RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* April 7, 2006
* DEST0604.07
*Birds mentioned
Blue-winged Teal
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Harlequin Duck
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
American Bittern
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Glossy Ibis
Ring-necked Peasant
Wild Turkey
Sora
King Rail
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden Plover
Piping Plover
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Barred Owl
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Pine Siskin
- Transcript
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: April 7, 2006
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)
For Friday, April 7th, this is Birdline Delaware, from the Delaware Museum
of Natural History in Greenville. I'm Andy Ednie, glad to be back. Armas
Hill is away this week.
Lots of first this week, but first let me say how sorry I am to hear of the
passing of Larry Graff. Larry had made significant contributions to the
Birdline over the years. He was ideally situated in central Delaware, where
only a few of the inhabitants are birders. He was a lot of fun to be with in
the field, always a big smile and a "What' cha got". The folks here at the
Birdline would like to send their condolences to Larry's wife Shirley, and
his three sons. He will be sorely missed.
The first LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH of the season was reported last Friday along
the White Clay Creek north of Newark. Finding the first WATERTHRUSH is the
official start of the spring passerine migration. 3 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
were found along the creek yesterday.
Also at White Clay Creek this week was a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, singing
near the start of creek road, by the old railroad tracks. PALM and PINE
WARBLERS, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER were also reported. RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH was found in the pine woods by Hopkins Bridge and a BARRED OWL was
seen fishing for some of the newly stocked trout in the creek.
If you planning to bird in White Clay Creek be aware, Creek Road is closed
from Krapf's estate to Wedgwood Road due to erosion problems.
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found last Sunday, at Little Creek WMA, in the
marsh on the left hand side of the road, past the central tower. Also in
that marsh was the first BLACK-NECKED STILT of the season, with SNOWY
EGRETS, GLOSSY IBIS and numerous YELLOWLEGS.
Once again, be aware, Rt 9 is also closed from Little Creek to the Kitts
Hummock road because of the C-5A that went down in Bergdoll field, opposite
the entrance to the Air Transit Museum.
Shorebirds at Bombay Hook NWR included 18 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 4 LEAST
SANDPIPERS, among the DUNLIN and both species of YELLOWLEGS in the marsh
opposite Shearness Pool. There was a big flock of 75 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
along the entrance road (Whitehall Neck Rd.), and included in that flock was
a single AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. Also at Bombay Hook were BROWN THRASHER,
AMERICAN PIPITS, and 5 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, that's the most PHEASANTS in a
long time.
There are still about 250 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the north pond in the Logan
Lane Tract off the Kitts Hummock Rd.
4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at Slaughter's Beach at low tide. WILD
TURKEYS were seen again this weekend, along Rt 36 east of Milford.
CATTLE EGRETS were seen Sunday, along Dutch Neck Road, in the fields just
west of Grier's Pond at Thousand Acre Marsh. LITTLE BLUE HERON, SNOWY and
GREAT EGRET, and GLOSSY IBIS were seen at Dragon Run Marsh in Delaware City.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and PINE WARBLER were also
reported. One birders early morning rail census at Thousand Acre Marsh on
Sunday produced 2 SORA, 2 KING RAIL, 2 VIRGINIA RAIL, and 3 CLAPPERS.
PURPLE MARTINS were back at the headquarters in Prime Hook NWR. 3
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were still coming to the feeders there
There were 2 COMMON LOONS on Hoopes' Reservoir on Wednesday, possibly
grounded by the snow squalls that went through. 5 AMERICAN COOT, 2
RING-NECKED DUCK, 2 RUDDY DUCK and a PIED-BILLED GREBE were also seen.
There are still a small flock of sea ducks off Indian River Inlet, with
COMMON and RED-THROATED LOONS were SURF and BLACK SCOTER, 8 LONG-TAILED
DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK on Sunday. Offshore
were numerous NORTHERN GANNETS and FORSTER'S TERNS. An alternate plumaged
HORNED GREBE was seen in the south marina.
A single female CANVASBACK remains on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach, among
the 600 RUDDY DUCKS that are also there.
6 PIPING PLOVERS were seen at the point in Cape Henlopen State Park this
week. There was also a flyby BARN SWALLOW.
BARN SWALLOW was also seen at the fishing pier along the Port Mahon Road,
along with AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and an AMERICAN BITTERN.
Finally, with the last remains of winter weather this week, there are still
2 PINE SISKIN coming to Jim White's feeder near Ashland Nature Center, at
the intersection of Center Mill and Snuff Mill Rds.
Thank you for calling the birdline. Please call your reports to 302-792-9591
or email ednieap@wittnet.com. Until next time, good birding.
