December 26, 2014

Cooper’s Hawk
Port Mahon, DE
Dec. 2014
Click to enlarge.

For good measure we popped into Port Mahon for a few minutes just in case a Snowy Owl would make an appearance. Alas, no Snowy Owls, but plenty of Northern Harriers. We even captured a shot of the juvenile Cooper’s Hawk previously reported there.

At Bombay Hook we started at the Observation Tower over Raymond Pond. Before we climbed the tower the commotion coming from the geese in the pond was heard loud and clear. Upon reaching the top we were met with the sight of hundreds of Snow Geese and Canada Geese. Snow Geese continued to fly over and land in the pool.

I was hoping to see a Ross’s Goose but I did not see one during my trip. I haven’t spent much time evaluating my pictures to find one yet either. (Last sighting of a Ross’s Goose at the time of this writing in eBird is Dec. 19th.)

The Boardwalk trail, which has offered us some unique sightings in the past, was not lively. A lone Downy Woodpecker was our only sighting of consequence.

Further observation of Raymond Pond from the road gave great views of Northern Shovelers and Northern Pintails. Continuing on to Shearness Pool we saw more Northern Pintails under more spectacular (or rather, dramatic) lighting. Tundra Swans were visible in the distance with Canada Geese.

In the fields before turning towards Bear Swamp Pool we witnessed a Northern Harrier and a Red-tailed Hawk interacting in flight above the stand of trees. Both birds swooping towards each other, at times the Harrier getting close enough to the Hawk to alter its flight pattern and rhythm. Regretfully, I did not get spectacular photos of the pair.

Northern Harrier & Red-tailed Hawk
Bombay Hook NWR
Dec. 2014
Click to enlarge.

Within Bear Swamp Pool we saw a Tundra Swan that appeared so large compared to the Canada Geese we started to think about Trumpeter Swans. But, that was a rabbit hole to nowhere, it was definitely a Tundra Swan. I made poor Teddy slam on the brakes rounding the far end of the pool when a Northern Harrier popped up just above the grasses on the passenger side of the vehicle. I quickly jumped out and snapped a few pictures before we continued on towards the Allee House.

Savannah Sparrow
Bombay Hook NWR
Dec. 2014
Click for more photos.

We stopped along the gate at Dutch Neck Rd. (to Allee House) for a picnic within the car. We decided not to pursue the road to Finis Pool since we could not remember how much room there was to turn around. While we were eating, an employee? unlocked the gate to Allee House. I had not been in this section of the refuge and it is a shame we did not see more activity.

We flushed a few Eastern Meadowlarks which flew off farther in the field. A Savannah and Song Sparrow were the extent of small bird activity for the excursion. Two black vultures were perched atop the house and were unmoved by our activity. The fourth American Kestrel of the trip made an appearance in the field past the Allee House to the North. He hovered in several spots over the field before flying back towards the treeline.

We stopped shortly back at the field we had spotted the Meadowlarks. We found none, but while Teddy was talking to another birder a hawk flew low over the field and across the road ahead of the car. Comically (to me), my attempts to alert her and the other birders that the hawk was passing mere feet by them failed. It was gone by time I finally got their attention.

Before heading out of Bombay Hook NWR, we observed a lone female Hooded Merganser diving in a small pool by the road.

On the way home we stopped into Pickering Beach Rd. We spotted an adult Red-tailed Hawk sitting on a low branch in a tree bordering a field. As light faded we observed some small bird activity in the bushes along the road.