Current report - Thursday June 19, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Little Egret +++
White Ibis +++
White-winged Tern +
Henslow's Sparrow (MD)
+ (Details requested by New
Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Common Loon
Cory’s Shearwater
Wilson's Storm-petrel
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Gadwall
Surf Scoter
Red-shouldered Hawk
Northern Bobwhite
Clapper Rail
Virginia Rail
Common Moorhen
Black-bellied Plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
Western Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Whip-poor-will
Acadian Flycatcher
Common Raven
Yellow-throated Vireo
Cliff Swallow
Brewster’s Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Bobolink
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. This week, we highlight reports of LITTLE EGRET in Kent County, DE; WHITE IBIS in New Castle County, DE and a possible WHITE-WINGED TERN in Atlantic County, NJ.
For New Jersey:
On June 17, a CORY’S SHEARWATER at the rips was seen from the St Peter’s Jetty, and a SANDWICH TERN was at the end of the jetty. On June 16, a pair of WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS were near the Alexander Ave jetty at Sunset Beach. A June 18 tour around Cape May Point provided views of a flyby BROWN PELICAN and 4 drake SURF SCOTERS. PIPING PLOVERS and at least one chick were at Cape May Point State Park. PIPING PLOVERS and a COMMON LOON were at The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were at the refuge on June 13. On June 16, there were 4 SANDWICH TERNS at Champagne Island, and BROWN PELICANS were in the Hereford Inlet area. A WESTERN SANDPIPER was at the overflow pond at the base of Stone Harbor Point that day. Champagne Island had 110 ROYAL TERN nests as of June 17. BLUE GROSBEAKS were at the Rea Farm and The Nature Conservancy’s Cape Island Preserve. The Rea Farm’s PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen on June 14.
A probable WHITE-WINGED TERN was briefly noted with a BLACK TERN at Edwin B Forsythe NWR’s Brigantine Division on Jun 15. These terns were seen from the south dike in the east pool, a little past marker 7. The summering GLAUCOUS GULL was at the refuge through June 18, and was seen at the northeast section of the impoundments on June 16. On June 15, a WILSON’S PHALAROPE was on the left side of the dike at the beginning of Brigantine’s dike road. Other reports from Brigantine noted GADWALL, CASPIAN & GULL-BILLED TERNS.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS were singing at Rancocas State Park.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
CATTLE EGRETS were spotted just outside Salem, and at the cow pasture along Compromise Rd. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were active in that area as well. On June 15, a COMMON MOORHEN called near the Kings Highway Bridge at Mannington Marsh, and a LEAST BITTERN called from the Sunset Rd area.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two VIRGINIA RAILS were found along Route 130 around Pedricktown.
A NORTHERN BOBWHITE was spotted from School Rd just past the railroad tracks in Readington Twp.
For Delaware:
New Castle CountyClick
Here for New Castle County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc. On June 14-17, an adult WHITE IBIS fed with a flock of GLOSSY IBIS off Route 9 south of Port Penn between Port Penn and Augustine Beach. The WHITE IBIS was also bayside to the east of the eastern marsh, as seen from the grassy area at Augustine Beach on June 17. Two LITTLE BLUE HERONS were in the Port Penn area on June 15. That day, a CATTLE EGRET was seen between Madison St and Adams St in Delaware City. A SNOW GOOSE was seen in Old New Castle on June 17. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK hunted from a perch at the Cypress Branch Wetland of Blackbird State Forest’s Peters Tract, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was in the area as well. A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was on territory at a wetland located on private property at the heart of Blackbird State Forest.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The LITTLE EGRET at Bombay Hook NWR was most recently reported on June 17. On June 12, it was opposite Bear Swamp Pool halfway down the dike just beyond the area where a mudflat forms at low tide. On June 13, the LITTLE EGRET was found on the tidal flat east of Shearness Pool. On June 14, the LITTLE EGRET was on the tidal flats formed opposite Shearness Pool again, appearing for the first time that day about 2hrs after peak high tide. On June 17, the LITTLE EGRET was feeding in the NW corner of Shearness Pool at 2:00PM. Other highlights from Bombay Hook NWR included BARRED OWL and 2 singing PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS at Finis Pool, an AMERICAN REDSTART singing near the north end of Shearness and BLUE GROSBEAKS throughout the refuge. Shearness had a pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS with chicks and two other STILTS were on nests at Bear Swamp. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Bear Swamp, and NORTHERN BOBWHITES and CLAPPER RAILS called from the refuge. On June 16, SUMMER TANAGERS were at the Blairs Pond trail system, and a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO sang near the halfway point on the Post Oak Trail.
Click here to enjoy pictures of the Little Egret on Donna Tolbert-Anderson's website
Click Here to enjoy pictures of the Little Egret on Howard Eskin's website.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
An AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and 4 BROWN PELICANS flew south along the swimming beach at Cape Henlopen State Park on June 17. On June 18, YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS flew around the powerline thicket at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER fledglings were noted at Abbott’s Mill as well. PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were seen around Haven Lake on June 14.
For Pennsylvania:
Philadelphia
County:
Click
Here for Philadelphia County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The West Vincent area had ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS, SCARLET TANAGERS and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS.
