| Current
report - Thursday May 8, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Clark’s Grebe ++
Anhinga ++
Swallow-tailed Kite +
Swallow-tailed Kite +++
Mississippi Kite ++
Yellow Rail +
Wood Sandpiper +++
Eurasian Collared-dove +
Fork-tailed Flycatcher +
Loggerhead Shrike +
Loggerhead Shrike ++
+ (Details requested by New
Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Common Loon
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Broad-winged Hawk
Merlin
Ruffed Grouse
Northern Bobwhite
Black Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
White-rumped Sandpiper
Wilson’s Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Caspian Tern
Roseate Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Sutton's Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Bobolink
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
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 May 7,
2008 we highlight reports of WOOD SANDPIPER in Sussex County, DE; a possible
CLARK’S GREBE in Berks County, PA; ANHINGAS in Chester County, PA;
SWALLOW-TAILED KITES in Monmouth, NJ and Sussex County, DE; MISSISSIPPI
KITE in Lehigh County, PA; YELLOW RAIL in Cumberland County, NJ; EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE in Cumberland County, NJ; possible FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER
in Monmouth County, NJ; LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES in Monmouth County, NJ and
Bucks County, PA.
For New Jersey:
Cape
May County:
A RUFF was at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
on May 7, and a Reeve (female RUFF) was there on May 5. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL was at the refuge on May 6. PIPING PLOVERS were on the beach at Cape
May Point State Park and the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. A ROSEATE
TERN was at the St Peter’s Jetty on May 4, and up to 3 COMMON EIDERS
were seen in the Cape May Point area through May 7. The rips off Cape
May Point have attracted PARASITIC JAEGERS through the week. Highlights
from Higbee Beach WMA this week included BLUE GROSBEAKS and NASHVILLE
WARBLER. The Rea Farm had BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and BLUE GROSBEAKS. The
Villas WMA hosted PINE SISKIN and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; the Villas WMA
RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS were noted through May 4. A BOBOLINK was at the
Woodcock Trail of Cape May NWR on May 4. This week’s highlights
from Belleplain State Forest included SUMMER TANAGERS, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER,
PROTHONOTARY, KENTUCKY, WORM-EATING and HOODED WARBLERS. CATTLE EGRETS
were at the Eastern Shore Nursing Home and the Cape May County Park and
Zoo on May 4. A CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW called from Reeds Beach Rd on
May 4. Jake’s Landing had a calling YELLOW RAIL on May 1, and BLACK
RAILS on May 4. A KING RAIL, VIRGINIA RAILS and LEAST BITTERNS were at
Cedar Swamp Creek on May 5. Nummy’s Island had a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
WHIMBREL and RED KNOT on May 4, while the Hereford Inlet area hosted SURF
SCOTER and TRICOLORED HERON. Nearly 300 WHIMBREL were at Nummy’s
Island on May 7. A MARBLED GODWIT was at Two Mile Landing that day, while
RED KNOTS were at the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May NWR.
Cumberland
County:
On May 4, WHIP-POOR-WILL and VIRGINIA RAILS called from Turkey Point Wildlife
Area at the Glades Wildlife Refuge. That day, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
was at the Robinstown Rd area. On May 2, a SUMMER TANAGER and WORM-EATING
WARBLER were at the Paynter’s Crossing/Railroad Ave area. A EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE was found along Valatia Ave in Millville on May 4
Atlantic
County:
Edwin B Forsythe NWR’s Brigantine Division had a GLAUCOUS GULL in
the marsh north of the dike just before leaving the dike at Jen’s
Trail on May 3. Other sightings from the refuge that day included MARBLED
GODWIT and 53 WHIMBREL. A BLUE GROSBEAK appeared in Port Republic on May
4.
