Date: 9/12/25 5:59 pm From: Carolyn Holland <csholland84...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, September 12, 2025
RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* September 12, 2025
* DEST 25.09.12
*Birds mentioned
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS
Mute Swan
Black Swan
Black Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Wild Turkey
Common Nighthawk
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sora
Virginia Rail
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Whimbrel
HUDSONIAN GODWIT
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Snipe
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Baird’s Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
CURLEW SANDPIPER
Stilt Sandpiper
Wilson’s Phalarope
Black Tern
Least Tern
Sandwich Tern
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Pied-billed Grebe
Brown Pelican
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crowned Night heron
WHITE-FACED IBIS
White Ibis
ROSEATE SPOONBILL
Broad-winged Hawk
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
BLUE-HEADED VIREO
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
PHILADELPHIA VIREO
Common Raven
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sedge Wren
SWAINSON’S THRUSH
AMERICAN PIPIT
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
VESPER SPARROW
Grasshopper Sparrow
NELSON’S SPARROW
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Yellow-breasted Chat
Bobolink
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Worm-eating Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
CONNECTICUT WARBLER
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
BREWSTER’S WARBLER (HYBRID)
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
CERULEAN WARBLER
MOURNING WARBLER
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
PALM WARBLER
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
DICKCISSEL
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: September 12, 2025
To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler: Carolyn Holland writing for Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
For Friday, September 12, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware
Museum of Natural History 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. Fall migration
continues throughout the state this week with RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS,
BOBOLINKS, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, LEAST FLYCATCHERS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS,
VEERYS and YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS being reported throughout Delaware.
Thirty-five species of warblers have been recorded with the addition of
PALM WARBLER this week as well as a rarity seen in both New Castle and
Sussex Counties which I will get to later in this report. RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES continue to be seen throughout the state.
Highlights in New Castle County this week included four separate sightings
of CONNECTICUT WARBLER; the first on Sunday at a private residence at Bay
Pointe near Summit Bridge, then two sightings on Sunday, one at First State
National Historical Park along the Brandywine River and another at
Augustine Wildlife Area--Port Penn Tract in the woods near the Fire Truck
Pond, with the fourth sighting in Valley Garden Park near Greenville on
Wednesday. Today BREWSTER’S WARBLER, a hybrid between Blue-winged Warbler
and Golden-winged Warbler was photographed at Bay Pointe and a MOURNING
WARBLER was also observed there. WILSON’S WARBLER has been seen at Bay
Pointe, in White Clay Creek State Park along Creek Road and in the C&D
Canal Wildlife Area--Central Section.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO was found at Brandywine Creek State Park and in a Smyrna
yard along Vandyke Greenspring Road on Monday, on Wednesday at Valley
Garden Park and today at Ashland Nature Center. Now is the time to see
PHILADELPHIA VIREO which has been reported at First State National
Historical Park, Ashland Nature Center, Valley Garden Park and Augustine
Wildlife Area--Ashton Tract. SWAINSON’S THRUSH has also been seen at
Valley Garden Park as well as at the Augustine Wildlife Area’s Ashton Tract
and near the red gate at the Port Penn Tract. On Monday a RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER was observed in flight over Middle Run Natural Area--Smithmill
Road and a juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was photographed at the Hawk
Watch at Ashland Nature Center yesterday. Today the Hawk Watch reports
that numbers are starting to pick up with a good variety of raptors being
seen including AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, NORTHERN HARRIER (including the
first adult male of the season), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and BROAD-WINGED HAWK
(so far only eight for the season).
At Augustine Wildlife Area--Ashton Tract ten WILD TURKEYS were observed and
at the Port Penn Tract two WESTERN CATTLE EGRETS were observed and COMMON
GALLINULE continue to be seen there. Eleven WESTERN CATTLE EGRETS were
seen at the Cook Farm along Frazer Road near the Summit Bridge.
Last week there were two different CURLEW SANDPIPERS photographed at
Raymond Pool in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge while this week the
last sighting of a CURLEW SANDPIPER was on Saturday. The ROSEATE SPOONBILL
continues to be seen at the refuge. Other waders continuing to be seen
include BLACK-CROWNED and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, WHITE and GLOSSY
IBISES and LITTLE BLUE and TRICOLORED HERONS. Many species of shorebirds
continue at the refuge including WILSON’S PHALAROPE and MARBLED and
HUDSONIAN GODWIT. SORA was reported on Sunday and GULL-BILLED TERN was seen
on Tuesday. Five NORTHERN BOBWHITES were seen crossing the road together.
Songbirds found at the refuge this week included YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER
seen along the Raymond Pool Overlook Trail, LEAST FLYCATCHER, PHILADELPHIA
VIREO found along the Shearness Observation Tower Trail as well as in the
woods near Finis Pool, HOODED WARBLER among a mixed flock along the road to
Finis Pool, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, AMERICAN PIPIT, and on
Wednesday a WESTERN TANAGER found along a woodland trail near Finis Pool.
