Northern Harrier at Little Creek Wildlife Area on 5 December 2012. Photo by Chuck Fullmer.
Here is the weekly RBA compiled by Andy Ednie that includes photos of birds mentioned. Thanks for all of the photo contributions! Click on links throughout the post to see the original postings to DE Birds, eBird Checklists, and other various links. If you would like to have your photos of birds mentioned below added, feel free to email them to timschreckengost AT gmail DOT com.
RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* December 7, 2012
* DEST1212.07
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: December 7, 2012
Number: 302-658-2747
To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap@verizon.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@verizon.net)
For Friday, December 7th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2012 Delaware state annual list remains at 328 species. This week’s list reflects the winter season as Christmas counts approach. Surprisingly, no Crossbills were reported this week.
A light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna. This species was missed by both Delaware hawk watches during migration. That bird was over the fields by the Alle House. An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON and 2 SNOWY EGRETS were reported at Sheerness Pool along with AMERICAN BITTERN. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS continue to be seen at Night Heron Island in Bear Swamp. A SORA was reported along the Boardwalk Trail. Six MARBLED GODWITS along with BLACK-NECKED STILT and 397 AMERICAN AVOCETS were at Raymond Pool, along with LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. Waterfowl at the refuge is starting to build with the arrival of several thousand SNOW GEESE, plus 25 blue phase SNOW GEESE. Also reported were 12 HOODED MERGANSERS, RUDDY DUCK, and BUFFLEHEAD. BARRED OWL was found at Finis Woods, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and AMERICAN PIPIT were found by the visitor center.
American Bittern in Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR on 2 December 2012. Photo by Maurice Barnhill.
Bufflehead at Bombay Hook NWR on 4 December 2012. Photo by Marie Gardner.
Not far from Bombay Hook near Little Creek outside of Dover, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE along with a CACKLING GOOSE was seen in a flock of geese along the S. Little Creek Rd. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported along the N. Little Creek Rd. SHORT-EARED OWL was reported at Port Mahon from the fishing pier. Seven GREAT EGRETS were seen at Little Creek impoundments last week.
A BONAPARTE’S GULL was seen flying over the pond at the Mallard Lodge on Saturday. Also reported there were 13 WILSON’S SNIPE. Waterfowl seen on the pond included LESSER SCAUP, RED-BREASTED and HOODED MERGANSER, RUDDY DUCK, and TUNDRA SWAN.
An injured RAZORBILL was recovered off the rocks at the Indian River inlet jetty today. That bird was taken to Tri-State Bird Rescue for rehabilitation. Also reported was 15 PURPLE SANDPIPER with 20 RUDDY TURNSTONES. Over hundred BONAPARTE’S GULLS were also reported in the inlet this week. Offshore were 42 RED-THROATED LOONS and over 100 NORTHERN GANNETS. HORNED GREBE, BUFFLEHEAD, and BRANT were seen by the Burton’s Island Causeway at North Marina. Only 4 CANVASBACK and a few RUDDY DUCKS were reported at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach this week.
Purple Sandpiper at Indian River Inlet on 1 December 2012. Photo by Kyle Horton.
A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was reported from Herring Point at Cape Henlopen State Park. Also seen were COMMON EIDER, BLACK and SURF SCOTER, RED-THROATED LOON, NORTHERN GANNET, FORSTER’S TERN, and a late LAUGHING GULL. BRANT and five GREAT CORMORANTS were seen from the Cape May-Lewes ferry terminal. All
three species of NUTHATCH, WHITE-BREASTED, RED-BREASTED and BROWN HEADED were reported in the park this week. Also seen were 20 TREE SWALLOWS and 4 BARN SWALLOWS were found at the fishing pier. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was
found at Roosevelt Inlet.
