| Current
report - August 23, 2007
* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ & DE
* PADV0708.23
* August 23, 2007
- Birds Mentioned
+WHITE IBIS
+ROSEATE SPOONBILL
+ARCTIC TERN
++SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
+ (Details requested by NJBRC)
++ (Details requested by PORC)
+++ (Details requested by DERC)
Wilson's Storm-petrel
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Snow Goose
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Hooded Merganser
Swallow-tailed Kite
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Sora
Common Moorhen
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Willet
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Ruff
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Black Tern
Black Skimmer
Black-billed Cuckoo
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Common Raven
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sedge Wren
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Lark Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compilers: Steve Kacir, Mike
Lyman, Paul Guris, Rob
Hynson
Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
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 Steve Kacir
your guide for birding in the Greater
Philadelphia Region. For August 23, 2007 we highlight reports of ROSEATE
SPOONBILL, SWALLOW-TAILED KITE, ARCTIC TERN, WHITE IBIS and AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN. Remember to check out our website for additional content and
information:
http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
Region-wide RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH invasion:
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continued their invasion this week with
reports from the Lindenwold, NJ on Aug 16; Scherman-Hoffman
Sanctuary (Bergen Co, NJ) on Aug 17; Peace
Valley Park on Aug
18; Higbee Beach WMA
on Aug 18-19; Lord
Stirling Park on Aug 19 and Rockaway, NJ on Aug 20; and Edwin
B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine
on Aug 22.
For New Jersey:
On Aug 17, an immature WHITE IBIS was spotted flying north from
The
Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows) in
Cape May County.
It or another individual was seen from Ocean Drive near the Garden State
Parkway Bridge with egrets and GLOSSY IBISES. Look across the road from
the Breezy Lea Marina. An immature LARK SPARROW and 2 DICKCISSELS were
found late Aug 19 at the refuge; the LARK SPARROW was still present on
Aug 20. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL roosted on the dune at the meadows
on Aug 22.
The most interesting report from Cape
May Point State Park was
that of an ARCTIC TERN on the beach on Aug 18. On Aug 20, the
park hosted WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, BALD
EAGLE and CANADA WARBLER. STILT SANDPIPERS were reported from
Aug 16-22 at the Bunker Pond. BLACK TERNS have been noted Aug
17-22 with a high count of 10 on Aug 21 and a near breeding
plumaged individual at Cape May Inlet on Aug 19. A MERLIN and a
WESTERN SANDPIPER were seen at the park on Aug 16. On Aug 20-
22, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was at the bunker pond. See
pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website. Birders reported
the following birds for Aug 21: WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, HOODED WARBLERS,
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER and a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL at the Rips. A good
shorebird flight revealed 23 species of shorebirds at the park on Aug
22 including RUFF, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (See
pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website), LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.
Elsewhere in Cape
May County, several BLUE GROSBEAKS and two
first year BALD EAGLES were at Rea's
Farm (The Beanery) on Aug 18. One eagle had a tag attached to the
trailing edge of each wing. A yard in
Seaville had a MOURNING WARBLER on Aug 18. An immature CERULEAN
WARBLER, LOUISIANA and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER,
and a tundra PEREGRINE FALCON were reported from Higbee
Beach WMA on Aug 18. On Aug 19, some nice warbler
diversity was observed at Higbee
Beach WMA including GOLDEN-WINGED, TENNESSEE, CANADA, BLACKBURNIAN,
NASHVILLE and WORM-EATING WARBLERS; plus BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHER. Higbee highlights on Aug 22 included NORTHERN
WATERTHRUSH, CANADA and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.
ROYAL TERNS and BLACK SKIMMERS colonizing Champagne
Island are
still active in the Hereford Inlet area in Cape
May County, and
GULL-BILLED TERNS are regular there. PIPING PLOVERS are still
around Stone
Harbor Point,
with 12 spotted on Aug 17. Other
birds noted at the point on Aug 17 included WESTERN SANDPIPERS
and 28 RED KNOTS. On Aug 18 Stone
Harbor Pointt's avifauna
included a juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPER, 18 RED KNOT including 2
juveniles, WHIMBREL and 12 CASPIAN TERNS. Nummy's
Island
boasted 2 MARBLED GODWITS, 23 RED KNOTS and 12 WESTERN WILLETS
on Aug 16, and there were 65 RED KNOT on the island on Aug 18.
