RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* April 6, 2007
* DEST0704.06
*Birds mentioned
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Pied-Billed Grebe
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Egret
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Merlin
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Piping Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-Necked Stilt
American Avocet
Barred Owl
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
- Transcript
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: April 6, 2007
Number: 302/658-2747
To Report: Armas Hill, 302/529-1876 (VOICE)
302/529-1085 (FAX)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap@fcc.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@fcc.net)
This is Birdline Delaware, for April 6, 2007, from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. Hello. I'm Andy Ednie, substituting for Armas
Hill.
A possible LITTLE EGRET was found today, at the southeast corner of Bear
Swamp Pool in Bombay Hook NWR near Smyrna, Delaware. This bird was with 2
GREAT EGRETS and 2 SNOWY EGRETS, and had 2 long plumes originating at the
nape. While this bird does look good from the initial photos, the
possibility of a hybrid does exist.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was reported on Saturday at the ponds by the
intersection of Rts 100 and 92, across from Brandywine Creek State Park.
PALM and PINE WARBLERS were also found at Brandywine Creek State Park this
past weekend. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were calling in the fields by the Nature
Center. MERLIN, AMERICAN KESTREL, YELLOW-BELLED SAPSUCKER, and PILEATED
WOODPECKER were also reported.
The first LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH of the season was reported on Saturday at
Trap Pond State Park near Laurel. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, CHIPPING SPARROW,
and PILEATED WOODPECKER were also reported.
Another LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was reported on Thursday, by the pump house
pond at White Clay Creek State Park. About 30 PINE WARBLERS and 5 PALM
WARBLERS were also reported at the White Clay, also BARRED OWL,
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and PILEATED WOODPECKER.
A pair of COMMON LOONS, one calling, was at the Hillside Mill Road cove at
Hoopes' Reservoir this weekend. GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, COMMON MERGANSER,
RUDDY DUCK and 6 PIED-BILLED GREBES were also found there.
Singing HERMIT THRUSH, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS
were found at Ashland Nature Center. CHIPPING SPARROWS are visiting the
feeders there.
Downstate, the first BLACK-NECKED STILT was reported at the north pond of
the Logan Tract, Ted Harvey Conservation Area this week, along with COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.
There were 39 AMERICAN AVOCETS along the Port Mahon Road, at Audubon Inlet
today.
PIPING PLOVER and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER were reported at Cape Henlopen
State Park.
2 SNOWY EGRETS were seen over Indian River Bay from the James Farm Preserve
on Cedar Neck, near Ocean View.
PEREGRINE FALCONS have been seen at their nest sites at the Reedy Point
Bridge, and on the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington.
Now for this week's special feature on the Birdline, from WILM News Radio.
You can hear the special feature on Wednesday's at 5:55 and 8:55 am and at
6:55 pm.
Spring Migration is underway. Each year, birds that winter in the New World
tropics make a 3 to 9 thousand mile journey to their breeding grounds in
North America, to take advantage of the rich summer bounty available.
Their journey is full of hazards. The first leg is a 500 miles non-stop
nocturnal flight over the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula to the
gulf coast. The flight starts at dusk in Mexico, with the birds arriving in
late morning along the Gulf coast, at places like High Island, Texas.
Exhausted, the migrants land into the first woodlands they find to feed and
refuel. In foul weather, thousands will perish.
One of the first true neotropical migrants to arrive in Delaware, is the
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH. They winter in the Caribbean and southern Mexico,
south to Columbia and Venezuela. Not really a thrush, but actually a member
of the Wood warbler family, their song (La Waterthrush SFx) fills the air
along streams, swamps and Carolina bays in the state. The strongest males
arrive first, usually around April 1st, to stake out the prime breeding
territories in the White Clay Creek valley, and the Nanticoke watershed.
Neotropical migrants play a critical role in controlling insect pests and
pollinating plants. Recently, there has been an alarming decline in
populations. Forest fragmentation in North America decreases breeding
success, migration hazards like office buildings, radio towers, and wind
generators causes traumatic collisions, and increase predators populations
feed upon weary travelers.
Climate change has a profound effect. Migrants are arriving earlier and
going further north, which might adversely effect brood production. Global
warming might be more real then you think.
I'm sad to report that Delaware lost a good birder with the passing of Dave
Hallenback this week. I first meet Dave on a run to see a Hawk Owl in
Brewer, Maine in 1973. He recently retired as a Mathematics professor at the
University of Delaware. His interest in birding ranged from watching
Peregrines at Assategue, looking for Ruffs in Kent Co., to finding
Connecticut Warblers along his home base at the White Clay Creek. Dave will
be sorely missed. Our condolences to Dave's wife, children, and family.
Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email me at ednieap@fcc.net.
Until next time, good birding.
