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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
17, 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)
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| Current report - January 17, 2007
- Birds Mentioned 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 January 17, 2008 we highlight reports of BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, BULLOCK’S ORIOLE and PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. For New Jersey: On January 10, the flock of 50 SNOW BUNTINGS was still on the beach at Cape May Point State Park in Cape May County, and a COMMON EIDER was off Cold Spring Inlet. Lily Lake had a drake REDHEAD, and Sunset Beach hosted a NORTHERN GOSHAWK. There was a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows). Eighty RED KNOTS and 5 WESTERN WILLETS were on the sandbars in North Wildwood, and Jake’s Landing had 3-4 SHORT-EARED OWLS. On January 14, Stone Harbor Point revealed a COMMON EIDER and 20 SNOW BUNTINGS. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER called from Reed’s Beach Rd on January 16. In Atlantic County, Tuckahoe and Corbin City area had ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and SHORT-EARED OWLS this week. Tuckahoe WMA had a juvenile dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, TUNDRA SWANS and 25 TREE SWALLOWS on January 15. In Ocean County on January 10, Barnegat Lighthouse State Park had HARLEQUIN DUCKS, COMMON EIDER, PURPLE SANDPIPER and SNOW BUNTINGS. On January 16, there were HARLEQUIN DUCKS and TREE SWALLOWS at the park. In Monmouth County, the Sandy Hook TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was spotted near the maintenance buildings on January 12. Two BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were on either side of the road just past the northbound fork in the road by the lighthouse and another in the area around the lighthouse on January 12. Other BOHEMIANS were seen near the marine labs and along the north end of “Raccoon Alley,” the bike path between the scout camp and Guardian Park that day. Other BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in trees near the bathrooms at the back of the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory on January 13. Another was with a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS and robins around the lighthouse, and another was with a similar flock at the end of Randolph Rd. The BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen distantly from Batteries Kingman/Mills on January 12. A hen KING EIDER and 5 COMMON EIDERS were off lot C on January 12, and a similar grouping including a subadult drake KING EIDER was off lot B on January 13. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was at the back of Plum Island January 12-13, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was near Gunnison Lot on January 13. Thompson Park in Lincroft had a WESTERN KINGBIRD seen as recently as January 16 near the barn south of the Historical Services Building. The KINGBIRD has also been seen from the Marlu Lake parking lot and between the barn and the reservoir. Three REDHEADS were on Lake Takanassee on January 12. Following up on the Cumberland County SANDHILL CRANE flock at Husted Landing in Fairton, the apparent COMMON CRANE has been seen since its first discovery and those who have gotten good looks have not been able to see any signs of hybridization in the bird. The SANDHILL CRANES and SHORT-EARED OWLS in the area have also been seen recently. In Salem County, 28 TUNDRA SWANS were at Mannington Marsh on January 10. In Burlington County this weekend, the Whitesbog NORTHERN SHRIKE frequented the area around the reservoir closest to the village on the left. The SHRIKE was most recently reported on January 14. There were also 25 COMMON REDPOLLS between the last house and the first reservoir on January 13. A flock of 10 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE was on a small lake off Jackson Rd on the Burlington/Camden County border, just outside of Medford on Sunday. Birds seen from Rivers Edge Park and the Florence (see also) waterfront on January 16 included ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL and over 25 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and another GLAUCOUS was at a small pond alongside the Florence/Columbus Rd in Columbus. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in the Lower Mullica River area over the weekend. The Pole Farm at Mercer County Park NW had 5 SHORT-EARED OWLS on January 12. That day, a RED-NECKED GREBE was on the Delaware River just south of the Frenchtown Bridge in Hunterdon County. While in Warren County, Merrill Creek Reservoir had CACKLING GOOSE, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, LONG-TAILED DUCK and COMMON GOLDENEYE. For Delaware: In New Castle County, the ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at the Hockessin Athletic Club opposite the Hockessin Post Office was most recently reported on January 16. The bird has been in front of the second bridge, between the bridge and the swimming pool, or to the left of the big tree in the multiflora rose, moving around that general area. A WINTER WREN was also there recently. On January 10, a PALM WARBLER was also in this area, along the stretch of circular path that is farthest from the parking lot. At the Ashland Nature Center on January 10, there were 3 PURPLE FINCHES, 3 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. A BALD EAGLE was seen at the retention pond behind the Lowe’s at the Brandywine Town Center in Wilmington. On January 13, Bombay Hook NWR in Kent County continued to host SHORT-EARED OWLS, seen from the Shearness Pool Area. Other birds at Bombay Hook that day included an AMERICAN BITTERN at Shearness Pool, a WINTER WREN at Finis Pool and TUNDRA SWANS. Port Mahon Road is apparently passable for cars but in rough shape, the drive down allowed viewing of 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS on January 15. Cape Henlopen State Park in Sussex County had 11 COMMON REDPOLLS at the point on January 12; they were on the beach along with nearly 110 SNOW BUNTINGS. A MERLIN flew along the beach that day, and 2 PALM WARBLERS were found in a weedy patch NE of the parking lot. Meanwhile, to the NW, there were 2 IPSWICH SAVANNAH SPARROWS in some tangled bushes. About 75 SNOW BUNTINGS flew over the road south of the pilot house that day, and the view of the ocean provided NORTHERN GANNETS and RED-THROATED LOONS. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was on the bay side. The campgrounds on January 12, hosted at least 6 RED CROSSBILLS, PURPLE FINCH, RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES. Silver Lake in Rehoboth had 650 CANVASBACK and 75 RUDDY DUCKS on January 12. At high tide on January 12, along the southern saltmarsh edge of Indian River Inletthere were MARSH WREN, 4 SEASIDE SPARROWS, 2 SALTMARSH and 3 NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. Also that day, 75 BONAPARTE’S GULLS fished the rips, and a PURPLE SANDPIPER was on the north jetty. A COMMON EIDER was at the inlet January 12 and 15. On January 13, Prime Hook NWR had an adult ICELAND GULL and a NELSON’S (Glaucous X Herring) GULL just before Fowler Beach at the inlet. An IPSWICH SPARROW was at Fowler Beach on January 10. The headquarters area had TREE SWALLOWS and PURPLE FINCHES.