The most exciting birding in Ocean
County has been at Edwin
B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine. The ROSEATE SPOONBILL
continues to entertain birders at the Gull Pond, seen there from
2:40-3:00pm on Aug 19 and at 1pm on Aug 20 and flying over the
road at 7:25am on Aug 18. AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS were
sighted Aug 18 & 22. CASPIAN TERNS, WHITE-RUMPED and STILT
SANDPIPERS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen Aug 18-19 & Aug 22,
and BLACK TERNS were reported from Aug 19 & 22. On Aug 17
there were reports of BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, AMERICAN WHITE
PELICAN, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and WHITE IBIS.
A SEDGE WREN was heard at the beginning of the Wildlife
Loop on Aug 18, and another was found just before the "Bridge to
Nowhere" at Manahawkin
WMA in the phragmites on the north side
of the road. Reports from Edwin
B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine on Aug 19 included 4 MARBLED GODWITS,
a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. Both RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
and WILSON'S PHALAROPES were reported Aug 18-19, and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE
was noted Aug 22. On Aug 22, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at the Experimental
Pond, and a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW was at the Gull Pond. Other
birds that day included TRICOLORED HERON, CATTLE EGRET, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO,
KENTUCKY WARBLER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW yardbird was discovered in Metuchen,
Middlesex
County on Aug 18.
Heislerville WMA in Cumberland
County hosted a juvenile BLACK
TERN Aug 16.
At Delea
Sod Farm, a.k.a. East Coast Sod Farm in Salem
County, a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was discovered on the south side of Route
40 on Aug 21. Some SNOW GEESE were also in the area. Over 150 CATTLE EGRETS
were tallied at Featherbed Lane on Aug 19, and COMMON MOORHENS were spotted
at Mannington Marsh over the weekend.
At Burlington
County's Rancocas
State Park, the highlights for
Aug 18 included GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and LEAST FLYCATCHER. On
Aug 22 at Palmyra Cove Nature Park there were BLACK-THROATED
BLUE, CHESTNUT-SIDED and MAGNOLIA WARBLERS and LEAST, ALDER and YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHERS.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK were seen
at Raccoon Ridge
in Warren County
on Aug 17. COMMON RAVENS and BALD EAGLES were spotted Aug 18, and BROAD-WINGED
HAWKS were seen both days.
On Aug 19 at Burlington
County's Franklin
Parker Preserve
birding highlights included a MERLIN (which has reportedly been
there since July) and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER.
On Aug 19 at Lord Stirling Park in Somerset
County, ten species
of warbler were noted including an adult male MOURNING WARBLER
along with ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.
At Hunterdon
County's Liberty Sod Farm, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-
PLOVER and pursuing MERLIN were discovered on Aug 18.
For Delaware:
On Aug 22 in northern New
Castle County an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATHER
was observed perched on a snag at Ramsey Rd. The same day,
Middle Run
Natural Area near Newark boasted an adult male
WILSON'S WARBLER as well as TENNESSEE and CHESTNUT-SIDED
WARBLERS, 5 SCARLET TANAGERS, BLUE GROSBEAKS and a BROAD-WINGED
HAWK.
On an Aug 18 DOS field trip to Bombay
Hook NWR in Kent
County,
notable species included YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, RED-
SHOULDERED HAWK, STILT and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, a few early
DUNLIN and a RUDDY TURNSTONE were observed. A LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER, MARBLED and HUDSONIAN GODWITS, and a RUFF were
reported Aug 17. On Aug 19 an amazing 24 BLUE GROSBEAKS were
seen at the refuge. Other notable birds from that day included
a calling SORA, 2 SNOW GEESE and a NORTHERN PINTAIL. On Aug 20,
a total of 15 SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were seen at
Bombay Hook from various locations.
Elsewhere in Kent
County, Ted
Harvey Wildlife Area on Aug 17 hosted WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS at the
North Impoundment and 2 distant MARBLED GODWITS at the South Impoundment.
On Aug 18, a PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported near the roadside south of
Taylor's Gut, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen from Port Mahon
Rd. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were at the pond near Woodland Beach on Aug
19.
