DVOC Main Page >
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:28 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday February
28, 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 28, 2007 - Birds Mentioned Red-throated Loon 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 February 28, 2008 we highlight reports of EARED GREBE, BARNACLE GOOSE, PRAIRIE FALCON, SANDHILL CRANE, TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and PINE GROSBEAK. For New Jersey: In Cape May County, the BARNACLE GOOSE was at Lily Lake and The Nature Conservancy Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge (The Meadows) that day. An adult BLACK-HEADED GULL was at the Cape May/Lewes Ferry as well. Sunset Beach had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on February 26. A GOLDEN EAGLE and SHORT-EARED OWL were seen from Hansey Creek Rd in Cumberland County on February 21. At Atlantic County’s Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine a EURASIAN WIGEON was seen in the west pool from the dog-leg on February 24. SHORT-EARED OWLS hunted the east pool on February 23 and 25. Other recent reports from Brigantine included EASTERN PHOEBE, HORNED GREBES and TUNDRA SWANS. Brigantine Island had 18 WESTERN WILLETS and 2 MARBLED GODWITS on February 24. The municipal park in Harvey Cedars had a COMMON GOLDENEYE on Saturday. On February 24, Lake’s Bay had over 60 HORNED GREBES, and Tuckahoe WMA had TUNDRA SWANS. A PINE GROSBEAK put in an appearance at feeders in Port Republic on February 22. On February 24, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, PURPLE SANDPIPERS and HARLEQUIN DUCKS were found at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County. That day, 3 COMMON EIDERS and a RAZORBILL were seen off the north jetty as well. Cedar Run Dock Rd had 1-2 SHORT-EARED OWLS on Sunday, and 3-4 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at Mott’s Creek on Saturday. In Monmouth County, the Sandy Hook TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was most recently reported through February 25 at the maintenance yard at the end of Randolph Dr. Sandy Hook continued to host BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS through February 21. One was seen from Raccoon Alley on February 21. A flock of 45 SNOW BUNTINGS was at North Beach on Sunday. A probable EARED GREBE, RAZORBILLS and over 40 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were noted at Manasquan Inlet on February 23. On February 23, there was a RED-NECKED GREBE at Lake Como, a EURASIAN WIGEON at Belmar’s Silver Lake and an AMERICAN PIPIT on the beach off Corlies Ave in Allenhurst. Five REDHEADS were on Dallenbach Lake in East Brunswich, Middlesex County. Plainsboro Preserve had 6 COMMON REDPOLLS on February 28. On February 24, two TRUMPETER SWANS were seen on Farrington Lake from East Brunswick’s Bicentennial Park. LONG-EARED OWLS were noted in Mercer County on February 21. In Hunterdon County, Spruce Run Reservoir hosted an ICELAND GULL on February 23. On February 26, Demott’s Pond had a hen REDHEAD, and 2 other REDHEADS were at the swimming area of Round Valley Reservoir. That day, Spruce Run Reservoir had a drake COMMON GOLDENEYE. On February 23, LAPLAND LONGSPURS were at Oberly Rd in Alpha, Warren County. For Delaware: In New Castle County, a SANDHILL CRANE has been frequenting fields south of the town of Taylors Bridge in an area bordered by Walker School Rd (the first right off Route 9 south of Taylors Bridge), Eagle Nest Landing Rd, Paddock Rd and Route 9. The CRANE has been seen off and on there since last Autumn. All the property is privately owned and posted, so bird only from the roads. Traffic is usually light in this area, but be respectful of the landowners in where you choose to park. On February 21 and 25, the SANDHILL CRANE was in a field with a pond on Sawmill Branch Rd between Route 9 and Walker School Rd. The CRANE was seen from Walker School Rd between Sawmill Branch Rd and Eagles Nest Landing on February 24. On February 25-26, it was near the intersection of Walker School Rd and Eagles Nest Landing. On February 26, the CRANE also visited a field between Eagles Nest Landing Rd and Gardner Rd on Walker School Rd. Elsewhere in the county, 8 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS fed outside the park office at Bellevue State Park in Wilmington on February 21. Nearly 600 TUNDRA SWANS were seen in a field off Route 9 on February 24. In Kent County on February 24, a PEREGRINE FALCON hunted around Port Mahon Rd, and a SHORT-EARED OWL was also noted there. Ted Harvey WA had 50,000 SNOW GEESE and CANVASBACKS on the bayside. The breakers at Kitts Hummock had 4 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS that day, and two were still there on February 25. In Sussex County, 3 CHIPPING SPARROWS were at the Abbotts Mill Nature Center feeders. The juvenile RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Prime Hook NWR’s Deep Branch Rd on February 24. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were noted at Cape Henlopen State Park on February 24. The February 23 pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE
had 11 NORTHERN FULMARS, a KILLDEER, 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 3 BLACK-LEGGED
KITTIWAKES, 87 DOVEKIES, 15 RAZORBILLS, 2 ATLANTIC PUFFINS (though both