In Bucks County, the SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen again at the top of the Tullytown Landfill from Franklin’s Cove on January 16; LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, ICELAND GULLS, a GLAUCOUS GULL and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen there as well. Falls Township Community Park had GLAUCOUS and ICELAND GULLS that day. On January 12, Franklin’s Cove had an ICELAND GULL, and a COMMON GOLDENEYE was on Van Sciver Lake. On January 13, Nockamixon State Park hosted a NELSON’S GULL (hybrid Glaucous x Herring), 3 hybrid LESSER BLACK-BACKED X HERRING GULLS, 2 ICELAND GULLS and 230 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. The day before, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL called from Nockamixon State Parkk at the Tohickon Acess. Peace Valley Park reported COMMON GOLDENEYE, BALD EAGLES and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. The Churchville Nature Center (see also) had ICELAND GULL and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on January 12. Core Creek Park had a SNOW GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, 300 COMMON MERGANSERS, BALD EAGLE and a HERMIT THRUSH on January 14. On January 12, the slopes of Haycock revealed PILEATED and RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. An EASTERN PHOEBE was in Bedminster on January 12. A female and a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD and a male BREWER’S BLACKBIRD were found with a large blackbird flock three miles east of Gap on Paradise Rd in Chester County on January 15. The flock was about a mile from the Lancaster/Chester County line. In Northampton County on January 13, a CACKLING GOOSE was found at Heyer Mill Rd, and a juvenile dark morph ROSS’S GOOSE was at Nazareth Quarry. There were over 30 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Dutch Springs Quarry that day, and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were found at the Koch Property and Kaylor Rd. Also on January 13, Martin’s Creek Preserve had SHORT-EARED and LONG-EARED OWLS. On January 14, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was once again seen near the intersection of Pumping Station Rd and Cunningham Rd, outside of Gettysburg in Adams County. An abberant Carpodacus finch that may be a PURPLE FINSH hybrid or an erythristic PURPLE FINCH has been visiting a private feeder in Adams County as well. The extralimital male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at David
Troyer's feeders in Juniata County was most recently reported on January
16. 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 13. More information can be found at “The New
York Birding List” or “Metro Birding Briefs.” *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On January 19, Tom Reeves will lead a DVOC field trip to Conowingo Dam and Muddy Run, PA. Conowingo Dam in recent years has hosted a good concentration of Bald Eagles at this time of year, and Muddy Run, a Pennsylvania Power and Light Reservoir, will be explored for wintering waterfowl. The field trip will meet at 9:00am at Fisherman’s Park at Conowingo. There is no field trip fee, and both members and non-members are welcome. Please contact Tom Reeves if you plan on attending. Directions and contact information for the trip leader are 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 is running pelagic trips in the Delaware Valley region. On the schedule is a trip out of Freeport, NY on Sunday Feb 3, and a trip out of Lewes, DE on Saturday Feb 23. This is a prime time of year for finding Dovekies, and there have been multiple sighting from shore already this winter. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit them on the web at http://www.paulagics.com The second Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas kicks off this
year. Please consider taking part in this massive citizen science project
to study the map the distribution of birds breeding in Delaware and compare
the data with that gathered by the first Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas
from 20 years ago. For more information contact the BBA Coordinator, Anthony
Gonzon at [email protected] or (302)-653-2880. and also at: Additional resources can also be found at: http://www.dvoc.org/DelValBirding/DelawareBBA/Index.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. Wyncote Audubon Society will meet on Friday January 18 at 7:30pm at the Plymouth Meeting House at the intersection of Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The night’s program will be “The Pantanal” by photographer Andy Smith, and the program is free and open to the public. A Wyncote Audubon Society field trip to Cape May for seabirds and wintering waterfowl is scheduled for January 19. The meeting place is the Wawa parking lot at the intersection of Routes 47 and 347. Participants are advised to dress for the weather and bring lunch and scopes. The trip will be led by Cliff Hence, who can be contacted at 215-247-3559 or [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