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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
25, 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 25, 2007
- Birds Mentioned Eared Grebe +++ 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
25, 2007 we highlight reports of EARED GREBE, http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm EXTRALIMITAL: A FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen on October 21 at Eastern Neck NWR in Kent County, MD. The bird was only seen that day, though another FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER report came from Churchton in Anne-Arundel County, MD. From October 21-23 CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD visited a feeder in North Beach, Calvert County, MD. RAPTOR MIGRATION: An immature light phase SWAINSON’S HAWK flew past the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch in Cape May County, NJ on October 21 (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website). BALD EAGLES and MERLINS moved through the Delaware Valley with regular sightings at most hawk watches. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK migration picked up, with sightings throughout the region; though, they’re still most consistently seen from the Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch in New Castle County, DE. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flew past Cape May Point, which was also the most reliable location for seeing our 3 typical falcon species. PEREGRINE FALCONS were also reliable at the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch in Sussex County, DE and the Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County, PA. On October 21, GOLDEN EAGLES were noted at the Militia Hill Hawk Watch in Montgomery County, PA and both the Raccoon Ridge and Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watches in Warren County, NJ. Additional GOLDEN EAGLE sightings came from Kirkridge Lookout in Northampton County, PA on October 22, Bake Oven Knob October 18 and 22, and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County, PA October 20-23. NORTHERN GOSHAWK reports came from Hawk Mountain, Scott’s Mountain, and Bake Oven Knob, which had 3 GOSHAWKS on October 21. Bake Oven Knob and Raccoon Ridge reported COMMON RAVENS through the week. For New Jersey: A RED CROSSBILL sporadically visited the feeders at The Nature Conservancy’s Delaware Bayshore Office in Eldora, Cumberland County through October 24 (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website). The street address is 2350 Route 47, Delmont, NJ 08314. A first year male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at Abbott’s Meadow in Salem County on October 21. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew over Bellmawr, Camden County on October 20. On October 25, birding at the Taylor Wildlife Refuge in Burlington County provided views of BRANTS and 6 SCOTERS including 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the Delaware River, and an adult POMARINE JAEGER flew over the parking lot of Palmyra Cove Nature Park. The Morning Flight at Higbee Beach WMAon October 18 had a CAPE MAY WARBLER, BOBOLINKS, a PINE SISKIN and a PURPLE FINCH. On October 21, 3 WESTERN KINGBIRDS were seen from the dikes along with a very late EASTERN KINGBIRD. Other birds at the Morning Flight that day included DICKCISSEL, 83 PURPLE FINCHES, 11 PINE SISKINS, 6 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, CAPE MAY, ORANGE-CROWNED, TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS. A STILT SANDPIPER was at the dredge spoils, while a DICKCISSEL, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were also reported from Higbee on Sunday. AMERICAN PIPITS were at Higbee Beach WMA October 18 and 21-22. A walk at the Rea's Farm (The Beanery) on October 20 found a WESTERN KINGBIRD, 2 CAPE MAY WARBLERS and a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. Hidden Valley Ranch had an AMERICAN PIPIT and PURPLE FINCHES on October 18. The Villas WMA had an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on October 22. A VESPER SPARROW flew past the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch in Cape May County on October 21, and a DICKCISSEL was there on October 23. