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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, November 22, 2007 7:08 AM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday November
15, 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 15, 2007 * PA, NJ, DE - Birds Mentioned Cave Swallow + 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 November 15, 2007 we highlight reports of CAVE SWALLOWS, EVENING GROSBEAKS, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, WESTERN KINGBIRD, EURASIAN WIGEON and KING EIDER RAPTOR MIGRATION: Raptor migration continues to wind down, but hawk watches
in the Delaware Valley are still reporting some excellent sightings. BALD
EAGLES are becoming less reliably seen at many sites, but RED-SHOULDERED
HAWKS continue to move through in fair numbers across the region. BROAD-WINGED
HAWKS were reported at the Cape
May Point State Park Hawk Watch in Cape
May County, NJ on November 8. Reports of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS in PA
came from the Second
Mountain Hawk Watch in Lebanon
County on November 11 and the Bake
Oven Knob on November 13. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were moving across the
region this past week, with the best locations being Bake
Oven Knob and Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary in Berks
County for PA; Cape May Point and the For New Jersey: In Cape May County, CAVE SWALLOWS flew around Cape May Point State Park in groups of 3-8 on November 8, and continued to be seen through November 12, when CAVE SWALLOWS were also seen at Hidden Valley and the Rea's Farm (The Beanery). A CATTLE EGRET flew over the Bunker Pond on November 10, and an EVENING GROSBEAK flew by the day before. On November 12, AMERICAN PIPITS were on the beach. A pair of flyby COMMON REDPOLLS and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT were noted from the point on November 12. Banders at Cape May reported 175 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have been captured since Oct 15. A EURASIAN WIGEON was on Lily Lake at Cape May Point November 9-12, and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE was there November 11. Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May NWR had a LITTLE BLUE HERON, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS and AMERICAN PIPITS on November 13. AMERICAN PIPITS, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and PURPLE FINCHES were at the Rea's Farm (The Beanery) on November 10, and PIPITS were also noted there on November 12. Higbee Beach WMA had AMERICAN PIPITS and PURPLE FINCHES on November 12. The Villas WMA has had RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at the southeastern part of the WMA. Follow the path and look for a red post near the south edge and the birds should be nearby. (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website) Other birds at the Villas recently included PURPLE FINCHES, PINE SISKIN and a MERLIN. Nummy's Island had 2 TRICOLORED HERONS on November 10. PARASITIC JAEGERS hunted near Townsend’s Inlet, and NORTHERN GANNETS were at the rips and near shore in large numbers on November 10. The Avalon Sea Watch this week noted RED-THROATED LOONS, PARASITIC JAEGERS, BONAPARTE’S GULLS, REDHEAD, all three SCOTER species, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, COMMON and KING EIDERS. On November 9, a high count of NORTHERN GANNETS at the Sea Watch totaled 5602, and many flew very close to jetty as well. On November 9, The Wetland Institute had HORNED GREBE and COMMON GOLDENEYES, and Ocean City hosted TRICOLORED HERONS and MARBLED GODWIT. The Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County hosted SNOW BUNTINGS, 5 PURPLE FINCHES, 3 HORNED GREBES, AMERICAN BITTERN, MERLIN, 20 MARBLED GODWITS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER on November 11. The next day, a NORTHERN SHRIKE made an appearance near the east pool at the last leg of the auto tour loop, and GREAT HORNED OWLS were noted behind the headquarters building. On November 8, the refuge had SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, TUNDRA SWANS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS and CATTLE EGRETS. Ocean County had HARLEQUIN DUCKS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS, COMMON EIDERS and an Ipswich SAVANNAH SPARROW at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on November 8. On November 14, Whitesbog had a probable TRUMPETER SWAN with TUNDRA SWANS at the last reservoir (which is in Ocean County) farthest from the Whitesbog Village. The bird was not neck-collared and the entire flock flew off, but characteristics of the bird indicated a likely TRUMPETER SWAN. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was at Thompson Park in Holmdel, Monmouth County on November 10. Sandy Hook on November 11 had SNOW BUNTINGS at Gunnison and COMMON EIDERS at the end of Fisherman’s Trail. There were 3-4 flyby EVENING GROSBEAKS at Sandy Hook on November 9. The Cumberland County WESTERN KINGBIRD was still at Money Island Rd (DeLorme Map 68, M4) on November 11. 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. Jake’s Landing had a PURPLE FINCH and 2-3 SHORT-EARED OWLS on November 13. In Salem County, 49 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were along Money Island Rd on November 12, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR flew overhead that day. Franklin Parker Preserve in Burlington County hosted an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE on November 10-11. It was at the back section of the bogs. To reach the Preserve from the intersection of Rt 563 and Rt 532 in Chatsworth take Rt 532 W towards Tabernacle/Medford. In a short distance you will see a large lake on your right and the road will bend sharply right (currently minor shoulder work occurring there). Immediately turn left on to a dirt road. Park along the road and walk past the two gates to the old cranberry bogs. The bird was active near several reservoirs in the back of this section of bogs. Elsewhere at the Preserve, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were also noted. Ten TUNDRA SWANS were on a lake outside Chatsworth on November 11. A SHORT-EARED OWL hunted the fields at Mercer County Park Northwest off Federal City Rd (p. 205 in Boyle’s Guide), in Mercer County of course. On November 8, a BLACK SCOTER was at Spruce
Run State Park in Hunterdon
County. Spruce Run had SNOW BUNTINGS through November 11, with a LAPLAND
