The Nature of Delaware

By Derek Stoner, Family Programs Coordinator

Running late on Wednesday to meet up with William Ryan, director of Bucktoe Creek Preserve, I turned onto Sharp Road and witnessed a stunning sight overhead:  an immature Golden Eagle flying at treetop level, circling tightly in beautiful sunlight.  I pulled the car over, grabbed the camera, and snapped off some photos as the eagle drifted to the southwest.   

Getting back to the car, I found my cell phone ringing.  William was watching the eagle from the top of the hill, where he’d witnessed the majestic bird glide across the hayfield in front of him, just  six feet off the ground! 

Golden Eagles are uncommon migrants along the East Coast, travelling through primarily in the months of November and March.  We have seen 12 Golden Eagles fly over the Ashland Hawk Watch so far this fall. 

 On rare occasions, a Golden will winter in the mid-Atlantic, usually in marsh or grassland habitat that offers plenty of small mammal prey.  The Golden Eagle’s smaller head, longer tail, and different flight style distinguishes this bird from the more-common Bald Eagle.  A Golden’s wingspan is an impressive 7 1/2 feet!

This Golden Eagle was a new bird for the long-running survey at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve, and became species #190 for the list.  What an exciting sighting!

By Joe Sebastiani, Members Program Team Leader

Photos by Hank Davis

Free bird walks are being held every Sunday and Monday at 8:00 a.m. at the privately-owned Bucktoe Creek Preserve this fall.  Delaware Nature Society staff and volunteers are leading the programs, and on virtually every Monday morning, Hank Davis is a fixture.  With a great camera in tow, Hank has been documenting the birds on the property through his photography.  If you visit, a wonderful album of his bird photography from the property is available for you to browse at the welcome shelter.  Here are a few of his shots from last week.  Join us if you can!  Last week we saw an adult Red-headed Woodpecker, which was a first for the property.  It was in bad light and didn’t stay long enough for a photo. 

Great Horned Owl.

Palm Warbler

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Notice that it is eating Japanese Hops. I have never seen a bird eat this plant before.

Savannah Sparrow. This bird perched up nicely for the group last Monday morning.

Eastern Towhee

By Joe Sebastiani, Members Program Team Leader

Last week, I shot some videos of wildlife at Ashland Nature Center, Mt. Cuba Center, and the Bucktoe Creek Preserve.  The Sharp-shinned Hawk segment is of one of the adults from the pair that raised two young at Ashland this summer.  The young were flying around and screeching last week, and were impossible to capture on video.  The Kestrel is the male of the pair that nested at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve and raised two young. Also, notice the very small insect that the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is holding and the downy fuzz on the top of the Green Heron’s head. Enjoy!

By Joe Sebastiani, Members Program Team Leader

Today started off comfortable and warm at the Bucktoe Creek Preserve near Kennett Square, PA.  The walk ended with a chilly wind.  Birding was a little slow, as many songbirds stayed hidden and would not come out for a good look.  Highlights of the walk included good looks at a male American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, and even a fly-by Merlin.  We got really good looks at an adult male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (photo below) and a female or first year male Purple Finch eating Ash tree seeds.   We had a Winter Wren sing at one point.  Any of you that were concerned about us birding opening day of hunting season in PA, rest assured.  We made it back safe and sound.

The bird feeding station at the parking area is drawing in lots of birds, but unfortunately, the House Sparrows have found us.  Anyone know any good eradication methods??  Below is a photo of “coffee time” before the walk with a few of us checking out the new bird feeding station.

Here is a list of what we saw for the day:

Canada Goose     500
Black Vulture     8
Turkey Vulture     10
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Cooper’s Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     2
American Kestrel     1
Merlin     1
Ring-billed Gull     12
Mourning Dove     25
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     12
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     2
Downy Woodpecker     4
Hairy Woodpecker     2
Northern Flicker     6
Blue Jay     20
American Crow     10
Carolina Chickadee     8
Tufted Titmouse     6
White-breasted Nuthatch     5
Carolina Wren     5
Winter Wren     1
Eastern Bluebird     20
American Robin     60
European Starling     20
Cedar Waxwing     20
Song Sparrow     15
White-throated Sparrow     4
Dark-eyed Junco     40
Northern Cardinal     4
Red-winged Blackbird     20
Common Grackle     1
Brown-headed Cowbird     4
Purple Finch     1
House Finch     10
American Goldfinch     31
House Sparrow     15

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

By Sally O’Byrne, Teacher-Naturalist…

Yesterday morning, 8 intrepid participants joined me and William (Bucktoe Creek Preserve Land Manager) on the weekly Monday morning bird walk at Bucktoe.    I took the group to the field where Joe and I had found a passel of sparrows and a very dull Pine Warbler last week.  The field was empty except for bluebirds perched on the dried milkweed.  Even the hedgerows seemed empty, so to entertain the crowds I had them look at the moon with their binoculars, which was silvery against the blue sky.

 We entered the woods and were treated to the cry of a Pileated Woodpecker.  Becky’s sharp eyes picked out one and then another, but they were very odd, hanging on tulip tree flower/seed heads – looking like black sacks in the tree.  American Robins and Cedar Waxwings soon chased them off the seed heads and the pileateds flew to tree trunks where woodpeckers are supposed to be.

 We finally found a few sparrows near the end of our walk and were treated to a Fox Sparrow hanging out with White-throated Sparrows – it hopped up to give us all good views.   A couple of other notable sightings included a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker fly-by, and at least two different Sharp-shinned Hawks – both hunting.  Quite a number of deer were seen, all avoiding hunters.

 Two hours of walking only scratched the surface of this property, but even so, we enjoyed a few distinct types of habitat – field, hedgerow, young forest, mature deciduous forest, coniferous woods,  river edge, and floodplain. Not a bad way to spend a Monday morning.  Thanks to Ron Sinclair for the photos!

 Sally O’Byrne