July 17, 2010 Field Trip Report - Bombay Hook NWR On a day promising to hit the mid 90's, it was a good idea to start our annual summer Bombay Hook trip at 8AM when there was still a nice breeze. The trip started so well, it took us close to an hour to even reach Raymond Pool with great looks at: Chimney Swift , lots of Purple Martins, American Robins, Gray Catbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, 2 Brown Thrashers, 10+ Cedar Waxwings, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Flickers, a very cooperative Willow Flycatcher, lots of Eastern Kingbirds, several Blue Grosbeak and tons of American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch c. Lynn C. Jackson

All the rains of the previous week filled up the impoundments making the shorebird numbers pretty low. The longer-legged waders were OK and we had lots of Yellowlegs (Greater and Lesser), large numbers of American Avocets, lots of Short-billed Dowitchers. The tide was out so many of the shorter-legged waders were scattered far out on the exposed tidal flats but we did manage to find Least, Semi and Western Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers and a couple of Semi-palmated Plovers.

We also had all the expected Herons and Egrets plus a very strange looking Glossy Ibis with lots of white in the face and neck. The very common Bald Eagles and Ospreys put on nice shows as well.

For me, highlights of the day included great looks at Clapper Rails (1 with a begging youngster in tow), 2 amazing Least Bitterns that fortunately everyone got to see flying, 2 male Bobolinks still in breeding plumage and calling Northern Bobwhite.

As we ended the day at the visitor's center, a lovely Yellow-billed Cuckoo put on a great display feeding on tent caterpillars bringing our day list to around 70 species.

Butterflies seen included: Black Swallowtail , Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Pearl Crescent, Common Buckeye, Red-spotted Purple and Monarchs.

It was a fun day and thanks to everyone who joined us.

Lynn Jackson

May 15, 2010 Field Trip Report - Hawkin Road, Brightview Farm, Mr. MacGregor’s Garden Farm Stand and Brigantine NWR

The day started along Hawkin Road with Leigh Altadonna getting Canada and Hooded Warblers as the rest of us pulled on our boots. We also had calling Wood Thrush, Ovenbird and White-eyed Vireos. The group then walked into the woods and down the side trail in search of Prothonotary Warblers. On the way we picked up a few American Redstarts. In spite of all the recent rain, the trail was not as wet and muddy as I remember it being in some years although boots were still needed in spots. We had a singing male Prothonotary Warbler above the first nest box. Getting this bird here was about as easy as I can remember ever finding a “Golden Swamp Warbler” at Hawkin Road and it was a good thing too because most of the other regulars of this cedar woodland were not as cooperative. We did eventually find an Ovenbird on our way back to the main trail and had numerous Red-eyed Vireos but there was little evidence of any of the other nesting species or migrants.

Along the back “upland” trail we did find a Scarlet Tanager, another Prothonotary Warbler, heard another Hooded and several Pine Warblers, had American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and several Eastern Towhees and Gray Catbirds. Without many birds to keep us at Hawkin Road we then headed to Brightview Farm.

The contrast between birding inside a dense woodlot and this beautiful horse farm was striking. No sooner were we out of our cars than we had displaying Bobolinks, a Grasshopper Sparrow, Tree and Barn Swallows, Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Kingbirds and Orchard Orioles. A single Cedar Waxwing flew away from us, to which John Rateike commented, “Where are the rest of them you never see just one?” No sooner had the words come out of John’s mouth than 4 or 5 other waxwings took off after the first one.

Chipping Sparrow c. Jane Henderson

We then finally started to walk around the pasture towards the wetlands looking for something new. We did come across more Kingbirds, American Goldfinches and Eastern Bluebirds. Down at the wetlands we had both Northern and Orchard Orioles, Red-winged Blackbirds and 10-12 Solitary Sandpipers, a Killdeer and a group of 20+ Least Sandpipers. It was a wonderfully surprising sandpiper showing there.

