RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* August 19, 2005
* DEST0819.05
*Birds mentioned
American Avocet
Hudsonian Godwit
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Gull-billed Tern
Forster' s Tern
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Bank Swallow
Purple Martin
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sedge Wren
Blue-winged Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black and White Warbler
American Redstart
Grasshopper Sparrow
- Transcript
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: August 19, 2005
Number: 302/658-2747
To Report: Armas Hill, 302/529-1876 (VOICE)
302/529-1085 (FAX)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap@wittnet.com)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@wittnet.com)
This is Birdline Delaware for Friday, August 19th, from the Delaware
Museum of Natural History in Greenville. I'm Andy Ednie, substituting
this week for Armas Hill.
A pair of SEDGE WRENS continues to sing at the Logan Lane Tract of
the Ted Harvey Conservation Area. The birds are being found along the
first ditch east of the parking lot to the Delaware bayshore. Birds
carrying nesting materials were seen last week, but that discussion
is this week's topic on the radio special feature. BLACK TERNS and
occasionally GULL-BILLED TERNS continue to show up at the north pond
at the Logan Tract.
SANDWICH TERNS and BLACK TERNS were reported this week at the point
at Cape Henlopen State Park. 5 SANDWICH TERNS were also found at
Gordon' s Pond, on the north shore of Rehoboth Beach.
A big flock of terns at Shearness pool at Bombay Hook NWR on Sunday
evening included 469 FORSTER'S, 4 CASPAIN, and a BLACK TERN. A few
PECTORAL and STILT SANDPIPERS were also observed, but Raymond Pool is
now almost completely dry. On Saturday, AMERICAN AVOCETS and a basic
plumage WILSON'S PHALAROPE were observed. HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen
on Tuesday at the refuge.
There were 13 CASPIAN TERNS on the rocks at Battery Park in New
Castle this week.
And now for a quick u-tern, the first COMMON NIGHTHAWK of the season
was seen flying down the Brandywine Valley after the front on
Wednesday, August 17th. About 45 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were also seen that evening.
142 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were counted this weekend, going into the chimneys
at Ursaline Academy in downtown Wilmington. Later, none were present.
More birds at Brandywine Creek State Park this weekend included an
AMERICAN WOODCOCK flushed from along the river trail. Warblers seen
included BLUE-WINGED, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK AND WHITE, and AMERICAN REDSTART.
Downstate, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were reported at Gordon's Pond and
at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
SWALLOWS have left their nests and are moving south. The PURPLE
MARTINS at Bombay Hook headquarters left their nest boxes this week.
Hundreds of BANK SWALLOWS can be seen around the refuge as they head south.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS continue to be heard singing at the east end of
Dover AFB, at the intersection of Rt 9 and Bergdoll Rd.
Dead shorebirds were found this week at Taylor's Gut and reported to
DNREC. The area, with decreasing water levels, was at risk for an
avian botulism outbreak. The heat generates the anaerobic conditions
that can produce a plume of Clostridium bacteria, that produces the
exotoxins that cause botulism. Several specimens were collected and
the quick thinking of the Fish and Wildlife team decided to flood
Taylor's Gut with the rising tide to disperse the birds and dilute
the bacteria. If you see sick shorebirds, contact the Department of
Natural Resources at (302) 739-5072.
Birdline Delaware has a special feature every week, heard on 1450
WILM News Radio. You can hear the birdline on the radio on Wednesday
at 5:55 and 8:55 am and 6:55 pm. Here is this week's special feature.
One of Delaware's greatest natural assets is its wide expanses of
salt marsh. No other state has a higher percentage of land mass
covered in marsh. These marshes are the unique habitats of some
strange wetland birds like stilts, moorhens, and bitterns. Even some
of our common songbirds have adapted for life in the marsh.
Wrens are one of the most common songbirds in the world. They are
small round brown birds, which like to pump their tails straight up
when they sing. They sing some of the intricate beautiful songs of
all the songbirds. There about 70 different species worldwide, but
only 5 are found in Delaware. Two species, the Sedge Wren and the
Marsh Wren have specially adapted for a wetland niche.
Marsh Wrens, which used to be called the Long-billed Marsh Wren, are
found along the bayshore from Wilmington to Lewes. One small colony
has even moved up river to Tinicum, outside Philadelphia. You'll hear
their bubbly chatter (Marsh Wren Sfx) long before you'll ever see
one. During the breeding season, they burst into the air in song to
attract a mate. They will build several "dummy" nests before a female
will pick one to lay her eggs.
Sedge Wrens, formerly called the Short-billed Marsh Wren, are an
enigma. Their secretive habits make them virtually impossible to see.
Their song (Sedge Wren Sfx) is the least musical of all the wren
songs. Sedge Wrens are one of our rarest breeders. The last known
nesting was along the Port Mahon Road, east of Dover. Lately, a
couple have been found at the Logan Lane Tract near Kitts Hummock,
and seen carrying nesting materials.
But, Sedge Wrens sometimes disperse after their first nesting, and
will continuing building dummy nests. Sometimes nest building does
not always connote breeding.
I'm Andy Ednie, good birding. Call your bird reports to (302)
792-9591 or email me at
ednieap@wittnet.com. Thank you for calling.
