| Current
report - Thursday August 21, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Great Egret, Old World Subspecies (VA)
Little Egret (Unconfirmed Report) +++
White Ibis +
White Ibis ++
White Ibis +++
White-faced Ibis (NY)
Black-bellied Whistling-duck +++
Long-billed Curlew (Possible) +
Eurasian Collared-dove ++
White-winged Dove (MD)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (NY)
+ (Details requested by New
Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Cory's Shearwater
Greater Shearwater
Audubon's Shearwater
Wilson's Storm-petrel
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Brant
Broad-winged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Bridled Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Selasphorus Hummingbird Sp.
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Common Raven
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Brewster's Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Lark Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compilers: Steve Kacir- 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.
This week, we highlight reports of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
in Kent County, DE; EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE in Lancaster County, PA and
WHITE IBIS in Lancaster County, PA; Kent County, DE and Atlantic County,
NJ
For New Jersey: Click
Here for the New Jersey Birding List
Cape May County:
 Click
Here for Cape May County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Aug 16, a BREWSTER’S and a CERULEAN WARBLER
were found at Higbee Beach WMA. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen at the morning
flight dike on Aug 17, and a DICKCISSEL was seen there on Aug 15. Other
birds at Higbee that day included MOURNING and CERULEAN WARBLER. Other
highlights from Higbee this week included BROAD-WINGED HAWK; BOBOLINKS;
BLUE GROSBEAKS; BLACKBURNIAN, PROTHONOTARY, CANADA and WORM-EATING WARBLERS.
A SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD Sp. was at the east path of the Nature Conservancy’s
Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge on Aug 14, and the LARK SPARROW was at
the bottom of the dunes at the end of the west path that day. Up to
4 BLACK TERNS, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and a NORTHERN BOBWHITE were
also at the refuge that day. A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was at the second
plover pond at Cape May Point State Park on Aug 14. Two MARBLED GODWITS
were at the park’s Bunker Pond on Aug 17, and a MERLIN flew over
the point that day. On Aug 15, there was an unconfirmed report of LONG-BILLED
CURLEW in the area of Swain Channel east of Sunset Lake in Wildwood
Crest, an area accessible only by water.
Cumberland County:
Click
Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The area around Bivalve had TRICOLORED HERONS; WESTERN
and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS; CASPIAN, BLACK and ROYAL TERN.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR still
hosted an AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN and BLACK TERNS through Aug 20. The
GLAUCOUS GULL was reported through Aug 16. A juvenile WHITE IBIS was
at the Gull Pond and the north pool on Aug 20. Two MARBLED GODWITS were
at the west pool on Aug 16. A WILSON’S and a RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
in the west pool were seen from the south dike on Aug 16, and a RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE was in the SW pool the next day. A female and juvenile YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD were at the refuge on Aug 17, and a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD
was at the NW pool on Aug 20. Two RED-NECKED GREBES were at the NW pool
on Aug 20. Other sightings from Brigantine included BRANT; TRICOLORED
HERONS; CATTLE EGRET; WESTERN, WHITE-RUMPED and STILT SANDPIPERS; LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHERS; WHIMBRELS; BANK SWALOWS; BLUE GROSBEAKS; BOBOLINKS; LEAST
and CASPIAN TERNS. A BROWN PELICAN was at Tuckerton’s Great Bay
Blvd WMA on Aug 16.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No report
Camden County:
Click
Here for Camden County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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.
A female MOURNING WARBLER was at Sandy Hook on Aug
18.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
August 11, DeLea Sod Farm also held a female YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD in a mixed blackbird flock. Also seen here was 1 BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPER.
Gloucester County:
Click
Here for Gloucester County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Click
Here for information on DVOC member Sandra
Keller's Gloucester County Big Year.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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.
