DVOC Main Page >
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, November 8, 2007 7:19 AM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday October
18, 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 18, 2007 * PA, NJ, DE Cassin's Kingbird (NY) 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 18, 2007 we highlight reports of AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, WESTERN KINGBIRD, DICKCISSEL, SNOW BUNTING and PINE SISKIN. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm Exclusive website content gleaned from the Local Notes reported at this evening’s DVOC meeting are posted here.
RAPTOR MIGRATION: This week BALD EAGLES made regular appearances at hawk watches throughout the region. MERLINS were less regular, but still reliable. PEREGRINE FALCONS made appearances at most hawk watches, but were only reliable at Cape May Point State Park in Cape May County, NJ. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS trickled through, with the only regular sightings coming from the Cape May Point. In contrast, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen almost daily throughout the region. GOLDEN EAGLE and NORTHERN GOSHAWK sightings are on the rise. GOLDEN EAGLES were reported from Pennsylvania hawk watches at Militia Hill Hawk Watch in Montgomery County, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County, Little Gap in Northampton County and Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County. The hawk watches at Raccoon Ridge and Scott’s Mountain in Warren County, NJ also reported GOLDEN EAGLES. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were less reliable than GOLDEN EAGLES; sightings came from Hawk Mountain, Little Gap, Bake Oven Knob and the Ashland Nature Centerr Hawk Watch in New Castle, DE. COMMON RAVENS flew past Raccoon Ridge and Bake Oven Knob. For New Jersey: LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were at The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows) in Cape May County on October 15, and AMERICAN PIPITS landed on an island near the east path. A FOX SPARROW was at the refuge on October 17. A flock of 5 CACKLING GEESE flew past Cape May Point State Park’s Hawk Watch on October 12, and a COMMON EIDER was near the Bunker on October 11. AMERICAN PIPITS were at the State Park on October 13 and 15. Single WESTERN KINGBIRDS were sighted at the park October 17-18; 2 PINE SISKINS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER were there October 18. PARASITIC JAEGERS have been seen regularly around the point, with 11 jaegers over the bay on October 14. On October 13, the Morning Flight at Higbee Beach WMA had AMERICAN PIPITS, 2 DICKCISSELS, PURPLE FINCHES and CAPE MAY WARBLERS. PINE SISKINS were reported from Higbee October 13-15, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was at Higbee on October 15. A DICKCISSEL and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO were at the Villas WMA on October 14. A WESTERN KINGBIRD flew by Reed’s Beach on October 13, along with PURPLE FINCHES, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, BRANT, BLACK and SURF SCOTERS. On October 14, a ROSS’S GOOSE flew by the Reed’s Beach Big Sit; AMERICAN BITTERN, PURPLE FINCHES, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and PINE SISKIN were also reported. A VESPER SPARROW was in the weedy area by the jetty at Reed’s Beach on October 15. The Avalon Sea Watch had TRICOLORED HERONS and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER on October 11. The Sea Watch also recorded RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, GREAT CORMORANTS, PARASITIC JAEGERS, BROWN PELICANS, BONAPARTE’S GULLS and all three SCOTER species this week. On October 13, 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER flew in off the ocean at the Sea Watch. On October 11, Stone Harbor Point had WESTERN WILLETS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, CASPIAN TERNS, BRANT and 11 MARBLED GODWITS. On October 14, Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County had a COMMON MOORHEN, AMERICAN BITTERN and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO at the Gull Tower. A juvenile BLACK SKIMMER, BRANT and 2 MARBLED GODWITS were seen from the Southwest Pool, and the AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was in the East Pool. Five AMERICAN AVOCETS were at the cross dike, and the Northwest pool had a TRICOLORED HERON. On October 13, Monmouth County’s Sandy Hook had an AMERICAN-GOLDEN PLOVER at North Beach, and RED-THROATED LOON, AMERICAN PIPIT and PURPLE FINCHES were noted. LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were reported October 13-14, and VESPER SPARROWS were seen October 13 and 15. AMERICAN BITTERNS were sighted October 13-15. On Sunday, a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was at Sandy Hook’s north end, and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at the end of Fisherman’s Trail. On October 15, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was sighted near the officers’ quarters, and a female COMMON EIDER was off Sandy Hook Point. A SORA fed in the tidal creek along the Spermaceti Cove boardwalk. NELSON’S and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were at Plum Island, and other notable birds from October 15 included an IPSWICH SAVANNAH SPARROW and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the end of Fisherman’s Trail. A basic-plumaged adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was perched
on the High Street Boardwalk at Bivalve
in Cumberland
County on October 14. Salem County had 2 COMMON MOORHENS at the Sunset
Rd area of Mannington Marsh on October 16, with CATTLE EGRETS, a TRICOLORED
HERON and 14 LITTLE BLUE HERONS also in the area. For Delaware: Ashland
Nature Center in New
Castle County had a flyby COMMON LOON, SNOW GEESE and a CAPE MAY WARBLER
on October 12. A Big Sit at the Hawk Watch on October 14 had 81 species
including BARRED and GREAT HORNED OWLS, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, GRAY-CHEEKED
and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, WINTER WREN, AMERICAN
PIPIT, PILEATED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE,
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, NASHVILLE and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS. PURPLE FINCHES were
at Ashland October 14 and 16-17. Ashland had AMERICAN PIPITS, MAGNOLIA
and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS on October 17. On October 13, Brandywine
Creek State Park had PALM WARBLER, WHITE-CROWNED and LINCOLN’S SPARROWS.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW were at Fort DuPont
State Park that day. In Sussex
County, 14 COMMON LOONS flew past the Cape
Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch on October 11, and SURF SCOTERS and
a BLACK SKIMMER were at the point. BRANT were seen at Cape Henlopen the
next day. On October 13, a COMMON EIDER, 12 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS,
BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were reported from the Hawk Watch.
