Hello Everyone,
        I knew that I had not updated the lists about local sightings in
some time with the new baby and all.  But when I searched the archives for
my last post, I see that it was 2/15 on Osprey and 3/23 on DE-birds.  That
leaves me with a whole bunch of catching up to do.

3/28 - added Laughing Gull and Field Sparrow.  Other nice birds were
Red-Shouldered Hawk, Kingfisher, Cooper's Hawk
4/3 and 4/4 - male Harrier present.  It flushed a snipe on 4/4

On 4/5, I began a string of seeing eagles in a different spot everyday.  On
the 5th, it was an immature at the Seaford Boat Ramp; 6th - an adult at
Adams Rd & Woodbridge Rd, north of Bridgeville; 7th - an adult on O'Bier Rd;
8th - an adult over the fairgrounds in Harrington; 10th an immature at home.

4/6 - puddles were drying just about the time I am hoping to get some
shorebirds :(  Did find 2 new for the year Meadowlark at the Vesper sparrow
spot on Oak Grove Rd (1/4 mile east of MD 577).
4/7 - added Fish Crow for the year
4/8 - puddle check - found 11 Bonaparte's Gulls mixed in with the Laughers
and Ringers in the puddles along Oak Grove Rd.  This is the 3rd local record
and a new high count.  Also 2 Least Sandpiper in the puddle opposite the
yellow house.

4/9 - In the evening, I found the gull flock in the field east of N Oak
Grove Rd at the end of Kinder Rd.  Picked out 9 Bonaparte's.  I began to
wonder how common Bonies were in flocks of gulls found in farm fields and
whether or not I had overlooked them in the past.  In the puddles in the
farm field adjacent to the back end of my farm (these can be seen well only
from this spot) there were 4 Mallard, 4 Black Duck and 9 Woodies.  Over on
the railroad, I heard the woodcock again (first heard 3/5), but this time
was only a few peents.  Also a late Hermit Thrush and the first Purple
Martins.  Year list to 77.

4/10 - The first day list of the year to top 50 (52) with several lingering
birds including a YB Sapsucker (local late date - MD), the Hermit Thrush.
new arrivals included Vesper Sparrow and Barn Swallow.  An Osprey was in the
area seen over MD 577 in the morning and over Oak Grove in the afternoon.
Migrants included 5 Palm Warbler (all yellow - MD); GC Kinglet (local late
date) and RC Kinglet (singing and new for year) on Kinder Rd.  A Kingfisher
made another appearance at the pond on the farm.  This has become the year
of the Kingfisher here with 4 sightings of 5 total birds.  Usually,
Kingfisher is about once annual.  2 Bonaparte's Gulls remain and the Laugher
numbers grew to 150.  Year list = 81 and keep slightly ahead of last year's
bonanza year.

4/12 - I braved rain and a cold east wind to survey gulls in the field on
the north side of Oak Grove Rd (adjacent to the yellow house).  There were
approx. 500 gulls consisting of 3:1 Ringers over Laughers plus 28
Bonaparte's (new high)
4/14 - 3 days of heavy rain have greatly replenished all of the puddles :)
Today's find was 13 Snow Geese in the plowed field east of N Oak Grove Rd at
the end of Kinder Rd.  This is a local late date by 3 weeks.
4/15 - Found the American Golden Plover (previously reported on DE-birds) on
the south side of Wild Turkey Rd about 1/3 mile east of N Oak Grove.  This
was a totally unexpected find.  2 Black Duck flew by at the pond on the
farm.
4/16 - Plover was still present in the AM, but gone in the evening.
Numerous yellowlegs (55 Greater and 23 Lesser) along Oak Grove Rd.  Numerous
gulls loafing at the vesper spot.

I will continue with more catching up news as I get a chance, but try not to
make any one report to long and boring.

Good Birding,
Glen Lovelace III
Seaford, DE