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Updated on Sunday, May 11 at 10:43 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Red-faced Malkoha,©BirdQuest

11 May Birding with the Knots, 5/10 [Derek Stoner ]
11 May Wilmington Big Day ["sally o'byrne" ]
11 May Re: Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:30 pm [Kurt Gaskill ]
11 May Re: Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday [Kurt Gaskill ]
11 May Just starting out [Denise LaMont ]
11 May Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:30 pm [Ed Sigda ]
11 May Re: Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday [Kurt Gaskill ]
11 May Bobolinks on Mother's Day [Bill Stewart ]
11 May From Prime Hook to Sandy Hook (long)--Wood Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler etc, PICS [JEFFERY DAVIS ]
11 May Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday [Bill Fintel ]
10 May Wood Sandpiper [Scott Baron ]
10 May Gordons Pond Spring Round-up + Prime Hook [Chris Bennett ]
10 May Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:00pm [Ed Sigda ]
10 May More Wood Sandpiper photos, plus 5/7/08 Big Day report [Steve Collins ]
10 May Wood Sandpiper [Sharon Lynn ]
10 May Wood Sandpiper present at 5:30 am (Saturday) [Ed Sigda ]
9 May Wood Sandpiper present until 6:30 pm [Ed Sigda ]
9 May Wood Sandpiper photos on DOSBirds.org [Homsey ]
9 May Wood Sandpiper present Fri 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM [Rick Cheicante ]
9 May Waterthrush on a wet day [Derek Stoner ]
9 May Re: Wood Sanpiper [ksnyder ]
9 May Wood Sandpiper present at 1:30 - please be safe [Ed Sigda ]
9 May Wood Sanpiper [Chris Starling ]
9 May RBA: Birdline Delaware, May 9th, 2008 [Andy Ednie ]
9 May Wood Sandpiper - Yes - 9:00 AM Friday []
9 May Re: directions to Broadkill Beach Rd.? [Ed Sigda ]
8 May directions to Broadkill Beach Rd.? [Scott Baron ]
8 May Prime Hook [Lin Just ]
8 May Wood Sandpiper still present at last light [Ed Sigda ]
8 May Wood Sandpiper Seen at 5:20 pm today [Marcy Stutzman ]
8 May Big Day list - 5/8 [Forrest Rowland ]
8 May ALERT - DOS Bird-A-Thon Honorary Birdwalk at Mt. Cuba 5/9 [Bill Stewart ]
8 May Wood Sandpiper and Yellow Rail [Jay K ]
8 May Big Day - 5/7 No countable Wood Sandpiper, but quite a day nonetheless.. [Forrest Rowland ]
8 May Wood Sandpiper Still Being Seen at 3:15 PM []
8 May Wood Sandpiper present at 1:30pm [Ed Sigda ]
8 May Glasses Lost at Wood Sandpiper Site [Bob Strahorn ]
8 May Bombay Hook NWR Bird Sightings: April 28 thru May 07, 2008 [tina watson ]
8 May Ashland this morning [joe sebastiani ]
8 May Bombay photos [Scott Michaud ]
8 May Pileated Woodpecker [Kevin Fleming ]
8 May Delaware Valley RBA, 7 May 2008 [Stephen E Kacir ]
8 May Wood Sandpiper in Present - 5/8 []
7 May Spring Round Up - This Saturday [John Janowski ]
7 May Milford Neck, Woodshaven and Brandywine Creek Saturday to Tuesday [Chris Bennett ]
7 May Recent White winged tern sightings? [Ben Weinstein ]
7 May PHNWR Wood Sandpiper [Ed Sigda ]
7 May A few details on the Broadkill Beach Wood Sandpiper [Jeffrey Gordon ]
7 May Alapocas Woods walk results ["sally o'byrne" ]
7 May Alapocas Woods walk results [sally o'byrne ]
7 May Wood Sandpiper at Broadkill Beach [Maurice Barnhill ]
7 May Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch 05-07-08 1 Raptor, 1 Kite [Susan Gruver ]

Subject: Birding with the Knots, 5/10
From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 23:42:05 -0400
5/10/08  -   4:30am -   The parking lot of the Super 8 Motel in Milford,
DE     

 

Bill Stewart, Judy Montgomery and I meet up with an excited group of
youth birders and their parents from Baltimore.  Members of The Friends
of the Red Knot, these enthusiastic kids came to Delaware for the
weekend to take part in the Spring Roundup and compete in the youth
division of the Delaware Bird-A-Thon.  

 

Our adventure begins on Big Stone Beach Road in the midst of the
always-wild Milford Neck Wildlife Area.  We immediately hear peenting
American Woodcock and a few distant Whip-poor-will's.  The kids chuckle
at our attempts to woo a Screech Owl with whinnies and trills. 

 

Further up the road, a Chuck-will's-widow sings its name dozens of times
before flying over our heads and landing in the road.  Illuminated in
the car headlights, the obliging nightjar gives everyone a "life look"
at a new bird.  This is the first night birding anyone in this group of
12 has ever done!

 

Dawn along Big Stone Beach is always a treat and this morning does not
disappoint.  We see Blue Grosbeaks, Wood Ducks, Great-horned Owls,
Ospreys, Black Skimmers, Eastern Kingbirds, and all sorts of other
birds. Little hands, ages 7 to 12, frantically spin the focus wheels on
binoculars.

 

Rain showers at Mispillion Harbor do not dampen the enthusiasm of the
group, as the kids queue up in front of the scopes for looks at American
Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Black-necked Stilt, Least Sandpiper, and many
other shorebirds. Of course, we also find a flock of their favorite
bird- the Red Knot.   

 

Around noon Jason Beale graciously leads us through the trails at
Abbott's Mill Nature Center, where we observe the lingering female
Bufflehead and enjoy incredible scope views of Prothonotary Warbler,
Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole, and other colorful songsters.   

 

Assessing the kids' Bird-A-Thon list in the early afternoon, 12 year-old
team captain Mike Hudson discovers that they have observed 96 species.
With the magical century mark in such close reach, we tell Mike that it
is time to head to a very special place: Prime Hook NWR.

 

Arriving at the now-even-more-famous Broadkill Beach Road, we help the
kids locate Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, and Red-breasted
Merganser in the south impoundment.   Turning our attention to the
north, we cross the road(very carefully with a group of 15 people!).

 

I plop the Leica scope in front of Mike, directing it at the patch of
marsh that contains a very special bird.  Passing up the offers of other
birders to look through their scopes, Mike(a very sharp-eyed birder)
picks out the Wood Sandpiper on his own.  This young man actually begins
twitching with excitement as he shares such a wonderful bird with
friends and family.  

 

"That's species number 100!" Mike proudly announces.  A Northern
Bobwhite sounds off to make for a fun 101st species.  But number 100
will always be a special bird for this group of young birders.  Reaching
a century on their first-ever Big Day and seeing a mega-rarity cannot be
topped.

 

In an appropriate stroke of fortune, the Wood Sandpiper sighting plays a
pivotal role in these young conservationists' efforts to help preserve
more land in the Prime Hook region for these remarkable shorebirds.
Reaching 100 is a goal that they achieved, and we are proud to help them
out. 

 

Thank you to all who took part in a very exciting week of birding in
Delaware.  The incredible reports of Bird-A-Thon teams, the
scintillating discovery of a rare bird(thank you Sharon!), and the great
tradition of the Spring Roundup combined to make this a very memorable
moment for birders in the First State.    

 

Good birding,

 

Derek Stoner

Hockessin, DE

 

 
Subject: Wilmington Big Day
From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:23:05 -0400
Mike Smith and I did our Big Day Bird-A-Thon on Saturday with the help  
of Jim Lewis and Pete Ziegler, limiting our area to our Spring Round  
up area.  Our goal was to hit 100 species in the Geographic region of  
Wilmington and North.  Starting at 3:15 am looking for rails (getting  
sora and Virginia rail) at Russ Peterson refuge and ending at Ramsey  
Road with a Yellow throated vireo at 8 pm, we hit 102. And though we  
can't count it in any official way, we found a cockatiel in the woods  
at Russ Peterson, which was a first for that refuge and for me as  
well.  We spent the majority of our time at Russell Peterson and  
Alapocas, but also hit Brandywine Creek State Park, Ramsey Road, and  
the landfill.

   Needless to say, our numbers don't compare to some of the reports  
from earlier in the week, but we were very pleased to get at least two  
birds not reported by Forrest and Steve.  We got a bobolink in the  
vacant lot next to the Riverfront outlets, while a regatta and  
barbeque was going on close by, and we got a kingfisher as bird #101  
along the Brandywine near Ramsey Road.

Our memories of last year were that it was a peak day for migration  
and warblers were plentiful. Not so this year - we worked hard for  
every warbler.  The Russ Peterson refuge had a good variety of  
shorebirds, however, with a quite high numbers of solitary sandpipers,  
spotted sandpipers, and semi palmated plovers,  both yellowlegs and a  
variety of peeps and dunlin.

We saw a number of chicks - goslings at Blue Ball barn, Wood duck  
chicks at Brandywine Creek, and an incredibly cute killdeer chick at  
Fox Point.  There was a lingering gadwall and ruddy duck at the sewage  
treatment ponds, and the peregrine obliged us by sitting on his nest  
box on the Brandywine Building.  We guestimated 6000 (?) laughing  
gulls at the dump.  As far as the BBA goes, copulating laughers  
confirmed their breeding many times over ( and the one on top always  
seemed to be laughing)

All in all, a productive and fun day, and not a bad way to raise funds  
for a good cause.

Kudos to all who spent a day in the field for the Bird-A-Thon, and we  
can hold our collective breath to see if we reached our goal of  
$40,000.   Start collecting those pledges!

Sally O'Byrne



p.s. our complete list available from Mike Smith by request.
Subject: Re: Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:30 pm
From: Kurt Gaskill <KurtCapt87 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:32:05 -0500
Ed,

At least he identified the bird's name correctly!

Kurt "OUCH!" Gaskill

-----Original Message-----
From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Ed Sigda
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 5:37 PM
To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU
Subject: [de-birds] Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:30 pm

After a bit of early morning birding and a 3 hour nap I headed over to 
Broadkill Road at 3:30 for some lunch and watched the Wood Sandpiper 
until a little after 5:30. During my stay I also got to spend some time 
with a visiting birder that stepped out of his car with the keys in the 
ignition and then got locked out when his dogs ran to the window and 
locked the doors.  Several attempts were made to get the dogs to unlock 
the doors, but eventually this task was up to the local locksmith to 
perform.

I did notice during my stay that the bird has extended it's range to the 
area north of the second pull out.  Of course if the weather goes as 
planned for the next 24 hours the habitat along Broadkill Road is going 
to change as another 1-2 inches of rain is expected.  I would expect 
that the available habitat to the south will decrease further and 
increase on the north side of the road.

With the current forecast, and the need for some sleep, I will not be 
out early Monday morning, but I will try to get out later in the day to 
look for the bird.

The highlight of this morning's outing was a Reeve is a flooded field 
along Fowler Beach Road across from the refuge information kiosk.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Re: Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday
From: Kurt Gaskill <KurtCapt87 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:28:43 -0500
Bill,

Mea Culpa - Please let me claim the excuse of complete and utter lack of
sleep.  It is, of course, a Wood Sandpiper!  My humble apologies to all -
and yes Barry, do not wake up early!

Sheesh!  Talk about your embarrassments!  I will now act like an Ostrich and
bury my head into the sands of the Kalahari!

Kurt "oh no, not again!" Gaskill

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Stewart [mailto:hcf2 AT earthlink.net] 
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 3:52 PM
To: Kurt Gaskill
Subject: Re: [de-birds] Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday

Kurt,

Just out of curiosity, why are you calling the Wood Sandpiper a Marsh  
Sandpiper?  I'll let you explain.

Bill Stewart






On May 11, 2008, at 5:24 PM, Kurt Gaskill wrote:

Delaware Birders,

Sherman Suter and I re-found the Marsh Sandpiper near 8am pretty much  
near
the spot described by Ed (below and in previous posts).  The bird was  
unseen
for about 45 min. Near 8am, Sherman and I found a suspicious tringa  
along
the SW edge of the south pond and it flew into the vegetation near  
the cars
- yet remained unseen!  We thought it may have slipped away, walking the
edge towards ocean side.  Sherman started searching in that  
direction.  Me?
I had a bit of water and leaned back against the car with the scope.  I
looked and saw the Marsh Sandpiper leave the brown vegetation and muddy
habitat and walk into the small bit of water near the white pole.  I got
everyone on the bird and it posed for a few minutes, and then flew,
apparently to the backside of the island of taller green and brown
vegetation (near the white pole) which cannot be seen from the road.  We
soon left for other locations.  As for plumage characteristics, in  
brief, it
was very close to the adult summer painting in nearly every way (crown,
nape, face, bill, back, scapulars, legs, throat, breast and belly as  
well as
in flight) found in Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom and Grant,  
"Birds of
Europe" Princeton University Press, 2004 (a fine guide for Eurasian  
birds by
the way).

We saw Ed Sigda later and filled him in.  Later in the morning we met a
fellow who saw the bird later than us, perhaps after 9am or so.  The  
events
of this morning suggest a pattern and future observers may wish to  
check the
south pond as they wait out the bird.

Otherwise, nothing too much unusual at Broadkill Beach Rd.  Perhaps 3  
pairs
of Gadwall, several American Black Ducks, a few Mallards, 3 Northern
Pintail, a Northern Shoveler, many Green-winged Teal, 3 Blue-winged  
Teal,
and 3 Lesser Scaup.  Overflying Bobolink observed and "blinks" were  
heard
throughout our stay.

