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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, January 3, 2008 1:01 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday December
20, 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 - December 20, 2007
- Birds Mentioned Pacific
Loon + 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 DECEMBER 20, 2007 we highlight reports of Long-billed Murrelet, Pacific Loon, Barnacle Goose, Common Teal, Ash-throated and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Cave Swallow, Townsend’s Solitaire, Bohemian Waxwing and Bullock’s Oriole. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: Extralimital: New York Virginia For New Jersey: Highlights from the Cape May County CBC on December 16 included 3 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS: one at Higbee Beach WMA, one at Cape May NWR property near Green Creek, and the long-staying Cape Island Creek bird near West Cape May. A map with the Cape Island Creek location is available at http://www.birdcapemay.org at the “View from the Cape” webpage. A fourth ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was discovered on December 18 in West Cape May along State St and 5th and 6th Avenues a block east of Rea's Farm (The Beanery). The Cape May BARNACLE GOOSE was at the fields at Batt’s Lane for the CBC, and a PRAIRIE WARBLER was near Dias Creek. A DOVEKIE stayed for hours at the jetties at the mouth of Cape May Harbor that day. Additional highlights from the CBC included 4 KING EIDERS, COMMON EIDERS, NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS, SEDGE WREN, a NASHVILLE and 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 13 SALTMARSH and 7 NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, COMMON REDPOLLS, LAPLAND LONGSPUR and RED CROSSBILL. Several RAZORBILLS were noted during the count week for the CBC, and a PACIFIC LOON was seen from the Avalon Sea Watch on December 14. A COMMON EIDER and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER were at Cape May Point State Park on December 14, when RED CROSSBILLS, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and a COMMON REDPOLL flew by the point. Two CAVE SWALLOWS flew by the State Park the day before. On December 18, Cape May Point State Parkk had NORTHERN GOSHAWK, COMMON REDPOLL, AMERICAN PIPITS, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SNOW BUNTINGS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, ORANGE-CROWNED and PALM WARBLERS. A KING EIDER was with COMMON EIDERS at the Coast Guard Base on December 14. The immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was still at the Cape May Bird Observatory’s Center for Research and Education in Goshen through the weekend. In Monmouth County, the Sandy Hook TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was seen through December 19. The bird has been seen at “the road to nowhere” north of the maintenance building at the end of Randolph St and the rusty barn at the scout camp. The WESTERN KINGBIRD was at the end of Fisherman’s Trail through December 15. Two NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen for that CBC, one at Fisherman’s Trail and another in Belford. The Sandy Hook CBC also noted a SHORT-EARED OWL hunting the dunes and a LINCOLN’S SPARROW. On December 19, there were 8-10 RED CROSSBILLS in the scout camp parking lot. Ocean County’s Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had PURPLE SANDPIPERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, a SNOW BUNTING and over 40 COMMON EIDERS as recently as December 19. A distant SHORT-EARED OWL was at Cedar Run Dock Rd on December 16. A probable SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen briefly near the intersection of Cottage Ave and Clay St in Millville, Cumberland County. On December 17, Salem County had 2 immature LITTLE BLUE HERONS at Hancock’s Bridge Rd, and Stow Neck Rd had 14 AMERICAN PIPITS. On December 15-16, two LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at the Boat Launch Area of Spruce Run State Park in Hunterdon County, and an ICELAND GULL was there on December 16. A BARNACLE GOOSE was at Califon on December 18; it and a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Round Valley Recreation Area were counted on the Hunterdon CBC. Assiscong Marsh had a CACKLING GOOSE on December 18, and a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL flew over the Amwell Lake area that day. For Delaware: At the Route 9 entrance to Dragon Run Park, a male WILSON’S WARBLER was observed near the fire station on December 18, and at the park there were GREAT EGRETS and COMMON GOLDENEYE. In the area of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal there were 4 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS calling before dawn, a MARSH WREN, PURPLE FINCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and 3 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. A CLAPPER RAIL called from the north side of Reedy Point. Other reports included 5 WILSON’S SNIPE from Fort DuPont and a BARRED OWL calling from behind the Middletown Firehouse. Brandywine Creek State Park had BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and a CHIPPING SPARROW at the feeders. Other Brandywine birds included 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, PILEATED WOODPECKER and BALD EAGLES. Hoopes Reservoir had over 450 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 25 HOODED MERGANSERS and 4 BALD EAGLES. On December 15, Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County had a CACKLING GOOSE at Shearness Pool, and 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS at Raymond Pool. There were still at least 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the refuge by the end of the week, and 7 BALD EAGLES were at Shearness Pool, including 5 in a tree. On December 18, there was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at Bombay Hook, and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS flew over the marsh at Port Mahon Road. The large HORNED LARK flock persists at Cartanza Rd, and some SNOW BUNTINGS were with the larks on December 18. In Sussex
