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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:28 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday February
14, 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 - February 14, 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 For February 14, 2008 we highlight reports of BARNACLE GOOSE, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE and BOHEMIAN WAXWING For New Jersey: On February 10, a DOVEKIE was seen at Cape May County’s Sunset Beach, and the BARNACLE GOOSE was at Lily Lake. Three RAZORBILLS were noted in NJ waters from the Cape May/Lewes Ferry that day as well. On February 9, five COMMON EIDERS were seen from Cape May Point. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was at Cape May Point State Park on February 9, and 3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were there the previous day. The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was still at Higbee Beach WMA on February 8, while the Villas WMA had REDHEAD and CANVASBACK. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was at Cold Spring Inlet on February 8. That day, birding Woodbine’s Stipson Island Rd produced a flyby LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS. Jake's Landing continued to host 3-4 SHORT-EARED OWLS through February 9, and 2 NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were seen there on Saturday. Over 60 RED KNOTS were reported from Hereford Inlet, and a hen COMMON EIDER was opposite the parking lot at Stone Harbor Point on February 9. In Cumberland County, a SHORT-EARED OWL and a LONG-EARED OWL were noted from Turkey Point WMA on February 8. On February 10, a subadult GOLDEN EAGLE was seen from the end of Turkey Point Rd and Beaver Dam Boat Rental. In Atlantic County on February 9, the Corbin City section of Tuckahoe WMA had dark and light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. In Ocean County on February 9, a RAZORBILL was seen in Barnegat Inlet just north of the lighthouse at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park , and two others flew past at the end of the jetty. Over 47 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 75 PURPLE SANDPIPERS and 40 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were also reported from Barnegat. In Monmouth County, recent sightings from the North Shore revealed a EURASIAN WIGEON at Sylvan Lake and Belmar’s Silver Lake, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Lake Takanassee, and 2 RAZORBILLS, a BLACK-HEADED GULL, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and PURPLE SANDPIPERS at Manasquan Inlet. At least one BOHEMIAN WAXWING was still at Sandy Hook through February 10, when it was south of the Scout Camp near the Halyburton Memorial Feb. The TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE continues to be seen at the maintenance yard at the end of Randolph Dr. The SOLITAIRE was reported as recently as February 9. Sandy Hook had RAZORBILLS off D-Lot and the North Beach Pavillion on February 9, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at North Beach as well. Two MERLINS continue to roost at the holly forest near the access for Batteries Kingman/Mills, and can frequently be seen on telephone poles in that area. On February 7, over 30 COMMON REDPOLLS foraged in white birches on the trail parallel to the river at Amico Island in Delran, Burlington County; 155 CANVASBACKS and 2 COMMON GOLDENEYES were reported from that area the next day. In Hunterdon
County, the BARNACLE GOOSE was at Echo Hill Farm on the north side
of Route 513 north of Califon on February 9 and was on Califon Pond on
February 11. A COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder in Tewksbury. Assiscong
Marsh had 3 pairs of LONG-TAILED DUCKS on February 8. Spruce Run Reservoir
had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, ICELAND GULL and CACKLING GOOSE on February
10. For Delaware: In New Castle County, Ashland Nature Center had a WINTER WREN and 12 PURPLE FINCHES on February 7. On February 8, Middle Run Natural Area had HERMIT THRUSHES and PILEATED WOODPECKERS. That day, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were reported from Coverdale Farm on Way Rd and from the intersection of Brackenville Rd and Limestone Rd. On February 9, a DVOC field trip around Northern DE saw a RED-THROATED LOON, GREAT CORMORANTS and a pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS from the end of Clinton St in Delaware City. The trip also reported a hen COMMON GOLDENEYE and BALD EAGLE from Dragon Run Park. The field trip noted FOX SPARROWS and a GREAT HORNED OWL at Fort DuPont State Park, as well as a CACKLING GOOSE at Dutch Neck Rd. In Kent County, a EURASIAN WIGEON was found at the North Pond of Ted Harvey Wildlife Area on February 10. Over 200 TUNDRA SWANS were in the fields near the entrance to Bombay Hook NWR on February 12, and SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Port Mahon Road that day. In Sussex County, Abbotts Mill Nature Center had WINTER WREN, BARRED OWL, EASTERN PHOEBE, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, HERMIT THRUSH and PURPLE FINCHES. Recent sightings from the Milford Mill Ponds included TUNDRA SWANS and a COMMON GOLDENEYE. A PALM WARBLER was at the intersection of Lindale and Abbott’s Pond Rd. A “Poor Man’s Pelagic” on the Cape May/Lewes Ferry afforded views of 11 RAZORBILLS in Delaware waters along with a MURRE Sp seen very close to the ferry. Assawoman SWA had 6 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS on February 11. All three SCOTER species were seen from Bethany Beach lookout on Monday. On February 11, eight