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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, March 13, 2008 2:02 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday March
13, 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 March 13, 2008 - Birds Mentioned Horned Grebe 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 13, 2008 we highlight reports of WESTERN GREBE, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, PRAIRIE FALCON, BOHEMIAN WAXWING, GAMBEL'S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and HOARY REDPOLL. Remember to check out our website for additional content and information: For New Jersey: In Cape May County, over 180 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, 3 REDHEADS and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER were at the Villas WMA on March 6. Jake’s Landing had SHORT-EARED OWLS through March 10. Two GOLDEN EAGLES graced Jake's Landing on March 8, and other notable sightings from Jake’s on March 10 included LEAST SANDPIPER and AMERICAN BITTERN. A COMMON GOLDENEYE, 11 CANVASBACKS were at Heislerville WMA in Cumberland County on March 7. That day, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Turkey Point. Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine in Atlantic County had a SHORT-EARED OWL and 8 AMERICAN PIPITS on March 6. On March 9, an AMERICAN BITTERN was near the road to Brigantine’s Gull Tower. Tuckahoe WMA had a EURASIAN WIGEON and COMMON TEAL (aka EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL) on March 7. Motts Creek had YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and SHORT-EARED OWL on March 10. In Monmouth County, the Sandy Hook TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was at the maintenance yard at the end of Randolph Dr through March 9. One of the Sandy Hook BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was at the intersection of the bike path and the path to the Rusty Barn on March 6. The next day, another BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen north of the Spermaceti Cove boardwalk. A WESTERN GREBE was seen from Sandy Hook’s Lot C on March 11. Two RED-NECKED GREBES were on the ocean off the toll plaza on March 6, and one was seen at Horseshoe Cove the next day. Two NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS called from the east side of the Scout Camp. Lake Como had a RED-NECKED GREBE through March 9. The EURASIAN WIGEON at Belmar’s Silver Lake was present through March 9, and a REDHEAD was also at Silver Lake that day. Manasquan Inlet had a BLACK-HEADED GULL and 2 ICELAND GULLS on March 9. Other notable gulls that day included a GLAUCOUS GULL on the Shrewsbury River behind the Monmouth Beach cultural center and an ICELAND GULL on the wastewater discharge off Roosevelt Ave in Deal. That day LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found off Pullman Ave in Elberon, at Clem Conover Blvd and on the sandbars of the Manasquan River. Nine SNOW BUNTINGS were on the beach at Shark River Inlet on March 6, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Shark River on March 9. In Burlington County, a NORTHERN SHRIKE and 22 TUNDRA SWANS were found at Whitesbog on March 8. The SNOW GOOSE flocks at Featherbed Lane and Freas Rd harbored one ROSS’S GOOSE each on March 11, and a CACKLING GOOSE was also in the area. On March 10, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and 11 CANVASBACKS were seen from National Park, Gloucester County. A CANVASBACK was on Dallenbach Lake in East Brunswich, Middlesex County. In Mercer County, Mercer County Park Northwest’s Pole Farm had SHORT-EARED OWLS on March 6. That day, a CACKLING GOOSE was at Rosedale Park. A COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen in Franklin Twp, Warren County. For Delaware: Ashland Nature Center in New Castle County had PURPLE FINCHES on March 6. On March 7, a Delaware Nature Society field trip to Burrow’s Run found a nice group of finches: 20-25 PINE SISKINS, 40-45 PURPLE FINCHES and 40-60 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. Six FOX SPARROWS and a GREAT HORNED OWL were also noted on that trip. On March 8, Dragon Run Marsh had 7 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. A CANVASBACK was on the Delaware River just south of Augustine Beach on March 11. In Kent County on March 8, a CACKLING GOOSE was found with SNOW GEESE just off Route 9 on Kitts Hummock Rd. Bombay Hook NWR hosted TUNDRA SWANS through the week, with several hundred opposite the road into Bombay Hook on March 11. On March 8 Ted Harvey Wildlife Area had a PILEATED WOODPECKER, and 15-20 WILD TURKEYS were in a field just north of the Murderkill River. In Sussex County on March 8, two BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES were found along Big Stone Beach Rd, and NORTHERN GANNETS were seen at the road’s end. A huge passage of NORTHERN GANNETS took place off Rehoboth and Lewes on March 6, and HORNED GREBES were on Rehoboth Bay. CANVASBACKS continued to be seen at Rehoboth’s Silver Lake. At the Route 9 turn-off from Route 1, a ROSS’S GOOSE was found in a SNOW GOOSE flock. A PURPLE SANDPIPER was on the ocean side of Indian River Inlet on March 6. A RED-NECKED GREBE was at the Burton’s Island area of Indian River through March 11. That day, a RED-NECKED GREBE was also spotted up the bay at Indian River Inlet, and another was seen from Bethany Beach. Two RAZORBILLS lounged off the little rock jetty seen from the north side of the marina on March 6. Cape Henlopen State Park had BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES attending the nature center’s feeders. Herring Point had 11 PURPLE SANDPIPERS on March 6. A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and a female RUFF (also known as a Reeve) were in a flooded field at the intersection of Bakerfield Rd and Fowler Beach Rd on March 9. The RUFF was seen as recently as March 11, but a mile farther east in a flooded field on the right side of Fowler Beach Rd about a mile before the ninety degree right turn. On March 9, two IPSWICH SPARROWS were seen along Fowler Beach Rd, and a BONAPARTE’S GULL flew over a field at Cods Rd. A PEREGRINE FALCON was at Fowler Beach March 8-9. On March 8, Fowler Beach had MERLIN, 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and NORTHERN GANNETS. A GREAT HORNED OWL was seen using an osprey platform as a nest site at Fowler Beach, and RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at Prime Hook NWR as well. