| Current
report - Wednesday December 17, 2008
- Birds Mentioned
Click Here for species
accounts for many of these birds
Eared Grebe (possible) (NJ)+
Barnacle Goose (NJ)+
Black Guillemot (NJ)+
Rufous Hummingbird (NJ)+
Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow (PA)+
(NJ)+ (Details requested
by New Jersey
Birds Records Committee)
(PA)+ (Details requested by Pennsylvania
Ornthological Records Committee)
(DE)+ (Details requested by Delaware
Records Committee)
(DE)+ (Details requested by DERC)
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Northern Gannet
Little Blue Heron
Greater White-fronted Goose
Ross's Goose
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Tundra Swan
Mandarin Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback
Redhead
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Rough-legged Hawk
Golden Eagle
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
American Avocet
Marbled Godwit
Red Knot
Purple Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Razorbill
Snowy Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Northern Shrike
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Pine Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Lark Sparrow
Ipswich Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
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 BARNACLE GOOSE in
Hunterdon County, NJ; BLACK GUILLEMOT in Monmouth County, NJ; RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
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.
Two female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were reportedly at
711 New England Rd on Dec 13, and one was still there on Dec 15. A flock
of nearly 250 RED KNOTS were at the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May
NWR on Dec 13, and a LITTLE BLUE HERON was at the Coast Guard Ponds
on Ocean Dr that day. A KING EIDER and COMMON EIDER were south of Cape
May Inlet on Dec 14, and PURPLE SANDPIPERS were at the inlet. A LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER and SALTMARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS were in the marshes off
Ocean Dr that day. Two SHORT-EARED OWLS were at Jake’s Landing
on Dec 15. Two MARBLED GODWITS were at Townsend’s Inlet on Dec
12. Notable sightings from the Avalon Sea Watch this week included 2
RAZORBILLS and a RED-NECKED GREBE on Dec 15, 7 RAZORBILLS and a HARLEQUIN
DUCK on Dec 14, single KING EIDERS on Dec 12 & Dec 14 and a RED-NECKED
GREBE, SNOW BUNTING and ICELAND GULL on Dec 12. Other birds seen at
the sea watch this week included NORTHERN GANNETS,
RED-THROATED LOONS, HORNED GREBES, TUNDRA SWANS, COMMON GOLDENEYES,
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON EIDERS and BONAPARTE’S GULLS.
Ocean County:
Island Beach State Park had SNOW BUNTINGS and HORNED GREBES on Dec 10,
and the nature center’s feeders had attracted a NASHVILLE WARBLER
on Dec 13. Recent reports from Barnegat Lighthouse State Park noted
HARLEQUIN DUCKS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, COMMON EIDERS, PURPLE SANDPIPERS,
SNOW BUNTINGS and IPSWICH SPARROW. A first winter drake KING EIDER was
reported there on Dec 10. On Dec 13, a tour of the Barnegat Bay marshes
turned up 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS seen at Cedar Run Dock Rd, Manahawkin
and the Dock Rd/Dock St area.
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.
No reports
Monmouth County:
Click
Here for Monmouth County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A BLACK GUILLEMOT was photographed off B-Lot at Sandy
Hook on Dec 14. On Dec 13, over 100 SNOW BUNTINGS were at Sandy Hook,
and there were PINE SISKINS and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER that was near
the salt pond at the end of the locust grove. A BLACK GUILLEMOT was
photographed at Shark River Inlet on Dec 15. A SNOWY OWL was seen at
the Shark River Inlet area through Dec 13, and other birds in that area
included a PURPLE SANDPIPER and SNOW BUNTINGS. The EURASIAN WIGEON was
still at Belmar’s Silver Lake through Dec 15. A possible EARED
GREBE, COMMON GOLDENEYES and TUNDRA SWANS were reported from Harvey
Cedars on Dec 10. On Dec 13, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was on the beach
at the Deal Pavilion area. PURPLE SANDPIPERS and a GLAUCOUS GULL were
at Manasquan Inlet on Dec 15.
Burlington County:
Click
Here for Burlington County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Whitesbog had 120-130 TUNDRA SWANS on Dec 14.
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.
On Dec 12, a drake CANVASBACK was at Riverwinds, and
an EASTERN PHOEBE was at the Wiggins Pond area of Greenwich Twp. The
National Park cove area had a CANVASBACK and a pair of REDHEADS on Dec
15.
Hunterdon County:
Click
Here for Hunterdon County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The Califon BARNACLE GOOSE was still in the area through
Dec 12. On Dec 10, the BARNACLE GOOSE was in a field near a day care
center along with a CACKLING GOOSE. A CACKLING GOOSE was on Spruce Run
Reservoir that day.
Middlesex County:
An ICELAND GULL was spotted at Skelley Field off College
Farm Rd on the Cook Campus of Rutgers-New Brunswick on Dec 15. A LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Donaldson Park in Highland Park on Dec 15.
Mercer County:
Click
Here for Mercer County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Highlights from the Princeton Christmas Bird Count
included a ROSS’S GOOSE at Aqueduct Pond in Princeton, 3 CACKLING
GEESE, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at the Delaware & Raritan Canal
towpath near Princeton, 2 PINE WARBLERS and a RED-THROATED LOON that
was on Colonial Lake off Business Route 1.
