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Next meeting: October 18th!
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Red-shouldered Hawk by Mike Moore.
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Letter from the President
 It looks like some cool, crisp fall weather is about to arrive which is my favorite weather for birding. If you have been procrastinating about getting out and birding, now is the time. Visit one of our hawk watches or join one of our field trips. Whatever you do, just get out. Now is the time to hunt for rare sparrows or maybe a rarity from the west like a Western Kingbird or Ash-throated Flycatcher. Fall is rarity season, and you never know what you might find.
October is also the month Gene Hess, as editor, and I put together the Delaware Ornithologist to be mailed to all members in good standing in December. Be sure to renew your membership if you want to get the 2023 issue. This issue is packed with information about Delaware’s birds. The Passing Scene describes recent notable bird sightings, the complete reports of both hawk watches are included, a double report of the Delaware Bird Records Committee discusses the many exciting records of rare birds that they have reviewed and many other articles deal with noteworthy bird sightings and observations this year.
I want to encourage you to submit an article to the 2024 issue of the Delaware Ornithologist. Anyone can submit an article on the topic of their choosing as long as it is of interest to our members. All articles are professionally edited, so anyone can write one. This is your journal. Submit an article and make it truly yours.
I hope to see you in the field enjoying some glorious fall weather and gathering ideas for an article in the Delaware Ornithologist.
-Michael Moore, DOS President
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October 18th Meeting:
“Volunteering for Delaware’s Raptors” by Jordan Brown
October 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT
In-person at Ashland Nature Center
Join us as we talk to one of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)’s avian biologists, Jordan Brown. This presentation will review some of the many research projects being conducted by the Division of Fish & Wildlife, specifically with birds of prey. Ms. Brown will discuss opportunities for members of the public to get involved with the Division’s Raptor Research Program. Volunteer opportunities include passive monitoring and data collection, active nest box building and installation, as well as opportunities to view these species up close.
Jordan Brown is the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Raptor, Grassland, and Forest Bird Biologist. Jordan is a Delaware native who obtained her Undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware, later earning a Masters of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources from Clemson University. Jordan’s first wildlife research position began seven years ago with Delaware’s American Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring Program, now called the Delaware Kestrel Partnership.
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Searching for Sparrows at Burrows Run
with Andy Ednie
October 8 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am EDT
Lincoln's Sparrow by Mike Moore.
Join Andy Ednie to search for sparrows in beautiful Burrows Run! October is the perfect time to find migrating sparrows, welcome back our winter birds, and study our year-round residents too! We’ll look for White-throated, White-crowned, Lincoln’s, and others on this pristine private property in the Red Clay Valley.
Meet at Burrows Run gated entrance off of Ashland Clinton School Rd, just uphill from Center Mill Rd. Bring bug spray, wear boots and prepare for some hill climbing!
Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
Anson B. Nixon Park with Ian Stewart
October 14 @ 8:00 am – 10:30 am EDT
Tennessee Warbler by Carolyn Holland
This is the first DOS trip to this under-birded park and we are excited to see what species we might find!
Anson B. Nixon Park is an attractive 100 acre site owned by the Kennett Area Park Authority. It contains two small lakes and a mix of woodland and dense forest with creeks. It is free to enter, there is ample parking and the trails are good. We will search the woods and edges for late migrants, winter visitors and residents. This well-maintained park is under-birded yet the mix of habitats holds great promise of us adding some new species to the site list! Bring bug spray and wear appropriate shoes for walking.
Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip..
The entrance to the park is on N Walnut Street in Kennett Square. The linked GPS coordinates will take you to the park entrance where there is a sign at the end of the driveway. Follow the driveway and soon you will come to a good size parking lot on the right where we will meet. If this lot is full there is a spillover lot further down the driveway.
Fall Birding at Bombay Hook with Chris Bennett
October 21 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Leatherberry Flats by Chris Bennett
Herons and egrets, shorebirds, songbirds & more at Bombay Hook!
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is one of the premier birding sites in the eastern United States and it’s a short trip from anywhere in the state of Delaware. Early fall is a great time to search the refuge for songbirds, shorebirds, herons and egrets, terns and gulls, waterfowl and raptors. We will bird the wildlife drive with short walks on flat, well-maintained trails.
We’ll meet in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center parking lot in Smyrna, DE. Refuge fees are in effect – $4 per car, or free entry with a 2023-2024 season duck stamp (or other special passes).
Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
More information on Bombay Hook NWR is available here.
Lazy Birder Field Trip at the Peterson Refuge with Joe Francis
October 28 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm EDT
Rusty Blackbird by Mike Moore.
Explore Delaware’s Premier Urban Wildlife Refuge!
