Delaware (Statewide) RBA
June 26, 2009
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:46:39 -0400
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From: Andy Ednie <ednieap@verizon.net>
Subject: [BIRDEAST] RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 26th, 2009
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RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* June 26, 2009
* DEST0906.26
*Birds mentioned
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Brown Pelican
Little Blue Heron
Green Heron
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Black-bellied Plover
American Oystercatcher
Black-necked Stilt
Royal Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Black Skimmer
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-winged Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
American Redstart
Kentucky Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date: June 26, 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 26th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List
is now at 290 species, with a new addition to the state list.
A ROSEATE SPOONBILL was found this week in Fenwick Island, in the extreme
southeast corner of the state. The bird is being seen along the canal
between Big Assawoman Bay in Maryland and Little Assawoman Bay in Delaware.
Here are the directions: Take Delaware Rt 1 into Fenwick, Turn west at the
light to Rt 54 (Lighthouse Rd). as you cross the bridge, turn right at the
first road (Bennett Rd.). Follow that to the Catch 54 Restaurant and park.
The SPOONBILL has been seen in the marsh north of the restaurant or across
the canal. The bird has also been seen in the marshes further west on Rt 54,
across from the Cape Windsor development.
This is an immature SPOONBILL by the lack of dark coloration in the head,
and constitutes Delaware's first state record. There was another bird seen 2
years ago in New Jersey at the Forsythe NWR (aka Brigantine). This bird is
also on a quarter mile to the Maryland line, and many anxious Maryland state
listers are waiting.
Lots of other good birds have been reported in the area, ROYAL, COMMON,
FORSTER'S TERNS, BLACK SKIMMERS, GREEN HERONS, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS with
young, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and BROWN PELICAN. Landbirds seen include PINE
WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK SEASIDE SPARROW, and EASTERN MEADOWLARK. EURASIAN
COLLARED DOVES were reported about 8 miles west on Rt 54 in Selbyville at
the Sussex Eye Care Center. SPOONBILLS, COLLARED DOVES and PELICANS! Shades
of Florida! What next: MANGROVE CUCKOO?
Elsewhere in Delaware, the BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues to be seen
at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. A COMMON LOON was seen offshore at South
Bethany. A BONAPARTE'S GULL in full breeding plumage was reported at Fowlers
beach. BANK SWALLOWS were reported in the fields opposite the John Dickinson
Mansion off the Kitts hummock Rd near Dover, and CLIFF SWALLOWS are still
being seen over the Rt 9 Appoquinmink Bridge.
BLACK-NECKED STILTS with young were seen at Bombay Hook NWR this past week.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER is still being reported at Finis Pool.
A VIRGINIA RAIL was reported at the Grassdale Center at Ft duPont State Park
in Delaware City, LITTLE BLUE HERON, GLOSSY IBIS, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and
YELLOW WARBLER was also reported. A single BLACK SKIMMER remains at thousand
Acre Marsh.
The PEREGRINE FALCONS at the Reedy Point Bridge had their chick fledge this
week. The FALCONS on the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington didn't
fare as well. They lost all 4 chicks this year. AMERICAN KESTRELS at
Brandywine Creek State park are getting their chicks ready to leave the
nest.
A pair of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were calling at Ashland nature Center this
week. PINE WARBLER, BLUE GROSBEAK, WHITE-EYED VIREO, YELLOW WARBLER,
AMERICAN REDSTART, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, WARBLING VIREO (still very vocal),
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, and WILLOW FLYCATCHER are all still being reported.
RED-SHOULDERED and COOPER'S HAWK were reported by the Hockessin Athletic
Club off Valley Road.
Middle Run Natural Area near Newark had 5 species of warbler including:
BLUE-WINGED, PRAIRIE, KENTUCKY WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, plus BLUE
GROSBEAK and SCARLET TANAGER.
In southern Delaware at Trap Pond State Park, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was
found in the campground there. Lots of PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen along
with RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, PILEATED WOODPECKER, and BLUE GROSBEAK along the
Loblolly trail.
Now for this week's special feature from WILM News Radio:
High up in the canopy, a bird song is heard. (Scarlet Tanager SFX). It
sounds like a Robin with a sore throat, dysphonia: harsh and raspy. It is
the song of the SCARLET TANAGER, one of eastern North America's most
beautiful songbirds.
Tanagers are tree top experts, rarely coming down. They feed on caterpillars
and insects high above. When you do get to see one coming down to drink or
bathe; they are a brilliant red with black wings and yellow bill.
A large family of tropical birds, ornithologists believe there are over 200
different species of tanager. Found in every color of the rainbow, metallic
greens and yellow to blue and purple. Every year, new species are found in
the tropics of this diverse family.
In Delaware, the SCARLET TANAGER is joined by its southern cousin the SUMMER
TANAGER. This later species is our only truly all red bird, a breath-taking
pinkish red from head to tail. SUMMER TANAGERS are bee experts. Their
favorite foods are wasps and bees taken in partially cleared forests.
Listen to their song (Summer Tanager SFx). The best way to tell the two
species apart is by their chip note. SCARLET TANAGER call "Check bur"
(Scarlet Tanager SFx) while the SUMMER TANAGER'S distress note is "Check bur
burr" (Summer Tanager call note SFx).
Very special thanks to Richard Woods for his discovery of the ROSEATE
SPOONBILL for a new state record. Also thanks to Derek Stoner, Kim
Steininger, Ken Bass, and Maryanne Dolan. Please call your reports to
302-792-9591 or email to ednieap@verizon.net. Until next week, good birding.
-end transcript
Andy Ednie
Claymont, Delaware
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