Re: [MDOsprey] Delaware shore trip, 7/15
RBakelaar@aol.com
Fri, 23 Jul 1999 17:21:20 EDT
Regarding your questions (and a couple of field notes from yesterday in DE):
I had the LITTLE EGRET yesterday, Thursday 22 July. Also at Bombay Hook, a
single HUDSONIAN GODWIT, still showing a little bit of breeding plumage. The
latter was across from Bear Swamp Pool, in the salt marsh. It was seen at
2:30. The former was in Bear Swamp Pool. I did see the Egret when it had
its plumes, and it was easy to recognize then. But, now, I think the best
way to ID it would be to look for the greenish-grey skin of the lores, which
does not extend as much and meet the other side as it does in Snowy Egret.
P.S. There were two immature Little Blue Herons feeding with the flock of
egrets in which I had the LITTLE, which has similar lore color, but bicolored
bill and yellowish legs.
I dropped by Little Creek, which had thousands of shorebirds. Mostly peeps,
including several dozen Western and a couple of White-rumpeds and Dowitchers.
I couldn't find anything rare, but I'm guessing that it's just a matter of
time before somebody does.........
I also had good luck with Rail visuals. At Bombay Hook, I had a family of
Clapper Rail and at Little Creek, a family of VA Rail, each with downy black
chicks.
As for other questions, I don't know what the name is of the other part of
the Hook, but I would venture a guess that the Sharp-tailed Sparrows were
Saltmarsh, as Nelson's tend to show up a later in the fall.
Good Birding,
Ryan Bakelaar.