Birding is a great hobby, but not everyone enjoys waking up before dawn on a weekend. If you prefer to sleep in, this is the trip for you! Join Joe Francis and friends at Delaware‘s Premier Urban Wildlife Refuge to explore the tidal wetlands and upland fields between the Dupont Environmental Education Center and the Christina River pedestrian bridge. We will walk about 3 miles, most of the time on boardwalk. As dusk approaches we are likely to see a variety of migrants that will roost in the marshes including waterfowl, shorebirds, rail, and blackbirds of all varieties (including Rusties). We may also see muskrat, beaver, and possibly river otter as well. Thanks to regular pedestrian traffic and security patrols from the Wilmington Riverfront, this has been a very safe area even in the waning daylight. Those interested in more information may contact Joe at [email protected].
Meet by the Russell Peterson statue in the parking area for the DuPont Environmental Education Center.
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Red Knot Youth Birders
Sunday, October 15th , 8:00am-10:00am
Delaware Wild Lands’ Hangman's Reserve
The Hangman’s Impoundment supports a highly diverse freshwater ecosystem. It is well-vegetated with species such as wild rice and pickerel weed that support wildlife. The impoundment supports a variety of wildlife species including songbirds, Sandhill cranes, turkeys, mink, muskrats, and waterfowl. DWL is involved in a multi-institution research project for wood ducks, and there are several wood duck boxes that have been in place around this impoundment for years. DWL staff will join us on this trip to share all of the conservation projects that they have been working on!
Meet at Delaware Wild Lands’ office
Friday, November 17th , 7:00pm-8:30pm*
Rushton Woods Preserve- Owl Banding
*Note the evening meeting time!
It’s time for another fun evening with owls! Join the banding crew at Rushton Woods Preserve as they work to catch and band Northern Saw-whet Owls, to help researchers discover more about their amazing annual movements and unique nocturnal adaptations.
Spaces are limited, so pre-registration is required!
Sunday, November 19th , 8:30am-10:30am
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
This trip is all about waterfowl! Join us to explore the diversity of duck and geese species that move into the Mid-Atlantic region for the winter each year. We’ll be bringing scopes to make sure we get great looks, so don’t miss out!
*Annual Duck Stamp or Daily Pass required
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Sign up at [email protected] to receive field trip schedules and other updates for the fall.
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Seeking volunteers to help with advertising!
The youth birding committee is looking for individuals to help with distributing the Red Knots' new rack card. We are especially in need of people who would be able to drop off a pack of cards at their local libraries in any county. If you have suggestions for other family-friendly locations that allow outside advertising materials, we would love to hear those suggestions as well. Contact Jessica at [email protected] if you would like to help out!
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Cape May Field Trip Report
Western Kingbird by Declan O'Neil.
Read the full report here.
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Access Pass Reminder
Don't forget: Conservation Access Passes are required to visit state wildlife areas such as Augustine (including Ashton Tract), Assawoman, Cedar Swamp, and Woodland Beach.
The cost to renew your annual pass is $32.50 for Delaware vehicles and $65.00 for out-of-state vehicles. Click here to get your pass!
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Hawk Watching 2023
Broad-winged Hawk kettle by David Brown.
The Ashland Hawk Watch in Hockessin began in September. The first two weeks of the month were slow as we had unseasonably hot weather. By the third week the Broad-winged Hawk numbers had started to increase. Hurricane Lee passed offshore bringing favorable winds to New England and eastern Canada. The first day big day for us was the fifteenth with a few hundred, followed by nine hundred the next day. The peak day was the twentieth when over 9,500 Broad-winged Hawks migrated past setting a new single-day record for Ashland. The grand finale of the day was a kettle of a thousand broad-wings glimmering overhead at 5pm plus another thousand descending throughout the next hour. A new season record has been set for Broad-winged Hawks and an overall record season seems inevitable. The fourth week of September was slow as Tropical Storm Ophelia brought rainy weather to the region. Non-raptor highlights so far have included Glossy Ibis and Red-headed Woodpecker.
October will bring a transition from Broad-winged Hawks to falcons and Accipiters. Later in October expect increasing numbers of Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Turkey Vultures, and Golden Eagles. I hope you can visit us on the hill soon!
-David Brown
Ashland Hawk Watch Coordinator
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- Your backyard bird feeding specialist -
"Fall in Love with Birds."
Wild Birds Unlimited-Hockessin
Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm.
Lancaster Pike & Yorklyn Road
Hockessin, DE
(302)-239-9071
www.wbu.com/hockessin
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What's this bird?
Check your answer here. Photo by Katie Bird.
We'd love more quiz photos! Send yours to [email protected]
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DOS Backyard Birding Challenge
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Andrew Dunn continues his lead, gaining 5 species since the last Flyer. Rarity season is in full swing, it's time to go birding!
Compete by submitting eBird checklists from your own yard.
Learn more here.
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*Rankings as of October 3, 2023.
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Red-winged Blackbird by Mike Moore. Cape May Warbler by Shannon Modla.
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Want to see your photos in the Flyer? Send them to [email protected]!
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DOS Flyer Archive
Click here to read digital copies of past Flyers.
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