| Current
report - Thursday May 14, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Swallow-tailed Kite +
Yellow Rail +++
Wood Sandpiper +++
Eurasian Whimbrel +
Curlew Sandpiper +
Red Phalarope +++
Eurasian Collared-dove +
White-winged Dove +
+ (Details requested by New
Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Least Bittern
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Greater White-fronted Goose
Surf Scoter
Mississippi Kite
Ruffed Grouse
Northern Bobwhite
Black Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Whimbrel
Red Knot
White-rumped Sandpiper
Dunlin
Ruff
Long-billed Dowitcher
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chuck-will's-widow
Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Common Raven
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Pipit
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
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 14,
2008 we highlight reports of WOOD SANDPIPER AND RED PHALAROPES in Sussex
County, DE; SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in Monmouth County, NJ; CURLEW SANDPIPERS
in Cape May & Cumberland Counties, NJ; EURASIAN WHIMBREL in Atlantic
County, NJ; WHITE-WINGED DOVE in Momouth & Cape May Counties, NJ;
and EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Cape May County, NJ.
For New Jersey:
Cape
May County:
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE flew over Cape Island
on May 12. It was at Cape May Point near St Mary’s on May 9 and
St Peter’s on May 10. A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was reported from Beverly
Linn’s yard at 709 Foster Ave, Cape May and at the corner of Stites
and Pearl on May 13. Birders are welcome to come by to see the DOVE, but
be courteous and respectful to the other members of the neighborhood and
do not trespass onto surrounding properties. Four RED-NECKED PHALAROPES
were at the Bunker Pond of Cape May Point State Park on May 13. Single
ICELAND GULLS were at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory
Bird Refuge on May 8 & 12. The refuge had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS,
WHIMBREL and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on May 12. RED KNOTS flew by Sunset
Beach that day, and they were seen at the beach at the Villas over the
weekend. On May 9, ICELAND and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the Second
Ave Jetty. Migrants at Higbee Beach WMA included CERULEAN WARBLER this
week. Highlights from Belleplain State Forest included ACADIAN FLYCATCHER
and SUMMER TANAGER. A CURLEW SANDPIPER was at the north end of Nummy’s
Island on May 8. BLACK RAILS were heard from Jake’s Landing and
Stipson’s Island
Cumberland
County:
A CURLEW SANDPIPER was seen at Heislerville WMA through May 10. A SUMMER
TANAGER was noted at Bevan WMA on May 10. The next day, Dix WMA had 4
species of vireo, 16 species of warbler and a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at
Back Neck Rd. On May 11, SUMMER TANAGERS were at the intersection of Route
555 at Railroad Ave at Dividing Creek, and a CERULEAN WARBLER was farther
east along the railroad tracks. CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOWS were heard from
Dragston Rd on May 10.
Atlantic
County:
A EURASIAN WHIMBREL was at the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe
NWR on May 8. On May 10, CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOWS called from Scott’s
Landing and the entrance road for the Noyes Museum. Other highlights from
Brigantine this week included LEAST BITTERN, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER, WHIMBREL, RED KNOT, HOODED WARBLER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED
SPARROW. At least 7 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO were
at Atlantic County Park on May 11.
Monmouth
County:
An ICELAND GULL, WHITE-WINGED DOVE, 3 MISSISSIPPI KITES and SWALLOW-TAILED
KITE flew by Sandy Hook on May 8. Other highlights from Sandy Hook that
day included an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER near the locust grove and multiple
PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES. Five BLACK TERNS, 2 SURF SCOTERS and
a RED KNOT were at Sandy Hook on May 12. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was at
Plum Island that day. A DICKCISSEL was near the North Pond on May 7. Other
notables from Sandy Hook included LEAST BITTERNS, CLIFF SWALLOW, AMERICAN
PIPITS, SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, BOBOLINKS and over 20 species
of warbler including CAPE MAY WARBLER.
Burlington
County:
Palmyra Cove Nature Park had 2 GLOSSY IBIS on May 13 and a GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSH and 12 species of warbler on May 11. The Hawkins Rd area hosted
PROTHONOTARY and HOODED WARBLERS that day
Salem
County:
Featherbed Lane had BOBOLINKS on May 10.
Gloucester
County:
A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was at the National Park dredge spoils on May 13.
That day, NORTHERN BOBWHITES were at a meadow near the High Hill Rd Marsh.
