Date: 6/27/25 5:10 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 27th, 2025
Delaware * Statewide * June 27, 2025 * DEST 2025.06.27
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Snow Goose Mute Swan Black Swan Black Scoter Surf Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Northern Bobwhite Wild Turkey Common Nighthawk Chuck-will’s-widow Virginia Rail King Rail Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Spotted Sandpiper Willet Ruddy Turnstone Short-billed Dowitcher Red Knot Western Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper RUFF/REEVE Black Skimmer Black Tern GULL-BILLED TERN Least Tern Caspian Tern Common Tern ROSEATE TERN Royal Tern SANDWICH TERN Common LoonPied-billed Grebe Great Shearwater Wilson’s Storm-Petrel AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Brown Pelican Least Bittern Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Black-crowned Night Heron White Ibis WOOD STORK Northern Harrier Red-headed Woodpecker Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Brown-headed Nuthatch Saltmarsh Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Worm-eating Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Northern Parula Yellow-throated Warbler DICKCISSEL
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: June 27, 2025 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For Friday, June 27th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List increased to 317 species this week with one new addition.
New this week was a WOOD STORK soaring over Delaware Route 1 near Red Mill Pond in Lewes on Wednesday. The observer was able to follow the bird in flight to his home to be able to add the species to his yard list. This is only the 6th state record and the first in 8 years! Additionally, a pair of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were found on a pond near Midway off the John J. Williams Hyw. (Route 24), at Hetty Fisher Pond, turn onto Lexington Ave to 22480 Ocala Way to see the pond. BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were also seen at the Amalfi Road retention pond off Underwood Corner Road in Clayton and at Bear Swamp in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
The previously reported AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS increased to 4 birds at Thousand Acre Marsh on Friday, then 5 birds on Saturday. Possibly the same 5 PELICANS were seen 2 hours later at Bombay Hook on Saturday. Also, a flock of 11 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was seen early Saturday morning flying north along the Delaware Bay at Broadkill Beach. Once a rare mid-Atlantic species, AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen this last week in New Jersey (Forsythe NWR), Pennsylvania (Berks and Cumberland Co,), and at several locations along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
Several sightings of early warblers in northern Delaware may be an indication of post-breeding dispersal. YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA were seen today at the Smith’s Bridge picnic area in First State National Historical Park along Beaver Run. A NORTHERN PARULA was seen along the Christiana Creek west of Newark. A WORM-EATING WARBLER was found in a yard near Glasgow. A breeding plumage COMMON LOON was photographed on the Christian River in Wilmington from the deck of the Kalmar Nyckel.
A DICKCISSEL was found at Charles Price Park in Middletown on Sunday singing along the gravel road on the right-hand side just past the entrance. EASTERN MEADOWLARK, SAVANNAH and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were also observed. KING RAIL was reported along Drawer’s Creek near Odessa. A COMMON RAVEN was seen along Wrangle Hill Road near Delaware City. RUDDY DUCKS were seen on Thousand Acre Marsh. LEAST BITTERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON and BANK SWALLOW were seen at the Port Penn Tract of Augustine Wildlife Area. CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen at the Route 1 bridge over the Appoquinmink Creek south of Odessa and at Flemings Landing off Route 9. NORTHERN BOBWHITE was reported at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area.
A RUFF/REEVE was found yesterday and seen today at Raymond Pool in Bombay Hook, along with DUNLIN, STILT, WESTERN, WHITE-RUMPED, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Other shorebirds seen included BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WILLET, plus SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER. GULL-BILLED TERN and BLACK SKIMMERS were reported, along with SANDHILL CRANE, LEAST BITTERN, WHITE IBIS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. MUTE and BLACK SWAN continue to be seen at Shearness Pool, along with an unconfirmed sighting of a possible large “black-billed” SWAN. NORTHERN HARRIER, WILD TURKEY and NORTHERN BOBWHITE were seen at the visitor’s center. COMMON GALLINULE, VIRGINIA RAIL and CASPIAN TERN were seen at Little Creek Wildlife Area.
