| Current
report - Wednesday December 10, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Ash-throated Flycatcher (NJ)+
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow (PA)+
Pine Grosbeak (NJ)+
(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
Horned Grebe
Northern Gannet
Great Cormorant
American Bittern
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Brant
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Northern Goshawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Northern Bobwhite
Virginia Rail
American Avocet
Baird's Sandpiper
Purple Sandpiper
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Razorbill
Snowy Owl
Long-eared Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Common Raven
Sedge Wren
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Pine Warbler
Vesper Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Pine Siskin
European Goldfinch
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 BARNACLE GOOSE in
Hunterdon County, NJ; ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Cape May County, NJ and
GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW in Bucks County, PA.
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.
Through Dec 4, the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at Cape
May Point State Park was still at the end of the boardwalk and the beginning
of a small pine grove. The state park had 2 AMERICAN PIPITS on Dec 6.
The Nature Conservancy’s Cape May Migratory
Bird Refuge had an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on Dec 3. SNOW BUNTINGS were
reported from the beach at Cape May through Dec 6. The SEDGE WREN at
Higbee Beach WMA was found in the only part of Higbee that has not been
mowed, north of the pond and at the end of the central path. The most
recent report of this SEDGE WREN was from Dec 4.
An AMERICAN BITTERN, COMMON EIDER and WHITE-WINGED
SCOTER were seen at the Sea Isle City area of Strathmere on Dec 4. A
HARLEQUIN DUCK flew past the Avalon Sea Watch on Dec 8, and the count
noted a RAZORBILL, 4 REDHEADS and a HARLEQUIN DUCK on Dec 5. On Dec
9, an ICELAND GULL and GLAUCOUS GULL made the count. Other highlights
from the sea watch included RED-THROATED LOONS, NORTHERN GANNETS, GREAT
CORMORANTS, HORNED GREBES, COMMON EIDERS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON
GOLDENEYES and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS.
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.
The Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR had
TUNDRA SWANS, VIRGINIA RAIL and IPSWICH SPARROWS on Dec 6. Please see
our Announcements Section for a notice about deer hunting closures at
the Brigantine Division of Edwin B Forsythe NWR. The English Creek Manor
area of Tuckahoe WMA had a dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Dec 4.
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A SNOWY OWL was at the north end of Sandy Hook’s
Gunnison Beach on Dec 7-9. On Dec 5, a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was near
G-Lot at Sandy Hook. That day, SNOW BUNTINGS and IPSWICH SPARROWS were
at the north end of the hook, and flyovers at K-Lot included AMERICAN
PIPITS, PURPLE FINCHES and PINE SISKINS. The SNOW BUNTING flock at Sandy
Hook was estimated to contain 200 birds on Dec 6. On Dec 9, a SNOWY
OWL was seen on the beach at Belmar between 3rd and 4th Avenues. On
Dec 6, Manasquan Inlet had a Harbor Seal and 3 PURPLE SANDPIPERS, and
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were at the Wreck Pond and Sylvan Lake. Belmar’s
Silver Lake had a EURASIAN WIGEON that day.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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.
On Dec 7, a SNOWY OWL was at Island Beach State Park,
spotted across the inlet from Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. Island
Beach had SNOW BUNTINGS on Dec 7. Other birds around Barnegat Lighthouse
State Park on Dec 6-8 included an immature drake KING EIDER, COMMON
EIDERS, HARLEQUIN DUCKS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS, SNOW BUNTINGS and an IPSWICH
SPARROW. A dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was spotted over the Manahawkin
Marshes on Dec 7, and COMMON GOLDENEYES were at Harvey Cedars that day.
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.
The Califon BARNACLE GOOSE was spotted at the south
branch of the Raritan River across from the Methodist Church through
Dec 7, and it was seen foraging in a field seen from Route 513 on Dec
6-7.
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 reported 3 GOLDEN EAGLES
on Dec 7. COMMON RAVENS were also reported from Raccoon Ridge this week.
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
Union County:
No reports
NJ Extralimitals:
On Dec 10, two female PINE GROSBEAKS were at Lincoln
Park near the intersection of Communipaw Ave, NJ Route 440 and US-1/US-9
in Jersey City, Hudson 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.
No reports
Kent County:
Click
Here for Kent County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Recent sightings from Bombay Hook NWR included CACKLING
GOOSE, ROSS’S GOOSE, NORTHERN BOBWHITE, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN
PIPIT and VESPER SPARROW.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The icebreakers at Cape Henlopen had 4 COMMON EIDERS,
a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, GREAT CORMORANTS and PURPLE SANDPIPERS on Dec
6. Rehoboth Beach’s Silver Lake had 60 CANVASBACKS. On Dec 3,
the flocks of SNOW GEESE at Prime Hook NWR contained a ROSS’S
GOOSE and 2 CACKLING GOOSE. That day, a drake LONG-TAILED DUCK foraged
near the road at Fowler Beach, and a light morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK,
3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, an ICELAND GULL and 10 SNOW BUNTINGS were
seen from the observation platform. Indian River Inlet had GREAT CORMORANTS,
PURPLE SANDPIPERS and BONAPARTE’S GULLS.
