| Current
report - Wednesday September 3, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Magnificent Frigatebird +
White Ibis +
Black-bellied Whistling-duck ++
Mississippi Kite ++
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (possible) +++
Long-tailed Jaeger ++
Bridled Tern +
Sooty Tern +
Sooty Tern +++
Yellow Wagtail (NY)
Western Meadowlark (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 (probable)
Audubon's Shearwater (probable)
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Broad-winged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-plover
Semipalmated Plover
American Avocet
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Forster’s Tern
Bridled Tern
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Common Raven
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Winter Wren
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Summer Tanager
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Dickcissel
Bobolink
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 MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
in Cape May County, NJ; MISSISSIPPI KITE in Berks County, PA; LONG-TAILED
JAEGER in Bucks County, PA; BRIDLED TERNS in Cape May County, NJ and SOOTY
TERNS in Cape May County, NJ and Sussex County, DE.
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.
A SOOTY TERN was near the Concrete Ship on Sep 6,
and later 2 SOOTY TERNS were seen from Lehigh Ave at Cape May Point.
Other storm-driven birds around the point that day included PARASITIC
and POMARINE JAEGER and a probable CORY’S SHEARWATER. The next
morning, birders at Sunset Beach found a dark morph POMARINE JAEGER,
PARASITIC JAEGERS, BLACK TERNS, 2 SOOTY TERNS and 2 BRIDLED TERNS. A
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD flew over Higbee Beach WMA on Sep 8, and other
sightings at Higbee that day included a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, 2 CONNECTICUT
WARBLERS and 7 DICKCISSELS. Eighteen BLACK TERNS were seen from Higbee
Beach WMA on Sep 5. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at Higbee’s dike
on Sep 8. Other migration highlights from Higbee included YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, CAPE MAY and WILSON’S
WARBLERS. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were reported from Cape May Point
State Park through Sep 7, and BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were at the park’s
Bunker Pond and plover ponds through Sep 10. Notable sightings from
the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch on Sep 8 included MAGNIFICENT
FRIGATEBIRD, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, BLUE GROSBEAK and DICKCISSEL. An
AMERICAN BITTERN and 2 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were noted from the
hawk watch on Sep 9. On Sep 8, the park had 18 warbler species including
BAY-BREASTED and MOURNING WARBLER. Other highlights from Cape May Point
State Park included YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, NORTHERN GANNET, BROWN
PELICANS, TRICOLORED HERONS, MERLINS, BLACK TERNS, STILT and WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS. The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge
had a SORA and STILT SANDPIPER on Sep 5. On Sep 3, the refuge had WHIMBREL,
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and TRICOLORED HERON. Stone Harbor Point had
300 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 85 RED KNOTS on Sep 4. A LARK SPARROW was
in the dunes just south of the parking lot for Stone Harbor Point on
Sep 9, when an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and 60 RED KNOTS were on the beach.
Cumberland County:
Click
Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
High counts at Johnson Sod Farm included 29 AMERICAN
GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 14 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS and an UPLAND SANDPIPER.
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Sep 7, two WILSON’S PHALAROPES and a RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE were in the west pool of the Brigantine Division of Edwin
B Forsythe NWR. That day, two BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were near the
dogleg, and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at the NE corner. Over 100 RED KNOTS,
40 STILT SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, WESTERN and WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPERS were at Brigantine that day, along with a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
that was near the restrooms. An AMERICAN AVOCET was at Brigantine’s
SW pool on Sep 4. Two AVOCETS were in the SE corner on Sep 7. A MARBLED
GODWIT was at the refuge on Sep 7, and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were
there on Sep 4 & 7. Other highlights from Brigantine this week included
MERLINS, BOBOLINKS and BLACK TERNS.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Sep 6, Sandy Hook had AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS at
the end of Fisherman’s Trail, while 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were
at the north end of Plum Island. Sandy Hook had reports of BLACK TERNS
through Sep 6. On Sep 8, a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was at Sandy Hook’s
salt ponds, while AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and
a juvenile STILT SANDPIPER were on the beach. Passerines that day included
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS at Raccoon Alley, SWAINSON’S and GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSHES, CAPE MAY and WILSON’S WARBLERS.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A VESPER SPARROW was at Franklin Parker Preserve on
Sep 3.
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.
