE, HOODED MERGANSER and RING-NECKED DUCK were reported on Harry’s Pond in Brandywine Hundred. MARSH WREN was found at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge at Wilmington’s Riverfront. WILSON’S SNIPE, CHIPPING SPARROW and MERLIN were seen at Brandywine Creek State Park.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible including, Olivia Weeks, Mike Gardner, Frank Rohrbacher, Jeff Climie, Jason Horn, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson, Brian Bobowski, Alexander Donley, David Gersten, Kurt Schwarz, Nancy Cavalieri, Karen Hockgraf, Andrew Jones, Rachel Riberio, Kees de Mooy, Karen and Chris Bennett, Greg Gough, Sue Gruver, Richard Jullian, Alice Mohrman, Nancy Goggin, Sally Fintel, Nancy Cunningham, Carolyn Holland, Declan O’Neil, Jim and Amy White, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Megan Kasprzak, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you Happy Holidays and good birding.
Date: 12/27/24 5:05 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, December 27th, 2024
* Delaware * Statewide * December 27, 2024 * DEST 2024.12.27
*Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Snow Goose Ross’s Goose BARNACLE GOOSE Brant Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Long-tailed Duck Common Eider Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter HARLEQUIN DUCK Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Wild Turkey Ruby-throated Hummingbird Sandhill Crane Virginia Rail Clapper Rail American Coot American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher Least Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper American Woodcock Wilson’s Snipe Razorbill Horned Grebe Northern Gannet Black-crowned Night Heron White Ibis Great Egret Tricolored Heron Barred Owl American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Eastern Pheobe Common Raven BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Sedge Wren Marsh Wren LAPLAND LONGSPUR Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Yellow-breasted Chat Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: December 27, 2024 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, 27th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. With just 4 days remaining, the unofficial Delaware State Year List remains at 345 species this week. This is the 3rd highest state list reported since keeping records. The highest was 357 species in 2020, the year of the pandemic!
In norther Delaware, SANDHILL CRANES were seen at Thousand Acre Marsh from the Ashton Tract in Augustine Wildlife Area near Port Penn, along with GREAT EGRET. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was seen there at dusk. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and MARSH WREN were found at the Port Penn Impoundments. A high count of 24 SANDHILL CRANES along with WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found along Bayview Road. AMERICAN COOT and WILSON’S SNIPE were found at Hangman’s Run along Route 9 south of Odessa. EASTERN MEADOWLARK was reported at Prices Park in Middletown.
A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE was identified at the bird blind at Ashland Nature Center this week. A female BALTIMORE ORIOLE and COMMON RAVEN were reported in Hockessin off Old Wilmington Road. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was found at the Top of the Hill Apartments off Silverside Road in Brandywine Hundred. HOODED MERGANSER and RING-NECKED DUCK were seen at Harry’s Pond in Brandywine Town Center. HOODED and COMMON MERGANSERS were seen at Hoopes Reservoir from the Route 82 causeway. COMMON MERGANSER and RUDDY DUCK were seen at Newark Reservoir. A BARRED OWL was reported at Christiana Manor in Newark
At Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED and ROSS’S GOOSE was among the 20,000 SNOW GEESE in the refuge. CLAPPER RAILS and SANDHILL CRANES were reported at Bear Swamp. Shorebirds reported included AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and AMERICAN WOODCOCK. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT were reported along the auto drive. The falcon trifecta, PEREGRINE, MERLIN and AMERICAN KESTREL were reported at the Hook this week.
The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen at Duck Creek north of Smyrna. This bird is with the CANADA GEESE along the west side of the highway from the bridge. LAPLAND LONGSPURS with SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be seen with big flock of HORNED LARK along Savannah Road, north of the intersection with Silver Leaf Road south of Leipsic. SEDGE WREN and a LEAST SANDPIPER was found along the S. Bowers Beach Road. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in a yard near Milford and an EASTERN PHOEBE was discovered at Killen’s Pond.
The previously reported NORTHERN LAPWING found at the end of the Dike Trail in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton was last seen on Saturday. Other shorebirds reported included WILLET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and WILSON’S SNIPE. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found along the Black Farm Trail. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Fowlers Beach. The previously reported female Harlequin Duck was seen at Mispillion Inlet along with GREATER SCAUP.
At Cape Henlopen State Park, a RAZORBILL was seen offshore yesterday. BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, HORNED GREBE, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were seen at Cape Henlopen Point, along with a BLACK SKIMMER photographed on Monday. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WILD TURKEY plus BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. PURPLE SANDPIPER was seen at Herring Point. There are still several WHITE IBIS and GREAT EGRETS seen at Gordons Pond along with a VIRGINIA RAIL.
