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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, November 8, 2007 7:19 AM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday October
11, 2007
brought to you from Philadelphia by the Delaware
Valley Ornithological Club and the Academy of Natural Sciences
The phone number to report sightings or hear the current RBA is 215-240-7547. You may leave your sightings after the recording or hit the one (1) key at any time to skip the recording and leave a message. The Hotline will be updated every Thursday afternoon and a weekend wrap-up update will be recorded every Monday morning. The Hotline will also be updated in the event any especially important rarities appear in the Delaware Valley Region such as Ivory Gull, Long-billed Murrelet, Red-footed Falcon, etc.
This spoken word version of the hotline will be an abbreviated
version of what's available here. Our current announcer for the RBA is Tony
Croasdale, though, there will doubtlessly be others who contribute in this
respect. Please call in and enjoy the Hotline, and feel free to call that number
to report rarities.
Submit reports to
or 215-240-7547
(Submission
guidelines)
How can we make this RBA better? Submit your thoughts to
| Current report - October 11, 2007 * PA, NJ, DE Anhinga + Red-throated Loon 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 October 11, 2007 we highlight reports of ANHINGA, ROSEATE SPOONBILL, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD and PINE GROSBEAK. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm RAPTOR MIGRATION: BROAD-WINGED HAWKS continued to trickle through the region this week, with few hawk watches reporting that species on a daily basis. BALD EAGLE, AMERICAN KESTREL, SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER’S HAWKS were seen daily or nearly so across the region, and PEREGRINE FALCONS and MERLINS were noted on several days at most locations this week. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen at the Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch in Delaware County, PA; Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County, PA and most reliably at the Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch in New Castle County, DE. Cape May Point State Park’s Hawk Watch in Cape May County had an excellent raptor flight on October 7 including 681 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 115 MERLINS and 53 PEREGRINE FALCONS. COMMON RAVENS flew past Kirkridge Lookout in Northampton County PA and the Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch in Warren County, NJ. For New Jersey: The CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at Brian and Karen Johnson’s house in Eldora, Cape May County was last seen October 6 when the bird was visiting the backyard feeders. A juvenile RUFF (Click Here to see this bird on Karl and Judy Lukens's Website) was at Cape May Point State Park on October 6, and an ANHINGA flew over Cape Island on October 10. A DICKCISSEL has been feeding near the Hawk Watch platform through October 7. A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER and flyby AMERICAN PIPITS were seen October 5, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was there on October 10. PARASITIC JAEGERS, NORTHERN GANNETS and BLACK SCOTERS were seen from the beach at Cape May Point and The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows). A DICKCISSEL called overhead from the Migratory Bird Refuge on October 8. A female BLUE GROSBEAK was found at the Rea's Farm (The Beanery) on October 6. The Morning Flight at Higbee Beach WMA on October 7 included a BLUE GROSBEAK, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, a CONNECTICUT and 6 CAPE MAY WARBLERS, and a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH called from the woods. On October 8, the Morning Flight included AMERICAN PIPITS and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. The next day the flight included a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, and Two Mile Landing Rd had SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and CLAPPER RAILS. A NORTHERN FULMAR was sighted 6 miles east of Cape May Inlet. Highlights from the Avalon Sea Watch included COMMON and RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, all three SCOTER species, PARASITIC JAEGERS and BROWN PELICANS with 6 MARBLED GODWITS on October 6. Nummy's Island had 50 WESTERN WILLETS and 7 MARBLED GODWITS through October 6. The ROSEATE SPOONBILL and AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN were reported through October 7 at Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County, and a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was by the Gull Tower October 6. Other notable sightings last weekend included AMERICAN BITTERN near the Gull Tower, migrant PEREGRINE FALCONS, BOBOLINKS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, RUDDY DUCKS and STILT SANDPIPERS. A leucistic or albino TREE SWALLOW was at Brigantine on Saturday, and a LARK SPARROW was the intersection of the dike loop and the road to the Gull Tower on October 8. CASPIAN TERNS have at the refuge through the week, and 130 SNOW GEESE, PEREGRINE FALCONS and a MERLIN were seen October 10. A