A single RED-BREASTED MERGANSER plus AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, and RED KNOT were seen at Mispillion Inlet along with BONAPARTE’S GULL, LEAST and ROYAL TERNS. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER continues to be seen at Turkle’s Pond in Prime Hook National Wildlife refuge. SALTMARSH SPARROW, LEAST BITTERN and BLACK-NECKED STILT were seen at Oyster Rocks Road.
BLACK, LEAST, COMMON, ROYAL and SANDWICH TERN were seen at Cape Henlopen State Park this week. AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, PIPING and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, RED KNOT and SANDERLING were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. There was a high count of 69 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the beach. COMMON LOON, BLACK and SURF SCOTER were seen at the Breakwater Harbor. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH was reported at Herring Point. Both CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW and COMMON NIGHTHAWK were reported at the park. GREAT SHEARWATER and BROWN PELICAN were seen flying offshore. Three GREAT SHEARWATERS were seen from a fishing charter out of Lewes on Sunday. WILSON’S STORM-PETREL was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were heard calling from Kings Hwy in Lewes.
SANDWICH TERN, BLACK SKIMMER, and BLACK-NECKED STILT were seen at Gordon’s Pond. WHITE IBIS were seen at Gordon’s Pond and Savage’s Ditch. There was a high count of 81 WHITE IBIS reported from Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. A TRICOLORED HERON was found at Herring Creek on Angola Neck. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at the Peninsula Golf Course near Oak Orchard. PIED-BILLED GREBE and KING RAIL were also reported at the observation tower in Assawoman Wildlife Area near Fenwick Island.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible Ed Sigda, Brian Henderson, Sharon Dounce, Gary Griffith, Frank Lenik, Steve Licata, Ellie McDonald, Renee Rubin, Robin Smith, Jonathan Oliveras, Dan Small, Clay Chianese, Natalie Smith, Dick Plambeck, Kelly White, Chuck Mitchell, Ellen and Jake Jacobson, Ed Patton, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Chris and Karen Bennett, Greg Gough, Rob Blye, Sue Gruver, Tom Stock, Richard Jullian, Phil Misseldine, Carolyn Holland, Jim White, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Melissa Lafferty, Andy Jenkins, Walt Blackwell, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. The Birdline needs your help. Please call your sightings into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding.
Date: 6/26/25 10:36 am From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] Brandywine Creek (BCSP) Monthly Bird Walk
The monthly bird walk at BCSP will be this Saturday, June 28th. We'll start from the nature center parking lot at 8 am. The focus will be learning breeding birds identification, searching for Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Vireo and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. The walk should take about 3 hours, hopefully temperatures should be less severe but bring water.
Good birding, Andy
Date: 6/20/25 4:56 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 20th, 2025
Delaware * Statewide * June 20, 2025 * DEST 2025.06.20
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Snow Goose Mute Swan Black Swan Northern Pintail Black Scoter Surf Scoter Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Northern Bobwhite Wild Turkey Common Nighthawk Chuck-will’s-widow Virginia Rail King Rail Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot White-rumped Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe Black Skimmer Black Tern GULL-BILLED TERN Least Tern Caspian Tern ARCTIC TERN Common Tern ROSEATE TERN Royal Tern SANDWICH TERN Cory’s Shearwater Great Shearwater Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Great Cormorant AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Brown Pelican Least Bittern Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron REDDISH EGRET Western Cattle Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron Glossy Ibis White Ibis ROSEATE SPOONBILL Northern Harrier Barred Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Peregrine Falcon Yellow-throated Vireo Cliff Swallow Brown-headed Nuthatch Veery Saltmarsh Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Worm-eating Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Black and White Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Kentucky Warbler Hooded Warbler Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Summer Tanager Blue Grosbeak
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: June 20, 2025 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
On the Summer Solstice, for Friday 20th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List remains at 316 species this week.