This week the Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch reported COMMON
RAVEN and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
For Delaware: Click
Here for the Delaware Birding List
New Castle County
Click
Here for New Castle County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Aug 15, a BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK was seen
from the marshy area across from the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal
near the Thousand Acre Marsh. The WHISTLING-DUCK was seen again at the
Thousand Acre Marsh on Aug 20, when it was reportedly 100 yards down
the road after a left at the canal; the marsh gives way to open water
in this location. That evening, the WHISTLING-DUCK and several MARBLED
GODWITS were about 100 meters SW of the intersection of Reedy Point
Bridge Rd and Route 9, basically near the foot of the bridge. Three
BLACK TERNS were in the same area that day. Two AMERICAN AVOCETS were
at the Thousand Acre Marsh on Aug 17. The next day, a MARBLED GODWIT
was at the south end of the Reedy Point Bridge at the first pull-off
on the road to the canal off Route 9, and 3 WILSON’S PHALAROPES
were in a pool north of that location. On Aug 19, five MARBLED GODWITS
were at the Thousand Acre Marsh: 2 visible from the bottom of the Reedy
Point Bridge and three more 100 yards up the road along with the 3 WILSON’S
PHALAROPES. MARBLED GODWITS were still at the marsh on Aug 20. CASPIAN
TERNS were seen throughout the area of the Thousand
Acre Marsh.
Highlights from Brandywine Creek this weekend
included MAGNOLIA WARBLER and PILEATED WOODPECKER, while the Thompson’s
Bridge area of White Clay Creek State Park had PILEATED WOODPECKER,
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and CANADA WARBLER. Ashland Nature Center had
CANADA WARBLERS and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS Aug 20-21. CLIFF and BANK SWALLOWS
were seen near a Route 9 bridge north of Taylor’s Gut.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A juvenile WHITE IBIS and RED-NECKED PHALAROPE were
at Bombay Hook NWR’s Bear Swamp through Aug 17. On Aug 17, Bombay
Hook NWR also had a HUDSONIAN GODWIT and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at Raymond
Pool and a CURLEW SANDPIPER at the bay side of Shearness. An unconfirmed
report of LITTLE EGRET at Bombay Hook came from this date as well. On
Aug 15, an early YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and BLACK TERN were at Bear Swamp.
Other highlights from the refuge included TRICOLORED HERON, CATTLE EGRET,
CASPIAN TERNS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, STILT and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS,
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, AMERICAN REDSTART, BLUE GROSBEAK and BOBOLINK.
Taylor’s Gut at Woodland Beach WA had AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-NECKED
STILTS and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. On Aug 16, a SCARLET TANAGER was
at the Armstrong Farm in the Smyrna area, and BLUE GROSBEAKS were at
the Logan Lane Tract of Ted Harvey WA. Three GULL-BILLED TERNS were
at the Ted Harvey WA south impoundment on Aug 15.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A pelagic trip out of Lewes, DE found an adult BRIDLED
TERN; WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS; BLACK TERNS; PARASITIC JAEGERS,
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES; CORY’S, GREATER and AUDUBON’S SHEARWATERS;
PRAIRIE and YELLOW WARBLERS. On Aug 16, a PIPING PLOVER along with ROYAL
and CASPIAN TERNS were seen near the DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion
Harbor Reserve. Prime Hook NWR’s Fowler Beach Rd had NORTHERN
BOBWHITES, SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS, BLUE GROSBEAK and BOBOLINK
that day.
For Pennsylvania: Click
Here for the Pennsylvania Birding List
Philadelphia County:
Click
Here for Philadelphia County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Delaware County:
Click
Here for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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.
On Aug 18, a WILD TURKEY was at the Hollywood Access
of the Perkiomen Trail in Graterford.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
An UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen at Franklin Lot #4 near
Warminster Community Park on Aug 17. On Aug 16, Churchville Nature Center
had a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER in the pines along the road to the dam
and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO in a locust tree on the edge of a field on
the path to the pond. On Aug 18, a MOURNING WARBLER and 2 KENTUCKY WARBLERS
were located at the Twisty Trail near where it meets Swamp Trail and
Fallen Tree Trail at Peace Valley Park. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was
seen at Peace Valley that day as well, just west of Sunrise Trek on
Deer Trail. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was at Peace Valley’s Cool Pool
on Aug 16. Recent highlights from Peace Valley included BOBOLINK, BLACKBURNIAN
and CANADA WARBLERS. At least 4 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were at SGL-157
on Aug 19, and other sightings at SGL-157 that day included 2 YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHERS; BLACKBURNIAN, HOODED, WORM-EATING and CANADA WARBLERS.
