| Current
report - Wednesday October 8, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Anhinga ++
Barnacle Goose +
White-cheeked Pintail (WV)
Swallow-tailed Kite +
Mississippi Kite ++
Broad-billed Hummingbird (MA)
Say's Phoebe (MA)
Northern Wheatear +
Le Conte's Sparrow +
+ (Details requested by New
Jersey Birds Records Committee)
++ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
+++ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Snow Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Mississippi Kite
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
American Golden-plover
American Avocet
Western Willet
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Ruff
Long-billed Dowitcher
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Barn Owl
Common Nighthawk
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Marsh Wren
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Bicknell's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
American Pipit
Brewster's Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compilers: Steve Kacir and Win Shafer - 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 a possible ANHINGA
in Lebanon County, PA; BARNACLE GOOSE in Burlington County, NJ; SWALLOW-TAILED
KITE in Cape May County, NJ; MISSISSIPPI KITE in Berks County, PA and
LE CONTE'S SPARROW in Monmouth 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.
A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew by the Nature Conservancy's
Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, Hidden Valley Ranch and the State Park's
hawk watch on Oct 4. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was noted at the Cape May Point
State Park Hawk Watch through Oct 4, and two were seen at Hidden Valley
Ranch on Oct 3. Migrating BARN OWLS have been heard over Cape May lately.
A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past the Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch on
Oct 7. Three PARASITIC JAEGERS and 20 BLACK SCOTERS were seen from Cape
May Point State Park on Oct 1. A LARK SPARROW was at the State Park
on Oct 2. Other highlights from Cape May Point State Park included TRICOLORED
HERON, BRANT, WHIMBREL, STILT SANDPIPERS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS
and CAPE MAY WARBLERS. On Oct 4, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was in a
tree across the street from the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and
a PARASITIC JAEGER was seen from the beach. Two PARASITIC JAEGERS and
a probable POMARINE JAEGER hunted the rips off Cape May on Oct 4, and
another PARASITIC JAEGER was reported on Oct 7. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
was on the steps of St Peter's Episcopal Church on Oct 7.
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was at Hidden Valley on Oct
3, and a BREWSTER'S WARBLER was there the next day. A VESPER SPARROW
was at the Rea Farm on Oct 7. On Oct 3, Higbee Beach WMA had a GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW. On Oct 2, two AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS flew past the Morning
Flight Project at Higbee. That day a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER and LINCOLN'S
SPARROW were at Higbee's "Tower Field." A DICKCISSEL flew
by the Morning Flight Project on Oct 4, and 2 more were seen on Oct
7. Other highlights from Higbee this week were BRANT, SURF and BLACK
SCOTERS, AMERICAN PIPITS, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, PURPLE FINCH, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
and warblers including CAPE MAY, BAY-BREASTED, TENNESSEE, CANADA and
BLACKBURNIAN. The Villas WMA had an immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on
Oct 5. MARBLED GODWITS, TRICOLORED HERONS and AMERICAN BITTERNS were
seen on CMBO Back Bay Cruises this week. A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at the
Wetlands Institute Oct 5-6, and 3 MARBLED GODWITS and WESTERN WILLETS
were there Oct 6. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was found along the Meadow Trail
of the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary on Oct 1. Sightings from the Avalon
Sea Watch included RED-THROATED LOON, NORTHERN GANNETS, TRICOLORED HERONS,
PARASITIC JAEGER, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BRANT, an unidentified EIDER,
SURF SCOTER, BLACK SCOTER and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER.
Cumberland County:
Click
Here for Cumberland County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Atlantic County:
Click
Here for Atlantic County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 5, a RUFFED GROUSE crossed the Route 539 in
the pinelands.
On Oct 4, a DVOC field trip to the Tuckerton Marshes noted BROWN PELICANS,
SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and both the nelsoni and subvirgatus
subspecies of NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS. On Oct 5, Tuckerton had
BROWN PELICAN, MERLIN, SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS and LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS. Later that day, the trip moved to the Brigantine Division
of Edwin B Forsythe NWR, where the following birds were noted: 2 YELLOW-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, 5 AMERICAN AVOCETS, 6 STILT SANDPIPERS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER,
WHITE- RUMPED and WESTERN SANDPIPERS. On Oct 6-7, Brigantine had AMERICAN
AVOCETS and a juvenile RUFF. A female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at
Brigantine on Oct 7.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A LE CONTE'S SPARROW was on the north side of the
road that leads to Parking Area F at Sandy Hook on Oct 8. On Oct 3,
a CONNECTICUT WARBLER flushed from brush along the edge of Sandy Hook's
North Pond, and another CONNECTICUT was at Sandy Hook the next day.