Lots of pelagic species were seen from shore this week with the predominately east winds at Cape Henlopen State Park. There have been multiple sightings of CORY’S SHEARWATERS and WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS plus an occasional GREAT SHEARWATER. These birds were seen between Herring Point and the hawk watch. Additionally, CORY’S SHEARWATER and WILSON’S STORM-PETREL were seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS were seen in Delaware Bay at Mispillion Inlet from the Dupont Nature Center and from Port Mahon. A dead GREAT SHEARWATER was picked up off the beach at Key Box Road in Delaware Seashore State Park south of Dewey Beach.
In Sussex Co., 9 species of TERNS were reported. A pair of ARCTIC TERNS were seen from Herring Point on Monday, a SANDWICH TERN was photographed from the swimming beach, GULL-BILLED and ROSEATE TERNS were seen at Cape Henlopen Point with LEAST, COMMON, ROYAL and CASPIAN TERNS. An adult BLACK TERN was reported at Oyster Rocks Road in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. COMMON, CASPIAN, and ROYAL TERNS were found at Port Mahon, along with a flock of 100 BLACK SKIMMERS.
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were found at White Clay Creek State Park. LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was seen from Middle Rune Natural Area near Newark. VEERY, BLUE GROSBEAK, and BARRED OWL were reported from Brandywine Creek State Park. LEAST BITTERN was discovered at the Peterson Urban Wildlife Area in Wilmington. The PEREGRINE FALCON have fledged 2 young this year at the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington. You can watch the action from the web site DOSbirds.org. An adult PEREGRINE was seen carrying prey over I-95 in downtown Wilmington.
Today, there was a flock of 4 AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN seen at Thousand Acre Marsh along with COMMON GALLINULE. A single bird was also seen flying over Fort Delaware at Pea Patch Island along with WESTERN CATTLE EGRET, YELLOW-CROWNED and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. The PELICANS seems to be tide dependent, roosting at Thousand Acre at low tide and moving to the river to feed with the incoming high tide. The previously reported ROSEATE SPOONBILL has not been seen since Monday but please continue reading for more information. PEREGRINE FALCON was reported at the Reedy Point Bridge. SANDHILL CRANE were reported at the Ashton Tract in Augustine Wildlife Area, along with WARBLING VIREO and NORTHERN BOBWHITE. LEAST BITTERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON and COMMON GALLINULE were found at the Port Penn impoundments.
SAVANNAH and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were found along Green Giant Road and at Prices Park in Middletown. EASTERN MEADOWLARK was also found at the latter location. HOODED, KENTUCKY, and WORM-EATING WARBLERS were reported at the Tybout’s Tract in Blackbird State Forest. SUMMER TANAGER was reported along Hollett’s Corner Road near Blackiston. HOODED MERGANSER continues at Glasgow Park. CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen at Appoquinmink Creek Bridge along Route 9 and at the Leipsic River Bridge.
Late lingering WILSON’S SNIPE and SPOTTED SANDPIPER were photographed at Bombay Hook. Other shorebirds seen included BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WILLET, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, plus SEMIPALMATED and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. BLACK SKIMMERS and CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Bear Swamp. Waders reported included SANDHILL CRANE, LEAST BITTERN, GLOSSY IBIS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, COMMON GALLINULE, and VIRGINIA RAIL. SNOW GOOSE, BLACK and MUTE SWAN, plus RUDDY DUCK continues to be seen at Shearness Pool. NORTHERN HARRIER was seen flying over the marsh opposite Shearness Pool. NORTHERN BOBWHITE and WILD TURKEY were found at the visitor’s center. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER continues to be reported at Finis Pool.