Birding Bright View Farms
c. Jane Henderson

Here the day’s itinerary took a twist. Rather than take an extended walk around Brightview and then have lunch here, most of the group made a dash across Burlington County to Brigantine NWR in hopes of finding the Bar-tailed Godwit that had been found there 2 days earlier during the frenzy that is World Series of Birding week scouting. However we did first stop at Mr. MacGregor’s Farm Stand. No birding trip to Brightview Farm led by me is complete without a stop here for preserves, produce and fresh, hot out of the oven baked goods from this farm stand alone Route 537. After this all important mandatory stop, (I can now personally recommend the blueberry cobbler as well as many of the homemade pies for those interested) we were back on the road to Brigantine.

After arriving at Brig, we enjoyed a quick lunch stop by the information area where we were treated to a very cooperative Great Crested Flycatcher; we then set off in hopes of finding the godwit. The bird had been reported early in the morning and we took two loops around the impoundments in hopes of finding it. So by now you are wondering am I building tension of our discovery or prolonging the agony of confessing the truth of our missing it. So I’ll cut to the chase. We didn’t find it. That’s not to say the trip was for nothing.

Osprey c. Jane Henderson

We had many good birds at Brig including: Willet, Whimbrel, Semi-palmated and Black-bellied Plovers, American Oystercatcher, Forster’s, Gull-billed, and Least Terns, and Black Skimmer, Seaside Sparrows, Tri-colored Heron. We just didn’t find the Godwit. In fact we ran into a couple we had seen at Hawkin Road first thing in the day and they also had made two loops around the refuge and they hadn’t seen it either.

Now the godwit was seen at the end of the day and has been seen since so the moral of the story is we simply missed it. However, we still had seen lots of really good birds during the day’s adventures and stopped at Mr. MacGregor’s Farm Stand. That’s a great day in my book.

Thanks to everyone for joining me. See you in the field again soon I hope
~ Martin Selzer

May 1, 2010 Field Trip Report - Woodlawn Trust and Brandywine Creek State Park

Although the calendar indicated it was spring the temperature suggested we had jumped all the way to summer by the time we ended our walk along the Brandywine Creek. Although we didn’t run into a fallout of warblers this morning, we still had many of the expected birds along the trails here that make this one of my favorite spring and fall migrant spots. The Sycamore trees along Ramsey Road held multiple pairs of Eastern Kingbirds and Orchard Orioles. Most likely they had recently arrived on territory and soon would be building nests. The trail along the Brandywine had calling Yellow-rumped Warblers and Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireos. Both vireos nest here and it wasn’t until further along the walk that we would find a pair of Yellow-throated Vireos that we could actually see. Hawking insects above the creek were Tree Swallows.

c. Jane Henderson

The bank of the Brandywine is reliable for both Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers this time of year and Rick was determined to find them. He took every opportunity to scan for these birds and we were all rewards for his determination. First he found a Spottie and then he came up with a Solitary Sandpiper perched on a log in the middle of the creek.

While we did not have an overwhelming number of birds we did have excellent looks at the most of the ones we found. While walking the trail along the creek towards Thompson’s Bridge, we had another perched Orchard Oriole singing in excellent light. While listening to CDs and tapes are great learning aides, nothing beats watching a bird belt out its tune in the field. We then had a Great Crested Flycatcher calling from the treetops followed by a Northern Oriole singing. We had to walk out into the field to scan the treetops to find this oriole. One would think finding an orange and black bird wouldn’t be so difficult (more on this topic latter) but it was a minute or so of scanning and giving directions before everyone found this guy.

Red-winged Blackbird c. Jane Henderson

Tree Fungus c. Jane Henderson

We then crossed over to the wetland area where we encountered a Wood Duck drake and our first singing Wood Thrush and Red-bellied Woodpecker before finally crossing under Thompson’s Bridge Road. When crossed the bridge we heard a Scarlet Tanager perched up singing and then had to find him in the tree tops while not getting run over by the traffic hurtling passed us on Thompson’s Bridge Road. Finding this red and black song bird in the tree tops was an even bigger challenge compared to finding the orange and black songbird. The traffic zooming by didn’t help. Most of us saw the tanager while all of us heard him. If nothing else we were getting a good dose of spring bird songs. We then “ducked” into the trail on the far side of the bridge and heard Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren and Ovenbird all calling.

