Delaware Dunlins |

This year, Sharon Lynn and I decided to have a Big Day for the Delaware Bird-A-Thon that would be solely Sussex County, Delaware.  In other years, my team has done a Wilmington area Big Day or a full Delaware Big Day, and Sharon and I both decided it would be fun to concentrate on a smaller area.  We still ended up putting nearly 150 miles on the car as we zoomed back and forth across the county.

We began the day at 4:15, leaving Sharon’s driveway on schedule and hoping for nightjars and rails along Oyster Rock Road, and some owls before daybreak.   We heard a Great-horned Owl and both the Whip-poor-will and the Chuck-will’s-widow.  At the end of the road along the shoreline of the Delaware Bay, many shorebirds were spooked from the headlights and took off before we could identify them.

As dawn approached we drove coastal roads, arriving at Prime Hook NWR just as the gate opened for the day.  A Screech Owl called softly from the entrance and we heard the soft ‘veer’ of the Veery. A loud vireo sang from the top of a tree and we identified it as a Yellow-throated Vireo – not a song that Sharon knew, but one that I had recently listened to. Sharon told me to watch out for Wild Turkeys in the fields along the road and they were there as predicted.  In fact, we saw Wild Turkeys several times throughout the day; a testament to their increasing numbers in the state. We drove to the Prime Hook headquarters and walked the boardwalk where we  got a Northern Waterthrush and Prothonotary Warbler.   Turkell Pond Road was next where we found the Yellow-throated Warbler and a couple of woodpeckers.

We decided to head to Redden State Forest to the famous Red-headed Woodpecker spot where the Prairie Warbler is also a regular – we got both.  Just down the road, we walked along a ditch where Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, and Wood Ducks were found.  We also were stopped by some beautiful butterflies – particularly a Red-spotted Purple, which I expect to see later in the summer.   We drove to the third part of Redden to look for more warblers.  We got Pine Warblers and a beautiful Summer Tanager, but no luck on the Worm-eating Warbler, a target species. 

There is a field where Ken Bass, a local birder, first discovered the nests of several field birds that were not known to nest in Delaware.  Three days before, Sharon had scouted that field and had seen Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels and assured me we would have them.  Our morning, there were none to be found – no territorial males posing on poles or blades of grass singing their hearts out.    However,  Sharon heard a Vesper Sparrow, also uncommon, singing across the street.  Check! One more for our day list.

Next destination was the coast again, so we drove out to Fowler Beach and got a variety of shorebirds, Black Skimmers, and a couple of American Oystercatchers.  A Least Tern flew over the water’s edge.  This is a spot where the fresh water impoundment was destroyed a few year’s back and it is now becoming a salt marsh.  The changing bird life was quite apparent.  I was able to see a Red Knot there that Sharon missed, and a Great Blue Heron was so dapper in its breeding plumage that I hardly recognized it.

We drove along coastal roads, stopping to see some Black-bellied Plovers in a field and were lucky to see an American Kestrel flying in a distant field.  On to the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion where a full complement of shorebirds (like Short-billed Dowitcher) and gulls added to our list.   From there, we headed to Cape Henlopen to get the Piping Plover, which was ridiculously close across the ‘no entry’ fence.  

It was time for a break, so we drove to Sharon’s house for a Diet Coke and Ruby-throated Hummingbird as we sat on her back deck.   We left refreshed and headed to the Indian River Inlet hoping for something unusual to finish the day.  There was very little on the ocean, but we spied a sandpiper on the jetty which should have been long gone to the arctic – the Purple Sandpiper.  As we remarked on that unexpected treat, a Royal Tern flew over making it our last bird of the day.

