Sunday, January 2, 2011

Birding the shores

Hubby and I decided to take a last minute trip to Delaware and the Maryland shore. I was hoping to add some lifers to my list. So we left early in the morning on New Year's Eve and drove to Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware.  The first bird I saw on the trail to the beach was a Hermit Thrush..a lifer for me. The Hermit Thrush ..my field guide says it is grayish brown, eye ring and spotted chest. Cool, I was off to a good start adding to my lifer list for the end of the year.


In the mosaic above pictures included are the sunrise, Cape Henlopen dune, Hermit Thrush, White Winged Scoter, Red Throated Loon and the Cape Henlopen beach.


As we got to the beach I started scanning the dunes and beach for the Snow Bunting, a bird I have been wanting to see since I started birding. We walked along the beach and I was able to pick up two more lifers..the Surf Scoter and the White Winged Scoter. Then we drove down to the point, a place where the Snow Buntings have been seen in the past. Walking along the beach a large flock of birds flew  past quickly and I just had a feeling that they were the Snow Buntings. An awful photo enlarged and cropped did verify they were the Snow Buntings.  I do not like including a bird as a lifer unless I get a good look at the bird. It would have been great if they could have stopped and landed but no luck there. So this winter I will still be on my quest to see a good sighting of a Snow Bunting. Here is a link to Cornell's All about Birds with some facts about the  Snow Bunting .



Below, is my quick point and shoot shot of the flock of Snow Buntings. They flew by so fast, I as surprised I ended up with any of the birds in my photo. I thought it would be one of my famous blue sky shots. The male Snow Bunting is mostly white and has dark wing tips.



Since we finished kind of early at Cape Henlopen we decided to do a loop and drive to Ocean City Maryland and Assateague Island. Ocean City's inlet is usually great for birding. We stopped for lunch at a place called Dumsers famous for their ice cream. We had started with delicious seafood bisque (it was filled with scallops, shrimp and crab meat) and hubby had a crab cake and I had a tasty barbeque pork sandwich. A great place for lunch,  I would highly recommend Dumser's on Coastal Hwy. After lunch we were onto the inlet to check out the birds there. The birds I saw at the inlet were not lifers but I enjoyed seeing the Common Loon, Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings. There was still some snow around, this was the first time I had seen snow on Ocean City's beach. We even saw a snowman near the jetty at the inlet.



In the mosaic above, pic's of some cute birdhouses on the dunes at Ocean City, Purple Sandpiper, Common Loon, Snowman and the sunset at Assateague Island. We were making so many stops we decided to spend the night and continue having more fun at Ocean City and Assteague on New Years Day.





Above is one of Assateague Island famous wild ponies. Assateague Island and the beach is another spot known to have Snow Bunting sightings. Hubby and I enjoyed another walk down the beach looking for the  Snow Buntings. I was determined to find a Snow Bunting before the end of the year.



Above is the beautiful sunset we were lucky to see at Assateague Island. Even though I did not see my Snow Bunting hubby and I had a great New Year's eve.



I am linking up with Mary's Mosaic Monday  and to show off the pretty blue skies check out Sally's Blue Monday  and That's My World . Click on the links to visit these fun memes. Thanks to both Mary and Sally and the hosting team at That's My World for hosting and thank you for stopping by to see my post.

47 comments:

  1. The Snow Buntings may have eluded you,but at least you got some lifers.
    The scenery is gorgeous,so the birds were a greasy bonus.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  2. I do love to see your photos of birds. Really nice mosaics. Happy New Year!

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  3. beautiful mosaic...love that you added the picture of the snowman!

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  4. The Snow Buntings might be to small for the camera, but the wild pony is a surprise to me.


    I love that pony.

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  5. Beautiful mosaics! and a very
    stunning sunset!
    Happy New Year!

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  6. It's so nice to see your gorgeous photos of the birds and beaches. What spectacular mosaics they make! The Snow Bunting may have been hiding behind the SnowMan...fun to see him on the beach! Great Mosaic Monday Post!