The flock of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS continues at the Amalfi Road retention pond off Underwood Corner Road near Clayton. A female NORTHERN PINTAIL, plus BLACK-NECKED STILT, BLACK SKIMMER, and 2 BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen at Port Mahon. Another ROSEATE SPOONBILL was found at the central tower area in Little Creek Wildlife Area on Monday. This might be the SPOONBILL originally reported at Gordon’s Pond near Rehoboth Beach last week because it’s brighter pink and lacks any BILL anomalies seen with the Bombay Hook/Thousand Acre Marsh bird. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH, WORM-EATING and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER continues to be seen along the Big Stone Beach Road. A late lingering BLACKPOLL WARBLER was reported at Killen's Pond State Park along with PROTHONOTARY and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER.
Shorebirds seen at Mispillion Inlet from the Dupont Nature Center included lingering RED KNOT, BLACK-BELIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, DUNLIN, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER plus AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER. AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, PIPING PLOVER, BLACK AND SURF SCOTER, AND BROWN PELICAN were seen at Cape Henlopen Point. There was a possible single observer sighting of a REDDISH EGRET at marker #5 along the Gordon’s Pond. Unfortunately, other birders looking for this bird were unsuccessful. SALTMARSH SPARROW was also reported from Gordon’s Pond. A GREAT CORMORANT was photographed on the Lewes Breakwater.
BLACK AND WHITE, KENTUCKY, WORM-EATING and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER were reported from Redden State Forest. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were found at Peninsula Golf Course on Long Neck, Bay Forest at Bethany Beach, and Strawberry Landing at Assawoman Wildlife Area. KING RAIL, WHITE IBIS and BROWN-HEADED NUTHHATCH were found at this latter location along with 8 calling CHUCK-WILL’S WIDOW at dusk. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were reported at Cape Henlopen State Park. WHITE IBIS were also reported at Burtons Island in Delaware Seashore State Park, along with TRICOLORED HERON and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. WHITE IBIS were also seen at Gordon’s Pond, Oyster Rocks Road, and as far north as Slaughters Beach.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible Ellie McDonald, Eric Hartshaw, Chuck Mitchell, Ellen and Jake Jacobson, Martin Selzer, Lynn Jackson, Chris Hinkle, Tom Voter, Tanya Burnett, Mike Rosengarten, Edie Parnum, Mike Phillips, Patty Masten, Marshall Brown, Jen Driscoll, Edward Patton, Frank Rohrbacher, Cole Tiemann, Maddi Martin, Josh Bernstein, Ed Wrzeniewski, Kim Steininger, David Brown, Zach Baer, Holly Merker, Manny Dominguez, Tom Donahue, TJ Mooney, Chris and Karen Bennett, Greg Gough, Sue Gruver, Tom Stock, Richard Jullian, Alice Mohrman, Phil Misseldine, Carolyn Holland, Jim White, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Scott Northey, Melissa Lafferty, Mat Smith, John and Andy Dunn, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. The Birdline needs your help. Please call your sightings into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding.
Date: 6/13/25 4:08 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 13th, 2025
Delaware * Statewide * June 13, 2025 * DEST 2025.06.13
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Snow Goose Mute Swan Black Swan Lesser Scaup Black Scoter Surf Scoter Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE Northern Bobwhite Wild Turkey Common Nighthawk Virginia Rail Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Whimbrel RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot White-rumped Sandpiper Black Skimmer GULL-BILLED TERN Least Tern Caspian Tern Common Tern ROSEATE TERN Royal Tern Common Loon Cory’s Shearwater Great Shearwater Wilson’s Storm-Petrel AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN Brown Pelican Least Bittern American Bittern Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Western Cattle Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron White Ibis ROSEATE SPOONBILL MISSISSIPPI KITE Osprey Northern Harrier Bald Eagle Great Horned Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Peregrin Falcon Willow Flycatcher Yellow-throated Vireo Cliff Swallow Brown-headed Nuthatch Veery Grasshopper Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Louisiana Waterthrush American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Kentucky Warbler Northern Parula Blackpoll Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Summer Tanager
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: June 13, 2025 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For June, Friday the 13th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List increased to 316 species mark with 2 new additions.
