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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, November 8, 2007 7:19 AM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday August
9, 2007
brought to you from Philadelphia by the Delaware
Valley Ornithological Club and the Academy of Natural Sciences
Presently this RBA is only available on the web. It will also be available via phone when some technical issues are worked out.
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Current report - August 9, 2007 * PA, NJ, DE - Birds Mentioned Western Reef-heron (Last reported 05-Aug-2007) + (Details requested by NJBRC) Common Loon - Transcript Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert This is the Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert, a service provided by the joint efforts of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), covering the Delaware Valley Regions of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I'm Michael Lyman, filling in for the vacationing Steve Kacir. For Thursday August 9, 2007 we highlight reports of WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL (Delaware), WILSON'S and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, RED- NECKED STINT (Maryland), WESTERN REEF HERON, ROSEATE SPOONBILL, WHITE IBIS and the beginning of the full swing in fall shorebird migration. Please note that the URL for the website has changed, and remember to check out the website for additional content and information: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm He or she is back! The WESTERN REEF-HERON that had frequented the area of Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn, NY has been seen again after being MIA for close to a week. Successful sightings have occurred on the August 3, 4 and 5. Additional details about the WESTERN REEF-HERON can be found on Metro Birding Briefs: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/btblue/ A RED-NECKED STINT was reported at Skimmer Island in W. Ocean City Maryland on the August 4. Please see the MDOsprey archives for further details at: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MDOS.html#1186274124.
The ROSEATE SPOONBILL at Brigantine (Edwin B Forsythe NWR) was last reported on August 4th at 4:35PM. The SPOONBILL was seen making its daily afternoon flight from somewhere behind the egret pond over the road and into the impoundment east of the tower. Brigantine NWR is living up to its reputation as one of the premiere shorebirding locations in the country, currently hosting thousands of shorebirds this week. On August 4 observers had the following highlights; AMERICAN AVOCET, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, BLACK TERN, a dozen or so WHIMBREL, and 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES plus 3-4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS among many SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. On August 6 at Brig, observers noted 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, one a juvenile bird the other a faded adult, plus WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and many WHIMBREL. All reports of the phalaropes seem to be coming from the general area off the south dike before the Turtle Cove tower. In the non-shorebird category at Brig, on the 7th a SEDGE WREN was heard on the left side, not far from the start of the one way loop. Further south in New Jersey, Stone Harbor too is hopping with bird activity in both migratory and breeding form. Champagne Island has close to 1,700 BLACK SKIMMERS occupying its borders as of the August 6. This sand spit within Hereford inlet also continues to host other uncommon to rare breeders for New Jersey including ROYAL (1st possible successful fledglings for NJ), COMMON, and GULL-BILLED TERNS and AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER. Also reported the past week was an adult and immature SANDWICH TERN on the island. Stone Harbor also had great numbers in shorebirds on August 6 including at least 28 PIPING PLOVERS, 175 RED KNOTS, 650 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 700 SANDERLING, 800 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 1,200 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and 75 LEAST SANDPIPERS. To the astonishment of one observer, a WILSON'S PHALAROPE was noted sitting on the sand flats between the dunes at Stone Harbor Point amongst a huge flock of mixed peeps. Also noted on the 6th from Stone Harbor were 3 MARBLED GODWITS, one a beautifully patterned juvenile bird, and migrating YELLOW WARBLERS and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Nummy's Island on the 6th held many WILLETS, mainly of the western form, offering a good study of the two subspecies. Also seen here were GREATER YELLOWLEGS and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Stone Harbor's Great Channel on the 6th had BROWN PELICAN and TRI-COLORED HERON. At the TNC meadows in Cape May one observer on August 7 had calling BOBWHITE and an immature PEREGRINE FALCON. Cape May State Park's Bunker Pond is presently offering a great study in terns. Noted on August 7 were COMMON, FORSTER'S, BLACK (1 bird) (See this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's website), LEAST and GULL-BILLED (fly-by) TERNS. Many of these terns are in various plumages and age forms in close proximity to one another, presenting a golden opportunity for anyone who wants to improve their tern identification skills. Amongst the terns, shorebirds could be found including a WHITE-RUMPED, LEAST, SEMIPALMATED, WESTERN and STILT SANDPIPERS (See some of these birds at Karl and Judy Lukens's website). It was noted on this location the ease with which an observer could watch wildlife without traveling far from the parking lot. On August 9, amongst the usual early migrants seen at this time of year at Higbee's Beach was an early YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. An immature BALD EAGLE was also reported from the State Park on the August 7. On August 7th, a basic phase COMMON LOON was seen along the bay leading into Ocean city. On August 5 at the Delea Sod Farm, a.k.a. East Coast Sod Farm, in Salem County a juvenile RUFF was found. This bird was not seen on the 6th but as a consolation prize one observer had a SANDHILL CRANE on nearby Pointers-Auburn Road. Other birds noted on the 5th near Delea Sod Farm were 27 CATTLE EGRETS south of Rt. 40 near a cattle farm. Presumably the CATTLE EGRETS are congregating before flying off to Pea Patch Island for the night. Reports of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH continue to trickle in, including one bird heard on the August 2 near Tewksbury and three birds heard in singulars around Barrington and Cherry Hill on the August 5. A report of an early BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER has come from Redington Twp. Hunterdon County on August 3. The sandpiper was found on private property and unfortunately no access is being granted. On August 7, an amazing 354 FISH CROWS were counted by one observer near the O.C. Mall. Also noted on the 7th in Mauricetown, the Purple Martin show has begun in earnest, with an estimated 20,000 there this evening. To see the show, go to the bridge at dusk, there is a parking area off to the right as you approach the bridge from the east/Route 47. This is another site listed in the Delaware Bayshore Birding and Wildlfie Trail, go to http://www.njwildlifetrails.org/BwtWeb/SiteDetails.aspx?si=17 for more information.
A WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL was seen on Friday, August 3 about 40 miles or so offshore right near the DE/MD border. On Sunday, a MANX SHEARWATER was seen about 40 miles out just below the DE/MD border. On August 2 a birder noted 6 Caspian Terns at Taylor's Gut. Also a 'singing and dancing' COMMON NIGHTHAWK over the dunes north of Bethany Beach. On the 7th of August, birds seen at the Ashland Nature Center included a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH poking around in the old marsh at the center. Numbers of ORCHARD ORIOLES, YELLOW WARBLERS, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, along with many RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS battling over the nectar feeders, may be signaling a push of early fall migrant songbirds. A juvenile SHARP- SHINNED HAWK continues to hang out in the Pine Woods at Ashland, still begging food from their parents near the nesting area. At Bombay Hook on August 7, one observer had views of thousands of shorebirds at high tide at Raymond Pool. Best among these were two WILSON'S PHALAROPES feeding together, one an adult in non-breeding plumage and the other a juvenile with a gray mantle and wing coverts/tertials dark with buffy edges. Other birds included at least a dozen STILT SANDPIPERS plus a few LONG- BILLED DOWITCHERS in worn breeding plumage showing a dark back and a strong orange wash from 'bow to stern' with copious black spotting on the sides of a thick neck and upper breast. The observer had the opportunity to distinguish them from the hendersoni SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS that were also present. Woodland Beach WMA - Taylor's Gut on this same day held many well marked WESTERN SANDPIPERS.
Green Lane's Church Road is shaping up to be a very productive inland shorebird spot. On the evening of the August 6, one observer found a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, as well as LEAST, SEMIPALMATED, 2 PECTORAL, SPOTTED, and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, KILLDEER, both YELLOWLEGS, an immature Black-crowned Night-Heron, and 5 COMMON MERGANSERS. The BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was reported again on the 7th and 8th. WOOD DUCK, GREEN HERON, BALD EAGLE, and WILLOW FLYCATCHER were also reported on August 7th. On the 8th an adult and immature Caspian tern were reported as well as YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Another BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was found on the Octoraro Reservoir in Chester County on August 7 along with 4 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. At the nearby Oxford Sewage Treatment Plant on the same day, a male CANVASBACK was found leaving the observer to question if the bird overwintered here. One observer had the following species at various stops
in Bucks Bradford
Dam, Aug 4: Delaware Canal between Morrisville and Washington Crossing,
Aug Lower Makefield Memorial Park, Aug 5: Washington
Crossing Historic Park - Visitor Center, Aug 6:
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum continues to be a great shorebirding spot with the impoundment water levels being drawn down to expose mudflats. Hundreds of shorebirds are currently at the refuge and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, STILT SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and PECTORAL SANDPIPER all being seen this week as well as a COMMON TERN. An immature WHITE IBIS was seen on the 07-Aug-2007 along the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, Dauphin County. The bird was moving around on rock ledges about a kilometer south of Wade Island. The observers were in kayaks, so the bird may not have been viewable from shore. Surprisingly another immature WHITE IBIS, presumably a different bird, was seen on the same day, this one on private property in Northampton county. It is advisable to be aware of the possibility of more Southeastern strays due to the current weather this region of the country has been experiencing.
There is a DVOC field trip to Brigantine
NWR (Edwin B Forsythe NWR) scheduled for August 18, which will meet
at the refuge headquarters at 8:00 am. There is no field trip fee, and
members and non-members are welcome to attend. Please contact the trip
leader if you plan on attending. Details can be found on the
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DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee
Steve Kacir - Chair
Tony Croasdale
Bert Filemyr
Paul Guris
Rob Hynson
Mike Lyman
Nate Rice