FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Richmond Audubon Bombay Hook Weekend

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Richmond Audubon Fieldtrip to Bombay Hook: The weekend of August 14 & 15,
2004.We still have openings for this trip. If you plan to attend please call
or email me ASAP. Below are some recent reports from the Bombay Hook area
and below that is the trip imformation.:Bob ColesAn adult RED-NECKED STINT
was spotted at Bombay Hook NWR, DE, in thelate morning of July 31. This
bird, which retained a good bit ofbreeding plumage on the head and breast,
was at the north end ofShearness Pool. Around midday, the birds there were
put up by a hawkand the Stint was not relocated. At Bombay Hook, edges are
starting to appear in the formerly floodedimpoundments, and on July 31 they
drew 17 species of shorebird (inaddition to the stint). At the Logan Tract
of the Ted HarveyConservation Area, DE, July 31, the south end of the south
pond wasfull of herons and ibis as well as shorebirds--including
AMERICANGOLDEN-PLOVER in nearly full breeding plumage.  Delaware Report July
29, 2004:Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican,Least Bittern,Little Blue Heron,
Cattle Egret, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common
Eider, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Cooper's Hawk,
Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Whimbrel,Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone,
Solitary Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper,
Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Caspain Tern,
Royal Tern, Forster's Tern, Common Tern, Black Tern One of the earliest of
fall shorebird migrants, the WHIMBREL , was seen be one party throughseveral
shorebirding locations in coastal Delaware over the weekend. Fly-overs were
seen at Cape Henlopen, Gordon's Pond and Broadkill Beach. A total of 20
birds were seen through theovercast last Saturday. One of the better birding
sites this month in central Delaware has beenthe flooded field on the back
side of Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR near Smyrna. That field hadSTILT,
SOLITARY, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS last weekend. Those birds were close to
the road for good looks. Other birds at Bombay Hook included LEAST BITTERNS
at both Shearness, and the northeast corner of Bear Swamp. YELLOW and
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS continue to be seen from the island at the
northeast corner.  9 CATTLE EGRETS plus an immature LITTLE BLUE HERON were
found at Shearness Pool . Occasional WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHERS are being reported among the more usual sandpipers at the refuge.
BLUE GROSBEAKS are all over the place right now. A total of 16 were found
along the entrance roads and dikes on Sunday. Up to 7 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLSwere seen last weekend along the Port Mahon Road. But, observes later
in the week were unable to find any. The Port Mahon Road was recently
black-topped, making it passable for regular passenger cars. RUDDY
TURNSTONES and SANDERLING are back, along the beaches at Port Mahon,
Mispillion Inlet, and Slaughter's Beach.  The state recently purchased the
old marina and restaurant at the tip of the Mispillion Inlet, to be
converted into a Horseshoe Crab-Shorebird sanctuary. However, that
transaction does not take place until November. Until then, this is still
private property and posted for no trespassing. The drake immature COMMON
EIDER continues to be seen at the Harbor of Refuge Breakwater at Cape
Henlopen State Park, along with RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BLACK and SURF
SCOTER. Several BROWN PELICANS continue to be seen at the point, along with
BLACK, ROYAL, LEAST, COMMON and FOSTER'S TERNS.  Trip Details:Richmond
Audubon Fieldtrip to Bombay Hook: The weekend of August 14 & 15, 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.



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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