Current report - December 6, 2007

* PA, NJ, DE
* Delaware Valley: Southeast PA, Central/Southern NJ and DE
* PADV0712.06
* December 6, 2007

- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species accounts for many of these birds

Pink-footed Goose (NY)
Barnacle Goose +
Common Murre +
Thick-billed Murre +
Black Guillemot (NY)
Ash-throated Flycatcher +
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (NY)
Loggerhead Shrike ++
Cave Swallow +
Townsend's Solitaire +
Bullock's Oriole +
Bullock's Oriole ++

+ (Details requested by New Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware Records Committee)

Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Fulmar
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Blue-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Northern Bobwhite
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
Marbled Godwit
Purple Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte's Gull
Thayer's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Dovekie
Atlantic Puffin
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech-owl
Great Horned Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Winter Wren
American Pipit
Northern Parula
Pine Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Ipswich Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Eastern Meadowlark
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Evening Grosbeak

Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compilers: Steve Kacir, Rob Hynson, Mike Lyman and Tony Croasdale - Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm

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 December 6, 2007 we highlight reports of PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, BARNACLE GOOSE, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, CAVE SWALLOWS, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRES, BULLOCK’S ORIOLES, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and EVENING GROSBEAKS.

Extralimital:

New York:
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS have invaded NY, with birds at Dreir Offerman (aka Calvert Vaux Park) in Brooklyn, Jamaica Bay NWR, and Rita’s Stables at Montauk. The Montauk BARNACLE GOOSE was last reported from Startop Ranch on December 3, and the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was last reported December 4 from Deep Hollow. A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was in the area of Startop Ranch December 3-4 and 6. Note that Startop Ranch is private property and not open to birders, so bird this area only from the road. A BLACK GUILLEMOT was seen from the lighthouse at Montauk on Sunday. Recent sightings at Jones Beach included RED and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. A pelagic out of Freeport had 300 DOVEKIES, 22 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, 12 NORTHERN FULMARS, 12 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, a POMARINE JAEGER and a few COMMON REDPOLLS.

Maryland:
A TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was at Little Bennet Regional Park in Montgomery County, MD on December 1. The SOLITAIRE was about a half mile west on the closed gravel road that runs west from the parking lot on Clarksburg Rd (Route 121). Unfortunately the park is closed for a managed deer hunt until the weekend.

For New Jersey:

At Cape May Point State Park in Cape May County, CAVE SWALLOWS continued to fly by the Hawk Watch as late as Nov 30, and 22 CAVE SWALLOWS roosted at Congress Hall on Nov 29 (See pictures of these birds at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website). A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flew over the Hawk Watch on Nov 30. That day, the State Park hosted a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and an EVENING GROSBEAK flew over the State Park’s parking lot the next day. On December 1, 85 SNOW BUNTINGS were on the beach at the park, and 77 SNOW BUNTINGS and some AMERICAN PIPITS alternated between the frozen Plover Ponds and the beach on December 5.

The adult male BULLOCK’S ORIOLE has been seen as recently as December 2 at the “Hidden Valley Extension” on Bayshore Rd in Cape May. (See pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website)The area is part of the Hidden Valley tract and WMA property. Head north on Bayshore Rd from Sunset Blvd, and go past the Rea Farm and look for Stimpson Ln on the right. A few hundred yards to the north of Stimpson Ln, but before the Hidden Valley riding stable, there is a green milepost sign marked "1" on the right. Directly across from the mile marker, on the west side of Bayshore Rd, a mowed path leads through a tangle of bushes and cedars before it dead-ends. Waiting at the edge of Bayshore Rd and watching the porcelain berry tangles has been suggested as the best strategy for seeing the BULLOCK’S ORIOLE which has been associating with up to 3 BALTIMORE ORIOLES. The BULLOCK’S reportedly prefers the area around the Route 645 junction sign in the morning, though early afternoon seems to be the best time to try for the bird. The Cape May BARNACLE GOOSE has been seen flying over the “Hidden Valley Extension” area as recently as December 1. It was on Lily Lake on December 1.

On December 3, a COMMON REDPOLL visited a thistle feeder at Reed’s Beach. From December 1-2, up to 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at Jake's Landing, and another SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at the Magnasite Plant on December 6. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were noted at Higbee Beach WMA on Nov 29. On December 1, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were over the east side of The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows), and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was on the beach at the refuge on Nov 29. That day, 28 SNOW BUNTINGS and 5 Ipswich SAVANNAH SPARROWS were at Stone Harbor Point. Notable sightings from the Avalon Sea Watch included BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, PARASITIC JAEGER, COMMON and KING EIDERS.

