Date: 2/13/26 5:16 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, February 13th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * February 13, 2026 * DEST 26.02.13
*Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE x CANADA GOOSE Brant Ross’s Goose 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 Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite American Coot Sandhill Crane American Avocet Ruddy Turnstone Wilson’s Snipe Purple Sandpiper Bonaparte’s Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Iceland Gull Common Loon Red-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe RED-NECKED GREBE Great Cormorant American Bittern Black-crowned Night Heron Great Egret ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Hermit Thrush Purple Finch Pine Siskin Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: February 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 February 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 increased to 182 species this week. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, PURPLE FINCH and FOX SPARROW continue to be regularly reported.
New this week was the re-finding of YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA in Milford! This rarity was re-found on the north side of town along the Milford-Harrington Hwy (DE Route 14) between Sandbox and Church Hill Roads. The bird is being seen on private property but birders can watch from the public road, but be careful of the traffic. This is probably the same CARACARA that was seen in December at the Kalmar Nyckel shipyard in downtown Wilmington and 2 weeks ago near Frederica. WILD TURKEYS and an ICELAND GULL were also seen out in the fields by birders looking for the CARACARA. A hybrid GREATER WHITE-FRONTED X CANADA GOOSE was found along Canterbury Road near Felton.
Also new were sightings of RED-NECKED GREBES at Fowlers Beach in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and at Indian River Inlet. The sighting at Fowlers Beach was along the canal by the parking area. There was an influx of RED-NECKED GREBE sighting along the East Coast as Lake Onterio froze over with the records setting cold. RED-NECKED GREBES were seen from Long Island to the North Jersey shore and as far south as Virginia Beach. AMERICAN AVOCET, WILSON’S SNIPE, CANVASBACK, LESSER SCAUP, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and SHORT-EARED OWL were also seen at Fowlers Beach. ROSS’S GOOSE was seen at the intersection of Cods and Prime Hook Beach Road.
The previously reported ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS continue to be seen at Fox Point State Park near Edgemoor. Those birds were seen across the river, along with WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, COMMON MERGANSER, and GREAT CORMORANT on the river. REDHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and RUDDY DUCK was seen at Battery Park in the Town of New Castle. A winter plumaged adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen flying down the river on Wednesday. Another ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen across the river at Killcohook Island dredge area, at the New Jersey/Delaware state line.
At least 3 different ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen coming to feeders in the northern Delaware area, 2 at the previous locations in Newport and Newark, and now in Hockessin where an ORANGE-CROWN was seen last year. A PINE WARBLER was also seen in Hockessin. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen coming to a feeder in Newark off Apple Road near Phillips Park. COMMON RAVEN was seen at the Universite of Delaware Ag Farm. A BARRED OWL was reported at Arbor Park off W. Pleasant Hill Road. A single PINE SISKIN was found on a feeder in Bear. Another COMMON RAVEN was seen at Lums Pond State Park feeding on a deer carcass alongside the road.
COMMON LOON and GOLDENEYE were seen at Augustine Beach near Port Penn. A RED-THROATED LOON was seen at the Augustine Creek causeway om the Delaware River. A SANDHILL CRANE was seen flying over Delaware Route 1 at Drawyer’s Creek north of Odessa. A BRANT was seen flyover over Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area; REDHEAD was found at Collins Beach and NORTHERN BOBWHITE was at the maintenance yards.
