Current report - Thursday July 17, 2008

- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species accounts for many of these birds

Little Egret +++
White Ibis ++


+ (Details requested by New Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware Records Committee)

Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Night-heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Glossy Ibis
Brant
Ring-necked Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Bald Eagle
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Solitary Sandpiper
Western Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Whip-poor-will
Red-headed Woodpecker
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
Bank Swallow
Sedge Wren
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Clay-colored Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
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. This week, we highlight reports of LITTLE EGRET in Kent County, DE and WHITE IBIS in Lancaster County, PA.

For New Jersey:

Cape May County:
Click Here for Cape May County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

Cape May County:
Early migrant highlights from Higbee Beach WMA included WORM-EATING WARBLERS, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, BOBOLINK and PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. A PINE SISKIN was found near Davey’s Lake at Higbee Beach WMA on July 12. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO called from the back of Hidden Valley Ranch on July 12. The RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at Belleplain State Forest called from the back of the electric fence area on July 9.

Cape May Point State Park had PIPING PLOVERS. Over 20 BANK SWALLOWS were at the beach at Cape May Point on July 10. Up to 20 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS have been seen in South Cape May. On July 10, an adult SURF SCOTER was at Poverty Beach, and a young WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was seen there through July 16. A BRANT was on the beach near the St Mary’s Jetty through July 16. On July 11, a PARASITIC JAEGER was offshore from The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and a LEAST BITTERN called from the beginning of the ponds along the east path at dusk. On July 14, a BROWN PELICAN was seen from the refuge, and 2 more BROWN PELICANS were off Norbury’s Landing on July 15. On July 10, a MARBLED GODWIT was behind Nummy’s Island, and one flew past the free bridge at Nummy’s Island on July 13. Two SANDWICH TERNS roosted on Champagne Island on July 10.

Atlantic County:
Click Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

On July 13, the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR had STILT SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, WESTERN WILLET and a BLACK TERN. Six AMERICAN AVOCETS feeding at the refuge’s West Pool near the south dike on July 10. Other sightings from Brigantine included LITTLE BLUE HERONS, CATTLE EGRET, CASPIAN TERN, WHIMBREL and BANK SWALLOWS.

Cumberland County:
Click Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON and 11 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were at Heislerville WMA on July 14.

Ocean County:
Click Here for Ocean County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

Monmouth County:
Click Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

Assunpink WMA had YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS and BLUE GROSBEAKS, and an ALDER FLYCATCHER was reported from a hedgerow near the planted fields and nest box on July 13. BOBOLINKS and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were near the intersection of Polhemustown Rd and Walnford Rd.

Burlington County:
Click Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

On July 13, Palmyra Cove Nature Park had a CASPIAN TERN, LEAST SANDPIPERS and BANK SWALLOWS. On July 15, two WHIP-POOR-WILLS put in appearances in an open area of the campground at Brendan Byrne State Forest, while at least three more were heard calling.

Salem County:
Click Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

Two RUDDY DUCKS were in a pond near Featherbed Lane on July 12. That day Mannington Marsh’s COMMON MOORHENS were visible from any bridge passing over the marsh. LITTLE BLUE HERONS were also at Mannington Marsh, and a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was at Mannington’s Sunset Rd Area. CATTLE EGRETS were found in the Mannington area of Salem County on July 12 as well.

Gloucester County:
Click Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

On July 11, the National Park Dredge Spoils area had BOBOLINKS, BANK SWALLOWS and LEAST SANDPIPERS.

Hunterdon County:
Click Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

Clinton WMA had a drake RING-NECKED DUCK, LEAST and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS on July 13.

Mercer County:
Click Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

Warren County:
Click Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

For Delaware:

No reports

Kent County:
Click Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

The LITTLE EGRET was seen by at least one birder at Bombay Hook NWR’s Shearness Pool on July 12. Another birder, remarked upon having seen the LITTLE EGRET on a few occasions perched in a tree near Raymond Pool’s water control gate at the dike road’s first left turn after the boardwalk trail. More recent reports of the LITTLE EGRET were from July 15 & 16, and the LITTLE EGRET was at Raymond Pool on July 16. Two WILSON’S PHALAROPES were at Raymond Pool on July 10. STILT SANDPIPERS were noted there through July 12. A possible LEAST BITTERN flew by at Bear Swamp on July 10, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were noted there on July 12. A possible SEDGE WREN was heard from the area of Raymond Pool on July 12. That day, Finis Pool had COMMON MOORHEN, BARRED OWL and YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO; the CUCKOO and MOORHEN were seen again on July 16. Other highlights from Bombay Hook were LITTLE BLUE HERONS, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS, WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, BANK SWALLOWS, BLUE GROSBEAKS and YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS.