We found 18 Red Knots on Fowler's Beach Rd and another 30 at Mispillion
(sp?) inlet.  Royal and Caspian Terns at Fowler's Beach.  2 Pectoral
Sandpipers at the south pond on Broadkill Beach Rd.  If you let us tally
Black Skimmers as honorary shorebirds/waders, we ended our short day  
with 19
species in the group.

Thanks to Sharon Lynn and Ed and Frank and everyone else on finding and
staying on top of the Marsh Sandpiper.  Good birding to you all,

Kurt Gaskill



-----Original Message-----
From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill
Fintel
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:08 AM
To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU
Subject: [de-birds] Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday

Ed Sigda called to report that the Wood Sandpiper was present at 5:20  
this
morning on the North side of Broadkill Beach Road in the pool near  
the first
white PVC post. This is where it has been observed most frequently in  
recent
days.

Bill Fintel
Lewes, DE
Subject: Just starting out
From: Denise LaMont <lamontde AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 19:44:18 -0400
Hello all,

I have been interested in birding for the past two years, it is only now
that I am taking myself seriously.  When I tell my friends that this is a
serious interest of mine I get "the look."  I suppose there aren't many 25yr
old birding enthusiasts?
Anyway, right to the question:  I really don't know where to start.  Does
anyone have any ideas for me?  Perhaps a book they recommend? Is there a
proper way and improper way to go bird watching.  Anything that I can do to
make the experience as gratifying as possible?  All I know is, when I drive
my car, I almost wreck it some days because I'm trying to follow a bird take
flight.  I think something more constructive would make other drivers and
myself more safe.

Denise
Bear, DE
lamontde AT gmail.com
Subject: Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:30 pm
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 18:37:18 -0400
After a bit of early morning birding and a 3 hour nap I headed over to 
Broadkill Road at 3:30 for some lunch and watched the Wood Sandpiper 
until a little after 5:30. During my stay I also got to spend some time 
with a visiting birder that stepped out of his car with the keys in the 
ignition and then got locked out when his dogs ran to the window and 
locked the doors.  Several attempts were made to get the dogs to unlock 
the doors, but eventually this task was up to the local locksmith to 
perform.

I did notice during my stay that the bird has extended it's range to the 
area north of the second pull out.  Of course if the weather goes as 
planned for the next 24 hours the habitat along Broadkill Road is going 
to change as another 1-2 inches of rain is expected.  I would expect 
that the available habitat to the south will decrease further and 
increase on the north side of the road.

With the current forecast, and the need for some sleep, I will not be 
out early Monday morning, but I will try to get out later in the day to 
look for the bird.

The highlight of this morning's outing was a Reeve is a flooded field 
along Fowler Beach Road across from the refuge information kiosk.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Re: Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday
From: Kurt Gaskill <KurtCapt87 AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 16:24:36 -0500
Delaware Birders,

Sherman Suter and I re-found the Marsh Sandpiper near 8am pretty much near
the spot described by Ed (below and in previous posts).  The bird was unseen
for about 45 min. Near 8am, Sherman and I found a suspicious tringa along
the SW edge of the south pond and it flew into the vegetation near the cars
- yet remained unseen!  We thought it may have slipped away, walking the
edge towards ocean side.  Sherman started searching in that direction.  Me?
I had a bit of water and leaned back against the car with the scope.  I
looked and saw the Marsh Sandpiper leave the brown vegetation and muddy
habitat and walk into the small bit of water near the white pole.  I got
everyone on the bird and it posed for a few minutes, and then flew,
apparently to the backside of the island of taller green and brown
vegetation (near the white pole) which cannot be seen from the road.  We
soon left for other locations.  As for plumage characteristics, in brief, it
was very close to the adult summer painting in nearly every way (crown,
nape, face, bill, back, scapulars, legs, throat, breast and belly as well as
in flight) found in Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom and Grant, "Birds of
Europe" Princeton University Press, 2004 (a fine guide for Eurasian birds by
the way).

We saw Ed Sigda later and filled him in.  Later in the morning we met a
fellow who saw the bird later than us, perhaps after 9am or so.  The events
of this morning suggest a pattern and future observers may wish to check the
south pond as they wait out the bird.

Otherwise, nothing too much unusual at Broadkill Beach Rd.  Perhaps 3 pairs
of Gadwall, several American Black Ducks, a few Mallards, 3 Northern
Pintail, a Northern Shoveler, many Green-winged Teal, 3 Blue-winged Teal,
and 3 Lesser Scaup.  Overflying Bobolink observed and "blinks" were heard
throughout our stay.

We found 18 Red Knots on Fowler's Beach Rd and another 30 at Mispillion
(sp?) inlet.  Royal and Caspian Terns at Fowler's Beach.  2 Pectoral
Sandpipers at the south pond on Broadkill Beach Rd.  If you let us tally
Black Skimmers as honorary shorebirds/waders, we ended our short day with 19
species in the group.  

Thanks to Sharon Lynn and Ed and Frank and everyone else on finding and
staying on top of the Marsh Sandpiper.  Good birding to you all,

Kurt Gaskill



-----Original Message-----
From: Delaware Birding [mailto:de-birds AT Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Bill
Fintel
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:08 AM
To: de-birds AT Princeton.EDU
Subject: [de-birds] Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday

Ed Sigda called to report that the Wood Sandpiper was present at 5:20 this
morning on the North side of Broadkill Beach Road in the pool near the first
white PVC post. This is where it has been observed most frequently in recent
days.

Bill Fintel
Lewes, DE
Subject: Bobolinks on Mother's Day
From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 13:23:15 -0400
Good afternoon and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who read DE-Birds,

Running out quite early this beautiful morning to hit DBBA Block #2,  
I started at the turn on Ramsey Rd.  My first impression was the  
morning chorus was just rockin', something I haven't heard in a  
while.  Trying to divide the songs into species proved to be a  
challenge due to number of birds singing and the proverbial American  
Redstart's playing with their inconsistent repertoire!  With great  
delight, I heard that wonderful tinkling, R2D2 song of the Bobolink.   
I counted nine before they flew off to the huge Sycamore tree next to  
Ramsey's Farm driveway.  Other birds of note are listed below:

PEREGRINE FALCON
CAPE MAY WARBLER
Kentucky Warbler
Green Heron
Veery (love that song)
Louisiana Waterthrush
Prairie Warbler
Brown Thrasher

Finished the hour long survey with 55 species.

Good birding,

Bill Stewart
Subject: From Prime Hook to Sandy Hook (long)--Wood Sandpiper, Cape May Warbler etc, PICS
From: JEFFERY DAVIS <jwdjwd67 AT MSN.COM>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:04:43 -0400
Long story about our long day of birding yesterday. Here goes:

Yesterday morning, we got up "dark and early" at 3:00 am so we could make it 
to Prime Hook by first light to see the little brown and white wader that 
has become such a celebrity. While Jeff drove, I used the dashboard light to 
work on the final paper I'd sworn that no migrant, no matter how far off 
course, would distract me from.

Two hours, seventeen minutes, two big cans of RockStar and half a page 
later, we arrived at Broadkill Beach Road where several other birders had 
already set up scope, and immediately got us on the WOOD SANDPIPER! (Thanks 
again!). We watched him energetically searching out his prey, traversing the 
long shallow pools and providing us with side-by-side comparisons with a 
SOLITARY SANDPIPER and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, bobbing his little back end as 
he went. While Jeff snapped a couple hundred (mostly very blurry) pictures 
through the scope, I followed the songs of a BLUE GROSBEAK and NORTHERN 
BOBWHITE, but didn't get any looks. Finally, guiltily, I went back to the 
car where I managed to write another half a page before going back out to 
watch the sandpiper until the rain finally chased us away around 8:00 am.

Some other species seen/heard at Broadkill Road were (in order of 
appearance): COMMON GRACKLE, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, 
CANADA GOOSE, OSPREY, NORTHERN SHOVELER, HERRING GULL, LAUGHING GULL, 
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, AMERICAN CROW, GREAT EGRET, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREEN HERON, WILLET, SONG SPARROW, GLOSSY IBIS, SPOTTED 
SANDPIPER, BARN SWALLOW, LEAST SANDPIPER, FORSTER'S TERN, NORTHERN CARDINAL, 
WILSON'S SNIPE, MALLARD, YELLOW WARBLER.

Having gotten our "Big Get," we decided to push our luck and head to Sandy 
Hook NJ to try for the Wilson's Phalarope (a nemesis bird for us) and the 
Loggerhead Shrike that had been seen (our decision was partly based on the 
premise that the New Jersey Turnpike was the perfect distraction-free study 
location.) We needed to re-stock our supplies so we hit up the Wawa outside 
of Dover for some study aids (aka caffeine and sugar)--and saw a sad sight. 
Laid out on top of the trash can there was a dead Common Yellowthroat, 
presumably a window fatality. After Jeff convinced me not to bring him with 
us (a friend of mine is a taxidermist), we were off.

Four hours, two bottles of Diet Mountain Dew, one paragraph and a weary, 
teary-eyed throwdown (over barbecue!) later, we arrived in Sandy Hook, where 
we found that the birders far outnumbered the birds. Neither shrike nor 
phalarope had been seen. However, we were told that there were two CAPE MAY 
WARBLERS seen on the Fisherman's Trail, so that's where we headed. Pointed 
in the right direction by another helpful birder (Thanks again!), we spent 
about 45 minutes trying to find the warblers, and finally we did (at least, 
one of them)! We watched him feeding among the white (plum?) blossoms, his 
beak covered in pollen, and happily, Jeff got a few "glamour shots" of him. 
He was just gorgeous, and he was our second lifer for the day!

Other species seen/heard on Fisherman's Trail included: EASTERN TOWHEE, 
AMERICAN ROBIN, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, GRAY CATBIRD, MOURNING DOVE, BARN 
SWALLOW, HERRING GULL, HOUSE WREN, NORTHERN CARDINAL, CAROLINA WREN, YELLOW 
WARBLER, OSPREY, HOUSE FINCH, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, LAUGHING GULL, GREAT 
BLACK-BACKED GULL, TREE SWALLOW, WHITE-EYED VIREO, WILLET, COMMON TERN, 
FIELD SPARROW, HOUSE SPARROW, and a warbler with a yellow rump which may or 
may not have been the second CAPE MAY reported (only Jeff got a too-brief 
glance at it).

Finally, we went back to the Audubon Center, where we watched the feeder 
birds, and others, which included: HOUSE FINCH, HOUSE SPARROW, RED-WINGED 
BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, EUROPEAN STARLING, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, SONG 
SPARROW, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, 
BRANT, HERRING GULL, AMERICAN ROBIN, AMERICAN CROW, RUBY-THROATED 
HUMMINGBIRD, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, 
RING-BILLED GULL, CHIPPING SPARROW, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, COMMON TERN and 
OSPREY.  Jeff got some nice pictures of the grosbeak, White-crowns and 
waxwings.

All pics are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/21068017 AT N07/ and I am 
working on uploading a video of the Wood Sandpiper (without much success--if 
I get it I'll post again).

Regards, and happy birding,

Amy and Jeff Davis
Downingtown, Chester County, PA

Checkout our bird photos at the link below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21068017 AT N07/
Subject: Wood Sandpiper 5:20 am Sunday
From: Bill Fintel <avian2 AT CE.NET>
Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 08:08:01 -0400
Ed Sigda called to report that the Wood Sandpiper was present at 5:20 this
morning on the North side of Broadkill Beach Road in the pool near the first
white PVC post. This is where it has been observed most frequently in recent 
days. 


Bill Fintel
Lewes, DE
Subject: Wood Sandpiper
From: Scott Baron <brnpelican AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 21:24:02 -0700
The Wood Sandpiper at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge was still present at 
7pm when I left the area. It was feeding in the marsh about 75' from the left 
side of Broadkill Beach Rd. if you are coming from Rte. 1. For birders who 
haven't been to this spot, there is a wide shoulder on the left side of the 
road which gives you more room to set up a scope and look straight out into the 
marsh. 


Lingering waterfowl in the marsh on the other side of the road were a pair of 
Northern Pintail, 2 male Northern Shovelers and 3 scaup sp. 


Thanks to Ms. Sharon Lynn for finding this bird.

Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va. 


 
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Subject: Gordons Pond Spring Round-up + Prime Hook
From: Chris Bennett <cb2564 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 21:58:36 -0400
Dave Keck and I birded Gordons Pond, along Henlopen Avenue in Rehoboth and the 
Cape Henlopen Lands west of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal (primarily Wolfe Neck Road 
area) between 5:30 am and 3:30 pm today for the DOS Spring Round-up.? While the 
weather was fairly atrocious for most of the day - we found a nice collection 
of birds.? We ended our day with 118 species and just over 2000 individuals.? 
Highlights included 14 species of Wablers - Northern Parula, Yellow, 
Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, 
Prairie, Blackpoll, Black and White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common 
Yellowthroat and Yellow-breasted Chat), 16 species of Shorebirds, 10 Species of 
Sparrows (Eastern Towhee, Chipping, Field, Savannah, Grasshopper, Saltmarsh 
Sharp-tailed, Seaside, Song, Swamp and White-throated), 75 Northern Gannet, 2 
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, both Orioles, 2 Merlins and a Peregrine.? Noteworthy 
were at least two species that went un-recorded - though I must 

 admit I'm a bit embarassed to divulge them - Northern Mockingbird and Indigo 
Bunting.? I was unsatisfied with 118 so made a few quick stops on the way home 
at Prime Hook and picked up an additional 16 species - Wood Sandpiper, Northern 
Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler and Lesser Scaup (dabbling with 
the shovelers) at Broadkill Beach Road, Mute Swan (1), Red-breasted Merganser, 
American Avocet, Sanderling, White-rumped Sandpiper (1) and Great Horned Owl at 
Fowlers Beach, Prothonotary Warbler along Deep Branch Road, Red Knot at 
Slaughter?Beach (4)?and finally (!) both Northern Mockingbird and Indigo 
Bunting. 


