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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, March 6, 2008 2:32 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday March
6, 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
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report - February March 6, 2008 - Birds Mentioned Common 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 March 6, 2008 we highlight reports of WESTERN GREBE, BARNACLE GOOSE, COMMON TEAL, HARLEQUIN DUCK, PRAIRIE FALCON, SNOWY OWL, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, NORTHERN WHEATEAR, BOHEMIAN WAXWING and BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. For New Jersey: In Cape May County, the BARNACLE GOOSE was reportedly near Stevens St in West Cape May on March 1. Cape May Point State Park had 80 SNOW BUNTINGS on Feb 29. On March 1, the Villas WMA had 3 REDHEADS, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS and over 75 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. On March 5, a LITTLE GULL visited Norbury's Landing. SHORT-EARED OWLS were reported from Jake's Landing through March 2, and a RED- NECKED GREBE was there on Feb 29. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at Kimbles Beach Rd and from a field along Jake's Landing Rd. A possible hybrid GREEN-WINGED TEAL was on the "ibis pond" at Reed's Beach. A COMMON REDPOLL has been visiting the Heuges' feeder at 14 South 8th St in Del Haven. (Click Here to see pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website)The Heuges are willing to have birders stop by to see the bird, but be respectful of the privacy of the people in the neighborhood. On March 5, the first PIPING PLOVER of the season arrived at the Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May NWR. On March 2, Two Mile Beach had 37 RED KNOTS, and 60 RED KNOTS were in the area of North Wildwood and Hereford Inlet. Sea Isle City had 6 PURPLE SANDPIPERS on March 1. The first LAUGHING GULL of the season returned to Cape May on March 3. (Click Here to see pictures of this bird at Karl and Judy Lukens's Website) In Atlantic County, a EURASIAN WIGEON was in Perch Cove at the start of the North Dike of Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine through March 2. A GOLDEN EAGLE and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK were at Brigantine on Feb 29, when hundreds of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at Shooting Thorofare in the Tuckerton Bay area. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County had HARLEQUIN DUCKS, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS on March 2. In Monmouth County, Sandy Hook's TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was reported through March 5 at the maintenance yard at the end of Randolph Dr. Sandy Hook hosted BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS through March 4, seen at such locations as the Rusty Barn, Gunnison Parking Lot, Raccoon Alley, the bike trail north of the scout camp, the Boy Scout Camp and its parking lot. On Feb 29, a WESTERN GREBE was at Sandy Hook's B-Lot. Belmar's Silver Lake had a EURASIAN WIGEON through March 5. A RED- NECKED GREBE and REDHEAD were on Lake Como through March 5, and a CACKLING GOOSE was there through March 3. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Wreck Pond through March 5, and one was at Deal Lake on March 4. A possible WESTERN GREBE was reported from Manasquan Inlet on March 1. On March 5, four COMMON REDPOLLS were seen on the Henry Hudson Trail in Union Beach. In Salem County, 3 male and 2 female BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS were at the cattle pasture along Freas Rd in Pennsville on March 2. That day 3 hen REDHEADS were at the Pedricktown Marsh dredge spoils. A drake REDHEAD was seen from Crown Point Rd west of Thorofare in Gloucester County on March 2. The National Park dredge spoils area had 70 CANVASBACKS on March 3. In Middlesex County, Plainsboro Preserve had COMMON REDPOLLS at the feeders through March 1. A CACKLING GOOSE was at Mercer County Park in Mercer County on March 1. In Hunterdon County a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was in the Flemington area just past Assiscong Marsh across from a horse track on March 2. That day, Round Valley Recreation Area had 3 REDHEADS and a RED-NECKED GREBE, and a GLAUCOUS GULL and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were at Spruce Run Reservoir. A REDHEAD was on Demott's Pond on March 2. An extralimital SNOWY OWL roosted on the Caven Point beach at Liberty State Park in Hudson County through March 3. For Delaware: In New Castle County, a drake BLUE-WINGED TEAL stole the show at Dragon Run Marsh on March 1. