 |
 |
Thursday, February 23, 2012 |
The mild winter we are having so far has provided some nice opportunities to get outside and see the sites. Just before the holidays I took a trip to the Eastern Neck wildlife refuge on the upper Chesapeake near Chester River. Of course Canada geese could be seen and heard all around. I also saw some amusing mallards, a pair of swans, and a pair of ruddy ducks which are identifiable by their rudder-like tail feathers. I also saw this red bellied woodpecker. The trip ended with a spectacular sunset. In December we took the boat a couple of miles out into the Atlantic for one last fishing trip before putting it away until next season. The temperatures were in the 60's and with almost no wind that day the water was amazing. We did not catch any fish but we saw gannets, a flock of sea ducks, and this Forster's tern taking a ride on some drift wood. Traveling through Sinepuxent Bay we saw this little king fisher in the commercial harbor, and lots of other birds including cormorants and buffleheads. We also saw loons which are commonly seen on the water this time of year along with pie billed grebes. Another common site are the snowies who are now here in force. Other migrating wildfowl have been arriving slowly supposedly in smaller numbers than in colder years. None the less recently I have seen widgeons and coots, gadwalls, ring necks, and redheads. Unfortunately my bird feeder has been discovered by a couple of squirrels. They are hogging all the sunflower seeds and are even going after the thistle. Since they have driven away most of the birds I have to head out to the woods to see chickadees, titmice, mocking birds, downy woodpeckers, and other local winter birds. That's alright - I'll take any excuse to get outside this time of year... |
Some Upcoming Outdoor Events
February 23, 2012 - Expert To Speak On Delmarva WIldlife The Globe - Berlin, MarylandFebruary 24, 2012 - Cool Configurations in a Nifty Sky Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, DelawareFebruary 25, 2012 - Reptiles Alive! Delmarva Discovery Center - 2 Market Street; Pocomoke City, MarylandMarch 6, 2012 - Spring Migration in March Program New Castle County, DelawareMarch 7, 2012 - Critical Area Talk Pub Room at Harrison's Chesapeake House - Tilghman, MarylandMarch 8, 2012 - Chesapeake Henson Science Hall 103 - Salisbury UniversityMarch 11, 2012 - Photography Series: Waterfowl and Raptors Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, DelawareMarch 15, 2012 - Build Your Own Rain Barrel DuPont Environmental Education Center - Wilmington, DelawareMarch 16, 2012 - Breakfast and Birding at Coverdale Farm Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Road - Greenville, DelawareMarch 17, 2012 - Feathers in Focus Photo Shoot Pocomoke River State Park- 3461 Worcester Highway - Snow Hill MarylandMarch 18, 2012 - Tracking Time DuPont Environmental Education Center - Wilmington, DelawareMarch 21, 2012 - Hoopes Reservoir Hike Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road Hockessin, DelawareMarch 21, 2012 - Floating Wetlands Program Two If By Sea - Tilghman, MarylandMarch 23, 2012 - Flint Woods to Granogue Hike and Lunch Flint Woods Preserve - Centreville, DelawareMarch 31, 2012 - Outdoor Survival Pocomoke River State Park- 3461 Worcester Highway - Snow Hill MarylandMarch 31, 2012 - 75-Ton Catch Program Pub Room at Harrison's Chesapeake House - Tilghman, MarylandApril 3, 2012 - Urban Birding in April New Castle County, DelawareApril 14, 2012 - Owl Prowl Pocomoke River State Park- 3461 Worcester Highway - Snow Hill MarylandApril 18, 2012 - Ashland to Bucktoe Creek Preserve Hike Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, DelawareApril 19, 2012 - Delaware Birding Trail Series Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, DelawareApril 20, 2012 - Two Bright Planets in an Early Spring Sky Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Road - Greenville, DelawareApril 22, 2012 - Earth Day Celebration & Clean-Up Pocomoke River State Park- 3461 Worcester Highway - Snow Hill MarylandApril 25, 2012 - Ashland to Coverdale Farm Loop Hike Coverdale Farm Preserve 543 Way Road - Greenville, Delaware - Main Entrance on Way RoadApril 26, 2012 - Delmarva Birding Weekend Various Delmarva LocationsApril 27, 2012 - 42nd Annual Ward World Championship Ocean City Convention Center - 40th Street and the Bay; Ocean City, MarylandApril 27, 2012 - Canoeing the Christina River DuPont Environmental Education Center - Wilmington, DelawareApril 28, 2012 - Kayaking Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, DelawareApril 28, 2012 - Dog Walk Nature Hike Pocomoke River State Park- 3461 Worcester Highway - Snow Hill MarylandApril 29, 2012 - Birds of Belleplain Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, DelawareApril 30, 2012 - Susquehanna Wildflower Adventure Ashland Nature Center - 3511 Barley Mill Road - Hockessin, Delaware |
 Redbellied Woodpecker  Sunset at Eastern Neck  Gannett and Sea Ducks  King Fisher and Common Loon  Buffleheads  Widgeon (male and female) and Coot  Ring Necked Ducks  Titmouse and Downy Woodpecker |
|||||||||||
| HOME | CONTACT US | ABOUT US Questions about this site? Email: info@delmarva-almanac.com  |