Delmarva Ornithological Society 2012-2013 Field Trip Schedule Field Trip Chairs: Amy & Kathleen O'Neil Field Trip Info: All members and guests are welcome! Only three trips (Owl Trip, Dragon Run Canoe Adventure, & Cape May) are restricted to DOS members, due to space limitations. All field trips are free of charge, however trips marked with an asterisk (*) have locations that are known to require entrance fees. Please be aware that a leader on any trip may choose to go to a location that requires fees/tolls. Participation in field trips is at your own risk. Please help our leaders and our environment by carpooling, especially on trips which include several locations. Half day trips will usually end before lunchtime unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to contact trip leaders if you have any questions.

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2012       2013                   Sep Oct Nov Dec  | Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep  [Next Trip]
	TITLE/ DESTINATION	LEADER	MEETING TIME AND PLACE	DESCRIPTION
September, 2012
Saturday, 8 Sep 2012	Cape May Migrants	Derek Stoner	Higbee Beach, small lot on left before main lot, 6:45 a.m.	Visit Cape May's "Migration Mainline" hotspots Higbee Beach, The Meadows, Cape May Point State Park, and the Cape May Hawk Watch for migrant songbirds, shorebirds and raptors. Expect some rarities. Full day.
Wednesday, 12 Sep 2012	Ashland Nature Center	Jim White	Nature center, Brackenville and Barley Mill Roads, 7:30 a.m.	Look for warblers and other neotropical migrants along the Red Clay Creek. Half day.
Sunday, 16 Sep 2012	Fall Migrants at White Clay Creek State Park*	Anthony Gonzon	Chambers House Nature Center. Creek Rd. North of Hopkins Rd. 8:00 a.m.	This is a great time of year for warblers and other fall migrants along White Clay Creek. State Park fee in effect. Half Day.
Friday, 28 Sep 2012	Dunlins Trip: Fall Migrants & Owl Prowl †	Dunlins Leaders: Derek Stoner, Bill Stewart & Judy Montgomery	Meeting place to be determined. 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	It's dark. Aren't all the birds asleep? We'll find out what the birds are doing at night as we look at the full moon through scopes and see if we can discover migrants passing overhead. We'll also see if we can find a few true "night owls"!
October
Sunday, 7 Oct 2012	Last Gasp 4 Fall Warblers Note date change	Andy Ednie	Brandywine Creek State Park Nature Center, 8:00 a.m.	Search for remaining fall warblers and other migrants at beautiful BCSP. State Park fees in effect. Half Day. Note date change
Saturday, 13 Oct 2012	Beginner Bird Walk at Granogue	Bill Stewart (610-864-0370) bird-del@earthlink.net	9:00 a.m. - noon. Please call Bill to sign up and for details about the meeting place.	Join Bill for this terrific opportunity to visit the majestic Granogue property to look for and learn about some great birds that can be found there.
Sunday, 14 Oct 2012	Dunlins Event: Ashland Big Sit	Dunlins Leaders (Derek, Bill & Judy)	Ashland Nature Center, Hockessin, DE 9:00 a.m. - noon	Lots of birds, lots of food, lots of friends, & lots of fun - what could be a better way of birding? Take part in an international birding competition and help us see a record # of birds. Atop Hawk Watch Hill at Ashland, count all the birds passing by. Bring the whole family for this big birding event! Cookout lunch at noon!
November
Sunday, 4 Nov 2012	Silver Run Wildlife Area & Baxter Tract	Anthony Gonzon	Augustine Beach, Route 9, 7:30am.	It's November already? Perfect time to come out and look for wintering passerines and raptors. Half day.
Saturday, 10 Nov 2012	Sea Watch I	Anthony Gonzon & Chris Bennett	Delaware Seashore State Park (lot on south side of Indian River Inlet along ocean - Southeast Day Use Area), 8:00 a.m.- noon	Join Anthony & Chris to count seabirds migranting along Delaware's coast - collecting invaluable data as well as seeing thousands of migrating loons, gannets, grebes, sea ducks, gulls, terns, & hopefully an alcid or two. This is a joint event with Sussex Bird Club. Limited walking on soft sand to get to viewing spot on the beach. Portable toilets are available at IRI. Half Day.
Sunday, 11 Nov 2012	Dunlins Trip: Bombay Hook Waterfowl*	Dunlins Leaders (Derek, Bill & Judy)	Bombay Hook NWR Headquarters 9:00 a.m. - noon	Ducks & geese are settling in for the winter at Bombay Hook NWR. We'll see how many different species we can find, plus keep a lookout at this time of year for raptors! Half day.