number of NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, including both subvirgatus and nelsoni subspecies, have been found with more numerous SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED and SEASIDE SPARROWS at the end of Great Bay Blvd in Tuckerton, Ocean County. Other birds in the area this weekend included an adult BALD EAGLE; MERLIN; 10 RED KNOTS; PINE, PALM and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. On October 9, Money Island Rd in Salem County had 7 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS, and there was a SEDGE WREN at the trail to the west bird blind. Rancocas State Park in Burlington County had a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the leaf dump area on October 5, and a WINTER WREN on October 7. That day, Palmyra Cove Nature Park (see also) had 4 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. On October 10, Palmyra had a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 2 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS, Whitesbog had 2 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS at the dikes by the cranberry bogs on October 5. On October 7, Cold
Brook Reserve in Hunterdon
County had LINCOLN’S and VESPER SPARROWS; ORANGE-CROWNED, TENNESSEE
and CANADA WARBLERS. A CLIFF SWALLOW north of the Bull’s
Island Recreation Area Bridge flew between the park and Bucks
County, PA on October 8. Warren Green Acres aka the Glenhurst Meadows
in Somerset
County had a LINCOLN’S SPARROW on October 7. For Delaware: A RING-NECKED DUCK was at Hoopes Reservoir in New Castle County on October 10, and a SWAINSON’S THRUSH was found along nearby Hillside Mill Rd on October 6. A RING-NECKED PHEASANT made an appearance at Dutch Neck Rd. A BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and PURPLE FINCHES were found along Barley Mill Rd near Ashland Nature Center. GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES were in the Holly and Dogwood thicket on October 7, and YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS were singing at Ashland that day. On October 9, an AMERICAN PIPIT and 2 WILSON’S SNIPES flew past the hawk watch. Ashland and Flint Woods Preserve both had LINCOLN’S SPARROWS and 6 species of woodpecker including YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and PILEATED WOODPECKER on October 11. Other birds at Ashland that day included BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and PURPLE FINCH. The same day, Brandywine Creek State Park had a LINCOLN’S SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BLUE-HEADED VIREO and PILEATED WOODPECKER. On October 5, Armstrong Farm in Smyrna, Kent County had WILSON’S SNIPE; BLUE GROSBEAKS; TENNESSEE, PINE and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. The same day 21 CATTLE EGRETS were at the Delaware Correctional Center. SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED and SEASIDE SPARROWS were in a marsh along Lighthouse Rd and right below the deck at the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor on October 5, and a leucistic GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL lounged on a piling just north of the Center. In Sussex
County, there was an uncorroborated report of a possible PINE GROSBEAK
at Rehoboth Beach last week. On
October 4, a CLAPPER RAIL hid under the Cape
Henlopen State Park Fishing Pier on a waterpipe, perhaps it had gotten
lost in the fog. A GREAT CORMORANT was on an icebreaker off Lewes on October
6. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were seen from the Cape
Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch October 7-8. Five LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were on the beach October 5, and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from
Herring Point on October 6. Two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were at the south
impoundment along Broadkill Beach Rd at Prime
Hook NWR on October 4 and another was seen on October 6 at Fowlers
Beach. That day, Fowlers Beach also hosted an arctic PEREGRINE FALCON,
NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and the
next day 2 WHIMBRELS and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER were at the sod bank
near the overwash at Fowler’s. On Saturday morning, the dike trail
had 20 SORAS, a VIRGINIA RAIL and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW. The Boardwalk
Trail had BLUE GROSBEAKS, and the Black Farm Trail had a CAPE MAY and
a BLACKPOLL WARBLER. A CACKLING GOOSE was in with a flock of 450 SNOW
GEESE at Prime Hook Rd, and the Broadkill Beach Rd impoundments had 30-40
