Darlene Sillick, Al LaSala and I braved the weather forecast and headed
north to bird today. Things began on an ominous note when we got a call from
Darlene. Her car was sitting in her garage with a very flat tire (a real
pancake). Al and I picked Darlene up and we were off. The temperature kept
dropping and we faced rain and mist much of the day. With all this we still
managed to have a terrific day.

We began at Delaware Wildlife Area where we were greeted by two Wild
Turkeys on Panhandle Road. A good omen we hoped and it proved to be such. As we
continued on we stopped to phish and brought out several Eastern Bluebirds
and  Indigo Buntings. As we were watching them I continued phishing and in
flew  another blue bird. First thoughts were another Indigo Bunting, however
it turned  out to be much bigger, had a more pronounced beak, rounded head
and the  rusty wing bars. A beautiful male Blue Grosbeak. Eventually we moved
on and  compiled a nice list of warblers including Yellow, Chestnut-sided,
Magnolia,  Palm, Blackpoll, American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Later
along  Leonardsville Road we heard but did not see Yellow-breasted Chats and
a  Prothonotary Warbler. In a large pool of water formed from the recent
rains  there were Yellowlegs, Spotted sandpiper, Semipalmated sandpiper,
Solitary  Sandpiper and Killdeer. At the swamp near the east end of Area A we
located  Red-headed Woodpeckers and in Delaware Lake there was a Common Loon in
breeding  plumage.

We next headed north to Killdeer Plains where we met Steve Jones and
numerous other birders all seeking the same quarry, a Black-necked Stilt. The
stilt proved to be a very cooperative bird. Steve and Al took numerous
pictures  as the stilt strutted along the edge of the pond. We continued around the
 wildlife area locating some interesting birds. At Pond 3 there was a
family of  Trumpeter Swans, a Bald eagle and egrets. We later checked the wetland
and  pond on the east side of CH-119. We walked along the road and tallied
some nice  warblers including Blue-winged, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia,
Yellow-rumped,  Palm, Blackpoll, Black & White, Kentucky, Wilson's, Canada,
American  redstart and Common Yellowthroat. Along CH-68 we located a
flooded field with a  flock of 45 Dunlin in breeding plumage. We saw several
additional Bald Eagles  soaring around the fields and a small group of Cedar
Waxwings. Waxwings seem to  be in short supply this year for many of my birding
friends.

Throughout the day the rains kept threatening to put an end to our birding
but somehow managed to hold off until we were driving south heading for
home.  Now I have to get down to business and tend to my nest boxes at Hoover
Reservoir. Instead of just hearing a Prothonotary I'll be able to enjoy
seeing  many of them. Yellow rules! Go PROW's!

Charlie Bombaci

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