Saturday, 24 Nov 2012	Dunlins Trip: Bald Eagle Extravaganza	Dunlins Leaders (Derek, Bill & Judy)	Conowingo Dam Parking Lot, Conowingo, MD, 10:00 a.m. - noon	The dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of Bald Eagles that gather at Conowingo each autumn is incredible. Bring your camera!
December
Saturday, 8 Dec 2012	Sea Watch ll	Anthony Gonzon & Chris Bennett	Delaware Seashore State Park (lot on south side of Indian River Inlet along ocean - Southeast Day Use Area), 8:00 a.m.- noon	Join Anthony & Chris to count seabirds migranting along Delaware's coast - collecting invaluable data as well as seeing thousands of migrating loons, gannets, grebes, sea ducks, gulls, terns, & hopefully an alcid or two. This is a joint event with Sussex Bird Club. Limited walking on soft sand to get to viewing spot on the beach. Portable toilets are available at IRI. Half Day.
Friday, 14 Dec - Saturday, 5 Jan 2013	113th Annual Christmas Bird Counts	Jim White	See Flyer for details	Appreciate birds in a new way and contribute to over 100 years of wintering bird records. You can count in an area close to you, or farther afield, or even count the birds coming to your feeder! Watch The Flyer for the dates of the Counts you'd like to join, and give the count compiler a call!
Friday, 14 Dec - Saturday, 5 Jan 2013	Dunlins Events: 113th Annual Christmas Bird Counts	Dunlins Leaders (Derek, Bill & Judy)	Times & dates to be determined.	We'll have the opportunity to join in two CBCs this year - one up north & one down south. Enjoy being citizen scientists and contribute to over 100 years of wintering bird records!
January, 2013
Saturday, 12 Jan 2013	List Head Start*	Frank Rohrbacher	Park & Ride at Rte 299 & Rte 1, opposite Wawa. 7:30 a.m.	Get an early start on your 2013 list. Visit many various DE sites on the race to get as many year birds as possible. Full day.
Wednesday, 23 Jan 2013	Midwinter Beginner Birding Trip ‡	Sally O'Byrne	Alapocas Woods - Meet at the parking lot of the Blue Ball Barn. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	Come out and get to know some of the birds that are at home in the woods & fields during winter.
Friday, 25 Jan - Sunday, 27 Jan 2013	New York Birding Trip	Andy Ednie 302-792-9591 ednieap@verizon.net		The DOS has been running trips to Montauk, located on the eastern tip on Long Island, since 1974. Thousands of seaducks gather under the bluffs each winter. Previous trips have found King Eider, Barrow's Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe, Great Cormorant, white-winged gulls, Kittiwake, Jaegers and alcids. The surrounding countryside in the Hamptons produces wintering specialties like Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, European gulls, Golden Plover and maybe even a Lapwing! Area visited included Lake Montauk, Shinnecock Inlet, and the newly opened Camp Roosevelt, home of the Rough Riders. The trip will hit hotspots in New York City, Jamaica Bay, Bennett's Field, Pt. Lookout, Jones Beach, and possibly Sagamore Hill, the home of Teddy Roosevelt. Past trips have produced Snowy and Saw-whet Owl, Northern Shrike, American Bittern, Woodcock, Varied Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Ovenbird, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, and depending on the year, winter finches. This is a three day journey with two overnights in Montauk. Reservations are required.
February
Sunday, 3 Feb 2013	Owl Trip	Jim White Must call Jim if you are attending (593-9622). Space is limited.	Meet at New Castle County Airport. Reservations required, DOS members only. Trip will go from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.	Seven species of owl may be seen and/or heard in a single full day. Many various locations. Bring lunch. Full day.
Saturday, 9 Feb 2013	Sea Watch lll	Anthony Gonzon & Chris Bennett	Delaware Seashore State Park (lot on south side of Indian River Inlet along ocean - Southeast Day Use Area), 8:00 a.m. - Noon	Last chance this winter to bundle up and join Anthony, Chris, and our friends at the Sussex Bird Club to find, ID & document seabirds such as Northern Gannet, scoters, loons, gulls, & cormorants, plus spot a rarity or two. Half day.
March
Saturday, 16 Mar 2013	Stone Harbor/ Avalon NJ ‡ NOTE DATE CHANGE (Was 3/9/13)	Bill Stewart (610) 864-0370 bird-del@earthlink.net	Meet at 7:00 a.m. at DE Swim & Fitness Club. Carpooling is available. Must confirm your plans with Bill if attending.	Note date change Visit one of the best wintering waterfowl staging areas in our region. Search for early arriving shorebirds such as Piping Plover & American Oystercatcher. Snowy Owl has been seen on 2 previous trips. We will also visit the 8th St. jetty in Avalon for eider, Harlequin Duck, and the start of N. Gannet migration. Pack a lunch, we will bird until 2pm.