Compared to last year, this year may not have had quite as many birds, but the day was relaxed (if you can call 4am to 7:30 pm relaxing!)  and fun and we had a chance to explore some nooks and crannies of Sussex County.   We had some obvious ‘misses’, like a Red-tailed Hawk, which we will certainly try to get next year.  However, we also had some unexpected birds.  Several species of ducks and the Purple Sandpiper should have been long gone to their Northern breeding spots.  Our Big Day was a great day in the field, made better knowing that we were doing it for the Bird-A-Thon.   Getting out like that is always a spectacular way to enjoy Delaware and its wildlife.

- Story by Sally O’Byrne and photos by Sharon Lynn

If you would like to contribute to these ladies’ Delaware Bird-A-Thon effort, please contact Sally at:  salobyrne@gmail.com

By Sally O’Byrne, Field Trip Leader and former DOS President

Photos by Kathy Barrowclough, DOS Member

The Delaware Bird-A-Thon walk at Alapocas Woods on May 8 hit the best weather of the day.   We had 10 participants who worked together to find 57 species.   Other than the Wood Ducks on the Brandywine River, the walk was dominated by songbirds, with an excellent mix of migrants and nesting birds.    Along the river we were serenaded by Warbling Vireos and saw Rough-winged Swallows enter nesting holes in the abandoned factory walls.   Under the cliffs we watched Baltimore Orioles chasing each other as they carried grasses in their beaks.   We found 2 pairs of Orchard Orioles,  and watched as one built a nest. 

In the woods, we had a great comparison of Wood Thrush, Veeries, and Swainson Thrush, and the similar looking Ovenbird.  We heard Scarlet Tanagers throughout the walk, and got great looks at a couple.  A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was heard in the same place it nested a few years back, but no nesting behavior was found. 

A total of nine warbler species were seen and/or heard and we had satisfying looks at most.   

One memorable encounter was with a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk sitting in the forest, allowing for very close looks.   All in all a very good walk, and an introduction for many of the group to one of my favorite walks.        

- Sally O’Byrne 

By Steve and Chris Johnas

We started our 2012 Delaware Bird-A-Thon (our first ever) at 3:00 am pulling our car off the road near Thompson’s Bridge at Woodlawn Wildlife Refuge. A thick fog blanketed the open river valley as we set out listening for owls. Right away we were greeted by the deep, hollow call of the Great-horned Owl!  The moon, nearly fully lit the dirt path  for our walk along the Brandywine Creek. After walking a large loop we found our way back to the car for a quick snack. Just then only a few hundred feet away came the piercing hoots from a lone Barred Owl! 5:25 am- slowly one by one the birds began to call. Chris, our friend Jared, and myself set out to begin the ‘birding bonanza’.  We followed a few trails through Woodlawn eventually tying in with Brandywine Creek State Park.

Our bird species list was adding up quick, so quick that we needed to assign one person to primarily writing down all the bird species. 7:00am- Birds such as the White-eyed Vireo, Great-crested Flycatcher, and Scarlet Tanager were exciting sights to see amongst the various warbler species.  We made our way to the higher elevated Brandywine Creek State Park by 8:30 am. This location is a prime example of the ‘Piedmont Region’ known for its rolling hills and pretty views.

Species such as the Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and Savannah Sparrow were spotted in this extensive habitat. 10:30 am- after nearly 8 miles of hiking with our binoculars glued to our eyes, and necks twisted in every direction, we finished our first segment of the day (The Piedmont Region) with 70 birds!

Thanks to a bit of help from some coffee and sandwiches, Chris and I were eager and excited for our next stop at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. We arrived at our destination at noon. The refuge is a vast expanse of fresh and salt-water marshes, ponds, and mudflats– thus a great location to find a variety of waterbirds. The refuge is set up with an ‘auto tour’ road winding in and around unique habitats. This makes it easy to stop at your leisure and identify birds.

Observations of Willet, Black-necked Stilt, and a Marsh Wren were made here amongst many other interesting birds. At one point during our trip here we visited an observation tower that over looked a large pond, the small flies were so bad that we couldn’t keep our binoculars up to our faces for more than 5 seconds without having to wipe 25 or so flies from our arms and faces!  After a fun 2 hours of birding, and key observations of a Bald Bagle and Screech Owl, we headed south again.