A ROSEATE SPOONBILL was seen today at Thousand Acre Marsh from the south base of the Reedy Point Bridge along Route 9 near Port Penn. Parking is at the fisherman’s pullout off Reedy Point Road at the foot of the bridge. The SPOONBILL was seen at the far side of the pool. This is the same ROSEATE SPOONBILL that was seen earlier in the week at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna, identified by its immature plumage and deformed bill. There was another ROSEATE SPOONBILL seen briefly at Gordon’s Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park on Monday but not re-found. These are the northern most sightings this year for SPOONBILLS along the East Coast, the closest being a single sighting at Ft. Smallwood near Baltimore last week. This is the 4th time in 5 years that ROSEATE SPOONBILLS have been found in Delaware.
Reedy Point Bridge also had PEREGRINE FALCON, OSPREY and BALD EAGLE roosting on it. Thousand Acre Marsh had AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN yesterday, plus LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, and COMMON GALLINULE. SANDHILL CRANE were reported at the Ashton Tract in Augustine Wildlife Area. LEAST BITTERN, “Calico” LITTLE BLUE HERON and COMMON GALLINULE were found at the Port Penn impoundments. HOODED MERGANSER continues at Glasgow Park. EASTERN MEADOWLARK and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen at Prices Park in Middletown. CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen at Flemings Landing Bridge along Route 9.
Northern Parula and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH were reported at White Clay Creek State Park. Willow flycatcher was found at Middle Run Natural area near Newark. VEERY and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were reported at Mt. Cuba Wildflower Preserve. A female COMMON MERGANSER and NORTHERN HARRIER were seen at First State National Historical Park, Brandywine Unit. A COMMON LOON in full breeding plumage was seen again along the Delaware River at Battery Park in New Castle.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen Saturday at the north end of Raymond Pool in at Bombay Hook and a WHIMBREL was seen there on Monday. GULL-BILLED TERN was seen at Bombay Hook yesterday. Other shorebirds seen included BLACK-NECKED STILT, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WILLET, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, plus WESTERN and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. BLACK SKIMMERS and CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Bear Swamp. Waders reported included SANDHILL CRANES, LEAST BITTERN, GLOSSY IBIS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, COMMON GALLINULE, and VIRGINIA RAIL. SNOW GOOSE, BLACK and MUTE SWAN, plus RUDDY DUCK continues to be seen at Shearness Pool. NORTHERN BOBWHITE, WILD TURKEY and a late BLACKPOLL WARBLER were seen by the visitor’s center.
There was a flock of 25 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS at the Amalfi Road retention pond off Underwood Corner Road near Clayton. There was a group of 30 CLIFF SWALLOWS at Lake Como in Smyrna. A female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, plus BLACK SKIMMER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, and SPOTTED SANDPIPER were seen at Port Mahon. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH continues to be seen along the Big Stone Beach Road. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, PROTHONOTARY and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER were seen at Killen's Pond.
Shorebirds seen at Mispillion Inlet from the Dupont Nature Center included RED KNOT, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, BLACK-BELIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, DUNLIN, SANDERLING, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. A WESTERN CATTLE EGRET was seen at the cow pens along Cedar Creek Road. The PIPING PLOVER Nesting Program at Fowlers Beach in Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge reported a record 20 nesting pairs this spring. Unfortunately, there’s been 5 nest failures due to marauding GREAT HORNED OWLS. WHITE IBIS, VIRGINIA RAIL, BLACK SKIMMER and LEAST TERN were seen along the Dike Trail at Prime Hook Headquarters. BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Oyster Rocks Road.