On July 12, Taylor’s Gut at Woodland Beach WA had a breeding plumaged WESTERN SANDPIPER and 4 breeding plumaged STILT SANDPIPER, and a WILLOW FLYCATCHER was near the Florio House. That day, a LEAST BITTERN flew along the dune that runs along the bayshore beach at Ted Harvey WA.

Sussex County:
Click Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

For Pennsylvania:

Philadelphia County:
Click Here for Philadelphia County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A ROYAL TERN flew along the Delaware River from Bucks County into Philadelphia County on July 12.

Chester County:
Click Here for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

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 BARRED OWL has been calling at a private residence near Green Lane Reservoir.

Bucks County:
Click Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

The Nockamixon State Park HORNED GREBE was still near the fishing pier through July 13. A ROYAL TERN flew south along the Delaware River. On July 14, a GREAT CORMORANT was roosting on a rock in the Delaware River upstream from the Calhoun St bridge in Morrisville. The Tullytown Landfill is closed to the public, but, with permission, one birder located a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, 2 DICKCISSELS and 12 BLUE GROSBEAKS. Just outside the landfill were 4 more BLUE GROSBEAKS. The US Steel Property, which also is not open to the general public, had a COMMON MOORHEN, 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES and 4 BLUE GROSBEAKS. A BLUE GROSBEAK was at Peace Valley Park on July 12. A WHITE-EYED VIREO was at Core Creek Park on July 11.

Northampton County:
Click Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

On July 13, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER and 16 LEAST SANDPIPERS were at the retention pond off Hanoverville Rd, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER was at Green Pond. The retention pond at Tatamy-Nazareth Rd had LEAST and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS that day

Lehigh County:
Click Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

A probable BLUE GROSBEAK put in an appearance at Bake Oven Knob on July 15.

Schuykill County:
Click Here for Schuykill County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

On July 11, Landingville Marsh had BANK SWALLOWS.

Berks County:
Click Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

No reports

Lancaster County:
Click Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

The immature WHITE IBIS was still at Avocet Point at the Conejohela Flats through July 16. The Avocet Point Sandhill CRANE was there briefly on July 15, and spent the better part of the day on the flats on July 16. Three CASPIAN TERNS were at the flats that day as well. Also seen in the area this week were up to 12 BALD EAGLES, PIED-BILLED GREBE, LITTLE BLUE HERON, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS and LEAST SANDPIPERS. Fifty-five BANK SWALLOWS were at the Conejohela Flats on July 15. A GLOSSY IBIS was in eastern Lancaster County. On July 13, Octoraro Lake had LEAST, SOLITARY and SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, and along Mount Eden Rd there were YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and BOBOLINK.

Lebanon County:
Click Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.

SGL-80 had HOODED WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK on July 13.

PA Extralimitals:

The Juniata County CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at Amos Renno’s Farm south of Van Wert was seen as recently as July 13. Details can be found on the PABirds Listserve: http://list.audubon.org/archives/pabirds.html or at http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/PENN.html
.

*** ANNOUNCEMENTS ***

On August 9, Steve Kacir will lead a DVOC field trip to Green Lane Reservoir for migrating shorebirds. The trip will meet at the Church Road Parking Lot at 7:00AM. Please contact Steve Kacir if you plan on attending. Contact information, directions and more information about the field trip are on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org

The next meeting of the DVOC is Thursday August 7 at 7:30pm at Palmyra Cove Nature Park in Palmyra, NJ. This informal meeting will feature short presentations including Elizabeth Rosenthal, the author of "Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson" who will speak about her book and have copies available for sale and signing. Vincent Nichnadowicz will present “Banding Penguins in Patagonia,” and Frank Windfelder will present “Hidden Places of Palmyra.” Also, one or more DVOC sponsored summer interns at the Academy of Natural Sciences will report on the internship experience. Details are on the website, and guests are always welcome.

See Life Paulagics is running a number of pelagic trips out of ports in the Delaware Valley. An overnight trip is scheduled for Aug 21 out of Lewes, DE. A pelagic out of Belmar, NJ is scheduled for Aug 24. A trip outside of the Delaware Valley leaves from Freeport, NY on Sep 14. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or visit See Life Paulagics on the web at http://www.paulagics.com

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....

• Submission Guidelines
• What is the "Delaware Valley"?

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!)

 

 

 

 

 

What is the Delaware Valley?

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 County

In 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 County

In Delaware;
New Castle County
Kent County
Sussex County