Wild Delaware

A Ruddy Turnstone climbs a mussle covered granite rock on a jetty at Cape Henlopen State Park this afternoon.The “unofficial” tally of bird species seen in Delaware this year stands at 177 today. And today I photographed five species - Ruddy Turnstone, Killdeer, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove and a Mallard - so that leaves 172 species. Over the past six months I have photographed many other species for Wild Delaware and I have six months of shooting to go. But it is clear that I will be very lucky to see - much less photograph - even half of the bird life in the state. When you add in the mammals, amphibians, reptiles and other creatures found in Delaware it is easy to see I will have a very busy six months. I hope you will keep watching www.WildDelaware.com to follow the progress of the book. Please feel free to leave comments when you see something you like (or don’t like).

A killdeer soaks up the last sun of the day near Lewes.

After struggling in yesterday’s strong winds, I’m sure wildlife in Delaware was happy today dawned calm but cold. This morning I found a male Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker, a Mouring Dove and a Mallard hen enjoying a more tranquil, unruffled day.

Delaware’s coast was getting pounded by a very rough surf this afternoon. A 40mph westerly wind lifted the waves and blew the tops back into the ocean. The usual cast of wildlife including gulls, sanderlings, ducks and gannets were forced to seek shelter from the strong wind.

There are few birds more challenging to photograph than a Sanderling running on the beach. They are tiny little birds and their legs move so fast they are a blur. But, when one stops to eat a worm they are much easier to capture with a camera.

A White-tailed deer pauses for a portrait at twilight near the Great Marsh at Lewes.

Great Egrets have been wintering south of Delaware for the past four months and today I saw one of the first to return for spring. This egret was fishing in Bombay Hook National Wildlife and caught a stick along with a fish. In addition to the first egret I heard spring peepers for the first time today. Spring is finally arriving!

Common on Delaware’s mudflats, a flock of Dunlin turn all at once as if sychronized.

After sunset today I followed a fox as he hunted Canada geese and then mice in a Kent County field. The geese beat a hasty retreat into the sky and the fox came up empty.

Dark dappled gray clouds framed Delaware’s sunrise this morning creating a few minutes of dramatic light before the sun disappeared behind the thick clouds. At Cape Henlopen State Park the World War II watch towers still stand sentinel over the beach by Gordons Pond. A couple of minutes later the sun broke the horizon and quickly faded into the overcast above the waves.