After gaining 28 more bird species we felt pretty good on our way down to Cape Henlopen, now only two shy of original goal of 100! We arrived on the sandy dunes of the cape around 5:00pm. The wind was relentless and the sky a bleak gray. Other than a few sightings of Osprey, and Double-crested Cormorants ( which were already on our lists) we did not see much at all. Nervous that we wouldn’t reach our goal of 100 we headed inland a few hundred yards to some Pine Barrens.  Here within the thick woods we spooked several Black -crowned Night Herons from their roosting site on the tops of some pine trees. A Pine Warbler was also spotted. Chris and I camped out the night there at Cape Henlopen State Park and in between the noises of fellow campers and a few crying babies, we finished out our long day hearing the call of the Whip-poor-will.    

To support Steve and Chris’s Delaware Bird-A-Thon effort, contact Steve at: sjohnas1@hotmail.com

Story and Photos by Joe Sebastiani

My Delaware Bird-A-Thon efforts began at 3am, Saturday May 12^th, standing at the south base of the Reedy Point Bridge near the C&D Canal, hoping for a King Rail to respond to my iPod.  I played the recording, and sure enough, 2 responded, becoming my first bird of my big day.  Nearby, I played a Virginia Rail recording and got two to vocalize back to me, making my railing efforts pay off early.  A Yellow-breasted Chat sang nearby, which was nice, as I would not have to work hard to find that species later.

I got back in the car and hit the “Go” button on the GPS so that I could arrive at Milford Neck, one of the wildest places in Delaware, without thinking at this early, pre-dawn hour.  Upon arrival, I got out of the car in the dark and immediately heard a calling Chuck-wills-Widow and a nearby “peenting” American Woodcock.  Yes!  They can be tough to find.  On this lonely, quiet road I heard Whip-poor-wills, Great Horned Owl, a pair of Barred Owls, and called in an Eastern Screech-owl, making my pre-dawn birding very rewarding.  I was off to a great start!

Down the road at Big Stone Beach, I watched the sun rise with a large pod of Dolphins swimming under its red globe.  A very nice way to start a beautiful day!  Driving back through Milford Neck, I spotted a group of birders in the woods.  It was Chris Bennett doing the Spring Roundup bird survey.  They had a huge group of warblers passing through so I joined them.  We had a swarm around us that contained Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, and Canada Warbler.  This is exactly the kind of flock I needed to find!

Shortly after, I met my roommate from college, Justin Baker, a lifelong birder and friend.   We took off to Redden State Forest and the Nature Conservancy’s Ponders Tract in central Sussex County but didn’t really add much to the list for the day.  A biggie was finding a Worm-eating Warbler in the woods at Redden.

Off to Cape Henlopen State Park to the point.  We saw Piping Plovers up close as well as a single Red Knot plus Least, Common, Forster’s and Royal Terns loafing on the sand bars.  The wind was calm, the ocean was like glass, and we could see Cape May across the bay really well.  Unfortunately, we saw no ocean species of birds like Northern Gannet or Loons.  At the nature center, we quickly called in a Brown-headed Nuthatch.

Next was Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge where we added species like Prothonotary Warbler and Yellow-throated Warbler.  A big hit of the day was the Dupont Nature Center at Mispillion.  Hundreds of Red Knot lined the beaches with thousands of Dunlin and a few Sanderling.  Clapper Rails and Seaside Sparrows were easy to find in the marshes near the center.  A Lesser Scaup was in the harbor as well, and it looked injured, so it didn’t make the return trip north with the other scaup.  It counted for our big day, though! 

