| Current
report - Wednesday October 29, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Brown Booby (VA)
Magnificent Frigatebird (NJ)+
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Sabine's Gull NY)
Broad-billed Hummingbird (MA)
Varied Thrush (MA)
Harris's Sparrow (DE)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested
by New Jersey
Birds Records Committee)
(PA)+ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
(DE)+ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Eurasian Wigeon
King Eider
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Northern Goshawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Virginia Rail
Common Moorhen
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
American Woodcock
Parasitic Jaeger
Laughing Gull
Black-headed Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Short-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Bicknell's Thrush
American Robin
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Vesper Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Snow Bunting
Painted Bunting
Dickcissel
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
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 BARNACLE GOOSE in
Burlington County, NJ and HARRIS’S SPARROW in New Castle 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.
Cape May County:
A female or juvenile PAINTED BUNTING was seen near the parking lot and
along the road to the dike at Higbee Beach WMA on Oct 26. Other highlights
from Higbee this week were NORTHERN GANNETS, AMERICAN PIPITS, PURPLE
FINCHES and PINE SISKINS. The immature male KING EIDER was at the end
of JFK Blvd in Sea Isle City on Oct 25. A GREAT CORMORANT was on the
Concrete Ship on Oct 26. The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory
Bird Refuge had VIRGINIA RAIL on Oct 24. A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was at
the Rea Farm on Oct 24, and 3 SNOW BUNTINGS flew by on Oct 28. A GOLDEN
EAGLE flew over the Rea Farm on Oct 27, and was later seen at the Cape
May Point State Park Hawk Watch. A BLACK-HEADED GULL and CLIFF SWALLOWS
were seen from the hawk watch on Oct 26, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew
past on Oct 27. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER called near the hawk watch
platform on Oct 24. Other highlights from Cape May Point State Park
were GREAT CORMORANT, BRANT, WHITE-RUMPED and WESTERN SANDPIPER, BROAD-WINGED
HAWKS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, AMERICAN PIPIT, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS,
PURPLE FINCH and PINE SISKIN. PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen from Cape
May Point on Oct 24 & 26. A SHORT-EARED OWL and AMERICAN WOODCOCK
were at Jake’s Landing on Oct 26. On Oct 28, a DICKCISSEL was
at CMBO’s Center for Research and Education in Goshen. This week,
the Avalon Sea Watch noted RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, BROWN
PELICANS, BRANT, COMMON EIDERS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS,
BLACK and SURF SCOTERS. On Oct 24, immature KING and COMMON EIDERS were
found near Avalon.
Click
here for Karl and Judy Lukens's website where there are pictures
of various interesting birds that have been seen in Cape May County
and in New Jersey.
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 22, the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe
NWR had a drake EURASIAN WIGEON and 7 MARBLED GODWITS at the west pool,
while two SNOW BUNTINGS were on the dike road near the southeast corner
of the drive. Other highlights from Brigantine included LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHERS, WESTERN and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 26, a PINE SISKIN was at Sandy Hook’s
Plum Island, and the two COMMON MOORHENS were still at the north pond.
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 23.
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
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.
Two VESPER SPARROWS were in the NE section of the
National Park dredge spoils on Oct 26.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
Middlesex County:
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 GOLDEN EAGLES on
Oct 21 & Oct 26-27, and 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were seen on Oct 22.
On Oct 22, two hundred BRANT flew past Raccoon Ridge. PINE SISKINS were
noted on Oct 22 & 27, with a high count of 200 SISKINS on Oct 22.
Other highlights for Raccoon Ridge this week included COMMON LOON, MERLINS,
COMMON RAVENS and PURPLE FINCHES. On Oct 26, the Scott’s Mountain
Hawk Watch noted a SNOW BUNTING and PINE SISKINS. RED-THROATED LOONS
flew past Scott’s Mountain on Oct 26 & 27. Other highlights
from Scott’s Mountain were COMMON LOON, MERLINS and PEREGRINE
FALCONS. On Oct 23, the Glenhurst Meadows aka Warren Green Acres had
a PINE SISKIN and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER; a LINCOLN’S SPARROW
and 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were there on Oct 26.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary had PINE SISKINS
and PURPLE FINCH on Oct 22.
Morris County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
On Oct 27, a juvenile MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD was
spotted at the Montclair Hawk Lookout in Essex County.
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.
The adult HARRIS’S SPARROW was at Brandywine
Creek State Park through Oct 28. To get to where the HARRIS’S
SPARROW was seen, go to the main park entrance off Adams Dam Road. Just
past the entrance booth, the road makes a sharp left and a long driveway
goes up the hill to a farmhouse. The HARRIS’S SPARROW has been
seen in the brush before the sharp left on the opposite side of the
road from the farmhouse. LINCOLN’S SPARROWS were also in that
area through Oct 26.
The Ashland Nature Center Hawk Watch spotted
a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Oct 24. A BICKNELL’S THRUSH was in the hedgerow
near the hawk watch on Oct 24. Dragon Run Park had 30 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
on Oct 24.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A ROSS’S GOOSE was in a flock of SNOW GEESE
along the entrance road to Bombay Hook NWR on Oct 28.
Picture by Bert Filemyr
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 26 & 27, single GOLDEN EAGLES passed over
the Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch. A flock of PINE SISKINS flew
by the hawk watch on Oct 27. Other highlights from Cape Henlopen this
week were NORTHERN GANNETS, BROWN PELICANS, MERLINS and PEREGRINE FALCONS
and PURPLE FINCHES. Indian River Inlet had both NELSON’S and SALTMARSH
SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS on Oct 26.