Complete list for Cape area is below.




2????????? SNOW GOOSE

37??????? CANADA GOOSE

1????????? AMERICAN BLACK DUCK

16??????? MALLARD

4????????? NORTHERN BOBWHITE

7????????? COMMON LOON

75??????? NORTHERN GANNET

60??????? DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

2????????? GREAT BLUE HERON

5????????? GREAT EGRET

25??????? SNOWY EGRET

1????????? TRICOLORED HERON

3????????? GREEN HERON

45??????? GLOSSY IBIS

1????????? BLACK VULTURE

10??????? TURKEY VULTURE

8????????? OSPREY

1????????? NORTHERN HARRIER

2????????? MERLIN

1????????? PEREGRINE FALCON

6????????? CLAPPER RAIL

36??????? BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER

27??????? SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

1????????? PIPING PLOVER

1????????? KILLDEER

6????????? AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER

2????????? BLACK-NECKED STILT

20??????? GREATER YELLOWLEGS

210????? LESSER YELLOWLEGS

2????????? SOLITARY SANDPIPER

15??????? WILLET

23??????? SPOTTED SANDPIPER

1????????? RUDDY TURNSTONE

122????? SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER

65??????? LEAST SANDPIPER

150????? DUNLIN

180????? SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER

47??????? LAUGHING GULL

13??????? BONAPARTE'S GULL

2????????? RING-BILLED GULL

20??????? HERRING GULL

20??????? GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL

6????????? COMMON TERN

25??????? FORSTER'S TERN

20??????? LEAST TERN

2????????? BLACK SKIMMER

2????????? ROCK DOVE

17??????? MOURNING DOVE

1????????? EASTERN SCREECH-OWL

3????????? RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

1????????? BELTED KINGFISHER

6????????? RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER

2????????? DOWNY WOODPECKER

3????????? NORTHERN FLICKER 

5????????? EASTERN WOOD PEWEE

6????????? GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER

1????????? EASTERN KINGBIRD

3????????? WHITE-EYED VIREO

1????????? BLUE-HEADED VIREO

4????????? RED-EYED VIREO

10??????? BLUE JAY

10??????? AMERICAN CROW

2????????? FISH CROW

10??????? HORNED LARK

3????????? PURPLE MARTIN

14??????? TREE SWALLOW

60??????? BARN SWALLOW

35??????? CAROLINA CHICKADEE

20??????? TUFTED TITMOUSE

5????????? RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH



10??????? BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH

5????????? CAROLINA WREN

1????????? MARSH WREN

7????????? BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER

1????????? VEERY

3????????? WOOD THRUSH

60??????? AMERICAN ROBIN

35??????? GRAY CATBIRD

2????????? BROWN THRASHER

16??????? EUROPEN STARLING

4????????? NORTHERN PARULA

1????????? YELLOW WARBLER

2????????? BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER

29??????? YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

3????????? BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER

2????????? BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER

12??????? PINE WARBLER

1????????? PRAIRIE WARBLER

2????????? BLACKPOLL WARBLER

5????????? BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER

2????????? AMERICAN REDSTART

7????????? OVENBIRD

51??????? COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

1????????? YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

1????????? SCARLET TANAGER

20??????? EASTERN TOWHEE

4????????? CHIPPING SPARROW

4????????? FIELD SPARROW

16??????? SAVANNAH SPARROW

2????????? GRASSHOPPER SPARROW

2????????? SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW

20??????? SEASIDE SPARROW

1????????? SONG SPARROW

1????????? SWAMP SPARROW

3????????? WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

25??????? NORTHERN CARDINAL

2????????? ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

2????????? BLUE GROSBEAK

75??????? RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

4????????? EASTERN MEADOWLARK

15??????? COMMON GRACKLE

1????????? BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE

20??????? BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD

3????????? ORCHARD ORIOLE

3????????? BALTIMORE ORIOLE

2????????? HOUSE FINCH

17??????? AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

10??????? HOUSE SPARROW

Chris Bennett
Milford, DE
Subject: Wood Sandpiper still present at 5:00pm
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 18:32:56 -0400
The Wood Sandpiper was still present at 5:00pm when I stopped by before 
heading home for the evening after a long day of birding.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding,com
Subject: More Wood Sandpiper photos, plus 5/7/08 Big Day report
From: Steve Collins <dcollins AT UFL.EDU>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 14:35:51 -0400
If you’re interested in seeing even more Wood Sandpiper photos – I have 
posted some photos from Friday afternoon here, including an in-flight 
shot showing the white rump.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odephoto/archives/date-taken/2008/05/09/detail/

If a long Big Day narrative is not the kind of thing that interests you, 
then please stop reading now.

Forrest Rowland invited me to do a Big Day on Wednesday (5/7/08) in my 
favorite birding destination: Delaware. I obviously could not refuse, so 
I took off work and headed to DE at 12:30am to meet up with Forrest at 
2am. We birded from 2am to 8pm and got 199 species - tying the Delaware 
Big Day Record set in 1997. There were a few misses (ahem, Belted 
Kingfisher!!), but we lucked out and had a really great day birding.

We started the day (night?) in Thousand Acre Marsh, where we quickly 
realized the night was likely to be a good night. Winds were 3-4 mph out 
of the southwest and listening conditions were good. We heard Canada 
Goose, Great Blue Heron, Virginia Rail and American Coot (our only coot 
of the day). At another location Sora and Common Moorhen sounded off 
within minutes of our arrival. One could say that Grier’s Pond was 
especially quiet. Actually it wasn’t quiet at all, as the Swamp Sparrows 
and Marsh Wrens were singing up a storm and a Barred Owl called, but it 
was Least Bittern quiet. We spent at least 15 minutes here, cocking our 
ears in every conceivable angle in hopes of hearing the classic 
“ku-ku-ku” of the Least Bittern. After giving each side of the pond 
time, we were thinking about where else we could possibly get Least 
Bittern and were about to leave. Then we both heard it! Success!

While driving south on Route 9, six inches of water on the road caused 
some excitement, as we barreled directly through it. It was definitely 
due to the tide, and we were in a low spot: why not try for King Rail? 
While sitting in the middle of the road, we both jumped out of the car 
and lo and behold, a King Rail sounded off. Serious luck.

To say that the Bullfrogs and Green Frogs at Finnis Pool are loud is 
like saying that a diesel truck engine is loud: “Loud” may be an 
inadequate word. Luckily we were able to pick out a calling Eastern 
Screech-Owl, distant twittering of an American Woodcock, and flyover 
American Redstart and Blackpoll Warblers. Birds were on the move.

Port Mahon was almost rail-less with the exception of Virginia. Clapper 
Rails were quiet. Weird. Seaside and Swamp Sparrows, Marsh Wrens and a 
distant Yellow-breasted Chat were singing. A flyby Black-crowned Night 
Heron let out a single “kaw,” and a Wood Thrush, Black-throated Blue, 
Blackburnian, and several Palm Warblers called while flying overhead. 
The promise of neotropical migrants in the morning was exhilarating.

We were hoping for Black Rail at Pickering Beach, where Andy Ednie and I 
had heard them on Saturday night, but they may have moved on. We did 
pick up Tree Swallows flying around the town’s lights, a flyover 
Swainson’s Thrush (our only of the day) and another Yellow-breasted Chat.

Milford Neck was our nightjar spot, and it did not disappoint. 
Chuck-wills-widows and then Whip-poor-wills were calling from several 
locations. American Woodcocks seemed to be everywhere – twittering away 
– while a few were “peent”ing. The mosquitoes were voracious and kept us 
dancing around. Dawn was approaching and we headed toward the marsh, 
where even more mosquitoes greeted us. Boat-tailed Grackles were 
immediately apparent, and then Northern Bobwhite and Wild Turkey called 
from the wood’s edge. Yes! After a quick tally, I realized we had 62 
species already by dawn. Not a bad night.

Milford Neck was really birdy, and I’m glad we picked this as our 
dawn-chorus spot. Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
and Sedge Wren called from the short marsh, all three being our only 
birds of the day. The woods were alive with birdsong, and here we picked 
up Kentucky, Nashville, Yellow-throated, Prairie, and Black-and-White 
Warblers, plus Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush. A certain vireo 
sounded interesting and Forrest suspected Philadelphia. It sang; we 
listened. It sang and we played the song for comparison: it was dead-on. 
Wow!

By 6:15 we had 94 species, and we moved on to Mispillion Lighthouse. The 
idea was that we could get Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow while they 
were still singing. The idea backfired. The marsh was filled with 
sparrows . . . Seaside Sparrows. There were likely hundreds singing from 
all areas around the marsh, which unfortunately muffled the sounds of 
any potential Saltmarsh Sparrows. The Seaside Sparrow spectacle was 
immediately overshadowed by the shorebird spectacle. Shorebirds moved in 
waves across nearly every exposed mud surface: Greater Yellowlegs, 
Willets, Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, 
Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin and a few Black-necked Stilts. While 
scoping from the DuPont nature center, we found Sanderling, Ruddy 
Turnstone, Red Knots, American Oystercatchers, and a White-rumped 
Sandpiper among the thousands of Dunlin. We couldn’t pick out any 
Lesser-black Backed Gulls, and after spending too much time enjoying 
this scene, we needed to move.

The grasslands in the vicinity of Hunting Quarter Road proved a wise 
morning destination: Grasshopper, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows, Eastern 
Meadowlark and Horned Larks were singing. No Bobolinks, but we couldn’t 
complain about our luck so far.

Redden State Forest held the targeted Red-headed Woodpeckers and Summer 
Tanagers, in addition to Worm-eating, Black-throated Green, 
Yellow-throated, Kentucky, Pine, and Black-and-White Warblers, Cedar 
Waxwings, and Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker. Two flyover Common Loons 
were a surprise. 131 species by 8:24am.

We switched up the plan, and headed to Prime Hook instead of doing that 
in the afternoon. While changing the schedule could spell disaster, the 
morning Prime Hook run was excellent. We had Veery standing in the 
middle of the road at the entrance. I told Forrest to stop the car, “I 
heard something similar to a Hooded Warbler.” We waited, while only a 
Red-eyed Vireo sang. I started to doubt myself, and we were about to 
move on when it sang out, “Wheet-o, Wheet-o, Wheet-ee-o.” Forrest 
replied, “Oh, so you mean the bird that sounds exactly like a Hooded 
Warbler!”

The boardwalk trail produced a few good birds, most notably a beautiful 
adult White-crowned Sparrow (thank you!), Blue-headed Vireo, 
Prothonotary, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll and Magnolia Warblers.

The Broadkill impoundment was in bad light, so we started IDing distant 
ducks mostly by shape: Gadwall, Mallard, Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, 
Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser. These turned out to be some of 
the only waterfowl of the day, but where were the Blue-wings? While 
scoping shorebirds, I noticed an unusual shorebird in the far southeast 
corner of the southern impoundment with the Green-winged Teal. It looked 
similar in shape to a yellowlegs, but the bill wasn’t right for either. 
I asked Forrest to take a look, and he quickly realized it was a Ruff. I 
took another look and the beige-y color, posture, and bill shape all 
were spot-on for Ruff (Reeve). Excellent! We actually didn’t notice the 
Wood Sandpiper, nor did we know about it, though in hindsight, I can’t 
eliminate the possibility that we were looking right at it as we drove 
by. We hoped for diving ducks in the bay. The bay was empty with the 
exception of Laughing Gulls, though we did hear a Song Sparrow singing, 
our first (and only?) of the day.

We headed to Cape Henlopen with 155 species. No Yellow-crowned Night 
Heron at a brief stop in Lewes on the way, and no Bufflehead in the 
ponds near the entrance. Drat. Herring Point was mostly birdless, though 
after a few minutes we did luck out with Common, Least and Royal Tern 
flybys. The jetty below had three Spotted Sandpipers. I got a kick out 
of watching Forrest fight with the no-see-ums. We made a quick stop at 
the campground, though besides a Pine Warbler and some Robins, it was 
quiet. I guess Forrest forgot his Crossbill pheromone. At the nature 
center, the feeders were empty, so we walked the trail behind them. 
Quiet, though it was midday. I was thinking some Red-breasted Nuthatches 
might still be hanging around, since I had heard one in Baltimore Co the 
day before. After a few minutes both Brown-headed and a Red-breasted 
Nuthatch sounded off. Serious luck.

At the Point we found a huge flock of Brant hugging the icebreaker, and 
we scoped Common, Forsters and Royal Terns near the point. We tried to 
turn one of the Royals into a Caspian, but it wasn’t to be. Piping 
Plover was notably absent. We walked down to the bayside fence. Still no 
Piping Plover. We knew time was critical, but I knew we would be kicking 
ourselves if we left without the plover, so we hiked to the ocean side. 
Again, this turned out to be a great decision. We had a flyover Merlin, 
Red-throated Loon and flyby Black Scoters. While squinting into the heat 
haze for the hoped-for Piping Plover, Forrest noticed the 2nd-year 
Lesser Black-backed Gull at our feet. Then after a few minutes time, a 
Piping Plover came into view.