From December 1-2, 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Mott’s Creek in Atlantic County. Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine had AMERICAN BITTERN and TUNDRA SWANS on Nov 29. Three ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS were reported from Tuckahoe/Corbin City recently. In Ocean County, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park ’s recent sightings included 24 COMMON EIDERS, 20 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 120 PURPLE SANDPIPERS and 125 TREE SWALLOWS. Some recent unconfirmed reports indicated that both COMMON and THICK-BILLED MURRES may have been at Barnegat Inlet recently. On December 2, two SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Cedar Run Dock Rd and The Bridge to Nowhere at Manahawkin WMA had 6 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.

At Sandy Hook in Monmouth County, an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and a late GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER have been seen at the flagpole area, behind the rusty barn or at the new restroom at the Boy Scout Camp through December 5. A WESTERN KINGBIRD frequented the former corral near the garden area at Sandy Hook through December 1. All four birds were seen in the Scout Camp area on December 1. Other Sandy Hook birds for December 5 included 12 SNOW BUNTINGS at Gunnison Beach and a SHORT-EARED OWL and COMMON EIDERS at Fisherman’s Trail. An eBird report indicated a THICK-BILLED MURRE was at Sandy Hook on Nov 30, but no corroboration of that report has been made. A SANDHILL CRANE was at Thompson Park in Lincroft on December 4.

In Cumberland County, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Bivalve on December 1. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and an AMERICAN PIPIT were at Bay Point Rd on December 1. On December 4, Salem County boasted 6 immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS along Hancock’s Bridge Rd and a SANDHILL CRANE along Money Island Rd.

On Nov 29, the Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch in Warren County had a GOLDEN EAGLE and 30 TUNDRA SWANS. Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch reported GOLDEN EAGLES and COMMON RAVENS this week. On December 4, there were 9 BALD EAGLES, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a GOLDEN EAGLE.

For Delaware:

In New Castle County, the Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch had a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on December 1 and reported 6 BALD EAGLES and 9 AMERICAN PIPITS on Nov 30. The previous day, the Hawk Watch noted 2 MERLINS, 5 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 2 FOX SPARROWS. A WINTER WREN was at the Thousand Acre Marsh on December 4. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS responded to calls in the county this week.

In Kent County, a small flock of AMERICAN PIPITS was at the turn for Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR on Nov 29. AMERICAN PIPITS and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS were at the beginning of Bombay Hook’s wildlife drive on December 1, and the refuge had 3 MARBLED GODWITS with AMERICAN AVOCETS on December 4. A SNOW BUNTING was on the Shearness leg of the wildlife drive this week. Through the week, SNOW BUNTINGS and LAPLAND LONGSPURS were found with HORNED LARKS at Cartanza Rd. A BARN OWL, LONG-EARED OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL flushed from some pines in the area of Port Mahon Road on December 2. SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported from Port Mahon on Nov 29 and December 4, with 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS noted on the earlier date.

In Sussex County, Cape Henlopen State Park had 500-1000 NORTHERN GANNETS at the point on Nov 30. On December 2, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was on the beach near the Gordon’s Pond parking area, and the State Park had RED-THROATED LOONS and SCOTERS. On December 5, a RED CROSSBILL was discovered at Cape Henlopen; the CROSSBILL was in a mixed flock that included BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES in the pines below the south side of the Walking Dune. A PURPLE FINCH was at the Cape Henlopen Nature Center’s feeders on December 1. On Nov 29, North Point had a flock of 60 SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 COMMON REDPOLLS; there was a SNOW BUNTING reported at the park on December 4 as well. An amazing flight of RED-THROATED LOONS passed Herring Point on Nov 29, with a tally of 1000 LOONS in 1.5hrs. Other birds from the point that day included COMMON EIDERS, NORTHERN GANNETS, and all three SCOTER species. Five COMMON EIDERS and a hen KING EIDER were at Herring Point on December 1, though later in the day only COMMON EIDERS were found. COMMON EIDERS and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Herring Point on December 5, and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also noted from the Bath House area on Nov 29. Indian River Inlet had 7 COMMON EIDERS, BONAPARTE’S GULLS, 200-300 NORTHERN GANNETS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS on December 1, but the next day the EIDER numbers had dropped to a single COMMON EIDER at the inlet. On December 4, the inlet had a TRICOLORED HERON, and the PURPLE SANDPIPERS had returned to the jetties.

EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS and GREAT HORNED OWLS called from Prime Hook NWR. On December 2, a light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flew over Fowler Beach Rd, and a CACKLING and ROSS’S GOOSE were with the 30,000 SNOW GEESE at Broadkill Beach Rd on December 1. Another ROSS’S GOOSE was noted on the refuge the next day. NORTHERN BOBWHITES were at the Heaquarters area on December 4. A MURRE Sp was seen from the Cape May/Lewes Ferry on the way to Lewes on December 1; other birds seen from the ferry included NORTHERN GANNETS, all three SCOTER species, GREAT CORMORANTS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, COMMON and RED-THROATED LOONS. Silver Lake had 2 REDHEAD with the CANVASBACK flock on December 2.

For Pennsylvania:

In Philadelphia County, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum this week reported a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and a NORTHERN PARULA near the bird blind.

The NORTHERN SHRIKE at Delaware County’s Darlington Tract was most recently reported on December 1. To reach the Darlington Tract from Route 1 and Route 452, take Route 1 South and turn right onto Darlington Rd. Go about a quarter of a mile and cross a small bridge that spans Chester Creek; then park on the right in a small parking area. Walk a third of a mile on Darlington Rd going to the right as you leave the parking area. Walk until you see the next driveway on the left (Rooster Tail Farm) and just before the driveway there is a trail on the left that heads uphill. Follow the trail for about 100 yards until the trail splits. Take the left fork and follow another 100 yards to a row of trees at the top of the hill, which is the spot the SHRIKE has been frequenting.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was noted at the Church Rd Area of Green Lane Reservoir in Montgomery County on Nov 25, 26 and 30. On December 2, a hen and drake REDHEAD and 6 CANVASBACKS were at the Walt Rd area of Green Lane.

In Bucks County, Peace Valley Park’s Lake Galena had BONAPARTE’S GULLS, COMMON and RED-THROATED LOONS on December 1. Other recent sightings from Peace Valley included LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, BALD EAGLES, PURPLE FINCHES and NORTHERN BOBWHITES at Sailor’s Point. A COMMON REDPOLL stopped at a feeder in Langhorne on Nov 28. A BRANT fed with other geese at the intersection of Quarry Rd and Deep Run Rd in Bedminster Twp on Nov 30. Core Creek Park had 2 SURF SCOTERS, a LONG-TAILED DUCK, 2 HORNED GREBES and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on December 3. A PINE WARBLER visited a feeder on private property in Perkasie.

At the Koch Property in Northampton County PURPLE FINCH numbers were on the rise this week. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was near Stone Church over the weekend, in the same area where Harris’s Sparrows had been noted in past years.

In Lancaster County, a first winter THAYER’S GULL roosted with other gulls at the South Spit of the Conejohela Flats, and other birds of interest there included a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and SNOW BUNTING. In Lebanon County, the Second Mountain Hawk Watch had COMMON RAVENS, NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and GOLDEN EAGLES this week. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK graced Second Mountain on Nov 30. On Nov 30, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from Follweiler Rd at Leaser Lake in Lehigh County. On December 1, 2 adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at Kunkles Mill Rd, and a CACKLING GOOSE and TUNDRA SWAN were at the Foglesville Quarry. On December 2, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR and 3 SNOW BUNTINGS were with over 500 HORNED LARKS in the area of Smith Lane.

Recent reports from Lake Ontelaunee in Berks County included 2 COMMON LOONS and 2 HORNED GREBES. An immature light phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at the gamelands at Blue Marsh Lake Park along Route 183 just south of Bernville. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported 3 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on Nov 29. On December 1, the Sanctuary reported 6 GOLDEN EAGLES, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 750 TUNDRA SWANS. Hawk Mountain had 30 PURPLE FINCHES 3 BALD and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES on December 4, and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES on the day before.