Making our way to the meadow we added Eastern Towhee, Prairie Warbler, White-eyed Vireo and Common Yellowthroat. Winding our way back towards the mighty Brandywine we found an Ovenbird and along a sandbar another Solitary Sandpiper. Throughout the walk we had encountered Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Carolina Chickadees, American Goldfinches, and the occasional Tufted Titmouse. Crossing back over Thompson’s Bridge a Belted Kingfisher flew upstream and we finally heard a Black and White Warbler.

One of our best finds of the day was an Eastern Milk Snake sleeping in a crevice of a tree. It took some research back home (thanks Pam!) to finalize the identification of this reptile but we were all enthralled by the observation. Crossing back over the hay field we had an Eastern Bluebird and Barn Swallow before arriving back at the parking area. While it may not have been the best migration day any of us have ever had at the Woodlawn Trust or Brandywine Creek State Park, we still found a nice representation of the riparian birds one would expect along the creek and this still is a wonderful place to catch spring and fall migration. Cheers, hope to see everyone in the field again soon ~ Martin Selzer

Eastern Milk Snake c. Jane Henderson

April 24, 2010 Field Trip Report - Ft. Washington State Park
A joint WAS/DVOC Field Trip

Twelve people took part in the Wyncote Audubon / DVOC field trip on Saturday, April 24 at Fort Washington State Park, PA. It was a beautiful sunny day. Temperatures ranged from 40F when we started out to 65F when we finished up.

c. Bert Filemyr

It's still early spring, and in this part of the world very few migrants have made an appearance.

We began the field trip at the Flourtown Day Use area on West Mill Road in Flourtown. We met in the parking lot, and heard Chipping Sparrow when we got out of the cars. We made our way toward the pavilion, where, in past years, Eastern Phoebes have nested. Not so this year for reasons unknown to us. We walked a short loop around the park, past Wissahickon Creek and past the houses that border the park. We saw Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, and assorted woodpeckers. Song Sparrows, Carolina Wrens and Northern Cardinals accompanied us all the way around.

We walked past the wetland, which is not wet at all now, and across the field to the path that leads to the wooden bridge. As we made our way past the backyards, we saw Red-bellied Woodpeckers at a nest hole, and Northern Flickers copulating. Bert Filemyr got pictures. (This has been a good area for woodpeckers, including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, all this spring.) From the bridge we heard and saw Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Cedar Waxwings and White-throated Sparrows. An Osprey flew overhead.

Flickers sharing an intimate moment c. Bert Filemyr

When we had completed our rounds of that part of the park, we formed a car caravan and set out for Militia Hill. We heard and saw Yellow-rumped Warblers from the parking lot. We saw Red-tailed and Sharp-shinned hawks, as well as Black Vulture as we made our way up Ridge Road. On our loop around this part of the park we saw more White-throated Sparrows, and got a great look at an Eastern Towhee.

Red-tailed Hawk c. Bert Filemyr

Osprey c. Bert Filemyr

Some of the participants were experienced birders, others were new at it, and everyone pitched in to help the new people get on the birds. It was a very nice morning.

~ Jane Henderson

April 17, 2010 Field Trip Report - Coastal Delaware
A joint WAS/DVOC Field Trip

Although technically "spring", there was a decided nip in the air as about 10 intrepid birders met at the New Castle Airport ready to head south along the Delaware coast to Bombay Hook NWR. Temperatures hovered all day around 60 degrees but the brisk wind and intermittent clouds often made it feel much chillier. Still we had a fun day and found lots on good birds.

Our first stop of the day was at Dragon Run Park where we had good looks at : Wood Duck (3+) , Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe (1), a fly over Little Blue Heron, the first of many Osprey and a couple of Chimney Swifts. We also had the first on many Bald Eagles .

