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Subject:

Blackwater 11/4 PM

From:

"Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)"

Reply-To:

Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)

Date:

Mon, 5 Nov 2007 10:49:12 -0500

Hello again,
	Shelly and I took the family for an outing to Blackwater yesterday afternoon with the added incentive of chasing the Red Phalarope.  We made the pass through the Wildlife Drive twice and missed the phalarope, and the avocet as well, both times.  In fact, there were not a lot of birds other than Canada Geese and Redwings along the entire drive.  
	We also visited the pulloff at the Rt 335 bridge between 3:30 and 4 PM.  There was a much more interesting array of ducks, geese and shorebirds here than on the drive.  There were GW Teal, BW Teal, A. Wigeon (including a leucistic bird that was very pale above, but retained the rusty flank), Gadwall, and Shoveler.  Also 4 Blue Geese among the many Canadas.  It was very odd to see Blues in the absence of any other Snows.  I do not recall ever seeing that on Delmarva.  Shorebirds were both yellowlegs, numerous Dunlin and 3 dowitcher sp.
	Leaving Blackwater, we rode down Shorter's Wharf Rd at dusk.  The sight of shorebirds (yellowlegs and dowitcher) standing in the road where a few inches of water was going over was comical.  Not sure what was attracting them to the pavement, but they kept coming back after each car passed.  Sorting through the Harriers, I was able to pick out the stiff wingbeats of a Short-eared Owl on the horizon to the east.  

Good Birding,
Glen and Shelly Lovelace
Seaford, DE