Delaware (Statewide) RBA
June 12, 2009
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:54:55 -0400
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From: Andy Ednie <ednieap@verizon.net>
Subject: [BIRDEAST] RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 19th, 2009
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RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* June 12, 2009
* DEST0906.12
*Birds mentioned
Snow Goose
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Northern Gannet
Least Bittern
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Northern Bobwhite
Piping Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
Red Knot
Least Tern
Black Skimmer
Bank Swallow
Brown-headed Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Parula
Prairie Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Dickcissel
Grasshopper Sparrow
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: June 12, 2009
Number: 302-658-2747
To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler: Andy Ednie (ednieap@verizon.net)
Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@verizon.net)
For Friday, June 12th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List
remains at 289 species.
This week BANKS SWALLOWS were found nesting in gravel pits near Tybout's
Corner below New Castle. 61 nests were counted, always a hard nester to find
in the state due to lack of habitat. The biggest colony was nearby at the
C&D Canal, but became overgrown. Some other good finds above the canal were
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COOPER'S HAWK, and
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
Below the canal, 4 BLACK SKIMMERS were found loafing at Thousand Acre Marsh
below Delaware City. Pennsylvania birders should be on the lookout since
this only 25 miles from Marcus Hook.
More BLACK SKIMMERS were seen at Bombay Hook this week. 8 were seen opposite
Shearness Pool. Numerous BOBWHITES were reported in the refuge. BLACK-NECKED
STILTS with 8 chicks were also counted. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, OVENBIRD, and
NORTHERN PARULA were reported at Finis Pool. 2 SNOW GEESE and LEAST BITTERN
were reported at Woodland Beach Wildlife Area.
Four more BLACK SKIMMERS were seen at Mispillion Inlet. AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHER was also seen there.
Another DICKCISSEL colony was announced in Sussex Co. This one was in the
southwest corner near Seaford. The bird was singing near an organic farm
west of Woodland Ferry headed toward Reliance. Birds were again reported
near Milford off Fleatown Rd. and near Harrington at Hunting Quarter Road.
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues to be seen along Lake Dr. at
Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. A BROWN PELICAN and NORTHERN GANNET were seen
from the Rehoboth boardwalk this week. A COOPER'S HAWK nest was discovered
in South Bethany.
A pair of RED KNOT remain at Cape Henlopen State Park. PIPING PLOVER, LEAST
TERN, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and PRAIRIE WARBLER were also reported there.
A Red-shouldered Hawk nest was found near Marshyhope. SUMMER TANAGER, BLACK
AND WHITE and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER were also reported.
Another RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was found near Hartley at Ford's Corner.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were also found there.
Now for this week's special feature from WILM News Radio:
Along the edge of the wooded vernal pool comes a high pitched whistle
(Prothonotary Warbler SFx). A flash of golden yellow reveals the songster,
one of the most stunning nesters in Delaware, the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER.
Also known as the southern golden swamp warbler, it is named after the
clerks of the Catholic Church that wear yellow robes. The PROTHONOTARY
WARBLER is unique as the only cavity nester among the eastern wood warblers.
It preferred habitat is along flooded river bottoms, cypress swamps and
Carolina Bays called "whale wallows" throughout southern Delaware.
This bird is at the northern edge of its range in the border state of
Delaware. Most nesting is in Sussex Co. The Breeding Bird Atlas shows it
does make it into New Castle Co. at Blackbird State Forrest near Townsend
and as far north as the White Clay Creek Valley.
This brilliant little yellow bird has a golden head and blue-gray wings. It
skirts the pond edge foraging for aquatic insects. Its monotone song sounds
like "sweet-sweet-sweet" (Prothonotary SFx). This is different from another
Delaware warbler, the OVENBIRD, (Ovenbird SFx). That sings with a rising
inflection.
Placing song into the proper habitat will help you with identification.
A special note about AMERICAN REDSTARTS: I was reminded that a pair was nest
building two years ago at Brandywine Creek State Park. That would make
nesting at Mt Cuba the second nesting recorded away from the White Clay
Creek Valley. This is still an extremely rare nester on Delmarva and needs
to be watched.
Special thanks this week to Janet Anderson, Kitt Heckscher, John Janowski,
Joe Sebastiani and Anthony Gonzon for their reports. You can reports your
sightings, or add to the state year list by calling 302-792-9591, or email
me at ednieap@verizon.net. Thanks for calling and until next week, good
birding.
-end transcript
Andy Ednie
Claymont, Delaware
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