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at Ashland Nature Centerr on March 2, and a MERLIN flew over Ashland on March 3. FOX SPARROWS visited Ashland's feeders on March 4. In Kent County on March 1, Bombay Hook NWR had 3 AMERICAN AVOCETS at the north side of Shearness Pool on the bay side and 6 AVOCETS at Raymond Pool. Taylor's Gut had over 200 TUNDRA SWANS that day. On March 2, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the refuge, and a flock of NORTHERN BOBWHITES was off Route 9 north of the Allee House. Other notables at Bombay Hook included PURPLE FINCHES, TUNDRA SWANS, WILSON'S SNIPES and an EASTERN PHOEBE. On Feb 29, a ROSS'S GOOSE was found on New Rd near University of Delaware's Lewes Campus in Sussex County. In Rehoboth, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed off Old Landing Rd. A RED-NECKED GREBE was on Spring Lake on March 2. RUSTY BLACKBIRD flocks have been moving through Abbotts Mill Nature Center. Other highlights from Abbott's Mill this week included PURPLE FINCHES and CHIPPING SPARROWS at the feeders, a singing PINE WARBLER, displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS and an EASTERN PHOEBE. Four PALM WARBLERS were at Blair's Pond on March 2. A CANVASBACK was on Abbott's Pond in Milford through Feb 29. On March 1, highlights from the millponds in the Milford area included 33 TUNDRA SWANS at Clendaniel Pond and 3 CANVASBACKS at Griffith Lake. Two CACKLING GEESE were at Prime Hook NWR's Fowler Beach Rd at Prime Hook NWR on March 1, and a ROSS'S GOOSE and 2 MERLINS were there the next day. An adult GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was near the Prime Hook Visitor Center on March 2. At least 500 NORTHERN GANNETS and a whale were seen from Cape Henlopen State Park on March 2. The park's Dune Spur trail had RED-BREASTED and BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES that day. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was at the road edge between the Biden Center and Herring Point on March 1. A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at the Burton's Island Overlook of Indian River Inlet's North Marina on March 1-2. On March 5, another sighting of RED-NECKED GREBE came from the channel just north of the footbridge from the yacht storage area to Burton's Island. A first year drake COMMON EIDER was at the north jetty of Indian River Inlet that day, and on March 2 four COMMON EIDERS were on the south side of the inlet. For Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia County, 3 MERLINS were at the Cemetery by 60th St and Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia. Two CANVASBACKS were at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum. On Feb 29, Chester County's Marsh Creek State Park had a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, 22 CANVASBACKS, COMMON GOLDENEYE and a PILEATED WOODPECKER. Two COMMON REDPOLLS visited a feeder in Downington. The Kurtz Fish Hatchery had 10 REDHEADS on March 3. In Landenburg, Somerset Lake hosted 3 CANVASBACKS. A COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder in Montgomery County, and a drainage pond behind the Collegeville Giant supermarket had a flyby PEREGRINE FALCON, CACKLING GOOSE and 2 hen CANVASBACKS. On March 1, Peace Valley Park in Bucks County had 4 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS at Indian Path, and a RED-NECKED GREBE was on Lake Galena. Other recent Peace Valley sightings included over a thousand COMMON MERGANSERS, CACKLING GOOSE, TUNDRA SWAN, CANVASBACK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BALD EAGLE and PURPLE FINCHES. On March 2, a count of LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS tallied 110 at Peace Valley and 254 at Nockamixon State Park. Nockamixon also had 5 ICELAND GULLS and a probable LESSER BLACK-BACKED X HERRING GULL hybrid that day. A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was at Churchville Nature Center (see also)'s Kelly Tract through March 4, and Churchville Reservoir had ICELAND GULL and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. That day, Island View Crossing in Bristol had an ICELAND GULL, and Falls TownshipCommunity