April
Saturday, 20 Apr 2013	Lum's Pond* ‡	Bob Strahorn	Glasgow High School parking lot 7:30 a.m.	Look for early breeding and migrating passerines. We will travel to several locations in the park. Park fees in effect. Half day.
Saturday, 27 Apr 2013	Nanticoke Watershed* NOTE DATE CHANGE (Was Sunday, 4/28)	Anthony Gonzon & Eric Braun	Park & Ride at Rte 299 & Rte 1, opposite Wawa. 6:00 a.m.	Note date change Spring migrants; trip will include Redden SF, Trap Pond S.P., Phillip's Landing. Bring bag lunch, boots, and bug spray. Park fees in effect. Full day.
May
Friday, 3 May 2013	Rail Trip (Note unusual time)	Andy Ednie	Park & Ride at Rte 299 & Rte 1, opposite Wawa. 10:00 p.m.	A three-hour Rail bonanza (in the middle of the night!) targeting 7 species. Bring long boots & bug spray.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013	Alapocas Woods	Sally O'Byrne	Meet at softball field parking lot behind the duPont Experimental Station at 7:00 a.m.	An oasis within the city of Wilmington with good successional field habitat, mature woodlands, and the Brandywine River. Target birds include migrating warblers and thrushes. Half day.
Saturday, 11 May 2013	Spring Round-up	John Janowski	See Flyer for details.	State of Delaware annual spring migration bird census. Great way to learn bird identification by sight and song!
June
Saturday, 1 Jun 2013	Dragon Run Canoe/Kayak Adventure	Sally O'Byrne	Contact Sally O'Byrne for details at salobyrne@gmail.com DOS Members Only	Great freshwater marsh near Delaware City with abundant Little Blue Heron, Yellow Warbler and Marsh Wren. Target bird = Least Bittern. Half day.
Saturday, 15 Jun 2013	New to Birding? Meet Some New Birds! ‡	Joe Sebastiani	Meet in the parking lot of Valley Garden Park at 8:00 a.m.	This is the perfect time of year to observe birds in the height of their nesting time. Come out and learn about the birds living here and raising families in our area. Half day.
July
Saturday, 20 Jul 2013	Delaware Shorebirds* ‡	Bob Rufe	New Castle County Airport, 7:00 a.m. or Bombay Hook NWR headquarters, 8:00 a.m.	35th Annual Trip!! Expect a few rarities. Bring bug spray and a hat. Half day. Entrance fees in effect.
August
Sunday, 4 Aug 2013	Shorebird ID Workshop Bombay Hook NWR*	Andy Urquhart and Eric Braun	Reservations required. Call Andy at (302) 239-2471 by August 1st.	Learn a system to ID shorebirds based on size, structure, habits, and plumage. Half day trip includes both classroom and field work. Entrance fees in effect.
Saturday, 10 Aug 2013	More Delaware Shorebirds*	Frank Rohrbacher	Bombay Hook NWR headquarters, 7:30 a.m.	Expect a few rarities. Bring bug spray and a hat. Half day. Entrance fees in effect.
September
Saturday, 7 Sep 2013	Cape May Migrants	Derek Stoner	Must contact Derek to sign up and for details of start time & meeting place. DOS Members only.	Visit Cape May's "Migration Mainline" hotspots Higbee Beach, The Meadows, Cape May Point State Park, and the Cape May Hawk Watch for migrant songbirds, shorebirds and raptors. Expect some rarities. Full day - can be rigorous!
Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013	Ashland Nature Center	Jim White	Nature center, Brackenville and Barley Mill Roads, 7:30 a.m.	Look for warblers and other neotropical migrants along the Red Clay Creek. Half day.
Sunday, 15 Sep 2013	Fall Migrants at White Clay Creek State Park*	Anthony Gonzon	Chambers House Nature Center. Creek Rd. North of Hopkins Rd. 8:00 a.m.	This is a great time of year for warblers and other fall migrants along White Clay Creek. State Park fee in effect. Half Day.

Please Note: Always check the DOS website (www.dosbirds.org) in case of trip changes or cancellations, and also for any new trips that may be added!

"Delaware Dunlins Recommended" DOS field trips are noted with a ‡ symbol. These trips are low-key, and especially appropriate for familes and beginning birders. Also, please check the Dunlins website (delawaredunlins.com) often for youth birding trips added throughout the year, plus pictures and reports from previous trips!