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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, November 8, 2007 7:19 AM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday September
6, 2007
brought to you from Philadelphia by the Delaware
Valley Ornithological Club and the Academy of Natural Sciences
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Current report - September 6, 2007 * PA, NJ, DE - Birds Mentioned ROSEATE SPOONBILL+
- Transcript Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert Welcome to 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 September 6, 2007 we highlight reports of ROSEATE
SPOONBILL, SANDWICH TERN, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE, CONNECTICUT WARBLER and
SAY’S PHOEBE. Remember to check out our website for additional content
and information: For New Jersey: In Cape May County, a SAY’S PHOEBE was found on the main path toward the beach, working the dune crossover at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Sep 4, and was seen from the Hawk Watch Platform at the State Park as well. Click Here to see pictures of this bird on Karl and Judy Lukens's website. Interestingly, a SAY’S PHOEBE was sighted recently in Montgomery County, MD on Sep 2-3. On Sep 5, a LARK SPARROW took the PHOEBE’s place at the refuge. Birds on the refuge Aug 31 included 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, MERLIN and SANDWICH TERN. Highlights from Sep 5 included TRICOLORED HERON, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and SANDWICH TERNS. Stone Harbor Point had 4 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on Sep 3, and one on Aug 30. RED KNOTS numbered 762 on Aug 30 and 422 on Sep 2 at the point. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS (Click Here to see pictures of this bird on Karl and Judy Lukens's website), PIPING PLOVERS, PECTORAL & WESTERN SANDPIPERS, LEAST & ROYAL TERNS were sighted regularly this week, as were CASPIAN TERNS, with a high count of 58 on Sep 2. BROWN PELICANS were noted Aug 30. Highlights from Sep 2 included YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and Tundra PEREGRINE FALCON, and on Sep 3 there were 7 MARBLED GODWITS and a Merlin. At Cape May Point State Park, BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were at the last plover pond or the Bunker Pond Sep 3-5. STILT, WHITE-RUMPED and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were noted at the Bunker Pond through the week. SANDWICH and BLACK TERNS were reported from the park through the week. Passerines included RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, PALM WARBLER and BLUE GROSBEAKS on Sep 3. At the Hawk Watch, the count included AMERICAN KESTRELS, BALD EAGLES and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS. A flyby DICKCISSEL was seen from the platform on Sep 1, and a CAPE MAY WARBLER was there Sep 2. Eleven MERLINS were tallied on Sep 5, and RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, NASHVILLE WARBLER and a PURPLE MARTIN were also sighted. Highlights from the Morning Flight Project at Higbee Beach WMA included PHILADELPHIA VIREOS; RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES; BLUE GROSBEAKS; CAPE MAY, TENNESSEE, WILSON’S and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was there on Sep 2, and a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was noted Sep 1. On Sep 5, a PURPLE FINCH and BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO were observed from the dike, and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER was at the interpretation tower. DICKCISSELS made the count on Sep 1 & 4. On Sep 2 sightings from the fields included PHILADELPHIA VIREO; BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO; BLACKBURNIAN, TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE and 2 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS. Reports from Sep 5 included 2 PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and 14 species of warblers including NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, BLACKBURNIAN and PALM WARBLERS. At the Rea Farm on Sep 1, there were BLUE GROSBEAKS, MERLIN, BLACKBURNIAN and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. In Atlantic County’s Edwin B Forsythe NWR’s Brigantine Division, ROSEATE SPOONBILL was still being spotted in the early morning on Sep 1-3 in the area around the Gull Pond and associated observation tower. A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD associating with a blackbird flock was reported Sep 1-3. An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and AMERICAN AVOCET (Click Here to see pictures of this bird on Karl and Judy Lukens's website) were seen from the South Dike Sep 1-2. A BLACK TERN was seen there on Sep 2, and BAY-BREASTED WARBLER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were at the refuge that day. An immature COMMON MOORHEN was near the Gull Pond Tower on Sep 2. Two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, MERLIN, 2 GULL-BILLED TERNS, 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 20 RED KNOTS and a MARBLED GODWIT were noted Sep 3. WHIMBRELS; STILT, BUFF-BREASTED and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were sighted Sep 2-3. A flock of migrants on Sep 5 