Warren County:
Click
Here for Warren County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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:
A LARK SPARROW was discovered at Station Park in Sparta,
and a NORTHERN SHRIKE was at a brushy field on the east side of Gorney
Rd in Lafayette during the Sussex Count Christmas Bird Count on Dec
14.
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 Dec 14, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was discovered
at the footbridge over the brushy swale by the Hockessin Athletic Club’s
swimming complex.
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 TUNDRA
SWAN, CACKLING GOOSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, AMERICAN AVOCET, AMERICAN PIPIT,
LAPLAND LONGSPUR and SNOW BUNTING.
Sussex County:
Click
Here for Sussex County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
No reports
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.No reports
No reports
Chester County:
Click Here
for Chester County Birding Resources including an interactive map with
locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A flock of 6 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS
was spotted at the Chester County section of Lake Octoraro on Dec 14.
The ROSS’S GOOSE at the Coatesville Reservoir was reported as
recently as Dec 16. Three MERLINS were at the reservoir on Dec 11 &
Dec 17, and a CACKLING GOOSE was there Dec 16-17. Coatesville Reservoir
had 3 PINE WARBLERS on Dec 17. That day, a feeder in Coatesville attracted
25 PINE SISKINS. On Dec 11, a CANVASBACK was at Marsh Creek, and a RED-NECKED
GREBE was there on Dec 16. Chambers Lake had TUNDRA SWANS and 4 BONAPARTE’S
GULLS on Dec 10, and a MANDARIN DUCK was there on Dec 16. LONG-EARED
OWLS were seen near Struble Lake. A SHORT-EARED OWL was at Doe Run on
Dec 16.
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 BRANT loafed with the CANADA GEESE at the Church
Rd area of Green Lane Reservoir on Dec 13. On Dec 10, two PINE SISKINS
visited a feeder in Lansdale. An EASTERN PHOEBE was near Morris Arboretum
at the Wissahickon Watershed on Dec 15. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at Memorial
Park in Pottstown on Dec 16.
Bucks County:
Click
Here for Bucks County Birding Resources including an interactive map
with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
On Dec 11, the “Powerboat Cove” area of
the Tullytown Landfill had LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 5 ICELAND GULLS
and a GLAUCOUS GULL. On Dec 13, the HORNED LARK flock was seen at the
vacant Lot #5 of the business park just outside the entrance to Warminster
Community. Park. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were reported from the Churchville
Nature Center this week. On Dec 9, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was
at Peace Valley Park, and the GAMBEL’S WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was
at Sailor’s Point. Other recent sightings from the park included
CACKLING GOOSE and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS. A PEREGRINE FALCON was
at Lower Makefield Community Park on Dec 16. Thirteen LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULLS were at Core Creek Park on Dec 17.
Northampton County:
Click
Here for Northampton County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE visited the eastern end of the upper
part of the lower fields at the Koch Property on Dec 12. Another probable
NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from private property in Hellertown, and
has been seen there through Dec 14.
Lehigh County:
Click
Here for Lehigh County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was on Dorney Pond
on Dec 11. A SNOWY OWL was reported from Lehigh Valley International
Airport on Dec 12, but please note that due to security around the airport
this bird is not in a location where birders would be welcome. We would
not recommend attempting to locate this bird, and only note it here
as a noteworthy regional record.
Schuykill County:
Click
Here for Schuykill County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
Sweet Arrow Lake had 18 WILD TURKEYS on Dec 14.
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 Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
on Dec 14. On Dec 15, Hawk Mountain’s Hawk Watch reported a ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK and 5 GOLDEN EAGLES. RED CROSSBILLS were heard from the Blue Marsh
National Recreation Area’s Sensory Trail on Dec 11, and a MERLIN
was at Blue Marsh on Dec 12.
Lancaster County:
Click
Here for Lancaster County Birding Resources including an interactive
map with locations, satellite views, driving directions, etc.
The most recent report of the NASHVILLE WARBLER in
Peach Bottom was on Dec 16. The Southern Lancaster Christmas Bird Count
(CBC) took place on Dec 14, and the NASHVILLE WARBLER was observed during
the count. Other highlights from that CBC included CACKLING GOOSE, ICELAND
GULL, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, MERLIN, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and PINE
SISKINS as well as the WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS mentioned in the Chester
County section of the RBA. On Dec 14, a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW
was at the Washington Boro water treatment facility, and a RED-THROATED
LOON was on he Susquehanna near the Blue Rock Rd boat launch.
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 a MERLIN and
13 PINE SISKINS on Dec 12, seventy PINE SISKINS on Dec 15, and COMMON
RAVENS on Dec 13 & Dec 15. On Dec 14, the Second Mountain Hawk Watch
reported 25-30 SNOW BUNTINGS.
Carbon County:
A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were
spotted at Beltzville State Park on Dec 14 during the Wild Creek Christmas
Bird Count, and other highlights from the count included NORTHERN SAW-WHET
OWL, LONG-EARED OWL, RUSTY BLACKBIRDS that were at Strohl Valley Rd
and over 200 PINE SISKINS. On Dec 11, Beltzville State Park had a COMMON
LOON, a hen BLACK SCOTER, a LONG-TAILED DUCK and 8 COMMON GOLDENEYES.
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. The first meeting of 2009 will be the Annual Members
Meeting on Jan 8, 2009 at the Academy. More details are available on-line
at http://www.dvoc.org and guests are always welcome.
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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