Other highlights from Sandy Hook this week were CAPE MAY, WILSON'S and
NASHVILLE WARBLERS.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BARNACLE GOOSE was at John F Kennedy Lake in Burlington
on Oct 6.
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.
No reports
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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.
No reports.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 5, Cold Brook Preserve had a DICKCISSEL, 3
CONNECTICUT WARBLERS and 5 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. Three NASHVILLE WARBLERS
and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were at Holland Church WMA on Oct 8.
Middlesex County:
A WILSON'S WARBLER was at Plainsboro Preserve on Oct
5.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A walk at Trenton Marsh turned up NASHVILLE and TENNESSEE
WARBLER.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 8, the Glenhurst Meadows aka Warren Green Acres
had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW at the parking lot and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
at the Cross Trail. The Scott's Mountain Hawk Watch and Raccoon Ridge
Hawk Watch noted PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS this week.
On Oct 4 & 7, single NORTHERN GOSHAWKS flew past Scott's Mountain,
and a GOLDEN EAGLE was seen there on Oct 5. Bobcats were seen near Raccoon
Ridge on Oct 4.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 2, Hutcheson Memorial Forest had a BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER. A LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Six Mile Run on Oct 5.
Morris County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
A NORTHERN WHEATEAR was at the stable at Garret Mountain Reservation,
Passaic County on Oct 4. A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE flew over Route 637 just
past the intersection with Route 206 in Frankford, Sussex County on
Oct 2.
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 Oct 1, Ashland Nature Center had a NASHVILLE WARBLER
and SWAINSON'S THRUSH. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH, PILEATED WOODPECKER and
DARK-EYED JUNCOS were at Ashland on Oct 8. Other highlights for Ashland
were YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and BLUE-HEADED VIREOS. The Ashland Nature
Center Hawk Watch had RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and PEREGRINE FALCONS this
week. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew by the hawk watch on Oct 4. Hoopes Reservoir's
Hillside Mill Cove at Hoopes Reservoir had a HORNED GREBE on Oct 4.
Two PIED-BILLED GREBES and a LINCOLN'S SPARROW were there on Oct 5.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BROWN PELICAN, MERLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS
were at Port Mahon Road on Oct 5.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch noted COMMON
LOONS, BRANT, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and WHIMBREL
this week. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 2 DICKCISSELS flew by the hawk watch
on Oct 6. On Oct 4, Cape Henlopen's Hawk Watch had set a new record
for PEREGRINE FALCONS, with 95 PEREGRINES for the day. On Oct 3, the
hawk watch noted 10 BLACK SCOTERS and a SURF SCOTER, and 6 BROWN PELICANS
flew past on Oct 5. On Oct 7, SNOW GEESE and nearly 600 BLACK SCOTERS
flew past Cape Henlopen's Hawk Watch.
Thousands of SCOTERS and a PARASITIC JAEGER were seen from the hawk
watch on Oct 8. On Oct 2, the area around Cape Henlopen's Gordons Pond
had BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES and 10 BOBOLINKS. A MOURNING WARBLER was
seen at the Gordons Pond parking lot that day. The Fowler Beach area
of Prime Hook NWR had a HOODED WARBLER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW
on Oct 5. The next day, a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER was at Prime Hook's
Headquarters area. On Oct 8, Abbott's Mill Nature Center had a PILEATED
WOODPECKER.
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.
On Oct 2, a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was banded
at Fairmount Park.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch had COMMON
LOONS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS and PILEATED
WOODPECKERS.
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.
An AMERICAN BITTERN was incongruously near the warm
season grasses at the Fort Washington State Park Headquarters Area on
Oct 5, while a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH and NASHVILLE WARBLER were at the
park's Flourtown Day Use Area. A WILSON'S WARBLER was at Fort Washington
on Oct 3. This week, the Militia Hill Hawk Watch at Fort Washington
noted COMMON LOONS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS and
AMERICAN PIPITS. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was at Norristown Farm Park on
Oct 2.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 2, seven COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen over turf
farm fields near the David Library in Washington Crossing. On Oct 1,
a LINCOLN'S SPARROW was at Tyler State Park in a field at the covered
bridge entrance off Swamp Rd. On Oct 3, a NASHVILLE WARBLER was at the
Spring Garden Mill entrance area of Tyler State Park. Two LITTLE BLUE
HERONS were at Core Creek Park on Oct 1. Recent reports from Churchville
Nature Center included MERLIN, RUDDY DUCK and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.
