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Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Last updated
Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:37 PM
Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert - Thursday March
20, 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 20, 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 20, 2008 we highlight reports of BARNACLE GOOSE, FRANKLIN'S GULL, BLACK-HEADED GULL and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE. For New Jersey: In Cape May County, the BARNACLE GOOSE was seen from New England Rd across from the first parking lot at Higbee Beach WMA on March 16. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was near the beginning of the boardwalk leading to the Lighthouse Pond at Cape May Point State Park on March 14. Six PIPING PLOVERS were at Cape May Point on March 15. A RED-NECKED GREBE flew past the park on March 15, and another was seen from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. Four CANVASBACKS were at the Bunker Pond, and 675 NORTHERN GANNETS were offshore on March 14. Stone Harbor Pointand Avalon had good numbers of GANNETS through the weekend. A COMMON EIDER was in the scoter flock at Stone Harbor on March 14, and 3 AMERICAN PIPITS were at Stone Harbor the next day. SHORT-EARED OWLS patrolled Jake’s Landing through March 17. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed near Jake's Landing and at Cape May NWR. Two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at the Villas WMA on March 16. Heislerville WMA in Cumberland County boasted 35 CANVASBACK on March 16. On March 13, a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at the Corbin City section of Tuckahoe WMA, Atlantic County. Edwin B Forsythe NWR at Brigantine had CANVASBACK, COMMON TEAL (aka Eurasian Green-winged Teal), EURASIAN WIGEON and hundreds of HORNED GREBES on March 15. An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Brigantine March 15-16, and HORNED GREBES and a SHORT-EARED OWL were at the refuge through March 17. Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in Ocean County continued to host HARLEQUIN DUCKS, with an estimated 50 HARLEQUINS on March 15. That day, a hen KING EIDER was at the end of the jetty. Other birds at Barnegat Light included SNOW BUNTING, PURPLE SANDPIPERS and good numbers of NORTHERN GANNETS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS. In Monmouth County, the Sandy Hook TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was at the maintenance yard at the end of Randolph Dr through March 15. Around 300 NORTHERN GANNETS and 10,000 GREATER SCAUP were offshore from Sandy Hook on March 13. Three TUNDRA SWANS were at the salt ponds through March 15, and at the North Pond on March 16. A CANVASBACK was at the salt ponds through March 14, and one was in Spermaceti Cove the next day. An AMERICAN BITTERN was at Sandy Hook’s North Pond on March 14, and the dunes had 23 SNOW BUNTINGS on March 15. In Burlington County, the Whitesbog NORTHERN SHRIKE put in an appearance on March 15. The Gloucester County portion of Pedricktown Marsh had 24 TUNDRA SWANS on March 17. The National Park area had 20 CANVASBACKS and a REDHEAD on March 16. That day, Salem County’s Featherbed Lane had a ROSS’S GOOSE in a SNOW GOOSE flock. A TUNDRA SWAN was at Money Island Rd in Elsinboro Twp, and a HORNED GREBE was seen from Buckhorn Rd in Lower Alloways Creek Twp. At Hunterdon County’s Solberg Airport, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Lightfield Rd on March 13. That day, Round Valley Reservoir had REDHEAD and HORNED GREBE. Spruce Run State Park had a HORNED GREBE on March 13, and 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were there the next day. A FRANKLIN’S GULL was on the water at Spruce Run on March 16. DeMott’s Pond had 5 REDHEADS on March 14, and two more the next day. Three COMMON REDPOLLS visited a feeder in Califon. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK visited a feeder in Peapack, Somerset County. For Delaware: In New Castle County, Ashland Nature Center had 13 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, PURPLE FINCHES and FOX SPARROWS. Middle Run Natural Area had a PILEATED WOODPECKER and a flock of 20-24 FOX SPARROWS on March 14. On March 18, Dragon Run Park had 200 TREE SWALLOWS, 250 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 400 AMERICAN COOTS and a HORNED GREBE. That day, Grier’s Pond had a calling SORA, 3 WILSON’S SNIPE and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Another RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Blackbird State Forest. PILEATED WOODPECKERS were found around the Judge Morris Estate. Ted Harvey Wildlife Area in Kent County had drake EURASIAN WIGEON in the south impoundment on March 15, and highlights from March 16 included HORNED GREBE, 47 AMERICAN AVOCETS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and a few WILSON'S SNIPE. Along the entrance road to the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, a ROSS’S GOOSE was found in a SNOW GOOSE flock on March 16. On March 17, a SNOW GOOSE flock along the field across from the entrance to John Dickinson Plantation held a CACKLING GOOSE, a white adult ROSS’S GOOSE and immature dark phase ROSS’S GOOSE. Tilcon Pond across from Dover Air Force Base had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on March 16, and BONAPARTE’S GULLS were there on March 19. An overnight excursion to the Mallard Lodge on March 14 found a dozen WILSON'S SNIPE, displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCK and calling BARN OWLS. The next day, an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in the wetland across from the Aquatic Resources Education Center, and 4 CANVASBACK were behind the Mallard Lodge. The Delaware State University College Woods Nature Trail had a pair of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS on March 14. In Sussex
County, 8 BROWN THRASHERS sang along Fowler Beach Rd at Prime
Hook NWR. A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and an adult ICELAND GULL were seen
at Fowler
Beach, with the ICELAND GULL favoring the wash just north of the beach
overlook. On March 19, NORTHERN BOBWHITES were seen from Fowler Beach
Rd, and the GREAT HORNED OWL was on its osprey platform nest. That day,
the bay side of Fowler
Beach had HORNED GREBE, RED-THROATED LOON and a second cycle NELSON’S
GULL (Glaucous X Herring Gull Hybrid). IPSWICH SPARROWS were also seen