Both COMMON EIDER and a female HARLEQUIN DUCK were seen at Indian River Inlet. Along with BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK and all three SCOTERS, BLACK, SURF and WHITE-WINGED. PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE were seen on the jetty. TRICOLORED and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON were seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen at Savage’s Ditch. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was seen at Assawoman Wildlife Area near Fenwick Island.
CANVASBACK, HOODED MERGANSER and LESSER SCAUP were seen on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach, but the pond has been empty since the freeze this week. RUBY-THROATED HUMMBIRDS continue to be seen at a feeder near Red Mill Pond. A feeder near Lewes reports both a female and immature male BALTIMORE ORIOLE. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was reported at the Marion Okie Preserve on Long Neck.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible including, Jen Llewelyn, Brian Henderson, Jessica Shahan, Sharon Dounce, Frank Lenik, Karen Hockgraf, Elizabeth Clements, Josh Jones, Andrew Jones, Kyla Snowden, Jake Campbell, Peter DeGennaro, Rachel Riberio, Kelly Schaeffer, Kees de Mooy, Karen and Chris Bennett, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Greg Gough, Sue Gruver, Richard Jullian, Alice Mohrman, Alex Flood, John Janowski, Sally Fintel, Nancy Cunningham, Carolyn Holland, Declan O’Neil, Jim and Amy White, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Megan Kasprzak, John Skibicki, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you Happy Holidays and good birding.
Date: 12/20/24 5:46 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, December 20th, 2024
* Delaware * Statewide * December 20, 2024 * DEST 2024.12.20
*Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Snow Goose Ross’s Goose Cackling Goose BRANACLE GOOSE Brant Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Long-tailed Duck Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter HARLEQUIN DUCK Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Wild Turkey WHITE-WINGED DOVE Ruby-throated Hummingbird Sandhill Crane Virginia Rail Clapper Rail American Oystercatcher American Avocet NORTHERN LAPWING Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Ruddy Turnstone Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Dowitcher Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper American Woodcock Bonaparte’s Gull Black-headed Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Horned Grebe Common Loon Northern Gannet Great Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron White Ibis Great Egret Osprey Barn Owl Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Long-eared Owl Saw-Whet Owl Merlin Tree Swallow CAVE SWALLOW Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Northern House Wren Sedge Wren Marsh Wren LAPLAND LONGSPUR Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Black and White Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Blue Grosbeak
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: December 20, 2024 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For the start of the Holiday’s, on Friday, December, 20th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List increased to 345 species this week.
New this week was a NORTHERN LAPWING found Tuesday at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton. The bird was originally seen at the end of the Dike Trail near the headquarters building. The bird was then seen flying north and re-found at Prime Hook Beach Road before it returned to the headquarters area. The LAPWING has not been seen since Wednesday, but could still be in the area. This is the 4th record of NORTHERN LAPWING and the 1st for Sussex Co. By coincidence, the only other record for NORTHERN LAPWING in North America this year is from Nantucket that arrived before Thanksgiving and that bird was last seen a week ago.
Other shorebirds seen at Prime Hook included AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WILLET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WESTERN SANDPIPER and AMERICAN WOODCOCK plus BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. A late lingering male BLUE GROSBEAK was seen at Broadkill Marsh. AN ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was found along Thirteen Curves Road. TREE and a single CAVE SWALLOW were seen at Prime Hook Beach. Besides all the other great birds at Prime Hook, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at Broadkill Marsh on Tuesday morning and a ROSS’S GOOSE was seen at Little Neck Road on Wednesday.
The previously reported BARNACLE GOOSE, continues to be seen on Duck Creek in Smyrna from the Route 13 bridge. ROSS’S GOOSE was seen at Garrison Lake near Cheswold. LAPLAND LONGSPURS with SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be seen with big flock of HORNED LARK along Savannah Road, north of the intersection with Silver Leaf Road south of Leipsic. The previously reported WHITE-WINGED DOVE at 355 Bear Pond Road west of Hartly at the Maryland/Delaware state line was last seen on Sunday afternoon. The WHITE-WINGED DOVE has been seen sitting on the wires and going to the feeders between the houses. Park on the dirt road to the farmhouse and please don’t block the driveways.