Up to Bombay Hook we went, and we scored big there adding Mute and Tundra Swan, Glossy Ibis, Least Bittern, American Coot, American Avocet, and Swainson’s Thrush among other birds.  From here, we made stops at Taylor’s Gut for a Northern Shoveler, and saw the Cliff Swallows at their normal breeding spot along Route 9.  Having missed Grasshopper Sparrow, we stopped at the Blue Diamond Park nearNew Castle where I easily have found them before.  No dice on that bird, but I did pick up Little Blue Heron and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow for my trouble. 

As I hit traffic in northern Delaware at 6pm, and with Justin on his way back to New Jersey, I figured I’d had enough birding for one day, and called off the quest for more.  I finished with 149 species for the day.  Hey, I have to leave some for next year!

If you would like to support Joe’s Bird-A-Thon effort, please contact him at:   bunker17@verizon.net

On Sunday, May 6,  a group of 27 birders assembled at Middle Run Natural Area in Newark, for a special bird walk on Day 2 of the Delaware Bird-A-Thon.   Eager to see Spring Migration in full swing, it did not take long to get into the birds!  Making it very far on the trail was difficult, as we kept being distracted by the great birds flying by.  Baltimore Orioles flew over, as did a pair of Great Blue Herons, Northern Flickers, and a surprising group of four Common Loons!  And to add to the delight, the rolling hoots of a Barred Owl livened up the soundscape.

At Trail Marker 3, a female Tree Swallow perched with a piece of grass clutched in her beak.  She busied herself with adding this to her nest in the birdhouse nearby, while we busied ourselves with enjoying scope views of handsome Cedar Waxwings.  Soon an Indigo Bunting showed off its colors, and a male Orchard Oriole sang from directly over our heads.  A very orange male Box Turtle stepped across our path, showing us that reptiles can be just as colorful as birds.  

Then the real color show began:  several male Prairie Warbler darted around from the top of one bush to another, flashing their streaky yellow colors.  Then the loud whock-whock song of the Yellow-breasted Chat led us to looks at this stunning and large warbler.   Not to be outdone, a couple of male Blue-winged Warblers bee-buzzzed to get our attention.   White-eyed Vireos, Field Sparrows, and Eastern Bluebirds in this same meadow hardly earned a second glace while competing with the colorful warblers.

We entered the forest and soon came uupon a very vocal male Ovenbird that sat “glued” to the same branch for more than 10 minutes.  After long looks at this warbler of the woodland floor, we made our way over to the creek where we had an immediate look at a Louisiana Waterthrush.  Soon our attention was drawn to a beautiful nest high in a Beech tree:  a female Wood Thrush was busy building this nest, and we watched her add leaves as she worked on this construction project.

On the way out of the thickets, right at Trail Marker 15, we came across a wonderful flock of migrants that included an American Redstart, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and a Northern Parula. 

After a fun tour of the Middle Run Birding Trail, we’d tallied 56 species of birds and sampled a fine variety of Spring Migration.  Severeal of our Delaware Dunlins youth birders counted these birds towards the Delaware Bird-A-Thon fundraiser.    Thank you to all who took part!

Story and photos by Derek Stoner, Delaware Dunlins Program Coordinator

On May 5, the start the Sixth Annual Delaware Bird-A-Thon, five teammates set forth on a Big Day Challenge to see how many species could be observed on this first day.  Would the early date bring the early birds?  Judy Montgomery, Bill Stewart, Kim Steininger, Derek Stoner, and Mike Hudson set out on a birding adventure to find out.  Here are Mike’s words and photos: 

We started on Big Stone Beach Rd. Except for the WHIP-POOR-WILLS and CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOWS there was little activity.  As a consolation for the utterly rail-less morning we got a great show of songbirds! A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was probably one of the nicest treats there, followed by a chorus of several YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS.

On the way down to Redden State Forest, we birded some fields in various stages of regeneration. We found several BLUE GROSBEAKS and over a dozen GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS! They were quite visible and in the early morning light they were looking extremely handsome. In some of the woodland thickets we had looks at nice regional specialties like a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, and ORCHARD ORIOLES.