Core Creek Park had SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 3 LITTLE BLUE HERONS at
the Woodbourne Rd causeway on Aug 17.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Aug 16, the LTS development site on Richmond Rd
had a female DICKCISSEL and a pair of BLUE GROSBEAKS. That day, a WILSON’S
WARBLER and BANK SWALLOW were at Lake Minsi. A LINCOLN’S SPARROW
was at the PPL Martins Creek Preserve on Aug 16.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Schuykill County:
Click
Here for Schuykill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary reported BROAD-WINGED HAWKS,
MERLINS CLIFF and BANK SWALLOWS this week.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE was spotted from US 30 in
the village of Paradise on Aug 15. A juvenile WHITE IBIS was still being
seen at a pair of ponds near Stop #1 of the Middle Creek WMA driving
tour, with the most recent sighting from Aug 17. A SANDHILL CRANE was
heard at Avocet Point on Aug 16, and seen at Avocet Point the next day.
On Aug 19, the Conejohela Flats had a WHIMBREL and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
at Avocet Point, with the GOLDEN-PLOVER moving to Gull Island later
in the evening. Three BLACK TERNS were seen over the main channel that
day. Over the weekend, the Flats had HORNED GREBE, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER,
BLACK and COMMON TERNS. Through the week, the Flats hosted SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS, BONAPARTE’S GULL, FORSTER’S and CASPIAN TERN. Warblers
near the old Cornwall Fire Tower at SGL-156 on Aug 20 included MOURNING,
GOLDEN-WINGED, BLACKBURNIAN and WORM-EATING WARBLER. That day, a YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHER was at Hammer Creek off Pumping Station Rd. Octoraro Reservoir
had 5 LITTLE BLUE HERONS on Aug 19.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
An early adult GOLDEN EAGLE flew by the Second Mountain
Hawk Watch on Aug 15. Other sightings from Second Mountain included
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and NASHVILLE WARBLERS. Migrants noted at SGL-80
included HOODED and NASHVILLE WARBLER.
Extralimital Reports
Maryland
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen at Truitt’s Landing in Worcester
County on Aug 17. A juvenile WHITE IBIS was at Hughes Hollow in Montgomery
County on Aug 15.
VIRGINIA:
A black-billed subspecies of GREAT EGRET, probably the individual first
seen at Chincoteague NWR earlier this year, has been seen at False Cape
State Park, Virginia Beach since Aug 4, with sightings as recent as
Aug 16. Presumed to be an Old World form, this bird may have come from
either Central Europe or sub-Saharan Africa.
NEW YORK:
A SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER was at the Shawangunk Grasslands NWR and
Galeville’s Long Lane Park in Ulster County Aug 15-18. A WHITE-FACED
IBIS was at the south end of Jamaica Bay NWR’s East Pond Aug 16-19.
Announcements
On August 31, Frank Windfelder will lead a DVOC field
trip to Palmyra Cove Nature Park in Burlington County, NJ for early
fall migrants. The trip will meet at the park’s parking lot at
6:45AM. Please contact Frank Windfelder 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 September
4th at 7:30pm at Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Rd., Bristol,
PA. This is an informal meeting scheduled to highlight attendees summer
adventures in birding. More details can be found on the DVOC website
http://www.dvoc.org, and guests are always welcome.
See Life Paulagics is running a number of pelagic
trips out of ports in the Delaware Valley. An overnight pelagic trip
out of Lewes is scheduled for Aug 21, and a pelagic out of Belmar, NJ
is scheduled for Aug 24. For more information, call 215-234-6805 or
visit See Life Paulagics on the web at http://www.paulagics.com
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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