-end transcript
* Delaware
* Statewide
* August 19, 2005
* DEST0819.05
*Birds mentioned
American Avocet
Hudsonian Godwit
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Gull-billed Tern
Forster' s Tern
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Bank Swallow
Purple Martin
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sedge Wren
Blue-winged Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black and White Warbler
American Redstart
Grasshopper Sparrow
- Transcript
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: August 19, 2005
Number: 302/658-2747
To Report: Armas Hill, 302/529-1876 (VOICE)
302/529-1085 (FAX)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap@wittnet.com)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@wittnet.com)
This is Birdline Delaware for Friday, August 19th, from the Delaware
Museum of Natural History in Greenville. I'm Andy Ednie, substituting
this week for Armas Hill.
A pair of SEDGE WRENS continues to sing at the Logan Lane Tract of
the Ted Harvey Conservation Area. The birds are being found along the
first ditch east of the parking lot to the Delaware bayshore. Birds
carrying nesting materials were seen last week, but that discussion
is this week's topic on the radio special feature. BLACK TERNS and
occasionally GULL-BILLED TERNS continue to show up at the north pond
at the Logan Tract.
SANDWICH TERNS and BLACK TERNS were reported this week at the point
at Cape Henlopen State Park. 5 SANDWICH TERNS were also found at
Gordon' s Pond, on the north shore of Rehoboth Beach.
A big flock of terns at Shearness pool at Bombay Hook NWR on Sunday
evening included 469 FORSTER'S, 4 CASPAIN, and a BLACK TERN. A few
PECTORAL and STILT SANDPIPERS were also observed, but Raymond Pool is
now almost completely dry. On Saturday, AMERICAN AVOCETS and a basic
plumage WILSON'S PHALAROPE were observed. HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen
on Tuesday at the refuge.
There were 13 CASPIAN TERNS on the rocks at Battery Park in New
Castle this week.
And now for a quick u-tern, the first COMMON NIGHTHAWK of the season
was seen flying down the Brandywine Valley after the front on
Wednesday, August 17th. About 45 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were also seen that evening.
142 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were counted this weekend, going into the chimneys
at Ursaline Academy in downtown Wilmington. Later, none were present.
More birds at Brandywine Creek State Park this weekend included an
AMERICAN WOODCOCK flushed from along the river trail. Warblers seen
included BLUE-WINGED, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACK AND WHITE, and AMERICAN REDSTART.
Downstate, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were reported at Gordon's Pond and
at Assawoman Wildlife Area.
SWALLOWS have left their nests and are moving south. The PURPLE
MARTINS at Bombay Hook headquarters left their nest boxes this week.
Hundreds of BANK SWALLOWS can be seen around the refuge as they head south.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS continue to be heard singing at the east end of
Dover AFB, at the intersection of Rt 9 and Bergdoll Rd.
Dead shorebirds were found this week at Taylor's Gut and reported to
DNREC. The area, with decreasing water levels, was at risk for an
avian botulism outbreak. The heat generates the anaerobic conditions
that can produce a plume of Clostridium bacteria, that produces the
exotoxins that cause botulism. Several specimens were collected and
the quick thinking of the Fish and Wildlife team decided to flood
Taylor's Gut with the rising tide to disperse the birds and dilute
the bacteria. If you see sick shorebirds, contact the Department of
Natural Resources at (302) 739-5072.
Birdline Delaware has a special feature every week, heard on 1450
WILM News Radio. You can hear the birdline on the radio on Wednesday
at 5:55 and 8:55 am and 6:55 pm. Here is this week's special feature.
One of Delaware's greatest natural assets is its wide expanses of
salt marsh. No other state has a higher percentage of land mass
covered in marsh. These marshes are the unique habitats of some
strange wetland birds like stilts, moorhens, and bitterns. Even some
of our common songbirds have adapted for life in the marsh.
Wrens are one of the most common songbirds in the world. They are
small round brown birds, which like to pump their tails straight up
when they sing. They sing some of the intricate beautiful songs of
all the songbirds. There about 70 different species worldwide, but
only 5 are found in Delaware. Two species, the Sedge Wren and the
Marsh Wren have specially adapted for a wetland niche.
Marsh Wrens, which used to be called the Long-billed Marsh Wren, are
found along the bayshore from Wilmington to Lewes. One small colony
has even moved up river to Tinicum, outside Philadelphia. You'll hear
their bubbly chatter (Marsh Wren Sfx) long before you'll ever see
one. During the breeding season, they burst into the air in song to
attract a mate. They will build several "dummy" nests before a female
will pick one to lay her eggs.
Sedge Wrens, formerly called the Short-billed Marsh Wren, are an
enigma. Their secretive habits make them virtually impossible to see.
Their song (Sedge Wren Sfx) is the least musical of all the wren
songs. Sedge Wrens are one of our rarest breeders. The last known
nesting was along the Port Mahon Road, east of Dover. Lately, a
couple have been found at the Logan Lane Tract near Kitts Hummock,
and seen carrying nesting materials.
But, Sedge Wrens sometimes disperse after their first nesting, and
will continuing building dummy nests. Sometimes nest building does
not always connote breeding.
I'm Andy Ednie, good birding. Call your bird reports to (302)
792-9591 or email me at
-end transcript