Bombay Hook NWR, DelawareIt was very cold when Walt and I arrived at Bombay Hook NWR, the best-known of the 14 Delaware Birding Trail sites. We took the long auto tour, stopping at various marked tour spots, walking some of the trails, and climbing one of the observation towers. At least the sun was shining.
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Snow Geese
Tundra Swans
Tundra Swans
Ross's Goose [upate: This may be a small Snow Goose]
Woodland birds included Winter and Carolina Wrens, a few woodpeckers, some sparrows, and a few others.
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
We saw a flock of Northern Pintails that was absolutely amazing. With my 400mm camera lens, I could capture only about 1/3 of the line of Pintails, and a few minutes later, the entire flock took off.
Northern Pintails
Our last stop along the Delaware Birding Trail was the Little Creek Wildlife Area. There were two recommended entrances, and the best bird we saw there was along the highway between the these two roads. We saw some large flocks of ducks in the wildlife area, mostly American Wigeons, but also a variety of other species.
Mostly American Wigeons
Hooded Merganser
A Northern Harrier and a Red-tailed Hawk were cruising one of the fields.
Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk
As we drove the highway between the two entrances to the widlife area, I saw a white bird at the edge of a creek. After just returning from a month in Florida, I knew immediately what it was, but didn't expect to see one in Delaware during the winter - a juvenile Little Blue Heron. We stopped the car, and as I slowly got to the bridge from around a bush, the heron flew, but I was able to get off a couple of shots. [Update: a juvenile Snowy Egret is also a possibility]
Juvenile Little Blue Heron [Update: a juvenile Snowy Egret is also a possibility]
Walt and I stopped at the Indian River Inlet on the way back to Chincoteague. Although it was sunny, the wind was so strong that it was difficult to stand in it. Walt took his spotting scope from the car, but it was too windy to open it, and I had a hard time keeping my camera steady on a monopod. The wind chill was downright nasty.
We saw lots and lots of Black and Surf Scoters, even more Long-tailed Ducks than earlier in the week, a Common Loon, a Purple Sandpiper, a pair of Red-necked Grebes, and a few other species of ducks and gulls.
Black and Surf Scoters
Black Scoters
Surf Scoters
Long-tailed Ducks
Common Loon
Red-necked Grebe
Purple Sandpiper
As we approached Chincoteague, the tide was low, and once again, we saw American Oystercatchers. We went directly across the bridge to Assateague, and the setting sunlight colored the area in a soft, golden glow.
American Oystercatcher
Northern Pintail
Northern Pintails
Northern Pintails
Northern Pintail
Herring Gull
Click here to go the day #5 report and photos: Chincoteague to Home.
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