Montgomery
County:
Click
Here for Montgomery County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Click Here for information on DVOC member Steve Kacir's Montgomery County Big year.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER sang from a swampy area near the Schuykill River in Royersford.
Bucks
County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Three BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS fed in a tree near the Chapman Rd Bridge at Peace Valley Park on June 16.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was at the Grand Central landfill on June 14, and a male GADWALL has been lingering at Christian Springs. A pair of CLIFF SWALLOWS were seen near the I-78 bridge over the Delaware River on June 13. On June 18, five WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were in a drying out pond in a farm field at Green Pond Rd that ran parallel to but south of Route 22.
Highlights from the Lehigh Gap area included WHIP-POOR-WILLS, PRAIRIE and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.
A CLIFF SWALLOW colony was discovered under the eaves of a building ear the Zehner’s desilting pond in South Tamaqua. A BREWSTER’S WARBLER was found just west of McAdoo Heights and Kelayers. A pair of COMMON RAVENS was seen near Cumbola. Confirmed breeders at the Tumbling Run Watershed included CHESTNUT-SIDED, WORM-EATING, HOODED and CANADA WARBLERS. SGL-222 had breeding CANADA, HOODED and WORM-EATING WARBLERS. A CERULEAN WARBLER sang west of Brockton.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCK foraged at the edge of Hopewell Lake at French Creek State Park on June 12. Breeding Bird Atlas work in blocks 80B12 & 80B21 revealed VESPER SPARROW and ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS. Blue Marsh Lake had BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on June 16. Two BOBOLINKS were in a field along Grist Mill Rd on June 17.
Extralimital Reports:
MARYLAND:
On June 17, a WHITE-WINGED TERN flew over Route 50 and landed on a street
sign in Ocean City, Worcester County. A HENSLOW’S SPARROW has been
seen through June 18 in a field of tall grasses opposite the residence
at 23021 Club Hollow Rd, Poolesville, Montgomery County.
*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***
ATTENTION WOOD SANDPIPER FANS: Liz Gordon has set up an online guest book for any and all who went down to Broadkill Rd to see the Wood Sandpiper. The guest book will provide data for a University of Delaware Shorebird Economic study. Please visit the site below by Clicking Here and fill out the short survey found there
On June 28, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC field trip to Wharton State Forest. The trip will meet at the Carranza Memorial at 6:00PM. Target species include displaying Common Nighthawks, calling Whip-poor-will and possibly Chuck-will’s-widow. Please contact Steve Kacir if you plan on attending. Contact information and more information about the field trip are on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is on Thursday July 10 at 7:30pm at Palmyra Cove Nature Park in Palmyra, NJ. This informal meeting will feature short presentations including Rob Hynson’s “Southeast Arizona” and Bert Filemyr’s “A Raptor ID Puzzle” and “Behind the Curtain of the DVOC Website.” Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome.
Due to a staffing shortage, John Heinz NWR at Tinicum desperately needs volunteers to help with the front desk and operate the Friends of Heinz Refuge's Tinicum Treasures store. Warm, friendly people who know Tinicum are needed to help John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge maintain and enhance its public interface. The Fish and Wildlife Service is relying more and more on volunteers to staff its visitor centers. Currently, volunteers run almost all public programs at the refuge. Who better to give advice on where to find a certain bird on the refuge than someone who actually birds the refuge? If you'd be interested in volunteering please contact Tony Croasdale at 215-301-7940 or email him at [email protected]
The second Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas has already made great strides this year. Please consider contributing to this massive citizen science project to study and map the distribution of birds breeding in Delaware. For more information contact the DE BBA Coordinator, Anthony Gonzon at [email protected] or call (302) 653-2880. More information is available at the DE BBA Website: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.
On this page....
Links
- Daily Field Checklist (A handy pocket list for your daily adventures. Available to everyone courtesy of the DVOC)
- Delaware Valley Birding Checklist (A major publication covering status and distribution of Delaware Valley birds. Available to everyone courtesy of the DVOC)
General Guidelines for Submission
- Rarities
- Good concentrations (e.g. 8 sp. of shorebirds at Green Lane)
- High numbers (e.g. 2,000 Common Mergansers at Peace Valley)
- Early/late occurrences (1st Indigo Bunting, lingering Phoebe)
- Unusual breeders
- BRIEF report on out of area mega rarities(e.g. Red-footed Falcon or even a stint in MA)
- Announcements (DVOC meetings and field trips, Academy events, CBC dates and pelagics!)
The Delaware Valley is the name given to the region that lays on either side of the Delaware River, centered on Philadelphia. This consists of southeastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey and the state of Delaware.
The following counties fall within our boundaries.
(Click on a county name for information specific to the county)In Pennsylvania;
Berks County
Bucks County
Chester County
Delaware County
Lancaster County
Lebanon County
Lehigh County
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Philadelphia County
Schuykill CountyIn New Jersey;
Atlantic County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Gloucester County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Ocean County
Salem County
Somerset County
Warren CountyIn Delaware;
New Castle County
Kent County
Sussex County