On Sep 6, Sandy Hook had AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS at
the end of Fisherman’s Trail, while 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were
at the north end of Plum Island. Sandy Hook had reports of BLACK TERNS
through Sep 6. On Sep 8, a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was at Sandy Hook’s
salt ponds, while AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and
a juvenile STILT SANDPIPER were on the beach. Passerines that day included
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS at Raccoon Alley, SWAINSON’S and GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSHES, CAPE MAY and WILSON’S WARBLERS.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
High counts for Delea Sod Farm were 20 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS
and 12 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, with much of the action south of Route
40 and near the intersection of Route 40 and Pointers-Auburn Rd. Six
COMMON MOORHENS were at Mannington Marsh on Sep 7.
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.
The Wheelabrator site had ALDER FLYCATCHER, SWAINSON’S
THRUSH and CAPE MAY WARBLER on Sep 10.
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.
The Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch noted MERLIN, COMMON
RAVENS and CLIFF SWALLOWS. The Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch had
COMMON RAVENS and COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, and on Sep 10 the hawk watch reported
324 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
Morris County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
In Bergen County, a juvenile WHITE IBIS was still
being seen from the Sawmill Trail at Richard W DeKorte Park as recently
as Sep 6.
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 Sep 5, the Thousand Acre Marsh had WILSON’S
PHALAROPE, STILT and WESTERN SANDPIPER. A possible SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
was found at a sod farm north of Woodland Beach WMA on Sep 7, though
the identification of this bird is not indisputable. The sod farm can
be found by heading north on Route 9, turning left at the first left
past the intersection with Route 6, then turning right onto Dew Drop
Rd. The sandpiper was near the intersection of Dew Drop Rd and Shorts
Landing Rd. An immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER flew by the Ashland Nature
Center Hawk Watch on Sep 7, and an adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and LEAST
FLYCATCHER were at Ashland the next day. COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were at Ashland
on Sep 7 & 9, and a MERLIN flew by on Sep 9. On Sep 10, a BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER was at Ashland. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was at White Clay Creek
State Park that day.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Highlights from Bombay Hook NWR included BOBOLINKS,
BLUE GROSBEAKS, CATTLE EGRETS, CASPIAN TERN, AMERICAN AVOCETS, WESTERN
and STILT SANDPIPERS.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Sep 6, a probable AUDUBON’S SHEARWATER was
50 yards off Rehoboth Beach. That day, a SOOTY TERN was found along
Broadkill Rd at Prime Hook NWR, and a PARASITIC JAEGER and an unidentified
JAEGER was seen from Fowler’s Beach. The next day, 4 BUFF-BREASTED
SANDPIPERS were seen from Broadkill Rd, and a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER
was at the boardwalk trail near the Prime Hook headquarters. On Sep
6, a PARASITIC JAEGER was seen from the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk
Watch. On Sep 7, highlights from the hawk watch included MERLINS, BLACK
TERNS, BROWN PELICAN and CAPE MAY WARBLER. Three BROWN PELICANS were
seen there on Sep 8. Highlights from the next day included 5 BROWN PELICANS,
15 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 3 BLACK TERNS, PEREGRINE FALCON and BOBOLINKS.
On Sep 4, the hawk watch noted SANDWICH TERNS, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL,
BROWN PELICANS, SUMMER TANAGER and BLUE GROSBEAKS. Three BANK SWALLOWS
were at Cape Henlopen on Sep 5. On Sep 10, Cape Henlopen’s hawk
watch reported COMMON LOON, MERLIN, WHIMBREL, SUMMER TANAGER and TENNESSEE
WARBLER.
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.
Highlights from the Rose Tree Park Hawk
Watch included COMMON LOON, MERLIN, PILEATED WOODPECKER and BOBOLINKS.
A BARRED OWL was at Ridley Creek State Park on Sep 6.
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.