We headed south to Indian River inlet with 170 species before noon. At 
Savages Ditch rd, we found our first Great Egret of the day, though no 
Little Blue or Tricolored Herons. The inlet proved to be full of boaters 
and was almost a wasted effort if it weren’t for two juvenile Great 
Cormorants swimming around the north jetty. No Bonaparte’s Gull and no 
Saltmarsh Sparrows or Tricolored Heron on the bay side. We stopped by 
New Road on the way north hoping for a bay duck of any kind, though we 
only had a breeding-plumaged Common Loon.

Silver Lake had Mallards and a few Canada Geese – and one female Ruddy 
Duck. It was starting to get difficult to add new birds.

Fowler Beach did not produce the hoped-for Belted Kingfisher or any new 
ducks, though it did have a considerable number of Black-bellied 
Plovers, with at least 2 American Golden-plovers mixed in. The Great 
Horned Owl chicks on the platform are getting rather big.

The north pond at Ted Harvey did not have Bonaparte’s Gull or Tricolored 
Heron, though it did have Pectoral Sandpiper.

At Bombay Hook, we had a number of necessary targets and we got nearly 
all of them: Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, American Avocet, 
Ring-necked Pheasant, and Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

This is when we heard about the Wood Sandpiper, but we both agreed we 
would rather finish the Big Day with the planned route.

Woodland Beach had the Snow Geese and Greater-white Fronted Geese. 
Excellent. 182 species by 4:01pm.

I was telling Forrest that I have had Bank Swallow at the first of two 
bridges over Appoquinink Creek and suspected they may breed somewhere in 
the area, so we stopped there. Cliff Swallows were readily evident, when 
a Bank Swallow flew high over us. 184.

We headed back to Thousand Acre Marsh hoping for Peregrine Falcon, an 
attempt that proved unsuccessful when Forrest tried last year. We 
scanned the bridge over the canal from all angles without any birds. 
When we had nearly given up and were ready to leave, a Peregrine Falcon 
flew directly over our heads.

We had very little time to spare, but we decided to risk a run to Dragon 
Run park for Mute Swans. Dragon Run was Mute Swanless, but we did have 
flyby Wood Ducks and then an adult Little Blue Heron flew high overhead. 
I couldn’t believe our luck.

We headed to White Clay Creek, lucked out with Cattle Egrets on the way, 
and had 188 species by 5:15pm. I don’t think we could have had better 
luck at White Clay Creek; it seemed like someone was throwing all of our 
target birds at us. We got Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Vireo, 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and White-breasted Nuthatch – all of 
which we expected. The lucky birds were a flyover Sharp-shinned Hawk, an 
adult Coopers Hawk racing through the woods directly in front of us, and 
Warbling Vireo. At one point we thought we had Cerulean Warbler singing, 
and Forrest pointed out that the cadence was right. It was almost 
dead-on. Almost. I wasn’t convinced, and we waited to get a look at the 
bird. It had a wing bar, but also had a yellow and orange throat: It was 
a Parula. I wonder if after years of unscrupulous birders taping for 
Cerulean Warbler, the local Parulas didn’t pick up and try to imitate.

While at Tweeds Mill Rd, I pondered, “What else is left that we could 
possibly still get? How about Rose-breasted Grosbeak?” A Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak responded by singing. “How about Blue-winged Warbler?” A few 
minutes later a Blue-winged Warbler was singing. It was almost creepy. 
The last two birds of the day were an almost unexpected Willow 
Flycatcher, and at least two very unexpected Gray-cheeked Thrushes. 199 
species by 7:15pm. While walking back towards the car, the only thing 
left was Belted Kingfisher. We waited until sunset at 8pm, though the 
Kingfisher never obliged.

This photo was taken at 8pm in White Clay Creek when we called it quits.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/odephoto/2476484919/

Below is our bird list for the day and some summary totals:

25 Shorebird sp.
Vireo, Nuthatch, and Swallow sweep.
26 Warbler sp.
12 Sparrow sp.
only 14 Waterfowl sp. It's hard to find waterfowl in May - this probably 
hurt us the most.

Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Brant
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Black Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Clapper Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Short-billed Dowitcher
Common Snipe
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Royal Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow


Cheers,
Steve Collins
Towson, MD
Subject: Wood Sandpiper
From: Sharon Lynn <slynn001 AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 10:31:46 -0400
The Wood Sandpiper has been present all morning. Several birders saw it near 
the white pole on the left side of Broadkill Beach RD(North side). 


Sharon Lynn
Rehoboth Beach
Subject: Wood Sandpiper present at 5:30 am (Saturday)
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 06:19:03 -0400
Wood Sandpiper located on North side, several birders already present.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Wood Sandpiper present until 6:30 pm
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 21:00:08 -0400
The Wood Sandpiper was present until 6:30 pm this evening when it flew 
off to parts unknown.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Wood Sandpiper photos on DOSBirds.org
From: Homsey <homsey AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:57:28 -0400
If anyone wants to see photos of the Wood Sandpiper, there are several on the 
DOS website, in the photogallery (www.DOSBirds.org/photogallery). 

Chris Bennett and Kirsten and Hal Snyder have kindly uploaded some nice shots.

-Andrew Homsey
Kennett Square
Subject: Wood Sandpiper present Fri 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM
From: Rick Cheicante <rickcheicante AT CS.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:55:01 -0400
The Wood Sandpiper showed well, and rewarded many this Fri. from 10:30 AM -
 2:30 PM.  It worked the south impoundment along the shore from the west 
end to about three-fourths the distance to the east end. The bird also made 
two flights to the north impoundment landing and feeding in the exposed 
muddy areas at the west end. All near the road and very viewable.

At 10:30, the Wood Sandpiper appeared mainly with a Lesser Yellowlegs, 
eventually joining numerous Least and Spotted (particularily in the west end). 


At 11:30 AM, I was the only person there as heavy rains hit the area. After 
the rains (and deluges)(...and drying of optics), the number of shorebirds 
increased dramatically (Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Semipalmated Plover, 
dowitchers, etc...and Solitary Sandpiper). Finding the bird during brief lapses 

became funner with the extra shorebirds about. 

By noon, folks started arriving again and the Wood Sandpiper was very 
cooperative staying along the shore of the south impoundment.  The bird 
seemed less skiddish than earlier, providing close-ups, and some short flights 
showing the white rump.  Does quite a bit of Spotted Sandpiper-like "tail-
bobbing" too. The bill and lack of extension in the primaries are quite 
evident. 

In today's poor to OK light, the legs appeared a dullish green, particularly 
when 

standing next to either of the yellowlegs. 

To incoming birders, please heed Ed's advice regarding the roadway.  Park well 
off the road, and definitely don't stand or form groups in the road.  Nice 
chatting with you Ed S.- good luck to all this weekend!

Rick Cheicante
Harford County
Bel Air, MD 
Subject: Waterthrush on a wet day
From: Derek Stoner <derek AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:56:55 -0400
Today at the Ashland Nature Center, two male Northern Waterthrush sang
throughout the day from the wet woods alongside the marsh.  

 

We watched these birds chase each other and establish temporary
territory boundaries, perhaps defending the best concentrations of tasty
water-logged caterpillars.  A Louisiana Waterthrush calling from along
the Red Clay Creek allowed for a nice comparison of the two Waterthrush
vocalizations.

 

A pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds actively fed at the nectar feeders,
frequently puffing up and shaking off their rain-soaked feathers.  The
male performed the frenetic U-shaped courtship flight above the perched
female, with his bright red gorget flashing in the otherwise gloomy low
light.  

 

Good birding,

 

Derek Stoner

Hockessin, DE

 

 
Subject: Re: Wood Sanpiper
From: ksnyder <sny AT bee.net>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:10:25 -0400
We headed down to Prime Hook after work on Thursday and got to see the Wood 
Sandpiper. While the light was fading and the bird was apparently more 
distant than it had been during the week, we were thrilled to see it. We 
have just posted some (sorry, rather poor) pictures to DOS (pics may be up 
this evening) but hopefully every view is helpful, especially for those who 
can't make it to Prime Hook. As for Chris Starling's question about east 
coast records, "Shorebirds" by Hayman, Marchant, Prater says it was see in 
New York State October,1907 and the Islands of Bermuda and Barbados October, 
1955. What a treat for us! It also says, JFYI, "Often abundant in 
Sub-Saharan Africa and India."
Please remember good birding ethics in the field so that others can enjoy 
our Delaware birds! All the best, K Snyder 
Subject: Wood Sandpiper present at 1:30 - please be safe
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 13:52:37 -0400
The Wood Sandpiper was still present at 1:30 today in the same general 
area as the past few days.  Please note that due to the rain the amount 
of habitat on the south side has decreased, but it has increased on the 
north side so it might expand it's range.

Please be safe while observing the bird.  I heard of a near miss this 
morning from a local resident when a birder ran across the road "for his 
bird book" without looking first.  Needless to say the locals are quite 
interested in whats going on.  While they are used to lots of stopping 
cars during the winter months with the Snow Geese, they can't 
necessarily see what the event is this time.  Please take the time to 
let any of the locals know what's going on.  The ones that I have talked 
to so far seemed to like knowing that they have a celebrity in town.  
Let's keep that positive attitude going.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Wood Sanpiper
From: Chris Starling <beltedkingfisherchris AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 12:53:42 -0400
The Broadkill Beach Wood Sandpiper was being seen in the south impoundment at 
the west end when I left the bird around 1030AM. There were a lot of people 
there when I left. It seemed like the majority of them had come over on the 
ferry from Cape May (this is world series weekend). I met a lady from Minnasota 
and saw license plates from all over the east coast! 

 
Does anyone know if there are other east coasts records of this species?
 
-Chris Starling
North East, MD 
_________________________________________________________________
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Subject: RBA: Birdline Delaware, May 9th, 2008
From: Andy Ednie <ednieap AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 10:46:56 -0400
RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* May 9, 2008
* DEST0805.09

*Birds mentioned
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brant
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Loon
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Green Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Swallow-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Merlin
Yellow Rail
Black Rail
King Rail
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Moorhen
American Golden Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Wood Sandpiper
Red Knot
Pectoral Sandpiper
Ruff
Bonaparte's Gull
Black Tern 
Black Skimmer
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chucks-will-widow
Common Nighthawk
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Blue-headed Vireo
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Sedge Wren
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Nashville Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated  Green Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Savannah Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Bobolink

Hotline:       Birdline Delaware
Date:            May 9, 2008
Number:      302/658-2747
To Report:   Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler:    Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)
Coverage:    Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
                     New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap AT verizon.net)

For, Friday, May 9th this is Birdline Delaware, from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The unofficial Delaware State Year List now
stands at 285 species, up 25 birds from last week. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS
were reported coming to feeders throughout the state. Two species still
missing are CANADA WARBLER and BANK SWALLOW. 

A new bird to the Delaware State List was a WOOD SANDPIPER found at the
impoundments at Broadkill Beach, part of Prime Hook NWR . Found by Sharon
Lynn of Rehoboth Beach, that bird was seen for the last three days mostly on
the south side by the second pullout. It has also been seen on the north
side. This is the first East Coast record since the Rye, New York bird found
by Tom Burke on October 31, 1990. Related to our Yellowlegs, in flight this
Eurasian wader flies like a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. A RUFF was also reported at
Broadkill Beach on Wednesday morning. 

To get to the Broadkill Beach impoundments to find the WOOD SANDPIPER, turn
east at the light for the Rt 16 and Delaware Rt 1 intersection, east of
Milton. The turn is marked by a sign for the Prime Hook NWR. From the turn
to the refuge headquarters, go straight down the Broadkill Beach Road
another 2.2 miles. Drive to the sharp left turn with the dirt road and
yellow gate at Island Farms. Check the impoundments and marsh east of this
sharp turn. Please sign in at the log book at the second pullout on the
south side of the road.. Parking may be an issue; you may want to park at
the gate to Island Farms and walk east along the edge of the impoundments. 

YELLOW and BLACK RAIL was also reported along the Broadkill Beach Road this
week. Another BLACK RAIL was calling last Saturday morning at 1:30 am along
the Pickering Beach Road. That bird was looked for again on Wednesday
without success. VIRGINIA and CLAPPER RAIL were heard at Port Mahon, along
with SEDGE WREN. 

There were two SWALLOW-TAILED KITES reported in the state this week. One was
seen over Trap Pond State Park last weekend. The second was at the Cape
Henlopen Hawk Watch on Tuesday. MERLIN, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED and
COOPER'S HAWK were also reported this week. 

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported at Redden State Forest, along State
Forest Road 1.3 miles south of Wilson Hill Road, just north of Georgetown.
There was no report of RED-HEADED WOODPECKER along Deep Branch Road, but
SUMMER TANAGER was seen there. 

A good fallout of warblers and other passerines was reported at Prime Hook
this week. 18 species of warbler on Saturday, including: NASHVILLE,
MAGNOLIA, BLACKPOLL and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. This week, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO
was seen along the Boardwalk Trail. Other birds reported included
BLACKBURNIAN and WILSON'S WARBLER, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was also seen in Milford this week, along with CAPE MAY,
BLACKBURNIAN, and BLACKPOLL WARBLER. A WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was also
reported, a bird rare in Delaware below the piedmont. Abbott's Mill had
HOODED and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, BARRED OWL and BUFFLEHEAD. Johnson Branch
had BLUE-HEADED VIREO, MAGNOLIA WARBLER and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. 

17 species of warbler were found along Big Stone Beach Road on Saturday,
including BAY-BREASTED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN,
WORM-EATING, MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was also reported. 

DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Inlet had 300 RED KNOTS, AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHER, and BLACK-NECKED STILT. TRICOLORED HERON, SEASIDE and SALT
MARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW were found along Lighthouse Road. 

PIPING PLOVER was also reported at Cape Henlopen State Park this week.
Goatsuckers there included CHUCKS-WILL-WIDOW and COMMON NIGHTHAWK. DUCKS off
the point included; SURF and BLACK SCOTER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and
BRANT. AMERICAN BITTERN was found at Indian River Inlet. 

RED KNOTS continue to be seen at Bombay Hook along with AMERICAN GOLDEN
PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, and
PECTORAL SANDPIPER. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON continues to be seen at Bear
Swamp, SAVANNAH SPARROW was seen along the dike at Raymond Pool, and
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen at Finis Pool. 

The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was again seen this week behind Tony
Florio's at Woodland Beach WMA. YELLOW-THROATED and PINE WARBLERS were found
along the Pickering Beach Road at the powerline cut through the pine trees. 

There have been no further reports of the WHITE-WINGED TERN or LITTLE GULL
at the Logan Tract this week. BONAPARTE'S GULL, BLACK TERN and BLACK SKIMMER
were seen at the north pond this weekend. AMERICAN AVOCET was reported on
the south side of the Logan Tract. BELTED KINGFISHER was also seen here on
Sunday, sorry Forrest I had to throw that in!

CERULEAN WARBLER was reported this week at White Clay Creek State Park. Two
were singing along Creek Road, south of Hopkin's Bridge, before the little
wooden bridge along Creek Road. WILSON'S MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED,
BLACK-THROATED BLUE and GREEN, were also reported. WILLOW FLYCATCHER, VEERY,
SWAINSON'S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH were reported along the creek on
Wednesday.  

Brandywine Creek State Park had an impressive 23 species of warbler on
Sunday. Reports included NASHVILLE, MAGNOLIA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK-THROATED
BLUE, and GREEN, BLACKPOLL, PALM, WORM-EATING, HOODED, PROTHONOTARY,
YELLOW-THROATED and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. 5 species of VIREO were also
found. YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was calling in the park this week, and a
DARK-EYED JUNCO was at the Nature Center. The later bird is very rare in
Delaware in May. 

7 flyover COMMON LOONS were seen at Ashland Nature center on Thursday.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen along Red Clay Creek south of the nature
center. BLUE and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were also reported. 

Birds reported at Lums Pond State Park included BLACK-THROATED BLUE,
BLACK-AND-WHITE, and KENTUCKY WARBLER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, plus LITTLE
BLUE, and GREEN HERON

BOBOLINKS were found at the Huguenot House off Rt 9 south of Odessa. CLIFF
SWALLOWS continue to be seen at the Rt 9 Bridge. LEAST BITTERN COMMON
MOORHEN, SORA, KING and VIRGINIA RAIL were all reported at Thousand Acre
Marsh this week. 

And now for this week's special feature from 1450 WILM News Radio. You can
hear Birdline Delaware on your radio on Wednesday at 5:55 and 8:55 am and
again at 6:55 pm. Here now is this week's feature: 

As April warms into May, the spring migration reaches its peak. Spring
warblers are arriving daily. Wave upon wave of migrate birds are arriving,
after flying all night. Birds like the PRAIRIE WARBLER, (SFx) whose song is
an ascending trill in perfect scales, are back in Delaware. To understand
where these birds come from and when to look for them is to understand
migration and weather patterns. 

Neotropical migrants nest in the arboreal forests of North America and
winter in the neotropics. There are three different strategies for their
spring migration: Trans-Caribbean migrants, like the BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLER journey straight up the East Coast via the Florida peninsula after
wintering in the Caribbean Islands. Others, like the NASHVILLE WARBLER
circum-navigate the Gulf of Mexico from Central America. The most dangerous
route is the Trans-gulf migration. From the Yucatan Peninsula, birds like
the BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, flying non-stop, 500 miles to the Gulf Coast,
arriving noontime at places like High Island, Texas or the Dry Tortugas 

Spring migration weather patterns are the exact opposite of those
experienced in the fall. In the fall, watch for migrants after a cold front,
as the northwest wind pushes birds eastward. Conversely, a southwest wind
with an approaching cold front is better in the spring. A warm front that
forms to the north, creates a cloud barrier that causes the birds to drop,
creating a wave of migration. 

Doppler radar has demonstrated the decline of neotropical migrants. It also
clues us in to when the next wave will hit. Birders have been accused of
taping the Weather Channel to document migration. 

I've been listening to a MAGNOLIA WARBLER singing outside my window here in
Claymont while typing this report. Special thanks to the Sharon Lynn, Bill
Fintel, Steve Collins and Derek Stoner for their reports. To report
sightings or add birds to this year's state year list call me at
302-792-9591 or email to ednieap AT verizon.net. Thanks for calling, until next
time good birding. 

-end transcript. 
Subject: Wood Sandpiper - Yes - 9:00 AM Friday
From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:00:08 EDT
Bruce Peterjohn called and reported that the Wood Sandpiper is present and  
feeding on the north side of the road at 9:00 AM in front of the white pole  
across from the pull offs on Broadkill Beach Road.
 
Frank Rohrbacher
Wilmington, Delaware



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Subject: Re: directions to Broadkill Beach Rd.?
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 00:27:15 -0400
Please check out the following link for directions to Prime Hook: 
http://www.primehookbirding.com/directions.htm.  Broadkill Road is Route 
16.  The location of the bird is 2.2 miles past the entrance road to the 
refuge headquarters.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com



Scott Baron wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Can someone please provide directions to the Wood Sandpiper area? I'm not 
familiar w/ the Broadkill Beach area. 

>
> Thanks very much,
>
> Scott Baron
> Fairfax, Va.
>
>
> 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

> Be a better friend, newshound, and 
> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 

>
>   
Subject: directions to Broadkill Beach Rd.?
From: Scott Baron <brnpelican AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:18:43 -0700
Hi,

Can someone please provide directions to the Wood Sandpiper area? I'm not 
familiar w/ the Broadkill Beach area. 


Thanks very much,

Scott Baron
Fairfax, Va.


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 

Subject: Prime Hook
From: Lin Just <crazy4wildbirds AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:31:56 -0400
My husband Jim and I enjoyed the afternoon of birding at Prime Hook, 
especially the famous WOOD SANDPIPER.  Thanks to Derek Stoner and friends, 
we were able to obtain great looks at this bird.  Thanks again Derek!  After 
Derek's group departed, I was determined to see the bird in flight with his 
white rump pattern.  He would make short flights but I would always seem to 
miss it when he did. After Jim decided to look at the sign up book to see if he 

recognized any names, the bird did take to flight, flew across the road and 
right in front of me! It was all it took for me to contain myself from 
shreaking 

to my husband but I kept quiet since I didn't want to scare the bird!  What a 
thrilling experience! We left the bird foraging on the side of the road between 

both parking areas.   After basking in this excitement, we decided to bird the 
headquarters area.  We walked the boardwalk trail seeing BLUE GROSBEAK as 
a FOY bird.  We then walked the Blue Goose Trail, seeing BLACK-BILLED 
CUCKOO, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and heard 
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER.  Good birding!      

Lin Just
crazy4wildbirds AT yahoo.com
Colora, Md   
Subject: Wood Sandpiper still present at last light
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:24:01 -0400
The Wood Sandpiper was still present along the north side of Broadkill 
Road at last light (8:30pm).  Unlike last night when the bird stopped 
feeding around 7:30, tonight it continued to feed right up to the point 
when the light faded.  The bird was feeding in a small area of water 
just in front of the north side pull out.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Wood Sandpiper Seen at 5:20 pm today
From: Marcy Stutzman <marciastutzman AT NETSCAPE.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 21:06:27 -0400
Jay Sheppard refound the Wood Sandpiper today at 5:20 p.m. It was very 
cooperative offering long looks. Several birders got the opportunity to see the 

bird.

From the sign-in book, look across the road and slightly to the left. See the 
big white pole sticking up near the road. The sandpiper was in the marshy area 
in front of and to the right of the white pole.

Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD
marciastutzman AT netscape.net
Subject: Big Day list - 5/8
From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 19:52:39 -0500
Hello all,
Here's the list from the Big Day Steve Collins and I conducted yesterday. I've 
highlighted some of the "Good" birds 


 Red-throated Loon
 Common Loon
 Double-crested Cormorant
 Great Cormorant
 Least Bittern
 Great Blue Heron
 Great Egret
 Snowy Egret
 Little Blue Heron
 Cattle Egret
 Green Heron
 Black-crowned Night-Heron
 Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
 Glossy Ibis
 Black Vulture
 Turkey Vulture
 Greater White-fronted Goose
 Snow Goose
 Canada Goose
 Brant
 Wood Duck
 Gadwall
 American Black Duck
 Mallard
 Northern Shoveler
 Northern Pintail
 Green-winged Teal
 Black Scoter
 Red-breasted Merganser
 Ruddy Duck
 Osprey
 Bald Eagle
 Northern Harrier
 Sharp-shinned Hawk
 Cooper's Hawk
 Red-tailed Hawk
 American Kestrel
 Merlin
 Peregrine Falcon
 Ring-necked Pheasant
 Wild Turkey
 Northern Bobwhite
 Clapper Rail
 King Rail
 Virginia Rail
 Sora
 Common Moorhen
 American Coot
 Black-bellied Plover
 American Golden-Plover
 Semipalmated Plover
 Piping Plover
 Killdeer
 American Oystercatcher
 Black-necked Stilt
 American Avocet
 Greater Yellowlegs
 Lesser Yellowlegs
 Solitary Sandpiper
 Willet
 Spotted Sandpiper
 Ruddy Turnstone
 Red Knot
 Sanderling
 Semipalmated Sandpiper
 Least Sandpiper
 White-rumped Sandpiper
 Pectoral Sandpiper
 Dunlin
 Ruff
 Short-billed Dowitcher
 Common Snipe
 American Woodcock
 Laughing Gull
 Ring-billed Gull
 Herring Gull
 Lesser Black-backed Gull
 Great Black-backed Gull
 Royal Tern
 Common Tern
 Forster's Tern
 Least Tern
 Black Skimmer
 Rock Dove
 Mourning Dove
 Yellow-billed Cuckoo
 Barn Owl
 Eastern Screech-Owl
 Great Horned Owl
 Barred Owl
 Chuck-will's-widow
 Whip-poor-will
 Chimney Swift
 Ruby-throated Hummingbird
 Red-headed Woodpecker
 Red-bellied Woodpecker
 Downy Woodpecker
 Hairy Woodpecker
 Northern Flicker
 Pileated Woodpecker
 Eastern Wood-Pewee
 Acadian Flycatcher
 Willow Flycatcher
 Eastern Phoebe
 Great Crested Flycatcher
 Eastern Kingbird
 White-eyed Vireo
 Yellow-throated Vireo
 Blue-headed Vireo
 Warbling Vireo
 Philadelphia Vireo
 Red-eyed Vireo
 Blue Jay
 American Crow
 Fish Crow
 Horned Lark
 Purple Martin
 Tree Swallow
 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
 Bank Swallow
 Cliff Swallow
 Barn Swallow
 Carolina Chickadee
 Tufted Titmouse
 Red-breasted Nuthatch
 White-breasted Nuthatch
 Brown-headed Nuthatch
 Carolina Wren
 House Wren
 Sedge Wren
 Marsh Wren
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
 Eastern Bluebird
 Veery
 Gray-cheeked Thrush
 Swainson's Thrush
 Wood Thrush
 American Robin
 Gray Catbird
 Northern Mockingbird
 Brown Thrasher
 European Starling
 Cedar Waxwing
 Blue-winged Warbler
 Nashville Warbler
 Northern Parula
 Yellow Warbler
 Chestnut-sided Warbler
 Magnolia Warbler
 Black-throated Blue Warbler
 Yellow-rumped Warbler
 Black-throated Green Warbler
 Blackburnian Warbler
 Yellow-throated Warbler
 Pine Warbler
 Prairie Warbler
 Palm Warbler
 Blackpoll Warbler
 Black-and-white Warbler
 American Redstart
 Prothonotary Warbler
 Worm-eating Warbler
 Ovenbird
 Northern Waterthrush
 Louisiana Waterthrush
 Kentucky Warbler
 Common Yellowthroat
 Hooded Warbler
 Yellow-breasted Chat
 Summer Tanager
 Scarlet Tanager
 Eastern Towhee
 Chipping Sparrow
 Field Sparrow
 Vesper Sparrow
 Savannah Sparrow
 Grasshopper Sparrow
 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
 Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
 Seaside Sparrow
 Song Sparrow
 Swamp Sparrow
 White-throated Sparrow
 White-crowned Sparrow
 Northern Cardinal
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
 Blue Grosbeak
 Indigo Bunting
 Red-winged Blackbird
 Eastern Meadowlark
 Common Grackle
 Boat-tailed Grackle
 Brown-headed Cowbird
 Orchard Oriole
 Baltimore Oriole
 House Finch
 American Goldfinch
 House Sparrow

       
---------------------------------

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Subject: ALERT - DOS Bird-A-Thon Honorary Birdwalk at Mt. Cuba 5/9
From: Bill Stewart <hcf2 AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:28:45 -0400
To DOS Honorary Members, Fellows and Officers,

Due to the potential of some nasty morning weather, I want to send  
out a few guidelines.

	If we are experiencing drenching downpours and/or thunderstorms, the  
walk will be cancelled.

