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Subject:

Lincoln's Sparrow, Connecticut Warbler and more - Oak Grove 9/25

From:

"Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)"

Reply-To:

Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)

Date:

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:39:14 -0400

Hello All,
	All yesterday I had been debating whether or not to bird the cold front today.  Do I take the time off or go in a prepare for my afternoon meeting?  I had almost decided that the front had not really cleared southern DE and I would go on to work.  But about 7 AM (just a few minutes after actual sunrise), the sun cleared the trailing edge of the clouds and shone brightly on my favorite corner of woods to bird on a chilly, clear fall morning.  I could not resist.  
	Stepping out the door, there was activity in the yard including 2 Redstarts.  Moving to the railroad, a steady, but unspectacular, stream of activity pulled me down the railroad and back into DE near the crossing on North Oak Grove Rd.  At the end of the hedgerow, a gray-faced sparrow popped up.  I have to admit that I initially passed it off as a Song.  Only when it got my attention by chipping at me, did I look closely and realize that it was a Lincoln's (fine streaking on the chest, no central spot, faint wash across the streaking).  How often does a Lincoln's Sparrow announce its presence and make you look at it?
	As I re-traced my steps, I realized that there were many more birds in the hedgerow than the first time by.  Just over the line into MD and with my back to the copse of trees containing the Mason-Dixon marker that is one corner of my farm, I played the Screech Owl tape.  The first bird to pop up in front of me was an immature Connecticut Warbler.  It had a complete white eye-ring, brownish hood, yellow underbelly that faded toward the tail, and the hood was indistinct under the chin with some hints of pale yellow mixing in.  The bird stayed in the shadows of a briar tangle, but was in full view through a hole and actively chipped at me.  It managed to keep skulking and allow me great views at the same time.  I moved back down the railroad and hoped to lure the bird across the state line (less than 100' away), but as soon as I moved, it headed for cover, never to be seen or heard again.  Oh well, no need to get greedy since it was a new state/county/homelist bird.
	Moving a few feet further along I found an immature male Cape May (first of the year) and Blue-headed Vireo (also first of the year), both in MD.  Other birds of interest were 2 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a late Hummer, a late Eastern Kingbird (both), a Scarlet Tanager, 1 Red-eyed and 1 imm. White-eyed Vireo and other warblers - Black-throated Green (1 imm. female), Parula (2 imm.), Chestnut-Sided (1 imm.), 1 Black & White, 4 Pine, 2 Yellowthroat.
	The only other productive stop was on North Oak Grove Rd just south of the Mason-Dixon marker (all DE) where there was 3 Parula, 2 Redstart, 1 imm Maggie, 1 Ovenbird, 1 Black & White along with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Screech Owl.  Around 9 AM, the breeze picked up and other stops got much quieter.  With time well spent, I could then go to work happy.
	In all, 52 species in 2.5 hours.  4 new species for the year bringing the current tally to 141.

Good Birding,
Glen Lovelace III
Seaford, DE