Ring-necked Pheasant c. Jane Henderson

The wind definitely made our next stop a bit challenging. The Grass Dale Center at Fort Dupont offers some lovely woods and grasslands along the Canal but our best birds there were mostly "heard only birds": Carolina Wren, House Wren , Common Yellowthroat , Chipping Sparrow and Field Sparrow Crossing over to the south side of the Canal we explored Dutch Neck Road and added 2 very cooperative Ring-necked Pheasant , about 20 Cattle Egret in high breeding plumage and some Caspian Terns

Cattle Egret c. Steve Huber

Continuing south we stopped at Augustine Beach and looked for Cliff Swallows along Rt 9 (with no luck) before hitting our lunch spot at the Aquatic Center just above Woodland Beach. After a nice lunch (and surprise birthday party for Pam) we were treated to a Killdeer in the parking lot using the "broken wing" dislay to distract us from her nearby chick. We also several Kestrels along the roadside and a Forster's tern

Killdeer c. Steve Huber

Happy Birthday to Pam
c. Steve Huber

We finally got to our final destination, Bombay Hook , to find the tides seriously "in" so we didn't get the high numbers of shorebirds we would have found had there been more exposed mudflats, but we had a nice selection anyway. At the Visitor's Center we had Purple Martin, Barn Swallow, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrow . Highlights at the Hook included : a few ducks including Shoveler and Green-winged Teal , all the expected herons and egrets including at least 10 Black-crowned Night-herons, 3 fly over Glossy Ibis, both Vultures, more Bald Eagles, No. Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. For shorebirds we had: Black-bellied Plover, Black-necked Stilt , American Avocet, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet (1) , lot of Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher and several Wilson's Snipe .

Total for the day: about 68 species of birds.

We also had 4 species of Butterflies: E. Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur and Mourning Cloak; 2 very cooperative foxes and an over-all great time.

Thanks to everyone who showed up.
Lynn Jackson

One of two foxes seen on the refuge
c. Jane Henderson

March 27, 2010 Field Trip Report - Gettysburg

Wyncote Audubon tried something new on March 27, 2010: A Birds and History field trip to Gettysburg National Battle Field and Park. The trip was most ably led by Bob Berghier, who provided historic commentary as we toured the battle field. Bob was aided by his great nephew Augie, a Civil War enthusiast. The day was focused on history, with birds as an added attraction. Martin Selzer was responsible for finding the birds, though everyone pitched in. We were at Gettysburg on a cold March day. We had to try to imagine the stifling heat of July 1863 and the horror of the bloody battles. As is customary with a Gettysburg tour, our route followed the 3-day battle. The two armies, The Army of the Potomac (the North) and The Army of Northern Virginia (the South) first met on July 1, 1863 at a location west of town. General John Buford’s cavalry valiantly defended this site while General Meade organized the North’s defenses closer to town. Buford’s men were successful in holding the high ground. This was a key factor in the North’s victory.

Gen. Buford's Monument c. Lynn C. Jackson

We visited Culp’s Hill, Cemetery Ridge, Little Round Top, Big Round Top and other important Day 1 and 2 locations. We ended up at Seminary Ridge, where Day 3 of the battle took place. Pickett’s Charge and the final bloody skirmish at High Water Mark took place here.

The view from Little Round Top
c. Lynn C. Jackson

Along the route we made numerous stops so that Bob and Augie could point out monuments which commemorate key points of the 3-day battle. They explained contributions made by each state’s regular troops and volunteers, and the make-up of the units. Some states’ armies had already been decimated in the war farther west.

The Battle of Gettysburg marked a pivotal point in American history. The South came very close to winning. This would have cut off Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore-Washington, a political goal of General Lee’s advance. This could also have convinced Europe to recognize the Confederacy.

The group listening intently
c. Jane Henderson

Although Lee and his commanders could not have fully realized it, their battle line was more strung out and his communication lines less effective than those of The Army of the Potomac. A few key decisions or turns of fortune one way or another could have changed the outcome.

While taking in this crash history course on the Battle of Gettysburg, we saw a few birds throughout the day. Turkey Vultures and Red-tail Hawks were evident in the skies all day. Mixed in were a couple Black Vultures, two American Kestrels and a couple of Cooper’s Hawks. Pleasant surprises were three Eastern Meadowlarks and one fly-by Horned Lark. We saw Eastern Bluebirds and Red-headed Woodpeckers, a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Eastern Phoebe, Field Sparrow, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jays, American Robins, Common Grackles, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee. Thanks to Bob and Augie for being tour guides and thanks to everyone for joining us. ~ Martin Selzer and Jane Henderson

Eastern Bluebird c. Lynn C. Jackson

February 20, 2010 Field Trip Report - Indian River Inlet, DE and Parts North

After two major snow storms five days apart in the previous two weeks had blanketed the region with well over 3 feet snow a group of 15 club members and friends joined me on glorious winter’s day. In spite of a week’s worth of sunshine and warming temperatures, there still was lots of snow on the ground and most of the ponds and impoundments we visited were ice covered.