Park hosted 5 REDHEADS and an ICELAND GULL. On March 3, AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed near the firehouse on Norristown Rd in Warminster. Five SNOW BUNTINGS were in the parking lots south of Lot 5 on Veterans Way near Warminster Community Park on March 2. On March 4, the Falls of the Delaware Park hosted PURPLE FINCHES, COMMON GOLDENEYES and AMERICAN WOODCOCK. In Northampton County, a CACKLING GOOSE and 3000 SNOW GEESE visited the Koch property on Feb 27. A SNOW BUNTING was at Graver's Hill on March 1. On March 5, Echo Lake had CACKLING GOOSE, ROSS'S GOOSE, NORTHERN PINTAIL X MALLARD hybrid and a LONG-TAILED DUCK. That day, Lake Minsi had HORNED GREBES, 36 REDHEADS, CANVASBACKS and COMMON LOON. Recent sightings from Middle Creek WMA in Lancaster County included CANVASBACK, REDHEAD and BALD EAGLE. SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen there through March 2, reported from the Hopewell Rd area on Feb 28 and near auto tour Stop 3 on March 1. That day, a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted near Stop 3 as well. On March 2, Middle Creek had a ROSS'S GOOSE, a dark morph ROSS'S X SNOW GOOSE hybrid and 2 CACKLING GEESE. The high count for TUNDRA SWANS at Middle Creek was 2,100 SWANS on March 3. A COMMON TEAL (Eurasian Green-winged Teal) was seen from Mount Eden Rd at Octoraro Lake on Feb 29. Other Octoraro birds included 2000 COMMON MERGANSERS, RED- BREASTED MERGANSERS, 9 REDHEADS, CANVASBACK, HORNED GREBE, TUNDRA SWANS and BALD EAGLES. A SURF SCOTER was on the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville on March 2. COMMON GOLDENEYES were at Lebanon County's Memorial Lake State Park on March 1, and a pair of HORNED GREBES was there on March 5. That day 2 GOLDEN EAGLES flew past the Second Mountain Hawk Watch. In Schuykill County, up to 20 COMMON REDPOLLS have been visiting feeders in McAdoo, and a COMMON RAVEN flew over Mile Hill. On March 2, Lake Ontelaunee in Berks County had ROSS'S GOOSE, 2 CACKLING GEESE and 9 REDHEADS. On March 5, Lake Ontelaunee had TUNDRA SWANS, CANVASBACKS, 9 REDHEADS, 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, LONG-TAILED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYES, 1200 COMMON MERGANSERS and 5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. On March 4, three SHORT-EARED OWLS hunted the fields at Pheasant Valley Farm, east of Robesonia. The farm is private property, but the owls can be viewed from the road. To maintain the good will of the owner, please do not trespass on the property! Pennsylvania has had a flurry of significant extralimital reports this week. A PRAIRIE FALCON was seen in the area of Mud Level Rd just north of Shippensburg in Cumberland County through March 6. Other locations where the PRAIRIE FALCON has been seen included the intersection of West Creek Rd and Shady Ln. The Adams County LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen from Pumping Station Rd near Gettysburg on March 1. An adult female NORTHERN WHEATEAR was seen from Old River Rd about a half mile west of Tiadaghton Ave at the South Avis Flats in Clinton County on March 1. The Beaver County HARLEQUIN DUCK was reported from the Beaver River through March 4. Sightings came from below New Brighton Dam, between the New Brighton Boat Launch and Fallston Bridge, just upstream of the Fallston Bridge and the Big Rock Park area. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was discovered at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron County on March 2. EXTRALIMITAL MARYLAND: A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL continued to visit a backyard in Silver Springs through March 1. 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. NEW YORK: The Montauk BARNACLE GOOSE was seen from Rita's Horse Farm and Deep Hollow Ranch on March 2. The other Long Island PINK- FOOTED GOOSE was on Stony Brook Mill Pond in Suffolk County through March 3. On March 5, the Ithaca SLATY-BACKED GULL was noted at the Cornell University compost pile on Stevenson Rd. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** (This trip has been rescheduled from March 8) On March 16, Steve Kacir will lead the rescheduled DVOC photography field trip to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County, NJ. Nearby Island Beach State Park had 7 SNOW BUNTINGS on March 5. 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. 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