| Current
report - Thursday April 17, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Anhinga ++
Mississippi Kite ++
Fork-tailed Flycatcher +
Townsend's Solitaire ++
Western Tanager ++
Painted Bunting (MD)
White-winged Crossbill (MD)
+ (Details requested by New
Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Sooty Shearwater
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Greater White-fronted Goose
Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Clapper Rail
King Rail
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Ruff
Wilson's Snipe
Little Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Monk Parakeet
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Pipit
Tennessee Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
"Baypoll" Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Orchard Oriole
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compilers: Steve Kacir and
Tony Croasdale - Delaware
Valley Ornithological Club
Phone: (215) 240-7547
URL: http://www.dvoc.org/RBA/Current/Active/Index.htm
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 April 17,
2008 we highlight reports of ANHINGA in Delaware County, PA; MISSISSIPPI
KITE in Bucks & Lebanon Counties, PA; FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER in Cape
May County, NJ; WESTERN TANAGER in Philadelphia County, PA; LITTLE GULLS
in Lancaster, Dauphin & Perry Counties, PA; RUFF in Cumberland County,
NJ and EVENING GROSBEAKS in Northampton County, PA.
For New Jersey:
Cape
May County:
A FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was reported from the Cape May Point State Park
Hawk Watch on Apr 12. PIPING PLOVERS were on the beach at Cape May Point
State Park and The Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge.
A pelagic out of Cape May on Apr 13 sighted LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS
and a SOOTY SHEARWATER. Jake's Landing had SHORT-EARED OWLS Apr 11-12
and calling WHIP-POOR-WILLS on Apr 11. On Apr 13, Tarkiln Pond had NORTHERN
PARULA and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. A male HOODED WARBLER was at the Northwood
Center on Apr 14.
Cumberland
County:
The RUFFS at Heislerville WMA were seen through Apr 11, and a YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON was there on Apr 16.
Atlantic
County:
CASPIAN TERNS were at the gull tower of Edwin B Forsythe NWR's Brigantine
Division, and COMMON GOLDENEYES were also noted there. Eleven WHIMBREL
were at the refuge on Apr 16.
Monmouth
County:
On Apr 12, Sandy Hook had a SUMMER TANAGER beside the main road just before
the Ranger Station and a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH singing near the start of
Old Dune Trail. A BLUE GROSBEAK was at B-Lot across from Plum Island Apr
12-14. BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS flew past the
Sandy Hook Migration Watch this week. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was
near the Hawk Watch on Apr 11. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was near the Allaire
State Park fishing pond on Apr 14. A BROWN PELICAN flew along the Shrewsbury
River on Apr 10. A drake EURASIAN WIGEON was on a small pond in Rumson
on Apr 12.
Burlington
County:
Nine HORNED GREBES and 45 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were seen from Palmyra Cove
Nature Park on Apr 12.
Salem
County:
On Apr 12, Mannington Marsh area had 2 CATTLE EGRETS.
Gloucester
County:
On Apr 11, Winslow WMA had 5 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES and 3 RED- BREASTED
NUTHATCHES.
Middlesex
County:
On Apr 10, two RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at the 10 acre flooded patch
of dead wood in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, 600 yards northwest
of Omar Ave and Blair Rd. Four MONK PARAKEETS have been building nests
in the county this year. A GLAUCOUS GULL was at South Amboy on Apr 15.
Somerset
County:
On Apr 13, Hutcheson Memorial Forest had 8 flyby COMMON LOONS and a probable
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.
Warren
County:
Merrill Creek Reservoir had a HORNED GREBE on Apr 12. That day, a BLACK-THROATED
GREEN WARBLER was observed at Van Campens Glen, and AMERICAN REDSTARTS
and YELLOW WARBLERS sang from Old Mine Rd.
For Delaware:
New
Castle County:
Alapocas Woods Park had a singing LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on Apr 10. Middle
Run Natural Area had PILEATED WOODPECKERS and 6 flyby COMMON LOONS on
Apr 14; a pair of WILSON'S SNIPES, WHITE-EYED VIREO and YELLOW WARBLERS
on Apr 12 and a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH on Apr 10. On Apr 10, Ashland Nature
Center had PURPLE FINCHES, 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and nesting SHARP-SHINNED
HAWKS. Three NORTHERN PARULAS and PILEATED WOODPECKERS were found along
White Clay Creek Rd at White Clay Creek State Park on Apr 16. On Apr 15,
Red Clay Creek Reservation had a flyby BROAD-WINGED HAWK, and a VESPER
SPARROW was in the last field before Ramsey Rd. The Ramsey Rd area had
a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and a MERLIN eating a Flicker on Apr 11. A LOUISIANA
WATERTHRUSH and 7 HERMIT THRUSHES were at Flint Woods Preserve on Apr
10. On Apr 11, a VEERY was heard from Northminster Park. A WHIP-POOR-WILL
called from the Hockessin area on Apr 10.
