Sunday Birding in Delaware
KurtCapt87@aol.com
Sun, 8 Nov 1998 22:53:09 EST
Folks,
Did a little birding in Delaware today, 8 Nov 98, at Bombay Hook (B, generally
includes Port Mahon Rd unless specified), St John's Preserve nr Kitts Hummock
Rd (KH), and Cape Henlopen (H) from 0815-1300, 1330-1430, and 1530-1630
respectively. The following 83 species were found:
Red-throated Loon (H:2), Northern Gannet (H:12), Double-crested Cormorant
(B:3, H:100's), Great Blue Heron (B:12, H:1), Great Egret (B:8), Tundra Swan
(B:4), Snow Goose (B:5000+, H:500+), Ross' Goose (B:1), Brant (B:1), Canada
Goose (B:1000+, H:200+), Green-winged Teal (B:1000+), American Black Duck
(B:40+, Port Mahon Rd:200+), Mallard (B:40+), Northern Pintail (B:1000's),
Blue-winged Teal (B:1), Gadwall (B:1), Black Scoter (H:35+), Surf Scoter
(H:35+), White-winged Scoter (H:1), Bufflehead (B:10), Ruddy Duck (B:10, Port
Mahon Rd:1000+), Turkey Vulture (B:6,H:2), Bald Eagle (B:1), Northern Harrier
(B:12+, KH:1, hwy:1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (B:1, H:1), Cooper's Hawk (B:1), Red-
tailed Hawk (B:2, hwy:1), American Kestrel (B:2), Northern Bobwhite (B:4),
Clapper Rail (KH:1), American Coot (B:1), Black-bellied Plover (B:10, H:5),
Semipalmated Plover (B:1), Killdeer (B:40+), Greater Yellowlegs (B:2),
Sanderling (H:20+), Dunlin (B:1000's), Common Snipe (B:1, KH:1), Laughing Gull
(H:4), Ring-billed Gull (B,H), Herring Gull (B,H), Great Black-backed Gull
(B,H), Royal Tern (Port Mahon Rd:3, H:30+), Forster's Tern (Port Mahon Rd:2,
H:20+), Rock Dove (B:10's, H:1)), Mourning Dove (B:20's), Belted Kingfisher
(B:2), Red-bellied Woodpecker (B:4), Downy Woodpecker (B:2), Hairy Woodpecker
(B:1), Northern Flicker (B:3), Horned Lark (B:30+), Blue Jay (B:10, KH),
American Crow (B:30+), Carolina Chickadee (B:3), Carolina Wren (B:3), Marsh
Wren (B:3, KH:9), Golden-crowned Kinglet (B:1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (B:4),
Eastern Bluebird (B:12), Hermit Thrush (B:3), American Robin (B:50+, KH:20+),
Northern Mockingbird (B:4), American Pipit (B:112, nr Rt 9 in blackbird loop,
at Bear Swamp, and fields nr Finis Pool inside the refuge), Cedar Waxwing
(KH:20+), European Starling (B, etc.), Yellow-rumped Warbler (B:2, KH:2,
H:12), American Redstart (B:1, Marsh trail boardwalk, loop portion, right hand
side 50yds beyond the bridge), Northern Cardinal (B:6, H:1), Field Sparrow
(B:2), Savannah Sparrow (B:42, 30 nr piggery nr Rt 9 in loop known for
blackbirds), Fox Sparrow (B:1), Song Sparrow (B:100's, KH:3), Swamp Sparrow
(B:100's, KH:6), White-throated Sparrow (B:30+, KH:4+. H:4+), Dark-eyed Junco
(B:1), Red-winged Blackbird (B:100+), Eastern Meadowlark (B:28), Boat-tailed
Grackle (B:1), House Finch (hwy:2+), American Goldfinch (B:20, H:10), Evening
Grosbeak (Pt Mahon Rd:20), House Sparrow (B:5)
The American Pipits were numerous in several locations and I suppose may be
numerous throughout the Bombay/Dover area. The American Redstart was quite a
surprise and was moving with an RC Kinglet. The Evening Grosbeak were seen
flying from the vegetated area behind the fishing store on Port Mahon Rd (the
one where the owner dislikes birders) in a single flock, flying towards the
ocean along the bay edge. The birds were exceptionally marked with white on
black wings and yellow bodies, very large, and finch-like flight - bouncy, up
and down, side to side. The flock flew about 10-15 feet above the
ground/shallow bay water. Seeing this, I conjecture how Evening Grosbeaks
show up at the Cape Henlopen Nature Center feeders and will be curious to know
if any show up in the next few days.
Kurt Gaskill, kurtcapt87@aol.com