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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
31, 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 31, 2007
- Birds Mentioned Turkey Vulture 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 31, 2008 we highlight reports of BARNACLE GOOSE, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, BOHEMIAN WAXWING and PAINTED BUNTING. For New Jersey: In Cape May County, Jake's Landing had 3-4 SHORT-EARED OWLS on January 23 and 30, and one was seen at the north end of Reed’s Beach on January 28. The Villas WMA hosted a REDHEAD, 100 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS through January 23. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in full display in northern Cape May County. Lily Lake had 5 REDHEADS, a CANVASBACK and a BARNACLE GOOSE as recently as January 29. A flock of 50 SNOW BUNTINGS was on the beach at Cape May Point. On January 24, The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows) had a MERLIN and IPSWICH SPARROW. All three SCOTER species were seen from the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May NWR on January 29. On January 26, an OSPREY was at Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County, and 6 CANVASBACKS were there the previous day. A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Cedar Run Dock Rd on January 26. A Cape May Bird Observatory (CMBO) field trip to McNamara WMA in Tuckahoe enjoyed a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS and close looks at a VIRGINIA RAIL. Near Longport, a one-legged DOVEKIE was transported from the Margate Bridge to the waters below on January 30. The bird promptly swam towards the ocean. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County had HARLEQUIN DUCKS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS and TREE SWALLOWS. In Monmouth County, Sandy Hook had an ICELAND GULL on January 26. The area of North Beach had 40-50 SNOW BUNTINGS January 26-27. Three COMMON REDPOLLS were in the dune grass between North Beach and Fisherman’s Trail on January 27. A COMMON REDPOLL was on the trail north of Horseshoe Cove on January 26. On January 26, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was on Plum Island, and Spermaceti Cove had 2 CANVASBACKS and a REDHEAD. The TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was in the maintenance area off Randolph Rd through January 28. On January 26, three BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were on the bike path south of Guardian Park, and another was seen on the bike path north of the Scout Camp. Another sighting of 3 BOHEMIANS came from the bike path not far from the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory. On January 30, a RAZORBILL was noted from Lot B and Lot C at Sandy Hook. A smaller, lighter alcid that went unidentified was also seen from Lot B that day. On January 27, the Millpond in downtown Allentown had a CACKLING GOOSE, and over 20 REDHEADS were on the Shrewsbury River. An ICELAND GULL was on the beach a few jetties north of the Wreck Pond overlook on January 28. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen on a nearly frozen pond in Perrineville.
In Hunterdon
County, the Califon BARNACLE GOOSE has been seen on Califon Pond across
from the church parking lot on River Road. For Delaware: On January 24, Ashland Nature Center in New Castle County had a male PURPLE FINCH, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, a probable CACKLING GOOSE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, 2 WINTER WRENS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and BROWN CREEPER. Feeders at a property in Port Penn hosted 12 PURPLE FINCHES on January 29. Brandywine Creek State Park had PINE WARBLER, MERLIN, PURPLE FINCH and 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS this weekend. A female or hatch year male PAINTED BUNTING has been visiting feeders in Wilmington since January 12. Due to the location of the house that this bird is visiting, visitation will need to be arranged. More information and perhaps a phone number for the property owner will be made available on the Delaware Birds Listserve. SHORT-EARED OWLS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were seen from Port Mahon Road in Kent County on January 27, when Cartanza Rd had LAPLAND LONGSPURS in with the HORNED LARK flock. Bombay Hook NWR continues to host SHORT-EARED OWLS. One landed at Raymond dike at dusk, and another flew over the SE corner of Shearness Pool this weekend. Other notable weekend birds at the refuge included BARRED OWL at Finis Pool, 224 TUNDRA SWANS, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR at the entrance road. Back on January 20, AMERICAN AVOCET was reported from Bombay Hook. In Sussex County, Abbotts Mill Nature Center hosted RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and 4 PALM WARBLERS on January 28. There were AMERICAN PIPITS and HORNED LARKS at the entrance to the Sam Yoder Farm Store that day, and there were dozens of TUNDRA SWANS in the farm field at the intersection of Johnson Rd and Cubbage Pond Rd with 5 more at Griffith Lake. A BALD EAGLE was also in that area. At Prime Hook NWR, 250 TREE SWALLOWS were seen, including a flock of 211 swallows at Broadkill Beach Rd. On January 27, a flock of SNOW BUNTINGS and a NELSON’S GULL (Herring X Glaucous Gull hybrid) were at Fowler Beach, and an ICELAND GULL was north of the observation platform at Fowler Beach. Cape
Henlopen State Park had 150 SNOW BUNTINGS and 15 COMMON REDPOLLS at
the Point on January 27. That day, a mixed flock at the near the campground
auditorium area included FOX SPARROWS, PURPLE FINCHES, GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLETS, RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES. Melting freshwater
on the roads is attracting many of these birds. The campground area had