The auto tour at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge re-opened last week. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was found at Bear Swamp. Waterfowl reported included TUNDRA SWAN and HOODED MERGANSER. ROSS’S GOOSE was seen among the SNOW GEESE along Whitehall Neck Road, plus a pair of LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Another PINE SISKIN were seen in Cheswold. COMMON RAVEN was reported along the N. Little Creek Road. REDHEAD and CANVASBACK were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area–Mahon impoundment. LONG-TAILED DUCK and SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at Port Mahon. REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, and GOLDENEYE were found at Bower’s Beach.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW continues at Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park, along with LONG-TAILED DUCK, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, plus SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. RUDDY TURNSTONE, BRANT and SNOW BUNTING was seen at Cape Henlopen Point. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was visiting a feeder at Red Mill Pond. PIED-BILLED GREBE, RING-NECKED DUCK, and COMMON MERGANSER were at Burton’s Pond off Route 24.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was photographed over the water at Rehoboth Beach. At Indian River Inlet, there was a drake and female HARLEQUIN DUCKS plus 18 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 and RUDDY TURNSTONE, plus BONAPARTE’S and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were seen on the jetty. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 250 AMERICAN WIGEON, MUTE and TUNDRA SWAN, RING-NECKED DUCK, GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, GREAT EGRET, and AMERICAN BITTERN were seen this week at Assawoman Wildlife Area. An immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was photographed at Massey’s Landing
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Meredith Hall, Shannon and Dan Skalos, Brody Ritter, David Carr, Gary Griffith, Bethany Twardowski, Frank Henshaw, Eli Havalow, Cole Tiemann, Will Krohn, Sergio Savino, Martin Selzer, Debbie Blair, Chris Rankin, Rod Murray, Chris Hinkle, Jason Horn, Bert Filemyr, Carolyn Holland, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Richard Julian, Nancy Cunningham, Sally Fintel, Chuck Mitchell, Wil Martens, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Don Stockly, Jenna Christy, Laureen Eick-Benson, Karen Barker, Ryleigh Sweet, Frank Rohrbacher, 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: 2/6/26 3:34 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, February 6th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * February 6, 2026 * DEST 26.02.06
*Birds mentioned GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Ross’s Goose 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 Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Sora Virginia Rail American Coot Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Wilson’s Snipe American Woodcock Purple Sandpiper Razorbill Bonaparte’s Gull ICELAND GULL Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Black-crowned Night Heron Great Egret ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK Barred Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Common Raven Horned Lark Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Hermit Thrush American Pipit Purple Finch Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Saltmarsh Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: February 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, February 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 remains at 181 species. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, PURPLE FINCH and FOX SPARROW continue to be regularly reported.
There was a high count of 3 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS seen from Fox Point State Park near Edgemoor on Thursday. Those birds were seen across the river, along with WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, COMMON MERGANSER, GREAT CORMORANT and ICELAND GULL. COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen at Battery Park in the Town of New Castle. LONG-TAILED DUCK, HORNED GREBE and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen at Augustine Beach near Port Penn. The only report of BARNACLE GOOSE this week was of a bird photographed flyover over Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found near the Cedar Swamp maintenance yards.
The previously reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was re-found today at First State National Historical Park – Brandywine Unit south of Ramsey Road. WILSON’S SNIPE and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen along the entrance road to Brandywine Creek State Park. CHIPPING SPARROW was seen at the feeders behind the nature center. Common Raven was seen at Curtis Mill Park in Newark. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen coming to feeders in Newark and Newport.
The auto tour at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge was closed all week and just re-opened on Thursday. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and NORTHERN BOBWHITE were found in the refuge. Waterfowl reported included TUNDRA SWAN and HOODED MERGANSER. WILD TURKEY, BARRED OWL, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were seen along Whitehall Neck Road.
PINE WARBLER and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were seen in Cheswold. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH were found at Big Stone Beach Road in Milford Neck Wildlife Area. AMERICAN WIGEON, CANVASBACK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and AMERICAN COOT were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area – Mahon impoundment. LONG-TAILED DUCK and SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at Port Mahon. . LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen along Whitehall Neck Road and in Sussex Co. near Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge at Thirteen Curves Road, Draper Road, and Fowlers Beach Road. More LONGSPURS were seen near Millsboro, at Raspberry Road off Route 26 near Frankfort and Maryland Camp off Route 24 near Oak Orchard. These birds were in the company of HORNED LARK, AMERICAN PIPITS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS and SNOW BUNTINGS. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen off Little Neck Road.
ROSS’S GOOSE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, MERLIN, SNOW BUNTING, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and SHORT-EARED OWL were seen at Fowlers Beach. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were seen along the entrance road to Prime Hook. SHORT-EARED OWL was also seen at Oyster Rocks Road. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was standing on the ice at the Marvel Salt Marsh Preserve in Slaughters beach. A GREAT EGRET was seen at Canary Creek north of Lewes.