Thirty-two GLOSSY IBIS were at Dragon Run Park on Apr
12. On Apr 11, a NORTHERN BOBWHITE called from the impoundment west of
Delaware City across from Dragon Run. A MERLIN, a flock of BLACK- THROATED
GREEN WARBLERS and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER were at Cedar Swamp WA on
Apr 12. On Apr 12, a CATTLE EGRET was seen near the Thousand Acre Marsh.
A CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW called from the north side of the Chesapeake &
Delaware Canal just west of the Summit Bridge on Route 896. A CASPIAN
TERN flew over the area of Grier's Pond on Apr 12, and BONAPARTE'S GULLS
flocked over Route 9.
Kent
County:
The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and some GLOSSY IBIS were at Woodland
Beach WA on Apr 12. That day, a MERLIN posed at Bombay Hook NWR's Raymond
Pool, and a KING RAIL called from Raymond's southeast corner. On Apr 12,
BLACK-NECKED STILTS were at Bombay Hook's Shearness Pool and Bear Swamp,
and an AMERICAN BITTERN was at Finis Pool. That day, 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS
were in the fields along the entrance road. Other species seen around
Bombay Hook included 29 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, GLOSSY IBIS, UPLAND
SANDPIPER, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, CLAPPER RAILS and AMERICAN PIPITS. Around
600 AMERICAN AVOCETS and a WILD TURKEY were at the Logan Tract of Ted
Harvey WA on Apr 12. That day, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was noted at
the Pickering Beach Rd powerline cut.
Sussex
County:
The Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch reported MERLINS through the week,
with a high count of seventeen on Apr 13. PEREGRINE FALCONS were flew
by on Apr 13-14. The hawk watch reported 88 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 17 MERLINS
and NORTHERN GANNETS on Apr 13. LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES have been at the
Johnson's Branch/Abbott's Pond area. Trap Pond State Park had EASTERN
KINGBIRDS, OVENBIRDS, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS
on Apr 13.
For Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia
County:
A female WESTERN TANAGER put on a show at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum Apr
13-15. It was seen south of the observation platform, and it moved farther
south along the dike towards the bird blind. Other sightings at John Heinz
NWR that day included 9 GLOSSY IBIS and a "BAYPOLL" WARBLER.
On Apr 11, a TRICOLORED HERON flew over John Heinz NWR and a LONG-EARED
OWL was at the Warbler Woods. A hen CANVASBACK was at the refuge the previous
day.
Delaware
County:
On Apr 12, highlights from the Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch included an ANHINGA
and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and a RED-THROATED LOON was seen the next day.
MERLINS also pushed past Rose Tree Park this week. A NORTHERN PARULA was
at Ridley Creek State Park on Apr 11.
Chester
County:
On Apr 13, a SANDHILL CRANE flew towards Hibernia County Park's Chambers
Lake from the fields at Wagontown Rd across from Chambers Lake.
Montgomery
County:
Seven HORNED GREBES were at Green Lane Reservoir on Apr 12, and a
FORSTER'S TERN was at the Church Rd area on Apr 11. On Apr 15, a COMMON
NIGHTHAWK flew over Bryn Mawr.
Bucks
County:
On Apr 13, a probable MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen from the lumber road on
Haycock Mountain. Haycock Mountain, north of Nockamixon State Park, had
a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on Apr 10 & 13. On Apr 12, Silver Lake Park
hosted SWAINSON'S THRUSH, TENNESSEE WARBLER and an ORCHARD ORIOLE. Highlights
from Peace Valley Park included COMMON LOON, HORNED GREBE and LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS. The YELLOW- BREASTED CHAT was at the Churchville Nature Center's
Kelly Tract on Apr 16. On Apr 12, a CLIFF SWALLOW was at Core Creek Park.
Northampton
County:
On Apr 12, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, MERLIN and EVENING GROSBEAKS passed over
the Koch Property. On Apr 13, a YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER appeared at the
Bethlehem Boat Club.
Schuylkill
County:
Sweet Arrow Lake had PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES on Apr 11. A hike
near Tremont provided views of AMERICAN BITTERN, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, RUFFED
GROUSE and COMMON RAVENS. A COMMON RAVEN was at the Tumbling Run Watershed
on Apr 16.