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.
This week the Rose Tree Park Hawk Watch
noted MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON and PILEATED WOODPECKER.
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Oct 24, several hundred AMERICAN PIPITS
were behind the West Nantmeal Township Building off of Route 82. On
Oct 25, Lloyd Park had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, and Chambers Lake had a SNOWY
EGRET. On Oct 24, a CACKLING GOOSE was at the Coatesville Reservoir,
and a ROSS’S GOOSE was there on Oct 24 & 29.
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 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was at Green Lane Reservoir’s
Church Rd mudflats on Oct 25. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen between Westminster
and West Laurel Hill Cemeteries on Oct 26. The Militia Hill Hawk Watch
at Fort Washington State Park noted a BROAD-WINGED HAWK this week.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Nockamixon State Park had an adult female SNOW BUNTING
at the fishing pier on Oct 24, and a COMMON RAVEN flew over Lake Nockamixon
that day. On Oct 24, Peace Valley Park had 8 CACKLING GEESE at the Chapman
Rd bridge and 5 CACKLING GEESE at the fields around Sailor’s Point.
A VESPER SPARROW was at Peace Valley on Oct 24. Other highlights from
Peace Valley were LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, PINE SISKINS and PURPLE
FINCHES. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were also seen at Bradford Dam, Churchville
Nature Center and Core Creek Park this week. Two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were
at Core Creek Park on Oct 23. On Oct 25, a female CONNECTICUT WARBLER
was at the Bradford Dam area, in a brushy area near the power line cut
where the path from Nike Park goes east into the woods north of the
lake. Eleven AMERICAN PIPITS were also at Bradford Dam that day. Two
PEREGRINE FALCONS were at the Scudder Falls Bridge. A GREAT CORMORANT
was seen on the Delaware River at Torresdale Manor on Oct 27.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Koch Property had its biggest concentration of
sparrows this fall on Oct 26, including LINCOLN’S SPARROW. PINE
SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES were seen there as well.
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 single GOLDEN
EAGLES on Oct 24 & 27. PINE SISKINS flew past Bake Oven Knob Oct
23, 26 & 27, with a high count of 295 SISKINS on Oct 27. Other highlights
from Bake Oven Knob included PEREGRINE FALCON, MERLIN and COMMON RAVENS.
Schuykill County:
Click
Here for Schuykill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
PINE SISKINS were seen in the Sweet Arrow Lake area
on Oct 26.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s Hawk Watch
saw GOLDEN EAGLE on Oct 24. On Oct 27, four GOLDEN EAGLES and a NORTHERN
GOSHAWK flew past Hawk Mountain. An estimated 25,000 AMERICAN ROBINS flew
past Hawk Mountain between 7-8am on Oct 26. On Oct 23, PURPLE FINCHES
and PINE SISKINS flew past Hawk Mountain. Other sightings from Hawk Mountain
included MERLINS.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Five AMERICAN PIPITS flew over Middle Creek WMA on
Oct 26. That day, 95 PINE SISKINS were seen in Lancaster County including
birds at Middle Creek WMA, Forest Rd and Speedwell County Park, and
PURPLE FINCHES were seen at Forest Rd and Speedwell Park. A LAUGHING
GULL was on Octoraro Lake on Oct 29. That day AMERICAN PIPITS were seen
from Old Pike Rd; they were in a field with recently spread manure.
PINE SISKINS were at feeders in Elizabethtown on Oct 29.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Second Mountain Hawk Watch noted PINE SISKINS
OCT 23-24 & Oct 27, with a high count of over 100 PINE SISKINS on
Oct 24. On Oct 26, two GOLDEN EAGLES flew past Second Mountain. Other
highlights from Second Mountain included COMMON LOONS, MERLINS and COMMON
RAVENS.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
Eighteen HUDSONIAN GODWITS flew over Pittsburgh, Allegheny
County on Oct 28.
Extralimital Reports
MARYLAND:
On Oct 23, a COMMON REDPOLL was at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville,
Baltimore County.
VIRGINIA:
The BROWN BOOBY at Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County was reported
as recently as Oct 26.
NEW YORK:
On Oct 27-29, a juvenile SABINE’S GULL was at Squaw Island in
Buffalo, Erie County.
MASSACHUSETTS:
A VARIED THRUSH was discovered in Cape Ann at Eastern Point Blvd opposite
the base of Fort Hill Ave in Gloucester, Essex County. The Cape Cod
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD that has been visiting feeders at 65 Grassy
Pond Drive in Dennis, Barnstable County was still being reported as
recently as Oct 27.
Announcements
On Sunday Nov 2 , 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. Please note that Eastern Standard
Time takes effect this day.
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 will begin at 7:30pm
on Thursday Nov 6 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia,
PA. The main program of the meeting features a presentation by Adrian
Binns entitled "Watching East Africa’s Unique Wildlife.”
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 Nov 21, the Wyncote Audubon Society will
meet at the Plymouth Meeting House located at the intersection of Germantown
and Butler Pikes in Plymouth Meeting, when Cliff Hence will present
"Birding Spain and England." The program is free and open
to the public. Jeff Gordon will present "The Delaware Birding Trail:
a Birder's View of the First State" at the Wyncote Audubon Annual
Dinner on Sunday Dec 7. For more information and registration contact
Marlene Morano at 215-342-7996 or email Jane Henderson at: [email protected]
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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