Several SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and 4 SNOW GEESE
were
noted on Aug 20 at Sussex
County's Prime Hook
NWR. Several
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS fed with some PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS along Broadkill Rd as well. Check for the
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS in the sea purslane vegetation at the
eastern end of the southern impoundment. BLACK TERNS were
reported from Fowler Beach on Aug 19-20. STILT SANDPIPERS, 2
SNOW GEESE and a HOODED MERGANSER were at Prime Hook Rd on Aug
19.
A juvenile BROWN PELICAN was in Dewey, Sussex
County, and an
adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at nearby Indian Beach on Aug
16.
For Pennsylvania:
Just at the border of the Delaware Valley in Berks
County, a
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported from Hawk
Mountain's North
Lookout on Aug 18.
Over the weekend, CASPIAN TERNS were reported from Upper
Bucks
County along the Delaware River and further south in Bucks
County over the Churchville
Nature Center (see
also). On August 23, an adult GLOSSY IBIS hunted at Hidden Lake, a
small reservoir just north
of Newtown off Route 532 in Bucks County. Also seen was a first-
of-the-season NORTHERN SHOVELER, a juvenile. At Peace
Valley,
Bucks County notable birds included a BLACK-THROATED GREEN
WARBLER on Aug 18, and 2 Bald Eagles seen through the week. At
nearby Nockamixon
State Park, a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK were reported on Aug 22.
Northampton
County had reports of a gorgeous juvenile SHORT-
BILLED DOWITCHER and 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS in the retention pond
along Hanoverville Rd on August 21. Elsewhere in the county,
Green Pond is usually famous for migrating shorebirds, but is
currently dried up. Nevertheless, across the street from Green
Pond there were 50 BOBOLINKS and 5 species of swallows that
including a few CLIFF SWALLOWS on Aug 22. We'll finish off the
county with a report of YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at the Koch
property.
A first year Mourning Warbler became a new yardbird
for a
homeowner in Elkins Park, Montgomery
County.
Green Lane, in NW Montgomery
County, has been one of the three
major hotspots for shorebirds in our region of Pennsylvania. At
the Church Road
Mudflats at Green Lane State Park a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
has been present all week, and a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was reported Aug 20-23.
Other species seen here throughout this week have included SANDERLING,
WHITE-RUMPED, WESTERN and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. In addition to the more
common species being seen at this location, Green Lane's Church road has
recorded 15 shorebird species this fall season! Church Road has
also been good for swallows, including PURPLE MARTIN, CLIFF and
BANK SWALLOWS.
The second major spot for shorebirds in our area has
been John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
in Southwestern Philadelphia
County.
Reports here for the past week have included a basic plumaged
WILSON'S PHALAROPE on Aug 22, WESTERN SANDPIPERS on Aug 16 and
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER on Aug 16-19. A total of 19 species of
shorebird have been reported here since July 1. Five BLACK
TERNS and 2 GLOSSY IBISES were also reported this week from the
impoundments. A BLACKPOLL warbler was present at the refuge Aug
19.
The last shorebird spot is Lancaster
County's Conejohela Flats,
where 13 species of shorebirds were reported Aug 17 and 18. Two
Marbled Godwits were sighted at Avocet Point on Aug 17. Reports
of LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER came from Aug 17-19. Good numbers of
CASPIAN TERNS were seen Aug 17 & 19. A BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, 2
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, a CATTLE EGRET and 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS
were seen Aug 17, and a WILSON'S PHALAROPE was reported on Aug
19. A new interactive website is up with information about the
Conejohela Flats at http://conejohelaflats.pbwiki.com/
Middle
Creek WMA in Lancaster
County hosted a GLOSSY IBIS on Aug
20.
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***
There is a DVOC field trip to John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
scheduled for Aug 25, which will meet at the headquarters at
7:00am. 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 website:
http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is a special day at the
Philadelphia Zoo on Saturday, September 8. Details are on the
website, and guests are welcome.
The Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert is a weekly report
on birding in the Delaware Valley Region including
Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. To report birds or significant
upcoming birding events and planned pelagic trips, please email
. This is Steve Kacir, good
birding to you all and thanks for calling, surfing and reporting.
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