Wild Delaware

Two tree swallows battle over a prime nesting space in New Castle County this morning.

These Black Vulture chicks are beginning life in the remains of an old stone barn in northern New Castle County. It seems vultures like to nest in the ruins of abandoned farm buildings as the ancient walls offer shelter from the elements and a measure of protection from predators.

It has been cloudy and rainy in Delaware since Saturday afternoon so there has been no good light for photography. I’m off to photograph Brandywine Bluebells and check on a Bald Eagle and a Barred Owl nest so hopefully with a little better light I will be adding those images in the next couple of days. In the meantime, here is a White-tailed Deer on a hillside at Winterthur.

Osprey nesting is in full-swing now with the females sitting on the nest and the males doing most of the fishing. Take a look at those large and incredibly sharp claws. They are the last thing many fish ever see.

Rehoboth Art League  

Wild Delaware photographs are going to be exhibited at the Rehoboth Art League from May 2nd through June 1st.   Please come to the opening reception this Friday between 5:00 and 7:00p.m.  This will be the first time most of these new works will be exhibited and available for sale.  For Rehoboth Art League information: http://rehobothartleague.org/calendar.htm 

Back Porch Cafe exhibit

More of my beach area and wildlife prints will be exhibited at the Back Porch Cafe, 59 Rehoboth Avenue for six weeks beginning this Friday May 2nd. I hope to see many of you at The Homestead building at Rehoboth Art League from 5:00 to 7:00pm this Friday and then for a great dinner at the Back Porch Cafe. Here is the link for the Back Porch: http://www.backporchcafe.com/index.html

But wait, there is more…

Remember where the big Abizaks furniture store was located on Route One just across from Big Fish Grille? That’s now going to be an artist coop of sorts with a great variety of artists and merchants all under one roof. I will have a booth there with beach and wildlife photographs as well as many of the photographs from my book The Heart of America. This opening is Friday May 9th.

Identifying wading birds is often a challenge. Many have different color phases depending on their age and time of year. Most look very similar to others in their family. Here is a group of Short-billed Dowitchers that look remarkably just like Long-billed Dowitchers. Except for a tiny bit shorter bill, that is. With dowitchers the best way to distinguish long-billed from short-billed is by their call. Short-billed Dowitchers have a staccato tu-tu-tu call that is so common in Delaware salt marshes.

A small flock of Short-billed Dowitchers follow the leader along the edge of a Rehoboth Bay salt marsh this morning. Dowitchers are small to medium-sized waders in the sandpiper family and typically eat insects, crustaceans, mollusks and marine worms.

The salt marsh near Indian River Inlet was busy with air traffic this morning as Willets (above) and American Oystercatchers kept passing by. Both species feed on mollusks, crabs and marine worms.

Growing up on a farm in Kent County, I remember Bobwhite Quail being heard more than seen. In fact, their name “bobwhite” is derived from their rising, clear whistle song bob-White and sometimes bob-bob-White! Here is a quail feeding on seeds just yesterday morning.

Publication of Wild Delaware is this November but if you order now you will receive a signed and numbered copy of Wild Delaware plus two free signed lithographs plus free shipping. Just click Order Online! (above) for the pre-publication special.