The fields near the Newtown exit off
I-95 had 15 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS on Oct 2. Peace Valley Park had
a CONNECTICUT WARBLER on Oct 5. Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, MERLIN,
2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and LINCOLN'S SPARROW
were at Peace Valley on Oct 4.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Koch property had NASHVILLE WARBLERS and LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS on Oct 3 & 5. On Oct 8, the Koch property had MERLINS,
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, 15 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, NASHVILLE and TENNESSEE
WARBLERS.
A MARSH WREN was there on Oct 5. Two CAPE MAY WARBLERS were in Bath,
East Allen Twp on Oct 3.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch noted RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS. A TENNESSEE WARBLER
was there on Oct 1, and a CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen on Oct 6.
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.No reports
The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hawk Watch noted
PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and PURPLE FINCHES this week, and 2 GOLDEN
EAGLES were seen there on Oct 8. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH was seen there on
Oct 1, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER was there on Oct 2. A CACKLING GOOSE was
on Blue Marsh Lake on Oct 4, and HORNED LARKS were in the area on Oct
6. A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Leesport on Oct 6. On Oct 5, SGL-110
had RUFFED GROUSE, COMMON RAVEN, 12 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, HORNED LARK, TENNESSEE
WARBLER and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Nocturnal flight calls over Boyertown included
SWAINSON'S and GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES, and a probable BICKNELL'S THRUSH
called from the ground.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 7, an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, 2 BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVERS, 2 CASPIAN TERNS and 5 FORSTER'S TERNS were at the Conejohela
Flats.
Lancaster Central Park had NASHVILLE WARBLER on Oct 8.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
This week the Second Mountain Hawk Watch noted COMMON
LOONS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, MERLINS and COMMON RAVENS. On Oct 3, a probable
ANHINGA circled Second Mountain before soaring south. On Oct 4, a KENTUCKY
WARBLER was at Second Mountain, and a GOLDEN EAGLE flew past. On Oct
5, Second Mountain noted 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and a HOODED WARBLER.
Carbon County:
On Oct 2, Little Gap had TENNESSEE WARBLER and 2 LINCOLN'S
SPARROWS.
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
The Pecks Pond area had a RUFFED GROUSE and
COMMON RAVEN on Oct 5.
PA Extralimitals:
No reports
Extralimital Reports
NEW YORK:
On Oct 4, a WESTERN KINGBIRD and LARK SPARROW were in the Fort Tilden
area of Queens County. In Brooklyn, Kings County a LARK SPARROW was
at Greenwood Cemetery on Oct 7, and a LE CONTE'S SPARROW was at Plum
Beach on Oct 8.
MASSACHUSETTS:
On Oct 2, a SAY'S PHOEBE was at the Lot 7 boardwalk on Plum Island,
Essex County. On Oct 3, the SAY'S PHOEBE had wandered to Sandy Point
State Reservation. The Cape Cod BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD in Dennis,
Barnstable County was seen as recently as Oct
5.
WEST VIRGINIA:
A WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL that has been at a pond in the Huntfield subdivision,
west of Charles Town, Jefferson County was most recently reported on
Oct 5.
Announcements
On Nov 1 or Nov 2 (exact date to be determined), Frank
Windfelder, Bill Murphy and Chris Walters will lead a DVOC field trip
to Bake Oven Knob in Lehigh County, PA for migrating raptors. This is
a good time of year for migrating Golden Eagles and Northern Goshawks.
The trip will meet at the Bake Oven Knob Parking Lot at 8:30AM, and
attendees should bring a packed lunch. Please contact Frank Windfelder
if you plan on attending the field trip.
Additional information, including trip reports from previous trips and
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 Oct 16 at
7:30pm at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA. The main
program of the meeting features a presentation by Rob Fergus entitled
"Urban Bird Ecology and Conservation." Steve Kacir will present
an Ornithological Study entitled "Giving up the Heavens: Ten Flightless
Birds." Details are on the website, and guests
are always welcome.
The DVOC Annual Banquet will take place on Thursday
November 20.
Please set aside November 20 for the Annual Banquet, which is always
a great time. Speakers Clay & Pat Sutton will present "Birds
& Birding at Cape May (a Bird Walk Through Time)," and book
signing. The evening begins with a cash bar at 6PM, and dinner is served
at 7pm. The cost is $46 per person. Menu choices, prices, and more information
including the reservation form can be found on-line at: http://www.dvoc.org/Banquet/Banquet.htm
At 7:30PM on October 17, the Wyncote Audubon Society
will meet at the Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersection
of Germantown and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, when Connie Goldman
will present "A Rite of Spring - Migrants to Nebraska with the
Sandhill Cranes." The program is free and open to the public.
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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