CHIPPING and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW plus SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen at Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Cape Henlopen Point. WHITE-BREASTED, RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. A drake REDHEAD was with RING-NECKED DUCKS on the CVS retention pond off Savannah ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was visiting feeders near Lewes.
A RAZORBILL was photographed at Indian River Inlet along with a drake and female HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 19 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. A PURPLE SANDPIPER and RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen on the jetty A SALTMARSH SPARROW was seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen in a field off Route 26 west of Frankfort. BLUE-WINGED TEAL, SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were seen this week at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including David Thomas, Brody Ritter, Ed Patten, Carter Chambers, Kevin Bronson, Mike Gardner, Sergio Savino, Martin Selzer, Paul Arthur, Bodo Stern, Debbie Blair, Will Krohn, Chris Rankin, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Jason Horn, Bert Filemyr, Carolyn Holland, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Richard Julian, Nancy Cunningham, Chuck Mitchell, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Jamie Sebzda, Don Stockley, Ryleigh Sweet, Frank Rohrbacher, 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: 2/5/26 6:02 am From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] White Clay Creek Bird Census
Sorry for the short notice, but the weekly bird census at White Clay Creek State Park has been changed due to approaching weather. We'll run the census tomorrow Friday. Jan. 6th starting from the Hopkins Nature Center at 8 am. The trails are still rough, so we'll keep to the open spaces. Come on out and see some birds!
Andy
Date: 1/30/26 5:06 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 30th, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * January 30, 2026 * DEST 26.01.30
*Birds mentioned Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Ross’s Goose Canvasback 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 Sora Black-bellied Plover Ruddy Turnstone Wilson’s Snipe Black-headed Gull GLAUCOUS GULL Horned Grebe Great Cormorant ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Hermit Thrush American Pipit Purple Finch Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Rusty Blackbird YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 30, 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 30th 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 181 species.
It’s back! The previously reported YELLOW-HEADED CARACARA was photographed on Saturday eating a roadkill about 1 mile west of Frederica. The bird was seen at 4670 Johnny Cake Landing Road (Delaware Route 12). Unfortunately, the CARACARA has not been re-seen and Delaware’s first big winter storm hit on Sunday with 6-12 inches of snow accompanied by 2 inches of ice. Transportation has been curtailed on the back streets and offroad walking is nearly impossible. Bombay Hooks Auto Tour is closed and so is Newark Reservoir.
Lots of LAPLAND LONGSPURS are being seen in Sussex Co. this week. Near Millsboro, there have been multiple sights at Raspberry Road off Route 26 near Frankfort and Maryland Camp off Route 24 near Oak Orchard. Another sighting was at Thirteen Curves Road near Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. These birds were in the company of HORNED LARK, AMERICAN PIPITS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS and SNOW BUNTINGS. Once again though, Sussex Co. is scheduled to be hit with another snow storm this weekend. The previously reported RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the Peninsula Golf Course on Long Neck. A single CANVASBACK was with RING-NECKED DUCKS at Burton’s Pond off Route 24 near Angola Neck.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was photographed at Indian River Inlet along with a drake and female HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 19 COMMON EIDERS. Other waterfowl included BRANT, GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. A late A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen on the jetty and TREE SWALLOW was seen along the dunes.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen at Cape Henlopen State Park. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. PINE WARBLER was seen along the Pine Loop Trail and at Red Mill Pond near Lewes. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE were visiting feeders near Lewes.
ROSS’S GOOSE and SHORT-EARED OWL were found at Fowler’s Beach at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen along Prime Hook Beach Road. COMMON GOLDENEYE and WILSON’S SNIPE were seen at Oyster Rocks Road along with TREE SWALLOW and EASTERN MEADOWLARK. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at Big Stone Beach and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were found at Milford Neck Wildlife Area. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported coming to a feeder near Lincoln.