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. This week, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County had SORA, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW near the horseshoe before the observation tower. On October 5, 6 COMMON MERGANSERS, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and 92+ LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen from the Morrisville Levee in Bucks County. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, BALD EAGLES, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen regularly at Peace Valley Park. Peace Valley’s Sailor’s Point had 5 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS on October 4 and another on October 8. Other notable sightings for the area included PURPLE FINCH, BLUE-HEADED VIREO and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK. Large brightly colored chickadees have also been at Peace Valley since Sep 30, and may be the start of a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE irruption. On October 7, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE flocks were noticeable throughout nearby Nockamixon State Park. PINE SISKINS were in Quakertown on October 8. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD and BLUE-HEADED VIREO were at Core Creek Park on October 8. Pine Run had a NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW and a SEDGE WREN on October 10; they were in tall grass and weeds on high ground 50-75 yards from the construction trucks near the dam. On October 5 Kirkridge Lookout in Northampton County hosted BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and CAPE MAY WARBLERS. That day, an adult male DICKCISSEL was at RiverView Golf Course just before Easton. On Sunday, the Koch property had ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, MERLIN, MARSH WREN, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and a red phase EASTERN SCREECH-OWL in a kestrel box. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at the Koch Property October 7-8. In Chester County, BOBOLINKS, PEREGRINE FALCON, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, WILSON’S SNIPE, MANDARIN and RING-NECKED DUCKS were at Chambers Lake and Hibernia County Park. A PEREGRINE FALCON, MERLIN and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER were at Chambers Lake on October 9, and a flock of SNOW GEESE flew overhead. LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were in the weeds along a jogging path at Church Farm School. In Lancaster County, a NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, 16 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 5 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, WILSON’S SNIPES, AMERICAN PIPITS and MARSH WRENS were reported from the Susquehanna River at Bainbridge on October 4. On October 11, birds around Bainbridge and Brunner’s Island included AMERICAN BITTERN, MERLIN, SORA, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 15 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 4 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. The Conejohela Flats still has excellent birding with AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a first winter STILT SANDPIPER, 65 PIED-BILLED GREBES, SORA, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON and LINCOLN’S SPARROW on October 5. A STILT SANDPIPER was on the Lebanon County side of Middle Creek WMA on October 8. On October 6, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County witnessed the migration of 330 PURPLE FINCHES, some SWAINSON’S THRUSHES, 25 CAPE MAY and 30 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. On October 7, 131 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were recorded, and 114 PURPLE FINCHES were noted October 9. State Game Land 110 had excellent birding on October 7, with WINTER WRENS, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, RUFFED GROUSE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE FINCHES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS. A WINTER WREN was at the Monocacy Hill Conservation Area October 9. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On November 3 or 4, depending on whether conditions, Frank Windfelder and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field trip to Bake Oven Knob in Berks County, PA. The trip will meet at the parking lot at 8:30AM. 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, and if you go bring a packed lunch. Details can be found on the website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday October 18 at 7:30PM at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Jeff Wells will present “Three Secrets About Bird Conservation They Don’t Want You to Know.” Details are on the website, and guests are welcome. A pelagic is scheduled out of Lewes, DE for Saturday October 20. Last year's trip at that time of year found North America's second Cape Verde Shearwater. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit http://www.paulagics.com Scott Weidensaul announced the beginning of the eleventh season of SAW-WHET OWL migration research through the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg on September 30. On September 29, the researchers netted their first ever September SAW-WHETS. Northern Saw-whet Owl migration is a cyclical phenomenon, and after two very poor seasons, this year we are poised for an irruption of Saw-whets into our region this fall. Recent reports from Canadian banding stations indicate large numbers of Saw-whets are moving south already. For more information on the banding project check out the website: http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/06sawwhet.html The back section of Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County, DE will be closed for muzzleloader deer hunting on October 12. This will include Bear Swamp and Finis Pool. 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