County, the SNOW BUNTING flock at Cape
Henlopen State Parkhad grown to approximately 75 birds on the beach
just north of the dunes near the point tip. Other birds in the area included
6 HORNED GREBES and BONAPARTE’S GULLS. At Abbotts
Mill Nature Centerr, an EASTERN PHOEBE has been seen at the tail race
at the mill and the nearby swamp forest and boardwalk. The big news this week for Pennsylvania was a first state record LONG-BILLED MURRELET that was seen swimming between the fishing pier and the marina at Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County on December 14. Unfortunately, the bird was not seen after that day. An ICELAND GULL and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the park through the week. Additional reports from Nockamixon over the weekend included GOLDEN EAGLE, BONAPARTE’S GULL, COMMON GOLDENEYES, HORNED GREBE and COMMON REDPOLL. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at the marina at Nockamixon on December 18, and another was nearby at Buck and Sweet Briar Roads in Bedminster Twp. Peace Valley Park continued to host BALD EAGLES and around 850 COMMON MERGANSERS. The Lower Bucks CBC had EURASIAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, ICELAND GULLS, 75 REDPOLLS at Pennsbury Manor State Park and 21 COMMON GOLDENEYES at the Morrisville Levee. On December 18, sixteen flyby COMMON REDPOLLS were noted on a morning walk at the Perkasie hike and bike along the Perkiomen River, and another was perched near the bridge over the creek at the Kulp Playground. An ICELAND GULL was spotted at the Tullytown Landfill on December 19. Sightings of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS in Bucks County this week came from Nockamixon, Peace Valley, Falls Township Community Park and the Tullytown Landfill. On December 15, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County had a COMMON TEAL aka EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL in the last cove of the Haul Rd side of the impoundment. On December 19, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK flushed from the fields at the refuge. A possible taverneri subspecies CACKLING GOOSE was at FDR Park on December 19. A SANDHILL CRANE flew over Stenton Ave near Erdenheim Farm in Montgomery County after flying NW from Philadelphia. Two RED CROSSBILLS flew over the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust in Abington on December 20. The NORTHERN SHRIKE at Delaware County’s Darlington Tract was most recently reported on December 19. Recently, the SHRIKE was seen from Darlington Rd and from the path just after the Rooster Tail Farm sign. 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 had frequented in the past. On December 15, thirty COMMON REDPOLLS were found at Johnson Park in Trainer, and 2 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS put in a brief appearance near the Route 3 entrance to Ridley Creek State Park. The Koch Property in Northampton County reported COMMON REDPOLLS at the feeders on December 16. On December 18, forty PINE SISKINS were at a feeder in Washington Twp, and Bear Swamp County Park had 6 COMMON REDPOLLS and a RED CROSSBILL. On December 20, a COMMON RAVEN circled over Bethlehem. Lebanon County’s Second Mountain Hawk Watch had 3 GOLDEN EAGLES on December 14, and the next day a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew past. In Lehigh County, the Allentown CBC had a PALM WARBLER and first year NORTHERN SHRIKE along Willow Rd west of Brookside in Lower Macungie Twp on December 15. The ponds at the Greenfield Corporate Center in Lancaster County had 6 CACKLING GEESE and possible interior subspecies of CANADA GEESE on December 15, and 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Greenfield Pond near the Greenfield Rd exit off Route 30 on December 18. On December 16, the Southern Lancaster County CBC had BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 4 CACKLING GEESE, ROSS’S GOOSE and LONG-EARED OWL at Octoraro Lake, a RED-THROATED LOON and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the Susquehanna, and 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS along PA 272 between Little Britain and Wakefield. On December 14, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County reported a GOLDEN EAGLE, 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 5 SNOW BUNTINGS, 10 COMMON REDPOLLS and 21 PURPLE FINCHES. The next day, another GOLDEN EAGLE was sighted along with 40 BRANT and 5 REDPOLLS. On December 17, seven GOLDEN EAGLES flew past Hawk Mountain. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Blue Marsh Lake on December 19. An extralimital BOHEMIAN WAXWING was found on
private property in Monroe County on December 16. The extralimital male
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at David Troyer's feeders in Juniata County was most
recently reported on December 17. 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 *** 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. 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 The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday December 20 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Rob Fergus will present “What Is It Like to Be a Bird? How Birds See the World.” 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. ‘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. 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