RED CROSSBILLS were near the entrance to Cape Henlopen State Parkk. A REDHEAD was at Gordon’s Pond on February 10. That day, Prime Hook NWR had a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with the snow geese opposite Prime Hook Dr off of Route 1. For Pennsylvania: At the edge of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PINE SISKINS have been frequenting a feeder at a private residence. On February 10, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL and its cached Northern Cardinal were found at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum. In Montgomery County, Norristown River Front Park continued to host a hen BLUE-WINGED TEAL through February 9. The Church Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir had a CACKLING GOOSE on February 10, and a nearby private residence had a PINE SISKIN that day. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen over the weekend in West Chester, Chester County. A flock of 10 COMMON REDPOLLS flew over Devon on February 8, and another REDPOLL visited a feeder in Uwchlan Township. In Bucks County, Churchville Nature Center (see also) reported ICELAND and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Recent sightings from Peace Valley Parkincluded ICELAND GULL, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 3 CACKLING GEESE, TUNDRA SWAN, 3 BALD EAGLES, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, WILD TURKEY, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and PURPLE FINCH. Nearly 2,000 COMMON MERGANSERS were on Lake Galena on February 9. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Magnolia Lake near the intersection of Lakeland Ave and Bath Rd on February 10. On February 11, three LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a BALD EAGLE were at Core Creek Park. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen near the intersection of Route 33 and Freemansburg Ave in Northampton County. A probable ROSS’S GOOSE was at the Koch Property on February 8. At PPL Martins Creek there were 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS and a GLAUCOUS GULL on February 9. Birds at Echo Lake on February 10 included 4 COMMON GOLDENEYES and CACKLING GOOSE; while Lake Minsi had 29 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, COMMON LOON, 5 BONAPARTE’S GULLS and 2 ICELAND GULLS. A possible COMMON MOORHEN was seen at Longs Park in Lancaster County on February 9. Four SHORT-EARED OWLS patrolled Hopeland Rd at Middle Creek WMA through February 10. The February 11 PA Game Commission report noted 3,000 TUNDRA SWANS at Middle Creek WMA. A REDHEAD was on Marquette Lake in Lebanon County through February 9, and a MERLIN was at Stoever’s Dam on February 7. On February 9, a CACKLING GOOSE was on Helfrich Springs duck pond in Lehigh County. A corn stubble field along Church Rd north of Mountain Rd had SNOW BUNTING, RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 100 HORNED LARKS that day. A flock of 8 COMMON REDPOLLS was in the Lehigh Gap area on February 10. In Berks County, two COMMON RAVENS flew over Hottenstein Rd near Kutztown, Berks County on February 10. A home in Boyertown is hosting PINE SISKINS, with 17 SISKINS noted on February 10. An extralimital LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was reported from the intersection of Pumping Station Rd and Cunningham Rd just outside of Gettysburg in Adams County on February 8. EXTRALIMITAL: MARYLAND: A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL has been visiting a feeder in Silver Springs with some regularity through February 10. The CROSSBILL can be seen from Sligo Creek Pkwy slightly less than a quarter mile west of Colesville Rd. Parking is not permitted on that stretch of the Parkway. NEW YORK: The Ithaca SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen at Stewart Park and the Cornell University compost pile at Stevenson Rd as recently as February 12. The first year male SCOTT’S ORIOLE continued to be seen in midtown Manhattan’s Union Square Park through February 8. 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. The Montauk PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was in a field south of Montauk Highway on February 9 and at Rita’s Stables the next day. Another PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was on Stony Brook Mill Pond bordered by Avalon Preserve in Stony Brook, Suffolk County through February 12. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On February 16, Martin Selzer will lead a joint field trip for the DVOC and Wyncote Audubon. The trip will visit Indian River Inlet and Points North in Delaware for waterfowl, gulls, seabirds and other winter species. The field trip will meet at the parking lot at the north side of Indian River Inlet at 9:00AM. There is no field trip fee, and non-members are welcome. Dress for the weather and pack your scope and a lunch. Please contact Martin Selzer 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 21 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Mary Gustafson will present “TexMex Birds.” The meeting’s Ornithological Study will be the presentation of the 2007 DVOC Conservation Award. Details are on the website, and guests are welcome. See Life Paulagics is running pelagic trips in the Delaware Valley region, with a trip out of Lewes, DE scheduled for Saturday February 23 and another out of Cape May, NJ for Mar 16. This is a prime time of year for finding Dovekies. There have already been multiple sightings from shore across the region this winter, and over 100 Dovekies were tallied on a trip out Freeport, NY on February 3. 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