over ten RED CROSSBILLS on January 31. For Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia County, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum had 22 FOX SPARROWS and 3 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS on January 24. Marsh Creek Lake in Chester County hosted 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES and 3 CANVASBACKS on January 28. On January 27, Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust in Montgomery County had RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES near the visitor center, FOX SPARROWS and AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS at Creek Rd Trail, and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK near Raytharn Trail. Feeders at a property in Oreland have been attracting a BALTIMORE ORIOLE since Dec 26. Over 250 TURKEY VULTURES were at a field near the intersection of Moyer Rd and Old Morris Rd in Harleysville, PA. Another spectacle of winter birds was at Green Lane Reservoir on January 30, when hundreds of BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen from Walt Rd. Near Green Lane Reservoir, 60 PURPLE FINCHES and a COMMON REDPOLL have been at feeders on private property. In Bucks County, Warminster had 18 HORNED LARKS on lot #5 near Warminster Community Park. Churchville Nature Center (see also) reported LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, ICELAND GULL, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and HERMIT THRUSH. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was at the power line cut between Dark Hollow Rd and Smith Rd near Robin Run Reservoir on January 27. Core Creek Park had a CACKLING GOOSE on January 26. A flock of 5 WILD TURKEYS was seen along Bridgetown Pike near the Breezy Point Day School on January 26. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK has been regular around the Tohickon boat access at Nockamixon State Park, and 190 BONAPARTE’S GULLS were near the pier at the marina on January 30. Recent sightings from Peace Valley Park included CACKLING GOOSE, BALD EAGLES, COMMON GOLDENEYES, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, PURPLE FINCH and PILEATED WOODPECKER. Twenty HORNED LARKS flew across the road at Shady Brook Farm on January 28, and a pair of BALD EAGLES was at Core Creek Park on January 30. On January 23, two LONG-EARED OWLS were near the Tekening Hiking Trails of Martins Creek Environmental Preserve in Northampton County. On January 27, the fields of Washington Twp had 30 SNOW BUNTINGS and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS. A ROSS’S GOOSE was at Nazareth Quarry, and COMMON GOLDENEYES were on the Delaware River north of Easton on January 27. That day, WILD TURKEYS were at Lily Hill Rd and an immature dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Gravel Hill Rd. Dutch Springs had ICELAND and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on January 27. Also from Sunday, a LONG-EARED OWL was noted at an undisclosed location in the county, and a dozen COMMON REDPOLLS were at a private residence near Danielsville. An immature light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK has been frequenting the area of Hottenstein Rd just north of Route 222 outside of Kutztown, Berks County. This ROUGH-LEGGED has been seen there since January 12. Blue Marsh Lake Park had 300 COMMON MERGANSERS on January 30. On January 27, an adult male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was in a blackbird flock on Camargo Rd on the northern edge of Quarryville, Lancaster County, and another male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD with aberrant plumage was also seen in this location. A MERLIN was just west of Strasburg on Lime Valley Rd that day. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen in the fields near the Willow Point Trail at Middle Creek WMA on January 25. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at Leaser Lake in Lehigh County on January 26. On January 26, a flock of 200 COMMON REDPOLLS was on the DandL Trail north of the Lehigh Gap on the Carbon County side of Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge. A PEREGRINE FALCON was on a power line tower off Green Pond Rd as one heads towards Hecktown Rd. The extralimital Adams County LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
was seen from Pumping Station, outside of Gettysburg. The most recent
sighting was January 24. EXTRALIMITAL: MARYLAND: On January 26, a DOVEKIE was seen from behind the Oceanic Hotel in Ocean City. The DOVEKIE was in the inlet, on the near side of the far jetty. A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL has been sporadically visiting a feeder in Silver Springs on January 26-31. NEW YORK: A ROSS’S GULL was discovered at
Niagara Falls January 27-29; the south end of Terrapin Point has been
suggested as the best viewing area. The first year male SCOTT’S
ORIOLE continued to be seen in midtown Manhattan’s Union Square
Park through January 31. The ORIOLE has been seen near the bronze statue
of Mahatma Gandhi in the southwest corner of Union Square Park near the
corner of East 14th St and Union Square West, but at times is in the park
but slightly north of that location in the bare trees or the hollies.
The Montauk geese were seen on January 29, with the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE
at the north pasture of Deep Hollow and the BARNACLE GOOSE at the Horsefarm
south of Montauk Highway. A SNOWY OWL has been at Hobart Beach on Eaton
Neck in Northport as recently as January 26. The Ithaca SLATY-BACKED GULL
was seen at Stewart Park and the Cornell University compost pile at Stevenson
Rd through January 27. Nearby, a PACIFIC LOON and EARED GREBE were on
Cayuga Lake on January 27. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On February 3, Debbie Beer will lead a DVOC field trip to Roosevelt Park in Philadelphia for winter waterfowl. The field trip will meet at the parking lot on the south side of the main lake at 9:00AM. Afterwards the field trip will explore John Heinz NWR at Tinicum. Dress warmly and bring scopes and binoculars. There is no field trip fee, and non-members are welcome. The trip will be cancelled in case of rain or snow. Please contact Debbie Beer 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 February 7 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Nathan Gregory will present “Impacts of Controlled Fires and Traditional Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in Kenya.” Debbie Beer will present an Ornithological Study entitled “Sexing Bald Eagles.” 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 Feb 15 at 7:30pm at the Plymouth Meeting House at the intersection of Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, PA. The program will be “The Dry Tortugas” by Adrian Binns, and the program is free and open to the public. 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