Mercer
County:
There was good warbler diversity at Roger’s Refuge in Princeton
on May 10, including CAPE MAY, WILSON’S and CANADA WARBLERS. VIRGINIA
RAIL, AMERICAN and LEAST BITTERNS were heard there that night. Stony Brook-Millstone
Watershed had a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO on May 10. That day, the Pole Farm
at Mercer County Park Northwest had GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and AMERICAN WOODCOCK,
and Mercer County Park had a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
For Delaware:
New
Castle County:
Ashland Nature Center had BLUE GROSBEAK on May
8. That day, a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was found along Red Clay Creek as
well. The Ramsey Rd area had CAPE MAY and KENTUCKY WARBLERS on May 11,
and BOBOLINKS through May 13. On May 7, the Thousand Acre Marsh had VIRGINIA
RAIL, SORA, COMMON MOORHEN and AMERICAN COOT. LEAST BITTERN called from
Grier’s Pond that night, and a KING RAIL called along Route 9. On
May 13, a NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW sang from a meadow along
Blackbird Creek at the Blackbird Component of Delaware National Estuarine
Research Reserve (DNERR).
Kent
County:
The Auto Tour route at Bombay Hook NWR was damaged between Raymond and
Shearness Pools and is currently closed in that area. The Auto Tour route
can be accessed from the Allee House entrance off Route 9, and the Bear
Swamp Loop and Finis Pool road are still open. This week, Bombay Hook
NWR had AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS,
RED KNOT, RUFF, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, SEDGE WREN, YELLOW-THROATED
VIREO, BLUE GROSBEAK, HOODED and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS. The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
GOOSE was still near the Florio house at Woodland Beach WA on May 7. CLIFF
and BANK SWALLOWS were found at one of the bridges over Appoquinink Creek.
Sussex
County:
The WOOD SANDPIPER was still at the Broadkill Rd impoundments of Prime
Hook NWR through May 12. The WOOD SANDPIPER has been seen on the north
side of Broadkill Rd between the north pullout area and the second south
pullout area, but it also spent time on the south side of the road north
of the second pullout and at the SW corner of the south impoundment. The
WOOD SANDPIPER was not found on May 13, but 3 RED PHALAROPES and over
24 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were on the north side of Broadkill Rd. YELLOW
RAIL and BLACK RAIL were heard along Broadkill Rd on May 8. On May 11,
RED KNOTS were at Fowler Beach, and a REEVE (female RUFF) was at Fowler
Beach Rd across from the refuge information kiosk. Other birds noted at
Prime Hook NWR this week included AMERICAN AVOCET,
BLACK-NECKED STILT, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, WHIP-POOR-WILL, NORTHERN BOBWHITE,
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, BLUE GROSBEAK and BOBOLINKS.
On May 10, WHIP-POOR-WILLS, CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOWS
and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS called from Big Stone Beach Rd at Milford Neck
WA, and BLUE GROSBEAKS were in the area. On May 7, Milford Neck had SEDGE
WREN, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, KENTUCKY WARBLER and NELSON’S SHARP-TAILED
SPARROW. RED KNOTS were at Mispillion Harbor May 10-11. A WHIP-POOR-WILL
called from the south end of Bowman Rd on May 10. On May 10, Pete Gum
Preserve had YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and SUMMER TANAGER.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center on May
10. On May 13, Abbott’s Mill had BOBOLINKS at the barley field at
the corner of Abbott’s Pond and Lindale Rd.
The fields at Hunting Quarter Rd had VESPER SPARROW
and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. West of Seaford, at an organic cattle farm, there
were GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, VESPER SPARROWS, BOBOLINKS and a DICKCISSEL
that was at the north end of the irrigation. The fields where these birds
were located can be reached by following DE 20 west from Seaford towards
Reliance. At the Gethsemane Church in Reliance turn left to head south
on Woodland Ferry Rd. About a mile down Woodland Ferry Rd, there is a
lush pasture on the left side of the road. Another DICKCISSEL sang from
a power line at the easternmost house on Woodpecker Rd, which intersects
Woodland Ferry Rd.
For Pennsylvania:
Delaware
County:
A MOURNING WARBLER was at the Bridle Trail of Ridley Creek State Park
on May 13. Other sightings that day included CANADA and HOODED WARBLERS.
Chester
County:
In Downingtown, a CERULEAN WARBLER was south of where Dowlin Forge Rd
crosses the Struble Trail and north of mile marker #4 on May 8. A YELLOW-THROATED
VIREO was also seen from the Struble Trail that day. A KENTUCKY WARBLER
was at Longwood Gardens on May 10.
