Thursday 1, 2025
The official start of the field trip starts Friday morning. Kelli and I drove down Thursday morning and met our friend Mark at the Cracker Barrel off Exit 1 of the New Jersy Turnpike. After a good meal we then met at Dragon Run Park in Delaware City. In Dragon Run marsh both Spotted Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpiper landed near us, Glossy Ibis flew by. The trees yielded Carolina Chickadee and Orchard Oriole.
Next stop was Thousand Arce Marsh off Route 9. It was quiet but we did pick up Lesser Yellowlegs, Green Herom and Marsh Wren.
We then headed down to the Quality Inn in Smyrna and had a nice dinner at Brick Works. We recommend this place. We shared a delicious Crabby Pretzel (with cheddar cheese, crab dip, Chesapeake aioli). Entrees were Fig and Pig Flatbread, Shrimp and Grits and Margarita Pizza. We had Kevin’s Key Lime Pie and an unusual pretzel stout ice-cream. 

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Solitary Sandpiper ...................................... Spotted Sandpiper

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Carolina Chickadee ...................................... immature male Orchard Oriole

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Carolina Chickadee .................................. Carolina Chickadee

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Friday May 2, 2025
After a quick breakfast at Dunkin next to the motel, we met everyone at Bombay Hook NWR at 7 AM. The woods and area near the visitor’s center had Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Brown Thrasher, Purple Martin, House Wren, and Field Sparrow. We found a Frowler's Toad on the path out to an observation tower.

Fowler's Toad

The board walk trail was closed as they were re-building it. The pools and mudflats had a large numbers of shore birds - Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilet, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin and Least Sandpiper. We also heard Seaside Sparrow and had two Black-necked Stilts.

Black-necked Stilts

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Common Yelowthroat ............. Eastern Kingbird

Lunch was back at the Smyrna Diner where we met in their back room. 

In the afternoon we explored Port Mahon Road. The path across the creek was no longer there. The shore only had Laughing Gulls, but we did see dozens of Diamond Backed Terrapins in the water with their heard poking above the water.

Next was Little Creek Wildlife Area. The parking area and viewing platform was greatly improved but we missed seeing any American Avocets.

Everyone drove down to the Best Western Chincoteague. Dinner was at the RopeWalk. We ate outside at this great water side eatery. Laughing Gulls were close, hoping for dropped food or a handout. Kelli and I shared Crab Eggrolls and Caprese salad appetizers. I had steamed clams and Kelli the rock fish tacos. I also enjoyed a Mermaid Water (Whaler's Coconut Rum, Spiced Rum, Blue Curacao, Pineapple Juice and Fresh Lime Juice).

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Saturday May 3, 2025
We were up at 6 AM to lead a walk out to the Boardwalk Bridge which leads onto Assateague Island. We heard Clapper Rail and some caught a glimpse of them in the open areas. The highlight was a very close Saltmarsh Sparrow out in the open in the marsh. It was a lifer for some. At the bridge we had Forster’s Terns. Royal and Least Terns flew by. 
Everyone had breakfast at the hotel, and we hopped in our cars for a short drive into the refuge. We parked in the Wildlife Loop lot and walked the Marsh Trail. We quickly heard a Yellow-breasted Chat and had some looks. A Merlin flew by, a new state bird for me. Other highlights on our walk were Western Cattle-Egret, Blue Grosbeak, and Eastern Meadowlark.
Next up was the Visitors Center, then the Beach Access road. We saw the Chincoteague ponies way out in the marsh. Years ago, they were commonly closer, even on the same paths as you. Those days are gone here. You need to visit the ponies on the Maryland side of the Island for closer encounters. Birds found included Tri-colored Heron, Little Blue Herom, and White Ibis. The beach had no birds, but we did have Black Skimmer across from the Tom’s Cove Visitors Center.

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Variegated Fritillary

Salt Marsh Moth catapillar

Lunch was together at Don’s Seafood. I love this establishment from the first time here many years ago with the then Yonkers Audubon Society. Established in 1973, Don's Seafood is located in the heart of historic downtown Chincoteague Island and a family friendly location and is an must experience.

Kelli had a chicken salad sandwich. I had steamed oysters and a cup of cream of crab soup. I love Chincoteague oysters!

We all drove the Wildlife Loop but did not get many new birds. We did pick up a number of the usual shorebird for our Virgina lists. An Eastern Meadowlark was perched in bushes across the mud flats.

We rested back at the hotel before dinner. Kelli and I found some vultures hanging around the back near the dumpsters.

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Black Vulture . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turkey Vulture

We tried for reservations at The Pearl, but they were book. I was able to get a reservation for seven people at Bill’s Steak and Seafood, one of the few remaining long time restaurants on the Island. It started in 1960, as a cozy little spot called Edna's Oyster Bar.

Kelli and I shared the 10 oz filet with mash potatoes with ham hocks and cheese. We also shared a Ceasar’s salad. I also had oysters Rockefeller. Another good meal.
Mark, Kelli and I stopped at Mr Whippy for soft serve icecream. Kelli and I shared a vanilla hot fudge Sunday. Mark a black and white shake.

Sunday May 4, 2025
It was cloudy with intermittent rain, and we walked part of the Woodland Trail to get great looks at Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, and Yellow-breasted Chat.
We headed to Milburn Landing State Park after checking out. We had a great morning with multiple Prothonotary Warblers, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, White eyed, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo, and Pine Warbler. We had a huge Black Rat Snake in a tree.
I found a great place for lunch called the Dockside in Pocomoke City on the river, although there was no coffee. Kelli had rock fish tacos, and I had a blend of their two crab soups and cheese steak eggrolls.
We stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Cambridge. Kelli and I checked out the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center since it will be closed on Monday.
Our last dinner together was at the Cambridge Diner. Kelli and I both had the salad bar and the crab cake melt. We shared a Boston cream pie that was just OK.

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Pine Warbler . . . . . . . . Black Rat Snake

Monday May 5, 2025
Breakfast was at the Cambridge Diner since the hotel’s free breakfast wasn’t available since the worker never showed up!
At Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge we had great looks at Virginia Rail and Delmarva Fox Squirrel. At the visitors center we had Ruby-throated hummingbird and amazingly our last birds of the trip were 13 American White Pelicans flying over. Mark, Kelli and I had lunch at the Cambridge Diner before the long drive home.

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We hope you enjoyed our trip report and pictures.

To read more of Kelli and Mike’s Trip reports visit: http://www.bochnik.com

Comments: E-mail Michael at bochnikm@cs.com