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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:28 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday January
10, 2008
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 - January 10, 2007
- Birds Mentioned Eared
Grebe + Red-necked 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 January 10, 2008 we highlight reports of EARED GREBE, PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, BARNACLE GEESE, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, RED CROSSBILLS and EVENING GROSBEAK. For New Jersey: Cape May Point State Park in Cape May County had an ICELAND GULL on the beach on January 3. Cape May Point has hosted COMMON EIDERS and 30-40 SNOW BUNTINGS through the week. The view from the point included PURPLE SANDPIPERS on January 5. On January 6, a BARNACLE GOOSE circled The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows)and spent some time on Lily Lake. (Click Here to see pictures of this bird on Karl and Judy Lukens's website) On January 8, the BARNACLE GOOSE was at the field behind Strawberry Lane and later at the Batts Lane/No Frill Farms Field. A COMMON REDPOLL was near St Mary’s Jetty on Sunday, and, the day before, COMMON REDPOLLS flew over the Rea Farm. Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May NWR hosted a NASHVILLE WARBLER on January 7, and a DOVEKIE was off the tip of the south jetty at Cold Spring Inlet, where a GLAUCOUS GULL was also seen. The Villas WMA had a REDHEAD (Click Here to see pictures of this bird on Karl and Judy Lukens's website) and 3 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS on January 8. Jake’s Landing had a GOLDEN EAGLE on January 3 and 8, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS on January 3 and multiple SHORT-EARED OWLS. Reed’s Beach had WHITE-WINGED SCOTER on January 5 and PURPLE and WESTERN SANDPIPERS the next day. In Atlantic County, Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine hosted TUNDRA SWAN, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and SHORT-EARED OWL on January 3. A ROSS’S GOOSE and BARNACLE GOOSE were at the refuge on January 8. In Ocean County, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had a DOVEKIE heading out the inlet on January 6. Other birds at Barnegat Inlet this week included HARLEQUIN DUCKS, COMMON EIDERS, RED KNOT and PURPLE SANDPIPERS. Cedar Run Dock Rd had 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on January 8. In Monmouth County, Sandy Hook’s TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE was seen through January 8. The SOLITAIRE has been feeding along the “Road to Nowhere” north of the maintenance buildings at the east end of Randolph Dr and in the area of the maintenance buildings. Also on January 5, COMMON EIDERS were on the ocean off parking areas C and B, and KING EIDERS were seen in the area January 5 and 7. The hen BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was in the bay just south of the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory between the Nike Missile and the north side of Horseshoe Cove Marsh on January 5. On January 6, a BOHEMIAN WAXWING was found in a CEDAR WAXWING flock at the back of campfire site #2 in the Boy Scout Camp, and the next day another BOHEMIAN WAXWING sighting came from across the street from the Sandy Hook Day Care Center and just below the first parking lot for the Marine Science Labs. On January 7, two EARED GREBES were spotted from the end of the service road to Batteries Kingman/Mills, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen from the Spermaceti Cove boardwalk. The North Beach Pavilion and Gunnison Beach area have hosted flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS. Thompson Park in Holmdel had a WESTERN KINGBIRD seen from the Marlu Lake parking lot on January 6, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was also at the park. A REDHEAD was on Lake Takanassee on January 6. The pelagic CBC out of Belmar on January 4 found 2 BLACK-HEADED GULLS, 5 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, 5 RAZORBILLS, and 850 BONAPARTE’S GULLS. In Gloucester County, 3 PINE SISKINS were at the NW corner of the National Park dredge spoils area on January 8. In Burlington County, Florence (see also) had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. A flock of 125 CANVASBACKS has been on the Delaware River on the border of Riverton and Palmyra. The birds can be found by driving along Bank Ave from the Riverton Yacht Club, and 15 COMMON GOLDENEYES have been seen north of the tower used by roosting GREAT CORMORANTS. On January 5, a female EVENING GROSBEAK was found in Chatsworth. A NORTHERN SHRIKE has been seen for several days at Whitesbog, most recently seen on January 6. From the village, drive the road into the bogs; the SHRIKE was on a cross dike about a mile in. The Pole Farm at Mercer County Park NW had 4-6 SHORT-EARED OWLS January 5-6. In Hunterdon
County the Califon BARNACLE GOOSE was seen on the river on January
6. Assiscong
Marsh hosted 5 CACKLING GEESE and a HOUSE WREN on January 7. Owls
in the area have included LONG-EARED OWLS in Flemington, SHORT-EARED OWLS
in Whitehouse, and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL in the Ringoes area. On January
6-7, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was in fields seen as you turn onto Lord
Stirling Rd from South Maple approaching the Somerset Environmental Center
in Basking Ridge, Somerset
