| Current
report - Wednesday November 12, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Thick-billed Murre (NJ)+
Cave Swallow (NJ)+
Cave Swallow (PA)+
Cave Swallow (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
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Brown Pelican
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Northern Goshawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
Virginia Rail
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
American Golden-plover
American Avocet
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-headed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Forster's Tern
Razorbill
Long-eared Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Common Raven
Cliff Swallow
Sedge Wren
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Clay-colored Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Dickcissel
Rusty Blackbird
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
Hotline: Delaware Valley Rare Bird Alert
Email reports to:
Compilers: Steve Kacir and Cinndy Ahern - 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 THICK-BILLED MURRE
in Cape May County, NJ and CAVE SWALLOWS in Cape May & Monmouth Counties,
NJ; Philadelphia County, PA 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 THICK-BILLED
MURRE was seen of the St Peter’s Jetty, Cape May Point on
Nov 7. On Nov 11, over 100 CAVE SWALLOWS were in Cape May; fifty roosted
at Avondale, and 30 roosted at The Capri. CAVE SWALLOWS were seen around
Cape May Point through Nov 12. On Nov 12, a WESTERN KINGBIRD was near
the Plover Ponds at Cape May Point State Park. That day, a LONG-EARED
OWL was seen along the park’s Red Trail, and other birds at the
State Park included NORTHERN PARULA, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and LINCOLN’S
SPARROW. The Cape May Point State Park Hawk Watch reported a NORTHERN
GOSHAWK on Nov 4 & Nov 10, 14 GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 10, single GOLDEN
EAGLES on Nov 9 & Nov 11, BLACK-HEADED GULL on Nov 7 and a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW on Nov 10. Other hawk watch sightings included TUNDRA SWANS,
MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, CLIFF SWALLOWS, SNOW BUNTINGS and PINE SISKINS.
On Nov 12, the Rea Farm had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER,
2 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and a RED-EYED VIREO. A SEDGE
WREN was at the first field of Higbee Beach WMA Nov 9-12. On Nov
9, Higbee had DICKCISSEL, VESPER SPARROW and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
in the third field, and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW near the port-a-toilets.
On Nov 10, Higbee Beach WMA had 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS at the first
field, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the
second field. That day, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was at Higbee’s
tower field. A GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW was at the second field at Higbee on Nov 12. Other highlights
from Higbee included MERLINS, BLACKPOLL and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER,
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES. An EMPIDONAX
Sp. that may be a possible ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was at the Cape Island
Preserve on Nov 12. The Villas WMA had RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and RED-HEADED
WOODPECKERS on Nov 9. A COMMON EIDER and PARASITIC JAEGER were seen
off Cape May Point on Nov 9. Sea Isle City had 4 COMMON EIDERS and a
hen KING EIDER on Nov 11. Eight MARBLED GODWITS were on the south side
of Townsend’s Inlet on Nov 11. The Avalon Sea Watch tallied a
record 16,946 NORTHERN GANNETS on Nov 11. A RAZORBILL was spotted from
the Sea Watch on Nov 11-12. A KING EIDER and 2 SANDHILL CRANES made
the count on Nov 12. Other highlights from the Avalon Sea Watch included
BROWN PELICANS, RED-THROATED LOONS, HORNED GREBES, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS,
COMMON EIDERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, MARBLED GODWITS, GOLDEN EAGLE,
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and DICKCISSEL.
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.
Two KING EIDERS, an immature drake and a hen, were
at the end of Great Bay Blvd in Tuckerton WMA on Nov 12. Makepeace Lake
had PINE SISKINS on Nov 10. The Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe
NWR had VIRGINIA RAILS on Nov 10. Brigantine had a EURASIAN WIGEON,
9 MARBLED GODWITS and a HUDSONIAN GODWIT on Nov 9; they were seen from
the observation tower at the cross dike. Two more HUDSONIAN GODWITS
were at the north side of the loop at the northwest pool as well. Brigantine
had a ROSS’S GOOSE on Nov 9-10. A MERLIN and TUNDRA SWANS were
at Brigantine on Nov 9, and an IPSWICH SPARROW was seen at the northwest
corner of the auto loop near the bridge over Broad Creek. Brigantine
also had a HUDSONIAN GODWIT Nov 7 & 9, and MARBLED GODWITS were
noted on Nov 7. An AMERICAN BITTERN was found at Brigantine on Nov 9,
and an AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was there on Nov 8.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Nov 9, CAVE SWALLOWS were at Sandy Hook’s
North Beach and South Pond. That day, a COMMON MOORHEN was at the North
Pond, and other birds at Sandy Hook that day included WHITE-WINGED SCOTER,
PINE SISKIN and DICKCISSEL. Manasquan Reservoir had a COMMON GOLDENEYE
on Nov 11.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Nov 7, a LINCOLN’S SPARROW was at Rancocas State
Park.