The previous reported YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen again at the sharp turn to the entrance road at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Milton. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS reported along Cods Road. AMERICAN PIPITS were seen along Thirteen Curves Rd. The previously reported NELSON’S SPARROW continues to be seen along the Fowler’s Beach Road, found past the spillway. 15 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 3 CLAPPER RAILS were also reported at Fowler’s Beach.
American Pipit along Thirteen Curves Rd. on 1 December 2012. Photo by Chuck Fullmer.
Nelson’s Sparrow along Fowler’s Beach Rd. at Prime Hook NWR on 1 December 2012. Photo by Chuck Fullmer.
The reported ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Newark continues to be seen this week. That bird is at Diane and Steve Freebery’s house at 257 Delaplane Ave., in Middle Run Manor off Kirkwood Highway. Birders are welcome to come see this bird, walk down the driveway and sit on the back porch for the best viewing. There are two feeders, and the hummer often sits in the vines and rose bushes on the trellis next to the steps.
Newark Reservoir has had a surprisingly diverse assortment of waterfowl there this week. Two LONG-TAILED DUCKS were reported there Saturday along with 4 BUFFLEHEADS, RING-NECKED DUCK and RUDDY DUCK this week. A BALD EAGLE was seen perched along the edge of the reservoir looking for food. An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was found at the Walter Carpenter Recreation Area of White Clay Creek State Park. Two YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS along with an assortment of woodpeckers were found along Creek Road. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was seen at a yard in Newark. Middle Run Wildlife Area near Newark had 3 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS plus BARRED and GREAT HORNED OWL reported. AMERICAN KESTREL was seen in the fields.
Another AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen at Tweed’s Park in Hockessin by the Hockessin Athletic Club. Ashland Nature Center this week had PINE SISKINS at their feeders. Also seen were YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and a late EASTERN PHOEBE, along with HERMIT THRUSH, WINTER WREN, and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET.
SNOW GEESE were reported migrating south over New Castle County this past weekend including several large flocks over Hoopes’ Reservoir on Saturday. Waterfowl seen there included over 200 RING-NECKED DUCK, plus 35 HOODED MERGANSERS, 2 GADWALL, 5 BUFFLEHEAD, 8 RUDDY DUCK, and 20 PIED-BILLED GREBES. GREAT BLUE HERON and KINGFISHER were also reported.
Two BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES reported this week in a yard near Ellesmere. A LAUGHING GULL was seen at the Wilmington wastewater treatment plant at Cherry Island. 13 BRANT were seen at Battery Park in New Castle. A BALD EAGLE was seen along the river, sitting on a navigation tower from Battery Park.
Atlantic Brant at Battery Park on 1 December 2012. Photo by Tim Schreckengost
Another GREAT EGRET was seen at Thousand Acre Marsh near Delaware City this week. Also reported was a RING-NECKED PHEASANT, seen along Route 9 north of Thorntown Road on Saturday. There has been a flurry of recent PHEASANT reports. Another bird was seen at Newark Reservoir, while a third bird was seen along Route 9, north of the town of Little Creek. While these birds are probably escapes from hunting season, it would nice to get this species reestablished in the state.
The last week of the Ashland Hawk Watch produced 3 BALD EAGLES, a NORTHERN HARRIER, and 6 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS. A total of over 17,000 raptors were counted over the course of the fall season.
Many thanks to those people that helped put together the Birdline this week including, Diane and Steve Freebery, Tim Schreckengost, Lisa Smith, Chris Bennett, Anthony Gonzon, Derek Stoner, Gary Charles, Joe Sebastiani, Lynn Smith, Sue Gruver, Hugh McGuinness, Rod Murray, Randy Murphy, Ruthe Hay, Jeff Davis, Les Roslund, Todd Gilbert, Kyle Horton, Chuck Fulmer and Maurice Barnhill. Also, special thanks to our two hawk-counters, Tonya Mommone and Jennifer Ottinger for their excellent work. Please call your reports to me at 302-792-9591 or email to ednieap@verizon.net. Until next time, good
birding!!!
-end transcript
