Red-winged Blackbird at Prime Hook NWR on 18 October 2014. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.
Yesterday afternoon, I led a small group of enthusiastic birders on a Delmarva Ornithological Society Local Patch Birding Series walk/trip at the Prime Hook NWR Headquarters with the help of Alex Lamoreaux. We met at 3:00 PM in the Visitor’s Center parking lot where we were greeted by many Laughing Gulls and Turkey and Black Vultures flying over. The purpose of the trip was to search for sparrows and waterbirds, but we found very few sparrows.
We started out by walking the observation platform/dike trail. Along the trail, everyone enjoyed crippling views of a Belted Kingfisher pair, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tufted Titmice, and a Great Horned Owl! Shorebirds were sparse, but we managed to pick up Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and American Avocet.
Great Horned Owl at Prime Hook NWR on 18 October 2014. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.
Belted Kingfisher at Prime Hook NWR on 18 October 2014. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.
From the observation platform, Alex got folks on Northern Shovelers, American Black Ducks, Northern Pintail, Ruddy Ducks, Green-winged Teal, and a pair of Pied-billed Grebes! Forster’s Terns were putting on quite a show out over the marsh as well.
As we worked back towards the boardwalk trail, we saw more of the same including Great Blue Heron, and Great and Snowy Egrets. The boardwalk trail was relatively quiet as the wind picked up, but we ran into Julie McCall who alerted us to an American White Pelican she had found. Thanks, Julie!
American White Pelican at Prime Hook NWR on 18 October 2014. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.
We ended the walk with great scope views of an Eastern Meadowlark around 5:30. As a group, we observed 59 species in 2 hours and 52 minutes (eBird Checklist). I think everyone enjoyed the walk and are looking forward to more in the Local Patch Birding Series. Check out this link for more DOS Field Trips.