Further south along Port Mahon Road a BLACK TERN was seen flying along the
river on Tuesday. At Little Creek Wildlife Area AMERICAN COOT and COMMON
GALLINULE were observed as well as BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and terns
resting on mudflats including BLACK SKIMMERS and many ROYAL, CASPIAN and
FORSTER’S TERNS. Six BONAPARTE’S GULLS were found on the water on
Saturday. BLUE-WINGED TEAL and RUDDY DUCK were also observed. At Pickering
Beach two COMMON TERNS were observed along with 60 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS, a GADWALL and a NORTHERN PINTAIL as well as two HUDSONIAN GODWITS
flying in off the bay. Eleven RED KNOTS were found at DuPont Nature Center
along with continuing shorebirds. A BLACK TERN was also seen there as well
as continuing CASPIAN, FORSTER’S and ROYAL TERNS.
On Saturday night two AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were flushed off of Prime Hook
Beach Road and seen in the driver’s headlights as they flew off.
Shorebirds continue at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge--Dike Trail
along with high counts of 110 BLACK SKIMMERS and 75 WHITE IBISES on Sunday
with continuing CASPIAN and FORSTERS TERNS. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and
TRICOLORED HERON were also found along the Dike Trail on Sunday evening.
Twelve BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were counted at the refuge’s Turkle Pond
on Monday evening. BLUE-WINGED TEAL was also found at the refuge.
Songbirds found at McCabe Nature Preserve this week included PHILADELPHIA
VIREO, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was found at Cape Henlopen State Park on Thursday. Other
migrant warblers seen in the park included BAY-BREASTED, MAGNOLIA, CAPE
MAY, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PALM and YELLOW WARBLERS. A HOODED WARBLER was
seen at the Hawk Watch on Monday. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was also found in
the park and a VESPER SPARROW was briefly seen at the Point yesterday
morning. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found yesterday among CHIPPING
SPARROWS. At the Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch large numbers of migrating
OSPREY have been counted for a total of 591so far this season along with
good falcon flights totaling 94 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 63 MERLINS and nine
PEREGRINE FALCONS so far. Non-raptor observations included COMMON LOON
today, ten RED KNOTS on Sunday and 2000 TREE SWALLOWS noted on Wednesday. The
easterly winds during the week produced small numbers of BLACK TERNS with 4
on Monday and 5 on Wednesday. A SANDWICH TERN was also noted on Monday. A
single BLACK TERN was photographed in flight off the Point on Sunday.
At Gordon’s Pond there was a high count of 32 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on
Wednesday while STILT, LEAST, SEMIPALMATED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS plus 15
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were also observed. The high count for WHITE IBIS was
550+ on Wednesday with 140+ SNOWY EGRETS. A ROSEATE SPOONBILL was seen
roosting with ibises and egrets in island trees on Monday evening. A
NELSON’S SPARROW was noted on Monday in the salt marshes adjacent to the
pond and ten NELSON’S/SALTMARSH SPARROWS (SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS) were found
on Wednesday, an extremely high tide having pushed them from the vast marsh
closer to the trail. A SALTMARSH SPARROW and two SEASIDE SPARROWS were
also observed. A BLACK TERN was also noted at the pond. The alarm call
and whinny of a SORA were heard on Thursday.
In Delaware Seashore State Park BLACK-CROWNED and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT
HERONS continue at Burton’s Island and five TRICOLORED HERONS were seen
there on Thursday. An AMERICAN BITTERN was flushed along the road just
past the South Campgrounds on Wednesday.
Five WILSON’S STORM PETRELS were observed offshore from Bethany Beach Town
and Oceanfront on Sunday. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue at the Peninsula
Nature Center and Lingo Creek area near Long Neck.
Thanks to all the people who make the Birdline possible, Barbara Laing,
Jamie and Kelly Schaeffer, Jean-Marie Gauthier, Ginny Halterman, Archie
Jiang, Benjamin Hack, Jack Hutchison, Ken Rosenberg, Pete Marra, Tom Will,
Patty Masten, Nolan Walker, Alina Martin, Joe Corcoran, Travis Kaye, Bill
Oyler, Rick Kowalski, Phil Kenny, Russ Taylor, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson,
Randy Fisher, Chris Hinkle, John Mercer, Colin Phelps, Kenneth Cohen, Shawn
Sullivan, Jason Horn, Jacque Williamson, Ed Wrzesniewski, Chuck Mitchell,
Dick Plambeck, Rod Murray, Carolyn Holland, Mary Braun, Gary Griffith, Rob
Blye, Sue Gruver, Nancy Cunningham, Ann Dinkel, Greg Gough, Phil
Misseldine, Richard Julian, Alice Mohrman, Ellen and Jake Jacobson, Chris
and Karen Bennett, Jim and Amy White, Keely Milbourne, Frank Rohrbacher,
Declan O’Neil, Melissa Lafferty, Holly Merker, Kim Steininger, David Brown,
Jen Ottinger, Wendy Cesario, Will Krohn, Chris Machulski, Megan Kasprzak,
Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn and Joe Swertinski. Special thanks to Joe
Tricarico who distributes this list to DOS members. Birdline needs your
sightings. Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email
*<ednieap...>
<ednieap...>*. Until next week when Andy Ednie will resume
Birdline, this is Carolyn Holland signing off and sending best wishes to
Andy as he continues along the way to a full recovery! Good birding to All!