Monmouth
County:
Monmouth County:
A probable FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER was near the Sandy Hook Coast Guard
Base on May 6. That day, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE and a WILSON’S PHALAROPE
were found near Fisherman’s Trail, and the PHALAROPE was seen again
on May 7. Sandy Hook boasted ROSEATE TERNS through May 7. The ROSEATES
were reported from the bay across from the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory,
the sandbar north of Plum Island, North Beach, and the False Hook area
on May 3. Other notable sightings from Sandy Hook this week included 8
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, BLACK TERN, AMERICAN BITTERN, YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON, BANK SWALLOWS, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, CAPE MAY WARBLER
and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. Sandy Hook had 17 species of warbler on May
4, including YELLOW-THROATED, BAY-BREASTED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS. The
Sandy Hook Migration Watch had a high count of 58 MERLINS on May 4. A
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew by the Migration Watch on May 2. A BARRED OWL
called from the Rusty Barn area on May 1. On May 3, Sandy Hook’s
False Hook area at the end of Fisherman’s Trail had PIPING PLOVERS.
On May 4, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was at Natco Lake. That day, Allaire
State Park had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO; CAPE MAY, CANADA and HOODED WARBLERS.
Burlington
County:
On Apr 24, Taylor’s Refuge in Cinnaminson had a LEAST BITTERN at
the southernmost marsh and a SORA at the north side of the west end. On
Apr 26, Palmyra Cove Nature Park had MARSH WREN, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH,
SCARLET TANAGER and WORM-EATING WARBLER. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were
at Florence on Apr 26. The Hawkins Rd area this week had YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOO, possible KENTUCKY WARBLER, HOODED, PROTHONOTARY and WORM-EATING
WARBLERS.
Burlington
County:
This week, Palmyra Cove Nature Park had COMMON
GOLDENEYE and at least 16 species of warbler including WILSON’S,
WORM-EATING, HOODED and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS. That day, there were BLUE
GROSBEAKS at the Chatsworth section of Franklin Parker Preserve. The Hawkins
Rd area had PROTHONOTARY, HOODED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL was at Riversedge Park on May 3. Brightview Farm had BOBOLINKS, GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS and SUMMER TANAGER on May 6.
Salem
County:
On May 4, BOBOLINKS were at Featherbed Lane and CATTLE EGRETS were at
Compromise Rd.
Gloucester
County:
A CASPIAN TERN was at the High Hill Rd Marsh area on May 1, and Raccoon
Island had 2 GREAT CORMORANTS that day. A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was at Riverwinds
on May 3. Glassboro Woods WMA had HOODED, WORM-EATING, KENTUCKY and PROTHONOTARY
WARBLERS.
Camden
County:
A WORM-EATING WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were at the Stafford Trails
in Vorhees Twp on May 4. A BOBOLINK was at the Stafford Farm in Vorhees
on May 5. KENTUCKY WARBLERS were at Winslow WMA on May 1.
Mercer
County:
Baldpate Mountain had eBird reports of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and KENTUCKY
WARBLER on May 2. A HOODED WARBLER was at Princeton Institute Woods on
May 7.
Somerset
County:
Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve had BLUE GROSBEAKS, VESPER SPARROWS
and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on May 5.
Hunterdon
County:
On May 3, Spruce Run Reservoir had nearly 50 COMMON LOONS, PURPLE FINCHES,
SUMMER TANAGER and 15 species of warbler including TENNESSEE and GOLDEN-WINGED
WARBLERS.
Warren County:
Old Mine Rd had 20 species of warblers on May 4, including CERULEAN, CANADA,
HOODED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS. A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was near Merril
Creek Reservoir on May 4.
For Delaware:
New
Castle County:
This week, Brandywine Creek State Park had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and 23
species of warbler including WORM-EATING, KENTUCKY, HOODED and BLACKPOLL
WARBLERS. On May 3, White Clay Creek State Park hosted YELLOW-THROATED
VIREO, ACADIAN FLYCATCHER and 13 species of warbler including WILSON’S
WARBLER. On May 1, the Meadows Tract of Blackbird State Forest had HOODED
and KENTUCKY WARBLERS. Alapocas Woods Park had SWAINSON’S THRUSH
on May 7. A KING RAIL called from Grier’s Pond on May 4.