County. For Delaware: In New Castle County, the Wilmington CBC had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at the Hockessin Athletic Club opposite the Hockessin Post Office on January 5. The bird was in a weedy swale at the boardwalk bridge just down the swale from the large glassed-in portion of the building. This WARBLER was spotted again on January 7 and 9. Other notable sightings from the Wilmington Count included SHORT-EARED and LONG-EARED OWL, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, PINE WARBLER, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, CACKLING GOOSE, ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS. On January 8, a LONG-EARED OWL was found near the parking area at the DNERR Blackbird Component on Blackbird Landing Rd, and an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was perched on a fallen evergreen not far down the trail from the parking area. On January 6, Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County had as many as 8 SHORT-EARED OWLS seen from the dike roads: 5 east of and over the road at Raymond Pool and at least 3 over the road at Shearness or perching on posts along the embankments. On January 4 and 6, COMMON EIDERS were seen from Indian River Inlet in Sussex County, and a BLACK-HEADED GULL and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen there on January 6. The Fresh Ponds area had WILD TURKEY and a PALM WARBLER that day. Silver Lake in Rehobeth had a GREAT EGRET and good numbers of CANVASBACKS. Several RED CROSSBILLS were at the Cape Henlopen State Park campgrounds on Sunday, and COMMON EIDERS were seen along the inner breakwall. On January 6, there were COMMON EIDERS and 130 SNOW BUNTINGS at the point. Meanwhile, COMMON REDPOLLS called from Fort Miles and 6-8 RED CROSSBILLS flew over the campgrounds where BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were also noted. The Rehobeth Sewage Plant had a BLACK-HEADED GULL on January 4. The Sewage Plant Personnel would like to be informed of anyone birding there even if you are staying in the parking lot, so be sure to check in with the staff if you’re looking for gulls at the plant. Still in Sussex
County, Prime
Hook NWR had 3000 DUNLIN at the tidal flats at Bay Ave, Slaughter
Beach. Extraordinarily, a DOVEKIE was at Fowlers Beach on Sunday. The
DOVEKIE sat on the exposed mud at “Fowler Inlet,” a wash area
located just north of the Fowler Beach observation platform. Other birds
in the area of Fowlers Beach that day included an ICELAND GULL, a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW and an AMERICAN BITTERN. Deep Branch Rd hosted a first winter
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on January 6. The Milford CBC on January 5 noted
3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE near South Bowers, a RED CROSSBILL on Big
Stone Beach Rd, a SNOW BUNTING on the roof of the Slaughter Beach Firehouse,
and the count’s first PINE WARBLER. Other notable sightings from
the count included LONG-EARED OWL, SEDGE WREN and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH.
In Montgomery County, Green Lane Reservoir had PURPLE FINCHES, BALD EAGLES, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a CACKLING GOOSE on January 5. A MERLIN was perched on a pole at Pottstown’s Memorial Park on January 4, and an EASTERN PHOEBE was at Pottstown’s Riverfront Park on January 8. Five CANVASBACKS were on Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County on January 4. A small farm pond off PA-10 in Highland Twp had 3 CACKLING GEESE on January 4. The NORTHERN SHRIKE at Struble Lake was seen on January 5 and 7 at the peninsula near the dam breast on SW end of the lake. The Coatesville Reservoir had 4 CANVASBACKS on January 7. In Bucks
County, recent sightings from Peace
Valley Park
included COMMON GOLDENEYE, BALD EAGLES and PILEATED WOODPECKER. In Northampton County, COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at Bear Swamp on January 6. That day, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL visited the Koch Property. On January 7, there were 75 SNOW BUNTINGS at Graver’s Hill. In Lancaster County on January 4, a SNOW BUNTING and LAPLAND LONGSPUR were with HORNED LARKS at the intersection of Musser School Rd and S Groffdale Rd in Upper Leacock Twp. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found on the trail behind the visitor center at Middle Creek WMA on January 5. The bird was in a hedgerow about a half mile from the visitor center. Hundreds of TUNDRA SWANS were also at Middle Creek that day. On January 6, a VESPER SPARROW was located along Umbletown Rd just west of Hoffmeier Rd near a fence separating a horse pasture from a cow pasture. On January 9, a LONG-TAILED DUCK called from the river near Conowingo Pond. COMMON REDPOLLS were at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Lehigh County on January 4 and were seen from the Osprey House on January 6. In Berks County, Blue Marsh had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on January 5. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew by Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on January 3. The extralimital male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at David Troyer's feeders in Juniata County was most recently reported on January 10. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PINE SISKINS and a COMMON REDPOLL have also been seen in the area. 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. EXTRALIMITAL: New York The Montauk PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was most recently
reported on January 7. More information can be found at “The New
York Birding List” or “Metro Birding Briefs.” *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On January 12, Keith Russell coordinates the Philadelphia Mid-winter Bird Census for Philadelphia County. Keith can use all the help he can get to census Philadelphia’s overwintering birds. The format is similar to a Christmas Bird Count, and teams of birders will divide Philadelphia into territories for census purposes. If you can help out, please contact Keith Russell. More information about the census and Keith’s contact information are available on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday January 17 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Jeffrey Hall will present “Birds on the Rocks (Seabirds in the Canadian Maritime).” Frank Windfelder will present an Ornithological Study entitled “Black-capped vs. Carolina Chickadees: How Can You Really Tell?” Details are on the website, and guests are welcome. See Life Paulagics are running pelagic trips in the Delaware Valley region. On the schedule is a trip out of Freeport, NY on Feb 3, and a trip out of Lewes, DE on Feb 23. Details can be found at http://www.paulagics.com 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