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen at Deep Branch Rd through March 11. For Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County’s John Heinz NWR at Tinicum had 42 CANVASBACKS, 4 FOX SPARROWS and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 9. Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County hosted AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. A WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was on Marsh Creek State Park on March 10. Two COMMON REDPOLLS visited feeders in Downingtown through March 8. Three Canvasbacks were on the pond behind the Giant Plaza in Royersford, Montgomery County on March 8. Recent sightings from Fort Washington State Park included PILEATED WOODPECKER, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE and a leucistic FOX SPARROW. On March 9 Green Lane Reservoir had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, a pair of COMMON GOLDENEYES at the Hill Rd area, 51 TUNDRA SWANS at the Walt Rd area, a CACKLING GOOSE at the Church Rd area. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK called near Evansburg State Park on March 12. Recent sightings from Bucks County’s Peace Valley Park included GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, SNOW GEESE, CACKLING GOOSE, COMMON GOLDENEYE, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, HORNED GREBE, BALD EAGLE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, PURPLE FINCHES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. Sailor’s Point at Peace Valley had AMERICAN PIPITS in the fields and displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. A GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was photographed at the Sailor Point feeders on March 7. The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was still at Churchville Nature Center (see also)’s Kelly Tract through March 11. Churchville hosted 50 TUNDRA SWANS on March 10, and one remained the next day. Core Creek Park had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on March 9, and a CANVASBACK on the cove off Tollgate Rd the next day. The pond behind Kohl’s adjacent to Five Mile Woods Preserve in Oxford Valley had 2 CANVASBACKS on March 9. The vacant lots at Veteran’s Way near Warminster Community Park held 20 WILSON’S SNIPES on March 10. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed in Plainfield Twp, Northampton County, and were seen at Bear Swamp County Park. On March 7, the pond at Albert Rd had CANVASBACKS, and 100 HORNED LARKS were at Hower Rd. A large blackbird flock at Totts Gap Rd included at least 18 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 8. That day Lake Minsi had 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a BALD EAGLE, and the East Bangor Dam had a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and PILEATED WOODPECKER. A RED CROSSBILL visited a feeder at the Koch Property on March 8. A LONG-EARED OWL was at Martin’s Creek Preserve that day, and 3 CANVASBACKS were on the ponds at Albert Rd. Nazareth Quarry had a HORNED GREBE on March 8, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Gravel Hill Rd. A field along West Dannersville Rd in Moore Twp had LAPLAND LONGSPURS with the HORNED LARK flock March 8-9. A flooded field along Christian Spring Rd had 2 TUNDRA SWANS on March 9. An ICELAND GULL and 148 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at Green Pond on March 12. A COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder in Reinholds, Berks County. On March 7, Blue Marsh Lake Park had displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS and thousands of COMMON MERGANSERS. Single ROSS’S GEESE were reported from Lake Ontelaunee and Oley on March 11. That day, Lake Ontelaunee also had 6 REDHEADS and an ICELAND GULL. On March 11, Blue Marsh had 40 TUNDRA SWANS. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found at a rain pool off Evansville Rd on March 7. That day, two SHORT-EARED OWLS hunted the fields at Pheasant Valley Farm, east of Robesonia. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was there on March 11. The farm is private property, but the owls and hawks can be viewed from the road. Be aware the sides of the road are very muddy due to recent rains, so do not attempt to park off the road while watching for the owls. To maintain the good will of the owner, please do not trespass on the property.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in New Tripoli, Lehigh County. Leaser Lake had a CACKLING GOOSE on March 9. Memorial Lake State Park in Lebanon County had REDHEADS and a HORNED GREBE on March 7. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen from East Ridge Rd between Gravel Hill Rd and Grant St. An interesting extralimital report came from Huntingdon
County at the Tussey Mountain Hawkwatch where 62 GOLDEN EAGLES were tallied
on March 6. The Cumberland County PRAIRIE FALCON was seen in the area
of Mud Level Rd just north of Shippensburg through March 10. Other locations
where the PRAIRIE FALCON has been seen included the intersection of West
Creek Rd and Shady Ln. A HOARY REDPOLL was noted with the many COMMON
REDPOLLS visiting Herb Flavell’s feeders in Susquehanna County.
The HOARY was seen as recently as March 12. A drake BARROW’S GOLDENEYE
was at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County on March 11. EXTRALIMITAL NEW YORK: The Ithaca SLATY-BACKED GULL was noted at the Cornell University compost pile on Stevenson Rd through March 9 *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On March 16, Chris
Walters will lead DVOC field trip to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
in Ocean County, NJ. The trip will meet at the parking lot at 9:00AM.
This is a half-day trip for new members and students. Target species include
Purple Sandpipers, Harlequin Duck, Common and King Eiders, Ipswich Sparrow,
Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur. Please contact Chris Walters 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 20 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when Jeff Gordon will present “iBird: Digital Technology vs Natural History.” Anthony Gonzon will present an Ornithological Study about “The New Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas.” The meeting after that will be on April 3, featuring a program by David Errol Pattemore. Details are on the website, and guests are welcome. See Life Paulagics is running a pelagic trip out of Cape May, NJ for March 16. This is a good 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 Feb 3, and the Feb 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