	If we are experiencing showers and birdable weather, we will go for it.

Either way, I will be at Mt. Cuba by 8:00 to assess the situation and  
make a determination and greet participants.  If you would like to  
call and get an up to the minute status, please feel free to call me  
at 610 864 0370.

Let's hope the weathermen are wrong.........again.

Bill Stewart
Subject: Wood Sandpiper and Yellow Rail
From: Jay K <azure.jay AT earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:20:35 -0400
Hello DE-Birders,

I heard about the Wood Sandpiper when most others did last evening, and was 
immediately dismayed realizing I couldn't do anything about it. I had a busy 
day scheduled in the office the next day (in Washington DC) and have plans to 
be out of town for the weekend. What's a NUT JOB birder to do? Well, it's to 
hop in the car at 2 AM after 2 hours of sleep and drive to Prime Hook to see 
the bird at first light. That's exactly what I did, and got into the office at 
a reasonable time and handled it all! 


I arrived at the refuge at just about 4:30 AM, and headed right for Broadkill 
Beach Rd. I was driving slowly with the windows down listening for night 
critters and had MARSH WREN, WILSON'S SNIPE, and a couple of others. As I drove 
farther, I heard the "song" of the BLACK RAIL so immediately found a small 
pulloff to listen for it again. This pulloff is actually just before the bridge 
that is just before the left-hand bend in the road near the area where the 
Sandpiper is being seen. This informal pulloff is marked with a "P" sign and is 
on the right as you head east. I sat here for perhaps 30 minutes overall 
(sunrise was still far off), and after about 15 minutes, I began to hear some 
odd, quiet sounds coming from the grasses quite close to the road that I did 
not recognize. After several minutes of this, the distinctive tic-tic 
tic-tic-tic of the YELLOW RAIL fired off a couple of phrases, confirming the 
identity of the creature making those unusual sounds. After this, ! 

 it repeated the tics once and went back to the other sounds.  Amazing!

At this point the sky was starting to turn that deep blue-purple color, so I 
headed for the second pulloff after the bend. Here I sat in silence for a long 
while in my car until I could start to make out some shorebird shapes outside 
my window. At one point after it got lighter, I could clearly see that the two 
birds I was looking at were a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a WOOD SANDPIPER. The two 
standing side-by-side made it remarkably easy to differentiate the Wood SP from 
the Lesser. 


After a while, two birders from NJ arrived (Frank and Frank - did not get their 
last name) and we immediately found the bird, this time it was alone. It was 
interesting how seeing the bird alone made it seem like a tougher ID. I 
squinted to make sure it was the bird but the thing that stands out is its 
foraging behavior as compared to a Yellowlegs, along with its supercilium and 
other features. After just a couple of minutes, the bird flew off, giving its 
high-pitched call and we could not locate it again before I had to depart back 
to DC. 


A truly memorable and fantastic trip, perhaps my last before I move away at the 
end of the month. I will certainly miss my regular visits to Delaware. 


Take Care,

Jay Keller,
Arlington, VA
Subject: Big Day - 5/7 No countable Wood Sandpiper, but quite a day nonetheless..
From: Forrest Rowland <rowbird2005 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 15:30:09 -0500
Hello all,
This is the preliminary short version. The long one will be days in the making, 
as I will be busy and traveling until early next week. To make a long story 
short: 


Steve Collins and I conducted our Bird-a-Thon Big Day Wednesday, May 7th. The 
forecast was good for the day, with good winds the evening before and sun. We 
didn't know what to expect. 


This may give you an idea of the way the day went overall:

We arrived at White Clay Creek State Park at about 5:45p. At this point our 
target birds were dwindled to Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawk, Common 
Nighthawk, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Willow Flycatcher, 
Yellow-throated and Warbling Vireo, Gray-cheeked and Hermit Thrush, 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, or Black-billed Cuckoo. 


By 6 pm we had Yellow-throated Vireo, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Northern 
Rough-winged Swallow. We were practically jogging through the park to get to 
Hopkins Bridge, hoping that time wouldn't run out on us. We got to the open 
field hoping for Blue-winged Warbler. Instead we had a Warbling Vireo begin 
singing madly AND Rose-breasted Grosbeak trying to compete for air time. 
Thinking our luck had finally run out, on the awlk back to Hopkins Rd, a male 
Blue-winged Warbler sang not 20 feet away. We crossed the bridge on the 
pumphouse side. Willow Flycatcher singing on the far side. An adult Cooper's 
Hawk cruised right across the path at eye level just before an odd Thrush 
"jreet". We waited. Gray-cheeked Thrush was suspected, and confirmed when 
another began singing opposite the original bird!!!! We thought we were in the 
Truman Show. This MUST be a joke. Nobody could get this lucky!! 


Of course, we weren't lucky enough to break 200. At 8pm, after 18 hours of 
birding, we had tallied 199 species. It was an incredible day. 


More to come....

Forrest Rowland

       
---------------------------------

Yahoo! Deportes Beta
ˇNo te pierdas lo último sobre el torneo clausura  2008!
 Entérate aquí http://deportes.yahoo.com
Subject: Wood Sandpiper Still Being Seen at 3:15 PM
From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 15:15:32 EDT
Derek Stoner called and said the Wood Sandpiper is on the north side of the  
road working a 20 yard pool between the first and second pull off at 3:15  PM. 
 A logbook has been placed at the second pull off - please  sign it if you 
look for the bird.
 
Thanks
 
Frank Rohrbacher
Wilmington, Delaware



**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
favorites at AOL Food.      
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
Subject: Wood Sandpiper present at 1:30pm
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 14:13:48 -0400
While I was there the bird was in the vicinity of the first pull out.  I 
also heard reports that the bird had been on the north side of the road 
as well.  There are also a few more shorebirds present today than yesterday.

I have posted a few shots of the bird on my website.

Please be very careful when out of your car as parking is going to be 
difficult and the traffic will be heavy as the weekend approaches.  It's 
not unusual for cars to travel 60mph in this area.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: Glasses Lost at Wood Sandpiper Site
From: Bob Strahorn <bstrahor AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 13:59:51 -0400
I have a pair of glasses (silver metal frames, not bifocals) that were found
this morning at one of the pull offs. They were lost prior to 11:00 am. If
they are yours, or you think you know who they might belong to, contact me
off list.

 

Bob Strahorn

bstrahor AT comcast.net

302-584-2065

 
Subject: Bombay Hook NWR Bird Sightings: April 28 thru May 07, 2008
From: tina watson <tinawatsonde AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 08:19:53 -0700
Bombay Hook NWR Spring Bird Count is Saturday, May 10, 2008. If you would like 
to help meet at the Visitor Center at 7:00am. 


Please record all your sightings on the clipboard in the lobby of the Restroom 
area. Thanks. 


> Here are the bird sightings for the week April 28 thru May
> 07, 2008.
> 
> American Bittern
> Little Blue Heron
> Black-crowned Night-Heron
> Glossy Ibis
> Green-winged Teal
> Ruddy Duck
> Osprey
> Bald Eagle
> Peregrine Falcon
> Merlin
> American Golden-Plover
> Semipalmated Plover
> Black-necked Stilt
> American Avocet
> Red Knot
> Pectoral Sandpiper
> Dunlin
> Ruff
> Little Gull
> Hairy Woodpecker
> Acadian Flycatcher
> Great Crested Flycatcher
> Eastern Kingbird
> Sedge Wren
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet
> White-eyed Vireo
> Yellow-throated Vireo
> Red-eyed Vireo
> Blue-winged Warbler
> Hooded Warbler
> Northern Parula
> Yellow Warbler
> Black-throated Blue Warbler
> Black-throated Green Warbler
> Yellow-rumped Warbler
> American Redstart
> Prothonotary Warbler
> Black-and-white Warbler
> Ovenbird
> Northern Waterthrush
> Common Yellowthroat
> Blue Grosbeak
> Indigo Bunting
> Eastern Towhee
> Savannah Sparrow
> Baltimore Oriole


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 

Subject: Ashland this morning
From: joe sebastiani <joe AT DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:47:17 -0400
Forrest Rowland led an excellent walk this morning at Ashland.
Highlights include:

*	7 flyover Common Loon
*	Blue-winged Warbler
*	Black-and-white Warbler
*	Prairie Warbler
*	Blue-winged Warbler
*	Blackpoll Warbler
*	Yellow Warbler
*	Ovenbird
*	Common Yellowthroat
*	Blue Grosbeak
*	Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)

 

Immediately after the walk, a Prothonotary Warbler, Louisiana
Waterthrush, and Chestnut-sided Warbler were along Red Clay Creek below
the nature center.   

 

Joe Sebastiani

Members Program Team Leader

Delaware Nature Society

P.O. Box 700

Hockessin, DE 19707

(302) 239-2334 ext. 115

fax (302) 239-2473

joe AT delawarenaturesociety.org

 
Subject: Bombay photos
From: Scott Michaud <mazhude AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 09:35:29 -0400
I birded Bombay Hook NWR on Monday. Put up the pictures last night. I have some 
shots of warblers, ibis, and fox cubs. 44 bird day. Enjoy! 

 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazhude/
 
List:
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Robin
Cardinal
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Goldfinch
Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird
Starling
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Laughing Gull
Black-bellied Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Ring-billed Gull
Eastern Kingbird
Swamp Sparrow
Catbird
Common Yellowthroat
Yellowrump
Palm Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Towhee
Bluejay
Northern Flicker
Dunlin
Semi-palmated Plover
Solitary Sandpiper
House Wren
Lesser Yellowlegs
Avocet
Bald Eagle
Savannah Sparrow
Red Knot
Killdeer
Mallard
Glossy Ibis
Snowy Egret
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eastern Bluebird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
 
-- Scott Michaud
Riviera Beach, MD
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live SkyDrive lets you share files with faraway friends.

http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_skydrive_052008 
Subject: Pileated Woodpecker
From: Kevin Fleming <kfleming AT DMV.COM>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 07:52:27 -0400
Hello All,

Yesterday I photographed (for the first time in my life) a Pileated  
Woodpecker near Ashland Nature Center.

Here's what's new on www.WildDelaware.com

Canada goose goslings at Winterthur
raccoons and foxes
Ring-billed Gull with a striped cask eel
crab megalopae
Tree Swallows
baby Black Vultures (very cool)
Short-billed Dowitchers
American Oystercatcher
Willet
Bobwhite Quail
Black-necked Stilt

And much more!

Thanks for looking,

Kevin Fleming
Subject: Delaware Valley RBA, 7 May 2008
From: Stephen E Kacir <rba AT DVOC.ORG>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 04:28:51 -0700
- RBA

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0805.08
* May 8, 2008

- Birds Mentioned

Clark's Grebe ++
Anhinga ++
Swallow-tailed Kite +
Swallow-tailed Kite +++
Mississippi Kite ++
Yellow Rail +
Wood Sandpiper +++
Eurasian Collared-dove +
Fork-tailed Flycatcher +
Loggerhead Shrike +
Loggerhead Shrike ++
     + (Details requested by NJBRC)
     ++ (Details requested by PORC)
     +++ (Details requested by DERC)
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Broad-winged Hawk
Merlin
Ruffed Grouse
Northern Bobwhite
Black Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
White-rumped Sandpiper
Wilson's Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Caspian Tern
Roseate Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Sutton's Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Bobolink
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin


- Transcript

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to: rba AT dvoc.org
Compilers: Steve Kacir and Tony Croasdale
            -- Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

Welcome to the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service provided
by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences of
Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC),
covering the Delaware Valley Region of Delaware, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania.

I'm Steve Kacir your guide for birding in the Greater Philadelphia
Region.  For May 7, 2008 we highlight reports of WOOD SANDPIPER in
Sussex County, DE; a possible CLARK'S GREBE in Berks County, PA;
ANHINGAS in Chester County, PA; SWALLOW-TAILED KITES in Monmouth,
NJ and Sussex County, DE; MISSISSIPPI KITE in Lehigh County, PA;
YELLOW RAIL in Cumberland County, NJ; EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in
Cumberland County, NJ; possible FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Monmouth
County, NJ; LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES in Monmouth County, NJ and Bucks
County, PA.  Remember to check out our website for additional
content and information:

http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

FOR NEW JERSEY:

Cape May County:
A RUFF was at The Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird
Refuge on May 7, and a Reeve (female RUFF) was there on May 5. A
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the refuge on May 6.  PIPING
PLOVERS were on the beach at Cape May Point State Park and the Cape
May Migratory Bird Refuge.  A ROSEATE TERN was at the St Peter's
Jetty on May 4, and up to 3 COMMON EIDERS were seen in the Cape May
Point area through May 7.  The rips off Cape May Point have
attracted PARASITIC JAEGERS through the week.  Highlights from
Higbee Beach WMA this week included BLUE GROSBEAKS and NASHVILLE
WARBLER.  The Rea Farm had BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and BLUE GROSBEAKS.
The Villas WMA hosted PINE SISKIN and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; the
Villas WMA RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were noted through May 4.  A
BOBOLINK was at the Woodcock Trail of Cape May NWR on May 4.  This
week's highlights from Belleplain State Forest included SUMMER
TANAGERS, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, PROTHONOTARY, KENTUCKY, WORM-EATING
and HOODED WARBLERS.  CATTLE EGRETS were at the Eastern Shore
Nursing Home and the Cape May County Park and Zoo on May 4.  A
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW called from Reeds Beach Rd on May 4.  Jake's
Landing had a calling YELLOW RAIL on May 1, and BLACK RAILS on May
4.  A KING RAIL, VIRGINIA RAILS and LEAST BITTERNS were at Cedar
Swamp Creek on May 5.  Nummy's Island had a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
WHIMBREL and RED KNOT on May 4, while the Hereford Inlet area
hosted SURF SCOTER and TRICOLORED HERON.  Nearly 300 WHIMBREL were
at Nummy's Island on May 7.  A MARBLED GODWIT was at Two Mile
Landing that day, while RED KNOTS were at the Two Mile Beach Unit
of Cape May NWR.