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.
RED-THROATED LOONS, BROWN PELICAN, HARLEQUIN DUCKS,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, LAPLAND LONGSPURS and SNOW BUNTINGS were seen
at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on Nov 9.
Salem County:
Click
Here for Salem County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Nov 9, a COMMON MOORHEN was at the Sunset Rd area of Mannington Marsh,
and TUNDRA SWANS were seen at the middle bridge.
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.
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.
Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 3 GOLDEN EAGLES and 125 PINE
SISKINS flew past the Raccoon Ridge Hawk Watch on Nov 11. GOLDEN EAGLES
and NORTHERN GOSHAWK were also seen on Nov 10. A count of 125 PINE SISKINS
was made on Nov 9. On Nov 7, two SNOW BUNTINGS and 250 PINE SISKINS
flew past Raccoon Ridge. Raccoon Ridge reported a GOLDEN EAGLE and 25
PINE SISKINS on Nov 4. Other sightings from Raccoon Ridge included COMMON
LOONS, MERLIN, COMMON RAVENS, PURPLE FINCH and a porcupine. The Scott’s
Mountain Hawk Watch had GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 4-5 and NORTHERN GOSHAWKS
on Nov 4 & Nov 7. SCOTERS flew past Scott’s Mountain on Nov
12.
Somerset County:
Click
Here for Somerset County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A CACKLING GOOSE was at Raritan River Park on Nov
6 & Nov 12. PINE SISKINS were at Schermann-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
this week.
Morris County:
No reports
Union County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
In Bergen County, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was at
Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood on Nov 11.
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.
Nine SNOW BUNTINGS were spotted at Reedy Point on
Nov 9. A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past Ashland on Nov 11. Ashland’s Hawk
Watch also had PEREGRINE FALCON, PILEATED WOODPECKER and PINE SISKINS
this week. The site of the Middletown Auto Mall had 200 AMERICAN PIPITS
on Nov 11. Nine AMERICAN PIPITS were at Ramsey Rd on Nov 8.
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A STILT SANDPIPER and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were
at Bear Swamp at Bombay Hook NWR on Nov 10. AMERICAN AVOCETS were still
at Bombay Hook that day, and a CACKLING GOOSE was seen at the refuge
as well.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Nov 9, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found at the
Fowler Beach Rd area of Prime Hook NWR. That day PINE SISKINS were also
in the Fowler Beach Rd area. The north impoundment at Broadkill Rd had
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and WESTERN SANDPIPER, and the south impoundment
had 5 CACKLING GEESE and a ROSS’S GOOSE. Also, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were seen along Broadkill Beach that day. On Nov 8, 3 CAVE
SWALLOWS were spotted at the southern end of the road that runs through
Slaughter Beach.
The Cape Henlopen State Park Hawk Watch noted
1-2 CAVE SWALLOWS and 2 GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 11. The hawk watch enjoyed
PARASITIC JAEGER, BROWN PELICAN, VESPER SPARROW and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
and PINE SISKINS on Nov 7, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was spotted on Nov
9 & Nov 12. The hawk watch counted 6 GOLDEN EAGLES, 29 PINE SISKINS
and 120 NORTHERN GANNETS on Nov 10. The Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch also
saw PEREGRINE FALCON and MERLINS this week.
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 Nov 11-12, three CAVE SWALLOWS were
seen from the Delaware Ave side of the Northeast Water Pollution Control
Plant, north of the Tioga Marine Terminal. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
and RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum on Nov 10.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
A GOLDEN EAGLE flew past the Rose Tree Park
Hawk Watch on Nov 11. Six PINE SISKINS were at Rose Tree Park on Nov 12.
The hawk watch also noted MERLINS and COMMON LOONS this week.
