Delaware Dunlins |

Watch this video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology to learn some tips for identifying birds in the field! It’s called “Inside Birding: Color Pattern”.
http://www.youtube.com/labofornithology

On Mother’s Day we celebrate the joys of birding by offering a birding event for all at legendary White Clay Creek State Park. There’s no better place to witness spring migration in Delaware, and the whole family is invited to join in a leisurely walk around the beautiful spring woodlands in search of birds like Scarlet Tanager (above), Baltimore Oriole, Ovenbird, and Northern Parula.

We will meet at 7:30am (early to catch all the good birds!) at the Hopkins bridge over the White Clay Creek, at the intersection of Hopkins Road and Creek Road. Parking is available along the road, with no park entrance pass required at this location. Directions are available here: White Clay Creek State Park directions

Twenty-nine enthusiastic Delaware Dunlins and DOS members took part in a bird walk at Middle Run Natural Area on Sunday, April 17. With strong steady winds prevailing, we had the challenge of getting good looks at songbirds, but persistence paid off! Extended looks at newly-arrived Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (above), Palm Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush(below) and White-eyed Vireo (for some of the group)were the reward for patient observers.

Flyover Chimney Swifts, Common Mergansers, and Common Loon made sky-watching rewarding, and local Red-tailed Hawks (below) put on a show as they ”kited” in the wind. A newly-emerged Garter Snake slithered through a 6-year-old’s feet, giving him his first-ever look at a wild snake!

We enjoyed exploring the variety of habitats along the Middle Run Birding Trail, observing a total of 44 species during our walk. We look forward to visiting Middle Run again this summer to see more of the special birds that nest here!