Kent
County:
On May 4, Bombay Hook NWR had 35-50 RED KNOTS at Shearness Pool. Other
highlights from Bombay Hook that day included BLUE GROSBEAKS and BLACK-NECKED
STILTS. Killens Pond State Park had a SUMMER TANAGER on May 5.
Sussex
County:
A WOOD SANDPIPER was found at the Broadkill Impoundments of Prime Hook
NWR on May 5, and was still present in the area on May 8. The WOOD SANDPIPER
was found on the right side of the impoundment, and was
observed from the second pull-out after the nearly ninety degree turn
at the gated Island Farm Rd. On May 4, Prime Hook NWR had 18 species of
warbler including YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT; WORM-EATING, PROTHONOTARY, HOODED
and BLACKPOLL WARBLERS.
Trap Pond State Park had a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
on May 3, and another SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was seen from the Cape Henlopen
State Park Hawk Watch on May 7. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was found on State
Forest Rd, a mile north of Seashore Highway in the Redden State Forest
Area. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen as recently as May 7, when it
was 1.8 miles south of Deer Forest Rd. The DuPont Nature Center had RED
KNOTS and a TRICOLORED HERON on May 4. On May 7, Abbott’s Mill Nature
Center had ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, BLUE GROSBEAK, HOODED and PROTHONOTARY
WARBLERS. On May 4, Milford Neck WA had BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and PROTHONOTARY
WARBLER.
For Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia
County:
On May 3, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WHITE-EYED
VIREO and 17 species of warbler including YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. The next
day, the refuge had a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and 15 species of warbler.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Biopond hosted NASHVILLE WARBLER
on May 5. A BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was found along the Wissahickon Creek
near Valley Green Inn in Chestnut Hill on May 3. That day a WILSON’S
WARBLER and WORM-EATING WARBLER were banded at Fairmount Park, and a few
BOBOLINKS were at the hay fields along Spring Lane.
Delaware
County:
Two ANHINGAS soared over Struble Lake on May 4. That day Hibernia Park
also hosted a LONG-EARED OWL, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and PURPLE FINCH.
A May 4 walk along Crum Creek at Scott’s Arboretum at Swarthmore
College provided SWAINSON’S THRUSH, SUMMER TANAGER, TENNESSEE and
HOODED WARBLER.
Chester
County:
At the private Bucktoe Creek Preserve in Chester County, there were 15
BOBOLINKS on May 5. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was in a yard near White Clay
Creek on May 3. This week, White Clay Creek Preserve had PURPLE FINCHES
and at least 15 species of warbler including BAY-BREASTED and HOODED WARBLERS.
PINE SISKINS appeared on private property on May 7.
Montgomery
County:
A BAY-BREASTED WARBLER was found in Audubon on May 4. On May 3, the
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove had a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO. On
May 3, Green Lane Reservoir had 6 COMMON LOONS, and 3 DUNLIN were at the
Church Rd area. This week, Fort Washington State Park hosted GRAY-CHEEKED
and SWAINSON’S THRUSH and at least 17 species of warbler including
GOLDEN-WINGED, CERULEAN, YELLOW-THROATED, WORM-EATING and WILSON’S
WARBLERS. A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was at Huntingdon Valley on May 1. Mill
Creek Preserve had WORM-EATING WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO on May
5.
Bucks
County:
On May 5, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen from a dirt path near the Callowhill
Rd bridge over the Perkiomen Creek. A May 2 walk along the Perkiomen Trail
in Perkasie revealed 14 species of warbler. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
was at Hidden Lake off of Route 532 near Newtown on May 2. Seventeen species
of warbler were noted at Peace Valley Park through May 3, including WORM-EATING
and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. Silver Lake Park had RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 10
species of warbler on May 3. This week Churchville Nature Center had PURPLE
FINCH and HOODED WARBLER. Nockamixon State Park had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO,
BLACKBURNIAN and TENNESSEE WARBLERS on May 3. That day, SGL-157 had PURPLE
FINCH; RED-HEADED WOODPECKER; HOODED, BLACKBURNIAN and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.