Two COMMON RAVENS flew over Deep Creek Lake at Green
Lane Reservoir early in the report week. Up to 2 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS,
3 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER had been seen at
the Church Rd mudflats at Green Lane Reservoir through Sep 6. Unfortunately,
Saturday’s rain completely submerged the mudflats, leaving no
shorebird habitat available on Sunday. A flight of 700-900 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS
was witnessed at the Militia Hill Hawk Watch at Fort Washington State
Park on Sep 7, and around 800 NIGHTHAWKS flew past the next evening.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Sep 6, a LONG-TAILED JAEGER was on private property
near Tullytown. On Sep 9, a juvenile GREAT CORMORANT was at the lake
opposite Falls Township Community Park at Wheatsheaf Rd. On Sep 5, Core
Creek Park had 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 5 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS. LITTLE
BLUE HERONS were seen from Core Creek’s Woodbourne Causeway on
Sep 5 & 9. On Sep 7, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was at Warminster
Community Park. Recent reports from Peace Valley Park included LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO and
KENTUCKY WARBLER. A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was at Peace Valley near the
intersection of the Outer Loop and Scout Trails through Sep 4. FORSTER’S
and COMMON TERNS were reported from the dam at Peace Valley’s
Lake Galena on Sep 9. Shorebirds at Pine Run through Sep 6 included
WHITE-RUMPED, STILT and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, with other notable sightings
being BOBOLINKS and MERLIN. LaSalle Pond near Newtown had a NASHVILLE
WARBLER on Sep 8.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Koch Property had an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and
possible YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER on Sep 7.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Sep 8, Bake Oven Knob highlights included MERLINS,
COMMON RAVEN, WINTER WREN and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.
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.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE flew past Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
on Sep 7. On Sep 4, Hawk Mountain had BAY-BREASTED, NASHVILLE, CAPE
MAY and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS along with 4 GREAT EGRETS, OLIVE-SIDED
and LEAST FLYCATCHERS. Another great Hawk Mountain migration fallout
occurred on Sep 8 featuring MERLIN; OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER; BLUE-HEADED
and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO; SWAINSON’S THRUSHES; BLACKBURNIAN,
CAPE MAY, NASHVILLE and TENNESSEE WARBLERS. An immature YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON and a COMMON NIGHTHAWK were at Blue Marsh Lake Recreation
Area on Sep 6.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Sep 6, the Conejohela Flats had 18 BLACK TERNS,
3 CASPIAN TERNS, 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 16 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS,
18 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 3 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 3 SANDERLINGS, a RED KNOT,
2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 4 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS, a DUNLIN, WESTERN
and STILT SANDPIPER. Twenty-one shorebird species were tallied at the
flats that day. The next day, the flats had 2 BLACK TERNS, 3 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, 13 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a WESTERN SANDPIPER and 4 BAIRD’S
SANDPIPERS. The SANDHILL CRANE was at the Conejohela Flats through Sep
9. On Sep 9, the flats also had FORSTER’S TERN, 14 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS,
25 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, WESTERN and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. On Sep
10, Pumping Station Rd had over 20 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS along with
CERULEAN, NASHVILLE, BLACKPOLL and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Lebanon County:
A MERLIN passed by the Second Mountain Hawk Watch on Sep 3, and a GOLDEN
EAGLE was reported on Sep 7.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
A SORA, VIRGINIA RAILS and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES
were at Oaks Swamp near Tobyhanna State Park.
PA Extralimitals:
The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK at Pymatuning WMA
in Crawford County was seen at Miller’s Pond on Sep 8.
Extralimital Reports
NEW YORK:
A YELLOW WAGTAIL was at Plum Beach, Kings County on Sep 7, but headed
out in the general direction of Sandy Hook.
MARYLAND:
On Sep 6, the WESTERN MEADOWLARK was seen again at the turf farm on
Route 331 just north of Route 14 and south of Hurlock, Dorchester County.
Announcements
On Sep 14, Denis Brennan will lead a DVOC field trip
to John Heinz NWR at Tinicum in Philadelphia County for fall migrants.
The trip will meet at 8:00AM at the Cusano Environmental Education Center.
Target species include Blue-winged Teal, Bobolink, Black-throated Blue
Warbler and more. Please contact Denis if you plan on attending the
field trip. Additional information along with contact information for
the trip leaders can be found on the DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org
The next meeting of the DVOC is Thursday Sep 18 at
7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. The main
program of the meeting is Lillian Armstrong’s "New Jersey
Birding and Wildlife Trail Guides Project.” Details are on the
website, and guests are always welcome.
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
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
Carbon County
Chester
County
Delaware County
Lancaster County
Lebanon County
Lehigh County
Monroe County
Montgomery
County
Northampton
County
Philadelphia County
Pike County
Schuykill
County
Wayne 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
Union County
Warren
County
In Delaware;
New
Castle County
Kent County
Sussex County
|
Click Here for Jack
Siler's eBird Rarities Map