In Northern Delaware, A PINE WARBLER was found behind the Hockessin Library in Swifts Park in the pines by Lettie’s Chicken. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was discovered at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge along with LEAST SANDPIPERS. A WILSON’S WARBLER was present at the Wilmington Swage Treatment Plant last Friday, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was found along Hay Road. A 1st year ICELAND GULL and 21 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found at the Cherry Island Landfill. COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen on the Delaware River south of New Castle. VIRGINIA RAIL was heard calling at Broad Dyke Marsh in New Castle. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen on the pond off Chaddwyck Blvd and Federal Lane. Another ROSS’S GOOSE was seen at Prices Park in Middletown. CLAPPER RAIL was head calling at Stave’s Landing.
At Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, SANDHILL CRANES were reported at Finis Pool. A ROSS’S GOOSE was among the 20,000 SNOW GEESE in the refuge. Waterfowl seen included COMMON LOON, CANVASBACK, and all three MERGANSERS, COMMON, HOODED and RED-BREASTED. CLAPPER RAILS were calling opposite Shearness Pool. Shorebirds reported included AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, and WESTERN SANDPIPER. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, MERLIN and WILD TURKEY were reported in the refuge.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and NORTHERN HOUSE WREN were found at the main tract in Little Creek Wildlife Area. MARSH and SEDGE WRENS were reported along the Pickering Beach Road. A late OSPREY was reported at the St Jones Preserve on Saturday. A BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER was seen visiting a water bath near Milford.
There were several sightings of REDHEADS this week, including Pickering Beach, Tub Mill Pond, and Indian River Bay near Dagsboro. LONG-TAILED DUCK and SURF SCOTER were also seen at Pickering Beach. A big flock of diving ducks at Tub Mill Pond near Milford on Wednesday included CANVASBACK, LESSER and GREATER SCAUP, HOODED MERGANSER, and 186 RING-NECKED DUCKS. A HORNED GREBE was seen on the Pioneer Dredge Ponds in Dover. The previously reported female HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen again today from the duPont Nature Center at Mispillion Inlet.
Seven species of OWLS were reported in the state this week. BARN OWLS were seen at Bombay Hook, Woodland Beach, and Pickering Beach. BARRED OWL was found at Hoopes Reservoir, Middle Run Natural Area near Newark, Bombay Hook, Texas Lane in Leipsic, and Little Creek at Pickering Beach. LONG-EARED OWLS were found at Bombay Hook and Little Creek. SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at Bombay Hook, Little Creek and Fowlers Beach. There were three reports of calling SAW-WHET OWLS, at Bayview Road near Port Penn, Woodland Beach, and Bombay Hook.
At Cape Henlopen State Park, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen by the Seaside Nature Center. BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, HORNED GREBE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and RUDDY TURNSTONE were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. There was a flock of 20 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS at The Point today. There was a high count of 4 adult BLACK-HEADED GULLS with several BONAPARTE’S GULLS at Gordons Pond. There are still several WHITE IBIS and GREAT EGRETS seen at the pond. BROWN-HEADED and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was found along the North Gordon’s Pond Trail.
BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK and all three SCOTERS, BLACK, SURF and WHITE-WINGED were seen at Indian River Inlet. PURPLE SANDPIPER, RUDDY TURNSTONE and GREAT CORMORANT were seen on the jetty. NORTHERN GANNETS were reported offshore but for the first time since April, no BROWN PELICANS were seen anywhere along the coast.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS continue to be seen at a feeder near Red Mill Pond. A feeder in Angola Neck reports PINE WARBLER, BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. An adult female BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen today coming to a feeder in Lewes eating grape jelly.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible including, Chris Hinkle, Ben Filreis, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson, Wayne Longbottom, Molly Cohn, Jeff Gordon, Kitt Heckscher, Greg Darone, Andrew Jones, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson, Jason Horn, Rachel Yurchinsin, Kyla Snowden, Karen and Chris Bennett, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Greg Gough, Randy Fisher, Jen Lenhard, Sue Gruver, Tom Stock, Richard Jullian, Phil Misseldine, Rob and Carol Blye, Sally Fintel, Nancy Cunningham, Carolyn Holland, Declan O’Neil, Jim and Amy White, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Jean-Marie Gauthier, Laureen Eick-Benson, Lana Glas, Meredith Lewis, Liam Berigan, Jeff Buler, Katie Bird, Dan Haas, Warren Wolf, Megan Kasprzak, Rod Murray, John Skibicki, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Birdline needs your sightings. Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you Happy! Holidays and good birding. Hope to see you out on a Christmas count!!!