The previously reported PAINTED BUNTING was last seen on Saturday at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The SORA was found at the culvert near the Bear Swamp tower parking. AMERICAN TREE SPARROW, AMERICAN PIPITS, and HORNED LARK were seen along Whitehall Neck Road.
A light phase ROUGH LEGGED HAWK was photographed at Woodland Beach on Wednesday. The BARNACLE GOOSE continues to be seen in the north Smyrna area, off Route 13 at Duck Creek. The previously reported WESTERN KINGBIRD at the main entrance to Little Creek Wildlife Area east of Dover has not been seen all week. A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen coming to a feeder near Woodside, south of Dover off Route 13. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was also seen at McCaffery Wildlife Sanctuary off Bryant’s Corner Road near Camden-Wyoming. CHIPPING SPARROW and EASTERN MEADOWLARK were seen off Bergold Lane opposite Dover Air Force Base.
CANVASBACKS were reported on the Delaware River at Woodland Beach and Collins Beach in Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. A COMMON GOLDENEYE was also seen at this latter location. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen at the Cedar Swamp maintenance yard. LONG-TAILED DUCK continues to be seen at the Augustine Creek Causeway from the spillway and at Battery Park in New Castle.
A HORNED GREBE was found at Newark Reservoir along with COMMON and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER prior to its closure. COMMON RAVEN, EASTERN PHEOBE, PINE WARBLER and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were found at White Clay Creek State Park. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen coming to feeders in Newark and Newport. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, PURPLE FINCH and FOX SPARROW continue to be regularly reported.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Jay Mengel, Ken Bass, Aaron Reb, Josh Bernstein, Eric Liebgold, Steven Davies, Randy Fisher, Steve Licata, Jenna Christy, David Thomas, Debbie Blair, Will Krohn, Grace Muench, Jim Green, Leslie Ebelgroth, Chris Rankin, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Jason Horn, Bert Filemyr, Mike Rosengarten, Carolyn Holland, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Phil Misseldine, Rob Blye, Richard Julian, Nancy Cunningham, Chuck Mitchell, Will Martens, Gael Storck, Bruce Hoover, Sally Fintel, Anthony Gonzon, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Chris and Karen Bennett, Brian McCaffery, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Walt Blackwell, Frank Rohrbacher, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. Special thanks to Joe Tricario 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 yo! u good birding!
Date: 1/23/26 3:40 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, January 23rd, 2026
RBA * Delaware * Statewide * January 23, 2026 * DEST 26.01.23
*Birds mentioned Brant BARNACLE GOOSE Cackling Goose GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Tundra Swan Mute Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon EURASIAN WIGEON Canvasback Redhead Greater Scaup HARLEQUIN DUCK Black Scoter Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter COMMON EIDER Long-tailed Duck Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Virginia Rail Sora American Coot Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover American Woodcock Purple Sandpiper Razorbill Black-headed Gull GLAUCOUS GULL Rede-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Great Cormorant Northern Gannet American Bittern Black-crowned Night Heron Barn Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker WESTERN KINGBIRD Common Raven Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Sedge Wren Hermit Thrush American Pipit Evening Grosbeak Purple Finch Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Rusty Blackbird Boat-tailed Grackle Baltimore Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler WESTERN TANAGER PAINTED BUNTING
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: January 23, 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 23rd 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 180 species. This season seems to be an excellent winter for YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, HERMIT THRUSH, PURPLE FINCH and FOX SPARROW.
The RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue to be seen at the First State National Historical Park – Brandywine Unit south of Ramsey Road. CHIPPING and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW were seen at the nature center feeders at Brandywine Creek State Park. COMMON RAVEN was reported at Philadelphia Pike in Bellefonte. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were seen at a feeder in Newport and Newark. 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 along with SANDHILL CRANE. 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 LOON. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were found along Collins Beach Road in Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area. BARN OWL was reported from Woodland Beach Wildlife Area.