Sea watchers from the hawk watch platform in Cape Henlopen State Park were successful finding pelagic birds including WILSON’S STORM PETRELS, CORY’S AND GREAT SHEARWATER, plus BROWN PELICAN, BLACK and SURF SCOTER. Birds seen at Cape Henlopen Point included ROSEATE, GULL-BILLED, ROYAL, CASPIAN, LEAST and COMMON TERNS plus PIPING PLOVER and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER. A EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE made a brief visit flying past the hawkwatch this week. A single SNOW GOOSE was seen walking along the beach at Herring Point. A flock of 20 WHITE IBIS and 72 SNOWY EGRETS seen at Gordon’s Pond. CORY’S SHEARWATER, WILSON’S STORM-PETREL, BLACK SCOTER, and BROWN PELICAN were also seen from the Cape May – Lewes Ferry.
WHITE IBIS and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. TRICOLORED HERON and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON were seen at Masseys Landing on Long Neck. An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in South Bethany near the Assawoman Canal. In Delaware, a MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen flying over Millsboro this week. This has been an exceptional year for MISSISSIPPI KITES in Pennsylvania with a big cicada hatch in northern Chester Co. at French Creek State Park. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, SUMMER TANAGER, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER and a late AMERICAN REDSTART was seen at Nanticoke Wildlife Area near Laurel. KENTUCKY, WORM-EATING, and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER continue be seen at Redden State Forest.
Both PEREGRINE FALCON fledglings have left the nest at the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington. You can watch the action from the web site DOSbirds.org.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible Wayne Longbottom, Ellie McDonald, Matthew Simon, Wil Martens, Lynn Kohler, Jon Cupp, Bert Filemyr, Mike Rosengarten, Chris Hinkle, Clay Chianese, Mike Philips, Kevin Bronson, Marshall Brown, Jen Driscoll, Edward Patton, Nathan Parmeter, Karen Barker, Frank Rohrbacher, Cole Tiemann, Ed Wrzeniewski, Kim Steininger, Christy Holden, Chris and Karen Bennett, Greg Gough, Sue Gruver, Tom Stock, Richard Jullian, Randy Fisher, Phil Misseldine, Carolyn Holland, Sam VanHorne, Jim White, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Scott Northey, Melissa Lafferty, John and Andy Dunn, Will Krohn, John Skibicki, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. The Birdline needs your help. Please call your sightings into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding.
Date: 6/6/25 4:45 pm From: Andrew Ednie <000006be14ba5998-dmarc-request...> Subject: [de-birds] RBA: Birdline Delaware, June 6th, 2025
Delaware * Statewide * June 6, 2025 * DEST 2025.06.06
*Birds mentioned BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Snow Goose Mute Swan Black Swan Black Scoter Surf Scoter Hooded Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Northern Bobwhite Black-billed Cuckoo Common Nighthawk Virginia Rail King Rail Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover Whimbrel Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot White-rumped Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper LITTLE GULL BLACK-HEADED GULL Bonaparte’s Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Black Skimmer Least Tern Caspian Tern Common Tern ROSEATE TERN Royal Tern Common Loon Brown Pelican Least Bittern Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night Heron Glossy Ibis White Ibis Northern Harrier Barred Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Peregrin Falcon OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER Least Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher ALDER FLYCATCHER Common Raven Cliff Swallow Brown-headed Nuthatch Swainson’s Thrush Veery Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Saltmarsh Sparrow NELSON’S SPARROW Eastern Meadowlark Bobolink Louisiana Waterthrush American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Kentucky Warbler MOURNING WARBLER Northern Parula Magnolia Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Palm Warbler Canada Warbler Wilson’s Warbler Summer Tanager DICKCISSEL
Hotline: Birdline Delaware Date: June 6, 2025 To Report: Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 (VOICE) Compiler: Andy Ednie (<ednieap...>) Coverage: Delaware, Delmarva Peninsula, nearby Delaware Valley, Southern New Jersey, Maryland
For Friday, June 6th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in Greenville. The Birdline is the rare bird alert (RBA) for The First State sponsored by the Delaware Ornithological Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. The unofficial Delaware State Year List increased to 313 species mark with 1 new addition.
