FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Bombay Hook information

[ben saunders <betsyben@xxxxxxxx>]

  Here's Bob's information on Bombay Hook:

Welcome to the Richmond Audubon Field trip to Bombay Hook or "HOT and
BUGGY, but very BIRDY" The weekend of August 15 & 16, 2004. 
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, near Dover, Delaware, is one of the
best birding sites in North America. (http://bombayhook.fws.gov/) This
refuge has 15,978 acres, 75% of which is tidal salt marsh. We will be
primarily using the 10-mile wildlife drive and related trails, which give
us great access to the birds. We may also visit Port Mahon, the Logan
Tract, Taylor?s Gut Landing, The Ted Harvey Tract, Woodland Beach,
Pickering Beach, Little Creek Wildlife Area and the New Castle airport
depending conditions and activity.
Richmond Audubon has not been here in August, but local bird clubs have
annual trips in mid-August to see the abundant shore birds and other
species. A trip report from August 16, 2003 included seven species of
sandpipers: both yellowlegs, short-billed dowitchers, American avocets,
semipalmated and black-bellied plovers, killdeers, least bittern,
willets, black-necked stilts, Wilson?s phalarope, dunlin, red knots and
5-6 tern species. We should also see the upland sandpiper. Our primary
target bird is the Ruff. Over 350 species (70 of which are accidentals)
have been documented here and a rarity is always a possibility. I have
11-lifers here including Curlew Sandpiper, Red Knot, Little Egret,
Black-billed Cuckoo and Ring-necked Pheasant. We will be monitoring the
Delaware list serve to identify any interesting birds and Jerry Uhlman
and I plan to scout the area on Friday the day before the trip.
We will bird from 7:15AM to dark on Saturday; we will break for lunch and
can have dinner together and from 7:15AM to Noon on Sunday. People
staying overnight on Friday will meet at 7:15AM Saturday morning at the
Bombay Hook Visitor?s Center. Those driving up Saturday morning will meet
the rest of the group at 9:30AM at the visitor?s center (these people
will need to leave Richmond no later then 5:30AM). The group staying over
for Sunday will meet at the visitor?s center at 7:15AM Sunday morning and
we will bird until Noon. Since Bombay Hook is best during the morning
hours, we will bird several hours here both mornings before moving on to
other locations unless we learn of something important nearby.
The visitor?s center will not be open over the weekend but the restrooms
are available. Everyone is responsible for his/her own accommodations in
Dover, but we should try to stay in the same general area to assist with
carpooling and coordination. Bring your scope, if you have one. Also,
bring water, snacks, sunscreen, bug repellent, a hat and a head net or
other bug proof clothing. Wear only long sleeve shirts and long pants.
The mosquitoes and biting flies can be terrible this time of year. We
will primarily be birding near the cars; there will be some walking along
roads, trails or along the beach. 
Motels: You need to make a reservation ASAP. Many area hotels are already
booked. The only motel I could fine with available rooms was the Dover
Budget Inn at 1426 N. DuPont Highway -302-734-4433. Jerry and I got a
double for $70. Others in the area include: Comfort Suites at 1654 N.
DuPont Highway - 302-736-1204. Holiday Inn Express at 1780 N. DuPont
Highway - 302-678-0600, the Red Roof Inn at 652 N. DuPont Highway ?
302-730-8009. 
Directions: Route 95 or Route 301 to Route 50 and follow it over the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge. From the bridge toll plaza follow Route 301 about
34 miles and turn right on Route 300, follow it 15 miles to Kenton,
Delaware. At the traffic light in Kenton go right on Route 42 follow it
to Route 13 (N. DuPont Highway) turn right (south) heading into Dover and
follow it to your hotel. Please observe the speed limit in Delaware,
especially in the small towns, they actively patrol and ticket speeders.
To get to Bombay Hook from Route 13 (N. DuPont Highway) go back (north)
to Route 42 and turn right (east), follow it to Leipsic. Turn left
(north) on Route 9, follow it to the Bombay Hook sign at Road 82
(Whitehall Neck Road) turn right (east) and follow it to the visitors
center on your left just beyond the main gate. 
Reservations required (limited to 20) to reach Bob Coles call 883-7570 or
rcoles@xxxxxxx please include Bombay Hook in the subject line. THINK
RUFF!

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