The male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at David Troyer's feeders in Juniata County was most recently reported on December 6. To reach the property from Route 22/322, take the Mifflintown/McAlisterville Exit for Route 35. Head north into the small village of Oakland Mills and turn left onto Oakland Rd. You will see signs for the Lost Creek Shoe Shop, which is the Troyers’ business. Once on Oakland Rd go less than a mile and pull into the Shoe Shop parking lot on the left. Across the road will be two driveways, and the one on the left belongs to David Troyer. DO NOT PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY, as you will likely spook the bird. Walk up the driveway, and the feeders will be on the far left. The Troyers request that you stay as far to the right of the house and driveway as possible, walk back around the house and look from the other side of the house. The Troyers have kindly given permission for Sunday visits, but please respect their privacy if they do not come out of the house. The Troyers also request that visitors sign their sign-in book. You can stop in the shoe store for updates.

*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***

Paul Guris will lead the Hudson Shelf Valley CBC on Jan 4, 2008. The field trip is presented by the DVOC and See Life Paulagics, and will sail out of Belmar, NJ at 8:00am to explore the underwater trench called the Hudson Shelf Valley that extends from near shore all the way to the Hudson Canyon. The trip returns to port around 4:00pm. Target species include Razorbill, Common Murre, Dovekie, Atlantic Puffin, Black-legged Kittiwake, Iceland Gull and Northern Gannet. The trip will cost $90 with an optional $5 CBC Fee. Additional information is available at the DVOC website http://www.dvoc.org and the See Life Paulagics website http://www.paulagics.com

The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday December 20 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Mike Freiberg of Nikon Sport Optics will likely present information related to his studies of a Manakin species in Brazil. The Ornithological Study will feature Adrian Binns’s “Separating Hooded and Altamira Orioles in the Rio Grande Valley.” Details are on the website, and guests are welcome.

See Life Paulagics presents a pelagic out of Lewes, DE on December 8, and 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

The Delaware Birding Trail map is being distributed throughout the state of Delaware. The official public unveiling, the “Bird the Trail” Premier Event will take place at 1:00pm on Saturday December 8 at Bombay Hook NWR. There are contests and prizes for those who have birded at the Delaware Birding Trail localities and submit some form of record of their birding activities. Entries must be received at the Bombay Hook Visitor Center by 11:30am on December 8, and the winners will be announced during the premier gala beginning at 1pm. Please feel free to contact either Jeff Gordon (302/388-4444) or Bill Stewart (610/864-0370) for more information.

‘Tis the season for Christmas Bird Counts. Consider joining a count and contributing to this massive citizen scientist project. A list of the Christmas Bird Counts in the Delaware Valley with contact information for the counts’ compilers is available at http://www.dvoc.org/ChristmasCounts/2007Counts.htm

The Delmarva Ornithological Society (DOS) is asking birders to post winter American Kestrel sightings in the state of Delaware. This marks the club’s second year of mapping winter sightings from November 15 to Mar 15. Last year nearly 150 reports were mapped. Please use the web site www.dosbirds.org and the user-friendly map tool to locate and document your sightings.

In Pennsylvania, Scott Weidensaul would like to be immediately contacted about potential vagrant hummingbirds at feeders this fall, so that these birds can be trapped, identified and banded. Scott can be reached at [email protected] or (570) 739-2874. Remember to leave your hummingbird feeders up for these late arrivals.

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.

On this page....

• Submission Guidelines
• What is the "Delaware Valley"?

Links

• Daily Field Checklist (A handy pocket list for your daily adventures. Available to everyone courtesy of the DVOC)
• Delaware Valley Birding Checklist (A major publication covering status and distribution of Delaware Valley birds. Available to everyone courtesy of the DVOC)

General Guidelines for Submission

- Rarities
- Good concentrations (e.g. 8 sp. of shorebirds at Green Lane)
- High numbers (e.g. 2,000 Common Mergansers at Peace Valley)
- Early/late occurrences (1st Indigo Bunting, lingering Phoebe)
- Unusual breeders
- BRIEF report on out of area mega rarities(e.g. Red-footed Falcon or even a stint in MA)
- Announcements (DVOC meetings and field trips, Academy events, CBC dates and pelagics!)

 

 

 

 

 

What is the Delaware Valley?

The Delaware Valley is the name given to the region that lays on either side of the Delaware River, centered on Philadelphia. This consists of southeastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey and the state of Delaware.
The following counties fall within our boundaries.
(Click on a county name for information specific to the county)

In Pennsylvania;
Berks County
Bucks County
Chester County
Delaware County
Lancaster County
Lebanon County
Lehigh County
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Philadelphia County
Schuykill County

In New Jersey;
Atlantic County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Gloucester County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Northampton County
Ocean County
Salem County
Somerset County
Warren County

In Delaware;
New Castle County
Kent County
Sussex County