We started birding the waterway of the inlet with Horned Grebes, Buffleheads and several pairs of Common Goldeneyes. At the Inlet, we had Common and Red-throated Loons, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Sanderling, Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones and Great Cormorants.

Next stop was Silver Lake for the wintering flock of Canvasbacks. We couldn’t find the enigmatic Redhead that has been seen sporadically this winter but we did have Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shoveler, American Coots and Lesser Scaup.

Birding Silver Lake
c. Lynn C. Jackson

From here we headed to Cape Henlopen State Park. After a quick stop at the Nature Center we moved on to the Campground and made a short loop looking for Brown-headed Nuthatches. We immediately had a very cooperative Red-breasted Nuthatch and had almost completed the loop and were back to our cars when a pair then a 3rd, then 4th and 5th Brown-headed Nuthatch came into the Lob-lolly Pines to feed at eye-level. We grabbed victory out of the jaws of defeat. Lunch was at Herring Point. The usual collection of sparrows that can be found in the park was not to be found this day. It had to be the snow cover and not the trip leadership or quality of the participants.

Our next stop was Broadkill Beach Road and Prime Hook NWR. The impoundments were still iced over but we did have a couple Tundra Swans, a Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle and very distant Kestrel here. We then tried Deep Branch Road hoping for some birds feeding along the edge and were rewarded with a pair of Horned Lark and 2 Brewers Blackbirds. We still were hoping for a field of geese to scan through but we never found them along a road that we could stop along.

From here we went to Bombay Hook. At the visitor center the snow had melted and we had White-throated, White-crowned, and Song Sparrows feeding under the feeders. Working our way around the refuge we had a nice mix of waterfowl including: Tundra Swans, Common, Hooded and Red-breasted Mergansers, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Ringed Necked Duck, and American Widgen, raptors included several Northern Harriers, a Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks and a fleeting look at a Rough-legged Hawk for a few people.

Thanks to everyone for joining. Hope to see you again next year.

~ Martin Selzer

January 16, 2010 Field Trip Report - Cape May

It was a beautiful winter’s day for our annual visit to Cape May and environs as we met at the Wawa at Routes 47 and 347. Our first stop of the day would be the Villas WMA. From there we went to Lily Lake, the Presbyterian Church and Cemetery along Broadway in a vain attempt to track down the Sandhill Cranes that have been in the area, the Lighthouse State Park, the Harbor area near the former Cape May Yacht Club (I noticed it now has a new name but can’t remember the new name and we were on a birding trip not a real estate trip after all). From here we stopped at Nummy’s Island and Stone Harbor Point before ending the day at Jake’s Landing Road.

Birding Highlights consisted of: Merlin, Rusty Blackbirds and Eastern Bluebird at the Villas Hooded Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks and Gadwall on Lily Lake One Adult Bald Eagle and one Red-shouldered Hawk at the cemetery. The hawk was extremely cooperative as it perched in several trees allowing for extended photographic opportunities. Two Eurasian Wigeon and one Redhead at Lighthouse Pond and several Tundra Swans at Bunker Pond Brant, Ruddy Ducks and Red-Breasted Mergansers at the Yacht Club American Oystercatcher, Great Cormorant and Peregrine Falcon from Nummy’s Island Surf and Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Horned Grebe at Stone Harbor Point Two Short-eared Owls and a GMC Pick-up truck being pulled out of the marsh at Jake’s Landing road.

Red-Shouldered Hawk c. Lynn C. Jackson

We were unable to drive all the way to the boat landing as someone had driven their pick-up off the road about 100 yards after the pine trees end and a flatbed with a winch was there about to pull it back onto the road once a second wrecker got there. So we parked and made the walk. Unfortunately, the owls distracted us so we couldn’t watch this engineering feat but let’s just say somebody has one heck of a story to explain to their insurance company.

Thanks to everyone who joined me. See you next trip
~ Martin Selzer