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Three BONAPARTE’S GULLS flew over
Chambers Lake in Hibernia Park on Nov 5, and a flock of 50 PINE SISKINS
flew over the park on Nov 8. Three hen BLACK SCOTERS and 2 hen RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS were at Marsh Creek State Park on Nov 7. Six CACKLING GEESE
and a MERLIN were at Coatesville Reservoir that day.
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 RED-THROATED LOON was seen from the Walt Rd area
of Green Lane Reservoir on Nov 12.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Van Sciver Lake had 30-40 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS
and 2 COMMON LOONS on Nov 8. Recent highlights from Peace Valley Park
included CACKLING GOOSE, MERLIN, BONAPARTE’S GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL, SNOW BUNTING and PURPLE FINCH. On Nov 6, nearly 100 LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were on a school lawn at Upper Holland Rd in Richboro.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Close to 100 PINE SISKINS flew over Seemsville on
Nov 6.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
This week, the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Watch reported
GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 5 & Nov 9-11, with 4 GOLDEN EAGLES tallied
on Nov 9, three on Nov 10 and six GOLDEN EAGLES on Nov 11. Bake Oven
Knob reported hundreds of PINE SISKINS Nov 4-6 & Nov 8-12, with
a high count of 507 SISKINS on Nov 11. Other sightings from Bake Oven
Knob included COMMON LOONS, TUNDRA SWANS, COMMON RAVENS and PURPLE FINCHES.
Schuykill County:
Click
Here for Schuykill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Three SNOW BUNTINGS and 75 WILD TURKEYS were at a
reclaimed mine area in Tremont on Nov 12. On Nov 6, nearly 200 RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS were at the High Ridge Industrial Park off Route 81.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was at the South Lookout
of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary on Nov 12. A BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was
at Blue Marsh Lake on Nov 12. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS have made daily appearances
at BLUE MARSH, and a MERLIN was there on Nov 6. PURPLE FINCHES and PINE
SISKINS have been seen in Bern Twp. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary noted SNOW
BUNTINGS and PURPLE FINCHES on Nov 4. GOLDEN EAGLES flew past Hawk Mountain
on Nov 5-6 & Nov 9-10, with high counts of six GOLDEN EAGLES noted
on Nov 10-11. NORTHERN GOSHAWKS were spotted on Nov 5 & Nov 10-11.
Hundreds of PINE SISKINS were tallied through Nov 12, with the two highest
counts being 1,435 PINE SISKINS on Nov 11 and 850 SISKINS on Nov 12.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A PINE SISKIN was at Octoraro Reservoir on Nov 12.
On Nov 8, the Conowingo Pond area of the Lower Susquehanna River had
a GREAT CORMORANT, over 30 FORSTER’S TERNS, 25 BONAPARTE’S
GULLS, 4 COMMON LOONS and 6 PINE SISKINS.
Lebanon County:
Click
Here for Lebanon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Two RED CROSSBILLS and 98 PINE SISKINS were at Memorial
Lake State Park on Nov 12. GOLDEN EAGLES flew past the Second Mountain
Hawk Watch Nov 6-9 & Nov 11-12, with a high count of 3 GOLDEN EAGLES
on Nov 11. On Nov 5, Second Mountain had 350 PINE SISKINS and 2 SNOW
BUNTINGS. Nearly 300 PINE SISKINS were seen from Second Mountain on
Nov 7, and 65 PINE SISKINS were counted on Nov 6. Other sightings from
Second Mountain this week included COMMON LOONS, COMMON RAVENS and PURPLE
FINCHES.
Carbon County:
No reports
Monroe County:
No reports
Pike County:
No reports
Wayne County:
No reports
PA Extralimitals:
No reports
Extralimital Reports
No reports
Announcements
On Nov 22, Sandra Keller will lead a DVOC field trip
to the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR in Atlantic County,
NJ. If conditions are better on Sunday, the trip will be rescheduled
for Nov 23. This trip is geared towards beginning birders and will focus
on waterfowl and sparrows, but last year a Cave Swallow made an appearance
on the field trip. The trip will meet at the parking lot near the restrooms
at 11:30AM, and attendees should plan to bring a packed lunch. Please
contact Sandra Keller 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 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. The deadline for registering for
the banquet is Nov 15. 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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