LONGSPUR found the day before. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Assiscong
Marsh through November 10, and 23 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were there on November
11. Round
Valley Recreation Area had a flyby kettle of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS
and a juvenile Light Phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on November 11, and a CAVE
SWALLOW was at the parking lot on November 8. On November 9, the Scherman-Hoffman
Sanctuary in Somerset
County had PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK
flew over I-287 just south of I-78. For Delaware: From New Castle County, Ashland Nature Center noted AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS on November 8. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported November 8-10, with a high count of 38 birds on November 10. PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES visited Ashland through the week, and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES were noted on November 14. Barley Mill Rd, near Ashland had YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. The Thousand Acre Marsh had AMERICAN COOTS, RUDDY DUCK and PEREGRINE FALCON, while Hoopes Reservoir had over 200 RING-NECKED DUCKS, PIED-BILLED GREBE and BALD EAGLE. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS responded to calls this week; the owls were noted in scrubby habitat northwest of Wilmington. However, the SAW-WHET migration this year should enable birders to find SAW-WHETS in appropriate habitat throughout the Delaware Valley. A female LAPLAND LONGSPUR was with HORNED LARKS at Cartanza Rd in Kent County on November 11. Bombay Hook NWR had recent reports of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, BALD EAGLE, MARBLED GODWIT, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. A PINE SISKIN was at the refuge on November 10 along with over 100 AMERICAN AVOCETS. In Sussex
County, the Cape
Henlopen State Park noted SCOTERS November 8-9, and NORTHERN GANNETS
were seen through the week with a high count of 350+ near shore on November
14. All three SCOTER species were seen there on November 10; BROWN-HEADED
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen from the Hawk Watch on November
8. On November 9, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK patrolled Prime Hook Rd. John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County, PA had a PINE SISKIN just past the gate entrance on November 14. A female BLACK SCOTER was there last weekend, and a drake REDHEAD, lingering BLUE-WINGED TEALS and 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS have also been recently seen at the refuge. The Churchville Nature Center (see also) in Bucks County had recent reports of PURPLE FINCHES, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and PINE SISKINS. Peace Valley Park hosted a BRANT and 12 SNOW GEESE on November 10, and SNOW GEESE continued through November 11. A CACKLING GOOSE and WILSON’S SNIPE were at Peace Valley Park on November 8. PURPLE FINCHES have been seen at the park, and a late report indicated that there was a flyby SNOW BUNTING on November 5. On November 14, Peace Valley Park had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, BALD EAGLE and a lingering OSPREY. On November 11, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were noted at Nockamixon State Park and Lake Towhee. Nockamixon also had 2 BRANT, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and PURPLE FINCHES that day. SGL 157 had a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and PINE SISKIN on November 8. GREAT HORNED OWLS and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were reported on November 7 from the Little Gap Banding Station on Blue Mountain in Northampton County. Six EVENING GROSBEAKS flew over Villanova University in Delaware County on November 8. The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch had PINE SISKINS November 12-13. Chester County’s Chambers Lake and Hibernia County Park had a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK on November 9, and Marsh Creek State Park had 3 BRANT and a HORNED GREBE on November 11. Muddy Run Recreation Park in Lancaster County had 8 PINE SISKINS, 19 BALD EAGLES at Fisherman’s Park on November 9, while Pump Storage Lake had COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBES and COMMON GOLDENEYE. On November 8, over 150 AMERICAN PIPITS were at the intersection of River Rd and Silver Springs Rd on the south side of Muddy Run. A subadult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was banded at a private residence in Lancaster County on November 9. A CATTLE EGRET was seen flying east of the Strasburg Railroad along Route 741 on November 14. A COMMON RAVEN flew over Route 422 in Lebanon County on November 10. Blue Marsh Lake Park in Berks County had MERLIN, FOX SPARROW and PURPLE FINCH on November 11. On November 12, an immature female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was banded at a home near Wernersville. The hummer has been coming to flowers and a feeder for more than two weeks. The homeowners are willing to host visiting birders by appointment only. Please email them at [email protected] to set up a time. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary had an EVENING GROSBEAK, SNOW BUNTING and RED-THROATED LOON fly by on November 8. Outside the Delaware Valley, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL
was seen at a private residence in Forest County on November 14. A LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE continued to be seen near the intersection of Pumping Station Rd
and Cunningham Rd, outside of Gettysburg in Adams County through November
14. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On November 24, Sandra Keller will lead a DVOC field trip to the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR in Atlantic County, NJ. The trip is geared toward young birders and will focus on waterfowl. There is no field trip fee, and members and non-members are welcome to attend. The trip will meet at 9:00am at the refuge parking lot station. Details are available at the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org 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.” For visitor safety, the trails at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary will be closed November 26-27 for the first two days of Pennsylvania’s deer hunting season. The Visitor Center will remain open. 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