RBA: Birdline Delaware, November 13th, 2009

[Andy Ednie]

RBA
* Delaware
* Statewide
* November 13, 2009
* DEST0911.13

*Birds mentioned
Snow Goose
Ross' Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Mute Swan
Blue-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Common Eider
Bufflehead
White-winged Scoter
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Cormorant
Great White Heron
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Peregrine Falcon
Merlin
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
American Avocet
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Western Sandpiper
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Eastern Screech Owl
Horned Lark
Raven
Marsh Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
Seaside Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch

Hotline:       Birdline Delaware
Date:            Hotline: Birdline Delaware
Date:            November 13, 2009
Number:      302-658-2747
To Report:   Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE)
Compiler:    Andy Ednie (ednieap@...)
Coverage:    Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern
                     New Jersey, Maryland
Transcriber: Andy Ednie (ednieap@...)

For Friday the 13th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of
Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List
now stands at 327 species, with one new addition this week.

This evening, a large black bird believed to be a RAVEN was seen at Cauffiel
House in Bellview State Park in northern Wilmington. This bird was seen
flying up from Fox Point State Park along the Delaware River towards the
park. Cauffiel House is located between Governor Printz Boulevard and US Rt
13 (the Philadelphia Pike).

The single bird in flight was seen to have a massive bill and a wedge shaped
tail. The observer rolled down his car's window to hear the distinctive
croak of a RAVEN. In recent years there have been at least three other
sightings of RAVEN in the state, all by single observers without any other
substantiating evidence. If confirmed, this would be a long overdue first
state record.

In other news, at least 2 ROSS' GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE were seen among
the SNOW GEESE at Bombay Hook NWR near Smyrna. TUNDRA and a MUTE SWAN were
seen at Shearness Pool. Cotttman Field opposite Raymond Pool had a peak
count of 130 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS along with several AMERICAN PIPITS and
HORNED LARK this week. AMERICAN WIGEON, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREATER SCAUP,
BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, and RUDDY DUCKS were seen, along with
PIED-BILLED GREBE and good numbers of AMERICAN COOTS this year. AMERICAN
AVOCET, GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, DUNLIN, and WESTERN SANDPIPER along
with a MARSH WREN were also reported. The feeders had WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS
this weekend.

The GREAT WHITE HERON was seen again last weekend along Fred Hudson Road,
between Rt 1 and Cedar Neck Road south of Indian River Inlet. That bird was
looked for again during the week without success, but at the nearby VFW Hall
at Quillen's Point there was a western WILLET, BLACK-BELLED PLOVER,
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, over 300 BRANT and a SEASIDE SPARROW. Both female
and immature male COMMON EIDERS were seen at Indian River Inlet. GREAT
CORMORANT and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were also seen there.

If traveling through the Delaware beaches, be aware that Rt 1 between Dewey
and the inlet is closed this weekend. The recent nor'easter with Ida
over-washed the barrier island in four different locations. What's bad for
highways is good for beach nesters!

A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported at the Prime Hook NWR headquarters this
week. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen in the fields there. A PEWEE-type
flycatcher was reported at the Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch. PURPLE FINCH was
also reported there. Very few hawks were reported at Cape Henlopen, but a
NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen and a BALD EAGLE was seen catching and eating a
COMMON LOON. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen offshore.

An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at Gordon's Pond near Rehoboth Beach
this weekend. BALD EAGLE and PEREGRINE FALCON were seen on the snags around
the pond.

A MERLIN was seen taking a CEDAR WAXWING at Ashland Nature Center. A gray
phase SCREECH OWL was also found at the center. Ashland Nature Center Hawk
Watch had 2 GOLDEN EAGLES on Saturday and an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK on
Monday. PURPLE FINCHES were also reported at the hawk watch.

The flooded marshes along Delaware Bay had 3 VIRGINIA RAILS and a SORA
calling along Corks Point Branch of the Smyrna River near Armstrong's Farm
this week. Lots of DUNLIN and RING-BILLED GULLS were in the fields due to
the flooding.

2 HOODED MERGANSERS and about 20 RING-NECKED DUCKS were reported at Harry's
Pond at Brandywine Town Center this week. Thanks to Amy and Kathleen O'Neal
for that report. 45 RING-NECKED DUCKS plus 7 PIED-BILLED GREBES, 2 HOODED
MERGANSERS, a BUFFLEHEAD and a MUTE SWAN were seen at Hoopes' Reservoir.

Over 100 AMERICAN PIPITS are being seen in the fields at the Middletown Auto
Mall next to the Home Depot off Rt 301 west of town. Some of those PIPITS
were up in trees. EASTERN BLUEBIRD and AMERICAN KESTREL were also seen
there.

Now for this week's Special Feature from WILM News Radio:

Along the edge of the field a group of sparrows were feeding. Suddenly, a
bigger bird popped out of the brush. It was the largest of the North
American Sparrows, the TOWHEE.

Often mistaken for the robin because of its size and color, the EASTERN
TOWHEE sings "Drink your tea" (Towhee SFx) in the spring. During the winter,
the first call of the morning is the Towhees familiar "cherwink" (Towhee
call note SFx).

EASTERN TOWHEES have black backs and chestnut colored flanks, thus their
previous name the RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE. Birds in our area have a bright red
eye, from where they get their Latin name Pipilo erythalthalamus.

This species has gone through several name and nomenclature changes. The
northern "red eye" EASTERN TOWHEE form and a southeastern "white-eyed "form.
Originally thought to be a separate species, the white eyed birds were
lumped because they interbreed with the red eyes along the southern
Appalachians. The offspring has a yellow "straw-colored" eye.

The SPOTTED TOWHEE of the west was also originally lumped into the
Rufous-sided group because of interbreeding in western Nebraska. The two
species were then re-split in the 1990s, when DNA testing determined there
were differences in their chromosomes. Many birders added a new species to
their list, without leaving their armchair.

Watch your yard as Towhees begin to set up their winter feeding territories.


Special thanks this week to Frank Rohrbacher, Bill Stewart, Colin Campbell,
Derek Stoner, Armas Hill, and our hawk watchers; Cyrus Moqtaderi and Forrest
Rowland for their reports. You can report sightings or add to the State Year
List by calling 302-792-9591 or email ednieap@.... Until next week,
good birding.

-end transcript







Andy Ednie
Claymont, Delaware

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