The previously reported PAINTED BUNTING was last seen on Sunday at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, at the tidal pond near the Parson’s Point Trail at the edge of the marsh. SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL was found at the culvert near the Bear Swamp tower parking lot along with 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. There were 7 SANDHILL CRANES found at Bear Swamp. SNOW BUNTING was seen along Whitehall Neck Road. A flock of 50 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at Wick’s Potato Farm along Route 8. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was found along the North Little Creek Road.
BARNACLE, CACKLING and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE continues to be seen in the north Smyrna area, off Route 13 at Duck Creek.The WESTERN KINGBIRD that was found at 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. PIED-BILLED GREBE and AMERICAN COOT were seen from the central tower at the end of the main entrance road. SHORT-EARED OWL and the first SEDGE WREN of the year was reported at Port Mahon.
The previously reported WESTERN TANAGER continues at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The bird was last seen on Thursday behind the maintenance sheds at the headquarters building near the Black Farm Trail. BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER were seen from the Dike Trail. SNOW BUNTINGS, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and SHORT-EARED OWL were found at Fowler’s Beach. There was a high count of 47 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS at Mispillion Inlet along with GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCK and BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE.
RAZORBILL and COMMON EIDER were seen off Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park. RUDDY TURNSTONE, BRANT, and NORTHERN GANNET were seen at Cape Henlopen Point along with SNOW BUNTING, and “IPSWICH” SAVANNAH SPARROW. RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen at the Seaside Nature Center. An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was seen on a boat trip to the Lewes Breakwater, along with GREAT CORMORANT and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at Wolfe’s Point. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE was visiting a feeder near Lewes. There were a flock of 300 CANVASBACK and 4 HOODED MERGANSERS on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach.
RAZORBILL was also seen at Indian River Inlet along with a drake and female HARLEQUIN DUCKS and 14 COMMON EIDERS. A male REDHEAD was seen on Wednesday Other waterfowl included BRANT, LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF, BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, HORNED GREBE and GREAT CORMORANT. TREE SWALLOW and “IPSWICH” SAVANNAH SPARROW were seen at the inlet in the dunes. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. A PALM WARBLER was reported at the North campground at Indian River Inlet and on Long Neck at the Peninsula Beach and Pier.
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found with approximately 500 AMERICAN WIGEON at Mulberry Landing Pond in Assawoman Wildlife Area. RUSTY BLACKBIRD and WOOD DUCK were seen at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the Peninsula Gold Course. 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.
Thanks to all the people that make the Birdline possible, including Jacob Hall, Anne Champagne, Jim Rapp, Evan Jarman, Ryleigh Sweet, Martha Frost, Kitt Heckscher, Randy Fisher, Steve Licata, Jenna Christy, David Thomas, Debbie Blair, Will Krohn, Chris Rankin, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Kent Raymond, Bert Filemyr, Mike Rosengarten, Carolyn Holland, Sue Gruver, Greg Gough, Phil Misseldine, Rob Blye, Richard Julian, Nancy Cunningham, Anthony Gonzon, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Chris and Karen Bennett, Melissa Lafferty, Alison Ellicott, Walt Blackwell, Frank Rohrbacher, John and Andy Dunn, Chris Macuhulski, 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: 1/23/26 1:12 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] White Clay Bird Census Tomorrow, 01/25/206
Now is the times that tries a birders soul. The bird survey scheduled for tomorrow will experience below freezing weather and mind numbing wind chills. We'll try to get the survey done before the snow but may finish early due to the temperature. Bring your mukluks, Natalie says there's still snow on the trails. Hope to see you tomorrow, meet at 8 am from the Hopkin's Bridge nature center. Good birding, Andy
Andrew EdnieClaymont, DE
Date: 1/21/26 9:21 am From: Rob Blye <rwblye...> Subject: [de-birds] Winter Birds in Southern Sussex
This morning we had a very handsome fox sparrow scratching in the front garden to eat the seed spread there. Earlier in the week, a tail-bobbing hermit thrush took a brief bath in our heated water pan. Water seems to be the most attractive feature to birds in the winter.
*better living through birds* *Rob* Robert W. Blye 34603 Doe Run Lewes DE 19958-3332 302 945-8618 610 213-2413 mobile
