Day 30, May 2, 2016- Travel from VA to Lewes, Delaware.

Day 30, May 2, 2016- Travel from VA to Lewes, Delaware.

It was a smooth ride and was only 85 miles to the campground in Delaware. There are two huge NWR that we will explore and as the migraton is starting to warm up, so, there shoud be more songbirds while we are here.

There was even enough time today to get the truck lubricated and the oil changed. Fortunately Goodyear was very reasonable and as the Tundra takes 7.5 quarts of oil , it can be pricey at some lub stations. Fortunately the total came to only $37.00, including the oil filter which I felt was very reasonable. While I was getting that done, Ruth  (bless her heart) was cleaning the trailer as the dust and grime has built up inside over the past few weeks (She did that once before on the trip). So when I returned, the traier smelled fresh and looked great.

We set up camp right after we arrived and ate lunch so we were free to do these two items.  I set up the bird feeders and by supper time we had two Chipping Sparrows, one Carolina Chickadee, and a Ruby Throated Hummingbird. feeding at the feeders (See)  We do have the Oriole feeder out, but after checking the internet for bird arrivals,  (You can do that and find when birds by specie have been seen in any part of the contry).  Ruth found that the Orioles are everyplace EXCEPT the Eastern Seaboard.  Hmmm? The potential in this campground is much betetr as the swail and shrubs by the woods behind us has good cover. I did see a BROWN CREEPER  just after supper near the trailer.

The center of the town of Lewes ,Delaware.

One of two Chipping Sparrow. Note white eye lines and the rusty cap.

Carolina Chickadee. Very similar to the Black Capped  Chickadee

Our camp site at Tall Pines campground.

The town of Lewes is a small one at about 2,500 people. It was settled by the Dutch in the 1600's  and is reputed to be the "First town in the first state". The early Dutch settlement was wiped out by the Natives, and some 10 years later a second dutch settement was established. By ths time the Brits had taken over and they burned the settlement to the ground. The Dutch  came a third time and this was successful.

On our travel here today we came through the town of Millsboro, Delaware.  (Pop. 3500) Here is their claim to fame.  On July 21, 1930, the temperature in Millsboro rose to 110 °F (43 °C), the highest temperature ever recorded in Delaware. On January 17, 1893, the temperature fell to -17 °F (-27 °C) in Millsboro, the coldest temperature experienced in the state. Thus, it is one of only three cities in the United States to record both its state's extreme temperatures, the others being Chester, Massachusetts and Warsaw, Missouri.

Tomorrow we will visit one of two huge NWR here near Lewes. (Prime Hook NWR) Both are over 10,000 acres and are migrant traps for the birds.The potentia is huge, but don't  get your hopes too high. Weather , wind, and timing will play an important part. Should the wind shift to the north tonight ,that would bode well for the birds to be "down"on the ground or nearly so.