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at the path beside the Bunker Pond, and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was on the Red Trail on October 24. Other highlights at the State Park that day included a flyby AMERICAN PIPIT at the dunes and 7 PURPLE SANDPIPERS passing the bunker as they continued south. A NORTHERN GANNET flew by the point on October 25. On October 22 NORTHERN GANNETS, BLACK SCOTERS and AMERICAN PIPITS were seen from the beach at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. This week, the Avalon Sea Watch reported RED-THROATED LOONS, GREAT CORMORANTS, PARASITIC JAEGERS, BONAPARTE’S GULLS, MARBLED GODWITS, NORTHERN GANNETS, BROWN PELICANS, BRANT, BLACK and SURF SCOTERS. On October 18, Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County had a MARBLED GODWIT, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, MERLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was near the island in the NW Pool on October 18. On October 21, Brigantine hosted AMERICAN BITTERNS and a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. At Sandy Hook in Monmouth County on October 21, a SHORT-EARED OWL flushed from the area near the salt pond; a CLIFF SWALLOW and NORTHERN SHRIKE were also noted at Sandy Hook that day. The day before, AMERICAN BITTERN, SALTMARSH and NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were at Plum Island. Other birds around Sandy Hook on October 20 included PINE SISKINS; MERLINS; AMERICAN PIPITS; VESPER, LINCOLN’S and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS. A BLACK BRANT was seen with PALE-BELLIED BRANTS at the mouth of Flat Creek on October 24. In Somerset County, the Warren Green Acres aka Glenhurst Meadows had LINCOLN’S, CLAY-COLORED and VESPER SPARROWS on October 20. On Monday, the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve had VESPER, GRASSHOPPER and LINCOLN’S SPARROWS. Cold Brook Preserve in Hunterdon County had VESPER and LINCOLN’S SPARROWS on October 21. For Delaware: The Ashland Nature Center in New Castle County reported SCARLET TANAGER, NASHVILLE and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS on October 19, and on October 18 Ashland had a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, and 5 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS. PURPLE FINCHES were reported from Ashland October 19 and 21. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were seen on October 21, and a CACKLING GOOSE flew over on October 23. On Sunday, Longwood Gardens had an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, and SORAS and VIRGINIA RAILS called from the Thousand Acre Marsh. In Kent County on October 18, the ponds behind Tony Florio’s old house at Woodland Beach WA had 9 AMERICAN AVOCETS, and the marshes along Duck Creek had SORAS, VIRGINIA RAILS, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a WILSON’S SNIPE. On October 18, a STILT SANDPIPER was at Bombay Hook NWR. AMERICAN AVOCETS were reported from Bombay Hook NWR on October 18 and 21, and CASPIAN TERNS were at the refuge on Sunday. ROYAL TERNS were still at Port Mahon Rd through October 21, and BONAPARTE’S GULLS were with the terns on Sunday. A breeding-plumaged EARED GREBE was at the icebreakers
off Lewes, Sussex
County on October 19. SCOTERS were seen from the Hawk Watch at Cape
Henlopen State Park on October 18, and a juvenile NORTHERN GANNET,
4 BROWN PELICANS and a SCOTER were noted October 20. RED-BREASTED and
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were behind the Cape Henlopen Visitor Center on
Sunday, and SURF SCOTERS and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen from shore. Gordon’s
Pond had AMERICAN AVOCETS and SNOW GEESE on October 21. Prime
Hook NWR had a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Boardwalk Trail near a
labeled walnut tree October 20-22. Additional CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS plus
a GRASSHOPPER and LINCOLN’S SPARROW were at the Headquarters area
at Prime Hook NWR.
VIRGINIA RAILS, WILSON’S SNIPE and PECTORAL SANDPIPER were at Broadkill
Beach Rd on Sunday. CLAPPER RAILS, SALTMARSH and NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED
SPARROWS were at the south side of Indian
River Inlet on October 20-21. A TRICOLORED HERON was at the Inlet
on October 20, and a flock of PINE SISKINS flew by the next day. A YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER and PURPLE FINCH were at Thompson Island Preserve on October
21. A RING-NECKED and a RUDDY DUCK were on Silver Lake in Rehobeth on
Sunday. On October 24-25, southeastern PA witnessed an excellent waterfall fallout, with 300+ BLACK SCOTERS, a RED-NECKED GREBE and 75 RUDDY DUCKS at Blue Marsh Lake Park in Berks County. In Northampton County 300+ SNOW GEESE and a BRANT flew over Washington Township, and large flocks of BRANT, SCOTERS and RUDDY DUCKS were seen in Beltzville. Finally, Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County had at least 160 dark-winged scoters fly past on October 24, and the next day there were 117 BRANT and a distant Scoter. Elsewhere in Bucks County, Peace Valley Park had a LONG-TAILED DUCK, 2 HORNED GREBES and 45 RUDDY DUCKS. In Philadelphia County, 3 BRANT flew up the Delaware River channel at Glen Foerd, while 33 flew over Pennypack Park’s Rhawn St location and an additional 8 were reported from the Naval Business Center. On October 20, Bucks County boasted an adult and 2 first winter FRANKLIN’S GULLS on private land and a COMMON RAVEN and MERLIN at Nockamixon State Park. On October 19, 8 probable BLACK SCOTERS flew in to Lake Nockamixon at Nockamixon State Park. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON flew down Neshaminy Creek in Doylestown on October 18. That same day, 3 CACKLING GEESE were near the Chapman Rd Bridge at Peace Valley Park. Peace Valley has had regular BALD EAGLE and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL sightings through the week. On October 19, a field along Main St/Eight St in Tatamy, Northampton County had AMERICAN PIPITS and 4 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS. On October 22, Kirkridge Lookout had PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCHES, COMMON RAVENS and a WILSON’S WARBLER. In Washington Township, an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER flew from a cornfield off Jacktown Rd on Monday; LINCOLN’S and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were in the area as well. BARRED OWLS called from Bear Swamp Park on October 22. The Koch Property had PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCHES and 10 LINCOLN’S SPARROWS on October 23. That day, the Hanoverville Rd Ponds had AMERICAN PIPITS, and Cobblestone Lane had 61 AMERICAN PIPITS and 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch in Delaware County had 3 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and a PILEATED WOODPECKER this week. Chambers Lake and Hibernia County Park in Chester County had a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER on October 23. On Saturday, the Tyler Arboretum had PILEATED WOODPECKER, BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN. On October 19, the Conejohela Flats in Lancaster County had AMERICAN BITTERN, 80 PIED-BILLED GREBES and a DUNLIN. The Flats had BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS on October 19 and 22, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and PECTORAL SANDPIPER on October 19 and 21-22. On Sunday, an immature LAUGHING GULL and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD were found. AMERICAN COOT numbers at the Flats increased through the week with 500 COOTS by October 22. BALD EAGLES were consistently reported in the area, and BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen October 19 and 22. On October 21, a kayaking trip on the Susquehanna River out of Bainbridge reported AMERICAN PIPITS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, DUNLIN, WILSON’S SNIPE and PURPLE FINCHES. On October 20, Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County had BLUE-HEADED VIREO and PURPLE FINCH. A PILEATED WOODPECKER and a PINE SISKIN flock were noted the next day. On October 22, PURPLE FINCHES and a PILEATED WOODPECKER were seen at Bake Oven Knob. On October 18 and 21, PINE SISKINS continued to migrate past Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County. There were 3 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS noted on October 21, and 384 PURPLE FINCHES were tallied at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on October 22. Three AMERICAN PIPITS were in the corn stubble behind the high school at Lake Ontelaunee on October 21, and PURPLE FINCHES were at Blue Marsh Recreation Area that day. Outside the Delaware Valley, a small flock of EVENING
GROSBEAKS were reported on October 24 from Sweeney Rd, Rockdale Township
in Crawford County. *** 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 November 1 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Kevin Loughlin will present “Panama’s Darien: Still Wild After All These Years.” Bert Filemyr will present the Ornithological Study “Bird Names - 's.” Details are on the website, and guests are welcome. See Life Paulagics has 3 early December pelagic trips scheduled. One is out of Freeport, NY on Dec 1; one is out of Belmar, NJ on Dec 2; and the last is out of Lewes, DE on Dec 8. See Life Paulagics will also run their annual Christmas Bird Count Pelagic out of Belmar, NJ on Jan 4. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit http://www.paulagics.com On November 16 the Wyncote Audubon Society will meet at Plymouth Meeting House at 7:30pm, when Naomi Murphy will present “Butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.” On November 10, Andy Fayer will lead a Wyncote Audubon field trip to Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County, PA. The field trip will meet at the Borders bookstore across from the Montgomeryville Mall (northbound side of Route 309) at 7:30am; alternatively, one can meet up with the field trip at the Bake Oven Knob parking lot at 8:30am. Bring lunch, water and hiking boots for the climb. For details, call Andy at 215-542-8114 or email [email protected] A hybrid LESSER BLACK-BACKED X HERRING GULL hatched and was banded this past summer at Appledore Island in Maine. The bird has a large white-on-green “N02” band on the left leg, and a silver ring on the right. If you see this bird, please contact Bill Etter or email us at [email protected] and we will forward the sightings to the interested parties. For photos of this gull, visit http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v230/billetter/Apple/ 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