revealed PHILADELPHIA VIREO, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, HOODED and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Nine NORTHERN BOBWHITES were in the area of the Atlantic City Airport and the FAA Tech Center on Sep 5. In Cumberland County, Johnson Sod Farm hosted HORNED LARKS, BOBOLINKS, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, BUFF-BREASTED and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS off Olivet Rd through the week, and UPLAND SANDPIPERS and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS at Grier’s Lane on Sep 5. On Sep 1 & 3, UPLAND SANDPIPERS were sighted at Olivet. Salem County’s Forrest Lane Bent Grass Sod Farms had an UPLAND SANDPIPER Sep 4. At Burlington County’s Palmyra Cove Nature Park, migrants observed on Sep 1 included NASHVILLE, BAY-BREASTED, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW west of Campo’s Pond, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, and a CASPIAN TERN flying over the Delaware River. On Sep 2, Palmyra had PRAIRIE and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS. On Sep 5, migrants included a WINTER WREN at Campo’s Stream; a MOURNING WARBLER at the east end of the stream in a weedy brushy area; BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO; YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER; NASHVILLE, CAPE MAY and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. In Camden County, a NASHVILLE and 2 immature MOURNING WARBLERS were at Pennypacker Park on Aug 30. At the mouth of Mulhockaway Creek in Hunterdon County,
a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was discovered on Sep 2. For Delaware: From New Castle County, White Clay Creek State Park hosted 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, 5 YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS and LEAST FLYCATCHER on Aug 30. On Sep 4 at the park there were YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS at the Rail Trail, and a VEERY called from Creek Rd. SORA and COMMON MOORHEN called from the Thousand Acre Marsh on Aug 31. On Sep 1, birds at Brandywine Creek State Park included PILEATED WOODPECKER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, VEERY, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, MAGNOLIA and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS. Ashland Nature Center had a PHILADELPHIA VIREO, BLACK-BILLED and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO in a mixed flock by the Butterfly House on Aug 31. The hawk watch at Ashland noted RED-SHOULDERED and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, the local SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, PEREGRINE FALCON, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, MAGNOLIA WARBLER and BOBOLINKS on Sep 4, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, 2 BALD EAGLES, a PEREGRINE FALCON and 20 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS on Sep 5. A morning walk the same day produced sightings of PHILADELPHIA VIREO and 7 species of warbler including TENNESSEE and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. In Kent County, Milford Neck still had calling WHIP-POOR-WILL and CHUCK’S-WILL-WIDOWS on Aug 31. Bombay Hook NWR continues to be a shorebirding hotspot. Raymond Pool hosted 18 species of shorebird, including 707 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 5 MARBLED GODWITS, a breeding-plumaged HUDSONIAN GODWIT, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and WESTERN, STILT and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS on Aug 31. The next day, species highlights from the refuge included YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN AVOCETS, 3 MARBLED GODWITS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WILSON’S SNIPE, CASPIAN TERN, BARRED OWL, GREAT HORNED OWL and BLUE GROSBEAKS. Raymond Pool’s shorebirds included a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER on Sep 3. On Sep 3, 2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were discovered at a large potato field between Leipsic and Little Creek near the intersection of Persimmon Tree Rd and Route 9. A sod farm on Route 12, just east of Smyrna had 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS on Sep 3. In Sussex County, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, ACADIAN and LEAST FLYCATCHERS were near Fleetwood Pond at Prime Hook NWR on Aug 31. Prime Hook reports from Sep 2 included SNOW GEESE, BALD EAGLE, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, BLACK TERNS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, OVENBIRD, SEASIDE SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAKS and BOBOLINKS. On Sep 4, there were 4-6 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS at the dry flats south of Broadkill Rd, and AMERICAN BITTERN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, WESTERN and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at Fowler Beach. At Cape Henlopen State Park on Aug 31, there were 2 COMMON LOONS, SURF and BLACK SCOTERS, ROYAL TERNS and a WHIMBREL at Lighthouse Point. On Sep 4, a kayaking trip at Cape Henlopen produced sightings of CASPIAN TERN and 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS that were on the inner breakwater.