Cumberland County:
On May 4, WHIP-POOR-WILL and VIRGINIA RAILS called from Turkey
Point Wildlife Area at the Glades Wildlife Refuge.  That day, a
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was at the Robinstown Rd area.  On May 2, a
SUMMER TANAGER and WORM-EATING WARBLER were at the Paynter's
Crossing/Railroad Ave area.  A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was found
along Valatia Ave in Millville on May 4.

Atlantic County:
Edwin B Forsythe NWR's Brigantine Division had a GLAUCOUS GULL in
the marsh north of the dike just before leaving the dike at Jen's
Trail on May 3.  Other sightings from the refuge that day included
MARBLED GODWIT and 53 WHIMBREL.  A BLUE GROSBEAK appeared in Port
Republic on May 4.

Monmouth County:
A probable FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was near the Sandy Hook Coast
Guard Base on May 6.  That day, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and a WILSON'S
PHALAROPE were found near Fisherman's Trail, and the PHALAROPE was
seen again on May 7.  Sandy Hook boasted ROSEATE TERNS through May
7.  The ROSEATES were reported from the bay across from the Sandy
Hook Bird Observatory, the sandbar north of Plum Island, North
Beach, and the False Hook area on May 3.  Other notable sightings
from Sandy Hook this week included 8 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, BLACK
TERN, AMERICAN BITTERN, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, BANK SWALLOWS,
LINCOLN'S SPARROW, CAPE MAY WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Sandy Hook had 17 species of warbler on May 4, including YELLOW-
THROATED, BAY-BREASTED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.  The Sandy Hook
Migration Watch had a high count of 58 MERLINS on May 4.  A
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew by the Migration Watch on May 2.  A BARRED
OWL called from the Rusty Barn area on May 1.  On May 3, Sandy
Hook's False Hook area at the end of Fisherman's Trail had PIPING
PLOVERS.  On May 4, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was at Natco Lake.  That
day, Allaire State Park had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO; CAPE MAY, CANADA
and HOODED WARBLERS.

Burlington County:
This week, Palmyra Cove Nature Park had COMMON GOLDENEYE and at
least 16 species of warbler including WILSON'S, WORM-EATING, HOODED
and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.  That day, there were BLUE GROSBEAKS at
the Chatsworth section of Franklin Parker Preserve.  The Hawkins Rd
area had PROTHONOTARY, HOODED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.  A LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Riversedge Park on May 3.  Brightview Farm
had BOBOLINKS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and SUMMER TANAGER on May 6.

Salem County:
On May 4, BOBOLINKS were at Featherbed Lane and CATTLE EGRETS were
at Compromise Rd.

Gloucester County:
A CASPIAN TERN was at the High Hill Rd Marsh area on May 1, and
Raccoon Island had 2 GREAT CORMORANTS that day.  A NORTHERN
BOBWHITE was at Riverwinds on May 3.  Glassboro Woods WMA had
HOODED, WORM-EATING, KENTUCKY and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS.

Camden County:
A WORM-EATING WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were at the
Stafford Trails in Vorhees Twp on May 4.  A BOBOLINK was at the
Stafford Farm in Vorhees on May 5.  KENTUCKY WARBLERS were at
Winslow WMA on May 1.

Mercer County:
Baldpate Mountain had eBird reports of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and
KENTUCKY WARBLER on May 2.  A HOODED WARBLER was at Princeton
Institute Woods on May 7.

Somerset County:
Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve had BLUE GROSBEAKS, VESPER
SPARROWS and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on May 5.

Hunterdon County:
On May 3, Spruce Run Reservoir had nearly 50 COMMON LOONS, PURPLE
FINCHES, SUMMER TANAGER and 15 species of warbler including
TENNESSEE and GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS.

Warren County:
Old Mine Rd had 20 species of warblers on May 4, including
CERULEAN, CANADA, HOODED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.  A BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER was near Merril Creek Reservoir on May 4.


FOR DELAWARE:

New Castle County:
This week, Brandywine Creek State Park had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
and 23 species of warbler including WORM-EATING, KENTUCKY, HOODED
and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.  On May 3, White Clay Creek State Park
hosted YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER and 13 species of
warbler including WILSON'S WARBLER.  On May 1, the Meadows Tract of
Blackbird State Forest had HOODED and KENTUCKY WARBLERS.  Alapocas
Woods Park had SWAINSON'S THRUSH on May 7.  A KING RAIL called from
Grier's Pond on May 4.

Kent County:
On May 4, Bombay Hook NWR had 35-50 RED KNOTS at Shearness Pool.
Other highlights from Bombay Hook that day included BLUE GROSBEAKS
and BLACK-NECKED STILTS.  Killens Pond State Park had a SUMMER
TANAGER on May 5.

Sussex County:
A WOOD SANDPIPER was found at the Broadkill Impoundments of Prime
Hook NWR on May 5, and was still present in the area on May 8.  The
WOOD SANDPIPER was found on the right side of the impoundment, and
was observed from the second pull-out after the nearly ninety
degree turn at the gated Island Farm Rd.  On May 4, Prime Hook NWR
had 18 species of warbler including YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT; WORM-
EATING, PROTHONOTARY, HOODED and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.

Trap Pond State Park had a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE on May 3, and
another SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen from the Cape Henlopen State
Park Hawk Watch on May 7.  A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found on
State Forest Rd, a mile north of Seashore Highway in the Redden
State Forest Area.  The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen as recently
as May 7, when it was 1.8 miles south of Deer Forest Rd.  The
DuPont Nature Center had RED KNOTS and a TRICOLORED HERON on May 4.
On May 7, Abbott's Mill Nature Center had ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, BLUE
GROSBEAK, HOODED and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS.  On May 4, Milford Neck
WA had BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.


FOR PENNSYLVANIA:

Philadelphia County:
On May 3, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO,
WHITE-EYED VIREO and 17 species of warbler including YELLOW-
BREASTED CHAT.  The next day, the refuge had a RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH and 15 species of warbler.  The University of
Pennsylvania's Biopond hosted NASHVILLE WARBLER on May 5.  A BAY-
BREASTED WARBLER was found along the Wissahickon Creek near Valley
Green Inn in Chestnut Hill on May 3.  That day a WILSON'S WARBLER
and WORM-EATING WARBLER were banded at Fairmount Park, and a few
BOBOLINKS were at the hay fields along Spring Lane.

Delaware County:
Two ANHINGAS soared over Struble Lake on May 4.  That day Hibernia
Park also hosted a LONG-EARED OWL, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and PURPLE
FINCH.  A May 4 walk along Crum Creek at Scott's Arboretum at
Swarthmore College provided SWAINSON'S THRUSH, SUMMER TANAGER,
TENNESSEE and HOODED WARBLER.

Chester County:
At the private Bucktoe Creek Preserve in Chester County, there were
15 BOBOLINKS on May 5.  A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was in a yard near
White Clay Creek on May 3.  This week, White Clay Creek Preserve
had PURPLE FINCHES and at least 15 species of warbler including
BAY-BREASTED and HOODED WARBLERS.  PINE SISKINS appeared on private
property on May 7.

Montgomery County:
A BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was found in Audubon on May 4.  On May 3,
the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove had a BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO.  On May 3, Green Lane Reservoir had 6 COMMON LOONS, and 3
DUNLIN were at the Church Rd area.  This week, Fort Washington
State Park hosted GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON'S THRUSH and at least
17 species of warbler including GOLDEN-WINGED, CERULEAN, YELLOW-
THROATED, WORM-EATING and WILSON'S WARBLERS.  A BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER was at Huntingdon Valley on May 1.  Mill Creek Preserve had
WORM-EATING WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on May 5.

Bucks County:
On May 5, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen from a dirt path near the
Callowhill Rd bridge over the Perkiomen Creek.  A May 2 walk along
the Perkiomen Trail in Perkasie revealed 14 species of warbler.  An
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at Hidden Lake off of Route 532 near
Newtown on May 2.  Seventeen species of warbler were noted at Peace
Valley Park through May 3, including WORM-EATING and BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER.  Silver Lake Park had RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 10 species of
warbler on May 3.  This week Churchville Nature Center had PURPLE
FINCH and HOODED WARBLER.  Nockamixon State Park had YELLOW-
THROATED VIREO, BLACKBURNIAN and TENNESSEE WARBLERS on May 3.  That
day, SGL-157 had PURPLE FINCH; RED-HEADED WOODPECKER; HOODED,
BLACKBURNIAN and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.  On May 5, Core Creek Park
had a CLIFF SWALLOW.

Northampton County:
On May 4, Moore Twp sightings included KENTUCKY WARBLER,
GRASSHOPPER and VESPER SPARROWS.  Green Pond had LESSER BLACK-
BACKED GULLS through May 3, with a high count of 107 LESSER BLACK-
BACKS on May 3.  This week Jacobsburg State Park hosted WHITE-EYED
VIREO, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and 16 warbler species including
BLACKBURNIAN and HOODED WARBLERS.  A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at
Jacobsburg State Park on May 5, and five more were there on May 7.

Lehigh County:
On May 3, Purchase Park had 7 species of warbler.  A MISSISSIPPI
KITE was seen from Treichlers Bridge near Laury's Station on May 7,
and a CERULEAN and several WORM-EATING WARBLERS were in that area.

Schuylkill County:
On May 2, the Tumbling Run Watershed had 16 species of warbler
including HOODED and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.  A CLIFF SWALLOW was at
Hidden Valley on May 4.  Sweet Arrow Lake had HOODED WARBLER on May
2.

Berks County:
A possible CLARK'S GREBE and a COMMON LOON were on Blue Marsh Lake
on May 7.  CERULEAN and WORM-EATING WARBLERS were at Hay Creek on
May 3.  That day, SGL-110 had RUFFED GROUSE and 13 species of
warbler including WORM-EATING and HOODED WARBLERS.  Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary had migrating BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and MERLINS.

Lancaster County:
On May 4, the Conejohela Flats had RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 4
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; FORSTER'S, CASPIAN and
BLACK TERNS.  Five DUNLIN were at the Flats on May 2.  On May 3,
Holtwood Ash Basin #2 had PRAIRIE WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and
WHITE-EYED VIREO.  Three BLUE GROSBEAKS were at Lancaster County
Central Park on May 2, along with 14 species of warbler including
YELLOW-THROATED and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.  Safe Harbor Park that
day hosted 3 CERULEAN WARBLERS, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was at
Observation Site Rd.  Northern Lancaster County Park's Pumping
Station Rd had GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on
May 7.

Lebanon County:
On May 3, the power line area along Pinch Rd revealed 20 species of
warbler; including CERULEAN, BAY-BREASTED, KENTUCKY, PROTHONOTARY,
HOODED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.


*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***

Due to scheduling and internet access issues, there will be no
Delaware Valley RBA for the week of May 19, 2008.  We will resume a
regular schedule for the week of May 26, 2008.

On May 9-11, Colin Campbell will lead a DVOC field trip, Birding
Southern Delaware into Maryland.  If you would like to attend this
field trip, contact Colin Campbell in advance.  A flyer with
additional information will be made available to participants.  The
DVOC website also has information about this trip, including
contact information for the trip leader and reports from past
trips: http://www.dvoc.org

On 12, Sandra Keller will lead a DVOC field trip exploring
Gloucester County, NJ.  The trip will meet at will meet at 7:00AM
at Glassboro Woods WMA on Carpenter - the west (Rt. 47) end; pull
into the parking area by the gate.  Please contact Sandra Keller if
you plan on attending.  Additional information, including contact
information for the trip leader is on the DVOC website:
http://www.dvoc.org

The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday May 15 at 7:30pm at the
Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Debi Shearwater
will present "Penguins of the World."  In lieu of an Ornithological
Study that evening, the Nikon DVOC Lagerhead Shrikes will present
their World Series of Birding report.  The meeting after that will
be on June 5, featuring Frank Windfelder's "My Philly Big Year in
2007."  Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome.

Spring Migration is in full swing.  For a bird's eye view of the
phenomenon and some birding forecasts, check out David La Puma's
Woodcreeper.com website at http://www.woodcreeper.com
Or read his forecasts at http://birdcapemay.org/bfma

The second Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas kicks off this year.
Please consider taking part in this massive citizen science project
to study the map the distribution of birds breeding in Delaware and
compare the data with that gathered by the first Delaware Breeding
Bird Atlas from 20 years ago.  For more information contact the DE
BBA Coordinator, Anthony Gonzon at Anthony.Gonzon AT state.de.us or
call (302)653-2880.  More information is available at the DE BBA
Website: http://www.fw.delaware.gov/BBA

The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report on birding
in the Delaware Valley Region including Pennsylvania, Delaware and
New Jersey.  To report birds or significant birding events and
planned pelagic trips, please email rba AT dvoc.org.  This is Steve
Kacir, good birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and
reporting.

- End Transcript

Steve Kacir
rba AT dvoc.org
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee Chair
Academy of Natural Sciences
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Philadelphia
Subject: Wood Sandpiper in Present - 5/8
From: ROHRBAF AT AOL.COM
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 06:50:23 EDT
I received a report from Jay Keller that the Wood Sandpiper is  foraging 
actively at the same place as yesterday on Broadkill Beach Road at first light 

today Thursday May 8.
 