-end transcript
* Delaware
* Statewide
* April 6, 2007
* DEST0704.06
*Birds mentioned
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Pied-Billed Grebe
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Egret
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Merlin
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Piping Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-Necked Stilt
American Avocet
Barred Owl
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
- Transcript
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: April 6, 2007
Number: 302/658-2747
To Report: Armas Hill, 302/529-1876 (VOICE)
302/529-1085 (FAX)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap@fcc.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@fcc.net)
This is Birdline Delaware, for April 6, 2007, from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. Hello. I'm Andy Ednie, substituting for Armas
Hill.
A possible LITTLE EGRET was found today, at the southeast corner of Bear
Swamp Pool in Bombay Hook NWR near Smyrna, Delaware. This bird was with 2
GREAT EGRETS and 2 SNOWY EGRETS, and had 2 long plumes originating at the
nape. While this bird does look good from the initial photos, the
possibility of a hybrid does exist.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was reported on Saturday at the ponds by the
intersection of Rts 100 and 92, across from Brandywine Creek State Park.
PALM and PINE WARBLERS were also found at Brandywine Creek State Park this
past weekend. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were calling in the fields by the Nature
Center. MERLIN, AMERICAN KESTREL, YELLOW-BELLED SAPSUCKER, and PILEATED
WOODPECKER were also reported.
The first LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH of the season was reported on Saturday at
Trap Pond State Park near Laurel. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, CHIPPING SPARROW,
and PILEATED WOODPECKER were also reported.
Another LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was reported on Thursday, by the pump house
pond at White Clay Creek State Park. About 30 PINE WARBLERS and 5 PALM
WARBLERS were also reported at the White Clay, also BARRED OWL,
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and PILEATED WOODPECKER.
A pair of COMMON LOONS, one calling, was at the Hillside Mill Road cove at
Hoopes' Reservoir this weekend. GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, COMMON MERGANSER,
RUDDY DUCK and 6 PIED-BILLED GREBES were also found there.
Singing HERMIT THRUSH, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS
were found at Ashland Nature Center. CHIPPING SPARROWS are visiting the
feeders there.
Downstate, the first BLACK-NECKED STILT was reported at the north pond of
the Logan Tract, Ted Harvey Conservation Area this week, along with COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.
There were 39 AMERICAN AVOCETS along the Port Mahon Road, at Audubon Inlet
today.
PIPING PLOVER and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER were reported at Cape Henlopen
State Park.
2 SNOWY EGRETS were seen over Indian River Bay from the James Farm Preserve
on Cedar Neck, near Ocean View.
PEREGRINE FALCONS have been seen at their nest sites at the Reedy Point
Bridge, and on the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington.
Now for this week's special feature on the Birdline, from WILM News Radio.
You can hear the special feature on Wednesday's at 5:55 and 8:55 am and at
6:55 pm.
Spring Migration is underway. Each year, birds that winter in the New World
tropics make a 3 to 9 thousand mile journey to their breeding grounds in
North America, to take advantage of the rich summer bounty available.
Their journey is full of hazards. The first leg is a 500 miles non-stop
nocturnal flight over the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula to the
gulf coast. The flight starts at dusk in Mexico, with the birds arriving in
late morning along the Gulf coast, at places like High Island, Texas.
Exhausted, the migrants land into the first woodlands they find to feed and
refuel. In foul weather, thousands will perish.
One of the first true neotropical migrants to arrive in Delaware, is the
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH. They winter in the Caribbean and southern Mexico,
south to Columbia and Venezuela. Not really a thrush, but actually a member
of the Wood warbler family, their song (La Waterthrush SFx) fills the air
along streams, swamps and Carolina bays in the state. The strongest males
arrive first, usually around April 1st, to stake out the prime breeding
territories in the White Clay Creek valley, and the Nanticoke watershed.
Neotropical migrants play a critical role in controlling insect pests and
pollinating plants. Recently, there has been an alarming decline in
populations. Forest fragmentation in North America decreases breeding
success, migration hazards like office buildings, radio towers, and wind
generators causes traumatic collisions, and increase predators populations
feed upon weary travelers.
Climate change has a profound effect. Migrants are arriving earlier and
going further north, which might adversely effect brood production. Global
warming might be more real then you think.
I'm sad to report that Delaware lost a good birder with the passing of Dave
Hallenback this week. I first meet Dave on a run to see a Hawk Owl in
Brewer, Maine in 1973. He recently retired as a Mathematics professor at the
University of Delaware. His interest in birding ranged from watching
Peregrines at Assategue, looking for Ruffs in Kent Co., to finding
Connecticut Warblers along his home base at the White Clay Creek. Dave will
be sorely missed. Our condolences to Dave's wife, children, and family.
Please call your reports into 302-792-9591 or email me at ednieap@fcc.net.
Until next time, good birding.
-end transcript