-end tanscript
* Delaware
* Statewide
* April 7, 2006
* DEST0604.07
*Birds mentioned
Blue-winged Teal
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Harlequin Duck
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
American Bittern
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Glossy Ibis
Ring-necked Peasant
Wild Turkey
Sora
King Rail
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden Plover
Piping Plover
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Barred Owl
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Yellow-throated Warbler
Pine Warbler
Palm Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Pine Siskin
- Transcript
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: April 7, 2006
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)
For Friday, April 7th, this is Birdline Delaware, from the Delaware Museum
of Natural History in Greenville. I'm Andy Ednie, glad to be back. Armas
Hill is away this week.
Lots of first this week, but first let me say how sorry I am to hear of the
passing of Larry Graff. Larry had made significant contributions to the
Birdline over the years. He was ideally situated in central Delaware, where
only a few of the inhabitants are birders. He was a lot of fun to be with in
the field, always a big smile and a "What' cha got". The folks here at the
Birdline would like to send their condolences to Larry's wife Shirley, and
his three sons. He will be sorely missed.
The first LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH of the season was reported last Friday along
the White Clay Creek north of Newark. Finding the first WATERTHRUSH is the
official start of the spring passerine migration. 3 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
were found along the creek yesterday.
Also at White Clay Creek this week was a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, singing
near the start of creek road, by the old railroad tracks. PALM and PINE
WARBLERS, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER were also reported. RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCH was found in the pine woods by Hopkins Bridge and a BARRED OWL was
seen fishing for some of the newly stocked trout in the creek.
If you planning to bird in White Clay Creek be aware, Creek Road is closed
from Krapf's estate to Wedgwood Road due to erosion problems.
A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was found last Sunday, at Little Creek WMA, in the
marsh on the left hand side of the road, past the central tower. Also in
that marsh was the first BLACK-NECKED STILT of the season, with SNOWY
EGRETS, GLOSSY IBIS and numerous YELLOWLEGS.
Once again, be aware, Rt 9 is also closed from Little Creek to the Kitts
Hummock road because of the C-5A that went down in Bergdoll field, opposite
the entrance to the Air Transit Museum.
Shorebirds at Bombay Hook NWR included 18 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 4 LEAST
SANDPIPERS, among the DUNLIN and both species of YELLOWLEGS in the marsh
opposite Shearness Pool. There was a big flock of 75 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
along the entrance road (Whitehall Neck Rd.), and included in that flock was
a single AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. Also at Bombay Hook were BROWN THRASHER,
AMERICAN PIPITS, and 5 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, that's the most PHEASANTS in a
long time.
There are still about 250 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the north pond in the Logan
Lane Tract off the Kitts Hummock Rd.
4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at Slaughter's Beach at low tide. WILD
TURKEYS were seen again this weekend, along Rt 36 east of Milford.
CATTLE EGRETS were seen Sunday, along Dutch Neck Road, in the fields just
west of Grier's Pond at Thousand Acre Marsh. LITTLE BLUE HERON, SNOWY and
GREAT EGRET, and GLOSSY IBIS were seen at Dragon Run Marsh in Delaware City.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and PINE WARBLER were also
reported. One birders early morning rail census at Thousand Acre Marsh on
Sunday produced 2 SORA, 2 KING RAIL, 2 VIRGINIA RAIL, and 3 CLAPPERS.
PURPLE MARTINS were back at the headquarters in Prime Hook NWR. 3
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were still coming to the feeders there
There were 2 COMMON LOONS on Hoopes' Reservoir on Wednesday, possibly
grounded by the snow squalls that went through. 5 AMERICAN COOT, 2
RING-NECKED DUCK, 2 RUDDY DUCK and a PIED-BILLED GREBE were also seen.
There are still a small flock of sea ducks off Indian River Inlet, with
COMMON and RED-THROATED LOONS were SURF and BLACK SCOTER, 8 LONG-TAILED
DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and a drake HARLEQUIN DUCK on Sunday. Offshore
were numerous NORTHERN GANNETS and FORSTER'S TERNS. An alternate plumaged
HORNED GREBE was seen in the south marina.
A single female CANVASBACK remains on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach, among
the 600 RUDDY DUCKS that are also there.
6 PIPING PLOVERS were seen at the point in Cape Henlopen State Park this
week. There was also a flyby BARN SWALLOW.
BARN SWALLOW was also seen at the fishing pier along the Port Mahon Road,
along with AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and an AMERICAN BITTERN.
Finally, with the last remains of winter weather this week, there are still
2 PINE SISKIN coming to Jim White's feeder near Ashland Nature Center, at
the intersection of Center Mill and Snuff Mill Rds.
Thank you for calling the birdline. Please call your reports to 302-792-9591
or email ednieap@wittnet.com. Until next time, good birding.
-end tanscript