Berks
County:
PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS visited a feeder in Berks County on Apr
11. On Apr 12, the Kernsville Dam area had COMMON LOON and PINE SISKIN.
That day, Lake Ontelaunee had 7 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 21 HORNED GREBES,
COMMON LOON and 6 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. On Apr 12, SGL-110 had 4 RUFFED GROUSE,
23 COMMON LOONS, 3 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES and PURPLE FINCHES. Blue Marsh
Lake had 6 HORNED GREBES and 3 COMMON LOONS on Apr 14. Highlights from
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary included a NORTHERN GOSHAWK and MERLINS on Apr
11, with BROAD-WINGED HAWKS through the week.
Lancaster
County:
On Apr 14, two LITTLE GULLS were in a flock of 250 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at
the York Haven Dam in Falmouth, and Conoy Canal Park had a YELLOW-THROATED
WARBLER. A VESPER SPARROW was at Middle Creek WMA on Apr 13, and a TUNDRA
SWAN was there Apr 16. Speedwell Forge Lake had a COMMON LOON Apr 12 &
16 and BONAPARTE'S GULLS on Apr 12. On Apr 16, the Conejohela Flats hosted
COMMON LOON, 4 HORNED GREBES, 3 GLOSSY IBIS, 2 AMERICAN BITTERNS, 150
BONAPARTE'S GULLS, LITTLE GULL and CASPIAN TERN. YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS
sang from the mouth of Conestoga Creek, just above Safe Harbor dam on
Apr 16.
Lebanon
County:
A first year MISSISSIPPI KITE flew past SGL-145 on Apr 12, and SGL- 145
also had 43 COMMON LOONS and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. On Apr 11, sightings from
the Second Mountain Hawk Watch included 57 LOONS, 9 MERLINS, PEREGRINE
FALCON and a GOLDEN EAGLE. Memorial Lake State Park had COMMON LOONS,
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and HORNED GREBES. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL called
from Memorial Lake State Park's parking lot on Apr 12.
PA Extralimitals:
On Apr 11 & 15, single LITTLE GULLS flew along the Susquehanna River
between Fort Hunter in Dauphin County and Marysville, Perry County. On
Apr 10 at Blue Mountain Parkway in Linglestown, Dauphin County there were
60-70 COMMON REDPOLLS and a PINE SISKIN. TRUMPETER SWAN 069 was seen in
Tidioute, Warren County on Apr 10. A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was on private
property in Carbon County Apr 13-15. Twenty-four EVENING GROSBEAKS visited
a feeder in Cameron County through Apr 16.
EXTRALIMITAL
MARYLAND:
On Apr 13-14, the WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL returned to feeders it had previously
visited in Silver Spring, Montgomery County. 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.
The Anne Arundel County PAINTED BUNTINGS were reports from Annapolis on
Apr 9-10 and from Arnold Apr 9 & 11-12.
NEW YORK:
A WESTERN TANAGER was near the Winterdale Arch in Central Park through
Apr 11.
MASSACHUSETTS:
On Apr 13, a FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was found in Gallagher Park near Chandler
Pond in Brighton, Suffolk County; this is only a day after the sighting
from Cape May, NJ. The Brighton FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was seen through
Apr 15.
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***
On April 20, Jeff Holt will lead a DVOC field trip to
Riverwinds and the National Park Red Bank Dredge Spoils in Gloucester
County, NJ. The trip will meet at 7:00AM at Riverwinds. Target species
include early migrants and nesting marshbirds such as bitterns, rails,
Common Moorhen and Pied-billed Grebe. Please contact Jeff Holt if you
plan on attending. Additional information, including directions to Riverwinds
and contact information for the trip leader are on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The May 1 meeting of the DVOC will feature a program
by Bill Fintel. Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome.
The next meeting of Wyncote Audubon will be on Friday,
April 18th at 7:30PM at the Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersections
of Germantown and Butler Pikes. That evening, Don Freiday will present
"How to Misidentify Birds Like an Expert." The program is free
and open to the public. On Apr 19, Lynn Jackson will lead a Wyncote Audubon
field trip to Coastal Delaware and Bombay Hook NWR. For time & meeting
place contact Lynn Jackson at 215-548-9034 or email [email protected]
Spring Migration is underway. For a bird’s eye
view of the phenomenon and some birding forecasts, check out David La
Puma’s Woodcreeper.com website at http://www.woodcreeper.com
Or read his forecasts at http://birdcapemay.org/bfma
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.
More information is available at: http://www.fw.delaware.gov/BBA
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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