A pair of unusual gulls showed up along the Delaware Bayshore this weekend. On Saturday, a BLACK-HEADED GULL with red bill and a developing hood was seen at Mispillion Inlet from the Dupont Nature Center. On Sunday, an immature LITTLE GULL, the second record for the year and first from land, was photographed on the pilings near the fishing pier at Port Mahon. A BONAPARTE’S GULL was seen at Cape Henlopen State Park and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULS were seen scattered along the Delaware Bayshore.
They’re back! There was a flock of 25 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS at the Amalfi Road retention pond off Underwood Corner Road near Clayton. This has been the 5th year in a row that this species visited this spot. Additionally, BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS were found in three other locations in Kent Co., off Cosmo Lane in Cheswold, plus Windsong Lane and Wheatly’s Pond in Clayton. Although there have been other sightings this spring from Peterson Refuge in Wilmington, Millington Wildlife Area on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and at Cape May, New Jersey, it looks like Clayton is the center of the universe for BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS.
It's June and there’s still some late spring migrants. New this week was a NELSON’S SPARROW heard at Oyster Rocks Road with other singing SALTMARSH and SEASIDE SPARROW. Probably the most surprising find was a western PALM WARBLER photographed in the grassy area near the picnic pavilion at the visitor’s center in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, along with WILSON’S WARBLER. On Saturday. A singing MOURNING WARBLER was found at Ashland Nature Center. A CANADA WARBLER was found off Shipley Road in Brandywine Hundred. CANADA and MAGNOLIA WARBLER was found near the Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. MAGNOLIA WARBLER was also found at Carousel Farms County Park near Hockessin. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was also seen at Cape Henlopen. A late ALDER FLYCATCHER was singing at the Fisher Tract in Bombay Hook off Route 9 near Woodland Beach. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at the path to the Bear Swamp tower in Bombay Hook. LEAST and WILLOW FLYCATCHERS w! ere reported at Middle Rin Natural Area near Newark. SWAINSON THRUSH was detected by nocturnal call notes over north Wilmington. AMERICAN REDSTART and BLACKPOLL WARBLER, both notoriously late migrants were found at several locations.
A pair of BOBOLINKS continue to be seen at Smith’s Mill Road in White Clay Creek State Park. NORTHERN PARULA was found at Curtis Mill Park. BARRED OWL was reported at Christiana Manor in Newark. LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was photographed at Middle Run. VEERY was reported at Mt. Cuba Wildflower Preserve. The previously reported KENTUCKY WARBLER continues to be singing south of Thompson’s Bridge in Brandywine Creek State Park. A lone SNOW GOOSE and common Raven were reported from Brandywine Park in Wilmington. A COMMON LOON in full breeding plumage was photographed along the Delaware River at Battery Park in New Castle.
SANDHILL CRANE were reported near N. St. Georges. YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER continues at the Ashton Tract in Augustine Wildlife Area. LEAST BIITERN, LITTLE BLUE HERON and COMMON GALLINULE were found at the Port Penn impoundments. CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen at the Appoquinmink Bridge along Route 9. HOODED MERGANSER continues at Glasgow Park. EASTERN MEADOWLARK, SAVANNAH and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen at Prices Park in Middletown. A SUMMER TANAGER was in a yard off the VanDyke-Greensprings Road in Blackbird State Forest near Townsend. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was at Saw Mill Road. NORTHERN BOBWHITES were found at Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area.