At Cape Henlopen we ran into heavy fog that kept us from seeing any of the water!  We picked up BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH on the way in.  At the point, we had a flyby MERLIN, but poor visibility dashed our hopes of seabirds and other water birds.

At mid-day we birded Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Mispillion Harbor. The fog was still heavy at Prime Hook Beach Rd., but we managed decent looks at a SOLITARY SANDPIPER, SNOWY EGRET, GREEN-WINGED TEALS and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS.  By the time we reached Fowler Beach, the fog was beginning to lift and the birds began to materialize again. SANDERLINGS, RUDDY TURNSTONES, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, SEASIDE SPARROWS and an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (!!!) were among the good sightings there. The lingering LESSER SCAUP was sitting among the pilings at Mispillion and there were four RED KNOTS mixed in with the DUNLINS and TURNSTONES.

At Bombay Hook we were looking to add a few more birds to our list. Judy found a lone GLOSSY IBIS in Shearness Pool, and then Kim spotted a LEAST BITTERN land on the side of the road!  At Bear Swamp, Judy had another great bird, a NORTHERN HARRIER coursing out over the marsh. Also here we found both NIGHT-HERONS in the same tree and on the way out we heard a BOBWHITE calling.

We headed north up Route 9, picking up a surprising RING-NECKED DUCK and RUDDY DUCK at Taylor’s Gut.   At Dragon Run we enjoyed WOOD DUCKS and flyover LITTLE BLUE and TRICOLORED HERONS. On the boardwalk trail nearby a calling COMMON GALLINULE was a nice treat.

At White Clay Creek State Park we had some nice surprises that we really needed!  A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, VEERY, HOODED WARBLER and PILEATED WOODPECKER graced us.

We finished at Ashland Nature Center with a singing WARBLING VIREO and good looks at a flashy male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.

All in all it was a great day and we nearly reached last year’s team record of 167 species.   Best of all, we had a fun opportunity to help raise funds for bird conservation in Delaware!

Submitted by:

Mike Hudson,  Baltimore City, MD                   

To support Mike’s team effort in the Delaware Bird-A-Thon, contact him at:  birdman96@verizon.net

There is a sense of magic when scores of colorful birds appear in the month of May.  These neo-tropical have spent their winter in Central or South America, and all of the sudden there they are right in front of our binoculars– a splash of vibrant color and song!  Warblers like the Yellow-breasted Chat capture our imaginations with their journeys and their energy levels once they reach their destination.

Just as captivating as the songbirds are the shorebirds, whose journeys take them all over the globe.  A few shorebirds like the Black-necked Stilt, the emblem of the Delmarva Ornithological Society, will stay to nest in Delaware, but most will continue much further north to their breeding grounds in Canada.  The Red Knot is the poster child for shorebirds in Delaware.  Nearly all of the world’s population of Red Knots stop in Delaware on their Spring migration, and birders from all over the country descend upon the First State to watch these remarkable birds. 

All of this bird activity coincides with one incredible week of birding opportunity here in the Delaware:  The Sixth Annual Delaware Bird-A-Thon!   Teams of birders are headed afield to find as many species of birds as they can, and in doing so are helping to raise funds for bird habitat preservation here in Delaware.   There are plenty of field trips scheduled during the week, and lots of folks willing to help other birders discover “where the birds are.”  Most importantly, this fun event is open to participants of all types, young and old, beginner to advanced.

The Delaware Dunlins Youth Birders Club will be assisting several teams participating in the Bird-A-Thon, and we will be posting the stories and photo highlights from these team’s birding adventures.   We plan to share the excitement of birding with our audience, and hope that you will join us in supporting the 2012 Delaware Bird-A-Thon!

If you would like to join in the fun, as a participant or supporter, please contact us and we are happy to help!

Thank you,

Derek Stoner,  Delaware Dunlins Program Coordinator

derekstoner@hotmail.com