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.
A drake REDHEAD, 3 hen REDHEADS and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD
were at FDR Park in South Philadelphia on Dec 3.
Delaware County:
Click Here
for Delaware County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
A EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH visited a feeder in Aston
on Dec 9.
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Dec 4, the Coatesville Reservoir had
an adult ROSS’S GOOSE, a BRANT and CACKLING GEESE, while the nearby
golf course had 2 MERLINS and a PINE WARBLER. The ROSS’S GOOSE
and CACKLING GEESE were still at Coatesville through Dec 8. On Dec 4,
a SNOW BUNTING was found along the road at Chambers Lake. Four LONG-EARED
OWLS were reported near Struble Lake, seen as recently as Dec 6.
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.
No reports
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was still
at Peace Valley Park’s Sailor’s Point through Dec 7, and
the high count for LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS was 110 LESSERS on Dec
2. Other highlights for Peace Valley included CACKLING GEESE, COMMON
GOLDENEYE, PILEATED WOODPECKER and FOX SPARROW. Recent sightings from
Falls Township Community Park included ICELAND GULLS, GLAUCOUS GULLS
and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. On Dec 6, 13 GREAT CORMORANTS were spotted
on the Delaware River from the “old soap factory.” LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported from Churchville Nature Center and
Core Creek Park this week.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was visiting a suet feeder at the
Koch Property on Dec 4.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The BAIRD’S SANDPIPER at Leaser Lake was last
reported on Dec 7, and a CACKLING GOOSE and AMERICAN PIPITS were there
on Dec 7. On Dec 6, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Dorney Pond.
Schuykill County:
Click
Here for Schuykill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Dec 8, RED CROSSBILLS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
fed in conifers at Landingville Dam, where Deiberts Valley Rd intersects
the road that runs the length of the dam.
Berks County:
Click
Here for Berks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.No reports
Four WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS migrated past Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary on Dec 7, and another WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was spotted on
Dec 6. A GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted from Hawk Mountain on Dec 8, and 3
GOLDEN EAGLES were spotted on Dec 3. On Dec 7, Hawk Mountain’s
hawk watch noted 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS and BRANT; another GOSHAWK was
spotted on Dec 5. PINE SISKINS were still being seen at Hawk Mountain
with a high count of 57 SISKINS on Dec 6.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BRANT was at the Greenfield Estates Pond off of
Greenfield Rd, East Lampeter Twp on Dec 4. That day, a MERLIN was found
near the intersection of Musser School Rd and S Groffdale Rd in Upper
Leacock Twp. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was in a yard in Peach Bottom through
Dec 7, when a PINE SISKIN was also present.
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 reported GOLDEN EAGLES
on Dec 3, Dec 5 and Dec 9. This week Second Mountain also reported COMMON
RAVENS.
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 Jan 2, Paul Guris will lead a DVOC field trip for
the Hudson Shelf Valley Christmas Bird Count, a Pelagic Trip. Past birds
of interest spotted on the trip have included Dovekie, Razorbill, Common
Murre, Atlantic Puffin, Black-Legged Kittiwake and Iceland Gull. The
trip will sails out of Belmar, NJ at 8:00 AM, returning to port at approximately
4:00PM. The fee for the trip is $115 plus an optional $5 CBC fee. Please
contact Paul Guris if you plan on attending. Additional information,
including contact information for the trip leader can be found on the
DVOC website: http://www.dvoc.org or at the See Life Paulagics website:
http://www.paulagics.com
The next meeting of the DVOC will take place
at 7:30pm on Thursday Dec 18 at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia,
PA. The main program of the meeting features the club’s annual
Photo Contest.
CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT for EDWIN B FORSYTHE NWR:
Deer hunting season has arrived at Edwin B Forsythe NWR’s Bringantine
Division Wildlife Drive. On December 15-19, two thirds of the Wildlife
Drive will be open. On these dates, visitors may continue to use the
Akers Woodland Trail, Gull Pond Road, and the Wildlife Drive up to the
north dike/cross dike junction. Traffic on the Wildlife Drive will be
two-way during this period. Please obey signs and drive on the right-hand
side of the road. The Songbird Trail and back end of the Drive, from
the point where the north dike and the cross dike meet through refuge
uplands to the exit, will be closed to all visitors during the hunt.
To offset any inconvenience this partial closure may cause, the refuge
entrance fee will be waived during the five-day period. For additional
information, call 609-652-1665.
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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