The next day, BROWN PELICANS and 9 RED-THROATED LOONS flew by. The view
from the hawk watch on October 15 included BLUE-HEADED VIREO and WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROWS. A Big Sit at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County tallied 63 species on October 14, including RUDDY DUCK, BALD EAGLES, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BROAD-WINGED and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS. A HOODED MERGANSER was at the refuge that day as well. A PURPLE FINCH sang from the pipeline cut the previous day, and a SORA called at the horseshoe before the observation tower on October 12. FDR Park’s avifauna included YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, AMERICAN COOT, PIED-BILLED GREBE, BLACK-THROATED BLUE and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS October 15-16. A WINTER WREN was at Philadelphia City Hall on October 17. A private residence in Chadds Ford, Delaware County had 6 PINE SISKINS on October 14. The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch had an AMERICAN PIPIT and PURPLE FINCHES on October 17, and that day a VESPER SPARROW was in a cornfield in Gradyville. John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Bucks County had 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on Lake Galena and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at Sailor’s Point on October 11. An AMERICAN PIPIT flew by on October 12. Two BONAPARTE’S GULLS and PURPLE FINCHES were at the park on October 13. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS are being regularly sighted at Peace Valley and Nockamixon State Park with a high count of 65 at Peace Valley on October 14. A BRANT was at Nockamixon October 13-14, and another was at Peace Valley on October 14. COMMON LOONS were on Lake Nockamixon October 11-12, and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were seen October 14 at Peace Valley, Nockamixon and Lake Towhee Park. An October 13 a bird walk at Silver Lake Nature Center sighted BLUE-HEADED VIREO, PURPLE FINCH, MAGNOLIA and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS. Robin Run Reservoir had an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW on October 14. The lagoon at Washington Crossing Historic Park had a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE on October 16. The Churchville Nature Center (see also) bird walk on October 13 noted SOLITARY SANDPIPER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, PURPLE FINCHES, TENNESSEE and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. A flock of 4-6 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES was in the area of Elm Ave that day as well. Core Creek Park on October 17 hosted PIED-BILLED GREBE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and WINTER WREN. In Northampton County, PURPLE FINCHES and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were at the Koch Property on October 13, with LINCOLN’S SPARROWS seen October 11, 13 and 18. A WILSON’S WARBLER and PINE SISKINS were on the property recently. On October 13, flooded fields along Allegheny Rd had a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a MERLIN. The partitioned goldenrod fields in Washington Township had a CLAY-COLORED, AMERICAN TREE, 2 FOX, and over 15 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS along with an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on October 16. At Lancaster County Central Park, a CONNECTICUT WARBLER was near the Golf Rd entrance on October 14. Birds around Brunner Island on October 15 included a WINTER WREN and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW. A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was at Lehigh River Canal Park in Lehigh County on October 16, and a MARSH WREN and MERLIN were at the Allentown Wastewater Treatment Center that day. The Treatment Center had 7 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and 10 COMMON MERGANSERS on October 17. On October 14, State Game Land 110 in Berks County had a WINTER WREN, 3 PINE SISKINS and 3 PURPLE FINCHES, and a SNOW BUNTING was found there on October 17. Lake Ontelaunee had 7 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on October 12. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported RUSTY BLACKBIRD and COMMON LOON on October 14; 40 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, 63 RUBY-CROWNED and 32 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were counted the day before. A CACKLING GOOSE flew by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on October 12, and 9 PINE SISKINS were noted October 11. On October 16, 23 PINE SISKINS and 40 PURPLE FINCHES flew past Hawk Mountain An extralimital COMMON REDPOLL visited birdfeeders
at a private residence in York County on October 15. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On November 3 or 4, depending on weather conditions, Frank Windfelder and Bert Filemyr 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 On October 19 at 7:30pm, Wildlife Photographer Kevin Karlson will present “Birds and Wildlife of S. Alaska and the Arctic Tundra” at the Plymouth Meeting Friends located at the intersection of Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The program is sponsored by the Wyncote Audubon Society, and is free and open to the public. On October 20, Cliff Hence will lead a Wyncote Audubon field trip to Cape May, NJ. The field trip will meet at Cape May Point State Park’s parking lot in front of the Hawk Watch Platform at 9:00am. Call Cliff at 215-247-3560 or email [email protected] for details. The DVOC’s own Frank Windfelder broke the record for a Philadelphia Big Year on October 14, with bird #226, a VESPER SPARROW near Rawn St and the Delaware River. For those keeping score, the bird that tied him the record was an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER. Congratulations Frank! 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.
|
On this page.... Links
General Guidelines for Submission
|
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee
Steve Kacir - Chair
Tony Croasdale
Bert Filemyr
Paul Guris
Rob Hynson
Mike Lyman
Nate Rice