Frank Rohrbacher
Wilmington, Delaware.



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Subject: Spring Round Up - This Saturday
From: John Janowski <jsbirders AT VERIZON.NET>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:55:29 -0400
Can birding in Delaware get any more exciting than this! 

May is certainly living up to its reputation of International Migratory Month. 
Not only are we blessed with our returning neotropics but the report today of a 
Wood Sandpiper at Broadkill makes two Eurasian species in as many weeks. 


This sets the stage for what could be a record Spring Roundup this Saturday, 
May 10. We could set a record for most species seen in a Roundup and maybe add 
some exciting new birds to the cumulative list. The Swallow-tailed Kite might 
just stick around. 


The Roundup is a great way to participate in the DOS Bird-A-Thon and even get 
some of your surveys underway for the Breeding Bird Atlas. 


All birders are needed for this event and if your compiler hasn't contacted you 
yet, don't be shy about participating. Here are the compilers and the areas 
they cover: 


If you need a Spring Roundup count list, I'll be glad to e-mail you one.

Area 1: New Castle County south to the C&D Canal, Mike Smith 
michael.a.smith AT villanova.edu 

Area 2: C&D Canal south to the Leipsic River in Kent County, John Janowski 
jsbirders AT verizon.net 

Area 3: Kent County south of the Leipsic River to the Sussex County Line, Joe 
Sabastiani bunker AT kennett.net 

Area 5: Sussex County south Lewes, Frank Rohrbacher, rohrbaf AT aol.com
Area 6: Lewes to the Indian River Inlet, Glen Lovelace, 
glen.lovelace AT state.de.us 

Area 7: Indian River Inlet south to the Maryland Line, Bob Rufe rrufe1 AT aol.com

Thank you and enjoy this great season of birding in Delaware.

John Janowski
Port Penn, DE
Subject: Milford Neck, Woodshaven and Brandywine Creek Saturday to Tuesday
From: Chris Bennett <cb2564 AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:52:44 -0400
I apologize of the tardiness of this report – but I’m going with better 
late than never.  As Matt mentioned shortly after the fact – I led a 
fieldtrip to Milford Neck and the Dupont Nature Center for the Sussex Bird Club 
on Saturday.  We had a great turn out in participants as well as birds.  It 
was cool and foggy for most of the day with the sun finally burning off the fog 
after noon as we stood on the deck at the Dupont Center and watched a 
spectacular shorebird show.  As Matt mentioned in his post Saturday, we had 
one nice mixed songbird flock which contained Red-eyed Vireo, Ruby-crowned 
Kinglet, chickadees and titmice and the following warblers – Northern Parula, 
Yellow, Chestnut-sided (4), Magnolia, Black-throated Blue (3-4), Yellow-rumped 
(~10), Black-throated Green (2-3), Bay-breasted, Black and White, American 
Redstart and Worm-eating.  We also had Kentucky, Pine, Common Yellowthroat and 
Yellow-breasted Chat during the day – bringing our warbler total for the day 
to 17.   The other highlights on Milford Neck included Brown-headed Nuthatch 
along Big Stone Beach Road, a Merlin flying over the beach at Big Stone Beach 
and a pair of Killdeer with fluffy chicks – in one of my Atlas blocks! 


 

On the way out to the Dupont Center we had a bunch of Seaside Sparrows and a 
single distant Sharp-tailed Sparrow in the marsh along Lighthouse Road.  We 
also had a single Tricolored Heron perched on the top of a tree on the opposite 
side of Cedar Creek.  The real show, though, was in the Harbor.  There were 
thousands of Dunlin and 100 – 300 Red Knots along with lesser numbers of 
Short-billed Dowitchers, Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones and Semipalmated 
Sandpipers.  Also seen were a American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt and 
Clapper Rail.  A great day of birding was enjoyed by all.  The final total 
for the day was 88 species. 


 

On Sunday the good birding continued.  While walking the dog around the 
neighborhood in the morning Karen and I had Yellow (bathing in our front yard 
water feature) Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Northern Parula, 
Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Cape May Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore and 
rchard Oriole and Veery.  We made a quick run out to Milford Neck to do an 
hour or so of Atlasing and confirmed Eastern Bluebird nesting in an old 
woodpecker cavity in a short snag and added both Orioles, Prothonotary Warbler, 
White-breasted Nuthatch and Black-billed Cuckoo to great list we racked up on 
Saturday. 


 

I worked in the field at Brandywine Creek on Monday and Tuesday in Tulip Tree 
Woods.  While pulling Garlic Mustard I was serenaded by Black-throated Green 
and Black-throated Blue Warblers, Scarlet Tanager and Yellow-billed Cuckoo on 
Tuesday. During lunch on Tuesday a pair of Red-tailed Hawks engaged in a 
courtship flight above the woodlot near the Amphitheater.  I also had a 
singing Eastern Meadowlark and a male American Kestrel in the meadows and a 
single Dark-eyed Junco in the gardens in front of the Nature Center on Tuesday. 


 

The complete list for Saturday’s trip is below.

 

CANADA GOOSE

MALLARD

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

GREAT BLUE HERON

SNOWY EGRET

TRICOLORED HERON

GLOSSY IBIS

BLACK VULTURE

TURKEY VULTURE

OSPREY

NORTHERN HARRIER

MERLIN

CLAPPER RAIL

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER

KILLDEER

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER

BLACK-NECKED STILT

GREATER YELLOWLEGS

WILLET

RUDDY TURNSTONE

RED KNOT

SANDERLING

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER

LEAST SANDPIPER

DUNLIN

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER

LAUGHING GULL

RING-BILLED GULL

HERRING GULL

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL

FORSTER'S TERN

ROCK DOVE

MOURNING DOVE

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER

DOWNY WOODPECKER

PILEATED WOODPECKER

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER

WHITE-EYED VIREO

RED-EYED VIREO

BLUE JAY

AMERICAN CROW

PURPLE MARTIN

TREE SWALLOW

BARN SWALLOW

CAROLINA CHICKADEE

TUFTED TITMOUSE

BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH

CAROLINA WREN

HOUSE WREN

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER

AMERICAN ROBIN

GRAY CATBIRD

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD

BROWN THRASHER

EUROPEN STARLING

CEDAR WAXWING

EUROPEAN STARLING

NORTHERN PARULA

YELLOW WARBLER

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER

MAGNOLIA WARBLER

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER

PINE WARBLER

PRAIRIE WARBLER

BAY-BREASTED WARBLER

BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER

AMERICAN REDSTART

WORM-EATING WARBLER

OVENBIRD

KENTUCKY WARBLER

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

SCARLET TANAGER

EASTERN TOWHEE

CHIPPING SPARROW

FIELD SPARROW

SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW

SEASIDE SPARROW

SONG SPARROW

SWAMP SPARROW

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

NORTHERN CARDINAL

BLUE GROSBEAK

INDIGO BUNTING

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

COMMON GRACKLE

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD

HOUSE FINCH

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

 

Chris Bennett

Milford, DE
Subject: Recent White winged tern sightings?
From: Ben Weinstein <bweinstein AT SYSSRC.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:40:07 -0400
Hello DE birders

Like many people, i will be trying for the wood sandpiper on friday, however 
i'd like to also try for the ted harvey white winged tern. The last report i've 
seen is for May 2nd at North Pond, is this correct? In the past has this 
species hung around? 


Thanks

Ben Weinstein
Reisterstown MD
Subject: PHNWR Wood Sandpiper
From: Ed Sigda <sigdae AT PRIMEHOOKBIRDING.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:15:25 -0400
Congrats again to Sharon Lynn for following up on her unknown bird from 
Monday.  And special thanks to all of my friends with cell phones that 
called me while I was at work in my PA office.  The Wood Sandpiper was 
my 300th species for Prime Hook NWR.  I hope to post some photos on my 
website later this evening.

I watched the bird from 6:00pm to 7:58pm when it flew off to the south 
hopefully just for the evening.  As Jeff mention in his mail the bird 
has been staying on the south side of the road up close to the road. 
While I observed the bird in covered about three quarters of the 
shoreline, with the second pullout being the center point.  The bird was 
very skittish if you tried to walk towards it.  My best advice would be 
to cross over to the other side of the road to get in front of it and 
then wait for it to walk right up to you.  Also keep your ears open as 
the bird calls frequently when it is is flight.  Beyond a few peeps the 
only other birds present were a Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper.

Please be very careful when out of your car as parking is going to be 
difficult and the traffic will be heavy as the weekend approaches.  It's 
not unusual for cars to travel 60mph in this area.

For all visiting birders the entrance road to headquarters area for 
Prime Hook is about 2 miles back towards route 1 and has some excellent 
habitat for migrant land birds.

Ed Sigda
Milton, DE
www.primehookbirding.com
Subject: A few details on the Broadkill Beach Wood Sandpiper
From: Jeffrey Gordon <jeffgyr AT MAC.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 18:43:38 -0400
Hello, DE-BIRDers & others--

Congratulations to Sharon Lynn on her amazing find of a Wood Sandpiper  
at Broadkill Beach Impoundment in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge,  
east of Milton, Delaware. I've posted a photo set about it on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgyr/sets/72157604940005597/  Click  
any photo to view it larger size.

A couple of details about this bird....

Finding & observing it:

It's hanging out on the near shore, quite close to the right (south)  
shoulder of Rt 16, about 0.3 miles beyond the "big bend" where the  
gated Island Farm Road continues straight.

It's the second pulloff on the right, as you head east towards the  
bay. The distance to the spot is about a hair more than 3.3 miles from  
the intersection of Rt 1 & Rt 16.

There is a small green and white "Important Bird Area" sign on the  
right that is just about a perfect marker for the spot, though it does  
range up and down the shore a few hundred feet, especially in the  
direction of the bay.

There are only a few shorebirds in the area--some Leasts, a Lesser  
Yellowlegs, and the Wood Sandpiper.

Here's a Google Map of the exact spot:  http://snipurl.com/27rzk

Backstory:

It was found Monday, May 5 by Sharon Lynn, who knew it was odd, but  
couldn't quite decide what it was. Sharon forwarded me excellent  
photos which I received this morning, and which I admit I at first  
passed off as an odd yellowlegs, but on second viewing strongly  
suspected Wood Sandpiper. Liz & I immediately dashed out to Broadkill  
and were able to re-find and confirm the bird.

Observing it:

It is tolerant of people within limits. It will flush before you even  
leave the road if you pursue it, so please be very careful about your  
movements. I did not flush it, by the way, but several passing  
vehicles did at times, and it was obvious from the bird's behavior  
when I approached it that it would have flushed had I pressed it at all.

Be very careful of traffic, both blocking it and getting hit by it. We  
all want this to be a positive event for everyone in the local  
community, both birders and non-birders.

Things to watch for:

Dumpy shape compared to Lesser Yellowlegs, with wings less projecting  
at rear. Capped appearance, with dark crown and prominent eyestripe.  
Dull straw legs. Two tone bill with greenish-straw base, thicker than  
Lesser Yellowlegs. High thin call, somewhat like Lesser Yellowlegs,  
but more like Solitary Sandpiper. Moves like Solitary Sandpiper;  
bounces when alert and on landing. White rump with strong black bands  
near end of tail. Gray wing linings.

Documentation:

Obviously, the more the better. But be aware that the bird has already  
been photographed, videotaped, and sound recorded, so there is not a  
*pressing* need to get close to it for more. The main priority is to  
make sure it stays as long as it cares to and is enjoyed safely by all  
those who come to see it.

It would be an excellent subject for digiscoping, though, which can be  
done at longer distances. Light is best in the afternoon.

Good birding,

Jeff


Jeff


Jeffrey Gordon
Lewes, DE
jeffgyr AT mac.com

Home page: www.jeffreyagordon.com
Subject: Alapocas Woods walk results
From: "sally o'byrne" <salobyrne AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 17:39:56 -0400
7 May - Alapocas DOS walk - 8 participants
This was not a big warbler fall-out day - many birds that seemed  
common on Monday weren't around today, but even so it was a lovely  
morning to walk and discover the beauty of Alapocas.   We had 6  
species of warbler and 3 thrush, including a Swainson's.  Some of the  
group heard a Red-breasted grosbeak, which others of us saw as the  
last bird of the morning.  I had my FOY E. Wood-Peewee and Acadian  
Flycatcher.  For many it was their FOY Great crested flycatcher.  This  
is my BBA area, so the group kindly helped look for evidence of  
breeding birds.  We found 2 Baltimore oriole nests being built, 1  
orchard oriole carrying nesting material, a cardinal nest with two  
eggs, a blue grey gnat nest, and several nests with unknown occupants.  
47 species altogether.

Sally O'Byrne

Complete list:
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Mallard
Greater Yellowlegs
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Cuckoo sp. (heard)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Peewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Tree Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut Sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grossbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
Subject: Alapocas Woods walk results
From: sally o'byrne <salobyrne AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 17:39:56 -0400
7 May - Alapocas DOS walk - 8 participants
This was not a big warbler fall-out day - many birds that seemed  
common on Monday weren't around today, but even so it was a lovely  
morning to walk and discover the beauty of Alapocas.   We had 6  
species of warbler and 3 thrush, including a Swainson's.  Some of the  
group heard a Red-breasted grosbeak, which others of us saw as the  
last bird of the morning.  I had my FOY E. Wood-Peewee and Acadian  
Flycatcher.  For many it was their FOY Great crested flycatcher.  This  
is my B