in MD waters) and a possible EUROPEAN HERRING GULL. For Pennsylvania: On February 21, FDR Park in Philadelphia County had 40 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was in a Philadelphia front yard, and WOODCOCKS were noted atJohn Heinz NWR at Tinicum on February 23. In Chester County, Chambers Lake in Hibernia County Park had 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, HORNED GREBE and 2 CANVASBACKS on February 24. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was on private property that day. In Montgomery County this weekend, Green Lane Reservoir Park had PURPLE FINCHES at the Nature Center feeders, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS throughout the park and a BALD EAGLE on its nest at the Walt Rd area. A PINE SISKIN visited feeders near Green Lane through February 23. A MERLIN was on a telephone pole at King St near the Manatawny Creek bridge, and an EASTERN PHOEBE was at Pottstown Riverfront Park on February 23. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE has been visiting feeders in Oreland. In Bucks County on February 24, 5 SNOW BUNTINGS were in the parking lots south of lot 5 near Warminster Community Park, and 17 HORNED LARKS were in the park’s parking lot. At Maple Knoll Farms, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was noted with HORNED LARKS in a field with newly spread manure at 5388 Ridge Rd in Buckingham Twp. On February 18, a wetland behind the Buckingham Municipal Building had a MARSH WREN. On February 25, Silver Lake Nature Center had RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 13 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Recent reports from Peace Valley included COMMON GOLDENEYE, thousands of COMMON MERGANSERS, BALD EAGLES, ICELAND GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PURPLE FINCHES. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was at the Kelly Tract of Churchville Nature Center (see also) on February 28. In Northampton County, 37 PINE SISKINS were at a feeder on February 23. BARRED OWLS called at Bear Swamp County Park on February 24. That day, Lake Minsi had an ICELAND GULL and 17 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and Echo Lake had 2 REDHEADS. On February 24, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK perched at Gravel Hill Rd, and Martins Creek Preserve had WILD TURKEYS, a LONG-EARED OWL and a PEREGRINE FALCON on its nest. In Portland, there were COMMON GOLDENEYES, BALD EAGLES and PURPLE FINCHES. At Graver’s Arboretum, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and PILEATED WOODPECKER were reported on February 24. That day, 2 SNOW BUNTINGS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR were at Graver’s Hill. COMMON REDPOLLS were at a feeder in Danielsville on Saturday, and SHORT-EARED OWLS were noted at a field on private property. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Dutch Springs Quarry on February 24, and an EASTERN PHOEBE was at the Bethlehem Boat Club. In Schuykill County, 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen at the Mabel/Weishample fields, and the fields at Kehler had HORNED LARKS and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR. COMMON REDPOLLS visited various feeders in Berks County February 25-27. On February 24-25, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen just past the Willow Point Viewing Area of Middle Creek WMAin Lancaster County. Middle Creek continued to host SHORT-EARED OWLS through February 24. Other recent sightings from Middle Creek included BALD EAGLE, 50,000 SNOW GEESE and 1400 TUNDRA SWANS. In Lebanon County, Memorial Lake State Park had REDHEADS through February 26. A GOLDEN EAGLE hunted a field at the west end of Swatara Park on February 27. Outside the Delaware Valley, a PRAIRIE FALCON
was seen along Mud Level Rd just north of Shippensburg in Cumberland County
February 23-27. Extralimital: MARYLAND: On February 23, the Silver Springs WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL returned to the feeders it had previously visited. The bird can be seen from the Sligo Creek Pkwy: Look north towards the hill at the wooden deck with hanging feeders at the three sewer caps on the north side of the parkway. It was seen as recently as February 28. NEW YORK: The Montauk PINK-FOOTED GOOSE and BARNACLE
GOOSE were seen from Teddy Roosevelt County Park on February 21. The other
Long Island PINK-FOOTED GOOSE was on Stony Brook Mill Pond in Suffolk
County through February 23. The first year male SCOTT’S ORIOLE was
at midtown Manhattan’s Union Square Park February 21. The Ithaca
SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen at Stewart Park, the Cornell University compost
pile at Stevenson Rd and Treman Marine Park. The most recent report was
from February 24. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On March 1, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC photography field trip to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County, NJ. The field trip will meet at the parking lot at 8:00AM. There is no field trip fee, and non-members are welcome. Dress for the weather and pack your digi-scoping gear or traditional camera equipment. In case of inclement weather, including high winds, the field trip will be rescheduled. Please contact Steve Kacir if you plan on attending. Contact information for the trip leader is on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday March 6 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Keith L Bildstein will present “American Kestrel, Studies at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Elsewhere.” Sally Conyne will present an Ornithological Study entitled “North American Lesser Black-backed Gull Research Project.” 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 Cape May, NJ for March 16. This is a prime time of year for finding Dovekies. There have already been multiple sightings from shore across the region this winter. Over 100 Dovekies were tallied on a trip out Freeport, NY on February 3, and the February 23 trip out Lewes, DE found 87 Dovekies and had an excellent diversity of cetaceans. 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. 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.
|
On this page.... Links
General Guidelines for Submission
|
DVOC Rare Bird Alert Committee
Steve Kacir - Chair
Tony Croasdale
Bert Filemyr
Paul Guris
Rob Hynson
Mike Lyman
Nate Rice