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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, November 15, 2007 12:48 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday November
8, 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 is 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 - November 8, 2007
- Birds Mentioned +Black Brant Horned Grebe 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 November 8, 2007 we highlight reports of RED CROSSBILLS, EVENING GROSBEAKS AND CAVE SWALLOWS. RAPTOR MIGRATION: BALD EAGLES and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS continued to move through the Delaware Valley, and were reliably seen at most hawk watches throughout the region, though numbers of falcons are very low now. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were noted most often this week at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County, PA and Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County, PA, with additional sightings coming from the Ashland Nature Center in New Castle, DE and other hawk watches in PA and NJ. A BROAD-WINGED HAWK flew past Little Gap Hawk Watch in Northampton County, PA on November 5. Cape May Point State Park in Cape May County, NJ had lingering BROAD-WINGED HAWKS move through this past week. GOLDEN EAGLES were reported at hawk watches throughout the region, with a high count of 12 on November 7 at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary when the GOSHAWKS numbered 4 for the day. Other good places to see GOLDEN EAGLES this week were Bake Oven Knob and the Second Mountain Hawk Watch in Lebanon County, PA. Cape May Point State Park had both NORTHERN GOSHAWKS (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website) and GOLDEN EAGLES (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website) sighted through the week. COMMON RAVENS were noted at Second Mountain, Bake Oven Knob, and the Raccoon Ridge in Warren County, NJ. For New Jersey: On November 3, 2 CAVE SWALLOWS along with a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and BARN SWALLOWS flew past The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows) in Cape May County. On the beach, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 4 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen with a group of HORNED LARKS. Other birds in the area included an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW and a DICKCISSEL (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website). SNOW BUNTINGS were also sighted there on November 5. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen on November 4 in the dunes along 116 St at Stone Harbor Point. On November 6, a mini finch invasion was seen in Seaville, including 18 PINE SISKINS, 2 PURPLE FINCHES and 20 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Fifteen PARASITIC JAEGERS patrolled the rips off Cape May Point State Park on November 2; also seen at the park were COMMON TERN, COMMON REDPOLL, SNOW BUNTINGS and several YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS. On November 3 a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen by the hawk watch platform. On NOVEMBER 5 a late PIPING PLOVER was feeding on the beach. The Villas WMA’s avifauna included 2 RED CROSSBILLS, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, a late PRAIRIE WARBLER, 2 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, 50 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, PALM WARBLERS and several PINE SISKINS on November 5. On November 2, Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County had 4 HUDSONIAN GODWITS feeding with 2 MARBLED GODWITS. The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was last reported November 4, when Brigantine also hosted LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 9 TUNDRA SWANS, AMERICAN PIPIT, WILSON’S SNIPE, WESTERN and STILT SANDPIPERS. On November 3, a BLACK BRANT was with a flock of 100 BRANT between Bradley Beach and Avon in Monmouth County. On November 4 a ROYAL TERN flew over Spermaceti Cove at Sandy Hook. At Raccoon Alley several passerines included GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLENTS and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. On November 5, the ROYAL TERN was still present along with 10 SNOW BUNTINGS. On November 2, a SHORT-EARED OWL hunted Jake's Landing at dusk in Cumberland County. On November 4, a late GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH foraged with 7 HERMIT THRUSHES at Jake's Landing, and a WESTERN KINGBIRD hunted from a utility wire at Money Island Rd (DeLorme Map 68, M4). This is the road that forks to the right off Fortescue Rd CR643. The bird was across from a white house, please respect the privacy of the owners of the house. (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website). Also on November 4 a BARN OWL was seen at Bevan WMA. In Salem County, a blackbird flock in a field along King’s Highway had 2 BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS on November 7. PINE SISKINS were at Rancocas Woods in Burlington County on November 6. In Hunterdon County, the Spruce Run State Park boat launch had 11 SNOW BUNTINGS, 3 BRANT and 4 BUFFELHEADS on November 3. Round Valley Reservoir had CAVE SWALLOWS on November 7. Elsewhere in Hunterdon County, a NORTHERN SHRIKE put in an appearance at Hoffman Park on November 2. Two SANDHILL CRANES flew over a field near Hopewell Park in Mercer County on November 3. In Middlesex County, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was found on an athletic field on the Rutgers University Cook Campus on November 6. In Warren County at the Warren Green Acres aka Glenhurst Meadows, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was found just west of the parking lot across the stream spillway on November 7. The Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch noted 4 RED CROSSBILLS, a SNOW BUNTING and an AMERICAN PIPIT on November 3. The Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch had SNOW BUNTINGS November 2 and 4. For Delaware: In New Castle County, Ashland Nature Center had sightings of PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS on November 1-3, and AMERICAN PIPITS were seen there November 1-2. On November 2, 5 RED CROSSBILLS flew past the Hawk Watch at Ashland. Many PINE SISKINS flew past Ashland on November 6. On November 4, a juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was loafing with a large SNOW GOOSE flock at Shearness Pool, Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County. The next day, 12 TUNDRA SWANS were at the refuge in Raymond Pool. An AMERICAN BITTERN was at the Thousand Acre Marsh on November 4, and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, WILSON’S SNIPES and a late GREEN HERON were at Grier’s Pond. SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at the point at Cape