at Fowler Beach that day. Silver Lake in Rehoboth hosted 1100 CANVASBACKS
and a BLACK SWAN on March 16. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES continued to visit
the Abbotts
Mill Nature Center’s feeders. On March 19, Abbott’s Mill
had a BARRED OWL and PURPLE FINCH. Two MERLINS flew past the Cape Henlopen
State Park Hawk Watch on March 19. That day, the DuPont
Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Inlet had a LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL. For Pennsylvania: In Philadelphia County, Mount Moriah Cemetery hosted an AMERICAN KESTREL and MERLIN. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS displayed at the Schuykill Center for Environmental Education in northwest Philadelphia. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS also displayed at the Milford Rd area of Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County. On March 19, a fallout of 48 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS was noted at Marsh Creek along with 4 HORNED GREBES. SHORT-EARED OWLS have been seen along Chapel Rd at Doe Run, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was in Birmingham. Two RED CROSSBILLS flew over the Coatesville Reservoir, and 2 MERLINS continued to be seen there. Three RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continued to be seen along Pleasant View Rd in Honeybrook. Two BLACK SWANS were seen from the Struble Trail in Downingtown. A NORTHERN PARULA called from a Montgomery County backyard on March 17. A drake WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was at Green Lane Park’s Hill Rd area on March 16. A hen CANVASBACK was on the farm pond at Norristown Farm Park March 16-18. A MERLIN was at the Farm Park on March 16. A BARRED OWL called from Green Lane on March 15. In Bucks County, Silver Lake Nature Center had FOX SPARROWS and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. Peace Valley Park had 3 HORNED GREBES through March 15, 3 TUNDRA SWANS on March 13, 2 CANVASBACKS on March 15 and COMMON GOLDENEYE March 14-15. BALD EAGLES and PURPLE FINCHES continue to be reported from Peace Valley. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was on the west side of Route 313 about 3 miles south of Quakertown on March 13. The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was still at Churchville Nature Center (see also) through March 15, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and RUSTY BLACKBIRD were there the next day. Core Creek Park had 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and a BALD EAGLE on March 16. Green Pond in Northampton County had 133 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and 1 ICELAND GULL on March 14; there were 114 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on March 17. On March 15, the Martins Creek Preserve had LONG-EARED OWLS, MERLIN and PEREGRINE FALCON. That day, CANVASBACKS were at the Albert Rd Ponds and Nazareth Quarry, and a LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at Hilltop Rd near West Dannersville Rd. COMMON REDPOLLS visited a feeder in Little Gap. On March 16, HORNED GREBES were found at Lower Cherry Valley Rd and Saylor’s Lake. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been displaying at the Koch Property and Jacobsburg State Park. A COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder in Pen Argyl on March 17. The Fogelsville Quarry in Lehigh County had 3 CANVASBACKS on March 17. A PILEATED WOODPECKER and COMMON REDPOLLS were at Sweet Arrow Lake in Schuykill County on March 14. Lake Ontelaunee in Berks County had 2 REDHEADS on March 13, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was there on March 16. On March 19, six RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and 13 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were on Lake Ontelaunee, and a COMMON LOON was on Blue Marsh Lake. Two COMMON RAVENS were seen in the Boyertown area on March 13. Middle Creek WMA in Lancaster County continued to host TUNDRA SWANS, HORNED GREBE and BALD EAGLES through the week, and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS have been calling and displaying there. A SURF SCOTER was on the main pond at Middle Creek on March 13-15. SHORT-EARED OWLS were noted through March 17, with the owls seen near auto tour stop 3 on March 14, and along Hopeland Rd on March 17. The Middle Creek NORTHERN SHRIKE was found on March 14 on the Willow Point Trail, where it perched to the right of the Pavillion. A CACKLING GOOSE and a ROSS’S GOOSE were at Middle Creek on March 15. Two thousand TUNDRA SWANS were at Middle Creek on March 17. Memorial Lake State Park in Lebanon County had 6-8 REDHEADS on March 18, anda 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS and a REDHEAD were there the next day. On March 19, Memorial Lake had 19 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and 15 LONG-TAILED DUCKS. An extralimital BARNACLE GOOSE was found on Walker Lake in Snyder County. A breeding-plumaged BLACK-HEADED GULL was found at the boat landing in Marysville, Dauphin County on March 16. The GULL was seen a little farther upriver at the north end of North Main St March 17-19. EXTRALIMITAL NEW YORK: The Ithaca SLATY-BACKED GULL was seen at Stewart Park as recently as March 18. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS *** On March 29, Frank Windfelder will lead a DVOC field trip to Southwest New Jersey’s Pedricktown and Mannington Marsh areas. The trip will meet at 6:15AM at Center Square Rd for American Woodcocks, but an alternate meeting place is at the Pedricktown Rd Causeway at 7:30AM. Target species include Ross’s Goose, Common Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Rusty Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Ruff, Cackling Goose and Sandhill Crane. Please contact Frank Windfelder if you plan on attending. Directions and a map detailing the meeting locations along with contact information for the trip leader are 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 Lewes, DE on April 5 and another out of Cape May, NJ on April 13. These trips hope to take advantage of the schools of baitfish that attract high counts of Northern Gannets and Gulls, which, in turn, could attract the attention of Great Skua. Additional target birds include Northern Fulmar, Common Murre, Razorbill, Red Phalarope, Sooty Shearwater and Jaegers. 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. 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