Wild Delaware

An osprey brings a partially eaten flounder to its chicks this morning. The well camouflaged chicks (bottom right of nest) are eating pieces of fish torn off by the parent. I’ll check back in about 10 days when the chicks are larger and easier to see and photograph.

Mimids, like this Northern Mockingbird, are best known for their songs that often mimic other species songs.

I have found more skimmers this year in Delaware than I have seen here before. One morning about three weeks ago I saw a flock of about one hundred at Bowers Beach. Today, these Black Skimmers were coming in for a landing at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

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My favorite heron and egret rookery on Indian River Bay was a busy place today at sunrise with Great Egrets clamoring for the best perches. Three weeks ago a storm destroyed this rookery as most of the birds were nesting on the ground which is only few inches above high tide. The storm tide swamped the tiny island with several feet of water. Nest here have been rebuilt and the birds are in full breeding plumage as they give raising a family another try.

A Canada Goose gets comfortable for a nap at Winterthur Museum.

A Barn Swallow stretches in the late afternoon yesterday. I’m looking forward to photographing these little guys feeding their young soon. The young should be emerging from the nest in the next week or two and the parents will bring them a catch of insects feeding them while hovering in front of the young.

Like a runway for airplanes, Blue Flag Iris have markings showing the way for insects to pollinate their showy, colorful flower. These iris are native to Delaware and grow along creeks and lakes. They have no known insect problems or diseases but muskrats like to munch on their roots.

Cow vetch is blooming now along many of Delaware’s roads. Some consider the plant an invasive weed that roots and grows quickly on disturbed soil blocking out many other plants. Others plant cow vetch as a ground cover for the same reason. I just like the color purple…

Three short-billed Dowitchers pass low over Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.