A DICKCISSEL was found in the wheatfield along Whitehall Neck at Bear Swamp Road outside of Bombay Hook on Monday. Unfortunately, that bird was never re-found. Shorebirds seen at Bombay Hook included BLACK-NECKED STILT with young just out of the nest, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, WILLET, LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, plus several WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. BLACK SKIMMERS and CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Bear Swamp. Waders reported included SANDHILL CRANES, LEAST BITTERN, GLOSSY IBIS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, COMMON GALLINULE, and VIRGINIA RAIL. SNOW GOOSE, BLACK and MUTE SWAN, plus RUDDY DUCK continues to be seen at Shearness Pool. A female NORTHERN HARRIER was seen flying over Leatherbury Flats.
A female HOODED MERGANSER was seen at Big Oak Park near Smyrna. A female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, plus BLACK SKIMMER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, RED KNOT, and WESTERN and SPOTTED SANDPIPER were seen at Port Mahon. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH continues to be seen along the Big Stone Beach Road. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found in savannah habitat at Tabor State Forest near Harrington. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen at four sites, Killen’s Pond State Park and near Magnolia, along with a bird over Newark Reservoir and the usual birds at Cape Henlopen.
Shorebirds seen at Mispillion Inlet from the Dupont Nature Center included RED KNOT, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER, BLACK-BELIED PLOVER, RUDDY TURNSTONE, SANDERLING, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER plus a flyover WHIMBREL. A BLACK SCOTER was seen on Delaware Bay. CASPIAN, ROYAL, and LEAST TERNS were seen on the Back Beach at Mispillion. Both BLACK-CROWNED and YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were seen at the Beach Plum Drive Pond in Slaughters Beach. SALTMARSH SPARROW was seen from the observation platform at the Marvel Salt Marsh Preserve. In Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, VIRGINIA RAIL with young was seen along the Dike Trail. BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen along Oyster Rocks Road.
PURPLE SANDPIPERS and a flock of 80 BROWN PELICANS were seen on the outer breakwater off Cape Henlopen, along with flyby AMERICAN AVOCETS. Birds seen on the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park included ROSEATE, ROYAL, CASPIAN, LEAST and COMMON TERNS plus PIPING PLOVER and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER. BROWN PELICAN, BLACK and SURF SCOTER were seen from the hawk watch platform, along with WHITE IBIS. A flock of 40 WHITE IBIS was seen at Gordon’s Pond. WHITE IBIS was also seen at Burton’s Island in Delaware Seashore State Park. TRICOLORED HERON and COMMON TERN were seen at Indian River Inlet. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and KING RAIL were found at Assawoman Wildlife Area near Fenwick Island. RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported from Dewey Beach near Thompson’s Island. VESPER SPARROW was found along Remeter-Rum Bridge Road near Georgetown. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was reported today near Jimtown outside of Lewes.
The first PEREGRINE FALCON fledgling left the nest this week at the Brandywine Building in downtown Wilmington. The youngster was seen siting on the ledge from the remote cameras on the building, so the fledgling watch has begun. You can watch the action from the web site DOSbirds.org.
Thanks to the many people that make the Birdline possible Kevin Bronson, Heather Orkis, Jen Driscoll, Chuck Mitchell, Edward Patton, Frank Rohrbacher, Cole Tiemann, Matt Rowan, Barbara Jones, Ed Wrzeniewski, Joseph McGlinchey, Barbara Conway, Andrew Albright, Kim Steininger, Frank Lenik, Christy Holden, Adam Balick, Claude Durand, Ben Schweinhart, Rachel Bonham, Gary Byrly, Chris and Karen Bennett, Greg Gough, Sue Gruver, Tom Stock, Richard Jullian, Rob and Carol Blye, Phil Misseldine, Carolyn Holland, Sam VanHorne, Jim and Amy White, Wendy Cesario, Rod Murray, Scott Northey, Melissa Lafferty, John and Andy Dunn, Will Krohn, Declan and Amy O’Neil, Joe Francis, Mike Moore, Bruce Peterjohn, and Joe Swertinski. The Birdline needs your help. Please call your sightings into 302-792-9591 or email <ednieap...> Until next week, this is Andy Ednie wishing you good birding.