Montgomery
County:
A BLACK TERN and FORSTER’S TERN were at Green Lane Reservoir
on May 9. Fort Washington State Park had excellent warbler diversity this
week with CANADA, BLACKBURNIAN, CAPE MAY and HOODED WARBLERS as well as
SWAINSON’S THRUSHES. VIRGINIA RAILS called from a retention pond
at the intersection of Cathcart Rd and Township Line Rd. SWAINSON’S
THRUSH and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER were at Four Mills on May 9. A SUMMER
TANAGER was at McKaig Nature Center in Upper Merion on May 10.
Bucks
County:
A BLACK TERN was at Peace Valley Park on May 9. Nineteen species of warbler
were noted at Peace Valley through May 12, including CAPE MAY WARBLER.
A flock of BOBOLINKS were at Peace Valley on May 10. A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
was at the Nockamixon State Park fishing pier on May 12. A pair of RED-HEADED
WOODPECKERS seem to be nesting near the boundary line for Nockamixon State
Park on the south side of Mount Haycock. Other highlights from Nockamixon
this weekend included COMMON LOONS, HORNED GREBE, SORA, COMMON RAVEN,
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, CLIFF SWALLOWS, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, CAPE MAY
and HOODED WARBLERS. CLIFF SWALLOWS were at the Duchess Lane Picnic Area
of Core Creek Park on May 8. On May 10, Churchville Nature Center had
a MARSH WREN near the springhouse at the pond behind the nature center.
On May 11, BANK SWALLOWS were seen from Torresdale Manor across from Mud
Island. A GLOSSY IBIS was at the intersection of Deep Run and Smith School
Roads.
Northampton
County:
BOBOLINKS and a WILSON’S PHALAROPE were at the Trio Farms Condo
construction site on Gremar Rd, Lower Nazareth Twp on May 10. Martins
Creek Preserve had 12 BANK SWALLOWS on May 10, and BOBOLINKS were at Willow
Brook Farm that day. Green Pond had SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS on May 8 & 10. A DUNLIN was at Hanoverville Rd May 9-10. A HOODED
WARBLER was at Kirkridge Lookout that day.
Schuylkill
County:
Twenty-two species of warbler were at the Tumbling Run Watershed on May
10, including CAPE MAY, BLACKBURNIAN, BAY-BREASTED, CERULEAN, HOODED and
CANADA WARBLERS.
Berks
County:
The Blue Marsh Lake area had YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT on May 7 and COMMON
LOON and CASPIAN TERNS on May 8. On May 10, the Womelsdorf-Robesonia Joint
Water Authority grounds had YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO and PHILADELPHIA VIREO.
That day, SGL-110 had a MOURNING WARBLER singing from a tangle at the
stream behind the Northkill Road parking lot. On May 12, SGL-110 had GOLDEN-WINGED,
CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, HOODED, WILSON’S, CANADA and
TENNESSEE WARBLERS. Other birds at SGL-110 this week included RUFFED GROUSE
and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Lancaster
County:
A SANDHILL CRANE was near auto tour stop #3 at Middle Creek WMA on May
11. A SUMMER TANAGER was at Chickies Rock County Park on May 10. This
week, the Conejohela Flats had COMMON LOONS, HORNED GREBES, SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS, DUNLIN, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS. A EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVE was found in West Lampeter Twp along Willow Street Pike
on May 8; the bird was at the southeast corner of the Kendig Square Shopping
Center in Willow Street. That day, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was at Lancaster
County Central Park along with HOODED and YELLOW-THROATED 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 17, Erica
Brendel will lead a DVOC field trip to Carpenter’s Woods in
Philadelphia, PA. The trip will meet at the bus stop at the intersection
of Wayne Ave and Sedgwick St at 6:30AM. Please contact Erica Brendel if
you plan to attend.
On May 18, Art
McMorris will lead a DVOC field trip to Ridley Creek State Park in
Delaware County, PA. The trip will meet at 6:30AM at the Ridley Creek
Bridge on Gradyville Rd (near Newtown Square, PA). Please contact Art
McMorris if you plan to attend.
On May 19, Sandra
Keller will lead a DVOC field trip exploring Gloucester County, NJ.
The trip 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 for all
the above DVOC field trips, including contact information for the trip
leaders can be found 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.
The next meeting of Wyncote Audubon is May 16, featuring
a program by Jamie Stewart entitled “The Wissahickon Watershed.”
The meeting is at 7:30PM at Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersection
of Germantown and Butler Pikes.
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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