From Philadelphia County, reports from John Heinz NWR at Tinicum included a basic plumaged DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, 4 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, 2 STILT SANDPIPERS, 10 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on Sep 4. Try the impoundments at high tide for best shorebirding results. Other birds at Tinicum included COMMON NIGHTHAWKS on Aug 30, a MOURNING WARBLER on Sep 3 and a SORA on Sep 1. In Montgomery County, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were at the Church Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir on Sep 3 & 5, and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were reported Sep 2 & 5. The mudflats at Church Rd are returning! Other birds at Green Lane included BALD EAGLES, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, COMMON MERGANSERS and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. COMMON NIGHTHAWK migration continued to impress in Montgomery County this week, with a conservative count of 302 NIGHTHAWKS tallied at Haverford College on Sep 4. At Bucks County’s Silver Lake Park, sightings included ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, CANADA and PRAIRIE WARBLERS on Sep 3. On Sep 4 there were reports of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and NASHVILLE WARBLER. At Playwicki County Park in Langhorne there was a SWAINSON’S THRUSH on Sep 4. Churchville Nature Center boasted a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, NORTHERN PARULA and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on Sep 1. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were at Core Creek Park that day. A YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was spotted at Tyler State Park on Sep 1. On Sep 5 there were RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, PILEATED WOODPECKER and WORM-EATING WARBLER at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. At the Koch property in Northampton County, young PURPLE FINCHES were visiting the feeders Sep 2-3. On Aug 31, the Monocacy Nature Center hosted a PURPLE FINCH; BLACK-THROATED GREEN, MAGNOLIA and CANADA WARBLERS; RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH; ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and SCARLET TANAGER. Migrants noted this week at Rose Tree Park’s Hawk Watch in Delaware County included BALD EAGLES, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. A CASPIAN TERN was seen on Aud 31. A COMMON TERN was spotted Sep 1, and a MERLIN made the count for Sep 5. From Lancaster County’s Conejohela Flats on Sep 2, 12 species of shorebird were noted, including AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER; BAIRD’S, WHITE-RUMPED and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. Also seen that day were CASPIAN TERNS, 12 BALD EAGLES, LITTLE BLUE HERON and a MERLIN. On Aug 31, TRICOLORED, LITTLE BLUE, and 4 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were noted at the south end of Brunner’s Island. Other birds at the Flats on Aug 31 included AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, SANDERLING, STILT and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, NORTHERN SHOVELER, 45 BLUE-WINGED and 23 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BONAPARTE’S GULLS and CASPIAN TERNS. On Sep 5, two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were found at the grassflats at the south spit at the flats, and BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at Avocet Point. At Lehigh County’s Bake Oven Knob, 29 BALD EAGLES migrated through on Sep 2. On Sep 4, 2 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were discovered at Macungie. In Berks County, 40 BOBOLINKS were at the Dry Brooks Boat Launch in Blue Marsh on Aug 30. On Aug 31, PURPLE FINCHES and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH visited a feeder in Leesport. On Sep 2, birds at SGL 110 included 8 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, 3 PURPLE FINCHES, NASHVILLE and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS. A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER and ten species of warbler including CAPE MAY WARBLER were noted at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Aug 30. On Sep 4, Hawk Mountain tallied 13 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, with 3 noted the previous day. Eight species of warbler were reported from Hawk Mountain on Sep 1, including CANADA WARBLER. The week’s raptors included BROAD-WINGED, RED-SHOULDERED and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS; BALD EAGLES; MERLINS and AMERICAN KESTRELS.
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** There is a DVOC field trip and bird banding demonstration at East Park Reservoir in Philadelphia scheduled for Sep 8, which will meet at the reservoir and run from 7:30-9:30am. On Sep 9, there is a field trip to Johnson Sod Farm in Cumberland County. That trip meets at 7:30 am on Grier’s Lane just east of Route 77. For both trips 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 either trip. Details and directions 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. Silver Lake Nature Center in Bucks County, PA is holding its third annual “Wild About Birds” event on Sep 15, which will have live birds, bird art and children's activities. Jane Kirkland, author of the Take a Walk Series of books will sign books, give a talk, and lead a bird walk. More information can be found at their website: http://www.silverlakenaturecenter.org/default.html On September 15th, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tincum will be hosting the "Cradle of Birding--Wildlife and Conservation Festival", a free event that has a whole slew of activities for all ages. The festival will have many bird/ wildlife related activities like: bird walks, live birds of prey, bird banding, birding workshops, and lectures etc. The keynote speakers will be Pat and Clay Sutton who have recently released the excellent book, Birds and Birding at Cape May. There will also be many birding related vendors ad exhibitors. The festival starts at 7am Pat and Clay will speak at 3pm. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/heinz/ David La Puma’s excellent Radar Ornithology websites provide nightly radar images. These can be astonishing, beautiful and informative. If you’re passionate about migration check out http://www.woodcreeper.com or http://www.badbirdz2.wordpress.com The Delaware Nature Society/ Delmarva Ornithological
Society are A pelagic is scheduled out of Lewes, DE on Saturday, October 20. Last year's trip at this time of year found North America's second Cape Verde Shearwater. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit http://www.paulagics.com 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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DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee
Steve Kacir - Chair
Tony Croasdale
Bert Filemyr
Paul Guris
Rob Hynson
Mike Lyman
Nate Rice