DELAWARE BIRDING

Hello Friends - Flo and I just returned from two days in DE. It was our 31st anniversary so we splurged a little. Sine we found gas for $2.95 a gallon in DE in made the trip even sweeter.

Here are my notes
/for each bird - X means around 10 - c means about 100 and so on - ) means by ear only"

Wednesday Oct 8, 2008 - Bombay Hook NWR

Snowy Egret /////
Bald Eagle /
Belted King Fisher /
Mallard Duck XX
Canada Goose XX
Goshawk ///
Kestrel /
Killdeer /)
Gulls XXX
Lesser Yellow Legs X
Comorant /
Black and Turkey Vulture ///
Great Blue Heron //

Prime Hook

Gulls XXX
Great Egret X//
Snowy Egret //
Bald Eagle /
Sharp Shin Hawk /
Red Tail Hawk /)
Belted King Fisher //
Balk & Turkey Vulture ???
Osprey /

Thursday October 9, 2008

Prime Hook

Turkey & Black Vulture ///
Snow Geese CC+
Canada Geese CC
Mallards X
Mocking Bird )/ - //
Cardinal /
gulls C (surprise)
Snowy Egret X
Great Egret XX
Great Blue Heron //
Belted King Fisher //

Bombay Hook

Killdeer //
Belted Kingfisher /
Great Egret X
Canada Goose XX
Mallard X
Snow Goose C
Great Blue Heron //
Cormorant ///
Gulls XXX (again what a surprise?)
Snowy Egret //
Tree Swallows XX
Lesser Yellow Legs X
Goshawk /

Not a bad couple of days - but not as many birds as we expected - a ranger at Prime Hook told us that a storm pushed some salt water in to their fresh water impoundments which killed some food supply and numbers may be low this year. Two highlights were a very large Bald Eagle perched above nest (Osprey platform) and a 2 hour nap with the windows open on the beach bathed in Sunshine as the surf rolled.

We also saw several Monarchs, one dark swallowtail (? who) and lots of sulfurs both white and yellow - and just like the child that I am I brought home 2 hermit crabs.

Will have some pics up by Monday, I hope
We hope to be in Northern Dauphin County, with the Mothman) to witness the Saw Whet Owl banding on Sunday Night

Blessings to all.