On May 5, Core Creek Park had a CLIFF SWALLOW.
Northampton
County:
On May 4, Moore Twp sightings included KENTUCKY WARBLER, GRASSHOPPER and
VESPER SPARROWS. Green Pond had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS through May
3, with a high count of 107 LESSER BLACK-BACKS on May 3. This week Jacobsburg
State Park hosted WHITE-EYED VIREO, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO and 16 warbler
species including BLACKBURNIAN and HOODED WARBLERS. A LINCOLN’S
SPARROW was at Jacobsburg State Park on May 5, and five more were there
on May 7.
Lehigh
County:
On May 3, Purchase Park had 7 species of warbler. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was
seen from Treichlers Bridge near Laury’s Station on May 7, and a
CERULEAN and several WORM-EATING WARBLERS were in that area.
Schuylkill
County:
On May 2, the Tumbling Run Watershed had 16 species of warbler including
HOODED and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS. A CLIFF SWALLOW was at Hidden Valley
on May 4. Sweet Arrow Lake had HOODED WARBLER on May 2.
Berks
County:
A possible CLARK’S GREBE and a COMMON LOON were on Blue Marsh Lake
on May 7. CERULEAN and WORM-EATING WARBLERS were at Hay Creek on May 3.
That day, SGL-110 had RUFFED GROUSE and 13 species of warbler including
WORM-EATING and HOODED WARBLERS. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary had migrating
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and MERLINS.
Lancaster
County:
On May 4, the Conejohela Flats had RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 4 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; FORSTER’S, CASPIAN and BLACK TERNS.
Five DUNLIN were at the Flats on May 2. On May 3, Holtwood Ash Basin #2
had PRAIRIE WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and WHITE-EYED VIREO. Three
BLUE GROSBEAKS were at Lancaster County Central Park on May 2, along with
14 species of warbler including YELLOW-THROATED and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS.
Safe Harbor Park that day hosted 3 CERULEAN WARBLERS, and a YELLOW-BREASTED
CHAT was at Observation Site Rd. Northern Lancaster County Park’s
Pumping Station Rd had GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
on May 7.
Lebanon
County:
On May 3, the power line area along Pinch Rd revealed 20 species of warbler;
including CERULEAN, BAY-BREASTED, KENTUCKY, PROTHONOTARY, HOODED and WORM-EATING
WARBLERS.
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***
Due to scheduling and internet access issues, there
will be no Delaware Valley RBA for the week of May 19, 2008. We will resume
a regular schedule for the week of May 26, 2008.
On May 9-11, Colin Campbell will lead a DVOC field trip,
Birding Southern Delaware into Maryland. If you would like to attend this
field trip, contact Colin Campbell in advance. A flyer with additional
information will be made available to participants. The DVOC website also
has information about this trip, including contact information for the
trip leader and reports from past trips: http://www.dvoc.org
On 12, Sandra Keller will lead a DVOC field trip exploring
Gloucester County, NJ. The trip will meet at will meet at 7:00AM at Glassboro
Woods WMA on Carpenter - the west (Rt. 47) end; pull into the parking
area by the gate. Please contact Sandra Keller if you plan on attending.
Additional information, including contact information for the trip leader
is on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday May
15 at 7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, when
Debi Shearwater will present “Penguins of the World.” In lieu
of an Ornithological Study that evening, the Nikon DVOC Lagerhead Shrikes
will present their World Series of Birding report. The meeting after that
will be on June 5, featuring Frank Windfelder’s “My Philly
Big Year in 2007.” Details are on the website, and guests are always
welcome.
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
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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