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  7. Beautiful photos!!! Especially like the wild pony and the beach snow man. Thanks for sharing.
    Cindy

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  8. There will be another time for the elusive snow bunting. It's always fun to go birding with you. Thank you! :D :D Happy New Year!

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  9. How Fun! I've been to Dumsers a LOT - mostly for breakfast - Yum Yum! I went to the OC Inlet last week too :)

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  10. I love the snowman on the beach! Beautiful mosaics~ Happy New Year :-)

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  11. Oh my! A snowman on the beach!!! Neat!!! Happy New Year! Cathy

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  12. I don't think I've ever seen a snowman on a beach either! Wonderful photos, Eileen!

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  13. Even though the snow buntings eluded you, it was a nice way to spend NYE with your hubby.
    Love the snowman on the beach.
    Happy New Year.

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  14. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I have not seen Snow Buntings in many years. Good luck in you search.

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  15. Wow...these are so beautiful...and the little snowman gave it just the right giggle power!!! I love your last photo, it is gorgeous!!! Have a wonderful week and keep snapping!!!

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  16. That was a cool find -- a snowman on the beach. The sunset is gorgeous!

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  17. Beautiful! Have a wonderful week!

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  18. Eileen, That is the best New Year's Celebration EVER!!! I am envious. All those birds, AND you went to Assateague Island. One of the highlights of our summer roadtrip.

    I can't imagine snow on the beach, wow!

    Happy New Year, may it be filled with joy and birds (and the snow bunting especially). Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Beautiful and I love the photo of the wild pony.

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  20. Excellent photos and mosaics too. Ah the pony of my childhood. Memories.
    You sure had a lovely day right on into the evening.
    Thanks for sharing. MB

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  21. That must be exciting seeing a bird you haven't seen before. I find it so uncanny to see snow on a beach.

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  22. What a special day you had Eileen. We have snow buntings here. Some time we see huge flocks of them just flying about but it is usually on a very cold day. For some reason that is when you see them here.

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  23. You always manage to see so many splendid birds. I'm sure you'll capture your Snow Bunting soon :-)

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  24. Excellent shots, I like the snowman shot a lot.

    Happy New Year to you!

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  25. It sounds as if you and your husband have found the perfect way to celebrate the new year.

    Happy Blue Monday, Eileen.

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  26. Hi Eileen!
    Beautiful mosaics! Love the picture with the snowman and the beach!

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  27. beautiful natural pictures how precious nature can be in the still of a picture

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  28. What a fabulous way to end the year, even without seeing your Snow Bunting, Eileen: long walks, interesting scenes, good food, and [what I hope is] precious company!

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  29. Dear Eileen,
    I never never saw a beech with a snowman on it, what a unique foto!!
    Your mosaics are very nice.
    Happy new year!
    Anja

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  30. You took some lovely photos and your mosaics came out really nice. Happy Blue Monday.

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  31. Such marvelous captures, Eileen, as always! Love the birds! Looks as though you got to see some really lovely places! Thanks for sharing them with us! Hope your new year is off to a great start!!

    Sylvia

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  32. You captured some very pretty scenes while you and hubby were out and about. A very nice place.

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  33. Love all your beautiful photos, Eileen. Beautiful collage too.

    Happy Blue Monday!

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  34. I enjoyed this post so much. The snowman on the shore was fun. The birds are all so beautiful and I loved seeing the horses. Happy New Year!

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  35. Oh such beautiful pictures. I love the little snowman on the beach. His life will be short lived I'm afraid. He'll will head out with the next wave.

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  36. All these photos are wonderful but the one of the snowman on the beach is a show stopper. I hope you are having a great day and that the new year brings only good things your way. Blessings...Mary

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  37. All the times we visited Assateague and I never saw the horses - lovely shots!

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  38. sounds like you did pretty well even though the snow bunting eluded you! hope your new year is wonderful! :)

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  39. Wonderful photos, Eileen. I love the wild pony, and your mosaics are delightful.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  40. all lovely...
    I especially love the top one of the dunes..and the last of the sunset. beautiful!

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  41. What beautiful photos...each one lovely on its own.

    Have a nice weekend.

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