Henlopen State Park in Sussex
County on November 1. The Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch afforded views
of NORTHERN GANNETS and SCOTERS. Both RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES
were seen from the Hawk Watch on November 4. On November 6, the Cape Henlopen
Hawk Watch noted 3 BROWN PELICANS and 13 NORTHERN GANNETS. PINE SISKINS
visited a feeder in Seaford on November 6. In Philadelphia County, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum has had BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, WILSON’S SNIPE, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, LESSER SCAUP, WINTER WREN, FOX SPARROW, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and multiple BALD EAGLES. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK hunted on private land in Montgomery County on November 3. In Chester County, Marsh Creek State Park had 3 BRANT through November 4. Hibernia County Park had PURPLE FINCHES, FOX SPARROWS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and a MANDARIN DUCK on November 4. PURPLE FINCHES flew over Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch in Delaware County on November 4, and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and PINE SISKIN flew by the hawk watch there on November 6. Two groups of EVENING GROSBEAKS flew over private property in Bucks County on November 3. Peace Valley Park had a NORTHERN BOBWHITE on November 3, and other recent sightings from the park included LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, HORNED GREBES and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. A SNOW BUNTING was at the Nockamixon State Park fishing pier on November 4, when the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS numbered 141 gulls. PURPLE FINCHES were noted throughout that area, and the park hosted a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 2 PINE SISKINS, 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 2 BRANT. Lake Warren had a singing RED-EYED VIREO that day. On November 6, Nockamixon State Park had a BLACK SCOTER and a flock of 6 SCOTERS, of which at least two were WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. A pair of BRANT have been at Nockamixon State Park marina parking lot since Oct 25. On November 3, the Koch Property in Northampton County had EVENING GROSBEAKS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and BALD EAGLES. AMERICAN PIPITS were in a plowed field on Hower Rd in Plainfield Township that day. The Little Gap Hawk Watch reported a NORTHERN SHRIKE on November 2, Brant on November 3 and 6 SNOW BUNTINGS on November 5. In Lancaster County, the Conejohela Flats had DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and SNOW BUNTING on November 2. On November 4, a COMMON REDPOLL called from Lancaster County Central Park; HORNED LARKS were also noted. The Second Mountain Hawk Watch in Lebanon County reported 2 SNOW BUNTINGS on November 2. Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County had PILEATED WOODPECKERS November 1 and 4, and a SWAINSON’S THRUSH was seen November 2. SNOW BUNTINGS were in Berks County this week, with three at Blue Marsh Lake on November 2, and three at State Game Land 110 the day before. A BRANT was at the Moselem Springs Golf Course Ponds on November 4, while Lake Ontelaunee that day had 4 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BONAPARTE’S GULLS and BALD EAGLES. A COMMON RAVEN flew over Birdsboro Reservoir on November 4. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS on November 1, and PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS on November 5. Outside the Delaware Valley, A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE continued to be seen at the intersection of Pumping Station Rd and Cunningham Rd, outside of Gettysburg in Adams County through November 6. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On November 10, Bob Horton will lead a DVOC field trip to Scott Weidensaul’s Saw-whet Owl Banding Station at Hidden Valley, Pennsylvania. The trip, which is limited to 15 participants, is currently filled, but a waiting list has been started in case of cancellations. There is no field trip fee, and members and non-members are welcome to attend. The trip will meet at 6:30pm at the banding station, and participants should expect to be out until 11pm. Details are available at the DVOC website. The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday November 15 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Dr. Bob Curry will present “Hybridization of Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees.” The Ornithological Study will feature Edie Parnum’s “Hummingbird Hotspot in Central Pennsylvania.” Details are on the website, and guests are welcome. Tickets are already on sale for the Annual
DVOC Banquet, which will take place on Wednesday, December 5, 2007.
Please join us for the upcoming DVOC banquet. This event is open to members,
non-members, and guests. Note the day and date which is a departure from
our usual Thursday evening in November. Our speaker, Dr. Don Kroodsma,
is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Massachusetts.
He is THE man in the science of bird song, which he has studied for thirty
years. Dr. Kroodsma has written a book about the art and science of birdsong
in which he demonstrates its diversity through 30 carefully chosen examples.
His focus and approach to this study is unique inasmuch as he tours the
US on his bicycle, collecting bird songs along the way. Dr. Kroodsma maintains
that there is no better way to hear a continent sing than by bicycle. 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 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