Day 13 Bombay Hook NWR-a new bird!

Day 13 Bombay Hook NWR and a new bird

RED FOX WALKING ACROSS MUD FLATS

THE 18TH CENTURY ALLEE HOUSE ON THE NW REFUGE

It sounds like a old shipmaster’s term for a tool used in the Far East. No it is not. The name comes again, from the Dutch Settlers who used the term for the marshland and called it “Boompies Hooek” which translated from the German means ‘thicket’ or ‘point of trees’. It was purchased (the land) from Chief Sachem Kahansink for …”a musket, three fowlers of powder, three Mats coats, one anckor of liquors and one kittle. “. The trees are gone from the storm of 1878, but the stumps are still there. It like, Prime NWR has fresh water pools and salt water flats making it ideal for all kinds of birds and wildlife. For example we saw a fox walk across a mud flat, and right up to our car parked beside the road. He examined it closely before moving on.
This then is the NWR we toured today. IT is north about 24 miles, through the many and vast winter wheat fields. This is certainly good farm land. This NWR has a “drive around “system and although 14 miles in its entirety, can be completed in pieces which we elected to do.
IT was raining a fine mist and some heavier all day, but we donned our raingear and headed out. It was good that we didn’t postpone it. We identified more than 55 birds including the Hudsonian Godwit, a new entry for us. I will have to check to see if the Forster’s Tern was new also.
The visitor center (most NWR have them), was small but adequately staffed. They are always helpful and can pint out details that help each visitor. This site has four large freshwater ponds that are inside the salt marshes so travel allows us to see both at the same time. It too has controls for water flow from a fresh water source named Finis Pool (The end?) The shorebird count was similar to previous days, but the warblers were increasing in number. Ruth saw a favorite bird the Blackburnian warbler with its bright orange and black streaks that made her day.
There are 1400 acres of crops raised to feed the migrating birds , by the local farmers in an agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Svc. (Department of the Interior).There are areas where geese and some ducks are herded into nets to be banded each fall. A bait, using corn entices them into the area and a cannon goes off scaring them into the nets that drop down on them. Quickly the work is done and they are numbered with bands for identification of where and when then released.

GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL FEEDING

We spent the day observing the birds and the fox that ran across a mud flat and then right up next to our car. He stood there expecting a handout I believe, but wandered off eventually. He was a sight to behold with all that mud and the rain had matted his fur something terrible. An original”Bad Hair Day”. The plant ‘bicolor lespedeza’ is panted for food for the birds. There is also planted millet, buckwheat and autumn olive. At one end of a road an 18th century Queen Anne period home is open on weekends for tours. Built in 1753, it stands today. It is restored complete with period furniture.
A few of the newer birds today were: Magnolia Warbler, Snow Goose (1), Forster’s Tern, Pintail Duck, Sedge and House Wrens, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, White Eyed Vireo and the Yellow Warbler. IT was a fine birding day in spite of the rain.
Afterwards we scoped out the laundry spot for tomorrow, and found tat McDonald’s did have Wi-Fi albeit at a cost. We used that to send and receive and will do that tomorrow as it is right across the street (DE #1) from the laundry...
The capital of Delaware, Dover, is just up the road and has a population of just 24,000. The largest city is Wilmington with 89,000 residents. IT is not a crowded state.