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Birdline Delaware Number: 302-658-2747 [Transcript] For Friday, February 5th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2010 Unofficial Delaware State Year List now stands at 154 species. The First State was socked in snow this week, with downstate getting the brunt of the storm. SNOW GEESE and SNOW BUNTINGS were seen in several locations in the state. A big flock of SNOW GEESE sat in the snow at Cartanza Road, north of Little Creek. Cartanza Road was closed due to 8 inches of snow. The refuge road through Bombay Hook was also closed due to high snow levels. SNOW BUNTINGS and at least 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were counted along Whitehall Neck Road and Raymond Neck Road, outside of Bombay Hook. Approximated 300 HORNED LARKS and 100 SAVANNAH SPARROWS were also reported. Only a single AMERICAN KESTREL was seen. AMERICAN PIPITS were seen along Big Woods Road and also Big Oak Road near Smyrna. A single adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was found along Savannah Road. A female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was on the Leipsic River at the Rt. 9 Bridge. In Sussex County, 22 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Haven Road, on the north side of Indian River Inlet. Those birds were flying towards Burton's Island looking for open ground. 18 COMMON GOLDENEYE were in Haven Road Cove, also known as "Bottom Hills Drain." A peak count of 14 GREAT CORMORANTS were counted at Indian River Inlet. 3 immature drake COMMON EIDERS continue to be seen at the inlet, plus LONG-TAILED DUCK, SURF and BLACK SCOTER. 30 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were found on the jetty. CANVASBACK and RUDDY DUCKS continue to get pushed into smaller area of open water on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, and NORTHERN SHOVELER were also reported. HOODED MERGANSER and AMERICAN COOTS were seen at Silver Lake earlier in the week. Catch 54 in Fenwick Island had a PIED-BILLED GREBE, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREATER SCAUP, and HOODED and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. KILLDEER and DUNLIN were also found there. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH has been coming to a feeder in Bay Vista near Rehoboth. BROWN THRASHER and NORTHERN FLICKER were also reported. GREATER YELLOWLEGS, KILLDEER, and DUNLIN were found there by the head of Rehoboth Bay. The RUDDY DUCK raft at Bald Eagle Creek has grown to 150 birds. A count of 85 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found at the headquarters of Prime Hook NWR near Milton. That's a good addition to the Rusty Blackbird Blitz. FIELD SPARROW and WINTER WREN were also found, plus both SCREECH and GREAT HORNED OWL. FOX SPARROW and EASTERN TOWHEE WERE reported at a feeder near Georgetown. A GRAY CATBIRD was seen at Pine Valley Farms near Port Penn. TUNDRA SWANS were seen on the ice at Taylor's Gut. About 50,000 SNOW GEESE were seen on the Delaware River at Woodland Beach. BROWN THRASHER was seen at Brandywine Creek State Park. Also reported was PILEATED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, and 3 drake COMMON MERGANSERS on the creek. 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES were on Hoopes' Reservoir, along with RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, and COMMON MERGANSER. BALD EAGLES are again nesting at Hoopes'. A flock of 6 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS with AMERICAN ROBINS were eating berries along the Rt. 82 causeway on Sunday. 80 COMMON MERGANSERS were seen on the Christiana River at the Russ Peterson Environmental Education Center this week. A BALD EAGLE was seen flying up the Christiana from I-95. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was also seen near Frawley Stadium. COMMON and a pair of HOODED MERGANSER were seen on the Red Clay Creek this week. BLACK VULTURE, HAIRY and PILEATED WOODPECKERS were seen at Ashland Nature Center. CHIPPING SPARROWS were coming to a feeder near Yorklyn. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen near Centerville. — Weekly Radio Feature — Now from this week's special feature from WILM News Radio: The snowstorms in central Delaware have provided birders with a unique opportunity. Snow covered fields have pushed birds to road edges in search of food, gravel, and salt. HORNED LARK, AMERICAN PIPITS and SAVANNAH SPARROWS, normally found in grasslands can easily be seen along Delaware's rural roadways. But, among these common birds you can find the LAPLAND LONGSPUR, a rare visitor from the tundra. Found circumpolar, the LAPLAND LONGSPUR is actually one of the most common birds in the world. Originally described from birds found in Lapland, part of Scandinavia, the males have a black breast, throat and face and chestnut collar on the nape. The females are a more plain brown. All have extremely variable plumage, making it easy to recognize individual birds. Related to sparrows and Old World buntings, the Longspurs exact linage is not known. Molecular studies of DNA are inconclusive for either family. Longspurs get their name from a distinctive, double-length claw on the back toe, similar to the elongated claw of the dinosaur, Velociraptor. Could this be a clue to birds evolving from reptiles or just convergent evolution? The genius name of Longspurs, Calcarius, is from the Latin name of the heal bone, calcaneus. There are four species of Longspur in the world, all occurring in North America. The Smith's Longspur breeds in the high Arctic. The McKown's and chestnut-colored Longspur breed in the northern Prairies. These similar species makes fascinating study. Special thanks this week to Lynn Smith, Jim White, Joe Sebastiani, Maurice Barnhill, Derek Stoner, and Chuck Fullmer for their observations. The Birdline needs your reports or contribution to the Unofficial Delaware State Year List. Please call your observations to 302-792-9591 or email ednieap@verizon.net. Until next week, good birding. [End Transcript] Birdline Delaware is posted weekly on the Delaware Audubon web site as a public service. It is not created or sponsored by the Delaware Audubon Society.
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